They stepped off the stone staircase at the top, and Professor McGonagall rapped on the door. It opened silently and they entered. Professor McGonagall told Harry1 to wait and left him there, alone.
Harry looked around. One thing was certain: of all the teachers'offices Harry had visited so far this year, Dumbledore's was by far the most interesting. If he hadn't been scared out of his wits that he was about to be thrown out of school, he would have been very pleased to have a chance to look around it.
It was a large and beautiful circular room, full of funny little noises. A number of curious silver instruments stood on spindle legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs3 of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were snoozing gently in their frames. There was also an enormous, claw-footed desk, and, sitting on a shelf behind it, a shabby, tattered4 wizard's hat - the Sorting Hat.
Harry hesitated. He cast a wary5 eye around the sleeping witches and wizards on the walls. Surely it couldn't hurt if he took the hat down and tried it on again? Just to see… just to make sure it had put him in the right House.
He walked quietly around the desk, lifted the hat from its shelf, and lowered it slowly onto his head. It was much too large and slipped down over his eyes, just as it had done the last time he'd put it on. Harry stared at the black inside of the hat, waiting. Then a small voice said in his ear, “Bee in your bonnet6, Harry Potter?”
“Er, yes,” Harry muttered. “Er - sorry to bother you - I wanted to ask—”
“You've been wondering whether I put you in the right House,” said the hat smartly. “Yes… you were particularly difficult to place. But I stand by what I said before -” Harry's heart leapt - “you would have done well in Slytherin—”
Harry's stomach plummeted7. He grabbed the point of the hat and pulled it off. It hung limply in his hand, grubby and faded. Harry pushed it back onto its shelf, feeling sick.
“You're wrong,” he said aloud to the still and silent hat. It didn't move. Harry backed away, watching it. Then a strange, gagging noise behind him made him wheel around.
He wasn't alone after all. Standing8 on a golden perch9 behind the door was a decrepit-looking bird that resembled a half-plucked turkey. Harry stared at it and the bird looked balefully back, making its gagging noise again. Harry thought it looked very ill. Its eyes were dull and, even as Harry watched, a couple more feathers fell out of its tail.
Harry was just thinking that all he needed was for Dumbledore's pet bird to die while he was alone in the office with it, when the bird burst into flames.
Harry yelled in shock and backed away into the desk. He looked feverishly11 around in case there was a glass of water somewhere but couldn't see one; the bird, meanwhile, had become a fireball; it gave one loud shriek12 and next second there was nothing but a smouldering pile of ash on the floor.
The office door opened. Dumbledore came in, looking very somber13.
“Professor,” Harry gasped14. “Your bird - I couldn't do anything - he just caught fire—”
To Harry's astonishment15, Dumbledore smiled.
“About time, too,” he said. “He's been looking dreadful for days; I've been telling him to get a move on.”
He chuckled17 at the stunned18 look on Harry's face.
“Fawkes is a phoenix19, Harry. Phoenixes20 burst into flame when it is time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes. Watch him…”
Harry looked down in time to see a tiny, wrinkled, newborn bird poke21 its head out of the ashes. It was quite as ugly as the old one.
“It's a shame you had to see him on a Burning Day,” said Dumbledore, seating himself behind his desk. “He's really very handsome most of the time, wonderful red and gold plumage. Fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, and they make highly faithful pets.”
In the shock of Fawkes catching22 fire, Harry had forgotten what he was there for, but it all came back to him as Dumbledore settled himself in the high chair behind the desk and fixed23 Harry with his penetrating24, light-blue stare.
Before Dumbledore could speak another word, however, the door of the office flew open with an almighty25 bang and Hagrid burst in, a wild look in his eyes, his balaclava perched on top of his shaggy black head and the dead rooster still swinging from his hand.
“It wasn'Harry, Professor Dumbledore!” said Hagrid urgently. “I was talkin'ter him seconds before that kid was found, he never had time, sir—”
Dumbledore tried to say something, but Hagrid went ranting26 on, waving the rooster around in his agitation27, sending feathers everywhere.
“it can't've bin28 him, I'll swear it in front o'the Ministry29 o'Magic if I have to.”
“Hagrid, I—”
“- yeh've got the wrong boy, sir, I know Harry never—”
“Hagrid!” said Dumbledore loudly. “I do not think that Harry attacked those people.”
“Oh,” said Hagrid, the rooster falling limply at his side. “Right. I'll wait outside then, Headmaster.”
And he stomped30 out looking embarrassed.
“You don't think it was me, Professor?” Harry repeated hopefully as Dumbledore brushed rooster feathers off his desk.
“No, Harry, I don't,” said Dumbledore, though his face was somber again. “But I still want to talk to you.”
Harry waited nervously31 while Dumbledore considered him, the tips of his long fingers together.
“I must ask you, Harry, whether there is anything you'd like to tell me,” he said gently. “Anything at all.”
Harry didn't know what to say. He thought of Malfoy shouting, “You'll be next, Mudbloods!” and of the Polyjuice Potion simmering away in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Then he thought of the disembodied voice he had heard twice and remembered what Ron had said: “Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world.” He thought, too, about what everyone was saying about him, and his growing dread16 that he was somehow connected with Salazar Slytherin…
“No,” said Harry. “There isn't anything, Professor…”
The double attack on Justin and Nearly Headless Nick turned what had hitherto been nervousness into real panic. Curiously32, it was Nearly Headless Nick's fate that seemed to worry people most. What could possibly do that to a ghost? people asked each other; what terrible power could harm someone who was already dead? There was almost a stampede to book seats on the Hogwarts Express so that students could go home for Christmas.
“At this rate, we'll be the only ones left,” Ron told Harry and Hermione. “Us, Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. What a jolly holiday it's going to be.”
Crabbe and Goyle, who always did whatever Malfoy did, had signed up to stay over the holidays, too. But Harry was glad that most people were leaving. He was tired of people skirting around him in the corridors, as though he was about to sprout33 fangs34 or spit poison; tired of all the muttering, pointing, and hissing35 as he passed.
Fred and George, however, found all this very funny. They went out of their way to march ahead of Harry down the corridors, shouting, “Make way for the Heir of Slytherin, seriously evil wizard coming through…”
Percy was deeply disapproving36 of this behavior.
“It is not a laughing matter,” he said coldly.
“Oh, get out of the way, Percy,” said Fred. “Harry's in a hurry.”
“Yeah, he's off to the Chamber37 of Secrets for a cup of tea with his fanged38 servant,” said George, chortling.
Ginny didn't find it amusing either.
“Oh, don't,” she wailed39 every time Fred asked Harry loudly who he was planning to attack next, or when George pretended to ward40 Harry off with a large clove41 of garlic when they met.
Harry didn't mind; it made him feel better that Fred and George, at least, thought the idea of his being Slytherin's heir was quite ludicrous. But their antics seemed to be aggravating42 Draco Malfoy, who looked increasingly sour each time he saw them at it.
“It's because he's bursting to say it's really him,” said Ron knowingly. “You know how he hates anyone beating him at anything, and you're getting all the credit for his dirty work.”
“Not for long,” said Hermione in a satisfied tone. “The Polyjuice Potion's nearly ready. We'll be getting the truth out of him any day now.”
At last the term ended, and a silence deep as the snow on the grounds descended43 on the castle. Harry found it peaceful, rather than gloomy, and enjoyed the fact that he, Hermione, and the Weasleys had the run of Gryffindor Tower, which meant they could play Exploding Snap loudly without bothering anyone, and practice dueling44 in private. Fred, George, and Ginny had chosen to stay at school rather than visit Bill in Egypt with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Percy, who disapproved45 of what he termed their childish behavior, didn't spend much time in the Gryffindor common room. He had already told them pompously46 that he was only staying over Christmas because it was his duty as a prefect to support the teachers during this troubled time.
Christmas morning dawned, cold and white. Harry and Ron, the only ones left in their dormitory, were woken very early by Hermione, who burst in, fully10 dressed and carrying presents for them both.
“Wake up,” she said loudly, pulling back the curtains at the window.
“Hermione - you're not supposed to be in here -” said Ron, shielding his eyes against the light.
“Merry Christmas to you, too,” said Hermione, throwing him his present. “I've been up for nearly an hour, adding more lacewings to the potion. It's ready.”
Harry sat up, suddenly wide awake.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive,” said Hermione, shifting Scabbers the rat so that she could sit down on the end of Ron's four-poster. “If we're going to do it, I say it should be tonight.”
At that moment, Hedwig swooped47 into the room, carrying a very small package in her beak48.
“Hello,” said Harry happily as she landed on his bed. “Are you speaking to me again?”
She nibbled49 his ear in an affectionate sort of way, which was a far better present than the one that she had brought him, which turned out to be from the Dursleys. They had sent Harry a toothpick and a note telling him to find out whether he'd be able to stay at Hogwarts for the summer vacation, too.
The rest of Harry's Christmas presents were far more satisfactory. Hagrid had sent him a large tin of treacle50 fudge, which Harry decided51 to soften52 by the fire before eating; Ron had given him a book called Flying with the Cannons53, a book of interesting facts about his favorite Quidditch team, and Hermione had bought him a luxurious54 eagle-feather quill55. Harry opened the last present to find a new, hand-knitted sweater from Mrs. Weasley and a large plum cake. He read her card with a fresh surge of guilt56, thinking about Mr. Weasley's car (which hadn't been seen since its crash with the Whomping Willow), and the bout2 of rule-breaking he and Ron were planning next.
No one, not even someone dreading57 taking Polyjuice Potion later, could fail to enjoy Christmas dinner at Hogwarts.
The Great Hall looked magnificent. Not only were there a dozen frost-covered Christmas trees and thick streamers of holly58 and mistletoe crisscrossing the ceiling, but enchanted59 snow was falling, warm and dry, from the ceiling. Dumbledore led them in a few of his favorite carols, Hagrid booming more and more loudly with every goblet60 of eggnog he consumed. Percy, who hadn't noticed that Fred had bewitched his prefect badge so that it now read “Pinhead,” kept asking them all what they were sniggering at. Harry didn't even care that Draco Malfoy was making loud, snide remark about his new sweater from the Slytherin table. With a bit of luck, Malfoy would be getting his comeuppance in a few hours'time.
Harry and Ron had barely finished their third helpings61 of Christmas pudding when Hermione ushered62 them out of the hall to finalize63 their plans for the evening.
“We still need a bit of the people you're changing into,” said Hermione matter-of-factly, as though she were sending them to the supermarket for laundry detergent64. “And obviously, it'll be best if you can get something of Crabbe's and Goyle's; they're Malfoys best friends, he'll tell them anything. And we also need to make sure the real Crabbe and Goyle can't burst in on us while we're interrogating65 him.
“I've got it all worked out,” she went on smoothly66, ignoring Harry's and Ron's stupefied faces. She held up two plump chocolate cakes. “I've filled these with a simple Sleeping Draught67. All you have to do is make sure Crabbe and Goyle find them. You know how greedy they are, they're bound to eat them. Once they're asleep, pull out a few of their hairs and hide them in a broom closet.”
Harry and Ron looked incredulously at each other.
“Hermione, I don't think—”
“That could go seriously wrong—”
But Hermione had a steely glint in her eye not unlike the one Professor McGonagall sometimes had.
“The potion will be useless without Crabbe's and Goyle's hair,” she said sternly. “You do want to investigate Malfoy, don't you?”
“Oh, all right, all right,” said Harry. “But what about you? Whose hair are you ripping out?”
“I've already got mine!” said Hermione brightly, pulling a tiny bottle out of her pocket and showing them the single hair inside it. “Remember Millicent Bulstrode wrestling with me at the Dueling Club? She left this on my robes when she was trying to strangle me! And she's gone home for Christmas - so I'll just have to tell the Slytherins I've decided to come back.”
When Hermione had bustled68 off to check on the Polyjuice Potion again, Ron turned to Harry with a doom-laden expression.
“Have you ever heard of a plan where so many things could go wrong?”
But to Harry's and Ron's utter amazement69, stage one of the operation went just as smoothly as Hermione had said. They lurked70 in the deserted71 entrance hall after Christmas tea, waiting for Crabbe and Goyle who had remained alone at the Slytherin table, shoveling down fourth helpings of trifle. Harry had perched the chocolate cakes on the end of the banisters. When they spotted72 Crabbe and Goyle coming out of the Great Hall, Harry and Ron hid quickly behind a suit of armor next to the front door.
“How thick can you get?” Ron whispered ecstatically as Crabbe gleefully pointed73 out the cakes to Goyle and grabbed them. Grinning stupidly, they stuffed the cakes whole into their large mouths. For a moment, both of them chewed greedily, looks of triumph on their faces. Then, without the smallest change of expression, they both keeled over backward onto the floor.
By far the hardest part was hiding them in the closet across the hall. Once they were safely stowed among the buckets and mops, Harry yanked out a couple of the bristles74 that covered Goyle's forehead and Ron pulled out several of Crabbe's hairs. They also stole their shoes, because their own were far too small for Crabbe- and Goyle-size feet. Then, still stunned at what they had just done, they sprinted75 up to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
They could hardly see for the thick black smoke issuing from the stall in which Hermione was stirring the cauldron. Pulling their robes up over their faces, Harry and Ron knocked softly on the door.
“Hermione?”
They heard the scrape of the lock and Hermione emerged, shiny-faced and looking anxious. Behind her they heard the gloop gloop of the bubbling, glutinous76 potion. Three glass tumblers stood ready on the toilet seat.
“Did you get them?” Hermione asked breathlessly.
Harry showed her Goyle's hair.
“Good. And I sneaked77 these spare robes out of the laundry,” Hermione said, holding up a small sack. “You'll need bigger sizes once you're Crabbe and Goyle.”
The three of them stared into the cauldron. Close up, the potion looked like thick, dark mud, bubbling sluggishly78.
“I'm sure I've done everything right,” said Hermione, nervously rereading the splotched page of Moste Potente Potions. “It looks like the book says it should… once we've drunk it, we'll have exactly an hour before we change back into ourselves.”
“Now what?” Ron whispered.
“We separate it into three glasses and add the hairs.”
Hermione ladled large dollops of the potion into each of the glasses. Then, her hand trembling, she shook Millicent Bulstrode's hair out of its bottle into the first glass.
The potion hissed79 loudly like a boiling kettle and frothed madly. A second later, it had turned a sick sort of yellow.
“Urgh - essence of Millicent Bulstrode,” said Ron, eyeing it with loathing80. “Bet it tastes disgusting.”
“Add yours, then,” said Hermione.
Harry dropped Goyle's hair into the middle glass and Ron put Crabbe's into the last one. Both glasses hissed and frothed: Goyle's turned the khaki color of a booger, Crabbe's a dark, murky81 brown.
“Hang on,” said Harry as Ron and Hermione reached for their glasses. “We'd better not all drink them in here… Once we turn into Crabbe and Goyle we won't fit. And Millicent Bulstrode's no pixie.”
“Good thinking,” said Ron, unlocking the door. “We'll take separate stalls.”
Careful not to spill a drop of his Polyjuice Potion, Harry slipped into the middle stall.
“Ready?” he called.
“Ready,” came Ron's and Hermione's voices.
“One - two - three—”
Pinching his nose, Harry drank the potion down in two large gulps82. It tasted like overcooked cabbage.
Immediately, his insides started writhing83 as though he'd just swallowed live snakes - doubled up, he wondered whether he was going to be sick - then a burning sensation spread rapidly from his stomach to the very ends of his fingers and toes - next, bringing him gasping84 to all fours, came a horrible melting feeling, as the skin all over his body bubbled like hot wax - and before his eyes, his hands began to grow, the fingers thickened, the nails broadened, the knuckles85 were bulging86 like bolts - his shoulders stretched painfully and a prickling on his forehead told him that hair was creeping down toward his eyebrows87 - his robes ripped as his chest expanded like a barrel bursting its hoops88 - his feet were agony in shoes four sizes too small.
As suddenly as it had started, everything stopped. Harry lay facedown on the stone-cold floor, listening to Myrtle gurgling morosely89 in the end toilet. With difficulty, he kicked off his shoes and stood up. So this was what it felt like, being Goyle. His large hand trembling, he pulled off his old robes, which were hanging a foot above his ankles, pulled on the spare ones, and laced up Goyle's boatlike shoes. He reached up to brush his hair out of his eyes and met only the short growth of wiry bristles, low on his forehead. Then he realized that his glasses were clouding his eyes because Goyle obviously didn't need them - he took them off and called, “Are you two okay?” Goyle's low rasp of a voice issued from his mouth.
“Yeah,” came the deep grunt90 of Crabbe from his right.
Harry unlocked his door and stepped in front of the cracked mirror. Goyle stared back at him out of dull, deepset eyes. Harry scratched his ear. So did Goyle.
Ron's door opened. They stared at each other. Except that he looked pale and shocked, Ron was indistinguishable from Crabbe, from the pudding-bowl haircut to the long, gorilla91 arms.
“This is unbelievable,” said Ron, approaching the mirror and prodding92 Crabbe's flat nose. “Unbelievable.”
“We'd better get going,” said Harry, loosening the watch that was cutting into Goyle's thick wrist. “We've still got to find out where the Slytherin common room is. I only hope we can find someone to follow…”
Ron, who had been gazing at Harry, said, “You don't know how bizarre it is to see Goyle thinking.” He banged on Hermione's door. “C'mon, we need to go—”
A high-pitched voice answered him.
“I - I don't think I'm going to come after all. You go on without me.”
“Hermione, we know Millicent Bulstrode's ugly, no one's going to know it's you—”
“No - really - I don't think I'll come. You two hurry up, you're wasting time—”
Harry looked at Ron, bewildered.
“That looks more like Goyle,” said Ron. “That's how he looks every time a teacher asks him a question.”
“Hermione, are you okay?” said Harry through the door.
“Fine - I'm fine - go on—”
Harry looked at his watch. Five of their precious sixty minutes had already passed.
“We'll meet you back here, all right?” he said.
Harry and Ron opened the door of the bathroom carefully, checked that the coast was clear, and set off.
“Don't swing your arms like that,” Harry muttered to Ron.
“Eh?”
“Crabbe holds them sort of stiff…”
“How's this?”
“Yeah, that's better…”
They went down the marble staircase. All they needed now was a Slytherin that they could follow to the Slytherin common room, but there was nobody around.
“Any ideas?” muttered Harry.
“The Slytherins always come up to breakfast from over there,” said Ron, nodding at the entrance to the dungeons93. The words had barely left his mouth when a girl with long, curly hair emerged from the entrance.
“Excuse me,” said Ron, hurrying up to her. “We've forgotten the way to our common room.”
“I beg your pardon?” said the girl stiffly. “Our common room? I'm a Ravenclaw.”
She walked away, looking suspiciously back at them.
Harry and Ron hurried down the stone steps into the darkness, their footsteps echoing particularly loudly as Crabbe's and Goyle's huge feet hit the floor, feeling that this wasn't going to be as easy as they had hoped.
The labyrinthine94 passages were deserted. They walked deeper and deeper under the school, constantly checking their watches to see how much time they had left. After a quarter of an hour, just when they were getting desperate, they heard a sudden movement ahead.
“Ha!” said Ron excitedly. “There's one of them now!”
The figure was emerging from a side room. As they hurried nearer, however, their hearts sank. It wasn't a Slytherin, it was Percy.
“What're you doing down here?” said Ron in surprise.
“That,” he said stiffly, “is none of your business. It's Crabbe, isn't it?”
“Wh - oh, yeah,” said Ron.
“Well, get off to your dormitories,” said Percy sternly. “It's not safe to go wandering around dark corridors these days.”
“You are,” Ron pointed out.
“I,” said Percy, drawing himself up, “am a prefect. Nothing's about to attack me.”
A voice suddenly echoed behind Harry and Ron. Draco Malfoy was strolling toward them, and for the first time in his life, Harry was pleased to see him.
“There you are,” he drawled, looking at them. “Have you two been pigging out in the Great Hall all this time? I've been looking for you; I want to show you something really funny.”
Malfoy glanced witheringly at Percy.
“And what're you doing down here, Weasley?” he sneered96.
“You want to show a bit more respect to a school prefect!” he said. “I don't like your attitude!”
Malfoy sneered and motioned for Harry and Ron to follow him. Harry almost said something apologetic to Percy but caught himself just in time. He and Ron hurried after Malfoy, who said as they turned into the next passage, “That Peter Weasley—”
“Percy,” Ron corrected him automatically.
“Whatever,” said Malfoy. “I've noticed him sneaking98 around a lot lately. And I bet I know what he's up to. He thinks he's going to catch Slytherin's heir single-handed.”
He gave a short, derisive99 laugh. Harry and Ron exchanged excited looks.
Malfoy paused by a stretch of bare, damp stone wall.
“What's the new password again?” he said to Harry.
“Er -” said Harry.
“Oh, yeah - pure-blood!” said Malfoy, not listening, and a stone door concealed100 in the wall slid open. Malfoy marched through it, and Harry and Ron followed him.
The Slytherin common room was a long, low underground room with rough stone walls and ceiling from which round, greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling under an elaborately carved mantelpiece ahead of them, and several Slytherins were silhouetted101 around it in high-backed chairs.
“Wait here,” said Malfoy to Harry and Ron, motioning them to a pair of empty chairs set back from the fire. “I'll go and get it my father's just sent it to me—”
Wondering what Malfoy was going to show them, Harry and Ron sat down, doing their best to look at home.
Malfoy came back a minute later, holding what looked like a newspaper clipping. He thrust it under Ron's nose.
“That'll give you a laugh,” he said.
Harry saw Ron's eyes widen in shock. He read the clipping quickly, gave a very forced laugh, and handed it to Harry.
It had been clipped out of the Daily Prophet , and it said:
INQUIRY102 AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC
Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse103 of Muggle Artifacts Office, was today fined fifty Galleons104 for bewitching a Muggle car.
Mr. Lucius Malfoy, a governor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft105 and Wizardry, where the enchanted car crashed earlier this year, called today for Mr. Weasley's resignation. “Weasley has brought the Ministry into disrepute,” Mr. Malfoy told our reporter. “He is clearly unfit to draw up our laws and his ridiculous Muggle Protection Act should be scrapped106 immediately.”
Mr. Weasley was unavailable for comment, although his wife told reporters to clear off or she'd set the family ghoul on them.
“Well?” said Malfoy impatiently as Harry handed the clipping back to him. “Don't you think it's funny?”
“Ha, ha,” said Harry bleakly107.
“Arthur Weasley loves Muggles so much he should snap his wand in half and go and join them,” said Malfoy scornfully. “You'd never know the Weasleys were pure-bloods, the way they behave.”
Ron's - or rather, Crabbe's - face was contorted with fury.
“What's up with you, Crabbe?” snapped Malfoy.
“Stomachache,” Ron grunted108.
“Well, go up to the hospital wing and give all those Mudbloods a kick from me,” said Malfoy, snickering. “You know, I'm surprised the Daily Prophet hasn't reported all these attacks yet,” he went on thoughtfully. “I suppose Dumbledore's trying to hush109 it all up. He'll be sacked if it doesn't stop soon. Father's always said old Dumbledore's the worst thing that's ever happened to this place. He loves Muggle-borns. A decent headmaster would never've let slime like that Creevey in.”
Malfoy started taking pictures with an imaginary camera and did a cruel but accurate impression of Colin: “`Potter, can I have your picture, Potter? Can I have your autograph? Can I lick your shoes, please, Potter?”
He dropped his hands and looked at Harry and Ron.
“What's the matter with you two?”
Far too late, Harry and Ron forced themselves to laugh, but Malfoy seemed satisfied; perhaps Crabbe and Goyle were always slow on the uptake.
“Saint Potter, the Mudbloods'friend,” said Malfoy slowly. “He's another one with no proper wizard feeling, or he wouldn't go around with that jumped up Granger Mudblood. And people think he's Slytherin's heir!”
Harry and Ron waited with bated breath: Malfoy was surely seconds away from telling them it was him - but then “I wish I knew who it is,” said Malfoy petulantly110. “I could help them.”
Ron's jaw111 dropped so that Crabbe looked even more clueless than usual. Fortunately, Malfoy didn't notice, and Harry, thinking fast, said, “You must have some idea who's behind it all…”
“You know I haven't, Goyle, how many times do I have to tell you?” snapped Malfoy. “And Father won't tell me anything about the last time the Chamber was opened either. Of course, it was fifty years ago, so it was before his time, but he knows all about it, and he says that it was all kept quiet and it'll look suspicious if I know too much about it. But I know one thing - last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened, a Mudblood died. So I bet it's a matter of time before one of them's killed this time… I hope it's Granger,” he said with relish112.
Ron was clenching113 Crabbe's gigantic fists. Feeling that it would be a bit of a giveaway if Ron punched Malfoy, Harry shot him a warning look and said, “D'you know if the person who opened the Chamber last time was caught?”
“Oh, yeah… whoever it was was expelled,” said Malfoy. “They're probably still in Azkaban.”
“Azkaban?” said Harry, puzzled.
“Azkaban - the wizard prison, Goyle,” said Malfoy, looking at him in disbelief “Honestly, if you were any slower, you'd be going backward.”
He shifted restlessly in his chair and said, “Father says to keep my head down and let the Heir of Slytherin get on with it. He says the school needs ridding of all the Mudblood filth114, but not to get mixed up in it. Of course, he's got a lot on his plate at the moment. You know the Ministry of Magic raided our manor115 last week?”
Harry tried to force Goyle's dull face into a look of concern.
“Yeah…” said Malfoy. “Luckily, they didn't find much. Father's got some very valuable Dark Arts stuff. But luckily, we've got our own secret chamber under the drawing-room floor—”
“Ho!” said Ron.
Malfoy looked at him. So did Harry. Ron blushed. Even his hair was turning red. His nose was also slowly lengthening116 - their hour was up, Ron was turning back into himself, and from the look of horror he was suddenly giving Harry, he must be, too.
They both jumped to their feet.
“Medicine for my stomach,” Ron grunted, and without further ado they sprinted the length of the Slytherin common room, hurled117 themselves at the stone wall, and dashed up the passage, hoping against hope that Malfoy hadn't noticed anything. Harry could feel his feet slipping around in Goyle's huge shoes and had to hoist118 up his robes as he shrank; they crashed up the steps into the dark entrance hall, which was full of a muffled119 pounding coming from the closet where they'd locked Crabbe and Goyle. Leaving their shoes outside the closet door, they sprinted in their socks up the marble staircase toward Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
“Well, it wasn't a complete waste of time,” Ron panted, closing the bathroom door behind them. “I know we still haven't found out who's doing the attacks, but I'm going to write to Dad tomorrow and tell him to check under the Malfoys'drawing room.”
Harry checked his face in the cracked mirror. He was back to normal. He put his glasses on as Ron hammered on the door of Hermione's stall.
“Hermione, come out, we've got loads to tell you—”
“Go away!” Hermione squeaked120.
Harry and Ron looked at each other.
“What's the matter?” said Ron. “You must be back to normal by now, we are.”
But Moaning Myrtle glided121 suddenly through the stall door. Harry had never seen her looking so happy.
“Ooooooh, wait till you see,” she said. “It's awful—”
They heard the lock slide back and Hermione emerged, sobbing122, her robes pulled up over her head.
“What's up?” said Ron uncertainly. “Have you still got Millicent's nose or something?”
Hermione let her robes fall and Ron backed into the sink.
Her face was covered in black fur. Her eyes had turned yellow and there were long, pointed ears poking123 through her hair.
“It was a c-cat hair!” she howled. “M-Millicent Bulstrode m-must have a cat! And the p-potion isn't supposed to be used for animal transformations124!”
“Uh-oh,” said Ron.
“You'll be teased something dreadful,” said Myrtle happily.
“It's okay, Hermione,” said Harry quickly. “We'll take you up to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey never asks too many questions…”
It took a long time to persuade Hermione to leave the bathroom. Moaning Myrtle sped them on their way with a hearty125 guffaw126. “Wait till everyone finds out you've got a tail!”
他们走到石梯尽头，麦康娜教授在门上叩了叩。门无声地开了，他们走了过去。
麦康娜让哈利一个人在那里等，接着就走开了。
哈利环顾四周，有一点是肯定的，在今年哈利参观过的所有老师的家中，丹伯多的家是最有趣的。要不是因为怕被开除出校，他一定很乐意到处瞧一瞧的。
这是一个又大又漂亮的方形屋子，里面不时发出一些很有趣的小声音。一些奇形怪状的银器具放在有仿锤形脚的桌子上，旋转着散发出丝丝缕缕的轻烟。墙上贴的全是以前的校长肖像，有男的、有女的，每个人都神情高雅。在一只巨大的，有爪形桌脚的桌子后面有一个搁架，上面放着一顶破破旧旧的分类帽。
哈利犹豫地看了看墙上的肖像，如果他把分类帽拿下来再放回去的话，应该没什么不妥吧？看看就好……只是要确定它把他分进了正确的学院。
他悄悄地绕过桌子，从搁架上拎起分类帽，慢慢地放到自己头上。它太大了，滑下来遮住了他的眼睛，就像上次一样。哈利盯着分类帽黑乎乎的里面看，等着，接着一个轻轻的声音在他身边说：“帽子里的蜜蜂（咒语），哈利。波特吗？”
“呃，是的，”哈利低声说，“呃，对不起，打扰你了——我想问一下——”
“你想知道我是不是把你分到正确的学院去了，”分类帽聪明地说，“是的……你太难分了。但我坚持我以前说过的——“哈利的心跳了一下。”你如果在史林德林的话会做得很出色的。”
哈利的心沉了下去。他一把抓起分类帽把它从头上拿了下来。
它在他手里被弄得软软的，笨拙的又皱巴巴的。哈利把它放回搁架上，心里很悲伤。
“你错了。”他大声地对动也不动静悄悄的分类帽说。它还是一动不动，哈利回过身看着它，突然一个奇怪的声音从后面传来让他转过身。
他毕竟不是孤独的。门后的鸟架上站着一只看起来很老的鸟，就像一只只剩下一半毛的火鸡，哈利看着它，它也忧郁地看着他，一边又发出那种怪声，哈利想它看起来真够糟糕的，接着又有几条羽毛从从它的尾巴上掉下来。
哈利正在想着，如果要他单独和它在办公室里的话，他宁愿它死掉，这时那鸟忽然被火焰包围了。
哈利骇得大叫起来，退回桌旁，他急切地寻找想看看是否能找到一杯水，但根本没有。这时，鸟已变成了一个火球，它发出一声尖叫。
不一会就只剩地上的～堆灰炽了。
办公室的门打开了，丹伯多走了进来，看起来很阴郁。
“教授，”哈利喘着气，“我什么也没有做——你的鸟忽然就着火了——”
让哈利惊讶的是，丹伯多微笑了。
“只是时间问题，”他说，“它已经很糟糕了，好几天了。我告诉过它可以走了。”
他对着哈利脸上那发愣的表情发出了几声轻笑。
“达摩克是一只凤凰。当凤凰残废的时间到来时，它就在火焰中燃烧，然后从余炽中重生。你看它……”
哈利马上向下一看，看到一只皮肤皱巴巴的雏鸟正从灰炽里探出头来。它就跟那老的一样难看。
“让你看到它这样真是不好意思。”丹伯多说，坐回他的桌子。
“它很多时候都是一只很好看的漂亮的有着金红羽毛的凤凰，是一只很吸引人的动物。它们能背负很重的东西。它们的眼泪能治病，而且它们是很忠诚的宠物。”
在看到达摩克着火的震惊中，哈利已忘了到这儿来的目的。但当丹伯多坐在桌后的高背椅，用他那尖锐的眼睛看着他时，哈利想起来了。
在丹伯多没来得及讲话时，门忽然“砰”地一声被撞开了。哈格力眼神狂乱地冲了进来。他的围巾围到他那黑乎乎，头发蓬松的头顶，手里还拎着那只鸡。
“不是哈利，丹伯多教授！”哈格力着急地说，“在那孩子被发现的几秒前我正在和他讲话，他没时间，先生……”
丹伯多试着要说些什么，但哈格力继续叫嚷着，提着鸡焦虑地挥舞着，鸡毛洒落了一地。
“不能冤枉他，我可以在上帝面前发誓，要是我……”
“哈格力，我——”
“你们找错人了，先生。我知道哈利从来——”
“哈格力！”丹伯多提高了嗓门说，“我并不认为哈利袭击了任何人。”
“哦，”哈格力松了口气，鸡又软绵绵地落回去。“好，那我在外面等，校长。”
他尴尬地跺着脚出去了。
“你不认为是我吗，教授？”哈利满怀期待地重复，而丹伯多正把脚上的鸡毛弹去。
“不，哈利，我不认为是你。”丹伯多说，虽然他的脸又沉了下去，“但我仍想和你谈谈。”
哈利紧张地等着，当丹伯多著有所思地看着他和他的鼻尖时。
“我必须问问你，哈利，你有没有什么要跟我说的？”他温和地说，“什么都行。”
哈利不知道怎么说，他想起马尔夫的叫声，“你将是下一个流着马尼血液的！”
还有神奇药浆在麦托勒的洗澡间里煮着，接着他想起那个只闻其声，他听过两次的声音和罗恩说的话：“听到别人听不见的声音可不是什么好兆头，就算是在巫术界”。
他也想到了每个人对他的评议，和他越来越担心自己真的和撒拉沙。史林德林有什么关系……”“不，没事了，教授。“哈利说。
贾斯丁和尼克遇袭的事让猜想紧张地变成了真实的痛苦。显然的，尼克的命运似乎更引起人们的担忧。人们互相询问：怎么可能这样对待一只鬼？什么可怕的力量能伤害一个已经死了的人？人们蜂涌到霍格瓦彻的车站订车票以便可以回家过圣诞节。
“在这种情况下，我们是唯一留下的，”罗恩告诉哈利和荷米恩，“我们，马尔夫，克来伯和高尔，这将是个多么愉快的假期。”
克来伯和高尔、马尔夫的跟班，也签了名留在学校，但令哈利高兴的是大部分人都要走了，他已厌倦了人们在走道上躲避着他，仿佛他长了尖牙或是要向他们吐毒液似的，他厌倦了人们从身边走过时对他的指指点点。
弗来德和乔治却觉得这很好玩。他们故意在走道上和哈利相遇，一边大叫，“让路给史林德林的后代，极端邪恶的……”
伯希非常反对这样做。
“这可不是什么好笑的事。”他冷静地说。
“噢，让开，伯希，”弗来德说，“哈利赶时间。”
“啊，他正忙着去神秘秘室和他长着尖牙的仆人喝午茶呢。”乔治咯咯大笑。
金妮觉得一点都不好笑。
“噢，别，”每次当弗来德问哈利是否正在准备进行下一次袭击，金妮总是激烈地抗议。
哈利一点也不介意。至少他感觉比弗来德和乔治好。一想到他可能是史林德林的后代他就觉得可笑，但他们的闹剧似乎激怒了马尔夫，每次看到他们时他的脾气就越来越坏。
“那是因为他快要忍不住说实际上他才是。”罗恩知道怎么回事。
“你知道他最恨人家打击他了。而你却在为他的行为负责。”
“不会很久的，”荷米恩讽刺地说，“神奇药浆就要完成了，我们随时可以让他说出真相。”
学期终于结束了，安静得连雪花从城堡上掉到地上的声音都听得见。哈利觉得很平和，毫不沮丧。他很乐于作一件事，就是他可以和荷米恩、威斯里绕着格林芬顿塔跑。这意味着他们可以尽倩嬉戏而不怕吵到别人，而且还能私下练习格斗。弗来德、乔治和金妮宁愿不和威斯里夫妇去参观埃及，而选择留在学校。伯希不满他们的态度，因为他们并没有花很长时间呆在格林芬顿的宿舍里。
圣诞那天早上很冷，到处是白茫茫一片。哈利和罗恩早早就被荷米恩叫醒了，他们是唯一留在宿舍的，她一身盛装冲了进去，送了礼物给他们俩。
“起床了。”她大声地说，拉开了窗帘。
“荷米恩——你怎会在这里？”罗恩用手挡住光线。
“圣诞快乐。”荷米恩把礼物扔给他，“我已起床有一个小时了，还添了一些透明翅在药汤里呢。药已经好了。”
哈利一下子清醒过来，坐了起来。
“你确定？”
“绝对，”荷米恩移开小老鼠斯卡伯斯坐了下来，“如果我们要动手，我想今晚就可以。”
这时，海维忽然飞了进来，嘴上叼着一个包裹。
“嗨，”哈利开心地说，当它停在他床上时，“你又在对我说话吗？”
它宠爱地轻咬他的耳朵，这比它带来的礼物更受欢迎。那是来自杜斯利的礼物，他们送给他一副牙签，并附了字条问他暑假能不能在霍格瓦彻渡过。
哈利的其他圣诞礼物更让人满意。哈格力送了他一大听糖浆。
哈利决定在食用前先拿到火上烤一烤把它弄软。罗恩送他一本叫《快迪斯集锦》的书，是一本记录他最喜欢的快迪斯的秩闻趣事的事。
荷米恩则送了他一支贵重的鹰毛羽毛笔。哈利打开最后一份礼物，那是威斯里夫人送的手织长背心，还有一个大蛋糕。他拿起她的卡，心底涌上一股不常有的内疚。他想起威斯里的车，自从上次和胡宾柳树相撞后，就再也没有见过立了，他还想起了罗思接着一起计划要做的违规的事。
没有人能不参加在霍格瓦彻的圣诞晚餐，就连因为稍后要取神奇药浆而忐忑不安的人也是。
大礼堂看起来漂亮极了，不仅有两棵挂着霜冰的圣诞树，有从天花板上垂下来的沉甸甸的饰带，有呈十字交叉装饰在天花板上的常青椒寄生树，而且还有从屋顶飘落的雪花，更增添了节日气氛，丹伯多领唱了几首他最喜欢的欢乐颂歌。随着几杯蛋酒下喉，哈格力越来越兴高采烈。伯希没有注意到弗来德对他最喜欢的三好徽章施了咒语，把它变成大头针，还在不断地问他们在笑什么，哈利甚至毫不理会正在那边大肆吹嘘他那新背心的马尔夫，幸运的话，几个小时内他就会迎来他的终结日了。
哈利和罗恩几乎没吃完第三道圣诞布了就被荷米恩叫出大礼堂吉。最后布署他们今晚的计划。
“我们仍需要你们要变成的人身上的一些东西。”她实事求是地说，就好像她只不过是要他们到超级市场里买洗衣粉一样。“显然，如果能拿到克来伯和高尔的东西就最好不过了，因为他们是马尔夫的死党，他会向他们说出一切，而且我们必须保证真的克来伯和高尔在我们讯问他时不会出现。”“我已经把它全取出来了。”
她平静地说，毫不理会哈利和罗恩那呆愣的表情。她取出两块巧克力蛋糕。“我将在这里面加入安眠药。你们要做的就是确保让克来伯和高尔发现它们。你知道他们有多贪心，他们会一口把蛋糕吞下去的，一旦他们睡着了，马上扯下他们几根头发，放进扫帚柜橱里。”
哈利和罗恩不敢置信地看着对方。
“荷米恩，我不认为——”
“那会惹来大麻烦——”
但荷米恩眼里有一种坚定的光芒，一种在麦康娜教授眼里也出现过的光芒。
“如果没有克来伯和高尔的头发，药就毫无用处。”她严肃地说，“你想调查马尔夫，不是吗？”
“噢，好吧，好吧，”哈利说，“那你呢？谁的头发给你用？”
“我已经拿到了！”荷米恩快活地说，从口袋里掏出一个整齐的小瓶子，里面装了一根头发。“还记得米丽森在格斗俱乐部紧紧抓住我的头发吗？当她要掐我的时候把这个留在了我衣服上。她已经回家过圣诞了——所以我只需告诉史林德林我决定回来了。”
当荷米恩忙于再次检查药时罗恩一脸听天由命的表情转向哈利。
让哈利和罗恩感到惊愕的是，一切都被荷米恩料中了。他们喝过圣诞茶后就藏匿在静僻的进口处等克来伯和高尔。他们还留在史林德林桌上吞食剩下的四道菜。
哈利已经把巧克力蛋糕放在栏杆的末端上了。当他们看到克来伯和高尔走出大礼堂时，他们赶快藏到前门旁边的门拱后。
“看你能吃得了多少？”当克来伯欢天喜地的指着蛋糕告诉高尔，并一把抓起它们整个塞进大嘴里，两个人贪婪地咀嚼了一会，脸上露出胜利的笑容。接着，他们就表情不变，软绵绵地倒在地上。
最难办的就是要把他们藏在柜橱里，而这必须穿过大厅。当把他们安全地藏在水桶和拖把里运送过去后，哈利猛地拨了一根高尔前额的头发，罗恩也拔了几根克来伯的头发，他们偷了他们的鞋子，因为他们自己的鞋子子对克来伯和高尔的大脚板来说太小了。对他们自己所做的一切仍感到呆愕不已时，他们跑进了呻吟的麦托勒的厕所小间。
他们几乎什么也看不到，因为小室里面荷米思正在搅动药锅，到处都是又浓又黑的烟。把衣服拉到脸上，哈利和罗恩轻轻地敲了敲门。
“荷米恩？”
他们听到开锁的声音，接着荷米恩露出头来，脸上发着光，而且看起来有些焦急。在她后面传来汽泡咕咕的声音，是糖浆一般浓的药。三个大玻璃瓶放在抽水木桶的坐位上。
“拿到了吗？”荷米恩紧张地问。
哈利拿出克来伯的头发给她看。
“棒极了，我悄悄把这些备用长袍偷出洗衣店，”荷米恩拿着一个小袋子说，“当你们变身为克来伯和高尔时，你们需要大码的衣服。”
他们三个盯着药锅里头。近看，药浆就像又黑又厚的，慢慢冒着泡的泥浆。
“确信我们都准备好了？”荷米恩紧张地说，又读了一遍《神奇药典》上污迹斑斑的书页，“书上好像说应该……在我们变回自己前我们有整整一个小时的时间。”
“现在做什么？”罗恩悄悄地问。
“我们把这分成三杯，再加头发进去。”
荷米恩分别舀了一大勺到三个玻璃杯里，接着，她颤抖着手把米丽森的头发从瓶里摇进第一个杯里。
药浆像个烧满开水的水壶一样发出嘶嘶的声音，不断地冒泡。
不一会，变成了一种恶心的黄色。
“啊——米丽森的精髓，”罗恩厌恶地看着它，“喝起来肯定与众不同。”
“到你们了。”荷米恩说。
哈利把高尔的头发扔进中间的杯子，罗恩把克来伯的扔进最后一个，两个杯子同时发出嘶嘶声，起了泡沫，高尔的变成一种黄褐色，克来伯则变成暗黑的褐色。
“拿好了，”哈利说，当罗恩和荷米恩伸手去拿杯子时，“我们最好别在这喝，这里太窄了。而且米丽森也不是什么小精灵。”
“对极了，”罗恩打开，“我们到分开的小房间里去喝。”
小心翼翼地不让药浆溅出来，哈利溜进中间的房间。
“准备好没有？”他高声问。
“好了，”罗恩和荷米恩回答。
哈利捏着鼻子，两大口就把药灌了下去。它喝起来就像煮过火的卷心菜。
很快地，他的五脏六腑开始扭曲翻腾，好像他刚刚吞了一条活生生的蛇一样——痛得他直不起腰，他想知道是不是要生病了——接着一胜火烧的感觉迅速从肚子传遍他全身的指尖紧接着，他倒抽了一口冷气，一种可怕的熔化了的感觉遍布四肢，仿佛全身的皮肤都像熔蜡一样冒泡了。在他的眼睛和手开始变长前，他的手变粗，指甲变宽了，连关节也像突然冒出来的一般，鼓了起来，他的肩膀变宽了，前额上被戳的感觉告诉他，他的头发正朝着眉毛的方向长出来；当他的胸肌变厚时衣服被撑裂了，就好像木桶挣破箍桶铁一样，他的脚在小了四码的鞋子里痛苦地挣着……
就像开始时那么突然，一切又停了下来。哈利脸贴在冰冷的地板上，听到马尔夫在厕所的一头骂骂咧咧。他花了很大劲才踢掉鞋子站了起来。就像现在感觉到的，他变成了高尔，他用大手颤抖着脱下那吊在离他脚踝一英尺上的旧施子，换上备用的袍子，套上高尔那像小船一样的靴子。他伸手理了埋头发，但只摸到了前额下那长得很短的几簇硬发。这时他意识到眼镜反而让眼睛看得不清楚，因为高尔显然不需要它。他摘下眼镜叫道：“你们两个还好吧？”从他嘴里得出的是高尔那个刺耳的嗓音。
“还行。”克来伯低沉的咕咕噜噜的声音从他右边传来。
哈利打开门，走到裂了缝的镜子前面，镜子里，高尔用他呆滞而深陷的眼睛盯着他。哈利抓住他的耳朵，高尔也跟着做了。
罗恩的门打开了。他们盯着对方。除了看起来有些苍白和震惊外，罗恩现在和克来伯根本没有区别。
“这真是难以置信，”罗恩说。他一边走近镜子一边用手戳着克来伯扁平的鼻子，“难以置信。”他说。
“我们最好继续，”哈利说，一边松开嵌入高尔胖乎乎的手腕上的手表，“我们还要继续看看史林德林的宿舍在哪里。我只希望我们能找一些人来帮忙……”
罗恩盯着哈利说：“你不知道高尔的想法有多奇怪。”他敲响荷米恩的门，说：“快点，我们要走了。”
一阵尖叫从房中传出：“我一点也不想去，你们自己去吧。”荷米恩说。
罗恩说：“荷米恩，我们知道米丽森很丑陋，但谁也不会知道那其实是你的。”
“不，真的，我不会去的。你们两个快点吧，不要浪费时间了。”荷米恩说。
哈利迷惑地看着罗思。
“就像高尔一样，”罗恩说，“每当老师问他问题时，他就是这副模样。”
“荷米恩，你还好吗？”哈利隔着门说。
“很好，我很好。你们快点走吧。”荷米恩说。
哈利看着他的表，宝贵的六十分钟又过去了五分钟。
“我们回头再来看你，好吗？”哈利说。
哈利和罗恩小心翼翼地打开洗手间的门，检查了下大衣是否干净就出去了。
“不要这样晃着你的手。”哈利小声对罗恩说。
“嗯？”
“克来伯总是僵硬地放着他的手的。”哈利说。
“这样如何？”
“嗯，好多了。”
他们走下楼梯。他们现在所需要的是一个史林德林，以便跟着他到史林德林的宿舍。但是周围空无一人。
“有什么主意？”哈利喃喃地说。
“这些史林德林总是从那边到这里来吃早餐，”罗恩说，向地牢的入口点了点头。话刚完，那入口处出现了一个留着卷曲长发的女孩。
“对不起，”罗恩赶忙走上前去说，“我们忘了怎么回我们宿舍了。”
“你说什么？”那女孩生硬地说，“我们宿舍？我是一个罗尼文克劳学院的。”
她走开了，怀疑地回头望了望他们。
哈利和罗恩匆匆忙忙地从石阶向黑暗深处走去。他们的脚步声有规则地大声回响着，就像克来伯和高尔的大脚走在地板上一样。
他们意识到事情并不像他们所想象的那般容易。
这些迷宫似的通道空无一人。他们往深处走去，时不时看看还有剩下多少时间。
一刻钟后，就在他们渐渐感到绝望时，他们突然听见前面有响声。
“哈！”罗恩高兴地说，“终于有人了。”
那人影从一个边房露出来。当他们走近时，不禁心一沉。这不是史林德林，而是伯希。
“你在这里干什么？”罗恩奇怪地问。
伯希看起来很难堪。
“这……”他僵硬地说，“这不关你的。这是克来怕吗？”
“谁？噢，是的，我是。”罗恩说。
“回你们的住所去。”伯希严厉地说：“这些天在这黑暗的过道上游荡不安全。”
“你不也在这‘游荡’吗？”罗恩指出道。
“我……”，伯希挺了挺胸说，“我是一个‘三好’章获得者。没有什么东西可以伤害我。”
这时，一阵响声突然在哈利和罗恩身后回响。杰高。马尔夫缓步向他们走来。
在哈利的一生中，他第一次这么高兴见到杰高。马尔夫。
“原来你们在这里。”杰高。马尔夫慢条斯理地说，“这时候，你们不是在宿舍吗？我一直在找你们。我想给你们看一些有趣的东西。”
马尔夫瞥了伯希一眼。
“你又在这里干什么，威斯里？”他鄙视地说。
伯希看起来很粗暴。
“你最好尊重一下学校的三好章获得者。”他说，“我不喜欢你这样的态度。”
马尔夫鄙视地看了他一眼就叫哈利和罗恩跟他走。哈利几乎要对伯希说一些抱歉的话，但最终还是没有。他和罗恩紧跟着马尔夫，就在他们拐进第二个通道时，马尔夫说，“那伯希。威斯里……”
“是‘伯希’，”罗恩主动纠正他。
“不管叫什么都好，”马尔夫说，“我已经注意到他最近老在这地方打转了。
我敢打赌我知道他在计划什么。他想单枪匹马抓住史林德林的后代。”
他发出短促的、嘲弄的笑声。哈利和罗恩互相交换了个兴奋的神情。
马尔夫在一堵光秃秃的、潮湿的石墙边停了下来。他对哈利说：“新暗语是什么？”
“嗯——”哈利说。
“噢，对了，是‘纯洁的血’。”马尔夫说。接着，没有听见什么，一个隐藏在墙里的石门打开了，马尔夫慢慢走进去。哈利和罗恩紧跟着他。
史林德林宿舍是很长，低矮的地下室。室里有坚固的石墙和天花板，天花板上用逻条挂着圆形的，带点绿色的灯。在他们面前是一个燃烧着火的半圆的壁炉。有几个史林德林学生的身影映在壁炉周围的弯曲的椅子里。
“在这里等着。”马尔夫对哈利和罗思说，手指着火炉边的两张空椅子。“我去拿东西，神父刚把它送给我了。”马尔夫说。
哈利和罗恩怀着惊奇的心请坐下了。他们不知马尔夫会拿什么东西给他们看。
他们尽量把这里看成家里。
一分钟后，马尔夫回来了，手里拿着一张类似剪报的东西。他把它往罗恩鼻子下面送。
“你们保证会发笑的。”马尔夫说。
哈利看见罗恩的眼睛由于惊恐而张得很大。罗恩快速地读了遍剪报，发出一阵无可奈何的笑声。接着，他把它递给了哈利。
这是从《每日预报》中剪下的。内容是：关于魔法的调查。
亚瑟。威斯里，魔法部的管理人今天被罚款五十帆船币，因为他对一辆小车施了魔法。
露布斯。马尔夫先生，一个官员，今天要求威斯里先生辞职。因为在今年较早时，在霍格瓦彻学校，这辆被施了魔法的车坠毁了。
“威斯里使魔法部执法工作人员这个职务变得声名狼藉，”马尔夫先生告诉记者说，“很明显，他完全不适合制定我们的法规。他那荒谬的《马格人保护法》应该马上废除。
威斯里先生对此不给任何评论，虽然他的妻子告诉记者要么撤除这些报道，要么她将使这个家的鬼魂付在他们身上。
“怎么样？”当哈利把剪报还给马尔夫时，马尔夫说，“你不认为这很有趣吗？”
“哈，哈！”哈利凄凉地笑。
“亚瑟。威斯里非常喜欢马格人，他应该把魔杖折断去加入他们当中。”马尔夫轻蔑地说，“你也许从不知道威斯里家族的人是纯血统的，从他们的行为中可以看出。”
罗恩的，不如说克来伯的脸充满复仇的神情。
“你怎么了，克来伯？”马尔夫说。
“胃痛。”罗恩咕哝着。
“哦，到上面医院去，并替我给所有那些马尼血统的家伙一脚。”
马尔夫说，窃笑着，“你们瞧，我很奇怪，《每日预报》并没有报道全部攻击。”
他若有所思地说：“我猜丹伯多正试图息事宁人。因为如果这件事不立刻停止的话，他将会受到攻击，老爸总说丹伯多是这个地方所发生过的事情中最糟糕的一个例子。
他爱马格出身的人，一个正经的校长是不会让像柯林那样的无用鬼进来的。”
马尔夫开始用一个虚构的照像机拍照，并对柯林作了个悲惨而又精确的评论。
他说：“波特，我可以替你拍张照吗？嗯？波特？你可以给我签个名吗？我可以舐舐你的鞋吗？啊？波特？”
他放下他的手并看着哈利和罗恩。
“你们俩怎么了？”他问。
哈利和罗恩强迫自己笑，虽然这笑来得晚了些，但马尔夫似乎仍挺满意。或许克来伯和高尔向来对事情反应得比较迟钝。
“神圣的波特，和他马尼血统的朋友。”马尔夫慢慢地说，“他是一个没有正确的巫师观念的人，而大家却以为他是史林德林的后代。”
哈利和罗恩抑制着愤怒。他们肯定马尔夫几乎就要告诉他们真相了。谁知道马尔夫却傲慢地说，“我如果知道他的后代是谁就好了，那么我就可以帮助他们。”
罗恩拉长下巴以便使克来伯的脸看起来比往常更愚蠢。幸运的是，马尔夫并没注意。哈利快速转动脑筋，他说，“你一定猜到是谁吧？”
“你明知我并不知道，高尔，你要我告诉你多少次呢？”马尔夫说，“再说，老爸不会告诉我任何关于那神秘秘室最后一次打开的事情。
当然，这是五十年前的事了。虽然这事发生在他之前，但他了解一切关于这事的情况。他说这事保密。如果我知道太多，我会被怀疑的。
但我知道一点是：秘室之谜最后一次被打开时，死了一个马尼血统的人，所以我敢打赌他们其中一个人的死是迟早的事情。我希望它是格兰佐。“他高兴地说。
罗恩握紧克来伯的巨大的拳头，哈利感觉到如果罗恩打了马尔夫，那么秘密就会泄露，他赶紧用眼神警告罗恩，说：“你知道那个上一次打开秘室门的人是否被抓了？”
“哦，是的，不管是谁都会被驱逐。”马尔夫说，“他们也许仍在阿兹克班。”
“阿兹克班？”哈利疑惑地问。
“阿兹克班——一个巫术的监狱，高尔，”马尔夫有点怀疑地望着他，说，“老实说，你如果再这么迟钝，那么你就没救了。”
他从椅子上起来，说：“神父叫我，让那史林德林的后代捣下去。
他说学校需要清除一些马尼血统的污物。当然，此刻他自个儿的麻烦就很多。
你们知道上星期魔法部突袭检查我们的庄园的事吗？”
哈利试图使高尔毫无表情的脸显出一点关心来。
“你看，”马尔夫说，“幸运的是，他们并未发现太多。老爸得到了一些黑巫术的的非常珍贵的材料。更可幸的是，我们有了个自己的秘密的房间，在画房下面。”
“哦。”罗恩说。
马尔夫看了看他。哈利也看了看他。罗恩的脸一下子红了，连他的头发都红了。
他的鼻子慢慢拉长。罗恩向后转身，神情是那样恐怖。
他们起步就跑。
“我要拿胃药。”罗恩咕哝着，他们用力推着石墙，撞着过道。他们希望马尔夫没有注意到什么，哈利感觉到他的脚在高尔巨大的鞋子里打滑，并且他不得不提起被弄皱的长袍。他们跑到那黑暗的入口大厅。从那里传来沉重的撞击声。他们就是把克来伯和高尔锁在这橱柜里的。他们把鞋子留在橱柜外面，朝着呻吟的麦托勒的厕所小间跑上大理石楼梯。
“嗯，并不完全是浪费时间，”罗恩喘着气，在他们进去之后关上了洗澡间的门，说：“我知道我们还是没有找出是谁进行袭击，但明天我会写信给爸爸让他检查一下马尔夫的画室下面。”
哈利在有裂缝的镜子里看着自己的脸。他已经恢复正常了。在罗恩敲打着洗澡间的门的时候，他戴上了眼镜。
“荷米恩，出来，我们有很多话要告诉你。”
“走开！”荷米恩尖叫。
哈利和罗恩互望了一眼。
“怎么回事？”罗恩说，“你应该恢复正常了。我们是……
收听单词发音 |
1
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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2
bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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3
puffs
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| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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4
tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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5
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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7
plummeted
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| v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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feverishly
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| adv. 兴奋地 | |
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shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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14
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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phoenix
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| n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生 | |
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20
phoenixes
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| 凤凰，长生鸟（神话中的鸟，在阿拉伯沙漠中，可活数百年，然后自焚为灰而再生）( phoenix的名词复数 )； 菲尼克斯 （美国城市） | |
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21
poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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ranting
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| v.夸夸其谈( rant的现在分词 )；大叫大嚷地以…说教；气愤地)大叫大嚷；不停地大声抱怨 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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28
bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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stomped
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| v.跺脚，践踏，重踏( stomp的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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sprout
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| n.芽，萌芽；vt.使发芽，摘去芽；vi.长芽，抽条 | |
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34
fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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35
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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36
disapproving
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| adj.不满的，反对的v.不赞成( disapprove的现在分词 ) | |
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37
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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38
fanged
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| adj.有尖牙的，有牙根的，有毒牙的 | |
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39
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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41
clove
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| n.丁香味 | |
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42
aggravating
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| adj.恼人的，讨厌的 | |
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43
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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44
dueling
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| n. 决斗, 抗争(=duelling) 动词duel的现在分词形式 | |
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45
disapproved
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| v.不赞成( disapprove的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
pompously
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| adv.傲慢地，盛大壮观地；大模大样 | |
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47
swooped
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
beak
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| n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻 | |
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49
nibbled
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| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的过去式和过去分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
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50
treacle
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| n.糖蜜 | |
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51
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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52
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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53
cannons
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| n.加农炮，大炮，火炮( cannon的名词复数 ) | |
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54
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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55
quill
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| n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶 | |
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56
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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57
dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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58
holly
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| n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
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59
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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60
goblet
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| n.高脚酒杯 | |
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61
helpings
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| n.（食物）的一份( helping的名词复数 )；帮助，支持 | |
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62
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
finalize
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| v.落实，定下来 | |
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64
detergent
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| n.洗涤剂；adj.有洗净力的 | |
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65
interrogating
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| n.询问技术v.询问( interrogate的现在分词 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询 | |
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66
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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67
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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68
bustled
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| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
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69
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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70
lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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71
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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72
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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73
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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74
bristles
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| 短而硬的毛发，刷子毛( bristle的名词复数 ) | |
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75
sprinted
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| v.短距离疾跑( sprint的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76
glutinous
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| adj.粘的，胶状的 | |
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77
sneaked
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| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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78
sluggishly
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| adv.懒惰地；缓慢地 | |
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79
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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80
loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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81
murky
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| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
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82
gulps
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| n.一大口（尤指液体）( gulp的名词复数 )v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的第三人称单数 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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83
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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84
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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85
knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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86
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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87
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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88
hoops
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| n.箍( hoop的名词复数 )；（篮球）篮圈；（旧时儿童玩的）大环子；（两端埋在地里的）小铁弓 | |
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89
morosely
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| adv.愁眉苦脸地，忧郁地 | |
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90
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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91
gorilla
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| n.大猩猩，暴徒，打手 | |
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92
prodding
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| v.刺，戳( prod的现在分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
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93
dungeons
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| n.地牢( dungeon的名词复数 ) | |
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94
labyrinthine
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| adj.如迷宫的；复杂的 | |
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95
affronted
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| adj.被侮辱的，被冒犯的v.勇敢地面对( affront的过去式和过去分词 )；相遇 | |
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96
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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97
outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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98
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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99
derisive
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| adj.嘲弄的 | |
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100
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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101
silhouetted
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| 显出轮廓的，显示影像的 | |
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102
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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103
misuse
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| n.误用，滥用；vt.误用，滥用 | |
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104
galleons
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| n.大型帆船( galleon的名词复数 ) | |
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105
witchcraft
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| n.魔法，巫术 | |
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106
scrapped
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| 废弃(scrap的过去式与过去分词)； 打架 | |
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107
bleakly
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| 无望地，阴郁地，苍凉地 | |
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108
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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109
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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110
petulantly
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111
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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112
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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113
clenching
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的现在分词 ) | |
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114
filth
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| n.肮脏，污物，污秽；淫猥 | |
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115
manor
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| n.庄园，领地 | |
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116
lengthening
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的现在分词 )； 加长 | |
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117
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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118
hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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119
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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120
squeaked
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| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的过去式和过去分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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121
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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122
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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123
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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124
transformations
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| n.变化( transformation的名词复数 )；转换；转换；变换 | |
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125
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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126
guffaw
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| n.哄笑；突然的大笑 | |
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