Despite the very heavy load of homework that the fourth years had been given for the holidays. Harry1 was in no mood to work when term ended, and spent the week leading up to Christmas enjoying himself as fully2 as possible along with everyone else. Gryffindor Tower was hardly less crowded now than during term-time; it seemed to have shrunk slightly too, as its inhabitants were being so much rowdier than usual. Fred and George had had a great success with their Canary Creams, and for the first couple of days of the holidays, people kept bursting into feather all over the place. Before long, however, all the Gryffindors had learned to treat food anybody else offered them with extreme caution, in case it had a Canary Cream concealed3 in the center, and George confided4 to Harry that he and Fred were now working on developing something else. Harry made a mental note never to accept so much as a crisp from Fred and George in future. He still hadn't forgotten Dudley and the Ton-Tongue Toffee.
Snow was falling thickly upon the castle and its grounds now. The pale blue Beauxbatons carriage looked like a large, chilly5, frosted pumpkin6 next to the iced gingerbread house that was Hagrid's cabin, while the Durmstrang ship's portholes were glazed7 with ice, the rigging white with frost. The house-elves down in the kitchen were outdoing themselves with a series of rich, warming stews9 and savory10 puddings, and only Fleur Delacour seemed to be able to find anything to complain about.
“It is too ‘eavy, all zis ‘Ogwarts food,” they heard her saying grumpily as they left the Great Hall behind her one evening (Ron skulking11 behind Harry, keen not to be spotted12 by Fleur). “I will not fit into my dress robes!”
“Oooh there's a tragedy,” Hermione snapped as Fleur went out into the entrance hall. “She really thinks a lot of herself, that one, doesn't she?”
“Hermione - who are you going to the ball with?” said Ron.
He kept springing this question on her, hoping to startle her into a response by asking it when she least expected it. However, Hermione merely frowned and said, “I'm not telling you, you'll just make fun of me.”
“You're joking, Weasley!” said Malfoy, behind them. “You're not telling me someone's asked that to the ball? Not the long-molared Mudblood?”
Harry and Ron both whipped around, but Hermione said loudly, waving to somebody over Malfoy's shoulder, “Hello, Professor Moody13!”
Malfoy went pale and jumped backward, looking wildly around for Moody, but he was still up at the staff table, finishing his stew8.
“Twitchy little ferret, aren't you, Malfoy?” said Hermione scathingly, and she, Harry, and Ron went up the marble staircase laughing heartily14.
“Hermione,” said Ron, looking sideways at her, suddenly frowning, “your teeth…”
“What about them?” she said.
“Well, they're different…I've just noticed.…”
“Of course they are - did you expect me to keep those fangs15 Malfoy gave me?”
“No, I mean, they're different to how they were before he put that hex on you.…They're all…straight and - and normal-sized.”
Hermione suddenly smiled very mischievously16, and Harry noticed it too: It was a very different smile from the one he remembered.
“Well…when I went up to Madam Pomfrey to get them shrunk, she held up a mirror and told me to stop her when they were back to how they normally were,” she said. “And I just…let her carry on a bit.” She smiled even more widely. “Mum and Dad won't be too pleased. I've been trying to persuade them to let me shrink them for ages, but they wanted me to carry on with my braces17. You know, they're dentists, they just don't think teeth and magic should - look! Pigwidgeon's back!”
Ron's tiny owl18 was twittering madly on the top of the icicle-laden banisters, a scroll19 of parchment tied to his leg. People passing him were pointing and laughing, and a group of third-year girls paused and said, “Oh look at the weeny owl! Isn't he cute?”
Stupid little feathery git!” Ron hissed20, hurrying up the stairs and snatching up Pigwidgeon. “You bring letters to the addressee! You don't hang around showing off!”
Pigwidgeon hooted21 happily, his head protruding22 over Ron's fist. The third-year girls all looked very shocked.
“Clear off!” Ron snapped at them, waving the fist holding Pigwidgeon, who hooted more happily than ever as he soared through the air. “Here - take it, Harry,” Ron added in an undertone as the third-year girls scuttled23 away looking scandalized. He pulled Sirius's reply off Pigwidgeons leg. Harry pocketed it, and they hurried back to Gryffindor Tower to read it.
Everyone in the common room was much too busy in letting off more holiday steam to observe what anyone else was up to. Ron, Harry, and Hermione sat apart from everyone else by a dark window that was gradually filling up with snow, and Harry read out:
Dear Harry,
Congratulations on getting past the Horntail. Whoever put your name in that goblet24 shouldn't be feeling too happy right now! I was going to suggest a Conjunctivitus Curse, as a dragon's eyes are its weakest point - “That's what Krum did!” Hermione whispered - but your way was better, I'm impressed.
Don't get complacent25, though. Harry. You've only done one task; whoever put you in for the tournament's got plenty more opportunity if they're trying to hurt you. Keep your eyes open -particularly when the person we discussed is around and concentrate on keeping yourself out of trouble.
Keep in touch, I still want to hear about anything unusual.
Sirius
“He sounds exactly like Moody,” said Harry quietly, tucking the letter away again inside his robes. “'Constant vigilance!’ You'd think I walk around with my eyes shut, banging off the walls.…”
“But he's right, Harry,” said Hermione, “you have still got two tasks to do. You really ought to have a look at that egg, you know, and start working out what it means.…”
“Hermione, he's got ages!” snapped Ron. “Want a game of chess, Harry?”
“Yeah, okay,” said Harry. Then, spotting the look on Hermione's face, he said, “Come on, how'm I supposed to concentrate with all this noise going on? I won't even be able to hear the egg over this lot.”
“Oh I suppose not,” she sighed, and she sat down to watch their chess match, which culminated26 in an exciting checkmate of Ron's, involving a couple of recklessly brave pawns27 and a very violent bishop28.
* * * * * *
Harry awoke very suddenly on Christmas Day. Wondering what had caused his abrupt29 return to consciousness, he opened his eyes, and saw something with very large, round, green eyes staring back at him in the darkness, so close they were almost nose to nose.
“Dobby!” Harry yelled, scrambling30 away from the elf so fast he almost fell out of bed. “Don't do that!”
“Dobby is sorry, sir!” squeaked31 Dobby anxiously, jumping backward with his long fingers over his mouth. “Dobby is only wanting to wish Harry Potter ‘Merry Christmas’ and bring him a present, Sir! Harry Potter did say Dobby could come and see him sometimes, sir!”
It's okay,” said Harry, still breathing rather faster than usual, while his heart rate returned to normal. “Just - just prod32 me or something in future, all right, don't bend over me like that.…”
Harry pulled back the curtains around his four-poster, took his glasses from his bedside table, and put them on. His yell had awoken Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville. All of them were peering through the gaps in their own hangings, heavy-eyed and tousle-haired.
“Someone attacking you, Harry?” Seamus asked sleepily.
“No, it's just Dobby,” Harry muttered. “Go back to sleep.”
“Nah…presents!” said Seamus, spotting the large pile at the foot of his bed. Ron, Dean, and Neville decided34 that now they were awake they might as well get down to some present-opening too. Harry turned back to Dobby, who was now standing35 nervously36 next to Harry's bed, still looking worried that he had upset Harry. There was a Christmas bauble37 tied to the loop on top of his tea cozy38.
“Can Dobby give Harry Potter his present?” he squeaked tentatively.
“'Course you can,” said Harry. “Er…I've got something for you too.”
It was a lie; he hadn't bought anything for Dobby at all, but he quickly opened his trunk and pulled out a particularly knobbly rolled-up pair of socks. They were his oldest and foulest39, mustard yellow, and had once belonged to Uncle Vernon. The reason they were extra-knobbly was that Harry had been using them to cushion his Sneakoscope for over a year now. He pulled out the Sneako-scope and handed the socks to Dobby, saying, “Sorry, I forgot to wrap them…”
But Dobby was utterly41 delighted.
“Socks are Dobby's favorite, favorite clothes, sir!” he said, ripping off his odd ones and pulling on Uncle Vernon's. “I has seven now, sir.…But sir…” he said, his eyes widening, having pulled both socks up to their highest extent, so that they reached to the bottom of his shorts, “they has made a mistake in the shop, Harry Potter, they is giving you two the same!”
“Ah, no, Harry, how come you didn't spot that?” said Ron, grinning over from his own bed, which was now strewn with wrapping paper. “Tell you what, Dobby - here you go - take these two, and you can mix them up properly. And here's your sweater.”
He threw Dobby a pair of violet socks he had just unwrapped, and the hand-knitted sweater Mrs. Weasley had sent, Dobby looked quite overwhelmed.
“Sir is very kind!” he squeaked, his eyes brimming with tears again, bowing deeply to Ron. “Dobby knew sir must be a great wizard, for he is Harry Potter's greatest friend, but Dobby did not know that he was also as generous of spirit, as noble, as selfless -”
“They're only socks,” said Ron, who had gone slightly pink around the ears, though he looked rather pleased all the same. “Wow, Harry -” He had just opened Harry's present, a Chudley Cannon42 hat. “Cool!” He jammed it onto his head, where it clashed horribly with his hair.
Dobby now handed Harry a small package, which turned out to be - socks.
“Dobby is making them himself, sir!” the elf said happily. “He is buying the wool out of his wages, sir!”
The left sock was bright red and had a pattern of broomsticks upon it; the right sock was green with a pattern of Snitches.
“They're…they're really…well, thanks, Dobby,” said Harry, and he pulled them on, causing Dobby's eyes to leak with happiness again.
“Dobby must go now, sir, we is already making Christmas dinner in the kitchens!” said Dobby, and he hurried out of the dormitory, waving good-bye to Ron and the others as he passed.
Harry's other presents were much more satisfactory than Dobby's odd socks - with the obvious exception of the Dursleys', which consisted of a single tissue, an all-time low - Harry supposed they too were remember ing the Ton-Tongue Toffee. Hermione had given Harry a book called Quidditch Teams of Britain and Ireland; Ron, a bulging43 bag of Dungbombs; Sirius, a handy penknife with attachments44 to unlock any lock and undo45 any knot; and Hagrid, a vast box of sweets including all Harry's favorites: Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, and Fizzing Whizbees. There was also, of course, Mrs. Weasley's usual package, including a new sweater (green, with a picture of a dragon on it - Harry supposed Charlie had told her all about the Horntail), and a large quantity of homemade mince46 pies.
Harry and Ron met up with Hermione in the common room, and they went down to breakfast together. They spent most of the morning in Gryffindor Tower, where everyone was enjoying their presents, then returned to the Great Hall for a magnificent lunch, which included at least a hundred turkeys and Christmas puddings, and large piles of Cribbage's Wizarding Crackers47.
They went out onto the grounds in the afternoon; the snow was untouched except for the deep channels made by the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students on their way up to the castle. Hermione chose to watch Harry and the Weasleys’ snowball fight rather than join in, and at five o'clock said she was going back upstairs to get ready for the ball.
“What, you need three hours?” said Ron, looking at her incredulously and paying for his lapse48 in concentration when a large snowball, thrown by George, hit him hard on the side of the head. “Who're you going with?” he yelled after Hermione, but she just waved and disappeared up the stone steps into the castle.
There was no Christmas tea today, as the ball included a feast, so at seven o'clock, when it had become hard to aim properly, the others abandoned their snowball fight and trooped back to the common room. The Fat Lady was sitting in her frame with her friend Violet from downstairs, both of them extremely tipsy, empty boxes of chocolate liqueurs littering the bottom other picture.
“Lairy fights, that's the one!” she giggled49 when they gave the password, and she swung forward to let them inside.
Harry, Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville changed into their dress robes up in their dormitory, all of them looking very self-conscious, but none as much as Ron, who surveyed himself in the long mirror in the corner with an appalled50 look on his face. There was just no getting around the fact that his robes looked more like a dress than anything else. In a desperate attempt to make them look more manly51, he used a Severing52 Charm on the ruff and cuffs53. It worked fairly well; at least he was now lace-free, although he hadn't done a very neat job, and the edges still looked depressingly frayed54 as the boys set off downstairs.
“I still can't work out how you two got the best-looking girls in the year,” muttered Dean.
“Animal magnetism,” said Ron gloomily, pulling stray threads out of his cuffs.
The common room looked strange, full of people wearing different colors instead of the usual mass of black. Parvati was waiting for Harry at the foot of the stairs. She looked very pretty indeed, in robes of shocking pink, with her long dark plait braided with gold, and gold bracelets55 glimmering56 at her wrists. Harry was relieved to see that she wasn't giggling57.
“You - er - look nice,” he said awkwardly.
“Thanks,” she said. “Padma's going to meet you in the entrance hall,” she added to Ron.
“Right,” said Ron, looking around. “Where's Hermione?”
Parvati shrugged58. “Shall we go down then, Harry?”
“Okay,” said Harry, wishing he could just stay in the common room. Fred winked59 at Harry as he passed him on the way out of the portrait hole.
The entrance hall was packed with students too, all milling around waiting for eight o'clock, when the doors to the Great Hall would be thrown open. Those people who were meeting partners from different Houses were edging through the crowd trying to find one another. Parvati found her sister, Padma, and led her over to Harry and Ron.
“Hi,” said Padma, who was looking just as pretty as Parvati in robes of bright turquoise61. She didn't look too enthusiastic about having Ron as a partner, though; her dark eyes lingered on the frayed neck and sleeves of his dress robes as she looked him up and down.
“Hi,” said Ron, not looking at her, but staring around at the crowd. “Oh no…”
He bent62 his knees slightly to hide behind Harry, because Fleur Delacour was passing, looking stunning63 in robes of silver-gray satin, and accompanied by the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain, Roger Davies. When they had disappeared, Ron stood straight again and stared over the heads of the crowd.
“Where is Hermione?” he said again.
A group of Slytherins came up the steps from their dungeon64 common room. Malfoy was in front; he was wearing dress robes of black velvet65 with a high collar, which in Harry's opinion made him look like a vicar. Pansy Parkinson in very frilly robes of pale pink was clutching Malfoy's arm. Crabbe and Goyle were both wearing green; they resembled moss-colored boulders66, and neither of them, Harry was pleased to see, had managed to find a partner.
The oak front doors opened, and everyone turned to look as the Durmstrang students entered with Professor Karkaroff. Krum was at the front of the party, accompanied by a pretty girl in blue robes Harry didn't know. Over their heads he saw that an area of lawn right in front of the castle had been transformed into a sort of grotto67 full of fairy lights - meaning hundreds of actual living fairies were sitting in the rosebushes that had been conjured68 there, and fluttering over the statues of what seemed to be Father Christmas and his reindeer69.
Then Professor McGonagall's voice called, “Champions over here, please!”
Parvati readjusted her bangles, beaming; she and Harry said, “See you in a minute” to Ron and Padma and walked forward, the chattering70 crowd parting to let them through. Professor McGonagall, who was wearing dress robes of red tartan and had arranged a rather ugly wreath of thistles around the brim other hat, told them to wait on one side of the doors while everyone else went inside; they were to enter the Great Hall in procession when the rest of the students had sat down. Fleur Delacour and Roger Davies stationed themselves nearest the doors; Davies looked so stunned71 by his good fortune in having Fleur for a partner that he could hardly take his eyes off her. Cedric and Cho were close to Harry too; he looked away from them so he wouldn't have to talk to them. His eyes fell instead on the girl next to Krum. His jaw73 dropped.
It was Hermione.
But she didn't look like Hermione at all. She had done something with her hair; it was no longer bushy but sleek74 and shiny, and twisted up into an elegant knot at the back of her head. She was wearing robes made of a floaty, periwinkle-blue material, and she was holding herself differently, somehow - or maybe it was merely the absence of the twenty or so books she usually had slung75 over her back. She was also smiling - rather nervously, it was true - but the reduction in the size of her front teeth was more noticeable than ever; Harry couldn't understand how he hadn't spotted it before.
“Hi, Harry!” she said. “Hi, Parvati!”
Parvati was gazing at Hermione in unflattering disbelief. She wasn't the only one either; when the doors to the Great Hall opened, Krum's fan club from the library stalked past, throwing Hermione looks of deepest loathing76. Pansy Parkinson gaped77 at her as she walked by with Malfoy, and even he didn't seem to be able to find an insult to throw at her. Ron, however, walked right past Hermione without looking at her.
Once everyone else was settled in the Hall, Professor McGonagall told the champions and their partners to get in line in pairs and to follow her. They did so, and everyone in the Great Hall applauded as they entered and started walking up toward a large round table at the top of the Hall, where the judges were sitting.
The walls of the Hall had all been covered in sparkling silver frost, with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy78 crossing the starry79 black ceiling. The House tables had vanished; instead, there were about a hundred smaller, lantern-lit ones, each seating about a dozen people.
Harry concentrated on not tripping over his feet. Parvati seemed to be enjoying herself; she was beaming around at everybody, steering80 Harry so forcefully that he felt as though he were a show dog she was putting through its paces. He caught sight of Ron and Padma as he neared the top table. Ron was watching Hermione pass with narrowed eyes. Padma was looking sulky.
Dumbledore smiled happily as the champions approached the top table, but Karkaroff wore an expression remarkably81 like Ron's as he watched Krum and Hermione draw nearer. Ludo Bagman, tonight in robes of bright purple with large yellow stars, was clapping as enthusiastically as any of the students; and Madame Maxime, who had changed her usual uniform of black satin for a flowing gown of lavender silk, was applauding them politely. But Mr. Crouch82, Harry suddenly realized, was not there. The fifth seat at the table was occupied by Percy Weasley.
When the champions and their partners reached the table, Percy drew out the empty chair beside him, staring pointedly83 at Harry. Harry took the hint and sat down next to Percy, who was wearing brand-new, navy-blue dress robes and an expression of such smugness that Harry thought it ought to be fined.
“I've been promoted,” Percy said before Harry could even ask, and from his tone, he might have been announcing his election as supreme85 ruler of the universe. “I'm now Mr. Crouch's personal assistant, and I'm here representing him.”
“Why didn't he come?” Harry asked. He wasn't looking forward to being lectured on cauldron bottoms all through dinner.
“I'm afraid to say Mr. Crouch isn't well, not well at all. Hasn't been right since the World Cup. Hardly surprising - overwork. He's not as young as he was - though still quite brilliant, of course, the mind remains86 as great as it ever was. But the World Cup was a fiasco for the whole Ministry87, and then, Mr. Crouch suffered a huge personal shock with the misbehavior of that house-elf of his, Blinky, or whatever she was called. Naturally, he dismissed her immediately afterward88, but - well, as I say, he's getting on, he needs looking after, and I think he's found a definite drop in his home comforts since she left. And then we had the tournament to arrange, and the aftermath of the Cup to deal with - that revolting Skeeter woman buzzing around - no, poor man, he's having a well earned, quiet Christmas. I'm just glad he knew he had someone he could rely upon to take his place.”
Harry wanted very much to ask whether Mr. Crouch had stopped calling Percy “Weatherby” yet, but resisted the temptation.
There was no food as yet on the glittering golden plates, but small menus were lying in front of each of them. Harry picked his up uncertainly and looked around - there were no waiters. Dumbledore, however, looked carefully down at his own menu, then said very clearly to his plate, “Pork chops!”
And pork chops appeared. Getting the idea, the rest of the table placed their orders with their plates too. Harry glanced up at Hermione to see how she felt about this new and more complicated method of dining - surely it meant plenty of extra work for the house-elves? - but for once, Hermione didn't seem to be thinking about S.P.E.W. She was deep in talk with Viktor Krum and hardly seemed to notice what she was eating.
It now occurred to Harry that he had never actually heard Krum speak before, but he was certainly talking now, and very enthusiastically at that.
“Veil, ve have a castle also, not as big as this, nor as comfortable, I am thinking,” he was telling Hermione. “Ve have just four floors, and the fires are lit only for magical purposes. But ve have grounds larger even than these - though in vinter, ve have very little daylight, so ve are not enjoying them. But in summer ve are flying every day, over the lakes and the mountains -”
“Now, now, Viktor!” said Karkaroff with a laugh that didn't reach his cold eyes, “don't go giving away anything else, now, or your charming friend will know exactly where to find us!”
Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling. “Igor, all this secrecy89, one would almost think you didn't want visitors.”
“Well, Dumbledore,” said Karkaroff, displaying his yellowing teeth to their fullest extent, “we are all protective of our private domains90, are we not? Do we not jealously guard the halls of learning that have been entrusted91 to us? Are we not right to be proud that we alone know our school's secrets, and right to protect them?”
“Oh I would never dream of assuming I know all Hogwarts’ secrets, Igor,” said Dumbledore amicably92. “Only this morning, for instance, I took a wrong turning on the way to the bathroom and found myself in a beautifully proportioned room I have never seen before, containing a really rather magnificent collection of chamber93 pots. When I went back to investigate more closely, I discovered that the room had vanished. But I must keep an eye out for it. Possibly it is only accessible at five-thirty in the morning. Or it may only appear at the quarter moon - or when the seeker has an exceptionally full bladder.”
Harry snorted into his plate of goulash. Percy frowned, but Harry could have sworn Dumbledore had given him a very small wink60.
Meanwhile Fleur Delacour was criticizing the Hogwarts decorations to Roger Davies.
“Zis is nothing,” she said dismissively, looking around at the sparkling walls of the Great Hall. “At ze Palace of Beauxbatons, we ‘ave ice sculptures all around ze dining chamber at Chreestmas. Zey do not melt, of course…zey are like ‘uge statues of diamond, glittering around ze place. And ze food is seemply superb. And we ‘ave choirs94 of wood nymphs, ‘oo serenade us as we eat. We ‘ave none of zis ugly armor in ze ‘alls, and eef a poltergeist ever entaired into Beauxbatons, ‘e would be expelled like zat.” She slapped her hand onto the table impatiently.
Roger Davies was watching her talk with a very dazed look on his face, and he kept missing his mouth with his fork. Harry had the impression that Davies was too busy staring at Fleur to take in a word she was saying.
“Absolutely right,” he said quickly, slapping his own hand down on the table in imitation of Fleur. “Like that. Yeah.”
Harry looked around the Hall. Hagrid was sitting at one of the other staff tables; he was back in his horrible hairy brown suit and gazing up at the top table. Harry saw him give a small wave, and looking around, saw Madame Maxime return it, her opals glittering in the candlelight.
Hermione was now teaching Krum to say her name properly; he kept calling her “Hermy-own.”
“Her-my-oh-nee,” she said slowly and clearly.
“Herm-own-ninny.”
“Close enough,” she said, catching96 Harry's eye and grinning.
When all the food had been consumed, Dumbledore stood up and asked the students to do the same. Then, with a wave of his wand, all the tables zoomed97 back along the walls leaving the floor clear, and then he conjured a raised platform into existence along the right wall. A set of drums, several guitars, a lute95, a cello98, and some bagpipes100 were set upon it.
The Weird101 Sisters now trooped up onto the stage to wildly enthusiastic applause; they were all extremely hairy and dressed in black robes that had been artfully ripped and torn. They picked up their instruments, and Harry, who had been so interested in watching them that he had almost forgotten what was coming, suddenly realized that the lanterns on all the other tables had gone out, and that the other champions and their partners were standing up.
“Come on!” Parvati hissed. “We're supposed to dance!”
Harry tripped over his dress robes as he stood up. The Weird Sisters struck up a slow, mournful tune72; Harry walked onto the brightly lit dance floor, carefully avoiding catching anyone's eye (he could see Seamus and Dean waving at him and sniggering), and next moment, Parvati had seized his hands, placed one around her waist, and was holding the other tightly in hers.
It wasn't as bad as it could have been. Harry thought, revolving102 slowly on the spot (Parvati was steering). He kept his eyes fixed103 over the heads of the watching people, and very soon many of them too had come onto the dance floor, so that the champions were no longer the center of attention. Neville and Ginny were dancing nearby - he could see Ginny wincing104 frequently as Neville trod on her feet - and Dumbledore was waltzing with Madame Maxime. He was so dwarfed105 by her that the top of his pointed84 hat barely tickled106 her chin; however, she moved very gracefully107 for a woman so large. Mad-Eye Moody was doing an extremely ungainly two-step with Professor Sinistra, who was nervously avoiding his wooden leg.
“Nice socks. Potter,” Moody growled108 as he passed, his magical eye staring through Harry's robes.
“Oh - yeah, Dobby the house-elf knitted them for me,” said Harry, grinning.
“He is so creepy!” Parvati whispered as Moody clunked away. “I don't think that eye should be allowed.”
* * * * * *
Harry heard the final, quavering note from the bagpipe99 with relief. The Weird Sisters stopped playing, applause filled the hall once more, and Harry let go of Parvati at once.
“Let's sit down, shall we?”
“Oh - but - this is a really good one!” Parvati said as the Weird Sisters struck up a new song, which was much faster.
“No, I don't like it,” Harry lied, and he led her away from the dance floor, past Fred and Angelina, who were dancing so exhuberantly that people around them were backing away in fear of injury, and over to the table where Ron and Padma were sitting.
“How's it going?” Harry asked Ron, sitting down and opening a bottle of butterbeer.
Ron didn't answer. He was glaring at Hermione and Krum, who were dancing nearby. Padma was sitting with her arms and legs crossed, one foot jiggling in time to the music. Every now and then she threw a disgruntled look at Ron, who was completely ignoring her. Parvati sat down on Harry's other side, crossed her arms and legs too, and within minutes was asked to dance by a boy from Beauxbatons.
“You don't mind, do you, Harry?” Parvati said.
“What?” said Harry, who was now watching Cho and Cedric.
“Oh never mind,” snapped Parvati, and she went off with the boy from Beauxbatons. When the song ended, she did not return.
Hermione came over and sat down in Parvati's empty chair. She was a bit pink in the face from dancing.
“Hi,” said Harry. Ron didn't say anything.
“It's hot, isn't it?” said Hermione, fanning herself with her hand. “Viktor's just gone to get some drinks.”
Ron gave her a withering109 look. “Viktor?” he said. “Hasn't he asked you to call him Vicky yet?”
Hermione looked at him in surprise. “What's up with you?” she said.
“If you don't know,” said Ron scathingly, “I'm not going to tell you.”
Hermione stared at him, then at Harry, who shrugged.
“Ron, what -?”
“He's from Durmstrang!” spat110 Ron. “He's competing against Harry! Against Hogwarts! You - you're -” Ron was obviously casting around for words strong enough to describe Hermione's crime, “fraternizing with the enemy, that's what you're doing!”
Hermione's mouth fell open.
“Don't be so stupid!” she said after a moment. “The enemy! Honestly - who was the one who was all excited when they saw him arrive? Who was the one who wanted his autograph? Who's got a model of him up in their dormitory?”
Ron chose to ignore this. “I s'pose he asked you to come with him while you were both in the library?”
“Yes, he did,” said Hermione, the pink patches on her cheeks glowing more brightly. “So what?”
“What happened - trying to get him to join spew, were you?”
“No, I wasn't! If you really want to know, he - he said he'd been coming up to the library every day to try and talk to me, but he hadn't been able to pluck up the courage!”
Hermione said this very quickly, and blushed so deeply that she was the same color as Parvati's robes.
“Yeah, well - that's his story,” said Ron nastily.
“And what's that supposed to mean?”
“Obvious, isn't it? He's Karkaroff's student, isn't he? He knows who you hang around with.…He's just trying to get closer to Harry - get inside information on him - or get near enough to jinx him -”
Hermione looked as though Ron had slapped her. When she spoke111, her voice quivered.
“For your information, he hasn't asked me one single thing about Harry, not one -”
Ron changed tack33 at the speed of light.
“Then he's hoping you'll help him find out what his egg means! I suppose you've been putting your heads together during those cozy little library sessions -”
“I'd never help him work out that egg!” said Hermione, looking outraged112. “Never. How could you say something like that - I want Harry to win the tournament. Harry knows that, don't you, Harry?”
“You've got a funny way of showing it,” sneered113 Ron.
“This whole tournament's supposed to be about getting to know foreign wizards and making friends with them!” said Hermione hotly.
“No it isn't!” shouted Ron. “It's about winning!”
People were starting to stare at them.
“Ron,” said Harry quietly, “I haven't got a problem with Hermione coming with Krum -”
But Ron ignored Harry too.
“Why don't you go and find Vicky, he'll be wondering where you are,” said Ron.
“Don't call him Vicky!”
Hermione jumped to her feet and stormed off across the dance floor, disappearing into the crowd. Ron watched her go with a mixture of anger and satisfaction on his face.
“Are you going to ask me to dance at all?” Padma asked him.
“No,” said Ron, still glaring after Hermione.
“Fine,” snapped Padma, and she got up and went to join Parvati and the Beauxbatons boy, who conjured up one of his friends to join them so fast that Harry could have sworn he had zoomed him there by a Summoning Charm.
“Vare is Herm-own-ninny?” said a voice.
Krum had just arrived at their table clutching two butterbeers.
“No idea,” said Ron mulishly, looking up at him. “Lost her, have you?”
Krum was looking surly again.
“Veil, if you see her, tell her I haff drinks,” he said, and he slouched off.
“Made friends with Viktor Krum, have you, Ron?”
Percy had bustled114 over, rubbing his hands together and looking extremely pompous115. “Excellent! That's the whole point, you know - international magical cooperation!”
To Harry's displeasure, Percy now took Padma's vacated seat. The top table was now empty; Professor Dumbledore was dancing with Professor Sprout116, Ludo Bagman with Professor McGonagall; Madame Maxime and Hagrid were cutting a wide path around the dance floor as they waltzed through the students, and Karkaroff was nowhere to be seen. When the next song ended, everybody applauded once more, and Harry saw Ludo Bagman kiss Professor McGonagall's hand and make his way back through the crowds, at which point Fred and George accosted117 him.
“What do they think they're doing, annoying senior Ministry members?” Percy hissed, watching Fred and George suspiciously. “No respect…”
Ludo Bagman shook off Fred and George fairly quickly, however, and, spotting Harry, waved and came over to their table.
“I hope my brothers weren't bothering you, Mr. Bagman?” said Percy at once.
“What? Oh not at all, not at all!” said Bagman. “No, they were just telling me a bit more about those fake wands of theirs. Wondering if I could advise them on the marketing118. I've promised to put them in touch with a couple of contacts of mine at Zonko's Joke Shop.…”
Percy didn't look happy about this at all, and Harry was prepared to bet he would be rushing to tell Mrs. Weasley about this the moment he got home. Apparently119 Fred and George's plans had grown even more ambitious lately, if they were hoping to sell to the public. Bagman opened his mouth to ask Harry something, but Percy diverted him.
“How do you feel the tournament's going, Mr. Bagman? Our department's quite satisfied - the hitch120 with the Goblet of Fire” - he glanced at Harry - “was a little unfortunate, of course, but it seems to have gone very smoothly121 since, don't you think?”
“Oh yes,” Bagman said cheerfully, “it's all been enormous fun. How's old Barty doing? Shame he couldn't come.”
“Oh I'm sure Mr. Crouch will be up and about in no time,” said Percy importantly, “but in the meantime, I'm more than willing to take up the slack. Of course, it's not all attending balls” - he laughed airily - “oh no, I've had to deal with all sorts of things that have cropped up in his absence - you heard Ali Bashir was caught smuggling122 a consignment123 of flying carpets into the country? And then we've been trying to persuade the Transylvanians to sign the International Ban on Dueling124. I've got a meeting with their Head of Magical Cooperation in the new year -”
“Let's go for a walk,” Ron muttered to Harry, “get away from Percy.…”
Pretending they wanted more drinks. Harry and Ron left the table, edged around the dance floor, and slipped out into the entrance hall. The front doors stood open, and the fluttering fairy lights in the rose garden winked and twinkled as they went down the front steps, where they found themselves surrounded by bushes; winding125, ornamental126 paths; and large stone statues. Harry could hear splashing water, which sounded like a fountain. Here and there, people were sitting on carved benches. He and Ron set off along one of the winding paths through the rosebushes, but they had gone only a short way when they heard an unpleasantly familiar voice.
“…don't see what there is to fuss about, Igor.”
“Severus, you cannot pretend this isn't happening!” Karkaroffs voice sounded anxious and hushed, as though keen not to be overheard. “It's been getting clearer and clearer for months. I am becoming seriously concerned, I can't deny it -”
“Then flee,” said Snape's voice curtly127. “Flee - I will make your excuses. I, however, am remaining at Hogwarts.”
Snape and Karkaroff came around the corner. Snape had his wand out and was blasting rosebushes apart, his expression most ill-natured. Squeals128 issued from many of the bushes, and dark shapes emerged from them.
“Ten points from Ravenclaw, Fawcett!” Snape snarled129 as a girl ran past him. “And ten points from Hufflepuff too, Stebbins!” as a boy went rushing after her. “And what are you two doing?” he added, catching sight of Harry and Ron on the path ahead. Karkaroff, Harry saw, looked slightly discomposed to see them standing there. His hand went nervously to his goatee, and he began winding it around his finger.
“We re walking,” Ron told Snape shortly. “Not against the law, is it?”
“Keep walking, then!” Snape snarled, and he brushed past them, his long black cloak billowing out behind him. Karkaroff hurried away after Snape. Harry and Ron continued down the path.
“What's got Karkaroff all worried?” Ron muttered.
“And since when have he and Snape been on first-name terms?"said Harry slowly.
They had reached a large stone reindeer now, over which they could see the sparkling jets of a tall fountain. The shadowy outlines of two enormous people were visible on a stone bench, watching the water in the moonlight. And then Harry heard Hagrid speak.
“Momen’ I saw yeh, I knew,” he was saying, in an oddly husky voice.
Harry and Ron froze. This didn't sound like the sort of scene they ought to walk in on, somehow.…Harry looked around, back up the path, and saw Fleur Delacour and Roger Davies standing half-concealed in a rosebush nearby. He tapped Ron on the shoulder and jerked his head toward them, meaning that they could easily sneak40 off that way without being noticed (Fleur and Davies looked very busy to Harry), but Ron, eyes widening in horror at the sight of Fleur, shook his head vigorously, and pulled Harry deeper into the shadows behind the reindeer.
“What did you know, ‘Agrid?” said Madame Maxime, a purr in her low voice.
Harry definitely didn't want to listen to this; he knew Hagrid would hate to be overheard in a situation like this (he certainly would have) - if it had been possible he would have put his fingers in his ears and hummed loudly, but that wasn't really an option. Instead he tried to interest himself in a beetle130 crawling along the stone reindeer's back, but the beetle just wasn't interesting enough to block out Hagrid's next words.
“I jus’ knew…knew you were like me.…Was it yer mother or yer father?”
“I - I don't know what you mean, ‘Agrid.…”
“It was my mother,” said Hagrid quietly. “She was one o’ the las’ ones in Britain. ‘Course, I can’ remember her too well…she left, see. When I was abou’ three. She wasn’ really the maternal131 sort. Well…it's not in their natures, is it? Dunno what happened to her…might be dead fer all I know.…”
Madame Maxime didn't say anything. And Harry, in spite of himself, took his eyes off the beetle and looked over the top of the reindeer's antlers, listening.…He had never heard Hagrid talk about his childhood before.
“Me dad was broken-hearted when she wen'. Tiny little bloke, my dad was. By the time I was six I could lift him up an’ put him on top o’ the dresser if he annoyed me. Used ter make him laugh.…"Hagrid's deep voice broke. Madame Maxime was listening, motionless, apparently staring at the silvery fountain. “Dad raised me…but he died, o’ course, jus’ after I started school. Sorta had ter make me own way after that. Dumbledore was a real help, mind. Very kind ter me, he was.…”
Hagrid pulled out a large spotted silk handkerchief and blew his nose heavily.
“So…anyway…enough abou’ me. What about you? Which side you got it on?”
But Madame Maxime had suddenly got to her feet.
“It is chilly,” she said - but whatever the weather was doing, it was nowhere near as cold as her voice. “I think I will go in now.”
“Eh?” said Hagrid blankly. “No, don go! I've - I've never met another one before!”
“Anuzzer what, precisely132?” said Madame Maxime, her tone icy.
Harry could have told Hagrid it was best not to answer; he stood there in the shadows gritting133 his teeth, hoping against hope he wouldn't - but it was no good.
“Another half-giant, o’ course!” said Hagrid.
“'Ow dare you!” shrieked134 Madame Maxime. Her voice exploded through the peaceful night air like a foghorn135; behind him. Harry heard Fleur and Roger fall out of their rosebush. “I ‘ave nevair been more insulted in my life! ‘Alf-giant? Moi? I ‘ave - I ‘ave big bones!”
She stormed away; great multicolored swarms136 of fairies rose into the air as she passed, angrily pushing aside bushes. Hagrid was still sitting on the bench, staring after her. It was much too dark to make out his expression. Then, after about a minute, he stood up and strode away, not back to the castle, but off out into the dark grounds in the direction of his cabin.
“C'mon,” Harry said, very quietly to Ron. “Let's go.…”
But Ron didn't move.
“What's up?” said Harry, looking at him.
Ron looked around at Harry, his expression very serious indeed.
“Did you know?” he whispered. “About Hagrid being half-giant?”
“No,” Harry said, shrugging. “So what?”
He knew immediately, from the look Ron was giving him, that he was once again revealing his ignorance of the wizarding world. Brought up by the Dursleys, there were many things that wizards took for granted that were revelations to Harry, but these surprises had become fewer with each successive year. Now, however, he could tell that most wizards would not have said “So what?” upon finding out that one of their friends had a giantess for a mother.
“I'll explain inside,” said Ron quietly, “c'mon….”
Fleur and Roger Davies had disappeared, probably into a more private clump137 of bushes. Harry and Ron returned to the Great Hall. Parvati and Padma were now sitting at a distant table with a whole crowd of Beauxbatons boys, and Hermione was once more dancing with Krum. Harry and Ron sat down at a table far removed from the dance floor.
“So?” Harry prompted Ron. “What's the problem with giants?”
“Well, they're…they're…” Ron struggled for words. “…not very nice,” he finished lamely138.
“Who cares?” Harry said. “There's nothing wrong with Hagrid!”
“I know there isn't, but…blimey, no wonder he keeps it quiet,” Ron said, shaking his head. “I always thought he'd got in the way of a bad Engorgement Charm when he was a kid or something. Didn't like to mention it.…”
“But what's it matter if his mother was a giantess?” said Harry.
“Well…no one who knows him will care, ‘cos they'll know he's not dangerous,” said Ron slowly. “But…Harry, they're just vicious, giants. It's like Hagrid said, it's in their natures, they're like trolls…they just like killing139, everyone knows that. There aren't any left in Britain now, though.”
“What happened to them?”
“Well, they were dying out anyway, and then loads got themselves killed by Aurors. There're supposed to be giants abroad, though.…They hide out in mountains mostly.…”
“I don't know who Maxime thinks she's kidding,” Harry said, watching Madame Maxime sitting alone at the judges’ table, looking very somber140. “If Hagrid's half-giant, she definitely is. Big bones.…the only thing that's got bigger bones than her is a dinosaur141.”
Harry and Ron spent the rest of the ball discussing giants in their corner, neither of them having any inclination142 to dance. Harry tried not to watch Cho and Cedric too much; it gave him a strong desire to kick something.
When the Weird Sisters finished playing at midnight, everyone gave them a last, loud round of applause and started to wend their way into the entrance hall. Many people were expressing the wish that the ball could have gone on longer, but Harry was perfectly143 happy to be going to bed; as far as he was concerned, the evening hadn't been much fun.
Out in the entrance hall, Harry and Ron saw Hermione saying good night to Krum before he went back to the Durmstrang ship. She gave Ron a very cold look and swept past him up the marble staircase without speaking. Harry and Ron followed her, but halfway144 up the staircase Harry heard someone calling him.
“Hey-Harry!”
It was Cedric Diggory. Harry could see Cho waiting for him in the entrance hall below.
“Yeah?” said Harry coldly as Cedric ran up the stairs toward him.
Cedric looked as though he didn't want to say whatever it was in front of Ron, who shrugged, looking bad-tempered145, and continued to climb the stairs.
“Listen…” Cedric lowered his voice as Ron disappeared. “I owe you one for telling me about the dragons. You know that golden egg? Does yours wail146 when you open it?”
“Yeah,” said Harry.
“Well…take a bath, okay?”
“What?”
“Take a bath, and - er - take the egg with you, and - er - just mull things over in the hot water. It'll help you think.…Trust me.”
Harry stared at him.
“Tell you what,” Cedric said, “use the prefects’ bathroom. Fourth door to the left of that statue of Boris the Bewildered on the fifth floor. Password's ‘pine fresh.’ Gotta go…want to say good night -”
He grinned at Harry again and hurried back down the stairs to Cho.
Harry walked back to Gryffindor Tower alone. That had been extremely strange advice. Why would a bath help him to work out what the wailing147 egg meant? Was Cedric pulling his leg? Was he trying to make Harry look like a fool, so Cho would like him even more by comparison?
The Fat Lady and her friend Vi were snoozing in the picture over the portrait hole. Harry had to yell “Fairy lights!” before he woke them up, and when he did, they were extremely irritated. He climbed into the common room and found Ron and Hermione having a blazing row. Standing ten feet apart, they were bellowing148 at each other, each scarlet149 in the face.
“Well, if you don't like it, you know what the solution is, don't you?” yelled Hermione; her hair was coming down out of its elegant bun now, and her face was screwed up in anger.
“Oh yeah?” Ron yelled back. “What's that?”
“Next time there's a ball, ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort!”
Ron mouthed soundlessly like a goldfish out of water as Hermione turned on her heel and stormed up the girls’ staircase to bed. Ron turned to look at Harry.
“Well,” he sputtered150, looking thunderstruck, “well - that just proves - completely missed the point -”
Harry didn't say anything. He liked being back on speaking terms with Ron too much to speak his mind right now - but he somehow thought that Hermione had gotten the point much better than Ron had.
尽管第四年假期会有大量沉重的功课，但当学期结束时，哈利却没有心情去做，而是把这圣诞前夕的一星期用来跟其他人尽情地玩乐。格林芬顿塔这时几乎与学期中一样热闹，同时弗来德和乔治的淡黄色奶油也已取得巨大的成功，因此在假期开始后的几天，人们不停地在这地方变成羽毛，然而不久，所有的格林芬顿人已学会用极其审慎的态度对待其他任何人给的食物，以防其中藏有淡黄色奶油。
乔治向哈利透露说他和弗来德现在正致力于研究另外某种东西，哈利在心里下决心从今以后再不会接受弗来德和乔治所给的东西，即使是油炸蕃薯片。因为他仍然不能忘记达德里和他的长舌太妃糖。
城堡和地上都下了厚厚一层雪，发蓝色的比斯贝顿马车看起来像一个大大的、寒冷的、结冰的南瓜一样停在那所铺满冰雪的姜饼面包房子旁——那是哈格力的小屋；而那艘丹姆斯安号船的舷窗被冰覆盖住了，装备上是雪白的冰，那些佣人小精灵在厨房里正抢着吃一堆丰富的，暖哄哄的炖菜和可口的布丁，只有芙璐·迪来高看起来好像在抱怨些什么了。
“这些霍格瓦彻食物太油腻了！”当哈利一天晚上跟在她背后离开大厅时，听到她脾气暴躁地说，（罗恩躲在哈利的背后，极力避免被芙璐发现）。“我的礼裙都不合身了！”
“噢，真是悲剧，”当芙璐走进入口大堂时荷米恩活泼地说，“她真的太顾着自己了，对吧？”
“荷米恩，你将会跟谁一起去舞会？”罗恩问。
他老对她提着这问题，希望用这来在她最意想不到时吓她一跳，然而，荷米恩只是微微皱眉说：“我不会告诉你，你只是捉弄我罢了。”
“你开玩笑吧，威斯里，”马尔夫说，“你不打算告诉我有人已约了她？是不是臼齿长长的马德布莱吗？”
哈利和罗恩一起缠着不放，但荷米恩却望过马尔夫的肩膀向别人打招呼：“您好，史纳皮教授！”
马尔夫脸煞地白了并向后退了几步，疯狂地用目光搜寻史纳皮，而后者正在餐桌旁边，品尝着炖菜。
“你是小侦探吗，马尔夫？”荷米恩伤人地说，然后她和哈利和罗恩一边上着大理石楼梯一面开怀大笑。
“荷米恩，”罗恩在旁看着她，突然皱眉说，“你的牙……”
“怎么了？”她说。
“噢，很奇怪……我刚看到……”
“当然了——难道你想我留着马尔夫给我的尖牙吗？”
“不，我意思是……它们现在全部……直的而且——而且大小正常。”
荷米恩突然很顽皮地咧嘴笑了，这时连哈利都注意了：那种笑容果然跟他所记得的不一样。
“噢……当我跑去找波姆弗雷女士让她把它们收缩时，她举起一面镜子，并告诉我当它们变成正常的样子时让她停下来，”她说，“但我却——让她再继续一点，”她笑得更野了，“爸爸妈妈不会太高兴的，我已尽力说服他们让我收缩它们很久了，但他们想我继续戴牙齿矫正器，你知道的，他们俩是牙医，他们不认为牙齿跟魔法会——看！
皮威军的后面！“
罗恩的小猫头鹰在载满冰柱的栏杆上疯狂地格格地叫着，它的腿上缠着一卷羊皮纸。经过的人都指着它笑，一群三年级的女孩停下来说道：“噢，看看这只小猫头鹰多可爱！”
“这只长着羽毛的蠢物！”罗恩责骂道，边登上楼梯边抓住皮威军，“把信送到收信人那儿去，别再到处出丑了！”
皮威军把头从罗恩的拳头里伸出来，高兴地枭叫着。三年级的女孩们都很震惊。
“快离开吧！”罗恩向她们催促道，挥动着手里抓着的皮威军。当它飞上天时，皮威军叫得比刚才更高兴了。“拿去吧，哈利。”当那群三年级的女生丢脸地怏怏离开后，罗恩小声地插话。他从皮威军的腿上取下西里斯的回信，哈利把它放进口袋里，然后两人赶回格林芬顿塔看信。
在这所普通房子里，每个人都因忙于释放更多的假日水汽蒸汽而没有注意到其他人在做什么。哈利，罗恩和荷米恩分开坐在一扇总是铺满雪的黑色窗子旁边，然后哈利开始看信了：“亲爱的哈利：祝贺你打败号尾龙——这个把你的名字填在火杯名单上的人，无论是谁现在应该不会太快活了吧！我打算建议你用一种”去敌威特“咒语，因为龙的弱点在于它的眼睛——”这是克伦做到的！“荷米恩低语。
——但我印像中，你的方法更好。
但不要自满，哈利，你只完成一项任务，任何人都会把你交出来——如果他们想伤害你的话，因为比赛会得到更多的机会，把眼睛放亮点，尤其我们说的这个人在你左右时，——并且尽力让你自己避免陷入麻烦中。保持联络吧，我还想听到不寻常的事情。
西里斯“
“他的语气听起来真像多比，”哈利平静地说着，把信折起来放进他的外套里，“经常保持警惕！他以为我是闭着眼睛撞上墙去……”
“但他是对的，哈利，”荷米恩说，“你仍有两个任务要完成，你真的应该看一眼那只蛋，知道吧，然后开始想出它的意味……”
“荷米恩，他上了年纪了，”罗恩催促着，“来一盘棋吧，哈利？”
“噢，好的，”哈利说。在这时，他注意到荷米恩脸上的表情，他说，“快别这样，有这些嗓音干扰着我又怎么集中精神呢？在这地方我想不到这只蛋的暗示。”
“噢，希望不是，”她叹气道，然后坐下看他们下棋，这场棋因为有罗恩这样一个令人兴奋的棋伴，加上一对不顾一切的勇敢的兵和一只十分凶狠的像，所以下得很精彩。哈利在圣诞节这天突然醒来，正想弄清楚是什么让他突然清醒过来，他睁开眼，看到在黑暗中有个巨大的，圆圆的，有着绿色眼睛的东西正盯着自己，近得几乎鼻子贴着鼻子。
“多比，”哈利大喊，一边从这小精灵身边爬开，几乎跌下床，“不要这样！”
“多比很抱歉，先生！”多比急忙吱吱地叫道，用他长长的手指捂住嘴巴向后退了一下，“多比只想祝愿哈利‘圣诞快乐’并带给他一份礼物，先生！哈利·波特说过多比能时常来看看他的，先生！”
“没事的。”哈利说，喘气喘得比刚才更快，而心率恢复到正常，“只是刺激我，好吧，别像刚才那样弯身到我身上……”
哈利把床帘拉开，从床头的桌子上拿回眼镜，然后戴上，他的大喊吵醒了罗恩、西摩斯、迪恩和尼维尔，他们全透过他们床帘的缝隙看出来，睡眼朦胧而且头发乱糟糟。
“有人袭击你吗，哈利？”西摩斯困倦地问。
“不是，多比而已，”哈利咕味着，“去睡吧。”
“哪……礼物！”西摩斯注意到在床脚下有一大堆东西后说道。
罗恩、迪恩和尼维尔决定既然他们已醒了，不如也下床去拆礼物吧。
哈利转回向着多比，后者正紧张地站在哈利床边，依然担心着自己带给哈利的烦恼，在他的茶壶套的顶端的小孔里系着一根圣诞节的小玩意。
“多比能够给哈利他的礼物吗？”它试探着说。
“当然，”哈利说，“呃，我也有东西要送给你。”
这只是谎话，他根本没买什么东西送给多比，但他以很快地动作打开他的皮箱，拿出一双起着非常多小疙瘩的短袜，它们是他所有短袜中最旧最脏的，是深黄色的曾经属于维能姨丈所有的。它们起着很多小疙瘩的原因是哈利这一年来用来垫他的帆鞋，他拿出帆鞋把短袜递给多比，说道，“对不起，我忘了把它们包起来……”
但，多比绝对是高兴的。
“短袜是多比最喜欢东西，先生！”它说，说着扯掉腿上残旧的那双，然后穿上维能姨丈的这双，“我现在有七双了，先生……但是，先生……”他说，而且眼睁得大大的，把两只袜子都拉得最高，好让它们伸到它的短裤的底部，“商店里的人弄错了，哈利·波特，他们给了你两只一模一样的！”
“啊，不是吧，哈利，你怎么没有发现呀？”罗恩说，在他的床上咧嘴笑着，床上撒满了包装纸。“告诉你吧，多比，来这里拿上这两个，你可以很好地配搭着穿，这里还有一种套头毛衣。”
他扔给多比一双还没包好的短袜和一件威斯里太太刚送的手织毛衣。
多比陶醉在高兴里，“先生真是太好了！”它吱吱地说，眼眶盈着泪，向罗恩深深地鞠了一个躬，“多比知道先生一定会成为一位伟大的男巫的，因为他是哈利。波特先生伟大的朋友，但多比以前并不知道他同样是有着慷慨的精神，高尚的品质和无私。”
“只是一双袜子而已嘛，”罗恩说，尽管看起来还是相当高兴，但耳朵却红透了，“哇，哈利——”他拆开哈利的礼物，是一顶酷得利加能帽子，“真帅！”他往他的头上塞，头发被碰撞得乱乱的。
多比递给哈利一包东西，里面原来是一双短袜子。
“它们是我亲手做的，先生！”这个小精灵高兴地说：“羊毛是我用自己的工钱买的，先生！”
左边的短袜是鲜红色的，上面有着扫帚形状的图案；右边的那只是绿色的，有着小偷模样的图案。
“他们……他们真的是……噢，谢谢你，多比。”哈利说，然后把袜子穿上，这使得多比的眼睛几乎涌出了眼泪。
“多比得走了，先生，我们已经在厨房里做好早餐！”多比说着，匆匆走出了房间，经过时挥手向罗恩和其他人说再见。
比起多比送来的那双奇怪的短袜，哈利对其他的礼物就满意得很，但是明显地除了杜斯利的那份，那是一个单人的薄织品，一种低价货——哈利猜他们送的是长舌太妃糖，荷米恩送给哈利一本《不列颠及爱尔兰的快迪斯队》，而罗恩呢，送了胀鼓鼓的一袋梳子，西里斯则送了一把手刀，上面还有着锁东西的和开锁的、拆东西和包扎东西的工具；而哈格力，送了一大盒糖果，全都是哈利的最爱——贝蒂。波特的什锦豆、巧克力青蛙糖，杜伯最美味的泡泡糖，还有聪明蜜蜂泡沫饮料，当然还有威斯里太太的那份，里面有一件新的套头毛衣（哈利想应该是查理告诉了她关于号尾龙的事）和很多家庭制作的小馅饼。
哈利和罗恩在起居室里碰见荷米恩，然后一起去吃早餐，他们早上大部分时间都待在格林芬顿塔，那里每个人都在拆着礼物，然后回到大厅享受了一顿丰富的午餐，这顿午餐至少有火鸡和圣诞布了，和一大堆卷心菜和神奇的饼干。
到下午，他们来到屋外，雪地并未被踏过，除了丹姆斯安和比尔贝顿的学生在去城堡的途中弄出了几道深深的沟痕，荷米恩宁愿呆在一旁看哈利和罗恩兄弟的雪球战也不愿参加。到五点钟时，她说要回到楼上去为舞会作好准备。
“什么，你要三小时来作准备？”罗恩不可置信地看着她说，却没注意到这时，乔治扔来一个大雪球，罗恩的头重重挨了一击，“你跟谁一起去呀？”他向荷米恩大喊道，但她只是挥了挥手，然后消失在通往城堡的石梯的末端。
今年圣诞节不会有茶会了，因为今晚的舞会中还会有盛宴。七点时，大家都难以看准对方了，其他人就让他们停止了这场雪战，然后一大群回到休息室，胖大婶摆着他的胖身体跟朋友维利坐在楼梯旁，两人都喝得很醉，巧克力利口酒的空瓶子乱七八糟地堆在她的画像的下面。
“野兽打架嘛，就是这种了。”当大家说了口令。
哈利，罗恩，西摩斯，迪思和尼维尔在他们的房间里换上了礼服。
每个都显得很自信，却远远比不上罗恩。他在一个角落上对着一面长镜子，细细观察镜中的自己，脸上表请让人胆寒，没有人注意到其实他的礼服看起来更像一条裙子，为了使自己的衣服更显出自己的男子气概，他在领口和袖口处都喷了一种斯林牌的香水，效果不错，至少他不用扎领带，尽管他做了这件优雅的事，但衣服的边上依旧破得让人沮丧。
他们边走下楼梯。
“我还是搞不懂你们在一年里是怎么弄到这些漂亮的女孩的？”
迪恩咕哝着。
“动物的独有魅力嘛。”罗恩忧愁的说着，拔去袖口断掉的线。
休息室里呈现一派怪怪的景像，挤满了穿着五颜六色的礼服的人，跟以往的一片黑色不一样。帕维提正在楼梯口等着哈利，她穿着粉红色礼服，用金线扎着辫子，手上戴着闪闪发光的手周，看起来相当漂亮。看到她没在傻笑，哈利松了一口气。
“你，呃，看起来很漂亮。”他笨拙地说。
“谢谢。”她说，“帕得玛会在门口大厅里等你！”她向罗恩说。
“好的。”罗恩说着，四处张望，“荷米恩在哪儿？”
帕维提耸耸肩说：“我们下去吧，哈利。”
“好的。”哈利说。弗来德（经过哈利身旁向肖像的房子走去时）
向他使了一个眼色。
入口大厅里也全是学生，磨蹭着等着八点赶快到来，这时大厅的门开了，来自各个房间的人们挤进人群里互相寻找自己的舞伴，帕维提找到姐姐帕得玛，然后把她带到哈利跟前。
“您好！”穿着鲜绿
收听单词发音 |
1
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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pumpkin
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| n.南瓜 | |
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glazed
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| adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
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stew
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| n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑 | |
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stews
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| n.炖煮的菜肴( stew的名词复数 )；烦恼，焦虑v.炖( stew的第三人称单数 )；煨；思考；担忧 | |
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savory
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| adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的 | |
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skulking
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的现在分词 ) | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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mischievously
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| adv.有害地；淘气地 | |
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braces
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| n.吊带，背带；托架( brace的名词复数 )；箍子；括弧；（儿童）牙箍v.支住( brace的第三人称单数 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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hooted
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| （使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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scuttled
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| v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
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goblet
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| n.高脚酒杯 | |
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complacent
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| adj.自满的；自鸣得意的 | |
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culminated
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| v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pawns
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| n.（国际象棋中的）兵( pawn的名词复数 )；卒；被人利用的人；小卒v.典当，抵押( pawn的第三人称单数 )；以（某事物）担保 | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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squeaked
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| 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 | |
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prod
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| vt.戳，刺；刺激，激励 | |
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tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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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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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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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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bauble
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| n.美观而无价值的饰物 | |
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cozy
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| adj.亲如手足的，密切的，暖和舒服的 | |
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foulest
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| adj.恶劣的( foul的最高级 )；邪恶的；难闻的；下流的 | |
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sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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42
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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43
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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44
attachments
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| n.（用电子邮件发送的）附件( attachment的名词复数 )；附着；连接；附属物 | |
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undo
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| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
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46
mince
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| n.切碎物；v.切碎，矫揉做作地说 | |
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47
crackers
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| adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘 | |
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48
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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49
giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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51
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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52
severing
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的现在分词 )；断，裂 | |
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53
cuffs
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| n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 ) | |
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54
frayed
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| adj.磨损的v.（使布、绳等）磨损，磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
bracelets
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| n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 ) | |
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56
glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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57
giggling
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 ) | |
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58
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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59
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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60
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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61
turquoise
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| n.绿宝石；adj.蓝绿色的 | |
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62
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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63
stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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64
dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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65
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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66
boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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68
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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69
reindeer
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| n.驯鹿 | |
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70
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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71
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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72
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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73
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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74
sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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75
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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76
loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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77
gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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78
ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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79
starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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80
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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81
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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82
crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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83
pointedly
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| adv.尖地，明显地 | |
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84
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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85
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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86
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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87
ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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88
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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89
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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90
domains
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| n.范围( domain的名词复数 )；领域；版图；地产 | |
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91
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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92
amicably
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| adv.友善地 | |
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93
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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94
choirs
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| n.教堂的唱诗班( choir的名词复数 )；唱诗队；公开表演的合唱团；（教堂）唱经楼 | |
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95
lute
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| n.琵琶，鲁特琴 | |
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96
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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97
zoomed
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| v.（飞机、汽车等）急速移动( zoom的过去式 )；（价格、费用等）急升，猛涨 | |
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98
cello
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| n.大提琴 | |
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99
bagpipe
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| n.风笛 | |
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100
bagpipes
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| n.风笛；风笛( bagpipe的名词复数 ) | |
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101
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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102
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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103
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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104
wincing
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的现在分词 ) | |
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105
dwarfed
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| vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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106
tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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107
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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108
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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109
withering
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| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
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110
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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111
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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112
outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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113
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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114
bustled
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| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
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115
pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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116
sprout
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| n.芽，萌芽；vt.使发芽，摘去芽；vi.长芽，抽条 | |
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117
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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118
marketing
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| n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西 | |
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119
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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120
hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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121
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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122
smuggling
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| n.走私 | |
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123
consignment
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| n.寄售；发货；委托；交运货物 | |
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124
dueling
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| n. 决斗, 抗争(=duelling) 动词duel的现在分词形式 | |
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125
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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126
ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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127
curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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128
squeals
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| n.长而尖锐的叫声( squeal的名词复数 )v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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129
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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130
beetle
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| n.甲虫，近视眼的人 | |
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131
maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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132
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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133
gritting
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| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的现在分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
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134
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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135
foghorn
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| n..雾号（浓雾信号） | |
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136
swarms
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| 蜂群，一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) | |
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137
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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138
lamely
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| 一瘸一拐地，不完全地 | |
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139
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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140
somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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141
dinosaur
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| n.恐龙 | |
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142
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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143
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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144
halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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145
bad-tempered
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| adj.脾气坏的 | |
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146
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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147
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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148
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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149
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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150
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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