“He sent me this,” Hermione said, holding out the letter.
Harry1 took it. The parchment was damp, and enormous teardrops had smudged the ink so badly in places that it was very difficult to read.
Dear Hermione,
We lost.
I'm allowed to bring him back to Hogwarts. Execution date to be fixed2.
Beaky has enjoyed London.
I won't forget all the help you gave us.
Hagrid
“They can't do this,” said Harry. “They can't. Buckbeak isn't dangerous.”
“Malfoy's dad's frightened the Committee into it,” said Hermione, wiping her eyes. “You know what he's like. They're a bunch of doddery old fools, and they were scared. There'll be an appeal, though, there always is. Only I can't see any hope…Nothing will have changed.”
“Yeah, it will,” said Ron fiercely. “You won't have to do all the work alone this time, Hermione. I'll help.”
“Oh, Ron!”
Hermione flung her arms around Ron's neck and broke down completely. Ron, looking quite terrified, patted her very awkwardly on the top of the head. Finally, Hermione drew away.
“Ron, I'm really, really sorry about Scabbers…” she sobbed3.
“Oh — well — he was old,” said Ron, looking thoroughly4 relieved that she had let go of him. “And he was a bit useless. You never know, Mum and Dad might get me an owl5 now.”
The safety measures imposed on the students since Black's second break-in made it impossible for Harry, Ron, and Hermione to go and visit Hagrid in the evenings. Their only chance of talking to him was during Care of Magical Creatures lessons.
He seemed numb6 with shock at the verdict.
“S'all my fault. Got all tongue-tied. They was all sittin’ there in black robes an’ I kep’ droppin’ me notes and forgettin’ all them dates yeh looked up fer me, Hermione. An’ then Lucius Malfoy stood up an’ said his bit, and the Committee jus’ did exac'ly what he told ‘em…”
“There's still the appeal!” said Ron fiercely. “Don't give up yet, we're working on it!”
They were walking back up to the castle with the rest of the class. Ahead they could see Malfoy, who was walking with Crabbe and Goyle, and kept looking back, laughing derisively7.
“S'no good, Ron,” said Hagrid sadly as they reached the castle steps. “That Committee's in Lucius Malfoy's pocket. I'm jus’ gonna make sure the rest o’ Beaky's time is the happiest he's ever had. I owe him that….”
Hagrid turned around and hurried back toward his cabin, his face buried in his handkerchief.
“Look at him blubber!”
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had been standing8 just inside the castle doors, listening.
“Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?” said Malfoy. “And he's supposed to be our teacher!”
Harry and Ron both made furious moves toward Malfoy, but Hermione got there first — SMACK9!
She had slapped Malfoy across the face with all the strength she could muster10. Malfoy staggered. Harry, Ron, Crabbe, and Goyle stood flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again.
“Don't you dare call Hagrid pathetic, you foul11 — you evil —”
“Hermione!” said Ron weakly, and he tried to grab her hand as she swung it back.
“Get off, Ron!”
Hermione pulled out her wand. Malfoy stepped backward. Crabbe and Goyle looked at him for instructions, thoroughly bewildered.
“C'mon.” Malfoy muttered, and in a moment, all three of them had disappeared into the passageway to the dungeons13.
“Hermione!” Ron said again, sounding both stunned14 and impressed.
“Harry, you'd better beat him in the Quidditch final!” Hermione said shrilly15. “You just better had, because I can't stand it if Slytherin wins!”
“We're due in Charms,” said Ron, still goggling16 at Hermione. “We'd better go.”
They hurried up the marble staircase toward Professor Flitwick's classroom.
“You're late, boys!” said Professor Flitwick reprovingly as Harry opened the classroom door. “Come along, quickly, wands out, we're experimenting with Cheering Charms today, we've already divided into pairs —”
Harry and Ron hurried to a desk at the back and opened their bags. Ron looked behind him.
“Where's Hermione gone?”
Harry looked around too. Hermione hadn't entered the classroom, yet Harry knew she had been right next to him when he had opened the door.
“That's weird,” said Harry, staring at Ron. “Maybe — maybe she went to the bathroom or something?”
But Hermione didn't turn up all lesson.
“She could've done with a Cheering Charm on her too,” said Ron as the class left for lunch, all grinning broadly — the Cheering Charms had left them with a feeling of great contentment.
Hermione wasn't at lunch either. By the time they had finished their apple pie, the after-effects of the Cheering Charms were wearing off, and Harry and Ron had started to get slightly worried.
“You don't think Malfoy did something to her?” Ron said anxiously as they hurried upstairs toward Gryffindor Tower.
They passed the security trolls, gave the Fat Lady the password (“Flibbertigibbet”), and scrambled17 through the portrait hole into the common room.
Hermione was sitting at a table, fast asleep, her head resting on an open Arithmancy book. They went to sit down on either side of her. Harry prodded18 her awake.
“Wh — what?” said Hermione, waking with a start and staring wildly around. “Is it time to go? W — which lesson have we got now?”
“Divination19, but it's not for another twenty minutes,” said Harry. “Hermione, why didn't you come to Charms?”
“What? Oh no!” Hermione squeaked20. “I forgot to go to Charms!”
“But how could you forget?” said Harry. “You were with us till we were right outside the classroom!”
“I don't believe it!” Hermione wailed21. “Was Professor Flitwick angry? Oh, it was Malfoy, I was thinking about him and I lost track of things!”
“You know what, Hermione?” said Ron, looking down at the enormous Arithmancy book Hermione had been using as a pillow. “I reckon you're cracking up. You're trying to do too much.”
“No, I'm not!” said Hermione, brushing her hair out of her eyes and staring hopelessly around for her bag. “I just made a mistake, that's all! I'd better go and see Professor Flitwick and say sorry … I'll see you in Divination!”
Hermione joined them at the foot of the ladder to Professor Trelawney's classroom twenty minutes later, looking extremely harassed22.
“I can't believe I missed Cheering Charms! And I bet they come up in our exams; Professor Flitwick hinted they might!”
Together they climbed the ladder into the dim, stifling23 tower room. Glowing on every little table was a crystal ball full of pearly white mist. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down together at the same rickety table.
“I thought we weren't starting crystal balls until next term,” Ron muttered, casting a wary24 eye around for Professor Trelawney, in case she was lurking25 nearby.
“Don't complain, this means we've finished palmistry,” Harry muttered back. “I was getting sick of her flinching26 every time she looked at my hands.”
“Good day to you!” said the familiar, misty27 voice, and Professor Trelawney made her usual dramatic entrance out of the shadows. Parvati and Lavender quivered with excitement, their faces lit by the milky28 glow of their crystal ball.
“I have decided29 to introduce the crystal ball a little earlier than I had planned,” said Professor Trelawney, sitting with her back to the fire and gazing around. “The fates have informed me that your examination in June will concern the Orb30, and I am anxious to give you sufficient practice.”
Hermione snorted.
“Well, honestly…‘the fates have informed her'. Who sets the exam? She does! What an amazing prediction!” she said, not troubling to keep her voice low. Harry and Ron choked back laughs.
It was hard to tell whether Professor Trelawney had heard them as her face was hidden in shadow. She continued, however, as though she had not.
“Crystal gazing is a particularly refined art,” she said dreamily. “I do not expect any of you to See when first you peer into the Orb's infinite depths. We shall start by practicing relaxing the conscious mind and external eyes —” Ron began to snigger uncontrollably and had to stuff his fist in his mouth to stifle31 the noise — “so as to clear the Inner Eye and the superconscious. Perhaps, if we are lucky, some of you will see before the end of the class.”
And so they began. Harry, at least, felt extremely foolish, staring blankly at the crystal ball, trying to keep his mind empty when thoughts such as “this is stupid” kept drifting across it. It didn't help that Ron kept breaking into silent giggles32 and Hermione kept tutting.
“Seen anything yet?” Harry asked them after a quarter of an hour's quiet crystal gazing.
“Yeah, there's a burn on this table,” said Ron, pointing. “Someone's spilled their candle.”
“This is such a waste of time,” Hermione hissed33. “I could be practicing something useful. I could be catching34 up on Cheering Charms —”
Professor Trelawney rustled35 past.
“Would anyone like me to help them interpret the shadowy portents36 within their Orb?” she murmured over the clinking of her bangles.
“I don't need help,” Ron whispered. “It's obvious what this means. There's going to be loads of fog tonight.”
Both Harry and Hermione burst out laughing.
“Now, really!” said Professor Trelawney as everyone's heads turned in their direction. Parvati and Lavender were looking scandalized. “You are disturbing the clairvoyant37 vibrations38!” She approached their table and peered into their crystal ball. Harry felt his heart sinking. He was sure he knew what was coming —
“There is something here!” Professor Trelawney whispered, lowering her face to the ball, so that it was reflected twice in her huge glasses. “Something moving… but what is it?”
Harry was prepared to bet everything he owned, Including his Firebolt, that it wasn't good news, whatever it was. And sure enough —
“My dear,” Professor Trelawney breathed, gazing up at Harry. “It is here, plainer than ever before… my dear, stalking toward you, growing ever closer… the Gr —”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake!” said Hermione loudly. “Not that ridiculous Grim again!”
Professor Trelawney raised her enormous eyes to Hermione's face. Parvati whispered something to Lavender, and they both glared at Hermione too. Professor Trelawney stood up, surveying Hermione with unmistakable anger.
“I am sorry to say that from the moment you have arrived in this class my dear, it has been apparent that you do not have what the noble art of Divination requires. Indeed, I don't remember ever meeting a student whose mind was so hopelessly mundane39.”
There was a moment's silence. Then —
“Fine!” said Hermione suddenly, getting up and cramming40 Unfogging the Future back into her bag. “Fine!” she repeated, swinging the bag over her shoulder and almost knocking Ron off his chair. “I give up! I'm leaving!”
And to the whole class's amazement41, Hermione strode over to the trapdoor, kicked it open, and climbed down the ladder out of sight.
It took a few minutes for the class to settle down again. Professor Trelawney seemed to have forgotten all about the Grim. She turned abruptly42 from Harry and Ron's table, breathing rather heavily as she tugged44 her gauzy shawl more closely to her.
“Ooooo!” said Lavender suddenly, making everyone start. “Ooooo, Professor Trelawney, I've just remembered! You saw her leaving, didn't you? Didn't you, Professor? ‘Around Easter, one of our number will leave us forever!’ You said it ages ago, Professor!”
Professor Trelawney gave her a dewy smile.
“Yes, my dear, I did indeed know that Miss Granger would be leaving us. One hopes, however, that one might have mistaken the Signs…The Inner Eye can be a burden, you know…”
Lavender and Parvati looked deeply impressed, and moved over so that Professor Trelawney could join their table instead.
“Some day Hermione's having, eh?” Ron muttered to Harry, looking awed45.
“Yeah…”
Harry glanced into the crystal ball but saw nothing but swirling46 white mist. Had Professor Trelawney really seen the Grim again? Would he? The last thing he needed was another near-fatal accident, with the Quidditch final drawing ever nearer.
The Easter holidays were not exactly relaxing. The third years had never had so much homework. Neville Longbottom seemed close to a nervous collapse47, and he wasn't the only one.
“Call this a holiday!” Seamus Finnigan roared at the common room one afternoon. “The exams are ages away, what're they playing at?”
But nobody had as much to do as Hermione. Even without Divination, she was taking more subjects than anybody else. She was usually last to leave the common room at night, first to arrive at the library the next morning; she had shadows like Lupin's under her eyes, and seemed constantly close to tears.
Ron had taken over responsibility for Buckbeak's appeal. When he wasn't doing his own work, he was poring over enormously thick volumes with names like The Handbook of Hippogriff Psychology48 and Fowl49 or Foul? A Study of Hippogriff Brutality50. He was so absorbed, he even forgot to be horrible to Crookshanks.
Harry, meanwhile, had to fit in his homework around Quidditch practice every day, not to mention endless discussions of tactics with Wood. The Gryffindor-Slytherin match would take place on the first Saturday after the Easter holidays. Slytherin was leading the tournament by exactly two hundred points. This meant (as Wood constantly reminded his team) that they needed to win the match by more than that amount to win the Cup. It also meant that the burden of winning fell largely on Harry, because capturing the Snitch was worth one hundred and fifty points.
“So you must catch it only if we're more than fifty points up,” Wood told Harry constantly. “Only if we're more than fifty points up, Harry, or we win the match but lose the Cup. You've got that, Haven't you? You must catch the Snitch only if we're —”
“I KNOW, OLIVER!” Harry yelled.
The whole of Gryffindor House was obsessed51 with the coming match. Gryffindor hadn't won the Quidditch Cup since the legendary52 Charlie Weasley (Ron's second oldest brother) had been Seeker. But Harry doubted whether any of them, even Wood, wanted to win as much as he did. The enmity between Harry and Malfoy was at its highest point ever. Malfoy was still smarting about the mud-throwing incident in Hogsmeade and was even more furious that Harry had somehow wormed his way out of punishment. Harry hadn't forgotten Malfoy's attempt to sabotage53 him in the match against Ravenclaw, but it was the matter of Buckbeak that made him most determined54 to beat Malfoy in front of the entire school.
Never, in anyone's memory, had a match approached in such a highly charged atmosphere. By the time the holidays were over, tension between the two teams and their Houses was at the breaking point. A number of small scuffles broke out in the corridors, culminating in a nasty incident in which a Gryffindor fourth year and a Slytherin sixth year ended up in the hospital wing with leeks55 sprouting56 out of their ears.
Harry was having a particularly bad time of it. He couldn't walk to class without Slytherins sticking out their legs and trying to trip him up; Crabbe and Goyle kept popping up wherever he went, and slouching away looking disappointed when they saw him surrounded by people. Wood had given instructions that Harry should be accompanied everywhere he went, in case the Slytherins tried to put him out of action. The whole of Gryffindor House took up the challenge enthusiastically, so that it was impossible for Harry to get to classes on time because he was surrounded by a vast, chattering57 crowd. Harry was more concerned for his Firebolt's safety than his own. When he wasn't flying it, he locked it securely in his trunk and frequently dashed back up to Gryffindor Tower at break times to check that it was still there.
All usual pursuits were abandoned in the Gryffindor common room the night before the match. Even Hermione had put down her books.
“I can't work, I can't concentrate,” she said nervously58.
There was a great deal of noise. Fred and George Weasley were dealing59 with the pressure by being louder and more exuberant60 than ever. Oliver Wood was crouched61 over a model of a Quidditch field in the corner, prodding62 little figures across it with his wand and muttering to himself Angelina, Alicia, and Katie were laughing at Fred's and George's jokes. Harry was sitting with Ron and Hermione, removed from the center of things, trying not to think about the next day, because every time he did, he had the horrible sensation that something very large was fighting to get out of his stomach.
“You're going to be fine,” Hermione told him, though she looked positively63 terrified.
“You've got a Firebolt!” said Ron.
“Yeah …” said Harry, his stomach writhing64.
It came as a relief when Wood suddenly stood up and yelled, “Team! Bed!”
Harry slept badly. First he dreamed that he had overslept, and that Wood was yelling, “Where were you? We had to use Neville instead!” Then he dreamed that Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherin team arrived for the match riding dragons. He was flying at breakneck speed, trying to avoid a spurt65 of flames from Malfoy's steed's mouth, when he realized he had forgotten his Firebolt. He fell through the air and woke with a start.
It was a few seconds before Harry remembered that the match hadn't taken place yet, that he was safe in bed, and that the Slytherin team definitely wouldn't be allowed to play on dragons. He was feeling very thirsty. Quietly as he could, he got out of his four-poster and went to pour himself some water from the silver jug66 beneath the window.
The grounds were still and quiet. No breath of wind disturbed the treetops in the Forbidden Forest; the Whomping Willow67 was motionless and innocent-looking. It looked as though the conditions for the match would be perfect.
Harry set down his goblet68 and was about to turn back to his bed when something caught his eye. An animal of some kind was prowling across the silvery lawn.
Harry dashed to his bedside table, snatched up his glasses, and put them on, then hurried back to the window. It couldn't be the Grim — not now — not right before the match —
He peered out at the grounds again and, after a minute's frantic69 searching, spotted70 it. It was skirting the edge of the forest now…It wasn't the Grim at all … it was a cat … Harry clutched the window ledge71 in relief as he recognized the bottlebrush tail. It was only Crookshanks…
Or was it only Crookshanks? Harry squinted72, pressing his nose flat against the glass. Crookshanks seemed to have come to a halt. Harry was sure he could see something else moving in the shadow of the trees too.
And just then, it emerged — a gigantic, shaggy black dog, moving stealthily across the lawn, Crookshanks trotting73 at its side. Harry stared. What did this mean? If Crookshanks could see the dog as well, how could it be an omen12 of Harry's death?
“Ron!” Harry hissed. “Ron! Wake up!”
“Huh?”
“I need you to tell me if you can see something!”
“S'all dark, Harry,” Ron muttered thickly. “What're you on about?”
“Down here —”
Harry looked quickly back out of the window.
Crookshanks and the dog had vanished. Harry climbed onto the windowsill to look right down into the shadows of the castle, but they weren't there. Where had they gone?
A loud snore told him Ron had fallen asleep again.
Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor team entered the Great Hall the next day to enormous applause. Harry couldn't help grinning broadly as he saw that both the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were applauding them too. The Slytherin table hissed loudly as they passed. Harry noticed that Malfoy looked even paler than usual.
Wood spent the whole of breakfast urging his team to eat, while touching74 nothing himself. Then he hurried them off to the field before anyone else had finished, so they could get an idea of the conditions. As they left the Great Hall, everyone applauded again.
“Good luck, Harry!” called Cho. Harry felt himself blushing.
“Okay — no wind to speak of — sun's a bit bright, that could impair75 your vision, watch out for it — ground's fairly hard, good, that'll give us a fast kickoff —”
Wood paced the field, staring around with the team behind him. Finally, they saw the front doors of the castle open in the distance and the rest of the school spilling onto the lawn.
“Locker rooms,” said Wood tersely76.
None of them spoke77 as they changed into their scarlet79 robes. Harry wondered if they were feeling like he was: as though he'd eaten something extremely wriggly80 for breakfast. In what seemed like no time at all, Wood was saying, “Okay, it's time, let's go —”
They walked out onto the field to a tidal wave of noise. Three quarters of the crowd was wearing scarlet rosettes, waving scarlet flags with the Gryffindor lion upon them, or brandishing81 banners with slogans like “GO GRYFFINDOR!” and “LIONS FOR THE CUP” Behind the Slytherin goal posts, however, two hundred people were wearing green; the silver serpent of Slytherin glittered on their flags, and Professor Snape sat in the very front row, wearing green like everyone else, and a very grim smile.
“And here are the Gryffindors!” yelled Lee Jordan, who was acting82 as commentator83 as usual. “Potter, Bell, Johnson, Spinnet, Weasley, Weasley, and Wood. Widely acknowledged as the best team Hogwarts has seen in a good few years —”
Lee's comments were drowned by a tide of ‘boos’ from the Slytherin end.
“And here come the Slytherin team, led by Captain Flint. He's made some changes in the lineup and seems to be going for size rather than skill —”
More boos from the Slytherin crowd. Harry, however, thought Lee had a point. Malfoy was easily the smallest person On the Slytherin team; the rest of them were enormous.
“Captains, shake hands!” said Madam Hooch.
Flint and Wood approached each other and grasped each other's hand very tightly; it looked as though each was trying to break the other's fingers.
“Mount your brooms!” said Madam Hooch. “Three…two…one…”
The sound of her whistle was lost in the roar from the crowd as fourteen brooms rose into the air. Harry felt his hair fly back off his forehead; his nerves left him in the thrill of the flight; he glanced around, saw Malfoy on his tail, and sped off in search of the Snitch.
“And it's Gryffindor in possession, Alicia Spinner of Gryffindor with the Quaffle, heading straight for the Slytherin goal posts, looking good, Alicia! Argh, no — Quaffle intercepted84 by Warrington, Warrington of Slytherin tearing UP the field — WHAM! — nice Bludger work there by George Weasley, Warrington drops the Quaffle, it's caught by — Johnson, Gryffindor back in possession, come on, Angelina — nice swerve85 around Montague — duck, Angelina, that's a Bludger!– SHE SCORES! TEN-ZERO TO GRYFFINDOR!”
Angelina punched the air as she soared around the end of the field; the sea of scarlet below was screaming its delight
“OUCH!”
Angelina was nearly thrown from her broom as Marcus Flint went smashing into her.
“Sorry!” said Flint as the crowd below booed. “Sorry, didn't see her!”
A moment later, Fred Weasley chucked his Beater's club at the back of Flint's head. Flint's nose smashed into the handle of his broom and began to bleed.
“That will do!” shrieked86 Madam Hooch, zooming87 between then. “Penalty shot to Gryffindor for an unprovoked attack on their Chaser! Penalty shot to Slytherin for deliberate damage to their Chaser!”
“Come off it, Miss!” howled Fred, but Madam Hooch blew her whistle and Alicia flew forward to take the penalty.
“Come on, Alicia!” yelled Lee into the silence that had descended88 on the crowd. “YES! SHE'S BEATEN THE KEEPER! TWENTY-ZERO TO GRYFFINDOR!”
Harry turned the Firebolt sharply to watch Flint, still bleeding freely, fly forward to take the Slytherin penalty. Wood was hovering89 in front of the Gryffindor goal posts, his jaw90 clenched91.
“'Course, Wood's a superb Keeper!” Lee Jordan told the crowd as Flint waited for Madam Hooch's whistle. “Superb! Very difficult to pass — very difficult indeed — YES! I DON'T BELIEVE IT! HE'S SAVED IT!”
Relieved, Harry zoomed92 away, gazing around for the Snitch, but still making sure he caught every word of Lee's commentary. It was essential that he hold Malfoy off the Snitch until Gryffindor was more than fifty points up —
“Gryffindor in possession, no, Slytherin in possession — no! Gryffindor back in possession and it's Katie Bell, Katie Bell for Gryffindor with the Quaffle, she's streaking93 up the field — THAT WAS DELIBERATE!”
Montague, a Slytherin Chaser, had swerved94 in front of Katie, and instead of seizing the Quaffle had grabbed her head. Katie cart-wheeled in the air, managed to stay on her broom, but dropped the Quaffle.
Madam Hooch's whistle rang out again as she soared over to Montague and began shouting at him. A minute later, Katie had put another penalty past the Slytherin Seeker.
“THIRTY-ZERO! TAKE THAT, YOU DIRTY, CHEATING —”
“Jordan, if you can't commentate in an unbiased way —”
“I'm telling it like it is, Professor!”
Harry felt a huge jolt95 of excitement. He had seen the Snitch — it was shimmering96 at the foot of one of the Gryffindor goal posts — but he mustn't catch it yet — and if Malfoy saw it —
Faking a look of sudden concentration, Harry pulled his Firebolt around and sped off toward the Slytherin end — it worked. Malfoy went haring after him, clearly thinking Harry had seen the Snitch there…
One of the Bludgers came streaking past Harry's right ear, hit by the gigantic Slytherin Beater, Derrick. Then again…
WHOOSH.
The second Bludger grazed Harry's elbow. The other Beater, Bole, was closing in.
Harry had a fleeting98 glimpse of Bole and Derrick zooming toward him, clubs raised — He turned the Firebolt upward at the last second, and Bole and Derrick collided with a sickening crunch99.
“Ha haaa!” yelled Lee Jordan as the Slytherin Beaters lurched away from each other, clutching their heads. “Too bad, boys! You'll need to get up earlier than that to beat a Firebolt! And it's Gryffindor in possession again, as Johnson takes the Quaffle — Flint alongside her — poke78 him in the eye, Angelina! — it was a joke, Professor, it was a joke — oh no — Flint in possession, Flint flying toward the Gryffindor goal posts, come on now, Wood, save —!”
But Flint had scored; there was an eruption100 of cheers from the Slytherin end, and Lee swore so badly that Professor McGonagall tried to tug43 the magical megaphone away from him.
“Sorry, Professor, sorry! Won't happen again! So, Gryffindor in the lead, thirty points to ten, and Gryffindor in possession —”
It was turning into the dirtiest game Harry had ever played in. Enraged101 that Gryffindor had taken such an early lead, the Slytherins were rapidly resorting to any means to take the Quaffle. Bole hit Alicia with his club and tried to say he'd thought she was a Bludger. George Weasley elbowed Bole in the face in retaliation102. Madam Hooch awarded both teams penalties, and Wood pulled off another spectacular save, making the score forty-ten to Gryffindor.
The Snitch had disappeared again. Malfoy was still keeping close to Harry as he soared over the match, looking around for it once Gryffindor was fifty points ahead —
Katie scored. Fifty-ten. Fred and George Weasley were swooping103 around her, clubs raised, in case any of the Slytherins were thinking of revenge. Bole and Derrick took advantage of Fred's and George's absence to aim both Bludgers at Wood; they caught him in the stomach, one after the other, and he rolled over in the air, clutching his broom, completely winded.
Madam Hooch was beside herself —
“YOU DO NOT ATTACK THE KEEPER UNLESS THE QUAFFLE IS WITHIN THE SCORING AREA!” she shrieked at Bole and Derrick. “Gryffindor penalty!”
And Angelina scored. Sixty-ten. Moments later, Fred Weasley pelted104 a Bludger at Warrington, knocking the Quaffle out of his hands; Alicia seized it and put it through the Slytherin goal — seventy-ten.
* * * * * *
The Gryffindor crowd below was screaming itself hoarse105 — Gryffindor was sixty points in the lead, and if Harry caught the Snitch now, the Cup was theirs. Harry could almost feel hundreds of eyes following him as he soared around the field, high above the rest of the game, with Malfoy speeding along behind him.
And then he saw it. The Snitch was sparkling twenty feet above him.
Harry put on a huge burst of speed; the wind was roaring in his ears; he stretched out his hand, but suddenly, the Firebolt was slowing down —
Horrified106, he looked around. Malfoy had thrown himself forward, grabbed hold of the Firebolt's tail, and was pulling it back.
“You —”
Harry was angry enough to hit Malfoy, but couldn't reach — Malfoy was panting with the effort of holding onto the Firebolt, but his eyes were sparkling maliciously107. He had achieved what he'd wanted to do — the Snitch had disappeared again.
“Penalty! Penalty to Gryffindor! I've never seen such tactics.” Madam Hooch screeched108, shooting up to where Malfoy was sliding back onto his Nimbus Two Thousand and One.
“YOU CHEATING SCUM!” Lee Jordan was howling into the megaphone, dancing out of Professor McGonagall's reach. “YOU FILTHY109, CHEATING B —”
Professor McGonagall didn't even bother to tell him off She was actually shaking her finger in Malfoy's direction, her hat had fallen off, and she too was shouting furiously.
Alicia took Gryffindor's penalty, but she was so angry she missed by several feet. The Gryffindor team was losing concentration and the Slytherins, delighted by Malfoy's foul on Harry, were being spurred on to greater heights.
“Slytherin in possession, Slytherin heading for goal — Montague scores —” Lee groaned110. “Seventy-twenty to Gryffindor…”
Harry was now marking Malfoy so closely their knees kept hitting each other. Harry wasn't going to let Malfoy anywhere near the Snitch….
“Get out of it, Potter!” Malfoy yelled in frustration111 as he tried to turn and found Harry blocking him.
“Angelina Johnson gets the Quaffle for Gryffindor, come on, Angelina, COME ON!”
Harry looked around. Every single Slytherin player apart from Malfoy was streaking up the pitch toward Angelina, including the Slytherin Keeper — they were all going to block her — Harry wheeled the Firebolt around, bent112 so low he was lying flat along the handle, and kicked it forward. Like a bullet, he shot toward the Slytherins.
“AAAAAAARRRGH!”
They scattered113 as the Firebolt zoomed toward them; Angelina's way was clear.
“SHE SCORES! SHE SCORES! Gryffindor leads by eighty Points to twenty!”
Harry, who had almost pelted headlong into the stands, skidded114 to a halt in midair, reversed, and zoomed back into the middle of the field.
And then he saw something to make his heart stand still. Malfoy was diving, a look of triumph on his face — there, a few feet above the grass below, was a tiny, golden glimmer115 —
Harry urged the Firebolt downward, but Malfoy was miles ahead —
“Go! Go! Go!” Harry urged his broom. He was gaining on Malfoy — Harry flattened116 himself to the broom handle as Bole sent a Bludger at him — he was at Malfoy's ankles — he was level —
Harry threw himself forward, took both hands off his broom. He knocked Malfoy's arm out of the way and —
“YES!”
He pulled out of his dive, his hand in the air, and the stadium exploded. Harry soared above the crowd, an odd ringing in his ears. The tiny golden ball was held tight in his fist, beating its wings hopelessly against his fingers.
Then Wood was speeding toward him, half-blinded by tears; he seized Harry around the neck and sobbed unrestrainedly into his shoulder. Harry felt two large thumps117 as Fred and George hit them; then Angelina's, Alicia's, and Katie's voices, “We've won the Cup! We've won the Cup!” Tangled118 together in a many-armed hug, the Gryffindor team sank, yelling hoarsely119, back to earth.
Wave upon wave of crimson120 supporters was pouring over the barriers onto the field. Hands were raining down on their backs. Harry had a confused impression of noise and bodies pressing in on him. Then he, and the rest of the team, were hoisted121 onto the shoulders of the crowd. Thrust into the light, he saw Hagrid, Plastered with crimson rosettes — “Yeh beat ‘em, Harry, yeh beat ‘em! Wait till I tell Buckbeak!”
There was Percy, jumping up and down like a maniac122, all dignity forgotten. Professor McGonagall was sobbing123 harder even than Wood, wiping her eyes with an enormous Gryffindor flag; and there, fighting their way toward Harry, were Ron and Hermione. Words failed them. They simply beamed as Harry was borne toward the stands, where Dumbledore stood waiting with the enormous Quidditch Cup.
If only there had been a Dementor around…As a sobbing Wood passed Harry the Cup, as he lifted it into the air, Harry felt he could have produced the world's best Patronus.
“他，他送给我这个。”荷米恩说着拿出了那封信。哈利拿过来。手稿纸是潮湿的，由于浓重的泪痕已经很深的模糊了字迹，读起来十分困难。
亲爱的荷米恩：我们失败了。我被允许将他带回霍格瓦彻。死刑执行的日期已经确定。毕克碧很喜欢伦敦。我不会忘记你给我的所有帮助。
哈格力“他们不能这样做，”哈利说，“他们不能。毕克碧不是个危险人物。”
“马尔夫的父亲威胁委员会宣判了它。”荷米恩哭着说，“你知道他们像什么。
他们是一群笨蛋，而且他们受到了恐吓。哈格力将会上诉，当然，经常会有这种情况。只有我看不到任何希望——任何事情都不会改变。“
“是的，的确是那样，”罗恩恶毒的说，“这次你不必独自去做那份工作，荷米恩，我将会帮助你。”
“噢，罗恩！”
荷米思急切的抱住他的脖子，完全的崩溃了。罗恩，好像被吓坏了，尴尬地拍着她的头。最后，荷米恩收回手来。
“罗恩，我十分十分为斯卡伯斯难过……”她抽泣着说。
“噢，是这样，它老了。”罗恩说，因她放开了他而显得一副很解脱的样子。
“并且他十分无用，你不会懂，妈妈和爸爸也许给我弄了一只猫头鹰。”
由于巴拉克的第二次侵入使得哈利、罗恩和荷米恩不能在晚上会见哈格力，因为保护措施被强加在学生身上。他们跟他说话的仅有的机会是在“留心马格可。克利特斯”课。
“这仍有上诉！”罗恩凶狠地说，“不要放弃，我们正准备攻克他。”
他们正和班里剩下的人返回城堡。在前面的是马尔夫，他和克来伯及高尔走在一起，并且嘲弄他回头看着。
“这是没有用的，罗恩。”当他们到达城堡的台阶时哈格力伤心地说，“那个判决书在露布斯。马尔夫的口袋里。我正要去让它成为现实就是——毕克碧剩下的时间将会是他最幸福的一段，我断定他……”
哈格力转回身快速的跑回他的小屋，他的脸深藏在手绢后面。
“看他的哭相。”
“你曾经听到过一些十分可怜的事吗？”马尔夫说：“他肯定就是我们的老师。”
哈利和罗恩都急速地奔向马尔夫，但荷米恩先到达了。
她用尽了全力抽打马尔夫的脸。马尔夫摇晃着，哈刮、罗恩、克来伯和高尔都惊愕地站着。荷米恩再次举起了她的手掌。
“你敢说哈格力可怜，你这个令人厌恶的卑鄙家伙。”
“荷米恩！”罗恩虚弱地说，并且在她挥舞回来的时候努力抓住她的手。
“走开，罗恩！”
荷米恩抽出她的魔杖。马尔夫后退了几步，克来伯和高尔完全迷惑地看着他等待指示。
马尔夫低声的抱怨着。过了一会，他们三个已经消失在通往地车的过道中。
“荷米恩！”罗恩沮丧地又说，“哈利，你最好在快迪斯将他最终打败。”荷米恩冷冷地说，“你最好那样，因为如果史林德林胜了，我难以接受这个事实。”
罗恩仍然盯着荷米恩说：“我们最好走快点，要上课了。”
他们急切地奔上通往费立维克教授教室的走廊，哈利打开了教室的门。“快点进来，我们今天正在试验兴奋魔物。我们已经分成了几对。”
哈利和罗恩赶忙走到后面的桌子也打开书包，罗恩从后面望了望荷米恩的座位。
“荷米恩去了哪里？”
哈利也看了看四周，荷米恩没有走进教室，而且哈利知道，当他打开门的时候，她曾在他的后面。
“她很神密的，”哈利盯着罗恩说，“也许，也许她去了卫生间或是别的地方。”
但是荷米恩整节课都没有出现在教室中。
“真有趣的兴奋魔物。”当学生们离开去吃午饭的时候都微笑着——兴奋魔物已经给他们留下了巨大的满足感。
荷米恩没有吃午饭。在他们吃完苹果派的时候，她还没有出现，哈利和罗恩开始有一点轻微的担心。
“不要以为马尔夫对她做了些什么。”罗恩焦急地说。他们急切地走向格林芬顿塔。
他们小心的越过小精灵，给了那个胖大婶通行证，并且爬过了肖像洞，到了公共房间。
荷米恩正坐在桌子边沉睡着，她的头枕在一本打开的书上，他们走进去并坐在她身边，哈利把她弄醒。
“什么？”荷米恩突然醒来望着四周说，“现在该是去上课的时间了吗？我们现在上什么课？”
“分解。但那是二十分钟以后的事，”哈利说：“荷米恩，为什么你没有去上兴奋魔物课。”
“什么？噢，不！”荷米恩尖叫起来，“我忘记去上课了！”
“但是你怎么忘记了呢？”哈利说，“我们在教室外面的时候你跟我们在一起呀！”
“我不相信！”荷术恩哭叫道，“贾立维克教授生气了吗？噢，是马尔夫，我正在想着他的时候，失去了某些记忆！”
“你知道什么，荷米恩，”罗恩向下看到荷米恩当作枕头的书说，“我想你精神崩溃了，你太努力了。”
“不，我没有！”荷米恩掠开挡在眼前的头发无助的看着四周，寻找着她的书包。“我犯了个错误，就这些！我最好去见费立维克教授并道歉……我要在分解课上见到你。”
20分钟以后，荷米恩加入他们去到特雷络尼教授的教室，好像极度的狂热。
“我不能相信我错过了兴奋魔物课，并且我打赌考试会考到他们。费立维克暗示他们会的！”
他们一起爬着梯子去了昏暗的让人感到窒息的塔内。
每个桌子上都有一个个装满白雾的水晶球在微微散发着热气。
哈利、罗恩和荷米恩在一个摇摇晃晃的桌子旁边坐下来。
“我认为，到下个学期之前我们不会开设水晶球课的。”罗恩喃喃的说，并用警惕的目光搜寻特雷络尼教授，防止她在旁边埋伏。
“别报怨，这意味着我们已经完成了手相术。”哈利喃喃的说，“我开始对她每次看到我的手就退缩，感到恶心了！”
“祝你今天开心！”随着这个熟悉的、不清楚的声音，特雷络尼教授像平时那样，突然从阴影中出现了。帕维提和拉温德的脸在散发着微光的水晶球照射下由于兴奋而颤抖着。
“我已经决定比我的计划要早一点介绍这些水晶球。”特雷络尼教授坐下去望着四周说，“命运告诉我，你们七日的考试将考及球体，并且我尽快地给你们提供足够的练习。”
荷米恩轻蔑的哼了一声。
“噢，诚实一点说……‘命运已经告诉了她。’……谁设计了考试？是她！一个多么令人吃惊的预言！”没有任何困难的压低声音说。
很难分辨出特雷络尼教授是否听到了他们，因为她的脸藏在黑影里。好像没有，因为她继续说着。
“水晶收集是一种特别受限制的艺术，”她心不在焉地说。“当你们同辈追求球体的无限的深度时，我不期望你们当中的任何一个去看。我们应该开始练习放松和集中精神。”
罗恩开始暗自窃笑了，为了防止发出声音，他只好把拳头放在嘴边。“这样才能明白空洞的眼睛并且高度的集中，也许如果我们很幸运，你们当中的一些将会在课结束以前看到。”
所以他们开始了。哈利至少感到极度的受愚弄，一直地盯着水晶球，努力保持心无杂物。
“看到什么了吗？”哈利在他们安静地看水晶球大约一刻钟以后问道。
“是的，在桌子上有一团火。”罗恩指着说，“有人把蜡烛滴在上面。”
“这是一种时间的浪费，”荷米恩嘘道，“我可以练习一些有用的事，我可以赶上兴奋魔物课……”
特雷络尼教授瑟瑟地离开了。
“有谁愿意让我帮助他们介入他们的球体吗？”她小声的说，刮擦着她的手镯。
“我不需要帮助，”罗恩尖叫着说，“这暗示着什么是很显明的事，今天晚上将有大雾降临。”
哈利和荷米恩都大笑起来。
“现在，真的！”特雷络尼教授说，当每个人都把头转向这个方面时，帕维提和拉温德正在尴尬的看着。“你正在打扰有超人洞察力的人的振动！”她走近他们的桌子指着他们的水晶球。哈利感到他的心放回肚子里，他确信他知道将要发生什么……
“这儿有些东西！”特雷络尼教授低声的说，“以致于它被两次反射到他巨大的镜子上，有东西在动，但它是什么？”
哈利准备赌他所有的一切事情，包括他的梦想。那不是一个好消息，无论是什么。并且足够确信……
“亲爱的……”特雷络尼喘着粗气盯着哈利说。
“他在这儿，比以前平坦……，亲爱的，大踏步的走向你。变的更近了……这是……”
“噢，为了好的原因！”荷米恩大声说，“不要是那个荒谬的笑话。”
特雷络尼抬起她的大眼睛看着荷米恩的脸。帕维提低声的与拉温德说着什么，他们都盯着荷米恩。特雷络尼教授站住了，用审视的眼光看着荷米恩，显得十分愤怒。
“我很抱歉的说，在你学习这门课之后，亲爱的，显然你不具备分解课所应有的艺术。事实上，我从不相信我会遇到一个具有毫无希望的世俗想法的学生。”
出现了片刻的安静，接着——“好极了！”荷米恩突然站起来，勉强的把没有雾的水晶球塞进书包。“好极了！”她重复道，并把书包背到肩上，几乎把罗恩撞下椅子。“我放弃，我要走了！”
令全班人吃惊的是，荷米恩走到门前，一脚踢开门，爬上梯子消失了。
学生们花了几分钟才安静下来，特雷络尼教授微微的露出笑容。她迅速转向哈利和罗恩的桌子，她抓着围巾，急促的呼吸使它更贴近于她。
“噢噢噢！”拉温德突然叫，使每个人都开始了“噢噢……”
“特雷络尼教授，我想起来了，你刚才看见她离开了，是吗？是吗，教授？在几年前你说过，在复活节期间我们当中的一个会永远离开我们！”
特雷络尼教授给了她一个虚假的笑。
“是的，亲爱的。我确实知道荷米恩将会离开我们，然而有人希望，有人会误解暗示……你知道他可能成为一个负担……”
拉温德和帕维提深情的看着，并移动桌子以使特雷络尼能够走近他们。
“某天荷米恩已经来了，噢？”罗恩喃喃的对哈利说，好像很敬畏。
“对……”
哈利看了一眼水晶球，但看不到任何东西，只看到白色的雾气。
特雷络尼教授又看到了微笑吗？是吗？最后一件他所需要经历的事，是几近送命的事故，——而结果更近了。
复活节假期并不轻松。三年已经没有那么多家庭作业。尼维尔兰博顿好像接近于精神的崩溃，并且他不是仅有的一个。
“这是一个所谓的假期，”谢默斯。范尼更在公共休息室里咆哮了一天。“考试是几年前的事了，他们在做些什么？”
但是没有人像荷米恩有那么多事要做。她比别人学了更多的科目。她已经习惯于每天晚上最后一个离开公共休息室，在早上第一个到达图书馆。在她心目中有一个露平的影子，使她经常暗自垂泪。
罗恩已经负责毕克碧的上诉。当他不做自己的工作的时候，他钻研一些诸如名字为《河马鹿心理学手稿》或《猎人还是猎物》之类的卷宗。他沉迷于对哈伯里弗。
布拉斯特的学习，以至于忘记了找克路殊克复仇。
此时，哈利每天只好努力地完成适合于自己的家庭作业与快迪斯练习，更不要说无休止的与伍德谈论数据问题。
格林芬顿VS史林德林比赛将在复活节后一周内举行。史林德林领先其它队大约100分。这意味着（就像伍德经常提醒他的队）
他们要赢才能得到奖杯。它同时意味着赢的重担压在哈利的肩上，因为捕获史尼斯球值150分。
“你必须抓住它，它可使我们以50分领先。”伍德坦白地告诉哈利。“我们必须有50分的领先，哈利，否则我们赢得了比赛但却得不到奖杯。你上一场干的不错，对吗？你只有抓住史尼斯球，如果我们……”
“我知道了，奥立弗！”哈利大声应道。
整个格林芬顿学院的人的心被将要到来的快迪斯杯占据着。马尔夫仍对霍格马得时的扭泥巴事件怀恨在心，且更愤怒于哈利逃脱惩罚。哈利也没有忘记，马尔夫曾经企图阴谋破坏他在对抗卫文卡罗的比赛中取胜，但对于毕克碧的事，使他们决定在全校的学生面前打败马尔夫。
在任何人的记忆中，没有一场比赛像它一样占据着人们的心。
在假期到来的时候，两个队的紧张程度和他们的学院都面临着崩溃的一刻。大量的混战发生在走廊上，最后以格林芬顿的～个四年级生和史林德林的一个六年级生大打出手并双双入院治疗而结束。
哈利正处在一个更坏的时期里。他没有格林芬顿的支持者的保
护就不能到达教室去听课。克来伯和高尔不断地在他去上课的时候出现。当他们看到哈利被人群围住的时候，露出失望的神情并无精打采的离开。伍德已经指示哈利时刻跟着他，以防止史林德林的支持者们的敌视失控。格林芬顿班里所有的人都热情的接受了挑战，以致于哈利不能按时上课。因为他被密匝的、议论纷纷的人群包围着。哈利对霹雳的安全的关心更甚至对他自己的关心。当他不玩它时，他把它锁在箱子里，并且常在课间冲回格林芬顿塔检查以保证它仍在那儿。
在格林芬顿的公共休息室里，在比赛的前夕，所有的平时的爱好被放弃了，甚至连荷米思也放下了她的书本。
“我不能工作，我不能集中精神。”她有点神经质的说。
这里有严重的噪音。弗来德和乔治正在承受着前所未有的巨大声音和更大的压力。在一个角落里，奥立弗。伍德蹲在快迪斯模型旁边，用他的魔杖测量着什么，并不时地自言自语的说些什么。安格莉娜、艾丽斯亚和凯特正在因为弗来德和乔治的笑话而大笑。哈利和罗恩与荷米恩坐在一起，努力从人群中脱离。因为每次大比赛前他都这样。他有那种可怕的感觉，就是努力抑制自己想吐的感觉。
“你将会很出色的。”荷米恩告诉她，虽然她并不以为那样。
“你已经得到了一个史尼斯球！”罗恩说。
“是的……！”哈利说，他的胃翻滚起来。
当伍德突然站起来宣布，“队员睡觉！”这简直是一种解脱。
哈利睡得很本好。一开始他做梦，梦见自己睡过头了。以致于伍德大声的询问，“你去了哪里？我们只好让尼维尔代替你！”后来又梦到马尔夫和其余的史林德林队员骑龙到达赛场参加比赛。他以极危险的高速飞行，努力避免马尔夫的具嘴的侮辱，以致于逃脱后忘记了他的史尼斯球。他从空中掉下来并突然醒来。
几秒钟以后，哈利才记起来——比赛还没有进行呢。他在床上很安全。而且史林德林队也不被允许用龙。他觉得非常口渴。他尽量保持平静地从帐帷中出来，走到窗户底下的银壶边喝水。
大地一片沉寂，没有风吹刮的声音，胡宾柳树一动不动的立在那里。一切迹象表明比赛将会非常圆满。
哈利放下瓷林准备回床上时，突然发现了什么。一种爬行动物爬过了银色的球场。
哈利冲向桌边抓起他的眼镜并戴上，急忙返回窗前，不可能是格拉菲——不是现在——不是正在比赛之前——他又看向操场外边，经过几分钟的细致观察，确定了它是在森林边滑行……绝对不是格拉菲是……是一只猫，哈利贴在窗边，当他看清楚它的尾巴，那不是克路殊克吗？哈利斜着眼睛，扁平的鼻子紧紧地压在玻璃上。
克路殊克好像停了下来，哈利确信他可以看到其它的什么东西也在树影子下面移动。
过了一会儿，它出现了，一只巨大的长有粗毛的黑狗偷偷地穿过草坪，克路殊克急速地跟在一旁。哈利盯着它们，这意味着什么？如果克路殊克能够看到那只狗。
那说明它也会魔法，但这完全不可能。
“罗恩！”哈利低声叫着。“罗恩！醒醒！”
“唔。”
“我要你告诉我，你是否看到了些什么！”
“这全是黑漆漆的，哈刮，”罗恩不耐烦的发着牢骚，“你在干什么？”
“在那边——”
哈利迅速回过头望向窗外。
克路韩克和那只狗消失了。哈利爬上窗子去看城堡下方的阴影，但他们不在那儿。他们去了哪里？
大声的呼噜声说明罗恩又一次睡着了。
第二天，哈利和剩下的格林芬顿队员进入大厅时受到热烈的欢迎。当哈利看到卫文卡罗和海夫已夫学院的学生时，他们都大嚷着：“好了，给我们一个快速的射门……”
伍德盯着他后面的队伍，最后看着前面远处开启的城门和草坪那边的学校。
“换房间。”伍德简明的说。
当他们换小毯子的时候没有人说话。哈利想知道他们是否与他有同感，“虽然他早饭上吃了极难消化的食物。”看起来好像没有时间了。伍德发话了，“OK，是时间了，我们出发……”
他们走到充满强大噪音的快迪斯球场上。约有四分之三的人都戴着鲜红的玫瑰花束，挥舞着绣有格林芬顿狮子或是印有“格林芬顿必胜！”及“奖杯属于狮子！”
的标语的小旗子。在史林德林的得分区，约有二百人身着绿装，史林德林的银蛇在旗子上面闪闪发光。史纳皮教授带着一种非常凶狠的笑容，与其它人一样身着绿装，坐在第一排上。
“这就是格林芬顿队！”李。乔丹叫道。他像往常一样担任赛况解说员。“波特、比尔、琼瑟、斯宾那、威斯里和伍德。这是近几年来公认的最好的队员。”
李的评论被来自史林德林队中的嘘声淹没。然而，哈利认为李的评论恰如其份。
马尔夫几乎是史林德林队中最矮小的人，而其他队员都是巨大的。
“请两位队长握握手！”胡施女土道。
史林斯与伍德走近对方，紧紧地抓住对方的手，看上去好像要把对方的手指捏碎。
“数数你们的队员！”胡施女士说，“三……二……—……”
当荷术恩看到队员出场的时候，观众的呼喊声淹没了她的尖叫声。哈利觉得自己的头发从前额向后飞扬着，他的神经好像感到了飞行的一阵阵寒意。他向四周看了看，看见马尔夫正用全力寻找史尼斯球。
“现在是格林芬顿控制场面。格林芬顿队的艾丽斯亚领宾那和可尔夫球正在向史林德林队的得分区挺进。看起来很好，艾丽斯亚！不——可尔夫球被华宁椽拦住了。史林德林队的华宁橡奋力投掷了——哇！——乔治。威斯里干的漂亮，华宁椽掷向了可尔夫球，但琼瑟接住了它，格林芬顿队又控制了场面，继续、安格莉娜——绕蒙特格转的漂亮——低头，安格莉娜，那是个布鲁佐球！——她得分了！格林芬顿队得了十分！”
安格莉娜在投掷后向空中重重一台，红色的人潮高兴的尖叫着。
“哦！”
安格莉娜差点扔掉球棒，因为史林斯向她冲过来。
“对不起！”当观众大叫起来时，史林斯说，“对不起，我没看见她！”
过了一会儿，弗来德。威斯里将他的球棍击向了史林斯的后脑勺。史林斯的鼻子撞在棒桶上并开始流血了。
“只好这样了！”胡施女士站在他们中间大声说，“判格林芬顿队无意识伤害对手，判史林德林队蓄意伤害对方。”
“取消判决，小姐！”史林斯大叫道。但胡施女士已经吹响了哨子，而安格莉娜已飞奔到前面去接受治疗。
“过来，安格莉娜！”李打破了安静，且有许多观众电跟着喊，“对！她是被打的！格林芬顿队应得20分！”
哈利迅速把霹雳转向还在流血的史林斯，飞到前面准备让史林德林队接受惩罚。
伍德在格林芬顿队的得分区上空盘旋，他的牙关紧咬着。
“当然，伍德是一位超凡的守门员！”当弗林特在等待胡施夫人的哨声时，李。
乔丹告诉观众，“超人很难通过——的确十分困难一是的，不得不相信！他会救起每一个球！”
解脱了，哈利直飞上升去寻找史尼斯球，但他确信听到李的每一句评论。十分必要的是他阻止马尔夫得到史尼斯球，直到格林芬顿超过了50分……
“格林芬顿队领先！不！史林德林队领先！不！格林芬顿队又领先了！现在是凯蒂。保尔，格林芬顿队的凯蒂。保尔拿着可尔夫球，她要飞跑着掷球——”
“三十分！你们能拿去吗？你们这群无耻的家伙。欺骗……”
“乔丹，如果你不能毫无偏见的评解……！”
“我正在就实况解说，教授！”
哈利感到强烈的兴奋。他已看见了史尼斯球——它正在格林芬顿的一个得分区下闪闪发光——但他现在不能立刻去抓它。并且如果马尔夫看到它……
哈利假装了一会儿，突然的聚精会神，他拉开他的霹雳回头，并快速的向史林德林队的底线冲去。起作用了，马尔夫紧紧地跟在他的后面，显然他以为哈利已经发现了史尼斯球在那……
扑呼。
一个体形庞大的史林德林击球手在哈利的右边来了个急转弯。
又过了一会儿——扑哧。
第二个台球手特奈克已经抓住了哈利的肘部。另外一个击球手——布尔向他飞来，手柄上升——哈利在最后一秒钟把霹雳抬升，布尔和特奈克猛烈的撞在一起。
“哈，哈哈！”李。乔丹看到两个史林德林队员分开时还抓住彼此的头时大声叫道，“太糟糕了！孩子们！你们应该在碰在一起前早点回头！现在又是格林芬顿队领先，安格莉娜拿到了可尔夫球——史林斯在她的旁边——刺激他的眼睛，安格莉娜！——这是个玩笑，教授，这是个玩笑——唉，不——史林斯领先了，史林斯特正飞向格林芬顿的得分区，来吧，现在，伍德，救起它——！”
但是史林斯得分了，格林芬顿的欢呼声削弱了。由于李那污秽的谩骂，麦康娜教授努力从他身边取走了磁力传声筒。
“对不起，教授，对不起！再也不会发生这种事情了！现在是格林芬顿领先，30分比10分，格林芬顿控制了场面——”
这是哈利有史以来参加的最糟糕的一场比赛了。由于格林芬顿那么早就领先了，被激怒了的史林德林队员们加快用各种办法取得可尔夫球。布尔用他的球棒打艾丽斯亚，还极力狡辨说他以为她是布鲁佐球。乔治。威斯里用肘挤布尔的脸作为惩罚。
同时，伍德又救起了一个可尔夫球，为格林芬顿队将比分变为40比10.史尼斯球又消失了。马尔夫仍跟在哈利后面，而哈利则在赛场上飞翔四处寻找它——一旦格林芬顿队以50分领先……
卡特得分了。50比10.弗来德和乔治正在积极地保护他。球棒举起来防止任何史林德林队员妄想报复。布尔和特奈克趁弗来德和乔治脱离岗位去别的布鲁佐球目标而不注意伍德时，他们一个接一个在空中翻滚打在他的肚子上，还抓住他的扫帚，使他几乎透不气来。
胡施夫人站在她的位置上。
“除非对方在得分区，否则你们不能攻击对方！”胡施向布尔和特奈克叫道，“史林德林！犯规！”
安格莉娜得分了。60比10.过了一会儿，弗来德向华宁椽打出了一个布鲁佐球，从他手中把可尔夫球打了出来。艾丽斯亚抓住机会并把它打入史林德林的球门。将比分变为70比10.格林芬顿队的支持者尖叫起来。现在，格林芬顿队领先对手六十分了。而且如果哈利抓住史尼斯球，奖杯就属于他们了。哈利几乎可以感觉到有几百双眼睛正在盯着他在赛场上飞来飞去，而马尔夫仍紧紧地跟在后面。
哈利突然加速，风在耳边呼呼作响。他伸出了他的手，但霹雳球忽然慢了下来。
真可怕，他向四周一看。马尔夫已经冲到了后面，抓住霹雳的尾巴把它往后拖。
“你”
哈利愤怒地想打马尔夫，可他够不着。马尔夫喘息着奋力地抓向史尼斯球，他的眼里闪烁着凶残的目光。不过，他已经得到了他所需要的——史尼斯球又一次消失了。
“处罚！处罚史林德林队！我还没见过这种诡计！”胡施夫人愤怒的叫道，当马尔夫滑回他的得分区时，胡施夫人冲向那个地方。
“你这个骗人的渣滓！”李。乔丹在话筒里大声的咒骂道，同时躲避着麦康娜教授的到来。“你这个肮脏的家伙，欺骗的——”
麦康娜教授根本没有阻止他说下去。实际上，她正在向马尔夫晃拳头。她的帽子掉了下来，而她还在愤怒的嚷着。
艾丽斯亚实施了对史林德林的处罚，但她对失去的优势而感到愤怒。格林芬顿队员正在丧失凝聚力，而史林德林队员对马尔夫的恶劣行径却很兴奋，这击起了更大的斗志。
“格林芬顿队处于领先地位，史林德林队得分——蒙特格得分——”李叫道，“70比20，格林芬顿队领先……”
哈利现在与马尔夫很近以致于他们的膝盖总是撞到一块儿。哈刮绝对不会让马尔夫接近史尼斯球……
“让开，波特！”马尔夫叫道，因为他想转弯而哈利挡住了他。
“安格莉娜为格林芬顿队拿到了可尔夫球。继续，安格莉娜，继续！”
哈利向四周一看，所有的单独的史林德林队员都离开马尔夫而撞向安格莉娜——他们都去挡住她——哈利将布鲁佐球转过来，把它像子弹一样踢向前方。他打向前面的史林德林队员。
“啊——！”
他们尖叫的声音就好像布鲁佐球飞向了他们，安格莉娜的路被清理了。
“她得分了！她得分了！格林芬顿以80比20领先！”
哈利在空中稍做了一次停留，改变方向去投掷区。
他发现的一些东西使他停下来。马尔夫正在猛冲，成功的欲望显现在脸上——那儿，几米之外的草坪下面闪出一种金色的微光。
哈利急忙发动霹雳，向下冲去，但马尔夫超前于他几英尺。
“快！快！快！”哈利发动他的扫帚。他在跟马尔夫竞争…，……哈利把自己在扫帚上放平，而布尔送给他一个布鲁位球……他是马尔夫的跟班……他是水平的——哈利将自己抛向前面，两手放开了扫
收听单词发音 |
1
harry
|
|
| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
sobbed
|
|
| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
owl
|
|
| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
numb
|
|
| adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
derisively
|
|
| adv. 嘲笑地，嘲弄地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
smack
|
|
| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
muster
|
|
| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
foul
|
|
| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
omen
|
|
| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
dungeons
|
|
| n.地牢( dungeon的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
stunned
|
|
| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
shrilly
|
|
| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
goggling
|
|
| v.睁大眼睛瞪视， （惊讶的）转动眼珠( goggle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
17
scrambled
|
|
| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
prodded
|
|
| v.刺，戳( prod的过去式和过去分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
divination
|
|
| n.占卜，预测 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
squeaked
|
|
| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的过去式和过去分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
wailed
|
|
| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
harassed
|
|
| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
stifling
|
|
| a.令人窒息的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
wary
|
|
| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
lurking
|
|
| 潜在 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
flinching
|
|
| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
misty
|
|
| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
milky
|
|
| adj.牛奶的，多奶的；乳白色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
orb
|
|
| n.太阳；星球；v.弄圆；成球形 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
stifle
|
|
| vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
giggles
|
|
| n.咯咯的笑( giggle的名词复数 )；傻笑；玩笑；the giggles 止不住的格格笑v.咯咯地笑( giggle的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
hissed
|
|
| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
catching
|
|
| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
rustled
|
|
| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
portents
|
|
| n.预兆( portent的名词复数 )；征兆；怪事；奇物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
clairvoyant
|
|
| adj.有预见的；n.有预见的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
vibrations
|
|
| n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
mundane
|
|
| adj.平凡的；尘世的；宇宙的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
cramming
|
|
| n.塞满，填鸭式的用功v.塞入( cram的现在分词 )；填塞；塞满；（为考试而）死记硬背功课 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
tug
|
|
| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
tugged
|
|
| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
awed
|
|
| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
swirling
|
|
| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
collapse
|
|
| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
psychology
|
|
| n.心理，心理学，心理状态 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
fowl
|
|
| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
brutality
|
|
| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
obsessed
|
|
| adj.心神不宁的,鬼迷心窍的,沉迷的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
legendary
|
|
| adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
sabotage
|
|
| n.怠工，破坏活动，破坏；v.从事破坏活动，妨害，破坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
leeks
|
|
| 韭葱( leek的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
sprouting
|
|
| v.发芽( sprout的现在分词 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
chattering
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
nervously
|
|
| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
dealing
|
|
| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
exuberant
|
|
| adj.充满活力的；（植物）繁茂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
crouched
|
|
| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
prodding
|
|
| v.刺，戳( prod的现在分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
writhing
|
|
| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
spurt
|
|
| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
jug
|
|
| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
willow
|
|
| n.柳树 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
goblet
|
|
| n.高脚酒杯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
frantic
|
|
| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
spotted
|
|
| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
ledge
|
|
| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
squinted
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
trotting
|
|
| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
impair
|
|
| v.损害，损伤；削弱，减少 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
tersely
|
|
| adv. 简捷地, 简要地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
poke
|
|
| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
scarlet
|
|
| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
wriggly
|
|
| adj.蠕动的，回避的；蜿蜒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
brandishing
|
|
| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
commentator
|
|
| n.注释者，解说者；实况广播评论员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
intercepted
|
|
| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
swerve
|
|
| v.突然转向，背离；n．转向，弯曲，背离 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
shrieked
|
|
| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
zooming
|
|
| adj.快速上升的v.（飞机、汽车等）急速移动( zoom的过去分词 )；（价格、费用等）急升，猛涨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
hovering
|
|
| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
jaw
|
|
| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
clenched
|
|
| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
zoomed
|
|
| v.（飞机、汽车等）急速移动( zoom的过去式 )；（价格、费用等）急升，猛涨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
streaking
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
swerved
|
|
| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
jolt
|
|
| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
shimmering
|
|
| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
whoosh
|
|
| v.飞快地移动，呼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
fleeting
|
|
| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
crunch
|
|
| n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
eruption
|
|
| n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
enraged
|
|
| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
retaliation
|
|
| n.报复，反击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
swooping
|
|
| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
pelted
|
|
| （连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
hoarse
|
|
| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
horrified
|
|
| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
maliciously
|
|
| adv.有敌意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
screeched
|
|
| v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
filthy
|
|
| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
groaned
|
|
| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
frustration
|
|
| n.挫折，失败，失效，落空 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
skidded
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
glimmer
|
|
| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
flattened
|
|
| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
thumps
|
|
| n.猪肺病；砰的重击声( thump的名词复数 )v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
tangled
|
|
| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
hoarsely
|
|
| adv.嘶哑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
crimson
|
|
| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
hoisted
|
|
| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
maniac
|
|
| n.精神癫狂的人；疯子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
sobbing
|
|
| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |