In no time at all, Defense1 Against the Dark Arts had become most people's favorite class. Only Draco Malfoy and his gang of Slytherins had anything bad to say about Professor Lupin.
“Look at the state of his robes,” Malfoy would say in a loud whisper as Professor Lupin passed. “He dresses like our old house elf.”
But no one else cared that Professor Lupin's robes were patched and frayed2. His next few lessons were just as interesting as the first. After Boggarts, they studied Red Caps, nasty little goblin-like creatures that lurked3 wherever there had been bloodshed: in the dungeons4 of castles and the potholes5 of deserted6 battlefields, waiting to bludgeon those who had gotten lost. From Red Caps they moved on to Kappas, creepy. water-dwellers that looked like scaly7 monkeys, with webbed hands itching8 to strangle unwitting waders in their ponds.
Harry9 only wished he was as happy with some of his other classes. Worst of all was Potions. Snape was in a particularly vindictive10 mood these days, and no one was in any doubt why. The story of the Boggart assuming Snape's shape, and the way that Neville had dressed it in his grandmother's clothes, had traveled through the school like wildfire. Snape didn't seem to find it funny. His eyes flashed menacingly at the very mention of Professor Lupin's name, and he was bullying11 Neville worse than ever.
Harry was also growing to dread12 the hours he spent in Professor Trelawney's stifling13 tower room, deciphering lopsided shapes and symbols, trying to ignore the way Professor Trelawney's enormous eyes filled with tears every time she looked at him. He couldn't like Professor Trelawney, even though she was treated with respect bordering on reverence14 by many of the class. Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown had taken to haunting Professor Trelawney's tower room at lunch times, and always returned with annoyingly superior looks on their faces, as though they knew things the others didn't. They had also started using hushed voices whenever they spoke15 to Harry, as though he were on his deathbed.
Nobody really liked Care of Magical Creatures, which, after the action-packed first class, had become extremely dull. Hagrid seemed to have lost his confidence. They were now spending lesson after lesson learning how to look after flobberworms, which had to be some of the most boring creatures in existence.
“Why would anyone bother looking after them?” said Ron, after yet another hour of poking16 shredded17 lettuce18 down the flobberworms’ throats.
At the start of October, however, Harry had something else to occupy him, something so enjoyable it more than made up for his unsatisfactory classes. The Quidditch season was approaching, and O1iver Wood, Captain of the Gryffindor team, called a meeting on Thursday evening to discuss tactics for the new season.
There were seven people on a Quidditch team: three Chasers, whose job it was to score goals by putting the Quaffle (a red, soccer-sized ball) through one of the fifty-foot-high hoops19 at each end of the field; two Beaters, who were equipped with heavy bats to repel20 the Bludgers (two heavy black balls that zoomed21 around trying to attack the players); a Keeper, who defended the goal posts, and the Seeker, who had the hardest job of all, that of catching22 the Golden Snitch, a tiny, winged, walnut-sized ball, whose capture ended the game and earned the Seeker's team an extra one hundred and fifty points.
Oliver Wood was a burly seventeen-year-old, now in his seventh and final year at Hogwarts. There was a quiet sort of desperation in his voice as he addressed his six fellow team members in the chilly23 locker24 rooms on the edge of the darkening Quidditch field.
“This is our last chance — my last chance — to win the Quidditch Cup,” he told them, striding up and down in front of them. “I'll be leaving at the end of this year. I'll never get another shot at it.”
“Gryffindor hasn't won for seven years now. Okay, so we've had the worst luck in the world — injuries — then the tournament getting called off last year.” Wood swallowed, as though the memory still brought a lump to his throat. “But we also know we've got the best — ruddy — team — in — the — school,” he said, punching a fist into his other hand, the old manic glint back in his eye. “We've got three superb Chasers.”
Wood pointed25 at Alicia Spinner, Angelina Johnson, and Katie Bell.
“We've got two unbeatable Beaters.”
“Stop it, Oliver, you're embarrassing us,” said Fred and George Weasley together, pretending to blush.
“And we've got a Seeker who has never failed to win us a match!” Wood rumbled26, glaring at Harry with a kind of furious pride. “And me,” he added as an afterthought.
“We think you're very good too, Oliver,” said George.
“Spanking good Keeper,” said Fred.
“The point is,” Wood went on, resuming his pacing, “the Quidditch Cup should have had our name on it these last two years. Ever since Harry joined the team, I've thought the thing was in the bag. But we haven't got it, and this year's the last chance we'll get to finally see our name on the thing…”
Wood spoke so dejectedly that even Fred and George looked sympathetic.
“Oliver, this year's our year,” said Fred.
“We'll do it, Oliver!” said Angelina.
“Definitely,” said Harry.
Full of determination, the team started training sessions, three evenings a week. The weather was getting colder and wetter, the nights darker, but no amount of mud, wind, or rain could tarnish27 Harry's wonderful vision of finally winning the huge, silver Quidditch Cup.
Harry returned to the Gryffindor common room one evening after training, cold and stiff but pleased with the way practice had gone, to find the room buzzing excitedly.
“What's happened?”, he asked Ron and Hermione, who were sitting in two of the best chairs by the fireside and completing some star charts for Astronomy.
“First Hogsmeade weekend,” said Ron, pointing at a notice that had appeared on the battered28 old bulletin board. “End of October. Halloween.”
“Excellent,” said Fred, who had followed Harry through the portrait hole. “I need to visit Zonko's. I'm nearly out of Stink29 Pellets.”
Harry threw himself into a chair beside Ron, his high spirits ebbing30 away. Hermione seemed to read his mind.
“Harry, I'm sure you'll be able to go next time,” she said. “They're bound to catch Black soon. He's been sighted once already.”
“Black's not fool enough to try anything in Hogsmeade,” said Ron. “Ask McGonagall if you can go this time, Harry. The next one might not be for ages —”
“Ron!” said Hermione. “Harry's supposed to stay in school —”
“He can't be the only third year left behind,” said Ron. “Ask McGonagall, go on, Harry —”
“Yeah, I think I will,” said Harry, making up his mind.
Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but at that moment Crookshanks leapt lightly onto her lap. A large, dead spider was dangling31 from his mouth.
“Does he have to eat that in front of us?” said Ron, scowling32.
“Clever Crookshanks, did you catch that all by yourself?” said Hermione.
Crookshanks; slowly chewed up the spider, his yellow eyes fixed33 insolently34 on Ron.
“Just keep him over there, that's all,” said Ron irritably35, turning back to his star chart. “I've got Scabbers asleep in my bag.”
Harry yawned. He really wanted to go to bed, but he still had his own star chart to complete. He pulled his bag toward him, took out parchment, ink, and quill36, and started work.
“You can copy mine, if you like,” said Ron, labeling his last star with a flourish and shoving the chart toward Harry.
Hermione, who disapproved37 of copying, pursed her lips but didn't say anything. Crookshanks was still staring unblinkingly at Ron, flicking38 the end of his bushy tail. Then, without warning, he pounced39.
“OY!” Ron roared, seizing his bag as Crookshanks sank four sets of claws deep inside it and began tearing ferociously40. “GET OFF, YOU STUPID ANIMAL!”
Ron tried to pull the bag away from Crookshanks, but Crookshanks clung on, spitting and slashing41.
“Ron, don't hurt him!” squealed42 Hermione; the whole common room was watching; Ron whirled the bag around, Crookshanks still clinging to it, and Scabbers came flying out of the top —
“CATCH THAT CAT!” Ron yelled as Crookshanks freed himself from the remnants of the bag, sprang over the table, and chased after the terrified Scabbers.
George Weasley made a lunge for Crookshanks but missed; Scabbers streaked43 through twenty pairs of legs and shot beneath an old chest of drawers. Crookshanks skidded45 to a halt, crouched46 low on his bandy legs, and started making furious swipes beneath it with his front paw.
Ron and Hermione hurried over; Hermione grabbed Crookshanks around the middle and heaved him away; Ron threw himself onto his stomach and, with great difficulty, pulled Scabbers out by the tail.
“Look at him!” he said furiously to Hermione, dangling Scabbers in front of her. “He's skin and bone! You keep that cat away from him!”
“Crookshanks doesn't understand it's wrong!” said Hermione, her voice shaking. “All cats chase rats, Ron!”
“There's something funny about that animal!” said Ron, who was trying to persuade a frantically47 wiggling Scabbers back into his pocket. “It heard me say that Scabbers was in my bag!”
“Oh, what rubbish,” said Hermione impatiently. “Crookshanks could smell him, Ron, how else d'you think —”
“That cat's got it in for Scabbers!” said Ron, ignoring the people around him, who were starting to giggle48. “And Scabbers was here first, and he's ill!”
Ron marched through the common room and out of sight up the stairs to the boys’ dormitories. *
* * * * * *
Ron was still in a bad mood with Hermione next day. He barely talked to her all through Herbology, even though he, Harry, and Hermione were working together on the same Puffapod.
“How's Scabbers?” Hermione asked timidly as they stripped fat pink pods from the plants and emptied the shining beans into a wooden pail.
“He's hiding at the bottom of my bed, shaking,” said Ron angrily, missing the pail and scattering49 beans over the greenhouse floor.
“Careful, Weasley, careful!” cried Professor Sprout50 as the beans burst into bloom before their very eyes.
They had Transfiguration next. Harry, who had resolved to ask Professor McGonagall after the lesson whether he could go into Hogsmeade with the rest, joined the line outside the class trying to decide how he was going to argue his case. He was distracted, however, by a disturbance51 at the front of the line.
Lavender Brown seemed to be crying. Parvati had her arm around her and was explaining something to Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, who were looking very serious.
“What's the matter, Lavender?” said Hermione anxiously as she, Harry, and Ron went to join the group.
“She got a letter from home this morning,” Parvati whispered. “It's her rabbit, Binky. He's been killed by a fox.”
“Oh,” said Hermione, “I'm sorry, Lavender.”
“I should have known!” said Lavender tragically52. “You know what day it is?”
“Er —”
“The sixteenth of October! ‘That thing you're dreading53, it will happen on the sixteenth of October!’ Remember? She was right, she was right!”
The whole class was gathered around Lavender now. Seamus shook his head seriously. Hermione hesitated; then she said, “You — you were dreading Binky being killed by a fox?”
“Well, not necessarily by a fox,” said Lavender, looking up at Hermione with streaming eyes, “but I was obviously dreading him dying, wasn't I?”
“Oh,” said Hermione. She paused again. Then —
“Was Binky an old rabbit?”
“N — no!” sobbed54 Lavender. “H — he was only a baby!”
Parvati tightened55 her arm around Lavender's shoulders.
“But then, why would you dread him dying?” said Hermione.
Parvati glared at her.
“Well, look at it logically,” said Hermione, turning to the rest of the group. “I mean, Binky didn't even die today, did he? Lavender just got the news today —” Lavender wailed56 loudly. “– and she can't have been dreading it, because it's come as a real shock —”
“Don't mind Hermione, Lavender,” said Ron loudly, “she doesn't think other people's pets matter very much.”
Professor McGonagall opened the classroom door at that moment, which was perhaps lucky; Hermione and Ron were looking daggers57 at each other, and when they got into class, they seated themselves on either side of Harry and didn't talk to each other for the whole class.
Harry still hadn't decided58 what he was going to say to Professor McGonagall when the bell rang at the end of the lesson, but it was she who brought up the subject of Hogsmeade first.
“One moment, please!” she called as the class made to leave. “As you're all in my House, you should hand Hogsmeade permission forms to me before Halloween. No form, no visiting the village, so don't forget!”
Neville put up his hand.
“Please, Professor, I — I think I've lost —”
“Your grandmother sent yours to me directly, Longbottom,” said Professor McGonagall. “She seemed to think it was safer. Well, that's all, you may leave.”
“Ask her now,” Ron hissed59 at Harry.
“Oh. but —” Hermione began.
“Go for it, Harry,” said Ron stubbornly.
Harry waited for the rest of the class to disappear, then headed nervously60 for Professor McGonagall's desk.
“Yes, Potter?” Harry took a deep breath.
“Professor, my aunt and uncle — er — forgot to sign my form,” he said.
Professor McGonagall looked over her square spectacles at him but didn't say anything.
“So — er — d'you think it would be all right mean, will It be okay if I — if I go to Hogsmeade?”
Professor McGonagall looked down and began shuffling61 papers on her desk.
“I'm afraid not, Potter,” she said. “You heard what I said. No form, no visiting the village. That's the rule.”
“But — Professor, my aunt and uncle — you know, they're Muggles, they don't really understand about — about Hogwarts forms and stuff,” Harry said, while Ron egged him on with vigorous nods. “If you said I could go —”
“But I don't say so,” said Professor McGonagall, standing62 up and piling her papers neatly63 into a drawer. “The form clearly states that the parent or guardian64 must give permission.” She turned to look at him, with an odd expression on her face. Was it pity? “I'm sorry, Potter, but that's my final word. You had better hurry, or you'll be late for your next lesson.”
There was nothing to be done. Ron called Professor McGonagall a lot of names that greatly annoyed Hermione; Hermione assumed an ‘all-for-the-best’ expression that made Ron even angrier, and Harry had to endure everyone in the class talking loudly and happily about what they were going to do first, once they got into Hogsmeade.
“There's always the feast,” said Ron, in an effort to cheer Harry up. “You know, the Halloween feast, in the evening.”
“Yeah,” said Harry gloomily, “great.”
The Halloween feast was always good, but it would taste a lot better if he was coming to it after a day in Hogsmeade with everyone else. Nothing anyone said made him feel any better about being left behind. Dean Thomas, who was good with a quill, had offered to forge Uncle Vernon's signature on the form, but as Harry had already told Professor McGonagall he hadn't had it signed, that was no good. Ron halfheartedly suggested the Invisibility Cloak, but Hermione stamped on that one, reminding Ron what Dumbledore had told them about the Dementors being able to see through them. Percy had what were possibly the least helpful words of comfort.
“They make a fuss about Hogsmeade, but I assure you, Harry, it's not all it's cracked up to be,” he said seriously. “All right, the sweetshop's rather good, and Zonko's Joke Shop's frankly65 dangerous, and yes, the Shrieking66 Shack's always worth a visit, but really, Harry, apart from that, you're not missing anything.”
* * * * * *
On Halloween morning, Harry awoke with the rest and went down to breakfast, feeling thoroughly67 depressed68, though doing his best to act normally.
“We'll bring you lots of sweets back from Honeydukes,” said Hermione, looking desperately69 sorry for him.
“Yeah, loads,” said Ron. He and Hermione had finally forgotten their squabble about Crookshanks in the face of Harry's difficulties.
“Don't worry about me,” said Harry, in what he hoped was at, offhand70 voice, “I'll see you at the feast. Have a good time.”
He accompanied them to the entrance hall, where Filch71, the caretaker, was standing inside the front doors, checking off names against a long list, peering suspiciously into every face, and making sure that no one was sneaking72 out who shouldn't be going.
“Staying here, Potter?” shouted Malfoy, who was standing in line with Crabbe and Goyle. “Scared of passing the Dementors?”
Harry ignored him and made his solitary73 way up the marble staircase, through the deserted corridors, and back to Gryffindor Tower.
“Password?” said the Fat Lady, jerking out of a doze74.
“Fortuna Major,” said Harry listlessly.
The portrait swung open and he climbed through the hole into the common room. It was full of chattering75 first-and second-years, and a few older students, who had obviously visited Hogsmeade so often the novelty had worn off.
“Harry! Harry! Hi, Harry!”
It was Colin Creevey, a second year who was deeply in awe44 of Harry and never missed an opportunity to speak to him.
“Aren't you going to Hogsmeade, Harry? Why not? Hey —” Colin looked eagerly around at his friends — “you can come and sit with us, if you like, Harry!”
“Er — no, thanks, Colin,” said Harry, who wasn't in the mood to have a lot of people staring avidly76 at the scar on his forehead. “I — I've got to go to the library, got to get some work done.”
After that, he had no choice but to turn right around and head back out of the portrait hole again.
“What was the point of waking me up?” the Fat Lady called grumpily after him as he walked away.
Harry wandered dispiritedly toward the library, but halfway77 there he changed his mind; he didn't feel like working. He turned around and came face-to-face with Filch, who had obviously just seen off the last of the Hogsmeade visitors.
“What are you doing?” Filch snarled78 suspiciously.
“Nothing,” said Harry truthfully.
“Nothing!” spat79 Filch, his jowls quivering unpleasantly. “A likely story! Sneaking around on your own — why aren't you in Hogsmeade buying Stink Pellets and Belch81 Powder and Whizzing Worms like the rest of your nasty little friends?”
“Well, get back to your common room where you belong!” snapped Filch, and he stood glaring until Harry had passed out of sight.
But Harry didn't go back to the common room; he climbed a staircase, thinking vaguely83 of visiting the Owlery to see Hedwig, and was walking along another corridor when a voice from inside one of the rooms said, “Harry?”
Harry doubled back to see who had spoken and met Professor Lupin, looking around his office door.
“What are you doing?” said Lupin, though in a very different voice from Filch. “Where are Ron and Hermione?”
“Hogsmeade,” said Harry, in a would-be casual voice.
“Ah,” said Lupin. He considered Harry for a moment. “Why don't you come in? I've just taken delivery of a Grindylow for our next lesson.”
“A what?” said Harry.
He followed Lupin into his office. In the corner stood a very large tank of water. A sickly green creature with sharp little horns had its face pressed against the glass, pulling faces and flexing84 its long, spindly fingers.
“Water demon,” said Lupin, surveying the Grindylow thoughtfully. “We shouldn't have much difficulty with him, not after the Kappas. The trick is to break his grip. You notice the abnormally long fingers? Strong, but very brittle85.”
The Grindylow bared its green teeth and then buried itself in a tangle86 of weeds in a corner.
“Cup of tea?” Lupin said, looking around for his kettle. “I was just thinking of making one.”
“All right,” said Harry awkwardly.
Lupin tapped the kettle with his wand and a blast of steam issued suddenly from the spout87.
“Sit down,” said Lupin, taking the lid off a dusty tin. “I've only got teabags, I'm afraid — but I daresay you've had enough of tea leaves?”
Harry looked at him. Lupin's eyes were twinkling.
“How did you know about that?” Harry asked.
“Professor McGonagall told me,” said Lupin, passing Harry a chipped mug of tea. “You're not worried, are you?”
“No,” said Harry.
He thought for a moment of telling Lupin about the dog he'd seen in Magnolia Crescent but decided not to. He didn't want Lupin to think he was a coward, especially since Lupin already seemed to think he couldn't cope with a Boggart.
Something of Harry's thoughts seemed to have shown on his face, because Lupin said, “Anything worrying you, Harry?”
“No,” Harry lied. He drank a bit of tea and watched the Grindylow brandishing88 a fist at him. “Yes,” he said suddenly, putting his tea down on Lupin's desk. “You know that day we fought the Boggart?”
“Yes,” said Lupin slowly.
“Why didn't you let me fight it?” said Harry abruptly89.
“I would have thought that was obvious, Harry,” he said, sounding surprised.
Harry, who had expected Lupin to deny that he'd done any such thing, was taken aback.
“Why?” he said again.
“Well,” said Lupin, frowning slightly, “I assumed that if the Boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort.”
Harry stared. Not only was this the last answer he'd expected, but Lupin had said Voldemort's name. The only person Harry had ever heard say the name aloud (apart from himself) was Professor Dumbledore.
“Clearly, I was wrong,” said Lupin, still frowning at Harry. “But I didn't think it a good idea for Lord Voldemort to materialize in the staffroom. I imagined that people would panic.”
“I didn't think of Voldemort,” said Harry honestly. “I — I remembered those Dementors.”
“I see,” said Lupin thoughtfully. “Well, well…I'm impressed.” He smiled slightly at the look of surprise on Harry's face. “That suggests that what you fear most of all is — fear. Very wise, Harry.”
Harry didn't know what to say to that, so he drank some more tea.
“So you've been thinking that I didn't believe you capable of fighting the Boggart?” said Lupin shrewdly.
“Well…yeah,” said Harry. He was suddenly feeling a lot happier. “Professor Lupin, you know the Dementors —”
He was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Come in,” called Lupin.
The door opened, and in came Snape. He was carrying a goblet91, which was smoking faintly, and stopped at the sight of Harry, his black eyes narrowing.
“Ah, Severus,” said Lupin, smiling. “Thanks very much. Could you leave it here on the desk for me?”
Snape set down the smoking goblet, his eyes wandering between Harry and Lupin.
“I was just showing Harry my Grindylow,” said Lupin pleasantly, pointing at the tank.
“Fascinating,” said Snape, without looking at it. “You should drink that directly, Lupin.”
“Yes, Yes, I will,” said Lupin.
“I made an entire cauldronful,” Snape continued. “If you need more.”
“I should probably have some again tomorrow. Thanks very much, Severus.”
“Not at all,” said Snape, but there was a look in his eye Harry didn't like. He backed out of the room, unsmiling and watchful92.
Harry looked curiously93 at the goblet. Lupin smiled.
“Professor Snape has very kindly94 concocted95 a potion for me,” he said. “I have never been much of a potion-brewer and this one is particularly complex.” He picked up the goblet and sniffed96 it. “Pity sugar makes it useless,” he added, taking a sip97 and shuddering98.
“Why —?” Harry began. Lupin looked at him and answered the unfinished question.
“I've been feeling a bit off-color,” he said. “This potion is the only thing that helps. I am very lucky to be working alongside Professor Snape; there aren't many wizards who are up to making it.”
Professor Lupin took another sip and Harry had a crazy urge to knock the goblet out of his hands.
“Professor Snape's very interested in the Dark Arts,” he blurted99 out.
“Really?” said Lupin, looking only mildly interested as he took another gulp100 of potion.
“Some people reckon —” Harry hesitated, then plunged101 recklessly on, “some people reckon he'd do anything to get the Defense Against the Dark Arts job.”
Lupin drained the goblet and pulled a face.
“Disgusting,” he said. “Well, Harry, I'd better get back to work. See you at the feast later.”
“Right,” said Harry, putting down his empty teacup.
The empty goblet was still smoking.
* * * * * * * *
“There you go,” said Ron. “We got as much as we could carry.”
A shower of brilliantly colored sweets fell into Harry's lap. It was dusk, and Ron and Hermione had just turned up in the common room, pink-faced from the cold wind and looking as though they'd had the time of their lives.
“Thanks,” said Harry, picking up a packet of tiny black Pepper Imps102. “What's Hogsmeade like? Where did you go?”
By the sound of it — everywhere. Dervish and Banges, the wizarding equipment shop, Zonko's Joke Shop, into the Three Broomsticks for foaming103 mugs of hot butterbeer, and many places besides.
“The post office, Harry! About two hundred owls80, all sitting on shelves, all color-coded depending on how fast you want your letter to get there!”
“Honeydukes has got a new kind of fudge; they were giving out free samples, there's a bit, look —”
“We think we saw an ogre, honestly, they get all sorts at the Three Broomsticks —”
“Wish we could have brought you some butterbeer, really warms you up —”
“What did you do?” said Hermione, looking anxious. “Did you get any work done?”
“No,” said Harry. “Lupin made me a cup of tea in his office. And then Snape came in…”
He told them all about the goblet. Ron's mouth fell open.
“Lupin drank it?” he gasped104. “Is he mad?”
Hermione checked her watch.
“We'd better go down, you know, the feast'll be starting in five minutes They hurried through the portrait hole and into the crowd, still discussing Snape.
“But if he — you know —” Hermione dropped her voice, glancing nervously around, “if he was trying to — to poison Lupin — he wouldn't have done it in front of Harry.”
“Yeah, maybe,” said Harry as they reached the entrance hall and crossed into the Great Hall. It had been decorated with hundreds and hundreds of candle-filled pumpkins105, a cloud of fluttering live bats, and many flaming orange streamers, which were swimming lazily across the stormy ceiling like brilliant watersnakes.
The food was delicious; even Hermione and Ron, who were full to bursting with Honeydukes sweets, managed second helpings106 of everything. Harry kept glancing at the staff table. Professor Lupin looked cheerful and as well as he ever did; he was talking animatedly107 to tiny little Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher. Harry moved his eyes along the table, to the place where Snape sat. Was he imagining it, or were Snape's eyes flickering108 toward Lupin more often than was natural?
The feast finished with an entertainment provided by the Hogwarts ghosts. They popped out of the walls and tables to do a bit of formation gliding109; Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, had a great success with a reenactment of his own botched beheading.
It had been such a pleasant evening that Harry's good mood couldn't even be spoiled by Malfoy, who shouted through the crowd as they all left the hall, “The Dementors send their love, Potter!”
Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed the rest of the Gryffindors along the usual path to Gryffindor Tower, but when they reached the corridor that ended with the portrait of the Fat Lady, they found it jammed with students.
“Why isn't anyone going in?” said Ron curiously.
Harry peered over the heads in front of him. The portrait seemed to be closed.
“Let me through, please,” came Percy's voice, and he came bustling110 importantly through the crowd. “What's the holdup here? You can't all have forgotten the password — excuse me, I'm Head Boy —”
And then a silence fell over the crowd, from the front first, so that a chill seemed to spread down the corridor. They heard Percy say, in a suddenly sharp voice, “Somebody get Professor Dumbledore. Quick.”
People's heads turned; those at the back were standing on tiptoe.
“What's going on?” said Ginny, who had just arrived.
A moment later, Professor Dumbledore was there, sweeping111 toward the portrait; the Gryffindors squeezed together to let him through, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione moved closer to see what the trouble was.
“Oh, my —” Hermione grabbed Harry's arm.
The Fat Lady had vanished from her portrait, which had been slashed112 so viciously that strips of canvas littered the floor; great chunks113 of it had been torn away completely. Dumbledore took one quick look at the ruined painting and turned, his eyes somber114, to see Professors McGonagall, Lupin, and Snape hurrying toward him.
“We need to find her,” said Dumbledore. “Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr. Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady.”
“You'll be lucky!” said a cackling voice.
It was Peeves115 the Poltergeist, bobbing over the crowd and looking delighted, as he always did, at the sight of wreckage116 or worry.
“What do you mean, Peeves?” said Dumbledore calmly, and Peeves's grin faded a little. He didn't dare taunt117 Dumbledore. Instead he adopted an oily voice that was no better than his cackle. “Ashamed, Your Headship, sir. Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess. Saw her running through the landscape up on the fourth floor, sir, dodging118 between the trees. Crying something dreadful,” he said happily. “Poor thing.” he added unconvincingly.
“Did she say who did it?” said Dumbledore quietly.
“Oh yes, Professorhead,” said Peeves, with the air of one cradling a large bombshell in his arms. “He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, you see.” Peeves flipped119 over and grinned at Dumbledore from between his own legs. “Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black.”
立即，黑巫术防御课成了大部分同学最喜欢的课了，只有马尔夫和史林德林那伙人说露平教授的坏话。
“看他的衣服，”马尔夫看到露平教授走过时会大声地说，“他穿得像我们房子里的矮人。”
但是没有人注意露平教授的衣服又有补丁，他后面几节课跟第一节一样有趣，学完布格特，他们学红帽子，那是像妖怪一样的动物，依附在城堡的地牢里，在战场上荒废的地孔里，等着迷失的人的出现。学了红帽子后他们开始学卡布狮，是水中很滑的动物，看上去像怪异的猴子，手像一张网，把水塘边陌生的跋涉者拖进水里面。
哈利希望每一节课都有趣，但最差的是上药剂课。史纳皮教授这些日子都是满脸仇恨的样子，但谁都知道为什么，布格特变成史纳皮教授的事，还有尼维尔所想到的他祖母的衣服，已经像野火一样传遍了全校，史纳皮教授一点都不觉得有趣，每听到露平教授的名字他的眼睛都恶毒地闪着，还有他更加残酷地欺负尼维尔。
哈利也开始讨厌特雷络尼教授那让人窒息的课，他努力地辨认那些奇异的形状和文字，避开特雷络尼教授每次看他都充满泪水的眼睛，她在班上很受大家的尊敬，帕维提。帕提和拉温德。布朗经常在午餐的时间逗留在特雷络尼教授的课室里，然后总是带着高傲的表情回来，好像学了很多别人不懂的东西一样。他们跟哈利说话的时候也总是用悲哀的语调，好像哈利已经躺在病床上快要死去一样。
没有人真正喜欢上魔法动物这门课，自从第一节课发生事故后，课程一直都非常闷，哈格力看上去好像已经失去信心了，他们现在花很多时间学习怎样照顾好弗来毕蚕，那可是世界上最令人烦闷的动物。
“谁会照顾它们呀！”罗恩说，他已经又花了一个小时用莴苣喂弗来毕蚕。
十月到了，哈利终于有事要干了，他可以在不喜欢的课做一些喜欢做的事，快迪斯赛就要到了，格利芬顿队的队长奥里沃。伍德在星期二晚上召集队员开会商量战略。
快迪斯队有七个人，三个捕手，他们要做的就是把可尔夫球（一个红色的，像足球般大的足球）放进球场两边都有的五十尺高的筐里面，两个后卫，他们的工作就是保护其他队员不被布鲁佐球撞下来，还要用它们打击对方球员。一个守门员，是用来守着球筐，还有一个搜索者，这游戏最难的角色，就是去接史尼斯球——长着翅膀的，微小的，核桃般大的球，找到了游戏就结束，并为搜索者那队加一百五十分。
奥里沃。伍德是一个十七岁的结实的小伙子，他现在霍格瓦彻读七年级也就是最后一年了。他们在黑暗的球场边的寒冷课室里集中。奥里沃对他六个队员谈话的时声音里有点绝望。
“这是我们最后的机会了——我最后的机会了，要拿冠军杯。”他在他们前前后后踱着步时跟他们说，“我在今年年底就离开，我永远也没有机会再打了。”
“已经整整七年没有赢过了，我们是最不幸的了，又有人受伤，——去年的锦标赛又没得举行……”伍德说不下去了，他的回忆像是把他的喉咙塞住一样。“但我们是学校里最好的队。”他说，把拳头捶向另一只手，一向的狂躁又在他的眼睛闪动着。
“我们有三个极好的捕手。”
伍德指向艾丽斯亚。斯宾那，安格莉娜。琼瑟和凯特。比利。
“我们有打不倒的后卫。”
“不要这样吧，奥里沃，你让我们觉得难为情。”弗来德和乔治假装脸红地说。
“还有，我们有一个一定会赢的搜索者，”伍德大声说，他用一种狂热的骄傲盯着哈利，“还有我。”他想了想加上这句。
“我们都认为你非常好，奥里沃。”乔治说。
“最厉害的守门员。”弗来德说。
“问题是，”伍德继续踱着，继续说，“快迪斯冠军杯在这年里会有我们的名字的。自从哈利加入我们队后，我就认为金杯就在我们的袋子里，但我们还未拿到手，这次是最后的机会了，我们会在上面见到我们的名字的……”
伍德那样萎靡地说着，连弗来德和乔治都同情地看着他。
“奥里沃，今年是我们的。‘佛来德说。
“我们会赢的，奥里沃！”安格莉娜说。
“肯定的。”哈利说。
这支队充满决心的球队开始训练了，一个星期三次，天气越来越冷了，夜也变得越来越暗了，但是泥泞，寒风和雨能没有冲走哈利对最终胜利赢取银闪闪的快迪斯杯的信心。
一晚哈利训练后回到格利芬顿楼的公共室，虽然又冷又累，但是觉得很高兴今天训练完了，他发现房里的人都很兴奋。
“发生什么事啦？”他问罗恩和荷米恩，他们正坐在火炉旁最好的两个位置上，正在做天文学的星图。
“第一个去霍格马得的周末，”罗恩指着那又旧又破的公布栏的通知说，“在十月底，万圣节那天。”
“太好了，”弗来德说，他跟着哈利通过那画像口，“我要去参观卓克特可，我差点就出了斯场。普里斯。”
哈利在罗恩旁边猛地坐下，他的兴奋一下子泄气了，荷米恩好像读懂他的心思。
“他们很快就会捉住巴拉克的，已经有人看到他了。”
“巴拉克也不会那么笨去霍格马得的，”罗恩说，“你去问问麦康娜教授这次你是否可以去，哈利，很久才会有下一次的。”
“罗恩！”荷米恩说，“哈利应该留在学校里——”
“三年级中总不能够只剩下他一个，”罗恩说，“去问问麦康娜教授，哈利，去——”
“对，我想我会去的。”哈利说，他已经决定了。
荷米恩正要张开口说，但那时候克路殊克轻轻跳出来坐在她的膝盖上，嘴里咬着一只大的死蜘蛛。
“它不是在我们面前吃那东西吧？”罗恩轻蔑地说。
“聪明的克路殊克，是你自己捉的吗？”荷米恩问。
克路殊克慢慢地嚼着那蜘蛛，黄色的眼睛傲慢地盯着罗恩。
“不要让它过来。”罗恩气愤地说，把头转到他的星图上，“我的斯卡伯斯还在袋里睡觉。”
哈利打了个呵欠，他真想去睡觉，但是他还要做他的星图作业，他把书包拉过去，拿出羊皮纸，墨水和羽毛笔，开始工作了。
“如果你喜欢的话可以抄我的。”罗恩说，他高兴地把最后一颗星的名字写上，然后把图表推给哈利。
荷米恩很不满意抄作业，她呶呶嘴，但没说些什么，克路殊克还是不眨眼地盯着罗恩，尾巴左右摆动。然后，从地上一跃。
“哦！”罗恩大声吼，抓起他的书包，克路殊克已经把四爪都伸过去，疯狂地乱抓。“滚开，你这笨猫。”
罗恩尽量把书包放在远离克路殊克的地方，但是总是围绕它，用爪往内抓。
“罗恩，不要伤害它！”荷米恩大喊，全大厅的人都望过来，克路殊克仍然围著书包，用爪去抓，斯卡伯斯最后从书包项钻出来——“抓着那猫！”罗恩嚷，猫从书包跳下来，跳上桌子去追赶那吓坏的斯卡伯斯。
乔治。威斯里向猫扑过去，但扑了个空，斯卡伯斯在二十双脚下窜来窜去，最后躲到一张旧屉柜下面，克路殊克猛地停下来，在柜前用前抓住向抓，发出刺耳的声音。
罗恩和荷米恩立即走过去，荷米恩捉住的身体中间部位，把它捧走，罗恩趴在地上，很困难地抓着斯卡伯斯的尾巴，把它拉出来。
“你看好它！”他愤怒地对荷米恩说，他用手抚摸着斯卡伯斯，“他已经很瘦很弱了，你不要让那猫再靠近他。”
“克路殊克不知道这是错的！”荷米恩的声音颤抖着，“所有的猫都捉老鼠的。”
“那动物也挺有趣的！”罗恩说着，努力让斯卡伯斯走回书包里，“它能听懂我说斯卡伯斯在书包里。”
“哦，那是废话。”荷米恩不耐烦地说，“克路殊克能够闻出来的。
罗恩，你还在想到什么？——“”那猫要让让斯卡伯斯，“罗恩说，他不理会身边那些开始发笑的人，”是斯卡伯斯先到这里的，而且他病了……“
罗恩大步走过公共室，踏上通向男生宿舍的楼梯。
第二天，罗恩还在生荷米恩的闷气。上魔法植物保护课的时候他几乎没有跟她说过话。即使他和哈利。荷米恩一起在同一棵豆豆树上采药的时候也没有说话。
“斯卡伯斯怎么啦？”荷米恩含羞地问。她正从植物上剥下肥肥的粉红的豆，又把闪亮的豆倒进木桶里。
“它躺在我的床地下，还在发抖！”罗恩生气地说，由于没对准木桶，他把豆倒在温室的地板上，豆散满地了。
“小心点，威斯里，小心点。”史鲍特教授看到豆倒着地上撒开时喊道。
然后他们上变形课，哈利已经决定下课后去问麦康娜教授他能否也去霍格马得，他跟在使命后，努力想好怎样辩护，但是，他被前面的人分散注意力了。
拉温德。布朗好像在哭。帕维提用手搂着她并向谢默斯和汤姆斯解释着什么，他们看上去都很严肃。
“发生什么事了？”荷米恩和哈利，罗恩走过来时焦急地问。
“她今天从家里收到一封信，”帕维提细声说，“她的兔子比克，它被一只狐狸杀了。”
“哦，”荷米恩说，“拉温德，我也很难过。”
“我应该早知道的！”拉温德伤心地说，“你知道是几号吗？”
“嗯——”
“‘十月十六日！你讨厌的事会发生在十月十六日，星期五，’你记得吗？她说对了，她说对了。”
现在全班都向她围过来了，谢默斯严肃地摇摇头，荷米恩犹豫了一下，然后她说，“你在伤心比克被狐狸杀了吗？”
“嗯，不是一定要给狐狸杀的，”拉温德抬起头用泪汪汪的眼睛看着荷米恩说，“但是我的确伤心它给杀了！”
“哦！”荷米恩说，她顿了顿，又问。
“比克是一只老兔子吗？”
“不！”拉温德啜泣着，“它只是一只兔婴儿。”
帕维提更紧地搂着的拉温德的肩膀。
“但是，那为什么你会伤心它死了？”荷米恩问。
帕维提瞪她一眼。
“噢，理智地对待它吧，”荷米恩转过身对其它人说，“我的意思是，比克不是今天死的，对吗？而拉温德刚刚才收到消息——”拉温德更大声地哭了，“她不是一直都讨厌它吗？现在只是震惊而已——”
“不要管荷米恩，拉温德，”罗恩大声说，“她从都不认为别人的宠物重要的。”
这时候麦康娜教授来开门了，情况稍微好转了些。荷米恩和罗恩正生气地瞪着对方，他们进入课室后，各坐在哈利一旁，整节课都没有跟对方讲过一句话。
下课了，哈利还没有决定是否去问麦康娜教授，但是她自己先提到去霍格马得的问题。
“请等一会。”在同学们准备离开的时候，她说，“趁着你们都在，找说一下，你们应该在万圣节之前把去霍格马得的家长签名交给我。
别忘了没有表格的不准去参观那村庄。“尼维尔举起手。
“教授，请求你，我——我想我丢了——”
“你祖母已经直接把它寄给我了，”麦康娜教授说，“她认为这样会更安全，好了，没什么了，你们可以离开了。”
“快去问她吧。”罗恩在哈利耳边说。
“哦，但是——”荷米恩说。
“哈利，快去问。”罗恩顽固地说。
哈利等到班里其他人都走了，他紧张地走向麦康娜教授的桌子。
“有事吗？波特？”
哈利深呼吸一下。
“教授，我姨丈和姨妈——嗯——忘了在我的表格上签名。”他说。
麦康娜教授透过她的方眼镜看看哈利，但没说些什么。
“所以，嗯，如果我也去霍格马得的话，可以吗？——”
麦康娜教授低下头并开始翻动她桌前的表。
“波特，我想不行的，”她说，“你听到我刚才说的，没有表格不准去的，那是规矩。”
“但是，教授，我姨妈和姨丈——你知道——他们都是马格的人，他们不大懂霍格马得的表格或其它的。”哈利说，这时罗恩使劲地点头附和着他，“如果你说我可以去——”
“但是我没这么说，”麦康娜教授说，她站起来，把一叠表整齐地放进展柜里，“表格很清楚说明要求有父母或监护人的同意，”她转过去看着他，面上呈现出奇怪的神情，是同情吗？“很对不起，波特，那是我最后一句了。你最好快跟上你的同学吧，要不，下一节课就要迟到了。”
这样没有可能去了。罗恩整天地喊着麦康娜教授的名字，荷米恩觉得很烦了。
而荷米恩的“都是为了哈利好”，也使罗恩更加生气，而哈利只好忍受大家整天兴高采烈地谈论著到了霍格马得应该首先做什么。
“总是有一顿大餐的，”罗恩说，努力让哈利高兴起来，“你知道，万圣节大餐，在晚上。”
“是啊！”哈利沮丧地说，“太好了。”
万圣节的大餐通常都是很好的，但是如果第二天可以跟他们一起去霍格马得的话就更加好了，一个人独自留下来，他们谈什么都不能让哈利高兴点。汤姆斯能写得一手好字，他提出帮哈利伪造维能姨丈的签名，但是因为哈利已经告诉麦康娜教授说他没有签名，所以没用的。罗恩小心地提议哈利用隐形斗篷，但是荷米恩跺跺脚，提醒艾伯斯。丹伯多说过得蒙特可以看出来的，伯希说的是最没用的安慰话。
“他们都对霍格马得小题大作了，但我告诉你吧，哈利，那里并不是那样神奇，”
他严重地说，“好了，糖果店总是很好的，但是卓克特可那间简直就是危险的，还有，对了，什拉克。刹克却很值得看一看。但说真的，哈利，除了那个，你并没有错过些什么。”
万圣节那天早上，哈利和大家一起醒来，也下去吃早餐，但却很沮丧，尽管他已经尽力做得像没事一样。
“我们会从霍格马得那里带很多糖回来给你的。”荷米恩很难过的看着哈利。
“对，带很多。‘罗恩说，他和荷米恩在哈利失望的样子前面终于忘了他们关于克路殊克的争吵。
“不要担心我，”哈利说，用尽量轻快的语调，“我会在大餐时见到你们的，玩得开心点。”
他跟着他们到了出口大堂，在那里，费驰站在前门里，正在检查那长长的名单，怀疑地看看每个人的脸，确认不允许出去的人没有偷混出去。
“留在这里吗，波特？”马尔夫大声地喊，他和克来伯和高尔正在排队，“怕通过得蒙特？”
哈利没有理会他们，而是孤单地走着大理石阶梯回到格林芬顿塔。
“暗号？”胖大婶懒懒地问了一句。
“费维里斯上尉。”哈利漫不经心地说。
那画像旋开了一个口，哈利从那口爬进去公共室。那里有很多在谈话的一年级和二年级生，还有些高年级的学生，很明显他们经常去霍格马得，已经觉得没有意思了。
“哈利！哈利！喂，哈利！”
是柯林。格雷锐，一个二年级的学生，他很敬佩哈利，从来都抓紧机会跟他谈话。
“你没有去霍格马得吗？哈利？为什么不去呀？嗨——”柯林诚恳地望着他的朋友，“你可以过来跟我们一起坐，如果你不介意的话，哈利？”
“哦，不，谢谢你，柯林，”哈利说，他现在没有心情让很多人渴望看到他额上的疤痕。“我——我要去图书馆，去干一些事。”
之后，他没办法只好又转身走回那画像口。
“你为什么要老吵醒我？”胖大婶看着他走后很不满地说。
哈利没精打采地向图书馆走去，但半路时他改变主意，他不想去看书，他转过身走到费驰面前，他很明显已经送走了最后一个去霍格马得参观者。
“你要干什么？”费驰怀疑地吼道。
“没什么。”哈利真诚地说。
“没什么！”费驰吼道，他的下巴不高兴地震动着，“一句好听的话！你想偷走出去吧，为什么不跟你的朋友一起在霍格马得买臭圆球、火药和飕飕声的虫子？”
哈利耸耸肩。
“还是回到你该去的公共室吧。”费驰命令说，他站在那里盯着哈利，直到看不见。
但是哈利没有走回到公共室里，他爬上一楼梯，模糊地想去看看海维，他正在另一走廊里走着，突然里面传来一声，“哈利？”
哈利转进去去看谁在说话，看到露平教授，同时打量着他办公室的门。
“你在做什么？”露平用跟费驰很不同的语气说，“罗恩和荷米恩他们在那？”
“霍格马得。”哈利很随便地说。
“啊，”露平说，他想了一会说，“你怎么不过来？我刚刚拿了一个吉带龙来为我们下次课准备。”
“一个什么？”哈利说。
他跟着露平走进他的办公室，在一角有一个很大的水槽，一只有尖角的青色动物在里面，它的脸贴着玻璃，那又长又光滑的尾巴在摆动着。
“水怪，”露平看着吉带龙意味深长地说，“我们要对付他不会很难的。密诀就是弄断他的手指。你看到那特别长的手指了吗？很强壮，但也很容易碎。”
那只吉带龙露出了青色的牙齿，然后藏到一角的水草里面去了。
“要一杯茶吗？”露平说着四周看看去找水壶，“我正想冲一杯。”
“好的。”哈利难堪地说。
露平用他的魔杖拍拍水壶，水壶口立即冒出水蒸汽。
“坐下吧。”露平说着揭开一个带灰尘的盖子，“我只有茶袋了，但是，我想你看烦了茶叶了吧？”
哈利看着他，露平的眼睛在闪动着。
“你怎么知道的？”哈利问。
“麦康娜教授告诉我的，”露平说，他递给哈利一个茶袋，“你不是在担心吧，对吗？”
“不是。”哈利回答。
他想告诉露平教授他曾在马克来里新月街见到那只狗，但他还是决定不说。他不想让露平认为他是胆小鬼，尤其自从露平已经知道他不敢面对一只布格特后。
哈利所想的已经部分显示在他脸上，因为露平说，“你在担心什么，哈利？”
“没有。”哈利撒谎，他喝了一口茶。“是的，”他突然说，把茶杯放到露平的桌子上，“你还记得那天我们在玩布格特？”
“记得，”露平慢慢说。
“你为什么不让我来试一下？”哈利唐突地说。
露平的眉毛向上一升。
“我想这已经是很明显的了，哈利。”他奇怪地说。
哈利震惊了。他本来预料露平会否定他这样做的。
“为什么？”他又问。
“嗯，”露平皱皱眉说，“我敢肯定如果让布格特面对你，他肯定会变成福尔得摩特的样子的。”
哈利瞪了一眼，这不止是他最不想听到的答案，他还说到福尔得摩特的名字。
哈利唯一听过（除了他自己）大声说这名字的人是丹伯多教授。
“说真的，我错了。”露平说，他仍然向哈利皱着眉头。“但是我让福尔得摩特在教工室出现不是好主意，我想大家都会被吓坏的。”
“我的确首先想到福尔得摩特，”哈利老实说，“但是之后——之后我记起那些得蒙特了。”
“我知道，”露平意味深长地说，“好，好了……我知道了。”他看着哈利迷惑的脸孔轻轻地笑了笑。“那意味着你最怕的是——他，很明智，哈利。”
哈利不知道该说些什么好，因而他喝了些茶。
“因此，一直你都认为我不相信你够胆量去面对一只布格特？”露平简明地说。
“嗯……是的。”哈利说着，他觉得高兴很多了。“露平教授，你知道得蒙特……”
他被一阵敲门声打断了。
“进来！”露平喊。
门开了，史纳皮教授走进来。他正拿着一只酒杯，还有淡淡的烟冒出来，他看见哈利时停下脚步，眯着眼睛。
“啊，史纳皮，”露平微笑着说，“谢谢你，请帮我把它放在桌子上好吗？”
史纳皮教授把冒着烟的酒杯放下，望着哈利和露平。
“我刚给哈利看看那吉带龙。”露平和蔼地指着那水槽。
“很好！”史纳皮教授看也没看地说，“你应该直接喝那个，露平。”
“好的，我会。”露平说。
“我做了整整一桶，”史纳皮教授继续说，“如果你还想要的话。”
“我想我明天还要喝一点，史纳皮，太感谢你了。”
“不用谢。”史纳皮教授说，哈利看到他不喜欢的目光，他满怀恶意地离开那间房。
哈利好奇地看着酒杯，露平微笑着。
“史纳皮教授很好心地为我调制了一种药剂，”他说，“我不是对配制药剂很精通，而这是特别复杂的。”他拿起酒杯闻闻，“可惜糖使到它没用了。”他加了一句，喝了一小口，然后发抖。
“怎么啦？”哈利问。
“我一直觉得有点力不从心，”他说。“这药剂是唯一有效的了。
我能和史纳皮教授一起工作很幸运了，没有很多巫师能调配出来的。“露平教授又呷了一口，但哈利巴不得把那酒杯打在地上。
“史纳皮教授教授也对黑巫术很有兴趣。”哈利又说。
“真的？”露平说。露平看上去对此有点兴趣，他又喝了一大口药剂。
“有些人认为——”哈利犹豫了，然后不顾后果地说，“有些人认为他为了能在防黑巫术工作而不择手段。”
露平把酒杯里的酒喝干，然后黑着脸。
“讨厌的话，”他说，“好了，哈利，我要去工作了，一会在大餐上见你吧。”
“好的。”哈利说，他把他那空茶杯放下来。
那空酒杯仍然在冒烟。
“哈利，”罗恩说，“我们快拿不动了。”
一堆鲜艳颜色的糖跌到哈利的大腿上。黄昏的时候，罗恩和荷米恩来到公共室。
他们的脸都被冷风吹红了，看上去他们好像经历了艰难的时代一样。
“谢谢。”哈利拿起一颗黑色的辣椒糖，“霍格马得怎样的，你们还去那了？”
各种各样的回答——去了所有地方。得里逊班斯，一个魔法工具商店，卓克特可商店，还有进去三扫帚酒吧喝牛油啤酒，总之去了很多地方。
“那邮局，哈利，有大约二百只猫头鹰坐在架子上，可以根据你要送信的来选不同颜色的猫头鹰。”
“那间霍格马得有一种新的牛奶糖，它们还派发新的样品，这里有，看——”
“我们想我们看到一只怪物，老实说，在三扫帚酒吧把里有各种各样的。”
“你做了些什么？”荷米恩说，看上去有点焦急，“你做了些功课吗？”
“没有，”哈利说，“我和露平在他办公室喝茶，然后史纳皮教授进来了……”
他把酒杯的事都告诉他们了，罗恩的口张得大大的。
“露平喝了？”他喘着气说，“他疯了吗？”
荷米恩看看手表。
“我们最好走吧，你知道，大餐五分钟后开始了。”他们赶快从那画像孔里加人人群，仍然谈论著史纳皮教授。
“但是他——你知道——”荷米恩紧张看看周围放低音时说，“如果他想，想毒死露平，他不会在哈利面前干的。”
“是的。”哈利说，这时他们已到了人口大堂，转人大厅。大厅被成千上万的南瓜灯笼装饰着，如云的蝙蝠飞来飞去，还有很多光亮的橙色的旗帜，就像在天花板上懒懒地游动着的漂亮的水蛇一样。
食品很可口，就连荷米恩和罗恩，他们已经吃了很多甜鸭糖，还可以吃每样的第二份。哈利往教工桌那边看，露平教授像平常一样很兴奋，他正在跟费立维克教授兴高采烈地交谈着，哈利顺着桌子望下去到史纳皮教授坐的位置，不知他在想什么，还有史纳皮教授的眼睛很不寻常地老向露平看过去。
晚餐过后，有霍格瓦彻鬼表演娱乐节目，他们从墙，桌子上弹出来形成一种光源，就连无头的尼克——格利芬顿的鬼——笨拙的绞死动作都获得很大的成功。
这天晚上很高兴，哈利的好心情没有让马尔夫给破坏。马尔夫对着正在离开的人群高喊，“波特，得蒙特向你问候。”
哈利、罗恩和荷米恩跟随着格利芬顿的人群往格利芬顿塔走，但当他们来到胖大婶的画像把守的走廊的时候，他们看到一大堆学生围在那里。
“他们为什么不进去呢？”罗恩好奇地说。
哈利向前面的人头努力地看，那画像好像是紧闭着的。
“请让一让，”是伯希的声音，他正自命不凡地向人群走进去，“怎么所有人都堆在这里了？你们都忘了密码了吗？——对不起，我是优秀男孩……”
然后是一遍沉默，首先是前面的人沉默了，然后像寒流一样传到走廊这边。他们听到伯希叫，声音又突然又尖锐，“去叫丹伯多教授来，快！”
人们的头都转过来，站在后面的人都跟起脚往前面看。
“什么事了？”金妮刚刚到就问。
不久，丹伯多教授来了，他穿过人群向那画像走过去，哈利、罗恩和荷米恩也紧跟着去看是什么事。
“哦，天——”荷米恩捉住哈利的手臂大喊。
那肥大婶从画像中不见了。画像被狠狠地砍过，碎片散了一地，画像的大部分已经被撕开拉走了。
丹伯多匆匆地扫一眼毁坏的像，他的眼睛很深沉，然后又转向急急忙忙赶过来的麦康娜教授，露平和史纳皮教授。
丹伯多说，“我们要去找她。麦康娜教授，请立即去找费驰先生，告诉他立即搜查城堡内的每幅画像。”
“祝你好运。”一个咯咯笑着的声音说。
是皮维斯那个调皮鬼，他正探着头看看人群有点高兴地说。正如平常一样，他看到别人担心或看到灾难他就会高兴。
“你这是什么意思？皮维斯？”丹伯多沉着地说，皮维斯的齿笑收敛了一点儿。
他不敢惹丹伯多，他立即转用油滑的语调，比起他咯咯的笑好不了多少。
“真惨，校长先生，真不想见到这个样子，她简直就成了一团，先生，我看到她在四楼的风水画里跑，在树林里面躲躲闪闪的，很伤心地喊着什么。”他兴奋地说，“真可怜”他又毫无诚意地加上一句。
“她有说是谁干的吗？”丹伯多安静地问。
“哦，有，校长。”皮维斯说着在空气中做出一个拿着一个大炸弹的姿势。
“她不让他进去，他生气极了，你明白吧！”皮维斯滑过去，在他两腿之间露出一个微笑。“那人的脾气真暴躁，西里斯。巴拉克。”
收听单词发音 |
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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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frayed
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| adj.磨损的v.（使布、绳等）磨损，磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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dungeons
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| n.地牢( dungeon的名词复数 ) | |
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potholes
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| n.壶穴( pothole的名词复数 ) | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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scaly
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| adj.鱼鳞状的；干燥粗糙的 | |
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itching
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| adj.贪得的，痒的，渴望的v.发痒( itch的现在分词 ) | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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bullying
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| v.恐吓，威逼( bully的现在分词 )；豪；跋扈 | |
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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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stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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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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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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shredded
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| shred的过去式和过去分词 | |
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lettuce
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| n.莴苣；生菜 | |
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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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repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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zoomed
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| v.（飞机、汽车等）急速移动( zoom的过去式 )；（价格、费用等）急升，猛涨 | |
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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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chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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tarnish
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| n.晦暗，污点；vt.使失去光泽；玷污 | |
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battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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stink
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| vi.发出恶臭；糟透，招人厌恶；n.恶臭 | |
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ebbing
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| （指潮水）退( ebb的现在分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落 | |
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dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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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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insolently
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| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
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irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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quill
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| n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶 | |
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disapproved
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| v.不赞成( disapprove的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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flicking
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的现在分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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ferociously
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| 野蛮地，残忍地 | |
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slashing
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| adj.尖锐的；苛刻的；鲜明的；乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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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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43
streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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44
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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45
skidded
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| v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的过去式和过去分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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48
giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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49
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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50
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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51
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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52
tragically
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| adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地 | |
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53
dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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54
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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55
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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56
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
daggers
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| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
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58
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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59
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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60
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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61
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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62
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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63
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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64
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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65
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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66
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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67
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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68
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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69
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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70
offhand
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| adj.临时，无准备的；随便，马虎的 | |
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71
filch
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| v.偷窃 | |
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72
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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73
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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74
doze
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| v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐 | |
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75
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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76
avidly
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| adv.渴望地，热心地 | |
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77
halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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78
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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79
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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80
owls
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| n.猫头鹰( owl的名词复数 ) | |
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81
belch
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| v.打嗝，喷出 | |
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82
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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83
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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84
flexing
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| n.挠曲，可挠性v.屈曲( flex的现在分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌 | |
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85
brittle
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| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 | |
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86
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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87
spout
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| v.喷出，涌出；滔滔不绝地讲；n.喷管；水柱 | |
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88
brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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89
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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90
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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91
goblet
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| n.高脚酒杯 | |
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92
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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93
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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94
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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95
concocted
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| v.将（尤指通常不相配合的）成分混合成某物( concoct的过去式和过去分词 )；调制；编造；捏造 | |
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96
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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97
sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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98
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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99
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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100
gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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101
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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102
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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103
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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104
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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105
pumpkins
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| n.南瓜( pumpkin的名词复数 )；南瓜的果肉，南瓜囊 | |
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106
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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107
animatedly
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| adv.栩栩如生地，活跃地 | |
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108
flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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109
gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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110
bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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111
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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112
slashed
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| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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113
chunks
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| 厚厚的一块( chunk的名词复数 )； （某物）相当大的数量或部分 | |
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114
somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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115
peeves
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| n.麻烦的事物，怨恨，触怒( peeve的名词复数 ) | |
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116
wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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117
taunt
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| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
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118
dodging
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| n.避开，闪过，音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 )；回避 | |
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119
flipped
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| 轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥 | |
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