Hermione was tugging2 at his sleeve, staring at her watch. “We've got exactly ten minutes to get back down to the hospital wing without anybody seeing us — before Dumbledore locks the door —”
“Okay,” said Harry, wrenching3 his gaze from the sky, “let's go….”
They slipped through the doorway4 behind them and down a tightly spiraling stone staircase. As they reached the bottom of it, they heard voices. They flattened5 themselves against the wall and listened. It sounded like Fudge and Snape. They were walking quickly along the corridor at the foot of the staircase.
“… only hope Dumbledore's not going to make difficulties,” Snape was saying. “The Kiss will be performed immediately?”
“As soon as Macnair returns with the Dementors. This whole Black affair has been highly embarrassing. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to informing the Daily Prophet that we've got him at last…. I daresay they'll want to interview you, Snape… and once young Harry's back in his right mind, I expect he'll want to tell the Prophet exactly how you saved him….”
Harry clenched7 his teeth. He caught a glimpse of Snape's smirk8 as he and Fudge passed Harry and Hermione's hiding place. Their footsteps died away. Harry and Hermione waited a few moments to make sure they'd really gone, then started to run in the opposite direction. Down one staircase, then another, along a new corridor — then they heard a cackling ahead.
“Peeves9!” Harry muttered, grabbing Hermione's wrist. “In here!”
They tore into a deserted11 classroom to their left just in time. Peeves seemed to be bouncing along the corridor in boisterous12 good spirits, laughing his head off.
“Oh, he's horrible,” whispered Hermione, her ear to the door. “I bet he's all excited because the Dementors are going to finish off Sirius….” She checked her watch. “Three minutes, Harry!”
They waited until Peeves's gloating voice had faded into the distance, then slid back out of the room and broke into a run again.
“Hermione — what'll happen — if we don't get back inside before Dumbledore locks the door?” Harry panted.
“I don't want to think about it!” Hermione moaned, checking her watch again. “One minute!”
They had reached the end of the corridor with the hospital wing entrance. “Okay — I can hear Dumbledore,” said Hermione tensely. “Come on, Harry!”
They crept along the corridor. The door opened. Dumbledore's back appeared.
“I am going to lock you in,” they heard him saying. “it is five minutes to midnight. Miss Granger, three turns should do it. Good luck.”
Dumbledore backed out of the room, closed the door, and took out his wand to magically lock it. Panicking, Harry and Hermione ran forward. Dumbledore looked up, and a wide smile appeared under the long silver mustache. “Well?” he said quietly.
“We did it!” said Harry breathlessly. “Sirius has gone, on Buckbeak….”
Dumbledore beamed at them.
“Well done. I think —” He listened intently for any sound within the hospital wing. “Yes, I think you've gone too — get inside — I'll lock you in —”
Harry and Hermione slipped back inside the dormitory. It was empty except for Ron, who was still lying motionless in the end bed. As the lock clicked behind them, Harry and Hermione crept back to their own beds, Hermione tucking the Time-Turner back under her robes. A moment later, Madam Pomfrey came striding back out of her office.
“Did I hear the headmaster leaving? Am I allowed to look after my patients now?”
She was in a very bad mood. Harry and Hermione thought it best to accept their chocolate quietly. Madam Pomfrey stood over them, making sure they ate it. But Harry could hardly swallow. He and Hermione were waiting, listening, their nerves jangling…. And then, as they both took a fourth piece of chocolate from Madam Pomfrey, they heard a distant roar of fury echoing from somewhere above them….
“What was that?” said Madam Pomfrey in alarm.
Now they could hear angry voices, growing louder and louder. Madam Pomfrey was staring at the door.
“Really — they'll wake everybody up! What do they think they're doing?”
Harry was trying to hear what the voices were saying. They were drawing nearer —
“He must have Disapparated, Severus. We should have left somebody in the room with him. When this gets out —”
“HE DIDN'T DISAPPARATE!” Snape roared, now very close at hand. “YOU CAN'T APPARATE OR DISAPPARATE INSIDE THIS CASTLE! THIS — HAS — SOMETHING — TO — DO — WITH — POTTER!”
“Severus — be reasonable — Harry has been locked up —”
BAM.
The door of the hospital wing burst open.
Fudge, Snape, and Dumbledore came striding into the ward6. Dumbledore alone looked calm. Indeed, he looked as though he was quite enjoying himself. Fudge appeared angry. But Snape was beside himself.
“OUT WITH IT, POTTER!” he bellowed14. “WHAT DID YOU DO?”
“Professor Snape!” shrieked15 Madam Pomfrey. “Control yourself!”
“See here, Snape, be reasonable,” said Fudge. “This door's been locked, we just saw —”
“THEY HELPED HIM ESCAPE, I KNOW IT!” Snape howled, pointing at Harry and Hermione. His face was twisted; spit was flying from his mouth.
“Calm down, man!” Fudge barked. “You're talking nonsense!”
“YOU DON'T KNOW POTTER!” shrieked Snape. “HE DID IT, I KNOW HE DID IT —”
“That will do, Severus,” said Dumbledore quietly. “Think about what you are saying. This door has been locked since I left the ward ten minutes ago. Madam Pomfrey, have these students left their beds?”
“Of course not!” said Madam Pomfrey, bristling17. “I would have heard them!”
“Well, there you have it, Severus,” said Dumbledore calmly. “Unless you are suggesting that Harry and Hermione are able to be in two places at once, I'm afraid I don't see any point in troubling them further.”
Snape stood there, seething18, staring from Fudge, who looked thoroughly19 shocked at his behavior, to Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling behind his glasses. Snape whirled about, robes swishing behind him, and stormed out of the ward.
“Fellow seems quite unbalanced,” said Fudge, staring after him. “I'd watch out for him if I were you, Dumbledore.”
“Oh, he's not unbalanced,” said Dumbledore quietly. “He's just suffered a severe disappointment.”
“He's not the only one!” puffed20 Fudge. “The Daily Prophet's going to have a field day! We had Black cornered and he slipped through our fingers yet again! All it needs now is for the story of that Hippogriff's escape to get out, and I'll be a laughingstock! Well… I'd better go and notify the Ministry21…..”
“And the Dementors?” said Dumbledore. “They'll be removed from the school, I trust?”
“Oh yes, they'll have to go,” said Fudge, running his fingers distractedly through his hair. “Never dreamed they'd attempt to administer the Kiss on an innocent boy… Completely out of control… no, I'll have them packed off back to Azkaban tonight … Perhaps we should think about dragons at the school entrance….”
“Hagrid would like that,” said Dumbledore, smiling at Harry and Hermione. As he and Fudge left the dormitory, Madam Pomfrey hurried to the door and locked it again. Muttering angrily to herself, she headed back to her office.
There was a low moan from the other end of the ward. Ron had woken up. They could see him sitting up, rubbing his head, looking around.
“What — what happened?” he groaned22. “Harry? Why are we in here? Where's Sirius? Where's Lupin? What's going on?”
Harry and Hermione looked at each other.
“You explain,” said Harry, helping23 himself to some more chocolate.
* * * * * *
When Harry, Ron, and Hermione left the hospital wing at noon the next day, it was to find an almost deserted castle. The sweltering, heat and the end of the exams meant that everyone was taking full advantage of another Hogsmeade visit. Neither Ron nor Hermione felt like going, however, so they and Harry wandered onto the grounds, still talking about the extraordinary events of the previous night and wondering where Sirius and Buckbeak were now. Sitting near the lake, watching the giant squid waving its tentacles24 lazily above the water, Harry lost the thread of the conversation as he looked across to the opposite bank. The stag had galloped25 toward him from there just last night….
A shadow fell across them and they looked up to see a very bleary-eyed Hagrid, mopping his sweaty face with one of his tablecloth-sized handkerchiefs and beaming down at them.
“Know I shouldn’ feel happy, after wha’ happened las’ night,” he said. “I mean, Black escapin’ again, an, everythin’ — but guess what?”
“What?” they said, pretending to look curious.
“Beaky! He escaped! He's free! Bin10 celebratin’ all night!”
“That's wonderful!” said Hermione, giving Ron a reproving look because he looked as though he was close to laughing.
“Yeah… can't've tied him up properly,” said Hagrid, gazing happily out over the grounds. “I was worried this mornin', mind… thought he mighta met Professor Lupin on the grounds, but Lupin says he never ate anythin’ las’ night….”
“What?” said Harry quickly.
“Blimey, haven’ yeh heard?” said Hagrid, his smile fading a little. He lowered his voice, even though there was nobody in sight. “Er — Snape told all the Slytherins this mornin'…. Thought everyone'd know by now… Professor Lupin's a werewolf, see. An’ he was loose on the grounds las’ night…. He's packin’ now, o’ course.”
“He's packing?” said Harry, alarmed. “Why?”
“Leavin', isn’ he?” said Hagrid, looking surprised that Harry had to ask. “Resigned firs’ thing this mornin'. Says he can't risk it happenin again.”
Harry scrambled26 to his feet.
“I'm going to see him,” he said to Ron and Hermione.
“But if he's resigned —”
“– doesn't sound like there's anything we can do —”
“I don't care. I still want to see him. I'll meet you back here.”
Lupin's office door was open. He had already packed most of his things. The Grindylow's empty tank stood next to his battered27 old suitcase, which was open and nearly full. Lupin was bending over something on his desk and looked up only when Harry knocked on the door.
“I saw you coming,” said Lupin, smiling. He pointed28 to the parchment he had been poring over. It was the Marauder's Map.
“I just saw Hagrid,” said Harry. “And he said you'd resigned. It's not true, is it?”
“I'm afraid it is,” said Lupin. He started opening his desk drawers and taking out the contents.
“Why?” said Harry. “The Ministry of Magic don't think you were helping Sirius, do they?”
Lupin crossed to the door and closed it behind Harry.
“No. Professor Dumbledore managed to convince Fudge that I was trying to save your lives.” He sighed. “That was the final straw for Severus. I think the loss of the Order of Merlin hit him hard. So he — er — accidentally let slip that I am a werewolf this morning at breakfast.”
“You're not leaving just because of that!” said Harry.
“This time tomorrow, the owls30 will start arriving from parents…. They will not want a werewolf teaching their children, Harry. And after last night, I see their point. I could have bitten any of you…. That must never happen again.”
“You're the best Defense31 Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had!” said Harry. “Don't go!”
Lupin shook his head and didn't speak. He carried on emptying his drawers. Then, while Harry was trying to think of a good argument to make him stay, Lupin said, “From what the headmaster told me this morning, you saved a lot of lives last night, Harry. If I'm proud of anything I've done this year, it's how much you've learned…. Tell me about your Patronus.”
“How d'you know about that?” said Harry, distracted.
“What else could have driven the Dementors back?”
Harry told Lupin what had happened. When he'd finished, Lupin was smiling again.
“Yes, your father was always a stag when he transformed,” he said. “You guessed right… that's why we called him Prongs.”
Lupin threw his last few books into his case, closed the desk drawers, and turned to look at Harry.
“Here — I brought this from the Shrieking32 Shack33 last night,” he said, handing Harry back the Invisibility Cloak. “And…” He hesitated, then held out the Marauder's Map too. “I am no longer your teacher, so I don't feel guilty about giving you back this as well. It's no use to me, and I daresay you, Ron, and Hermione will find uses for it.”
Harry took the map and grinned.
“You told me Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs would've wanted to lure34 me out of school… you said they'd have thought it was funny.”
“And so we would have,” said Lupin, now reaching down to close his case. “I have no hesitation35 in saying that James would have been highly disappointed if his son had never found any of the secret passages out of the castle.”
There was a knock on the door. Harry hastily stuffed the Marauder's Map and the Invisibility Cloak into his pocket.
It was Professor Dumbledore. He didn't look surprised to see Harry there.
“Your carriage is at the gates, Remus,” he said.
“Thank You, Headmaster.”
Lupin picked up his old suitcase and the empty Grindylow tank.
“Well — good-bye, Harry,” he said, smiling. “It has been a real pleasure teaching you. I feel sure we'll meet again sometime. Headmaster, there is no need to see me to the gates, I can manage….”
Harry had the impression that Lupin wanted to leave as quickly as possible.
“Good-bye, then, Remus,” said Dumbledore soberly. Lupin shifted the Grindylow tank slightly so that he and Dumbledore could shake hands. Then, with a final nod to Harry and a swift smile, Lupin left the office.
Harry sat down in his vacated chair, staring glumly36 at the floor. He heard the door close and looked up. Dumbledore was still there.
“Why so miserable37, Harry?” he said quietly. “You should be very proud of yourself after last night.”
“It didn't make any difference,” said Harry bitterly. “Pettigrew got away.”
“Didn't make any difference?” said Dumbledore quietly, “It made all the difference in the world, Harry. You helped uncover the truth. You saved an innocent man from a terrible fate.”
Terrible. Something stirred in Harry's memory. Greater and more terrible than ever before… Professor Trelawney's prediction!
“Professor Dumbledore — yesterday, when I was having my Divination38 exam, Professor Trelawney went very — very strange.”
“Indeed?” said Dumbledore. “Er — stranger than usual, you mean?”
“Yes… her voice went all deep and her eyes rolled and she said … she said Voldemort's servant was going to set out to return to him before midnight…. She said the servant would help him come back to power.” Harry stared up at Dumbledore. “And then she sort of became normal again, and she couldn't remember anything she'd said. Was it — was she making a real prediction?”
Dumbledore looked mildly impressed.
“Do you know, Harry, I think she might have been.” he said thoughtfully. “Who'd have thought it? That brings her total of real predictions up to two. I should offer her a pay raise….”
“But —” Harry looked at him, aghast. How could Dumbledore take this so calmly?
“But — I stopped Sirius and Professor Lupin from killing39 Pettigrew! That makes it my fault if Voldemort comes back!”
“It does not,” said Dumbledore quietly. “Hasn't your experience with the Time-Turner taught you anything, Harry? The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed…. Professor Trelawney, bless her, is living proof of that…. You did a very noble thing, in saving Pettigrew's life.”
“But if he helps Voldemort back to power…”
“Pettigrew owes his life to you. You have sent Voldemort a deputy who is in your debt…. When one wizard saves another wizard's life, it creates a certain bond between them… and I'm much mistaken if Voldemort wants his servant in the debt of Harry Potter.”
“I don't want a connection with Pettigrew!” said Harry. “He betrayed my parents!”
“This is magic at its deepest, its most impenetrable, Harry. But trust me… the time may come when you will be very glad you saved Pettigrew's life.”
Harry couldn't imagine when that would be. Dumbledore looked as though he knew what Harry was thinking.
“I knew your father very well, both at Hogwarts and later, Harry,” he said gently. “He would have saved Pettigrew too, I am sure of it.”
Harry looked up at him. Dumbledore wouldn't laugh — he could tell Dumbledore…
“I thought it was my dad who'd conjured40 my Patronus. I mean, when I saw myself across the lake … I thought I was seeing him.”
“An easy mistake to make,” said Dumbledore softly. “I expect you'll tire of hearing it, but you do look extraordinarily41 like James. Except for the eyes… you have your mother's eyes.”
Harry shook his head.
“It was stupid, thinking it was him,” he muttered. “I mean, I knew he was dead.”
“You think the dead we loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don't recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble? Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself most plainly when you have need of him. How else could you produce that particular Patronus? Prongs rode again last night.”
It took a moment for Harry to realize what Dumblefore had said.
“Last night Sirius told me all about how they became Animagi,” said Dumbledore, smiling. “An extraordinary achievement — not least, keeping it quiet from me. And then I remembered the most unusual form your Patronus took, when it charged Mr. Malfoy down at your Quidditch match against Ravenclaw. You know, Harry, in a way, you did see your father last night…. You found him inside yourself.”
And Dumbledore left the office, leaving Harry to his very confused thoughts.
* * * * * *
Nobody at Hogwarts now knew the truth of what had happened the night that Sirius, Buckbeak, and Pettigrew had vanished except Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Professor Dumbledore. As the end of term approached, Harry heard many different theories about what had really happened, but none of them came close to the truth.
Malfoy was furious about Buckbeak. He was convinced that Hagrid had found a way of smuggling42 the Hippogriff to safety, and seemed outraged43 that he and his father had been outwitted by a gamekeeper. Percy Weasley, meanwhile, had much to say on the subject of Sirius's escape.
“If I manage to get into the Ministry, I'll have a lot of proposals to make about Magical Law Enforcement!” he told the only person who would listen — his girlfriend, Penelope.
Though the weather was perfect, though the atmosphere was so cheerful, though he knew they had achieved the near impossible in helping Sirius to freedom, Harry had never approached the end of a school year in worse spirits.
He certainly wasn't the only one who was sorry to see Professor Lupin go. The whole of Harry's Defense Against the Dark Arts class was miserable about his resignation.
“Wonder what they'll give us next year?” said Seamus Finnigan gloomily.
“Maybe a vampire,” suggested Dean Thomas hopefully.
It wasn't only Professor Lupin's departure that was weighing on Harry's mind. He couldn't help thinking a lot about Professor Trelawney's prediction. He kept wondering where Pettigrew was now, whether he had sought sanctuary44 with Voldemort yet. But the thing that was lowering Harry's spirits most of all was the prospect45 of returning to the Dursleys. For maybe half an hour, a glorious half hour, he had believed he would be living with Sirius from now on…his parents’ best friend…It would have been the next best thing to having his own father back. And while no news of Sirius was definitely good news, because it meant he had successfully gone into hiding, Harry couldn't help feeling miserable when he thought of the home he might have had, and the fact that it was now impossible.
The exam results came out on the last day of term. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had passed every subject. Harry was amazed that he had got through Potions. He had a shrewd suspicion that Dumbledore might have stepped in to stop Snape failing him on purpose. Snape's behavior toward Harry over the past week had been quite alarming. Harry wouldn't have thought it possible that Snape's dislike for him could increase, but it certainly had. A muscle twitched46 unpleasantly at the corner of Snape's thin mouth every time he looked at Harry, and he was constantly flexing47 his fingers, as though itching48 to place them around Harry's throat.
Percy had got his top-grade N.E.W.T.s; Fred and George had scraped a handful of O.W.L.s each. Gryffindor House, meanwhile, largely thanks to their spectacular performance in the Quidditch Cup, had won the House championship for the third year running. This meant that the end of term feast took place amid decorations of scarlet49 and gold, and that the Gryffindor table was the noisiest of the lot, as everybody celebrated50. Even Harry managed to forget about the journey back to the Dursleys the next day as he ate, drank, talked, and laughed with the rest.
* * * * * *
As the Hogwarts Express pulled out of the station the next morning, Hermione gave Harry and Ron some surprising news.
“I went to see Professor McGonagall this morning, just before breakfast. I've decided51 to drop Muggle Studies.”
“But you passed your exam with three hundred and twenty percent!” said Ron.
“I know,” sighed Hermione, “but I can't stand another year like this one. That Time-Turner, it was driving me mad. I've handed it in. Without Muggle Studies and Divination, I'll be able to have a normal schedule again.”
“I still can't believe you didn't tell us about it,” said Ron grumpily. “We're supposed to be your friends.”
“I promised I wouldn't tell anyone,” said Hermione severely52. She looked around at Harry, who was watching Hogwarts disappear from view behind a mountain. Two whole months before he'd see it again….
“Oh, cheer up, Harry!” said Hermione sadly.
“I'm okay,” said Harry quickly. “Just thinking about the holidays.”
“Yeah, I've been thinking about them too,” said Ron. “Harry, you've got to come and stay with us. I'll fix it up with Mum and Dad, then I'll call you. I know how to use a fellytone now —”
“A telephone, Ron,” said Hermione. “Honestly, you should take Muggle Studies next year….”
Ron ignored her.
“It's the Quidditch World Cup this summer! How about it, Harry? Come and stay, and we'll go and see it! Dad can usually get tickets from work.”
This proposal had the effect of cheering Harry up a great deal.
“Yeah… I bet the Dursleys'd be pleased to let me come… especially after what I did to Aunt Marge….”
Feeling considerably53 more cheerful, Harry joined Ron and Hermione in several games of Exploding Snap, and when the witch with the tea cart arrived, he bought himself a very large lunch, though nothing with chocolate in it.
But it was late in the afternoon before the thing that made him truly happy turned up….
“Harry,” said Hermione suddenly, peering over his shoulder. “What's that thing outside your window?”
Harry turned to look outside. Something very small and gray was bobbing in and out of sight beyond the glass. He stood up for a better look and saw that it was a tiny owl16, carrying a letter that was much too big for it. The owl was so small, in fact, that it kept tumbling over in the air, buffeted54 this way and that in the train's slipstream. Harry quickly pulled down the window, stretched out his arm, and caught it. It felt like a very fluffy55 Snitch. He brought it carefully inside.
The owl dropped its letter onto Harry's seat and began zooming56 around their compartment57, apparently58 very pleased with itself for accomplishing its task. Hedwig clicked her beak13 with a sort of dignified59 disapproval60. Crookshanks sat up in his seat, following the owl with his great yellow eyes. Ron, noticing this, snatched the owl safely out of harm's way.
Harry picked up the letter. It was addressed to him. He ripped open the letter, and shouted, “It's from Sirius!”
“What?” said Ron and Hermione excitedly. “Read it aloud!”
Dear Harry,
I hope this finds you before you reach your aunt and uncle. I don't know whether they're used to owl post.
Buckbeak and I are in hiding. I won't tell you where, in case this owl falls into the wrong hands. I have some doubt about his reliability61, but he is the best I could find, and he did seem eager for the job.
I believe the Dementors are still searching for me, but they haven't a hope of finding me here. I am planning to allow some Muggles to glimpse me soon, a long way from Hogwarts, so that the security on the castle will be lifted.
There is something I never got around to telling you during our brief meeting. It was I who sent you the Firebolt —
“Ha!” said Hermione triumphantly62. “See! I told you it was from him!”
“Yes, but he hadn't jinxed it, had he?” said Ron. “Ouch!” The tiny owl now hooting63 happily in his hand, had nibbled64 one of his fingers in what it seemed to think was an affectionate way.
– Crookshanks took the order to the Owl Office for me. I used your name but told them to take the gold from my own Gringotts vault65. Please consider it as thirteen birthdays’ worth of presents from your godfather.
I would also like to apologize for the fright I think I gave you that night last year when you left your uncle's house. I had only hoped to get a glimpse of you before starting my journey north, but I think the sight of me alarmed you.
I am enclosing something else for you, which I think will make your next year at Hogwarts more enjoyable.
If ever you need me, send word. Your owl will find me.
I'll write again soon.
Sirius
Harry looked eagerly inside the envelope. There was another piece of parchment in there. He read it through quickly and felt suddenly as warm and contented66 as though he'd swallowed a bottle of hot butterbeer in one gulp67.
I, Sirius Black, Harry Potter's godfather, hereby give him permission to visit Hogsmeade on weekends. “That'll be good enough for Dumbledore!” said Harry happily. He looked back at Sirius's letter. “Hang on, there's a PS….”
I thought your friend Ron might like to keep this owl, as it's my fault he no longer has a rat.
Ron's eyes widened. The minute owl was still hooting excitedly. “Keep him?” he said uncertainly. He looked closely at the owl for a moment; then, to Harry's and Hermione's great surprise, he held him out for Crookshanks to sniff68.
“What do you reckon?” Ron asked the cat. “Definitely an owl?”
Crookshanks purred.
“That's good enough for me,” said Ron happily. “He's mine.”
Harry read and reread the letter from Sirius all the way back into King's Cross station. It was still clutched tightly in his hand as he, Ron, and Hermione stepped back through the barrier of platform nine and three-quarters. Harry spotted69 Uncle Vernon at once. He was standing70 a good distance from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, eyeing them suspiciously, and when Mrs. Weasley hugged Harry in greeting, his worst suspicions about them seemed confirmed.
“I'll call about the World Cup!” Ron yelled after Harry as Harry bid him and Hermione good-bye, then wheeled the trolley71 bearing his trunk and Hedwig's cage toward Uncle Vernon, who greeted him in his usual fashion.
“What's that?” he snarled72, staring at the envelope Harry was still clutching in his hand. “If it's another form for me to sign, you've got another —”
“It's not,” said Harry cheerfully. “It's a letter from my godfather.”
“Godfather?” sputtered73 Uncle Vernon. “You haven't got a godfather!”
“Yes, I have,” said Harry brightly. “He was my mum and dad's best friend. He's a convicted murderer, but he's broken out of wizard prison and he's on the run. He likes to keep in touch with me, though … keep up with my news … check if I'm happy …”
And, grinning broadly at the look of horror on Uncle Vernon's face, Harry set off toward the station exit, Hedwig rattling74 along in front of him, for what looked like a much better summer than the last.
“哈利！”
荷米恩拉了拉他的袖子，看着她的手表。“我们只有十分钟不被人发现地返回病房——在丹伯多锁上门之前——”
“好吧！”哈利说，将他的目光从天空转回，“我们走吧！”
他们溜进他们身后的门道，沿着螺旋式的楼梯走下去。就在他们要下到底部的时候，他们听到了有人说话的声音。他们紧紧地把身体贴在墙上，小心地听着，听起来好像是法治和史纳皮，他们正在快步地沿着楼梯底下的走廊走着。
“……但愿丹伯多不会搞出什么麻烦，”史纳皮说，“亲吻马上就要执行了。”
“等到得蒙特和马可尼尔一回来，案子就了结了。巴拉克的整件案子实在是大费周折，我无法告诉你我是多么地希望马上通知《先知日报》我们抓住了巴拉克…
…我敢说他们会非常愿意访问你，史纳皮……而且一旦小哈利恢复理智，我要他自愿明白地告诉预言家你是如何救他的……“
哈利咬紧牙关。当史纳皮和法治走过他和荷米恩所藏的地方时，哈刮看见了史纳皮脸上的一丝好笑。他们的脚步声消失了。哈利和荷米恩等了一会儿确信他们真的已经走开了，便急忙跑向了相反的方向。跑下了一段楼梯，然后是另一段，到了一个走廊——然后他们听到前面传来一阵暗笑声。皮维斯朝哈利这边走来，哈利一下子抓着荷米恩的手腕，“到这儿来。”
他们及时地躲进了一个废弃的教室，皮维斯看起来兴高采烈地沿着走廊连蹦带跳，笑得头都快掉了。
“哦，他真恐怖，”荷米思小声说，她的耳朵贴在门上，“我猜他肯定快高兴死了，因为得蒙特就会未结束西里斯……”她查看了一下手表，“还有三分钟，哈利！”
他们一直等到皮维斯那嘶哑的叫声消失在远处，然后溜出课室又开始狂奔。
“荷米恩——会发生什么——如果我们不能及时地赶到里面——在丹伯多锁上门之前？”哈利喘着气说。
“我不去想这个问题！”荷米恩低声说，又看了一下表，“还有一分钟。”
他们终于到达了走廊口病房的门口。“好了——我可以听见丹怕多的脚步声了，”
荷米恩急紧说，“快点，哈利！”
他们沿着走廊跑着。门打开了。丹伯多的背影出现了。
“我将要把你们锁起来。”他们听到他说，“还有五分钟就要到午夜了。格林佐小姐，三个转圈就可以了，祝你好运。”
丹伯多背对着他们走了出来，关上了门，拿出手杖借助魔法将它锁好。喘着气，哈利和荷米恩向前跑来。丹伯多抬起了头，一个宽心的笑出现在他那银色的长胡子下面。“好了吗？”他轻声问。
“我们做完了！”哈利屏住呼吸说，“西里斯已经走了……骑着毕克碧。”
丹伯多向他们微笑着。
“做得好，我想——”他聆听着病房里的动静，“我想，我想他们已经走了，进去吧——我会把你们锁起来的。”
哈利和荷米恩溜进了病房，里面除了罗恩，没有其它人，他仍然神志不清地躺在里面的床上。当门锁“咯嚓”一声锁上的时候。
哈利和荷米恩回到自己的床上，荷米恩将时间转换器塞回到自己的袍子里。紧接着，波姆弗雷夫人大步地从她的办公室走回来。
“我是不是听到丹伯多已经离开了？我是不是可以现在来照顾我的病人了呢？”
她的情绪很差，哈利和荷米恩想他们最好安静地吃下她的巧克力。波姆弗雷夫人站在他们身边直到确信他们已经吃下了它。但是哈利简直咽不下，他和荷米恩都在等待着，聆听着，他们的神经都在高度紧张着……然后，当他们吃下波姆弗雷夫人递过来的第四块巧克力时，他们听到远处传来了一声愤怒的爆叫声回响在他们上方……
“怎么回事？”夫人吃惊地说。
现在他们听到那愤怒的声音变得越来越大了，波姆弗雷夫人盯着门口。
“真是的——他们会把人们都吵醒的！他们以为他们在干什么？”
哈利努力地听着那些说话的声音，它们越来越近了——“他肯定是逃走了，史纳皮，我应当留下人在里面看着他。当事情发生时——”
“他没有逃走！”史纳皮咆哮着，现在离他们已经很近了。“他不可能从这个城堡逃入和逃出！这件事肯定和波特有关！”
“史纳皮，——理智点——哈利被锁起来了——”
“嘣——”
病房的门突然打开了。
法治、史纳皮还有丹伯多大踏步地走进来。只有丹伯多看起来很平静。的确如此，他看起来相当的开心。法治则显得很愤怒，但是史纳皮的愤怒是在内心的。
“说出来，波特！”他大喊着，“你都做了什么？”
“史纳皮教授！”波姆弗雷夫人尖叫着，“请控制好你自己！”
“看一看，史纳皮，理智点，”法治说，“这个门是锁着的，我们刚看见——”
“他们帮助他逃走的，我知道！”史纳皮嗥叫着，指着哈利和荷米恩，他的脸扭曲着，吐沫横飞地。
“安静下来，你！”法治狂叫着，“你正在胡说八道。”
“你根本不了解波特！”史纳皮尖叫着，“他做的，我知道是他做的。”
“这一切已经说明了，史纳皮，”丹伯多平静地说。“想想你正在说些什么，自从十分钟以前我离开病房的时候，门就已经锁上了，波姆弗雷夫人，这些学生有没有离开过他们的床？”
“当然没有！”波姆弗雷夫人气得头发都竖起来了，“自打你离开以后，我就一直和他们在一起。”
“好吧！听见了吗？史纳皮，”丹伯多平静地说，“除非你是指哈利和荷米恩可以同时在两个地方出现，我想我们没有再继续打扰他们的理由了。”
史纳皮站在那儿，火冒三丈，绕过从法治盯向丹伯多。法治完全被他的行为震惊了，而丹伯多的眼睛在眼镜后面闪闪发光。史纳皮发晕了，袍子在它身后飘动，像风暴似的走出病房。
“他看起来很不对劲，”法治说，“从后面盯向他。如果我是你，丹伯多，我会盯着他的。”
“哦，他并不是不对劲。”丹伯多平静的说，“他只是太失望了。”
“你并不是唯一的一个。”法治粗声粗气地说，《先知日报》就要来专访了，我们抓住了巴拉克，可现在又让他从我们的手中溜走了！现在我们所要做的就是如何告诉别人巴拉克逃走的事，我们肯定会被嘲笑的……我最好现在就走去通知部里。
“”还有得蒙特，“丹伯多说，”他们会离开学校的，我相信？“
“是的，他们就得走了，”法治说，心烦意乱的用手指挠着头发。“我决不会让他们对无辜的孩子们实施亲吻的——完全出乎意料……不，我要让他们今晚就整装返回阿兹克班。也许我们应当想想在学校门口的……”
“哈格力会乐意的。”丹伯多说，轻快的朝哈利和荷米恩笑了一下。当他的法治离开病房时，波姆弗雷夫人匆忙走到门口又把它锁上，愤怒地自言自语着走回她的办公室。
在病房的另一边传来一声微弱的呻吟，罗恩醒来了，他们看到他坐起来，抓着他的头向四处看着。
“什么——发生了什么？”他咕哝着，“哈利？为什么我们会在这里？西里斯在哪儿？露平在哪儿？究竟发生了什么？”
哈利和荷米恩看着对方。
“你来说吧！”哈利说，大口地吃起巧克力。
当哈利、罗恩和荷米恩在第二天中午离开病房时，他们看到一个几乎被遗弃的城堡。令人难以忍受的炎热和考试的结束，使每一个人都有机会享受一下下一个学期到来之前的时光、不管是罗恩还是荷米恩都不想离开，所以他们和哈利一起在旷地上闲着，仍然谈论著前一天晚上所发生的不寻常的事情，想着西里斯和毕克碧现在可能呆在哪儿。坐在湖边，看着一只巨大的鱿鱼慵懒地摇动着它的触须，当哈利看问对岸的时候，他陷入了沉思。就在昨天晚上，那只牡鹿向他跑来……
一个人影投在他们前方，他们抬头看到了双眼模糊的哈格力，用他那像桌布一样大的手帕擦着脸上的汗，朝他们微笑着。
“经过昨天晚上所发生的一切，我知道我不应当高兴，”他说，“我是说，巴拉克又逃走了，呃，但是有一件事——猜猜是什么？”
“什么？”他们说，装作很好奇的样子。
“毕克碧！他逃走了！他自由了，毕克碧庆祝了整整一个晚上！”
“太好了！”荷米恩说，丢给罗恩一个责备的眼神因为他几乎快要笑出来了。
“是啊……是不是我没有绑好它，”哈格力说，快活地望过旷地，“但是露平说他昨晚什么也没有吃……”
“什么？”哈利匆忙地说。
“哈利，你没听说吗？”哈格力说，他的笑容消失了一些，他压低了自己的声音，即使没有任何人在他的视线中，“呃——今天早上，史纳皮告诉所有史林德林的人……我想现在大家都知道了……
露平教授是只人狼，昨晚，他在旷地上乱走，当然，他现在正在打点行装。“”他正在打点行装？“哈利吃惊地问，”为什么？“
“离开这里，不是吗？”哈格力说，很吃惊哈利会这样问，“今天一早地他就辞职了，说他不想让类似的事情再发生了。”
哈利尖叫着站起来“我们要去找他！”他对罗恩和荷米恩说。
“但是如果他已经辞职了——”
“——听起来好像我们做不了什么了——”
“我不在乎。我仍然要去见他，我会回来见你们的。”
露平办公室的门打开着，他已经差不多准备好了。格林洛斯的空箱子就放在他那破烂不堪的旧皮箱的旁边，打开着而且快要装满了。露平正在整理他桌子上面的东西，当哈利敲门的时候他才抬起头来。
“我看见你来了。”露平笑着说，他指了指他正在整理的羊皮纸，是掠夺者的地图册。
“我刚才见到哈格力，”哈利说，“他告诉我说你已经辞职了，这不是真的，对吗？”
“恐怕是这样。”露平说，他打开抽屉拿出了里面的东西。
“为什么？”哈利问，“魔法部并不认为是你在帮助西里斯，不是吗？”
露平走到门边，在哈利的身后关上了它。
“不是的，丹伯多教授试着说服法治我是想救你们的。”他叹了口气说，“这是史纳皮的最后一招了。我想失去莫妮对他的打击很大。所以，他——一不小心在今天早饭的时候把我是人狼的事说了出来。”
“你并不会因为这而离开的！”哈利说。
露乎无奈地笑了笑。
“明天这个时候，猫头鹰会从家长那里到来。他们不会愿意让一只人狼来教他们的孩子的，哈利，而且经过昨天晚上，我也意识到了：我可能会咬到你们当中的任何一个人……这永远也不会再发生了。”
“你是最好的黑巫术防御老师。”哈利说，“请不要走！”
露平摆了摆手但是没有说话。他拿着那个空抽屉。然后，正当哈利试着想出一个更好的理由使他留下的时候，露平说：“今天早上校长告诉我，昨天晚上你救了很多人的命。哈利，假如我为什么事情而骄傲的话，那就是你所学到的东西。告诉我关于你的吧卓泥斯。”
“你怎么会知道这些的？”哈利问，被搞糊涂了。
“还有谁能赶走得蒙特呢？”
哈利告诉了露平所发生的一切。当他讲完时，露平又笑了起来。
“是的，你父亲每次变形时总会变成一只牡鹿，”他说，“你猜得很对……这是我们为什么叫他‘布朗’。”
露平将他的最后几本书扔入箱子里，关上了桌子上的抽屉，然后转身看着哈利。
“在这儿——我昨晚把它从什拉市。刹克带回来的，”他说，将隐形斗篷递给哈利，“还有…”他迟疑着，然后拿出掠夺者地图。
“我不再是你的老师了，所以我并不在乎把这本书送给你，它对我来说已经没用了，我敢说，你和罗恩，还有荷米恩会发现它的用途的。”
哈利微笑着接过地图。
“你告诉我莫妮，温特尔，彼弗，还有拜朗永远不会愿意引诱我离开学校……
你说他们会认为这很滑稽。“
“因此我们会这样做，”露平说，一边伸出手去关上了箱子，“我可以毫不犹豫地说杰姆斯会非常失望的，如果他的儿子从没有找到过任何可以离开城堡的秘密通道。”
这时，传来了一声敲门声。哈利急忙将掠夺者地图和隐形斗篷塞进他的口袋里。
是丹伯多教授。他看见哈利在这里并不吃惊。
“你的马车就在门口，露平。”他说。
“谢谢你，校长。”
露平提起了他的旧皮箱和空荡荡的格林洛斯箱子。
“好吧——再见，哈利。”他笑着说，“做你的老师真的很令我愉快，我相信我们什么时候还会再见面的。校长，不用到门口去送我了，我应付得来……”
哈利感觉到露平好像是想尽快离开这里。
“再见，那么，露平。”丹伯多严肃地说。露平将格林洛斯箱子轻轻地移开了一些，以便和丹怕多握手。然后，最后冲哈利点了下头，轻快笑了一下，露平离开了办公室。
哈利坐在了一张空椅子上，沮丧地看着地板。他听到门关上的声音，抬起了头。
丹伯多仍然呆在那儿。
“为什么这么悲伤呢？哈利。”他轻声问，“经过昨晚的事，你应该为自己骄傲才对。”
“这并没有什么不同的，”哈利痛苦地说，“彼德吉雷逃走了。”
“没有什么不同的？”丹伯多轻声问，“实在是最大的不同啊！
哈利。你帮助查出了真相，你帮助一个无辜的人逃脱了可怖的命运。“”可怖的，“哈利记忆中的什么事被搅起了”比以前更大，而且更恐怖……“
特雷络尼教授的预言。
“丹伯多教授——昨天，当我正在进行占卜术考试时，特雷络尼教授变得非常，非常的奇怪。”“真的吗？”丹伯多问，“比往常奇怪，你是指？”
“是的，她的声音变得非常低沉，她的眼睛圆瞪着，而且她说……她说福尔得摩特的手下正打算在午夜之前回到他身边……她说那些手下会帮助他东山再起。”
哈利盯着丹伯多，“然后，她又变得正常了，但是她记不起她说了些什么。是不是——是不是她预言了什么？”
丹伯多看起来并不很在意。
“知道吗？哈利，我想她也许预言了什么，”他沉思着说，“谁愿意去想这些呢？这使她预言的全部归于两种结果，我想我应当给她增加薪水。”
“但是——”哈利看着他，张大了嘴，丹伯多怎么可以这么平静地对待这件事呢？
“但是——我阻止西里斯和露平教授杀死彼德吉雷！这是我的错，如果福尔得摩特卷土重来！”
“不会的，”丹伯多平静地说，“难道你使用时间转换器的经验还没让你知道一些东西吗？哈利。我们做事的因与果是相当复杂的，多变的，所以预测未来实在是一件相当复杂的事……特雷络尼教授，这是一个活生生的证据，你做了一件高贵的事，救了彼德吉雷的命。”
“但是如果他帮助福尔得摩特重新纠集力量——”
“彼德吉雷欠你一条命。你将一个欠你债的人当作代表派到了福尔得摩特那里。
当一个魔法师救了另一个魔法师的性命的时候，他们之间便产生了某种联系……同时我会非常疑惑如果福尔得摩特还让他的手下找哈利·波特复仇。“
“我不想与彼德吉雷有任何关系！”哈利说，“他出卖了我的父母。”
“这是最深层的法力，最无法看透的，哈利，但是请相信我……迟早你会为你救了彼德吉雷一命而高兴的。”
哈利无法想象这种情况什么时候才会到来，丹伯多看起来好像是看透了哈利的心思似的。
“我非常了解你爸爸，不论是在霍格瓦彻的时候还是后来，”丹伯多说，他说，“他也会救彼德吉雷的，我相信这一点。”
哈利抬头望着他，丹伯多没有笑——是应该告诉他了。
“昨天晚上，我以为那是我爸爸变出了吧卓尼斯。我是指当我看见我自己穿过湖面的时候……我以为我看见的是他。”
“这种错误很容易犯的，”丹伯多柔声说，“我想你可能不想再听别人这样讲，但是你真的很像你爸爸……除了你的眼睛……那看起来像你妈妈的。”
哈利摇了摇头。
“太愚蠢了，认为那是他，”他咕哝着，“我是说我明明知道他已经死了。”
“你认为我们所深爱着的去世的人会真的离开我们吗？你不认为在你遇到麻烦时，你会更强烈地想起他们吗？但爸爸活在你的心里，哈利，而且他会在你最需要他的时候现身。否则的话，你怎么能变出吧卓泥斯呢？昨天晚上，帕特纳斯又跑来了。”
哈利花了一段时间才搞清楚丹伯多在说什么。
“西里斯告诉了我昨天有关他们变成动物的所有的事，”丹伯多说，笑了笑。
“非常了不起的成果——只是，没有让我知道。然后我记起了你的吧卓泥斯出现的不寻常的样子，但它在快迪斯比赛中击倒了卫文卡罗队的马尔夫先生。因此你昨天晚上的确是看到了你爸爸。哈利，你发现他仍活在你的心目中。”
于是丹伯多离开了办公室，留下哈利一片雾水。
除了罗恩、哈利、荷米恩，还有丹伯多教授以外，霍格瓦彻没有人知道西里斯和毕克碧失踪的那天晚上究竟发生了些什么。当学期末到来的时候，哈利已经听到过了很多关于究竟发生了些什么的传说，但是没有一个与事实相接近。
马尔夫对毕克碧的事很恼火，他确信是哈格力发现了一个偷运走毕克碧的方法，而且看起来很气愤他和他的父亲被一个禽猎看守人以狡计骗过。与此同时，伯希。
威斯里则关于西里斯逃跑的事情有诸多说辞。
“如果我想办法进入部里，我就会有很多提议去促使魔法法典生效！”他对唯—一个肯听他讲话的人说——他的女朋友，潘妮璐。
尽管天气相当的好，尽管周围的气氛是那么愉快，尽管他知道他们已经取得了几乎是不可能的胜利，在帮助西里斯恢复自由的事上，哈利从来没有这么颓丧地过到学期的末尾。
他当然不是唯一的一个为露平教授的离去而难过的人。整个哈利班上的人都拥护他充满希望的建议。
不仅仅是露平教授的辞职使哈利郁郁寡欢，他还总时不时想起特雷络尼教授的预言。他总是在想现在彼德吉雷究竟身在何处。他是否已经找到了福尔得摩特所在的圣地。但是最令哈利难受的事还是回到杜斯利家的事。在大约半个小时的时间内，让别人欣喜的半个小时内，他认为从那以后就会同西里斯住在一起了……他父母最好的朋友……那是除了能和爸爸在一起之外最好的事情了。然而没有西里斯的消息又意味着最好的消息，因为这意味着他成功逃避了追踪。哈利总是不由地难过当他想起那个他可能会拥有的家，从现在看来，那已经是不可能的了……
考试结果在学期末的最后一天出来了。罗恩、哈利和荷米恩每门功课都过了关。
哈利很惊讶他通过了“药水”这门功课。他猜想肯定是丹伯多插足使得史纳皮无法有意的使他过不了。史纲皮过去几周对哈利的态度糟的令人惊讶。哈利从不认为史纳皮对他的厌恶还会有所增加，但事情正是这样。每一次当史纳皮看见哈利时，他那瘦削的嘴角总有一块肌肉不自然地扭曲着，他不时的弯曲他的手指，好像是渴望用它们掐住哈利的喉咙。
伯希在N.E.WT.S考试中取得了最高分，弗来德和乔治每一个人都擦掉了整整一把O.W.L.S，与此同时，格林芬顿学院——绝大多数归功于他们在快迪斯杯中引人入胜的表演——第三年赢得了冠军杯。这也意味着学期末的宴会将会在一片猩红与金色中举行，而且格林芬顿餐桌将会是在众人的庆祝声中最嘈杂的一个，当哈利与别人一起吃喝、谈笑的时候，他尽力使自己忘记第二天要回到杜斯利家的事。
当第二天，霍格瓦彻特快开出火车站的时候，荷米恩给罗恩和哈利带来了令他们吃惊的消息。
“我今天早上去见麦康娜教授了，就在早饭之前，我决定退出马格人的学习了。”
“但是你以320分通过了考试啊！”罗恩说。
“我知道。”荷米恩叹了口气说，“但是我无法忍受下一年也像这样度过。时间转换器简直要令我发疯了，我已经把它交上去了。
没有马格人和分身术课程，我又可以有一个正常的时间表了。“”我无法相信你竟然没有告诉我们这些，“罗恩气急败坏地说，”我还以为我们是你的朋友呢！“
“我保证我没有告诉过其它人。”荷米恩严肃地说，她看了看哈利，他正在注视着霍格瓦彻从一座山后面消失。在两个月之前他已经看过……
“哦，高兴起来吧，哈利！”荷米恩同情地说。
“我很好，”哈利急忙回答，“只是在想假期怎么过。”
“是啊！我也一直在想这些呢，”罗恩说，“哈利你可以来我们家一起住。我会搞定爸爸妈妈的，然后我就给你打电话，现在我已经知道怎么使用了——”
“电话，罗恩，”荷术思说，“说实话，下一年你应该选马格人……”
罗恩并没有理会她。
“这个夏天将会有快迪斯世界杯赛！怎么样？哈利，来我家住吧！我们一起去看，父亲一般都可以搞到票。”
这个建议使哈利极大地振奋了起来。
“是呀……我猜杜斯利一家肯定会高兴我去的，尤其是自从我为玛各姨妈所做的……”
感觉到相当的兴奋，哈利和罗恩和荷米恩一起加入了几个游戏。然后当女巫推着装着茶点的手推车走过来的时候，他吃了饱饱的一餐，尽管那里面没有巧克力。
但是直到那天下午，才发生了一件真的令哈利高兴的事……
“哈利，”荷米恩突然说，眼睛透过他的肩膀上方，“是什么东西在你的窗户外面？”
哈利转头看向外面，一个很小的，灰色的身影在窗外上下飞动着，一会儿出现，一会儿又消失，他站起来想看清楚，那是一个很小的猫头鹰，带着一封对它来说太大的信。这个猫头鹰实在太小了，事实上，它在空中飘动着，在火车形成的气流中时左时右地抖动着。哈利急忙拉开窗户，伸出手臂抓住它，它摸起来毛茸茸的。
他小心翼翼地把它拿进来。猫头鹰将信扔到哈利的坐位上，然后在他们的包厢里飞上飞下，显然是为自己完成了任务而高兴。克路殊克端坐在座位上，用它那双大大的黄眼盯着猫头鹰。罗恩注意到这些，急忙抓住猫头鹰，使它远离危险。
哈利捡起了信，是写给他的，他拆开信，大声说道：“是西里斯。”
“什么？”罗恩和荷米恩兴奋的说，“念出来。”
亲爱的哈利：我希望这只猎头鹰能在你见到你姨丈和姨妈之前找到你。我不知道他们是否可以适应猫头鹰邮件。
毕克碧和我藏得很好。我不会告诉你我们在哪儿以防这封信落到别人手里。我有点怀疑这只猫头鹰的可信赖性。但是，它是我能够找到的最好的，而且它对这份工作很热心。
我相信得蒙特仍然在搜寻我，但是他们根本没希望找到我。我正打算让一些马格人不久以后见见我，在距离霍格瓦彻很远的地方，以便城堡的安全得以保证。
这里还有一件事我一直无法在我们短促的相见中告诉你。是我给你的霹雳——“哈！”荷米恩得意地说。“我就知道，我告诉过你，它是来自他那儿的！”
“是的，但是他做得不错，不是吗？”罗恩说，“哎哟。”
那只小猫头鹰，高兴地在他的手中来叫着，啄着他的手指，好像对它来说那是一种亲近他的方法。
克路殊克替我把定单带到办公室去的，我用了你的名字，但是告诉他们到格林高斯银行圆屋顶的第七百一十一个横条处去取金子——我自己的。把它当作你的教父送给你的十三岁的生日礼物。
我也为去年的一天晚上，当你离开你姨丈的房子时，我吓了你一跳而道歉，我只想在起程去北方之前再看你一眼，但是我想我的样子吓到了你。
我同时给你附了别的东西，我想它会使你在霍格瓦彻度过的下一年变得有意思一些。
如果你需要我，传个信儿给我，那只猫头鹰知道我在哪儿。
我会再写信给你的——西里斯哈利急切的看信封里面，这里还有另外一张手稿。
他很快地读了一下，突然觉得温暖舒畅的犹同刚一口气喝完了一杯布特比水似的。
“我，西里斯。巴拉克，哈利·波特的教父，在此允许他周末去拜访霍格马得。”
“这对丹伯多来说实在是太好了！”哈利高兴的说。他又重新看了一遍西里斯的信。
“待一下，这里还有续言……”
“我想你的朋友罗恩会喜欢养这只猫头鹰，是我的过错才使得他失去了他的老鼠。”
罗恩的眼睛湿了。这时那些猫头鹰还在他手上兴奋地袅叫着。
“养着他？”他不确定地说。他离近的看了一会儿猫头鹰，然后，他将它拿到克路殊克的鼻息前。
“你在算计些什么？”罗恩问那只猫，“它的确是一只猫头鹰。”
克路殊党“喵，喵”地叫着。
“对我来说真是太棒了。”罗恩高兴地说，“它是我的了。”
在去国王大道车站的路上，哈利一遍又一遍的读着西里斯的来信。当他和罗恩还有荷米恩走过站台上九又四分之三的栏杆时，他仍还紧紧的摸着那封信。这时，他突然看见了维能姨丈。他站在离威斯里夫人和先生远远的地方，疑惑地看着他们。
当威斯里夫人紧紧抱着他问候的时候，他确信他的疑虑。
“我会就关于世界杯的事打电话给你的！”罗恩在哈利身后大声喊着。哈利向他和荷米恩告别后，推着装着他的行李和海维的笼子的小推车向维能姨丈走去。他和往常一样问候了他。
“这是什么？”他咆哮着，紧盯着哈利拿在手里的信封。“如果这是另一张要让我签名的表格，你就会被——”
“这不是，”哈利兴高采烈的说。“这是一封来自我的教父的信。”
“教父？”维能姨丈急促地说，“你哪里有什么教父？”
“不，我有，”哈利高兴的说，“他是我妈妈和爸爸最好的朋友。
他被控谋杀，但是他从魔法师监狱中逃了出来，而且现在仍然逃离在外。但是，他会和我保持联系的……了解有关我的消息……看看我是否过得开心……“十分开心地看着维能姨丈脸上那恐惧的神情，哈利向出站口走去，海维在他前面”嘎，嘎“地叫着，这看起来是一个再好不过的夏天了.
收听单词发音 |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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tugging
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| n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 ) | |
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wrenching
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| n.修截苗根，苗木铲根（铲根时苗木不起土或部分起土）v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的现在分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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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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smirk
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| n.得意地笑；v.傻笑；假笑着说 | |
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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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bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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beak
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| n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻 | |
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bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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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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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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tentacles
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| n.触手( tentacle的名词复数 )；触角；触须；触毛 | |
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galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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scrambled
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| 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 | |
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battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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wryly
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| adv. 挖苦地，嘲弄地 | |
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owls
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| n.猫头鹰( owl的名词复数 ) | |
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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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shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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shack
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| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
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lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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glumly
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| adv.忧郁地，闷闷不乐地；阴郁地 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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divination
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| n.占卜，预测 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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conjured
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| 用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
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extraordinarily
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| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
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smuggling
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| n.走私 | |
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outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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sanctuary
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| n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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flexing
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| n.挠曲，可挠性v.屈曲( flex的现在分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌 | |
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itching
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| adj.贪得的，痒的，渴望的v.发痒( itch的现在分词 ) | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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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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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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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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54
buffeted
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| 反复敲打( buffet的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续猛击； 打来打去； 推来搡去 | |
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fluffy
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| adj.有绒毛的，空洞的 | |
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zooming
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| 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 | |
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compartment
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| n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间 | |
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58
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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59
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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60
disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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61
reliability
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| n.可靠性，确实性 | |
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62
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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63
hooting
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| （使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的现在分词 )； 倒好儿； 倒彩 | |
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64
nibbled
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| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的过去式和过去分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
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vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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66
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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67
gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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68
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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69
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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70
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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71
trolley
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| n.手推车，台车；无轨电车；有轨电车 | |
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72
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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73
sputtered
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| v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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74
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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