Professor Dumbledore sent all the Gryffindors back to the Great Hall, where they were joined ten minutes later by the students from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, who all looked extremely confused.
“The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle,” Professor Dumbledore told them as Professors McGonagall and Flitwick closed all doors into the hall. “I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want the prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the hall and I am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbance1 should be reported to me immediately,” he added to Percy, who was looking immensely proud and important. “Send word with one of the ghosts.”
Professor Dumbledore paused, about to leave the hall, and said, “Oh, yes, you'll be needing…”
One casual wave of his wand and the long tables flew to the edges of the hall and stood themselves against the walls; another wave, and the floor was covered with hundreds of squashy purple sleeping bags.
“Sleep well,” said Professor Dumbledore, closing the door behind him.
The hall immediately began to buzz excitedly; the Gryffindors were telling the rest of the school what had just happened.
“Everyone into their sleeping bags!” shouted Percy. “Come on, now, no more talking! Lights out in ten minutes!”
“C'mon,” Ron said to Harry2 and Hermione; they seized three sleeping bags and dragged them into a corner.
“Do you think Black's still in the castle?” Hermione whispered anxiously.
“Dumbledore obviously thinks he might be,” said Ron.
“It's very lucky he picked tonight, you know,” said Hermione as they climbed fully3 dressed into their sleeping bags and propped4 themselves on their elbows to talk. “The one night we weren't in the tower…”
“I reckon he's lost track of time, being on the run,” said Ron. “Didn't realize it was Halloween. Otherwise he'd have come bursting in here.”
All around them, people were asking one another the same question: “How did he get in?”
“Maybe he knows how to Apparate,” said a Ravenclaw a few feet away, “Just appear out of thin air, you know.”
“Disguised himself, probably,” said a Hufflepuff fifth year.
“He could've flown in,” suggested Dean Thomas.
“Honestly, am I the only person who's ever bothered to read Hogwarts, A History?” said Hermione crossly to Harry and Ron.
“Probably,” said Ron. “Why?”
“Because the castle's protected by more than walls, you know,” said Hermione. “There are all sorts of enchantments6 on it, to stop people entering by stealth. You can't just Apparate in here. And I'd like to see the disguise that could fool those Dementors. They're guarding every single entrance to the grounds. They'd have seen him fly in too. And Filch7 knows all the secret passages, they'll have them covered…”
“The lights are going out now!” Percy shouted. “I want everyone in their sleeping bags and no more talking!”
The candles all went out at once. The only light now came from the silvery ghosts, who were drifting about talking seriously to the prefects, and the enchanted8 ceiling, which, like the sky outside, was scattered9 with stars. What with that, and the whispering that still filled the hall, Harry felt as though he were sleeping outdoors in a light wind.
Once every hour, a teacher would reappear in the Hall to check that everything was quiet. Around three in the morning, when many students had finally fallen asleep, Professor Dumbledore came in. Harry watched him looking around for Percy, who had been prowling between the sleeping bags, telling people off for talking. Percy was only a short way away from Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who quickly pretended to be asleep as Dumbledore's footsteps drew nearer.
“Any sign of him, Professor?” asked Percy in a whisper.
“No. All well here?”
“Everything under control, sir.”
“Good. There's no point moving them all now. I've found a temporary guardian10 for the Gryffindor portrait hole. You'll be able to move them back in tomorrow.”
“And the Fat Lady, sir?”
“Hiding in a map of Argyllshire on the second floor. Apparently11 she refused to let Black in without the password, so he attacked. She's still very distressed12, but once she's calmed down, I'll have Mr Filch restore her.”
Harry heard the door of the hall creak open again, and more footsteps.
“Headmaster?” It was Snape. Harry kept quite still, listening hard. “The whole of the third floor has been searched. He's not there. And Filch has done the dungeons13; nothing there either.”
“What about the Astronomy tower? Professor Trelawney's room? The Owlery?”
“All searched…”
“Very well, Severus. I didn't really expect Black to linger.”
“Have you any theory as to how he got in, Professor?” asked Snape.
Harry raised his head very slightly off his arms to free his other ear.
“Many, Severus, each of them as unlikely as the next.”
Harry opened his eyes a fraction and squinted14 up to where they stood; Dumbledore's back was to him, but he could see Percy's face, rapt with attention, and Snape's profile, which looked angry.
“You remember the conversation we had, Headmaster, just before — ah — the start of term?” said Snape, who was barely opening his lips, as though trying to block Percy out of the conversation.
“I do, Severus,” said Dumbledore, and there was something like warning in his voice.
“It seems — almost impossible — that Black could have entered the school without inside help. I did express my concerns when you appointed —”
“I do not believe a single person inside this castle would have helped Black enter it,” said Dumbledore, and his tone made it so clear that the subject was closed that Snape didn't reply. “I must go down to the Dementors,” said Dumbledore. “I said I would inform them when our search was complete.”
“Didn't they want to help, sir?” said Percy.
“Oh yes,” said Dumbledore coldly. “But I'm afraid no Dementor will cross the threshold of this castle while I am Headmaster.”
Percy looked slightly abashed16. Dumbledore left the hall, walking quickly and quietly. Snape stood for a moment, watching the headmaster with an expression of deep resentment17 on his face; then he too left.
Harry glanced sideways at Ron and Hermione. Both of them had their eyes open too, reflecting the starry18 ceiling.
“What was all that about?” Ron mouthed.
The school talked of nothing but Sirius Black for the next few days. The theories about how he had entered the castle became wilder and wilder; Hannah Abbott, from Hufflepuff, spent much of their next Herbology class telling anyone who'd listen that Black could turn into a flowering shrub19.
The Fat Lady's ripped canvas had been taken off the wall and replaced with the portrait of Sir Cadogan and his fat gray pony20. Nobody was very happy about this. Sir Cadogan spent half his time challenging people to duels21, and the rest thinking up ridiculously complicated passwords, which he changed at least twice a day.
“He's a complete lunatic,” said Seamus Finnigan angrily to Percy. “Can't we get anyone else?”
“None of the other pictures wanted the job,” said Percy. “Frightened of what happened to the Fat Lady. Sir Cadogan was the only one brave enough to volunteer.”
Sir Cadogan, however, was the least of Harry's worries. He was now being closely watched. Teachers found excuses to walk along corridors with him, and Percy Weasley (acting, Harry suspected, on his mother's orders) was tailing him everywhere like an extremely pompous22 guard dog. To cap it all, Professor McGonagall summoned Harry into her office, with such a somber23 expression on her face Harry thought someone must have died.
“There's no point hiding it from you any longer, Potter,” she said in a very serious voice. “I know this will come as a shock to you, but Sirius Black —”
“I know he's after me,” said Harry wearily. “I heard Ron's dad telling his mum. Mr. Weasley works for the Ministry24 of Magic.”
Professor McGonagall seemed very taken aback. She stared at Harry for a moment or two, then said, “I see! Well, in that case, Potter, you'll understand why I don't think it's a good idea for you to be practicing Quidditch in the evenings. Out on the field with only your team members, it's very exposed, Potter —”
“We've got our first match on Saturday!” said Harry, outraged25. “I've got to train, Professor!”
Professor McGonagall considered him intently. Harry knew she was deeply interested in the Gryffindor team's prospects26; it had been she, after all, who'd suggested him as Seeker in the first Place. He waited, holding his breath.
“Hmm…”Professor McGonagall stood up and stared out of the window at the Quidditch field, just visible through the rain. “Well…goodness knows, I'd like to see us win the Cup at last…but all the same, Potter…I'd be happier if a teacher were present. I'll ask Madam Hooch to oversee27 your training sessions.”
The weather worsened steadily28 as the first Quidditch match drew nearer. Undaunted, the Gryffindor team was training harder than ever under the eye of Madam Hooch. Then, at their final training session before Saturday's match, Oliver Wood gave his team some unwelcome news.
“We're not playing Slytherin!” he told them, looking very angry. “Flint's just been to see me. We're playing Hufflepuff instead.”
“Why?” chorused the rest of the team.
“Flint's excuse is that their Seeker's arm's still injured,” said Wood, grinding his teeth furiously. “But it's obvious why they're doing it. Don't want to play in this weather. Think it'll damage their chances…”
There had been strong winds and heavy rain all day, and as Wood spoke29, they heard a distant rumble30 of thunder.
“There's nothing wrong with Malfoy's arm!” said Harry furiously. “He's faking it!”
“I know that, but we can't prove it,” said Wood bitterly, “And we've been practicing all those moves assuming we're playing Slytherin, and instead it's Hufflepuff, and their style's quite different. They've got a new Captain and Seeker, Cedric Diggory —”
Angelina, Alicia, and Katie suddenly giggled31.
“What?” said Wood, frowning at this lighthearted behavior.
“He's that tall, good-looking one, isn't he?” said Angelina.
“Strong and silent,” said Katie, and they started to giggle32 again.
“He's only silent because he's too thick to string two words together,” said Fred impatiently. “I don't know why you're worried, Oliver, Hufflepuff is a pushover. Last time we played them, Harry caught the Snitch in about five minutes, remember?”
“We were playing in completely different conditions!” Wood shouted, his eyes bulging33 slightly. “Diggory's put a very strong side together! He's an excellent Seeker! I was afraid you'd take it like this! We mustn't relax! We must keep our focus! Slytherin is trying to wrong-foot us! We must win!”
“Oliver, calm down!” said Fred, looking slightly alarmed. “We're taking Hufflepuff very seriously. Seriously.”
The day before the match, the winds reached howling point and the rain fell harder than ever. It was so dark inside the corridors and classrooms that extra torches and lanterns were lit. The Slytherin team was looking very smug indeed, and none more so than Malfoy.
“Ah, if only my arm was feeling a bit better!” he sighed as the gale34 outside pounded the windows.
Harry had no room in his head to worry about anything except the match tomorrow. Oliver Wood kept hurrying up to him between classes and giving him tips. The third time this happened, Wood talked for so long that Harry suddenly realized he was ten minutes late for Defense35 Against the Dark Arts, and set off at a run with Wood shouting after him, “Diggory's got a very fast swerve36, Harry, so you might want to try looping him —”
Harry skidded37 to a halt outside the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, pulled the door open, and dashed inside.
“Sorry I'm late, Professor Lupin. I —”
But it wasn't Professor Lupin who looked up at him from the teacher's desk; it was Snape.
“This lesson began ten minutes ago, Potter, so I think we'll make it ten points from Gryffindor. Sit down.”
But Harry didn't move.
“Where's Professor Lupin?” he said.
“He says he is feeling too ill to teach today,” said Snape with a twisted smile. “I believe I told you to sit down?”
But Harry stayed where he was.
“What's wrong with him?”
Snape's black eyes glittered.
“Nothing life-threatening,” he said, looking as though he wished it were. “Five more points from Gryffindor, and if I have to ask you to sit down again, it will be fifty.”
Harry walked slowly to his seat and sat down. Snape looked around at the class.
“As I was saying before Potter interrupted, Professor Lupin has not left any record of the topics you have covered so far —”
“Please, sir, we've done Boggarts, Red Caps, Kappas, and Grindylows,” said Hermione quickly, “and we're just about to start —”
“Be quiet,” said Snape coldly. “I did not ask for information. I was merely commenting on Professor Lupin's lack of organization.”
“He's the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had,” said Dean Thomas boldly, and there was a murmur38 of agreement from the rest of the class. Snape looked more menacing than ever.
“You are easily satisfied. Lupin is hardly overtaxing you — I would expect first years to be able to deal with Red Caps and Grindylows. Today we shall discuss —”
Harry watched him flick39 through the textbook, to the very back chapter, which he must know they hadn't covered.
“— werewolves,” said Snape.
“But, sir,” said Hermione, seemingly unable to restrain herself, “we're not supposed to do werewolves yet, we're due to start Hinkypunks —”
“Miss Granger,” said Snape in a voice of deadly calm, “I was under the impression that I am teaching this lesson, not you. And I am telling you all to turn to page 394.” He glanced around again. “All of you! Now!”
With many bitter sidelong looks and some sullen40 muttering, the class opened their books.
“Which of you can tell me how we distinguish between the werewolf and the true wolf?” said Snape.
Everyone sat in motionless silence; everyone except Hermione, whose hand, as it so often did, had shot straight into the air.
“Anyone?” Snape said, ignoring Hermione. His twisted smile was back. “Are you telling me that Professor Lupin hasn't even taught you the basic distinction between —”
“We told you,” said Parvati suddenly, “we haven't got as far as werewolves yet, we're still on —”
“Silence!” snarled41 Snape. “Well, well, well, I never thought I'd meet a third-year class who wouldn't even recognize a werewolf when they saw one. I shall make a point of informing Professor Dumbledore how very behind you all are…”
“Please, sir,” said Hermione, whose hand was still in the air, “the werewolf differs from the true wolf in several small ways. The snout of the werewolf —”
“That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger,” said Snape coolly. “Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.”
Hermione went very red, put down her hand, and stared at the floor with her eyes full of tears. It was a mark of how much the class loathed42 Snape that they were all glaring at him, because every one of them had called Hermione a know-it-all at least once, and Ron, who told Hermione she was a know-it-all at least twice a week, said loudly, “You asked us a question and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don't want to be told?”
The class knew instantly he'd gone too far. Snape advanced on Ron slowly, and the room held its breath.
“Detention43, Weasley,” Snape said silkily, his face very close to Ron's. “And if I ever hear you criticize the way I teach a class again, you will be very sorry indeed.”
No one made a sound throughout the rest of the lesson. They sat and made notes on werewolves from the textbook, while Snape prowled up and down the rows of desks, examining the work they had been doing with Professor Lupin.
“Very poorly explained…That is incorrect, the Kappa is more commonly found in Mongolia…Professor Lupin gave this eight out of ten? I wouldn't have given it three…”
When the bell rang at last, Snape held them back.
“You will each write an essay, to be handed in to me, on the ways you recognize and kill werewolves. I want two rolls of parchment on the subject, and I want them by Monday morning. It is time somebody took this class in hand. Weasley, stay behind, we need to arrange your detention.”
Harry and Hermione left the room with the rest of the class, who waited until they were well out of earshot, then burst into a furious tirade44 about Snape.
“Snape's never been like this with any of our other Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers, even if he did want the job,” Harry said to Hermione. “Why's he got it in for Lupin? D'you think this is all because of the Boggart?”
“I don't know,” said Hermione pensively45. “But I really hope Professor Lupin gets better soon…”
Ron caught up with them five minutes later, in a towering rage.
“D'you know what that —” (he called Snape something that made Hermione say “Ron!”) “— is making me do? I've got to scrub out the bedpans in the hospital wing. Without magic!” He was breathing deeply, his fists clenched46. “Why couldn't Black have hidden in Snape's office, eh? He could have finished him off for us!”
Harry woke extremely early the next morning; so early that it was still dark. For a moment he thought the roaring of the wind had woken him. Then he felt a cold breeze on the back of his neck and sat bolt upright — Peeves47 the Poltergeist had been floating next to him, blowing hard in his ear.
“What did you do that for?” said Harry furiously. Peeves puffed48 out his cheeks, blew hard, and zoomed49 backward out of the room, cackling.
Harry fumbled50 for his alarm clock and looked at it. It was half past four. Cursing Peeves, he rolled over and tried to get back to sleep, but it was very difficult, now that he was awake, to ignore the sounds of the thunder rumbling51 overhead, the pounding of the wind against the castle walls, and the distant creaking of the trees in the Forbidden Forest. In a few hours he would be out on the Quidditch field, battling through that gale. Finally, he gave up any thought of more sleep, got up, dressed, picked up his Nimbus Two Thousand, and walked quietly out of the dormitory.
As Harry opened the door, something brushed against his leg. He bent52 down just in time to grab Crookshanks by the end of his bushy tail and drag him outside.
“You know, I reckon Ron was right about you,” Harry told Crookshanks suspiciously. “There are plenty of mice around this place — go and chase them. Go on,” he added, nudging Crookshanks down the spiral staircase with his foot. “Leave Scabbers alone.”
The noise of the storm was even louder in the common room. Harry knew better than to think the match would be canceled; Quidditch matches weren't called off for trifles like thunderstorms. Nevertheless, he was starting to feel very apprehensive53. Wood had pointed15 out Cedric Diggory to him in the corridor; Diggory was a fifth year and a lot bigger than Harry. Seekers were usually light and speedy, but Diggory's weight would be an advantage in this weather because he was less likely to be blown off course.
Harry whiled away the hours until dawn in front of the fire, getting up every now and then to stop Crookshanks from sneaking54 up the boys’ staircase again. At long last Harry thought it must be time for breakfast, so he headed through the portrait hole alone.
“Stand and fight, you mangy cur!” yelled Sir Cadogan.
“Oh, shut up,” Harry yawned.
He revived a bit over a large bowl of porridge, and by the time he'd started on toast, the rest of the team had turned up.
“It's going to be a tough one,” said Wood, who wasn't eating anything.
“Stop worrying, Oliver,” said Alicia soothingly55, “we don't mind a bit of rain.”
But it was considerably56 more than a bit of rain. Such was the popularity of Quidditch that the whole school turned out to watch the match as usual, but they ran down the lawns toward the Quidditch field, heads bowed against the ferocious57 wind, umbrellas being whipped out of their hands as they went. just before he entered the locker58 room, Harry saw Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, laughing and pointing at him from under an enormous umbrella on their way to the stadium.
The team changed into their scarlet59 robes and waited for Wood's usual pre-match pep talk, but it didn't come. He tried to speak several times, made an odd gulping60 noise, then shook his head hopelessly and beckoned61 them to follow him.
The wind was so strong that they staggered sideways as they walked out onto the field. If the crowd was cheering, they couldn't hear it over the fresh rolls of thunder. Rain was splattering over Harry's glasses. How on earth was he going to see the Snitch in this?
The Hufflepuffs were approaching from the opposite side of the field, wearing canary-yellow robes. The Captains walked up to each other and shook hands; Diggory smiled at Wood but Wood now looked as though he had lockjaw and merely nodded. Harry saw Madam Hooch's mouth form the words, “Mount Your brooms.” He pulled his right foot out of the mud with a squelch62 and swung it over his Nimbus Two Thousand. Madam Hooch put her whistle to her lips and gave it a blast that sounded shrill63 and distant — they were off.
Harry rose fast, but his Nimbus was swerving64 slightly with the wind. He held it as steady as he could and turned, squinting65 into the rain.
Within five minutes Harry was soaked to his skin and frozen, hardly able to see his teammates, let alone the tiny Snitch. He flew backward and forward across the field past blurred66 red and yellow shapes, with no idea of what was happening in the rest of the game. He couldn't hear the commentary over the wind. The crowd was hidden beneath a sea of cloaks and battered67 umbrellas. Twice Harry came very close to being unseated by a Bludger; his vision was so clouded by the rain on his glasses he hadn't seen them coming.
He lost track of time. It was getting harder and harder to hold his broom straight. The sky was getting darker, as though night had decided68 to come early. Twice Harry nearly hit another player, without knowing whether it was a teammate or opponent; everyone was now so wet, and the rain so thick, he could hardly tell them apart…
With the first flash of lightning came the sound of Madam Hooch's whistle; Harry could just see the outline of Wood through the thick rain, gesturing him to the ground. The whole team splashed down into the mud.
“I called for time-out!” Wood roared at his team. “Come on, under here —”
They huddled69 at the edge of the field under a large umbrella; Harry took off his glasses and wiped them hurriedly on his robes.
“What's the score?”
“We're fifty points up,” said Wood, “but unless we get the Snitch soon, we'll be playing into the night.”
“I've got no chance with these on,” Harry said exasperatedly, waving his glasses.
At that very moment, Hermione appeared at his shoulder; she was holding her cloak over her head and was, inexplicably70, beaming.
“I've had an idea, Harry! Give me your glasses, quick!”
He handed them to her, and as the team watched in amazement71, Hermione tapped them with her wand and said, “Impervius!”
“There!” she said, handing them back to Harry. “They'll repel72 water!”
Wood looked as though he could have kissed her.
“Brilliant!” he called hoarsely73 after her as she disappeared into the crowd. “Okay, team, let's go for it!”
Hermione's spell had done the trick. Harry was still numb74 with cold, still wetter than he'd ever been in his life, but he could see. Full of fresh determination, he urged his broom through the turbulent air, staring in every direction for the Snitch, avoiding a Bludger, ducking beneath Diggory, who was streaking75 in the opposite direction…
There was another clap of thunder, followed immediately by forked lightning. This was getting more and more dangerous. Harry needed to get the Snitch quickly —
He turned, intending to head back toward the middle of the field, but at that moment, another flash of lightning illuminated76 the stands, and Harry saw something that distracted him completely, the silhouette77 of an enormous shaggy black dog, clearly imprinted78 against the sky, motionless in the topmost, empty row of seats.
Harry's numb hands slipped on the broom handle and his Nimbus dropped a few feet. Shaking his sodden79 bangs out of his eyes, he squinted back into the stands. The dog had vanished.
“Harry!” came Wood's anguished80 yell from the Gryffindor goal posts. “Harry, behind you!”
Harry looked wildly around. Cedric Diggory was pelting81 up the field, and a tiny speck82 of gold was shimmering83 in the rain-filled air between them…
With a jolt84 of panic, Harry threw himself flat to the broom handle and zoomed toward the Snitch.
“Come on!” he growled85 at his Nimbus as the rain whipped his face. “Faster!”
But something odd was happening. An eerie86 silence was falling across the stadium. The wind, though as strong as ever, was forgetting to roar. It was as though someone had turned off the sound, as though Harry had gone suddenly deaf — what was going on?
And then a horribly familiar wave of cold swept over him, inside him, just as he became aware of something moving on the field below…
Before he'd had time to think, Harry had taken his eyes off the Snitch and looked down.
At least a hundred Dementors, their hidden faces pointing up at him, were standing87 beneath him. It was as though freezing water were rising in his chest, cutting at his insides. And then he heard it again…Someone was screaming, screaming inside his head…a woman…
“Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!”
“Stand aside, you silly girl…stand aside, now…”
“Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead —”
Numbing88, swirling89 white mist was filling Harry's brain…What was he doing? Why was he flying? He needed to help her…She was going to die…She was going to be murdered…
He was falling, falling through the icy mist.
“Not Harry! Please…have mercy…have mercy…”
A shrill voice was laughing, the woman was screaming, and Harry knew no more.
“Lucky the ground was so soft.”
“I thought he was dead for sure.”
“But he didn't even break his glasses.”
Harry could hear the voices whispering, but they made no sense whatsoever90. He didn't have a clue where he was, or how he'd got there, or what he'd been doing before he got there. All he knew was that every inch of him was aching as though it had been beaten.
“That was the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life.”
Scariest…the scariest thing…hooded black figures…cold…screaming…
Harry's eyes snapped open. He was lying in the hospital wing. The Gryffindor Quidditch team, spattered with mud from head to foot, was gathered around his bed. Ron and Hermione were also there, looking as though they'd just climbed out of a swimming pool.
“Harry!” said Fred, who looked extremely white underneath91, the mud. “How're you feeling?”
It was as though Harry's memory was on fast forward. The lightning…the Grim…the Snitch…and the Dementors…
“What happened?” he said, sitting up so suddenly they all gasped92.
“You fell off,” said Fred. “Must've been — what — fifty feet?”
“We thought you'd died,” said Alicia, who was shaking.
Hermione made a small, squeaky noise. Her eyes were extremely bloodshot.
“But the match,” said Harry. “What happened? Are we doing a replay?”
No one said anything. The horrible truth sank into Harry like a stone.
“We didn't — lose?”
“Diggory got the Snitch,” said George. “Just after you fell. He didn't realize what had happened. When he looked back and saw you on the ground, he tried to call it off. Wanted a rematch. But they won fair and square…even Wood admits it.”
“Where is Wood?” said Harry, suddenly realizing he wasn't there.
“Still in the showers,” said Fred. “We think he's trying to drown himself.”
Harry put his face to his knees, his hands gripping his hair. Fred grabbed his shoulder and shook it roughly.
“C'mon, Harry, you've never missed the Snitch before.”
“There had to be one time you didn't get it,” said George.
“It's not over yet,” said Fred. “We lost by a hundred points.”
“Right? So if Hufflepuff loses to Ravenclaw and we beat Ravenclaw and Slytherin…”
“Hufflepuff'll have to lose by at least two hundred points,” said George.
“But if they beat Ravenclaw…”
“No way, Ravenclaw is too good. But if Slytherin loses against Hufflepuff…”
“It all depends on the points — a margin93 of a hundred either way —”
Harry lay there, not saying a word. They had lost…for the first time ever, he had lost a Quidditch match.
After ten minutes or so, Madam Pomfrey came over to tell the team to leave him in peace.
“We'll come and see you later,” Fred told him. “Don't beat yourself up. Harry, you're still the best Seeker we've ever had.”
The team trooped out, trailing mud behind them. Madam Pomfrey shut the door behind them, looking disapproving94. Ron and Hermione moved nearer to Harry's bed.
“Dumbledore was really angry,” Hermione said in a quaking voice. “I've never seen him like that before. He ran onto the field as you fell, waved his wand, and you sort of slowed down before you hit the ground. Then he whirled his wand at the Dementors. Shot silver stuff at them. They left the stadium right away…He was furious they'd come onto the grounds. We heard him —”
“Then he magicked you onto a stretcher,” said Ron. “And walked up to school with you floating on it. Everyone thought you were…”
His voice faded, but Harry hardly noticed. He was thinking about what the Dementors had done to him…about the screaming voice. He looked up and saw Ron and Hermione looking at him so anxiously that he quickly cast around for something matter-of-fact to say.
“Did someone get my Nimbus?”
Ron and Hermione looked quickly at each other.
“Er —”
“What?” said Harry, looking from one to the other.
“Well…when you fell off, it got blown away,” said Hermione hesitantly.
“And?”
“And it hit — it hit — oh, Harry — it hit the Whomping Willow95.”
Harry's insides lurched. The Whomping Willow was a very violent tree that stood alone in the middle of the grounds.
“And?” he said, dreading96 the answer.
“Well, you know the Whomping Willow,” said Ron. “It — it doesn't like being hit.”
“Professor Flitwick brought it back just before you came around,” said Hermione in a very small voice.
Slowly, she reached down for a bag at her feet, turned it upside down, and tipped a dozen bits of splintered wood and twig97 onto the bed, the only remains98 of Harry's faithful, finally beaten broomstick.
丹伯多教授把所有的格林芬顿学生送回大厅，不久，来自海夫巴夫、卫文卡罗和史林德林的学生也围过来了，他们都显得很困惑。
“我和老师们要在城堡里面仔细地搜搜。”丹伯多教授看到麦康娜教授和费立维克进来关上门后说，“为了你们的安全，恐怕你们的都要在这里过夜了，我要最优秀的学生在进口处守卫，由优秀的男孩和女孩负责。发生任何事情都要向我报告。”
他对伯希加了一句，伯希显出又骄傲又自命不凡的样子。
“有情况叫鬼来报话。”丹伯多教授停顿一下，准备离开大厅，又说：“哦，你们可能要……”
他的魔杖随手一挥，所有的大桌子都飞到大厅的边缘，并背着墙站着，魔杖又一挥，大厅的地板上出现了很多紫色的睡袋。
“好好睡。”丹伯多说着出去并关上门。
大厅立即沸腾起来，格林芬顿的学生正在向其他人描述所发生的事。
“每个人都到睡袋里睡！”伯希大喊，“快点儿，不要再说了，十分钟后关灯。”
“过来。”罗恩对哈利和荷米恩说，他们把三个睡袋拖到一个角落里。
“你认为巴拉克还在城堡里吗？”荷米恩忧虑地细声说。
“很明显丹伯多认为他可能在。”罗恩说。
“很幸运他今天晚上就去找，你明白吧！”荷米恩说，他们没有脱衣服就钻到睡袋里，头和手臂都伸在外面，“我们不在塔里的那晚……”
“我想他在逃跑时忘了时间了。”罗恩说，“他可能不知道今天是万圣节，要不然他就不会闯进这里了。”
荷米恩颤抖着。
他们身边的人都互相问着同一个问题，“他是怎样进来的呢？”
“也许他会变成透明，”一个卫文卡罗的学生说，“只在空气稀薄时才出现。”
“假装别人，很可能。”一个五年级的海夫巴夫学生说。
“他可能是飞进来的。”汤姆斯说。
“老实说，我是否是看过霍格瓦彻的历史书的唯一学生？”荷米恩对哈利和罗恩说。
“很可能是。”罗恩说，“但为什么？”
“因为城堡主要是由墙来保守的，”荷米恩说，“墙上有各种各样的魔法来阻碍外面的人偷偷进来，你在这儿也不能变成透明的。依我看他肯定是伪装过来骗那些得蒙特，他们在每个入口都把守着，他们也可以看见他是否飞过来的，而且费驰知道所有的秘密入口，他们会堵塞那些人口的……”
“现在开始关灯了。”伯希大喊，“我要你们开始睡觉，不要谈话了！”
这时，全部的蜡烛灭了。唯一可见的光是从那银色的鬼上发出的，他们正在秘密地和那最优秀的人以及和有魔法的天花板交谈着，天花板就像外面的天空，用星星点缀着。那是什么回事呢？大厅里面还是有吱吱喳喳的声音，哈利觉得自己像在外面的风中睡觉似的。
每个小时都有老师进来检查是否每个人都安静下来。凌晨三点钟，那时大部分学生都已经睡了，丹伯多教授进来了。他四周看看想找伯希，伯希正在睡袋旁巡着，叫同学不要再说话。这时伯希就在哈利、罗恩和荷米恩旁边，他们听到丹伯多的脚步近了，立即假装睡着了。
“教授，看见他吗？”伯希低声问。
“没有，这里都好吗？”
“一切都很好，教授。”
“很好，现在不要惊动他们了，我已经找了一个临时守护员来代替格林芬顿的画像口。你们明天可以回去了。”
“那胖大婶呢，教授？”
“她躺在二楼的一幅画里，她是不肯让巴拉克进去，因为他不知道暗号，因此他就袭击她，她现在还很恐慌，当她镇静下来，我会叫费驰先生再安排她回来。”
哈利听到大厅的门又开了，有更多的脚步声响。
“校长，”是史纳皮教授，哈利屏着呼吸努力地听。“三楼已经仔细搜查过了，他不在那里，还有费驰也搜了地牢了，也不在。”
“那天文台楼呢？特雷络尼教授的房间呢？还有奥里沃的呢？”
“都搜过了……”
“很好，史纳皮，我想巴拉克真的已经走了。”
“你认为他是怎样进来的呢，教授？”
哈利轻轻抬起头来好让他的另一耳朵也能听。
“有很多猜想，史纳皮，但是每个都不大可能。”
哈利微微睁开一只眼睛看见他们站在那里，丹伯多背向着他，但他看到伯希集中注意力的样子，还有史纳皮教授生气的面容。
“你记得刚刚开学时我们的谈话吗，教授？”史纳皮教授说，他的嘴唇几乎没有动，好像尽量不让伯希听到他们的对话一样。
“记得，史纳皮。”丹伯多说，声音中有警告的气息。
“看来，巴拉克没有内部的帮助的话，进来是几乎没有可能的，你在职的时候我也提到这一点了……”
“我不相信城堡里面有人会帮助巴拉克进来。”丹伯多很清晰明了地把话题结束，史纳皮教授也没有什么好说的，“我要去找找得蒙特。”丹伯多说，“我的意思是我们搜。完毕后我就去告诉他们。”
“我们不需要帮忙吗，教授？”伯希说。
“噢，不需要。”丹伯多冷冷地说，“只要我还在职的话，恐怕他们是不能跨入这城堡的。”
伯希有点脸红，丹伯多离开了大厅，走得又小声又快速。史纳皮教授站了一会，看着校长离开，他脸上带着愤恨的神色，然后他也离开了。
哈利看看两旁的罗恩和荷米恩，他们也睁着眼睛。
“他们在说什么呀？”罗恩咕噜咕噜地说。
连续几天学校都没有西里斯。巴拉克的消息了。人们对他怎样进来的议论越来越广。海夫巴夫的翰吉在植物保护课上大部分时间在说他听说巴拉克是变成一棵开着花的灌树进来的。
胖大婶的破像已经从墙上拿下来了，用卡得格和他的小马的画像代替，没有人为这事特别高兴。卡得格爵士一半时间用来挑战人们，剩下的时间就让同学们想荒谬的，复杂的暗号，他还一天改暗号两次……
“他简直是疯了。”罗恩生气地跟伯希说，“我们不能换其他一个吗？”
但是，哈利一点都不担心卡得格爵士的事，他现在被紧紧地盯着，老师都找借口跟他一起走过走廊，还有伯希。威斯里（哈利怀疑他受妈妈的命令）像一只极端忠实的狗一样整天跟着他。最离谱的是，麦康娜教授把哈利叫到她办公室里，她带着的伤痛的表情让哈利认为是谁死了。
“波特，再瞒着你也没用了。”她很严肃地说，“我知道这会给你带来巨大的震惊的。但是西里斯。巴拉克——”
“我知道他来找我，”哈利厌倦地说，“我听到罗恩的爸跟他妈妈的对话，威斯里先生在魔法部里工作。”
麦康娜教授教授好像吓了一惊。她盯着哈利一会儿然后说，“我明白了，那样的话，波特，你应该明白你晚上去快迪斯场练球不是很好，在球场上只有你的六个队友，很危险的，哈利——”
“我们第一场比赛星期六就开始了，”哈利生气地说，“教授，我们要训练。”
麦康娜教授仔细地想着，哈利知道她很关心格林芬顿球队的前景，正是她，毕竟，建议他加入球队做搜索者。他屏着呼吸等着。
“嗨……”麦康娜教授教授站起来，窗外的快迪斯球场，在雨中隐隐可见。
“天啊，谁知道呢，我当然也想我们最后赢冠军……但那还是一样，波特……如果还有一个老师在就好了。我会去问问是否胡施女士监视着你们训练的。”
第一场快迪斯比赛接近时，天气越来越差了，格林芬顿队员没有受影响，他们在胡施女士的监视下更加努力地训练，然后，在他们赛前最后一次训练的时候，奥里沃。伍德带来了不受欢迎的消息。
“我们并不是打史林德林！”他告诉他们，样子很生气，“史林斯刚刚来找我，我们将对海夫巴夫。”“为什么？”其他队员异口同声问道。
“史林斯的借口是他们队的搜索者的手臂受伤还没好。”伍德狠狠地咬着牙说，“他们这样做很明显，他们不想在这样的天气比赛。
认为这样赢的机会不大……“伍德说话时，外面刮着强风下着大雨，他们还听到远处的雷声。
“马尔夫的手臂根本就没事。”哈利气愤地说。“他是在假装的。”
“这个我们都知道，但是我们不能证明。”伍德痛苦地说。“我们一直都努力训练以为会对史林德林，谁知是海夫已夫，他们的打法很不同。他们来了一个新的队长搜索员，塞德里克。迪格瑞——”
安格莉娜发丽斯亚和凯特突然格格地笑起来。
“怎么啦？”伍德说，他皱着眉头不满地看着他们掉以轻心的样子。
“他是又高又好看那个，是吗？”艾丽斯亚说。
“又强壮又沉默。”凯特说，他们又咯咯地笑起来。
“他沉默是因为他太胖以致不能把两个词连起来说，”弗来德很不耐烦地说，“我不明白你为什么担心，奥里沃，海夫巴夫是很差劲的对手，你还记得吗？上次我们跟他们打的时候，哈利五分钟就抓住史尼斯球了。”
“那时的情况是完全不同的。”伍德大声说，他的眼睛微微突出来，“迪格瑞很强壮，他是很好的搜索者。我想你们要这样想，我们不能放松，我们还要集中精神，史林德林想耍我们，我们一定要赢。”
“奥里沃，你冷静点。”佛来德有谨慎地说，“我们千万不能，千万不能轻视海夫巴夫。”
比赛前的一天，风狂吼着，雨下得更大了。走廊和课堂都特别暗，所有的灯和灯笼都亮起来了，史林德林队员得意洋洋的，尤其是马尔夫。
“哦，如果我的手臂好一点就好了，”他叹了口气，外面的狂风撞着窗口。
哈利除了第二天的比赛之外没功夫担心其他的事了。奥里沃。
伍德地来回地走着想提醒他些什么。他来第三次时，哈利意识到他们说得太久了，他的黑巫术防御课已经迟了十分钟了。他拔腿就跑，伍德还在后面喊，“迪格瑞偏斜的速度很快的，哈利，你可一定要防着他——”
哈利在黑巫术防御课室前呼一声停下来，拉开门冲进去。
“对不起我迟到了，露平教授，我——”
但是抬起头看他的不是露平教授，而是史纳皮教授。
“这节课十分钟前就开始了，波特，我想格林芬顿要扣十分，坐下吧。”
但是哈利仍站在原来的位置。
“他有什么病？”
史纳皮教授的黑眼睛发亮了。
“没有什么生命危险，”他说，“看上去他很希望格林芬顿自扣五分，如果再让我叫你坐下，就每人扣五十分。”
哈利慢慢走过去坐下来，史纳皮教授看着全班。
“当波特还没有打断前，我要说道露平教授没有教了什么……”
“先生，我们已经学了布格特，红帽子，卡布狮，”荷米恩赶忙说，“而且我们准备学——”
“安静下来。”史纳皮教授冷冷地说，“我还没有说什么，我只是认为露平教授讲课没有什么组织性。”
“他是黑巫术防御课中最好的老师。”汤姆斯很勇敢地说，随着班里传来一阵阵附和的说话声，史纳皮教授显得更加凶狠了。
“你们太容易满足了，露平其实没有教到你们什么的，我准备在一年级就讲红帽子了。今天我们将会讨论——”
哈利看着他拿着教科书翻到最后一章，这样他确保他们还没有学到。
“——狼人。”史纳皮教授说。
“但是，老师，”荷米恩好像不能控制自己了，“我们不是要学狼人的，我们应该开始上亨凯普——”
“格林佐小姐，”史纲皮教授声音平静中带着狠毒，“我现在是来上课，不是来跟你商量，现在我叫你翻开三百九十四页，”他转向大家，“你们都是，立即翻开！”
带着不满的表情低声地咕噜着，大家都翻开书本了。
“你们谁能告诉我怎样区别狼人和真正的狼呢？”史纳皮教授说。
每个人都面无表情地坐在那里。除了荷米恩如平常一样，在空中直直地举起来。
“有没有人知道？”史纳皮教授不理会荷米思，继续问，他那阴险的微笑又出现了。“是否你们的露平教授还没有教你们的基本知识去分辨……”
“我们告诉你了。”帕维提突然说，“我们还未学到狼人，我们还在学——”
“住口！”史纳皮教授大声吼，“哦，嗯，我从没有见到过三年级的学生连狼人都认不出来。我得向丹伯多教授报告一下，说你们这班实在太落后了……”
“老师，请求你，”荷米恩说，她的手仍然高高地举着，“狼人和真正的狼可以从几方面分辨出来，狼人的鼻子是——”
“这是你的第二次插嘴了，格林佐小姐。”“格林芬顿因为不能忍受再扣五分。”
荷米恩的脸很红，她放下手，充满泪水的眼睛望着地板，全班同学都瞪着史纳皮教授，很明显大家都非常讨厌他。班里每个人都曾喊荷米恩为“万事知”，罗恩曾说过她一个星期至少两次是“万事知”，现在罗恩向着史纳皮教授大声说：“你问我们问题，她知道答案！如果你不想有回答的话，你干嘛要问？”
大家都意识到他太冲动了。史纳皮教授向罗恩慢慢步近，全班人都屏住呼吸。
“威斯里，你留堂。”史纳皮教授咬着牙齿说，他的脸很贴近罗恩，“如果你再批评我的教学方法，你真的会后悔的。”
课堂剩下的时间班里没有人说过一句话，他们坐着从书本上抄关于狼人的笔记，而史纳皮教授则在桌子之间来回踱着，拿起他们以前露干布置的作业看。
“解释得太差了……那是不对的，卡布狮在蒙古更加常见……露平教授还十分满意打了八分，若是我，我会给不超过三分。”
铃终于响了，史纳皮教授留着他们。
“你们回去写一篇论文交给我，写有关怎样辩论狼人和怎么样杀他们，论文要有两张羊皮纸那么长，星期一之前交给我，这是应该抓紧这班的时候了，威斯里，你留下，我要安排你留堂。”
哈利和荷米恩随着其他同学离开课堂。他们猜想课室里的人不会听到时，就开始沸沸扬扬地谈论史纳皮教授。
“史纳皮教授一点都不像上黑巫术防御课的其他老师，即使他还很想当这门课的老师。”哈利对荷米恩说，“为什么他会给露平教授代课呢？你想是否因为布格特那事？”
“我不知道，”荷米恩哀愁地说，“但我真希望露平教授快点恢复。”
罗恩五分钟后跟上来了，他愤怒到极点。
“你知道那——”，他称史纳皮为那东西，“让我做什么吗？他让我把医院的床单都洗一遍，还不能用魔法！”他深深的呼吸，拳头紧紧地握着，“为什么巴拉克不藏在史纳皮教授的办公室呢？他应该帮我们把他干掉！”
哈利第二天一早就醒了，外面仍然很黑，好一会他以为是外面狂乱的风吵醒他，随后他觉得脖子后面有冷冷的风，他于是直坐起来——原来是皮维斯那调皮鬼飞到他身边，在他耳后使劲地吹着。
“你来这里干什么？”哈利不高兴地说。
皮维斯向着他的下巴使劲地吹了一会就飞到外面去了，一直在咯咯地笑着。
哈利在床上摸出闹钟一看，才四点半。讨厌的皮维斯，他尝试着再睡，但是很难，他已经醒了，尽量不理会外面隆隆的雷声，狂风撞在墙上的声音，还有远处禁忌林里倒裂的声音。几个小时后，他将会球场上在强风中比赛了。最后，他不想再睡了，他起床，穿好衣服，拿起他的灵光2000，蹑手蹑脚地走出宿舍。
当哈利打开门时，有东西撞到他的脚上。他弯下腰恰好抓住克路殊克推下楼，又说，“放过斯卡伯斯吧。”
在公共室里，雷雨更大了。哈利知道最好别期望比赛会取消。
快迪斯比赛不会为雷雨这样的小事而推迟的。但是，他开始觉得有点担心。伍德向他指出迪格瑞是五年级学生，比哈利强壮，搜索者通常是轻而快的，但迪格端的体重也有优势，在这样的天气下，他不容易被吹倒呀。
哈利坐在火炉前直到破晓，时而站起来阻止克路殊克偷偷爬上的楼梯，最后，哈利想该是吃早餐的时候，他便向画像走过去。
“你这黄毛小子，站住来跟我打。”卡得格爵士大声喊。
“哦，住口。”哈利打了个呵欠。
他吃了一大碗粥之后觉得好一点了，开始吃面包的时候，其它队员也来了。
“这将会是比较辛苦的比赛。”伍德说，他还没吃东西。
“不要担心，奥里沃，”艾丽斯亚使他宽心地说着，“我们不会在意这些雨的。”
但是，这绝不止是这些雨。快迪斯比赛向来都很受欢迎的。全校的人都出来看比赛，他们顶着狂风，连手中的雨伞都被吹翻，来到快迪斯球赛场的草地上，当哈利刚进入更衣室的时候，他看到马尔夫、克来伯和高尔，正向体育馆走过来，他们在一把大伞下指着哈利大声地笑。
队员在换上深红色队衣后，正等着伍德通常的赛前讲话，但是他这次没有说，他几次想说些什么，但只发出含糊的声音。他只是摇摇头，然后示意他的队员跟他出去。
他们向球场走时，风刮得很猛，他们只好靠墙走，因为不断的隆隆的雷声，他们都不知道围观的同学是否在欢呼。水打在哈利的眼镜上，这样他怎么能看到史尼斯球在那里？
海夫巴夫队员从球场的另一方走出来，他们穿着淡黄色的球服。
两个队长向对方走过去并且握握手，迪格瑞向伍德微微笑了一下，但是伍德的下巴好像锁住一样，他只是点点头。哈利看到胡施女士的嘴形说，“准备好你的扫帚。”他从泥泞中把脚抽出来，跨上他的灵光2000上。弗琼女士把哨子放在唇上吹了一下，声音又沙哑又遥远——他们开始了。
哈利迅速站起身，但是他的灵光2000在风中摇摆着，他尽力让它稳定下来，然后一转，冲入雨里。
不到五分钟，哈利感到冰冷的雨水渗到他的皮肤上，他几乎看不见他的队友，更不用说那个小小的史尼斯球。他在球赛上飞来飞去，只看到身边不断有红色和黄色的身形飞过，他不知道球赛进展如何。
在风中他们听不到命令，下面是斗篷和雨伞的海洋。他两次差点被可尔夫球撞下去。他的视线被眼镜上的雨水模糊了，他看不到前面的东西。
有时候，他觉得让他的扫帚保持直线就行了。天空越来越暗了，好像夜晚决定提前到达一样。哈利两次差点撞到球员的身上，他不知道是队友还是对手。
天空闪了一下，传来了胡施女士的口哨声，哈利透过厚厚的雨层，勉强看到伍德的轮廓，他正在示意叫他下到地面来。整支队就这样向伍德冲过去。
“我叫了暂停，”伍德对他的队员大声说，“过来，到这边来——”
他们在球场边缘一把大伞下面集合。哈利脱下眼镜在衣服上匆匆地擦擦。
“现在有几分？”
“我们有五十分了，”伍德说，“但是除非我们找到史尼斯，要不，我们会打到晚上还不能停的。”
“我戴着这个的话根本就没机会。”哈利挥动着眼镜赌气地说。
正在那个时候，荷米恩在他肩膀出现了，她正戴着她的斗篷，冲着哈利莫明其妙地笑着。
“哈利，我有办法，快给我你的眼镜！”
他递过去给她，队员都惊奇地看着她，荷米恩用她的魔杖轻轻地拍拍眼镜，念道：“伊被华斯！”
“行了！”她把眼镜还给哈利说，“它现在是防水的。”
伍德看上去好像要吻她一样。
“太好了，”当她消失在人群时伍德大声地说，“好了，队员们，我们开始吧。”
荷米恩的咒语很有效，但哈利仍然冻得麻麻的，比他任何时候都要冷，但是他可以看了。怀着无比的决心，他的扫帚在呼呼的风中加速，他向每个方向寻找史尼斯球，闪过了一个布鲁位球，在正向这边冲过来的迪格瑞下面穿过……
又传来一阵雷响，紧紧地跟着耀眼的闪电之后。情况变得越来越危险了，哈利要尽快找到住史尼斯。
他转过头，准备向球场中间飞过去，就在那一刹那，又是一阵闪电，把整个球场都照亮了，哈利的注意力转移到一个东西上。那是一只毛发蓬松的大黑狗，面无表情地坐在最上的那排空座位上。
哈利麻麻的手在扫帚上滑动一下，他的“灵光2000”下降了几尺，他拨拨湿透的头发，再往看台那边看，那只狗已经消失了。
“哈利！”伍德站在格林芬顿的球门前向他烦恼地叫，“哈利，在你后面。”
哈利立刻向四周看看，迪格瑞正向他后面猛飞，一个带着污点的史尼斯球正在他们俩之间闪闪发光……
哈利感到一阵急烈的惊慌，他趴在扫帚上向球飞扑过去。
“加油，“他对灵光2000大声说，雨点抽打在他的脸上，”快一点！“但是奇怪的事情发生了。体育馆里突然变得令人毛骨悚然的沉静，风虽然很强，但好像忘了发出声音一样，好像谁突然把声音关掉了，哈利好像突然间聋了——什么事了？
然后一阵恐怖的熟识的冷流向他盖过来，他开始注意到下面球场有些东西在动……
他还没有开始想到些什么，哈利把视线从史尼斯球移开往地下看。
最少有一百个得蒙特，他们遮羞着的脸正向着他，他觉得冰的水在他胸前涌起，在割断他身体内的东西。然后他又开始听到有人在尖叫，在他的头脑里面尖叫……
一个女人……
“不，不要，求求你，不要是哈利！”
“走开，你这笨女孩……立即滚开……！”
“不要哈利，求求你不要，你杀我吧……”
模糊的，旋转着的白雾充满了哈利的头脑——他在做什么？为什么他在飞？他要去救她……她快要死了……她快要被杀死了……
他在下落，在冰冻的雾里下落。
“不要哈利，求求你——放过他——放过他吧——”
一个刺耳的声音大笑起来，那女人在尖叫之后哈利什么都不知道了。
“幸亏地面很软。”
“我以为他肯定会死的了。”
“但是他连眼镜都没有弄坏。”哈利可以听到各种各样的说话声，但不知道他们在说什么。他不知道他在那里，怎么到达这里的，之前在做什么。他只觉得浑身都酸痛，好像被抽打了一顿一样……
“那是我这辈子见到过的最恐怖的东西。”
很恐怖的……最吓人的……头巾状的黑色的身影……很冷……
在尖叫……
哈利猛地睁开眼，他躺在医院的病床上。格林芬顿的快迪斯队员从头到脚都是泥土，正在他的床边看着他。罗恩和荷米恩也在，他们都好像刚从游泳池爬上来一样。
“哈利！”弗来德喊着，他在泥土的映衬下显得特别白，“你觉得怎样？”
哈利的记忆飞速地走着，那闪电……那狰狞格拉菲……还有史尼斯球……还有那些得蒙特。
“什么事了？”他猛地坐起来，大家都呆了。
“你摔下来了，”弗来德说，“从五十尺高的地方，还能继续比赛吗？”
“我们以为你死了。”艾丽斯亚颤抖着说。
荷米恩发出一声细细的尖叫声。她的眼睛很红。
“但是那比赛，”哈利说，“发生什么事了？”
没有人说些什么。沉痛的事实像一块大石头一样在哈利心里沉下去。
“我们——输了？”
“迪格瑞找到了史尼斯球了。”格林佐说，“在你刚刚摔下去的时候。他不知道发生什么事了。当他向后一看，见到你在地上，他想叫暂停的，还想要重新再打一场，但是他们赢得很公平……就是连伍德也承认它。”
“伍德在那里？”哈利说，他这时才意识到他不在那里。
“还在洗澡。”弗来德说，“我想有人了想溺死自己。”
哈利把脸藏在双膝上，双手抓着头发。弗来德捉住他的肩膀使劲地摇他。
“不要这样，哈利，你从来都没有错过史尼斯球的。”
“肯定有一次你不能接住它的。”格林佐说。“还没有完呢。”弗来德说，“我们只落后一百分，不是吗？因此如果海夫巴夫输给卫文卡罗的话，我们就会打卫文卡罗和史林德林……”
“海夫巴夫起码要输二百分。”格林佐说。
“但是如果赢了卫文卡罗……”
“不可能，卫文卡罗队很强的，但如果史林德林输给海夫巴夫的话……”
“都由分数决定的——一百分来定赛程——”
哈利躺在那里，没有说些什么，他们已经输了……第一次输了一场快迪斯比赛。
大约十分钟之后波姆弗雷女士进来叫队员门离开好让他安静一下。
“我们晚一点再来看你，”弗来德跟他说，“不要责怪自己，哈利，你仍然是我们见过的最好的搜索员。”
那些队员出去了，身后留下泥迹，波姆弗雷女士很不满意地关上门。罗恩和荷米恩靠近哈利的床。
“丹伯多很生气，”荷米恩用颤抖的声音说，“我从没有见过他那个样子。你跌下来时他冲进球场，挥动他的魔杖，使你撞到地上速度减下来了。然后他用魔杖指向得蒙特，向他们发射银白色的东西，他们立即离开了体育馆……他对他们的闯进来很气愤，我们听到他——”
“然后他用魔杖把你移到担架上，”罗恩说，“还扶着你走进学校。
每个人都以为你……“他的声音降下来了，但哈利没有注意到，他正在想得蒙特对他做了些什么……
还有那尖叫声，他抬起头看到罗恩和荷米恩正忧虑地看着他。他立即转为说一些实在一点的话。
“有人捡到我的扫帚吗？”
罗恩和荷米恩立刻相视一望。
“嗯——”
“怎么啦？”哈刮说，分别向他们看看。
“哦……你掉下来的时候，它给吹走了。”荷米恩犹豫地说。
“之后呢？”
“之后，它撞到——它撞到，噢，哈利，它撞在胡宾柳树上。”
荷米恩的心猛地收空一下，那胡宾树是一棵很凶残的树，种在球场中间。
“之后呢？”哈利问，他猜到那讨厌的答案了。
“嗯，你知道那胡宾柳树了。”罗恩说，“它——它不喜欢别人碰它。”
“费立维克教授在你醒来之前把它拿回来了。”荷米思小声地说。
她慢慢地在她脚边拿出一个袋子来，把它倒转，倒出一堆折断的木头在床上，这是哈利被打败的见证。
收听单词发音 |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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propped
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| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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enchantments
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| n.魅力( enchantment的名词复数 )；迷人之处；施魔法；着魔 | |
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filch
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| v.偷窃 | |
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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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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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dungeons
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| n.地牢( dungeon的名词复数 ) | |
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squinted
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| 斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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shrub
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| n.灌木，灌木丛 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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duels
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| n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 )；竞争，斗争 | |
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pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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oversee
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| vt.监督，管理 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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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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rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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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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swerve
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| v.突然转向，背离；n．转向，弯曲，背离 | |
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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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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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flick
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| n.快速的轻打，轻打声，弹开；v.轻弹，轻轻拂去，忽然摇动 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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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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loathed
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| v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的过去式和过去分词 )；极不喜欢 | |
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detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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tirade
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| n.冗长的攻击性演说 | |
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pensively
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| adv.沉思地，焦虑地 | |
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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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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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48
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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49
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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50
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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52
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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53
apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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54
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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55
soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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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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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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60
gulping
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的现在分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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squelch
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| v.压制，镇压；发吧唧声 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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swerving
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的现在分词 ) | |
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squinting
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| 斜视( squint的现在分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
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blurred
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| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
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battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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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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inexplicably
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| adv.无法说明地，难以理解地，令人难以理解的是 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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numb
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| adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木 | |
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streaking
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| n.裸奔（指在公共场所裸体飞跑）v.快速移动( streak的现在分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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silhouette
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| n.黑色半身侧面影，影子，轮廓；v.描绘成侧面影，照出影子来，仅仅显出轮廓 | |
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imprinted
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| v.盖印（imprint的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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sodden
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| adj.浑身湿透的；v.使浸透；使呆头呆脑 | |
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80
anguished
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| adj.极其痛苦的v.使极度痛苦(anguish的过去式) | |
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81
pelting
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| 微不足道的，无价值的，盛怒的 | |
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speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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83
shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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eerie
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| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
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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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numbing
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| adj.使麻木的，使失去感觉的v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的现在分词 ) | |
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swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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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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margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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disapproving
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| adj.不满的，反对的v.不赞成( disapprove的现在分词 ) | |
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95
willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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96
dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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97
twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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98
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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