Tom woke Harry1 the next morning with his usual toothless grin and a cup of tea. Harry got dressed and was just persuading a disgruntled Hedwig to get back into her cage when Ron banged his way into the room, pulling a sweatshirt over his head and looking irritable2.
“The sooner we get on the train, the better,” he said. “At least I can get away from Percy at Hogwarts. Now he's accusing me of dripping tea on his photo of Penelope Clearwater. You know,” Ron grimaced3, “his girlfriend. She's hidden her face under the frame because her nose has gone all blotchy…”
“I've got something to tell you,” Harry began, but they were interrupted by Fred and George, who had looked in to congratulate Ron on infuriating Percy again.
They headed down to breakfast, where Mr. Weasley was reading the front page of the Daily Prophet with a furrowed4 brow and Mrs. Weasley was telling Hermione and Ginny about a love potion she'd made as a young girl. All three of them were rather giggly6.
“What were you saying?” Ron asked Harry as they sat down.
“Later,” Harry muttered as Percy stormed in.
Harry had no chance to speak to Ron or Hermione in the chaos7 of leaving; they were too busy heaving all their trunks down the Leaky Cauldron's narrow staircase and piling them up near the door, with Hedwig and Hermes, Percy's screech8 owl9, perched on top in their cages. A small wickerwork basket stood beside the heap of trunks, spitting loudly.
“It's all right, Crookshanks,” Hermione cooed through the wickerwork. “I'll let you out on the train.”
“You won't,” snapped Ron. “What about poor Scabbers, eh?”
He pointed10 at his chest, where a large lump indicated that Scabbers was curled up in his pocket.
Mr. Weasley, who had been outside waiting for the Ministry11 cars, stuck his head inside.
“They're here, he said. “Harry, come on.”
Mr. Weasley marched Harry across the short stretch of pavement toward the first of two old-fashioned dark green cars, each of which was driven by a furtive-looking wizard wearing a suit of emerald velvet12.
“In you get, Harry,” said Mr. Weasley, glancing up and down the crowded street.
Harry got into the back of the car and was shortly joined by Hermione, Ron, and, to Ron's disgust, Percy.
The journey to King's Cross was very uneventful compared with Harry's trip on the Knight13 Bus. The Ministry of Magic cars seemed almost ordinary. though Harry noticed that they could slide through gaps that Uncle Vernon's new company car certainly couldn't have managed. They reached King's Cross with twenty minutes to spare; the Ministry drivers found them trolleys14, unloaded their trunks, touched their hats in salute16 to Mr. Weasley, and drove away, somehow managing to jump to the head of an unmoving line at the traffic lights.
Mr. Weasley kept close to Harry's elbow all the way into the station.
“Right then,” he said, glancing around them. “Let's do this in pairs, as there are so many of us. I'll go through first with Harry.”
Mr. Weasley strolled toward the barrier between platforms nine and ten, pushing Harry's trolley15 and apparently17 very interested in the InterCity 125 that had just arrived at platform nine. With a meaningful look at Harry, he leaned casually18 against the barrier. Harry imitated him.
In a moment, they had fallen sideways through the solid metal onto platform nine and three-quarters and looked up to see the Hogwarts Express, a scarlet19 steam engine, puffing20 smoke over a platform packed with witches and wizards seeing their children onto the train.
Percy and Ginny suddenly appeared behind Harry. They were panting and had apparently taken the barrier at a run.
“Ah, there's Penelope!” said Percy, smoothing his hair and going pink again. Ginny caught Harry's eye, and they both turned away to hide their laughter as Percy strode over to a girl with long, curly hair, walking with his chest thrown out so that she couldn't miss his shiny badge.
Once the remaining Weasleys and Hermione had joined them, Harry and Mr. Weasley led the way to the end of the train, past packed compartments21, to a carriage that looked quite empty. They loaded the trunks onto it, stowed Hedwig and Crookshanks in the luggage rack, then went back outside to say goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
Mrs. Weasley kissed all her children, then Hermione, and finally Harry. He was embarrassed, but really quite pleased, when she gave him an extra hug.
“Do take care, won't you Harry?” she said as she straightened up, her eyes oddly bright. Then she opened her enormous handbag and said, “I've made you all sandwiches. Here you are, Ron…no, they're not corned beef… Fred? Where's Fred? Here you are dear…”
“Harry,” said Mr. Weasley quietly, “come over here for a moment.”
He jerked his head towards a pillar, and Harry followed him behind it, leaving the others crowded around Mrs. Weasley.
“There's something I've got to tell you before you leave —” said Mr. Weasley in a tense voice.
“It's all right, Mr. Weasley,” said Harry, “I already know.”
“You know? How could you know?”
“I — er — I heard you and Mrs. Wesley talking last night. I couldn't help hearing,” Harry added quickly. “Sorry —”
“That's not the way I'd have chosen for you to find out,” said Mr. Weasley looking anxious..
“No — honestly it's OK. This way, you haven't broken your word to Fudge and I know what's going on.”
“Harry, you must be scared — “
“I'm not,” said Harry sincerely. “Really,” he added, because Mr. Weasley was looking disbelieving. “I'm not trying to be a hero, but seriously, Sirius Black can't be worse than Lord Voldemort, can he?”
Mr. Weasley flinched23 at the sound of the name, but overlooked it.
“Harry, I knew you were, well, made of stronger stuff than Fudge seems to think, and I'm obviously pleased that you're not scared, but —”
“Arthur!” called Mrs. Weasley, who was now shepherding the rest onto the train. “Arthur, what are you doing? It's about to go!”
“He's coming Molly!” said Mr. Weasley, but he turned back to Harry and kept talking in a lower and more hurried voice, “Listen, I want you to give me your word —”
“ — that I'll be a good boy and stay in the castle?” said Harry gloomily.
“Not entirely24,” said Mr. Weasley, who looked more serious than Harry had ever seen him. “Harry, swear to me you won't go looking for Black.”
Harry stared, “What!”
There was a loud whistle. Guards were walking along the train, slamming all the doors shut.
“Promise me, Harry,” said Mr. Weasley, talking more quickly still, “that whatever happens —”
“Why would I go looking for someone I know wants to kill me?” said Harry blankly.
“Swear to me that whatever you might hear —”
“Arthur, quickly!” cried Mrs. Weasley.
Steam was billowing from the train it had started to move. Harry ran to the compartment22 door and Ron threw it open and stood back to let him on. They leaned out of the window and waved at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley until the train turned a corner and blocked them from view.
“I need to talk to you in private,” Harry muttered to Ron and Hermione as the train picked up speed.
“Go away, Ginny,” said Ron.
“Oh, that's nice,” said Ginny huffily, and she stalked off.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off down the corridor, looking for an empty compartment, but all were full except for the one at the very end of the train.
This had only one occupant, a man sitting fast asleep next to the window. Harry, Ron, and Hermione checked on the threshold. The Hogwarts Express was usually reserved for students and they had never seen an adult there before, except for the witch who pushed the food cart.
The stranger was wearing an extremely shabby set of wizard's robes that had been darned in several places. He looked ill and exhausted26. Though quite young, his light brown hair was flecked with gray.
“Who d'you reckon he is?” Ron hissed27 as they sat down and slid the door shut, taking the seats farthest away from the window.
“Professor R. J. Lupin.” whispered Hermione at once.
“How'd you know that?”
“It's on his case,” she replied, pointing at the luggage rack over the man's head, where there was a small, battered28 case held together with a large quantity of neatly29 knotted string. The name Professor R. J. Lupin was stamped across one corner in peeling letters.
“Wonder what he teaches?” said Ron, frowning at Professor Lupin's pallid30 profile.
“That's obvious,” whispered Hermione. “There's only one vacancy31, isn't there? Defense32 Against the Dark Arts.”
Harry, Ron, and Hermione had already had two Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers, both of whom had lasted only one year. There were rumors33 that the job was jinxed.
“Well, I hope he's up to it,” said Ron doubtfully. “He looks like on, good hex would finish him off, doesn't he? Anyway…” he turned to Harry, “what were you going to tell us?”
Harry explained all about Mr. and Mrs. Wesley's argument and the warning Mr. Weasley had just given him. When he'd finished, Ron looked thunderstruck, and Hermione had her hands over her mouth. She finally lowered them to say, “Sirius Black escaped to come after you? Oh, Harry…you'll have to be really, really careful. don't go looking for trouble, Harry…”
“I don't go looking for trouble,” said Harry, nettled35. “Trouble usually finds me.”
“How thick would Harry have to be, to go looking for a nutter36 who wants to kill him?” said Ron shakily.
They were taking the news worse than Harry had expected. Both Ron and Hermione seemed to be much more frightened of Black than he was.
“No one knows how he got out of Azkaban,” said Ron uncomfortably. “No one's ever done it before. And he was a top-security prisoner too.”
“But they'll catch him, won't they?” said Hermione earnestly. “I mean, they've got all the Muggles looking out for him too….”
“What's that noise?” said Ron suddenly.
A faint, tinny sort of whistle was coming from somewhere. They looked all around the compartment.
“It's coming from your trunk, Harry,” said Ron, standing37 up and reaching into the luggage rack. A moment later he had pulled the Pocket Sneakoscope out from between Harry's robes. It was spinning very fast in the palm of Ron's hand and glowing brilliantly.
“Is that a Sneakoscope?” said Hermione interestedly, standing up for a better look.
“Yeah…mind you, it's a very cheap one,” Ron said. “It went haywire just as I was tying it to Errol's leg to send it to Harry.”
“Were you doing anything untrustworthy at the time?” said Hermione shrewdly.
“No! Well…I wasn't supposed to be using Errol. You know he's not really up to long journeys…but how else was I supposed to get Harry's present to him?”
“Stick it back in the trunk,” Harry advised as the Sneakoscope whistled piercingly, “or it'll wake him up.”
He nodded toward Professor Lupin. Ron stuffed the Sneakoscope into a particularly horrible pair of Uncle Vernon's old socks, which deadened the sound, then closed the lid of the trunk on it.
“We could get it checked in Hogsmeade,” said Ron, sitting back down. “They sell that sort of thing in Dervish and Banges, magical instruments and stuff. Fred and George told me.”
“Do you know much about Hogsmeade?” asked Hermione keenly. “I've read it's the only entirely non-Muggle settlement in Britain —”
“Yeah, I think it is,” said Ron in an offhand38 sort of way. “but that's not why I want to go. I just want to get inside Honeydukes!”
“What's that?” said Hermione.
“It's this sweetshop,” said Ron, a dreamy look coming over his face, “where they've got everything…Pepper Imps39 — they make you smoke at the mouth — and great fat Chocoballs full of strawberry mousse and clotted40 cream, and really excellent sugar quills41, which you can suck in class and just look like you're thinking what to write next–”
“But Hogsmeade's a very interesting place, isn't it?” Hermione pressed on eagerly. “In Sites of Historical Sorcery it says the inn was the headquarters for the 1612 goblin rebellion, and the Shrieking42 Shack's supposed to be the most severely43 haunted building in Britain —”
“– and massive sherbet balls that make you levitate44 a few inches off the ground while you're sucking them,” said Ron, who was plainly not listening to a word Hermione was saying.
Hermione looked around at Harry.
“Won't it be nice to get out of school for a bit and explore Hogsmeade?”
“‘Spect it will,” said Harry heavily. “You'll have to tell me when you've found out.”
“What d'you mean?” said Ron.
“I can't go. The Dursleys didn't sign my permission form, and Fudge wouldn't either.”
“You're not allowed to come? But — no way — McGonagall or someone will give you permission —”
Harry gave a hollow laugh. Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house, was very strict.
“– or we can ask Fred and George, they know every secret passage out of the castle —”
“Ron!” said Hermione sharply. “I don't think Harry should be sneaking46 out of the school with Black on the loose —”
“Yeah, I expect that's what McGonagall will say when I ask of permission,” said Harry bitterly.
“But if we're with him,” said Ron spiritedly to Hermione. “Black wouldn't dare —”
“Oh, Ron, don't talk rubbish,” snapped Hermione. “Black's already murdered a whole bunch of people in the middle of a crowded street, do you really think he's going to worry about attacking Harry just because we're there?”
She was fumbling47 with the straps48 of Crookshanks's basket as she spoke49.
“Don't let that thing out!” Ron said, but too late; Crookshanks leapt lightly from the basket, stretched, yawned, and sprang onto Ron's knees; the lump in Ron's pocket trembled and he shoved Crookshanks angrily away.
“Get out of it!”
“Ron, don't!” said Hermione angrily.
Ron was about to answer back when Professor Lupin stirred. They watched him apprehensively50, but he simply turned his head the other way, mouth slightly open, and slept on.
The Hogwarts Express moved steadily51 north and the scenery outside the window became wilder and darker while the clouds overhead thickened overhead. People were chasing backwards52 and forwards past the door of their compartment. Crookshanks had now settled in an empty seat, his squashed face turned towards Ron, his yellow eyes on Ron's top pocket.
At one o'clock the plump witch with the food cart arrived at the compartment door.
D'you think we should wake him up?” Ron asked awkwardly, nodding towards Professor Lupin. “He looks like he could do with some food.”
Hermione approached Professor Lupin cautiously.
“Er — Professor?” she said. “Excuse me — Professor?”
He didn't move.
“Don't worry, dear,” said the witch, as she handed a large stack of cauldron cakes. “If he's hungry when he wakes, I'll be up front with the driver.”
“I suppose he is asleep?” said Ron quietly, as the witch slid the compartment door closed. “I mean — he hasn't died, has he?”
“No, no, he's breathing,” whispered Hermione, taking the cauldron cake Harry passed her.
He might not be very good company, but Professor Lupin's presence in their compartment had its uses. Mid-afternoon, just as it had started to rain, blurring53 the rolling hills outside the window, they heard footsteps outside in the corridor again, and their three least favorite people appeared at the door: Draco Malfoy, flanked by his cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.
Draco Malfoy and Harry had been enemies ever since they had met on their very first journey to Hogwarts. Malfoy, who had a pale, pointed, sneering54 face, was in Slytherin house; he played Seeker on the Slytherin Quidditch team, the same position that Harry played on the Gryffindor team. Crabbe and Goyle seemed to exist to do Malfoy's bidding. They were both wide and muscly; Crabbe was taller, with a pudding-bowl haircut and a very thick neck; Goyle had short, bristly hair and long, gorilla55 arms.
“Well, look who it is,” said Malfoy in his usual lazy drawl, pulling open the compartment door. “Potty and the Weasel.”
Crabbe and Goyle chuckled56 trollishly.
“I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley,” said Malfoy. “Did your mother die of shock?”
Ron stood up so quickly he knocked Crookshanks's basket to the floor. Professor Lupin gave a snort.
“Who's that?” said Malfoy, taking an automatic step backward as he spotted57 Lupin.
“New teacher,” said Harry, who got to his feet, too, in case he needed to hold Ron back. “What were you saying, Malfoy?”
Malfoy's pale eyes narrowed; he wasn't fool enough to pick a fight right under a teacher's nose.
“C'mon,” he muttered resentfully to Crabbe and Goyle, and they disappeared.
Harry and Ron sat down again, Ron massaging58 his knuckles59.
“I'm not going to take any crap from Malfoy this year,” he said angrily. “I mean it. If he makes one more crack about my family, I'm going to get hold of his head and —”
Ron made a violent gesture in midair.
“Ron,” hissed Hermione, pointing at Professor Lupin, “be careful…”
But Professor Lupin was still fast asleep.
The rain thickened as the train sped yet farther north; the windows were now a solid, shimmering60 gray, which gradually darkened until lanterns flickered61 into life all along the corridors and over the luggage racks. The train rattled62, the rain hammered, the wind roared, but still, Professor Lupin slept.
“We must be nearly there,” said Ron, leaning forward to look past Professor Lupin at the now completely black window.
The words had hardly left him when the train started to slow down.
“Great,” said Ron, getting up and walking carefully past Professor Lupin to try and see outside. “I'm starving. I want to get to the feast…”
“We can't be there yet,” said Hermione, checking her watch.
“So why're we stopping?”
The train was getting slower and slower. As the noise of the pistons63 fell away, the wind and rain sounded louder than ever against the windows.
Harry, who was nearest the door, got up to look into the corridor. All along the carriage, heads were sticking curiously64 out of their compartments.
The train came to a stop with a jolt65, and distant thuds and bangs told them that luggage had fallen out of the racks. Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and they were plunged66 into total darkness.
“What's going on?” said Ron's voice from behind Harry.
“Ouch!” gasped67 Hermione. “Ron, that was my foot!”
Harry felt his way back to his seat.
“D'you think we've broken down?”
“Dunno…”
There was a squeaking68 sound, and Harry saw the dim black outline of Ron, wiping a patch clean on the window and peering out.
“There's something moving out there,” Ron said. “I think people are coming aboard…”
The compartment door suddenly opened and someone fell painfully over Harry's legs.
“Sorry! D'you know what's going on? Ouch! Sorry —”
“Hullo, Neville,” said Harry, feeling around in the dark and pulling Neville up by his cloak.
“Harry? Is that you? What's happening?”
“No idea! Sit down —”
There was a loud hissing69 and a yelp70 of pain; Neville had tried to sit on Crookshanks.
“I'm going to go and ask the driver what's going on,” came Hermione's voice. Harry felt her pass him, heard the door slide open again, and then a thud and two loud squeals71 of pain.
“Who's that?”
“Who's that?”
“Ginny?”
“Hermione?”
“What are you doing?”
“I was looking for Ron —”
“Come in and sit down —”
“Not here!” said Harry hurriedly. “I'm here!”
“Ouch!” said Neville.
“Quiet!” said a hoarse72 voice suddenly.
Professor Lupin appeared to have woken up at last. Harry could hear movements in his corner.
None of them spoke.
There was a soft, crackling noise, and a shivering light filled the compartment. Professor Lupin appeared to be holding a handful of flames. They illuminated73 his tired, gray face, but his eyes looked alert and wary74.
“Stay where you are.” he said in the same hoarse voice, and he got slowly to his feet with his handful of fire held out in front of him.
But the door slid slowly open before Lupin could reach it.
Standing in the doorway75, illuminated by the shivering flames in Lupin's hand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood76. Harry's eyes darted77 downward, and what he saw made his stomach contract. There was a hand protruding78 from the cloak and it was glistening79, grayish, slimy-looking, and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in water.…
But it was visible only for a split second. As though the creature beneath the cloak sensed Harry's gaze, the hand was suddenly withdrawn80 into the folds of its black cloak.
And then the thing beneath the hood, whatever it was, drew a long, slow, rattling81 breath, as though it were trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings.
An intense cold swept over them all. Harry felt his own breath catch in his chest. The cold went deeper than his skin. It was inside his chest, it was inside his very heart…
Harry's eyes rolled up into his head. He couldn't see. He was drowning in cold. There was a rushing in his ears as though of water. He was being dragged downward, the roaring growing louder…
And then, from far away, he heard screaming, terrible, terrified, pleading screams. He wanted to help whoever it was, he tried to move his arms, but couldn't…a thick white fog was swirling82 around him, inside him —
“Harry! Harry! Are you all right?”
Someone was slapping his face.
“W-what?”
Harry opened his eyes; there were lanterns above him, and the floor was shaking — the Hogwarts Express was moving again and the lights had come back on. He seemed to have slid out of his seat onto the floor. Ron and Hermione were kneeling next to him, and above them he could see Neville and Professor Lupin watching. Harry felt very sick; when he put up his hand to push his glasses back on, he felt cold sweat on his face.
Ron and Hermione heaved him back onto his seat.
“Are you okay?” Ron asked nervously83.
“Yeah,” said Harry, looking quickly toward the door. The hooded84 creature had vanished. “What happened? Where's that — that thing? Who screamed?”
“No one screamed,” said Ron, more nervously still.
Harry looked around the bright compartment. Ginny and Neville looked back at him, both very pale.
“But I heard screaming —”
A loud snap made them all jump. Professor Lupin was breaking an enormous slab85 of chocolate into pieces.
“Here,” he said to Harry, handing him a particularly large piece. “Eat it. It'll help.”
Harry took the chocolate but didn't eat it.
“What was that thing?” he asked Lupin.
“A Dementor,” said Lupin, who was now giving chocolate to everyone else. “One of the Dementors of Azkaban.”
Everyone stared at him. Professor Lupin crumpled86 up the empty chocolate wrapper and put it in his pocket.
“Eat,” he repeated. “It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me…”
He strolled past Harry and disappeared into the corridor.
“Are you sure you're okay, Harry?” said Hermione, watching Harry anxiously.
“I don't get it … what happened?” said Harry, wiping more sweat off his face.
“Well — that thing — the Dementor — stood there and looked around (I mean, I think it did, I couldn't see its face) — and you — you —”
“I thought you were having a fit or something,” said Ron, who still looked scared. “You went sort of rigid87 and fell out of your seat and started twitching88 —”
“And Professor Lupin stepped over you, and walked toward the Dementor, and pulled out his wand,” said Hermione, “and he said, ‘None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go.’ But the Dementor didn't move, so Lupin muttered something, and a silvery thing shot out of his wand at it, and it turned around and sort of glided89 away…”
“It was horrible,” said Neville, in a higher voice than usual. “Did you feel how cold it got when it came in?”
“I felt weird,” said Ron, shifting his shoulders uncomfortably. “Like I'd never be cheerful again…”
Ginny, who was huddled90 in her corner looking nearly as bad as Harry felt, gave a small sob91; Hermione went over and put a comforting arm around her.
“But didn't any of you — fall off your seats?” said Harry awkwardly.
“No,” said Ron, looking anxiously at Harry again. “Ginny was shaking like mad, though…”
Harry didn't understand. He felt weak and shivery, as though he were recovering from a bad bout5 of flu; he also felt the beginnings of shame. Why had he gone to pieces like that, when no one else had?
Professor Lupin had come back. He paused as he entered, looked around, and said, with a small smile, “I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know…”
Harry took a bite and to his great surprise felt warmth spread suddenly to the tips of his fingers and toes.
“We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes,” said Professor Lupin. “Are you all right, Harry?”
Harry didn't ask how Professor Lupin knew his name.
“Fine,” he muttered, embarrassed.
They didn't talk much during the remainder of the journey. At long last, the train stopped at Hogsmeade station, and there was a great scramble92 to get outside; owls93 hooted94, cats meowed, and Neville's pet toad95 croaked96 loudly from under his hat. It was freezing on the tiny platform; rain was driving down in icy sheets.
“Firs’ years this way!” called a familiar voice. Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned and saw the gigantic outline of Hagrid at the other end of the platform, beckoning97 the terrified-looking new students forward for their traditional journey across the lake.
“All right, you three?” Hagrid yelled over the heads of the crowd. They waved at him, but had no chance to speak to him because the mass of people around them was shunting them away along the platform. Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed the rest of the school along the platform and out onto a rough mud track, where at least a hundred stagecoaches98 awaited the remaining students, each pulled, Harry could only assume, by an invisible horse, because when they climbed inside and shut the door, the coach set off all by itself, bumping and swaying in procession.
The coach smelled faintly of mold and straw. Harry felt better since the chocolate, but still weak. Ron and Hermione kept looking at him sideways, as though frightened he might collapse99 again.
As the carriage trundled toward a pair of magnificent wrought100 iron gates, flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars, Harry saw two more towering, hooded Dementors, standing guard on either side. A wave of cold sickness threatened to engulf101 him again; he leaned back into the lumpy seat and closed his eyes until they had passed the gates. The carriage picked up speed on the long, sloping drive up to the castle; Hermione was leaning out of the tiny window, watching the many turrets102 and towers draw nearer. At last, the carriage swayed to a halt, and Hermione and Ron got out.
As Harry stepped down, a drawling, delighted voice sounded in his ear.
“You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottorn telling the truth? You actually fainted?”
Malfoy elbowed past Hermione to block Harry's way up the stone steps to the castle, his face gleeful and his pale eyes glinting maliciously103.
“Shove off, Malfoy,” said Ron, whose jaw104 was clenched105.
“Did you faint as well, Weasley?” said Malfoy loudly. “Did the scary old Dementor frighten you too, Weasley?”
“Is there a problem?” said a mild voice. Professor Lupin had just gotten out of the next carriage.
Malfoy gave Professor Lupin an insolent106 stare, which took in the patches on his robes and the dilapidated suitcase. With a tiny hint of sarcasm107 in his voice, he said, “Oh, no — er — Professor,” then he smirked108 at Crabbe and Goyle and led them up the steps into the castle.
Hermione prodded109 Ron in the back to make him hurry, and the three of them joined the crowd swarming110 up the steps, through the giant oak front doors, into the cavernous Entrance Hall, which was lit with flaming torches, and housed a magnificent marble staircase that led to the upper floors.
The door into the Great Hall stood open at the right; Harry followed the crowd toward it, but had barely glimpsed the enchanted111 ceiling, which was black and cloudy tonight, when a voice called, “Potter! Granger! I want to see you both!”
Harry and Hermione turned around, surprised. Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor House, was calling over the heads of the crowd. She was a stern looking witch who wore her hair in a tight bun; her sharp eyes were framed with square spectacles. Harry fought his way over to her with a feeling of foreboding: Professor McGonagall had a way of making him feel he must have done something wrong.
“There's no need to look so worried — I just want a word in my office,” she told them. “Move along there, Weasley.”
Ron stared as Professor McGonagall ushered112 Harry and Hermione away from the chattering113 crowd; they accompanied her across the entrance hall, up the marble staircase, and along a corridor.
Once they were in her office, a small room with a large, welcoming fire, Professor McGonagall motioned Harry and Hermione to sit down. She settled herself behind her desk and said abruptly114, “Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that you were taken ill on the train, Potter.”
Before Harry could reply, there was a soft knock on the door and Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, came bustling115 in.
Harry felt himself going red in the face. It was bad enough that he'd passed out, or whatever he had done, without everyone making all this fuss.
“I'm fine,” he said, “I don't need anything —”
“Oh, it's you, is it?” said Madam Pomfrey, ignoring this and bending down to stare closely at him. “I suppose you've been doing something dangerous again?”
“It was a Dementor, Poppy,” said Professor McGonagall.
They exchanged a dark look, and Madam Pomfrey clucked disapprovingly116.
“Setting Dementors around a school, she muttered, pushing back Harry's hair and feeling his forehead. “He won't be the last one who collapses117. Yes, he's all clammy. Terrible things, they are, and the effect they have on people who are already delicate —”
“I'm not delicate!” said Harry crossly.
“Of course you're not,” said Madam Pomfrey absentmindedly, now taking his pulse.
“What does he need?” said Professor McGonagall crisply. “Bed rest? Should he perhaps spend tonight in the hospital wing?”
“I'm fine!” said Harry, jumping up. The thought of what Draco Malfoy would say if he had to go to the hospital wing was torture.
“Well, he should have some chocolate, at the very least,” said Madam Pomfrey, who was now trying to peer into Harry's eyes.
“I've already had some,” said Harry. “Professor Lupin gave me some. He gave it to all of us.”
“Did he, now?” said Madam Pomfrey approvingly. “So we've finally got a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows his remedies?”
“Are you sure you feel all right, Potter?” Professor McGonagall said sharply.
“Yes,” said Harry.
“Very well. Kindly118 wait outside while I have a quick word with Miss Granger about her course schedule, then we can go down to the feast together.”
Harry went back into the corridor with Madam Pomfrey, who left for the hospital wing, muttering to herself. He had to wait only a few minutes; then Hermione emerged looking very happy about something, followed by Professor McGonagall, and the three of them made their way back down the marble staircase to the Great Hall.
It was a sea of pointed black hats; each of the long House tables was lined with students, their faces glimmering119 by the light of thousands of candles, which were floating over the tables in midair. Professor Flitwick, who was a tiny little wizard with a shock of white hair, was carrying an ancient hat and a three-legged stool out of the hall.
“Oh,” said Hermione softly, “we've missed the Sorting!”
New students at Hogwarts were sorted into Houses by trying on the Sorting Hat, which shouted out the House they were best suited to (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin). Professor McGonagall strode off toward her empty seat at the staff table, and Harry and Hermione set off in the other direction, as quietly as possible, toward the Gryffindor table. People looked around at them as they passed along the back of the hall, and a few of them pointed at Harry. Had the story of his collapsing120 in front of the Dementor traveled that fast?
He and Hermione sat down on either side of Ron, who had saved them seats.
“What was all that about?” he muttered to Harry.
Harry started to explain in a whisper, but at that moment the headmaster stood up to speak, and he broke off.
Professor Dumbledore, though very old, always gave an impression of great energy. He had several feet of long silver hair and beard, half-moon spectacles, and an extremely crooked121 nose. He was often described as the greatest wizard of the age, but that wasn't why Harry respected him. You couldn't help trusting Albus Dumbledore, and as Harry watched him beaming around at the students, he felt really calm for the first time since the Dementor had entered the train compartment.
“Welcome!” said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. “Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled122 by our excellent feast…”
Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, “As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business.”
He paused, and Harry remembered what Mr. Weasley had said about Dumbledore not being happy with the Dementors guarding the school.
“They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds,” Dumbledore continued, “and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises — or even Invisibility Cloaks,” he added blandly123, and Harry and Ron glanced at each other. “It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the Dementors,” he said.
Percy, who was sitting a few seats down from Harry, puffed124 out his chest again and stared around impressively. Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound.
“On a happier note,” he continued, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year.
“First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.”
There was some scattered125, rather unenthusiastic applause. Only those who had been in the compartment on the train with Professor Lupin clapped hard, Harry among them. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes.
“Look at Snape!” Ron hissed in Harry's ear.
Professor Snape, the Potions master, was staring along the staff table at Professor Lupin. It was common knowledge that Snape wanted the Defense Against the Dark Arts job, but even Harry, who hated Snape, was startled at the expression twisting his thin, sallow face. it was beyond anger: it was loathing126. Harry knew that expression only too well; it was the look Snape wore every time he set eyes on Harry.
“As to our second new appointment,” Dumbledore continued as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away. “Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired127 at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties.”
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared at one another, stunned128. Then they joined in with the applause, which was tumultuous at the Gryffindor table in particular. Harry leaned forward to see Hagrid, who was ruby129 red in the face and staring down at his enormous hands, his wide grin hidden in the tangle130 of his black beard.
“We should've known!” Ron roared, pounding the table. “Who else would have assigned us a biting book?”
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the last to stop clapping, and as Professor Dumbledore started speaking again, they saw that Hagrid was wiping his eyes on the tablecloth131.
“Well, I think that's everything of importance,” said Dumbledore. “Let the feast begin!”
The golden plates and goblets132 before them filled suddenly with food and drink. Harry, suddenly ravenous133, helped himself to everything he could reach and began to eat.
It was a delicious feast; the hall echoed with talk, laughter, and the clatter134 of knives and forks. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, however, were eager for it to finish so that they could talk to Hagrid. They knew how much being made a teacher would mean to him. Hagrid wasn't a fully34 qualified135 wizard; he had been expelled from Hogwarts in his third year for a crime he had not committed. It had been Harry, Ron, and Hermione who had cleared Hagrid's name last year.
At long last, when the last morsels136 of pumpkin137 tart25 had melted from the golden platters, Dumbledore gave the word that it was time for them all to go to bed, and they got their chance.
“Congratulations, Hagrid!” Hermione squealed138 as they reached the teachers’ table.
“All down ter you three,” said Hagrid, wiping his shining face on his napkin as he looked up at them. “Can’ believe it…great man, Dumbledore…came straight down to me hut after Professor Kettleburn said he'd had enough…It's what I always wanted…”
Overcome with emotion, he buried his face in his napkin, and Professor McGonagall shooed them away.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione joined the Gryffindors streaming up the marble staircase and, very tired now, along more corridors, up more and more stairs, to the hidden entrance to Gryffindor Tower, where a large portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress asked them, “Password?”
“Coming through, coming through!” Percy called from behind the crowd. “The new password's Fortuna Major!”
“Oh no,” said Neville Longbottom sadly. He always had trouble remembering the passwords.
Through the portrait hole and across the common room, the girls and boys divided toward their separate staircases. Harry climbed the spiral stair with no thought in his head except how glad he was to be back. They reached their familiar, circular dormitory with its five four-poster beds, and Harry, looking around, felt he was home at last.
第二天，哈利被汤姆叫醒，睁开眼睛就看到旁边放着一杯茶，汤姆正咧开几乎没有牙齿的嘴巴对着他微笑。哈利穿上衣服正准备哄海维回到笼子里面去，罗恩撞进他的房间，气冲冲地把汗衫拉到头上。
“我们越早搭上火车越好。”他说，“最起码在霍格瓦彻就见不到伯希了。现在他又骂我把茶滴到他那照片上，你知道吗？”罗恩做了个鬼脸又说，“他的女朋友，她把脸藏在框架下，因为她的鼻子上生了水泡……”
“我有些事情要告诉你，”哈利开始说，但他们被弗来德和乔治打断，他们来恭喜罗恩又惹伯希生气了。
他们下楼去吃早餐，威斯里先生在皱着眉头读《先知日报》的头版。威斯里太太正在告诉荷米恩和金妮一种美容霜，她们三个都在吃吃地笑。
“你刚才要说些什么呀？”罗恩坐下时问哈利。
“迟一点再说吧。”哈利小声说，这时伯希进来了。
离别时候很嘈杂，哈利没有机会跟罗恩和荷米恩说话。他们都忙着提着重重的皮箱在狭窄的楼梯走，然后把东西堆在例格歌注的门前。
“好了，克路殊克。”荷米恩低声地对着柳枝篮子说，“到火车上我就会让你出来了。”
“不行。”罗恩大声说，“我那可怜的斯卡伯斯怎么办？”
他指指自己的胸前。鼓鼓的一块表明了斯卡伯斯给在他的口袋里。
威斯里先生已在外面等着部长派来的车，这时他转过头来。
“他们来了，‘”他说：“哈利，过来。”
威斯里先生和哈利并肩走过人行道，走向前面那两辆黑色的旧款的小汽车。每辆车都由一个看上去很严厉的，穿着碧绿色的绒衣的男人驾驶。
“哈利，你上车。”威斯里先生向拥挤的大街看了看说。
哈利上了车走到后座，然后荷米恩、罗恩还有罗恩所讨厌的伯希也上车了。
对比起哈利乘爵士巴士时，这去国王大道十字路口的路程显得平淡无奇，魔法部长的小汽车看上去再普通不过了。但这车能在狭窄的空隙中穿过，这一点维能姨丈的车是绝对做不到的。他们提早几分钟到达国王大道十字路口。部长的司机找来了推车，帮他们卸下皮箱后，威斯里先生脱下帽告别。他们的车在红灯前停止的长长的车队上面飞跃着离开了。
威斯里先生在去车站的路上一直靠着哈利的肘部。
“好了。”他看看他们说，“我们两个得上车。因为我们人多，我和哈利先上去了。”
威斯里先生向九又四分之三站台的栏杆走去，推着哈利的推车，并且蛮有趣味地看着刚靠站的马格的125号火车。他意味深长地看看哈利，然后轻松地挨在栏杆上，哈利跟看他做。
跟着。他们进了通向九交四分之三站台的小道，抬起头看着去霍格瓦彻的列车，深红色的蒸气引擎旁站满了送孩子上学的家长。
伯希和金妮突然在哈利后面出现，他们在喘着气，很明显是跨过栏杆走过来的。
“啊，那是帕妮路！”伯希说，他把头发整理一下，又兴奋起来，金妮的目光和哈利的相遇，然后他们都转身笑。伯希向那长着又长又卷的头发的女孩走过去。
伯希挺起胸膛好让大家都看到他胸前的徽章。
其它威斯里孩子和荷米恩也走过来，威斯里和哈利已经走到火车的尾端，经过拥挤的车厢，来到一个几乎没有人的车厢。他们把行李放上车，然后走出来跟威斯里夫妇说再见。
威斯里太太吻了一下她的孩子，然后吻了一下荷米恩，最后是哈利。他有点难为情，但是很高兴。她还把他搂在怀里。
“一定要小心，哈利知道吗？”她站直的时候说，她的眼睛特别明亮，然后打开她那特别大的袋子说，“我为你们做了三明治，给你，罗恩，不，没有牛肉的…
…弗来德？弗来德在哪里？亲爱的，拿着……“
“哈利！”威斯里先生静静地说，“过来这里一会儿。”
他头向着柱子那边走，哈利在后面跟着他，其他人则围着威斯里太太。
“你在离开之前我有些事情要告诉你。‘城斯里先生用深沉的语调说。
“没关系的，威斯里先生。”哈利说，“我已经知道了。”
“你知道，你怎么可能知道？”
“我——我昨天晚上听到你和威斯里太太的对话。我无意中偷听的。”哈利立即又说，“对不起！”
“我不是要想让你那样得知的。”威斯里先生焦急地说。
“不，老实说，不要紧，这样的话你就可以不违背对法治的承诺，而我又可以知道是什么事。”
“哈利，你一定被吓慌了。”
“我没有，”哈利真诚地说，“真的。”威斯里先生好像不太相信他。“我没想过装英雄，但老实说，西里斯。巴拉克没有福尔得摩待那样厉害，是吗？”
威斯里先生听到那名字打了个冷颤，但他又镇定下来。
“哈利，我知道你不怕，嗯，法治他们都想，嗯，并且我当然很高兴你不害怕，但是——”
“亚瑟！‘城斯里太太喊，她现在正带领着孩子上火车。”亚瑟，你在那儿干什么？车快要开了！“”来了，摩莉！“威斯里先生说，但他又转过去继续细声急速跟哈利说，”听着，我要你跟我说——“
“我会听话，我会留在城堡里的。”哈利沮丧地说。
“还不够，”威斯里先生从来没有这么严肃地看着哈利说，“哈利，你发誓你不会去找巴拉克。”
哈利睁大眼睛说，“什么？”
响亮的车笛声传来了，守卫人沿着火车走，把所有门都关上。
“答应我，哈利。”威斯里先生更快速地说，“无论什么事情发生——”
“我怎么会找一个想杀我的人呢？”哈利茫然地说。
“不管听到什么，你向我发誓——”
“亚瑟，快点！”威斯里太太喊。
火车喷出浓烟，车开始动了。哈利向车厢门跑去，罗思打开门向后退好让他上去。
他们向威斯里挥手直至火车转入一角，挡住他们的视线。
“我要单独跟你们说。”哈利低声对罗恩和荷米恩说，车正在加速。
“金妮，你走开。”罗恩说。
“哦，好吧。”金妮生气地说，昂着头走开。
哈利、罗恩和荷米恩走到走廊，想找一节空的车厢，但所有车厢都挤满了人，除了最后一节。
这里只有一个人，一个男人坐在窗旁。这霍格瓦彻列车平时只用来载学生，从不搭乘成年人的，除了推小车卖饭的妇人。
这陌生人穿着很蹩脚的巫师服，衣服有几处补丁。他看上去好像很累或者病了。
虽然他看上去很年轻，但浅褐色的头发有点发灰的。
“你看他是谁？”罗恩嘶嘶地说，他在距离窗口最远的凳子上坐了下来，关上门。
“露平教授。”荷米恩立即低声说。
“你怎么知道的？”
“他的箱子写着。”荷米恩指着那人头顶的行李架说，那里有一个小小的，磨损的木箱，还有许多很好的带子。他的名字“露平教授”颜色有点剥落了，写在木箱的一角。
“他是教什么的呢？”罗恩看着那教授的外表皱着眉头说。
“很明显。”荷米恩低声说，“学校只剩一个空席，黑巫术防御老师。”
哈利、罗恩和荷术思已经有过两位老师教防黑巫术。两个都教了一年，有谣言说这课程很倒霉。
“嘿，我希望他现在振作起来。”罗恩怀疑地说，“他看上去像走投无路似的，不是吗？不管如何……”他转向哈利，“你准备告诉我们什么？”
哈利把威斯里夫妇吵架还有威斯里先生刚刚的警告都说出来，当他说完时，罗恩惊呆了，而荷米恩用手捂着嘴巴。最后她低声说：“西里斯。巴拉克逃出来找你？
哦，哈刮……你一定要非常非常小心，别闯祸，哈利……“
“我不会找麻烦的。”哈利恼火地说，“是麻烦来找我。”
“你得很厉害才能去找一个想要杀你的人。”罗恩颤抖着说。
他们在谈论比哈利想象中更坏的事，罗恩和荷米恩看上去比他还要害怕巴拉克。
“没有人知道他是怎么逃出阿兹克班的。”罗恩很不自然地说，“从来没有人能这样做的。他还是一个被严厉监管着呢……”
“那是什么声音？”罗思突然说。
一阵微弱的声音传来。他向车厢周围看看。
“哈利是从你的皮箱传来的。”罗恩说着站起来，伸向行李架，一会儿后，他从哈刮的衣服箱里掏出那只史尼卡可。它在罗恩手心上飞速旋转。越来越显得有生气。
“那是一只史尼卡可吗？”荷米恩有趣地站起来认真看着。
“哦，提醒你，这个很便宜的。”罗恩说，“当我刚想把它绑在厄罗尔的脚送去给哈利时，它变得很兴奋。”
“那是因为你做了不值得让人信任的事呀。”荷米恩精明干练地说。
“不！嗯……我未经允许就用厄罗尔了，你知道，它飞不了那么长的路程的…
…但如果不这样我怎样把礼物送给哈利呢？“
“把它放回皮箱里吧。”哈利提议。当他看到史尼卡可发出刺耳的声音时说，“要不，它会吵醒他的。”
他向露平教授指了指。罗恩把史尼卡可塞回维能姨丈那又旧又吓人的袜于里面，声音没有了。他把皮箱的盖子合上。
“我们到霍格马得的时候检查一下它。”罗恩说着坐下来，“在德维斯。班格斯他们卖这些，还有魔法器等东西，弗来德和乔治告诉我的。”
“你知道很多关于霍格马得的事情吗？”荷米恩诚恳地问，“我看到书上说那是英国唯一全是魔法师住的地方……”
“嗯，我想是的。”罗恩连忙说，“但那并不是我去的原因。我只想百看着甜鸭。”
“那是什么？”荷米恩说。
“那是糖果店。”罗思说，露出做梦似的笑容。“那里有各种各样的东西——胡椒粉，它们能让你的嘴巴冒烟；一个个很大的可可球，上面有很多草菌糕；有凝块的奶；有极好的糖棍，你可以在上课的时候吮……”
“霍格马得是很有趣的地方是吗？”荷米恩继续追问，在《巫术历史遗址》上说那小酒店就是1612年小妖魔造反的总部，还有什拉克。
刹克在英国里最常闹鬼的地方——“”那大大的冰冻果于露球在吃的时候会让你离开地面几寸，在空中浮起来的。“
罗恩说，他不理会荷米恩刚才所说的。
何不恩看看哈利。
“出校去霍格马得实在太好了。”
“希望可以吧。”哈利沉沉地说，“你一定要告诉我那里的事。”
“你这是什么意思？”罗恩问。
“我不能去，杜斯利没有在同意书上签名，法治也不肯签……”
罗恩看上去很恐惧。
“你不能出来？但是——不行——麦康娜或其他人可能会允许你去——”
哈利无奈地笑了笑，麦康娜教授是格林芬顿学院的院长，她很严格的。
“或者我们可以叫弗来德和乔治，他们知道出城堡的秘密通道——”
“罗恩！”荷米恩尖锐地说，“我认为哈利不应该偷偷地走出学校，现在巴拉克还没被抓起来。”
“对了，我想麦康娜会那样说的，如果我问他的话。”哈利有点痛苦地说。
“但是如果我们跟他一起的话。”罗恩鼓励他对荷米恩说，“巴拉克就不敢——”
“哦，罗恩，别说废话。”荷米恩大声说。“巴拉克在拥挤的大街杀了很多人，你以为因为我们俩在，他就不敢袭击哈利了吗？”
她说这话的时候伸手摸克路殊克篮子的带子。
“不要让那东西出来！”罗恩说，但太迟了，克路殊克从篮子中轻轻跃出来，伸伸四肢，打个阿欠，跃到罗恩的膝盖上，罗恩的衣袋颤抖着，他生气地把克路殊克推走。
“走开。”
“罗恩，不要。”荷米恩生气地说。
罗恩刚想顶撞地，这时露平教授动了动。他们都望着他。但他只是把头转过去，口微微张开，继续睡。
霍格瓦彻列车平稳地向北面驶去，窗外的风景变得越来越模糊，因为头上的云越积越厚。车厢内的人前前后后地追逐着。克路殊克在那空凳子上坐下来。它扁扁的脸转向罗恩，它黄色的眼盯着罗恩的衣袋。
一点钟，火车上有个肥胖的妇人推着食物车在车厢内走动。
“你说我们是否弄醒他？”罗恩为难地向露平教授指了指。“他看上去需要吃点什么了。”
荷米恩小心走近露平教授。
“嗯，教授？”她说，“对不起，教授。”
他动也不动。
“亲爱的，不用担心。“那妇人给哈利一大块大蛋糕时说，”如果他醒来觉得饿，我就在前面司机那里。“”我想他睡着了。“罗恩低声说，当他看到那妇人关上车厢门时又说，”我的意思是——他还未死是吗？“
“不，不，他还在呼吸。”荷米恩低声说，说着接过哈利递给她的蛋糕。
露平教授虽然不是很好的同伴，但他对他们是很有帮助的。中午时，天开始下雨，雨使窗外连绵起伏的山丘变得模糊了。他们又听到走廊传来脚步声，他们最不喜欢的人出现在门前：杰高。马尔夫，还有他的两个密友，克来伯和高尔跟在后面。
马尔夫和哈利在第一次去霍格瓦彻路上——在火车上就成了敌人了。马尔夫有一张苍白的，尖尖的带有蔑视神色的脸，他住在史林德林学院内。他是史林德林快迪斯队的搜索者，哈利在格林芬顿队中也是搜索者。克来伯和高尔好像就只是听从马尔夫的命令，他们都是又高又大，克来伯高一点，头发像一个布丁兽，脖子很粗。
高尔的头发很短、很硬，还有长长的大猩猩臂。
“看看他们是谁。”马尔夫像平时一样懒懒地慢吞吞地说，“是波特和威斯里。”
克来伯和高尔吃吃地笑。
“威斯里，我听说你爸爸终于在今年夏天找到一点金子了，对吗？”马尔夫说，“你妈妈是否因太惊喜而死了？”
罗恩迅速站起来把克路殊克的篮子扔在地板上，露平教授发出一阵鼻鼾声。
“他是谁？”马尔夫问，他看到露平时不由自主地向后退了几步。
“新老师。”哈利站起来说，好让他能制止罗恩和马尔夫，“你在说什么？”
马尔夫眯着眼睛，他才不会那么笨的在老师面前动手打架。
“我们走。”他愤恨地对克来伯和高尔说，然后他们就消失了。
哈利和罗恩重新坐下来。罗恩按摩着他的手指关节。
“我决定今年不再忍耐马尔夫的废话了。”他生气地说，“我的意思是，如果他再低毁我家人，我就抓着他的头，然后——”
罗恩在空气中做了一个暴力的姿势。
“罗恩，”荷米恩指着露平教授小声地说，“小心一点……”
但是露平教授还在沉沉地睡。
火车向北驶去，雨点更加稠密了，玻璃窗发出微微的灰色的光，光越来越暗了。
直到走廊上的灯笼闪着，然后熄灭。火车轰隆地响，雨继续捶打着，风仍在怒吼。
但是露平教授仍在睡。
“我们肯定快到了。”罗恩说着。他向露平教授靠过去，看着完全黑暗的窗。
他还没有说完，火车已经停下来了。
“好极了。‘罗恩说着站起来，小心翼翼地从露平教授身边走过，还努力向外看，”我很饿了，我要好好吃一顿……“”我们不可能那么快就到。“荷米恩看看手表说。
“但是我们怎么会停下来呢？”
火车越来越慢了，因为火车的活塞的声音停下来，风和雨打在窗子上显得更响亮了。
哈利距离门最近，站起来，向走廊看，整个车厢的人好奇地把头伸出窗外。
火车颠簸一下便停下来了，远处砰砰的声音告诉他们行李从架上掉下来了。然后，还没有人预告，全部的电灯就熄灭了，他们陷入完全的黑暗中。
“发生什么事了？”罗恩在哈利背后问。
“唉！”荷米恩叹了口气，“罗恩，你踩在我脚上了。”
哈利摸着路回到了他的座位上。
“是我们的火车坏了？”
“不知道。”
外面传来爆炸的声音，哈利朦胧看到罗恩的轮廓，他把玻璃一角擦干净，从那儿向外看。
“那里有东西在动。”罗思说，“我想他们向这边开过来了。”
车厢门突然开了，有人很痛苦地倒在哈刮的脚上。
“对不起，你知道发生什么事了吗？哦，对不起——”
“你好，尼维尔。”哈利说着用手在黑暗中摸摸，然后拉着尼维尔的大衣把他拉起来。
“哈利，是你吗？发生什么事了？”
“不知道！坐下来——”
又传来嘈杂的嘶嘶声和痛苦的喊声。
“我准备去问司机发生什么事了？”是荷米恩的声音。哈利感觉到她人从旁边走过去。他听到门又开了，又是一阵阵痛苦的喊声。
“你是谁？”
“是金妮？”
“是荷米恩吗？”
“你右手怎么啦？”
“你在干什么呀？”
“我在找罗恩——”
“进来坐下。”
“不是这里，”哈利急忙说，“我在这里。”
“哦！”尼维尔说。
“静静！”突然响起一个沙哑的声音。
看来露平教授终于醒了。哈利可以听到他那边的行动声。没有人说话了。
突然响起一阵轻微爆炸的声音，接着颤抖的灯光照亮了车厢，露平教授拿着很多小火苗。它们照亮了他疲惫的脸，他的眼睛看起来很谨慎。
“在原位置不要动。”他用沙哑的声音说，他慢慢站起来把火把放在他前面。
露平刚想伸手开门的时候门就开了。
站在门前，被露平手中的火把照亮的是一个够得着天花板高的人。脸被兜帽完全遮住了。哈利的视线向下移，他看到了最让他的胃收缩的东西，一只手从大衣突出来，那手发着光，发灰的的颜色、瘦瘦的、有疤痕，像是死了的东西在水里面腐烂……
这是在发亮的一刹那才看见的。大衣里的生物好像感觉到哈利的凝视，那手突然缩进一件黑色的物体中。
帽里面的东西，也不知道是什么，长长地、慢慢地喘着气，好像要吸取一些什么而不是周围的空气一样。
一阵强烈的寒意包围着他们，哈利觉得呼吸困难，那寒意从皮肤进入，到达他的胸口，再到达他的心脏……
哈利的视线模糊了，一阵像针刺的剧痛袭向他前额的疤痕，他的头痛得好像快要裂开似的，他在寒冷中挣扎，耳朵好像有水般沙沙地响，他好像被人往下拖，吼叫声更大了。
然后从远处，他听到尖叫声，很可怕、很恐怖。求救的尖叫，他想去帮忙，不，那是谁，他尝试动动他的手臂，但不能……一团很浓的白雾在他身边，沿着身体旋转而上——“哈利！哈利！你没事吧？”
有人在拍打他的脸。
“怎——怎么了？”
哈利睁开眼睛，上面有灯笼，地板在摇——霍格瓦彻列车又开始动了。灯都亮起来了。他好像滑出座位跌到地上。罗恩和荷米恩跪在他身旁，他们旁边是尼维尔和露平教授，他们看着他。哈利觉得很不舒服，当他伸手推推眼镜时，他感觉到脸上的冷汗。
罗恩和荷米恩扶他回到座位。
“你没事了吗？”罗恩紧张地问。
“哦。”哈利急忙向门那边看，那戴着帽的动物不见了，“发生什么事？那东西在哪？谁尖叫？”
“没有人尖叫。”罗恩说，他更紧张了。
哈利看看明亮的车厢。金妮和尼维尔看着他那苍白的脸色。
“但是我听到尖叫声——”
一阵响亮的爆裂声几乎使他们跳起来。露平教授正在把六大块巧克力弄成一段段。
“这里。”他对哈利说，递给他特别大的一块说，“吃吧。”
哈利拿起巧克力，但没有吃。
“那是什么东西？”他问露平。
“一个魔怪，得蒙特。”露平教授说，他现在把巧克力分给大家，“是阿兹克班里的一只魔怪。”
每个人都盯着他，露平教授弄皱空的巧克力包装纸放进口袋里。
“吃吧，”他说，“它有效的，我要找司机说说，失陪……”
他走过哈利身旁在走廊中消失。
“你肯定没事了吗，哈利？”荷米恩焦急地看着哈利问。
“我没有碰到它，发生什么事了？”哈利说着，从脸上擦下更多冷汗。
“嗯—
收听单词发音 |
1
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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grimaced
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| v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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furrowed
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| v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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giggly
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| adj.傻笑的，吃吃笑的 | |
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chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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trolleys
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| n.（两轮或四轮的）手推车( trolley的名词复数 )；装有脚轮的小台车；电车 | |
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15
trolley
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| n.手推车，台车；无轨电车；有轨电车 | |
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salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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compartments
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| n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 )；（列车车厢的）隔间；（家具或设备等的）分隔间；隔层 | |
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compartment
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| n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间 | |
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flinched
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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tart
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| adj.酸的；尖酸的，刻薄的；n.果馅饼；淫妇 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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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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battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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30
pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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vacancy
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| n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺 | |
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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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33
rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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34
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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35
nettled
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| v.拿荨麻打，拿荨麻刺（nettle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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nutter
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| n.疯子 | |
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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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38
offhand
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| adj.临时，无准备的；随便，马虎的 | |
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39
imps
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| n.（故事中的）小恶魔( imp的名词复数 )；小魔鬼；小淘气；顽童 | |
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40
clotted
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| adj.凝结的v.凝固( clot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
quills
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| n.（刺猬或豪猪的）刺( quill的名词复数 )；羽毛管；翮；纡管 | |
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42
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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43
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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levitate
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| v.升在空中 | |
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45
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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46
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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47
fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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48
straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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49
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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50
apprehensively
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| adv.担心地 | |
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51
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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52
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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53
blurring
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| n.模糊，斑点甚多，（图像的）混乱v.（使）变模糊( blur的现在分词 )；（使）难以区分 | |
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54
sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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55
gorilla
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| n.大猩猩，暴徒，打手 | |
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56
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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58
massaging
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| 按摩，推拿( massage的现在分词 ) | |
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59
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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60
shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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61
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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63
pistons
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| 活塞( piston的名词复数 ) | |
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64
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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65
jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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66
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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67
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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68
squeaking
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| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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69
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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70
yelp
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| vi.狗吠 | |
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71
squeals
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| n.长而尖锐的叫声( squeal的名词复数 )v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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72
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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73
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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74
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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75
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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76
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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77
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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78
protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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79
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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80
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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81
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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82
swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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83
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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84
hooded
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| adj.戴头巾的；有罩盖的；颈部因肋骨运动而膨胀的 | |
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85
slab
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| n.平板，厚的切片；v.切成厚板，以平板盖上 | |
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86
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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87
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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88
twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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89
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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90
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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91
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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92
scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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owls
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| n.猫头鹰( owl的名词复数 ) | |
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94
hooted
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| （使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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95
toad
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| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆 | |
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96
croaked
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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97
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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98
stagecoaches
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| n.驿马车( stagecoach的名词复数 ) | |
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99
collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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100
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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101
engulf
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| vt.吞没，吞食 | |
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102
turrets
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| （六角）转台( turret的名词复数 )； （战舰和坦克等上的）转动炮塔； （摄影机等上的）镜头转台； （旧时攻城用的）塔车 | |
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103
maliciously
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| adv.有敌意地 | |
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104
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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105
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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106
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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107
sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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108
smirked
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| v.傻笑( smirk的过去分词 ) | |
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109
prodded
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| v.刺，戳( prod的过去式和过去分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
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110
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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111
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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112
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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113
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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114
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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115
bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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116
disapprovingly
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| adv.不以为然地，不赞成地，非难地 | |
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117
collapses
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| 折叠( collapse的第三人称单数 )； 倒塌； 崩溃； （尤指工作劳累后）坐下 | |
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118
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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119
glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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120
collapsing
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| 压扁[平]，毁坏，断裂 | |
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121
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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122
befuddled
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| adj.迷糊的，糊涂的v.使烂醉( befuddle的过去式和过去分词 )；使迷惑不解 | |
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123
blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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124
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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125
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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126
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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127
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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128
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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129
ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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130
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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131
tablecloth
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| n.桌布，台布 | |
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132
goblets
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| n.高脚酒杯( goblet的名词复数 ) | |
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133
ravenous
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| adj.极饿的，贪婪的 | |
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134
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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135
qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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136
morsels
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| n.一口( morsel的名词复数 )；（尤指食物）小块，碎屑 | |
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137
pumpkin
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| n.南瓜 | |
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138
squealed
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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