Harry1 felt happier for the rest of the weekend than he had done all term. He and Ron spent much of Sunday catching2 up with all their homework again, and although this could hardly be called fun, the last burst of autumn sunshine persisted, so rather than sitting hunched3 over tables in the common room they took their work outside and lounged in the shade of a large beech4 tree on the edge of the lake. Hermione, who of course was up to date with all her work, brought more wool outside with her and bewitched her knitting needles so that they flashed and clicked in midair beside her, producing more hats and scarves.
Knowing they were doing something to resist Umbridge and the Ministry5 and that he was a key part of the rebellion, gave Harry a feeling of immense satisfaction. He kept reliving Saturdays meeting in his mind: all those people, coming to him to learn Defence Against the Dark Arts ... and the looks on their faces as they had heard some of the things he had done ... and Cho praising his performance in the Triwizard Tournament—knowing all those people did not think him a lying weirdo, but someone to be admired, buoyed6 him up so much that he was still cheerful on Monday morning, despite the imminent7 prospect8 of all his least favourite classes.
He and Ron headed downstairs from their dormitory, discussing Angelina's idea that they were to work on a new move called the Sloth9 Grip Roll during that nights Quidditch practice, and not until they were halfway10 across the sunlit common room did they notice the addition to the room that had already attracted the attention of a small group of people.
A large sign had been affixed11 to the Grffindor noticeboard, so large it covered everything else on it—the lists of secondhand spellbooks for sale, the regular reminders12 of school rules from Argus Filch13, the Quidditch team training timetable, the offers to barter14 certain Chocolate Frog Cards for others, the Weasleys’ latest advertisement for testers, the dates of the Hogsmeade weekends and the lost and found notices. The new sign was printed in large black letters and there was a highly official-looking seal at the bottom beside a neat and curly signature.
BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS
All student organisations, societies, teams, groups and clubs are
henceforth disbanded.
An organisation15, society, team, group or club is hereby defined
as a regular meeting of three or more students.
Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor
(Professor Umbridge).
No student organisation, society, team, group or club may exist
without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor.
Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an organisation,
society, team, group or club that has not been approved by
the High Inquisitor will be expelled.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree
Number Twenty-four.
Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor
Harry and Ron read the notice over the heads of some anxious-looking second-years.
‘Does this mean they're going to shut down the Gobstones Club?’ one of them asked his friend.
‘I reckon you'll be OK with Gobstones,’ Ron said darkly, making the second-year jump. ‘I don't think we're going to be as lucky, though, do you?’ he asked Harry as the second-years hurried away.
Harry was reading the notice through again. The happiness that had filled him since Saturday was gone. His insides were pulsing with rage.
‘This isn't a coincidence,’ he said, his hands forming fists. ‘She knows.’
‘She can't,’ said Ron at once.
‘There were people listening in that pub. And let's face it, we don't know how many of the people who turned up we can trust ... any of them could have run off and told Umbridge ...’
And he had thought they believed him, thought they even admired him ...
‘Zacharias Smith!’ said Ron at once, punching a fist into his hand. ‘Or—I thought that Michael Corner had a really shifty look, too—’
‘I wonder if Hermione's seen this yet?’ Harry said, looking round at the door to the girls’ dormitories.
‘Let's go and tell her,’ said Ron. He bounded forwards, pulled open the door and set off up the spiral staircase.
He was on the sixth stair when there was a loud, wailing19, klaxon-like sound and the steps melted together to make a long, smooth stone slide like a helter-skelter. There was a brief moment when Ron tried to keep running, arms working madly like windmills, then he toppled over backwards20 and shot down the newly created slide, coming to rest on his back at Harry's feet.
‘Er—I don't think we're allowed in the girls’ dormitories,’ said Harry, pulling Ron to his feet and trying not to laugh.
Two fourth-year girls came zooming21 gleefully down the stone slide.
‘Oooh. who tried to get upstairs?’ they giggled22 happily, leaping to their feet and ogling23 Harry and Ron.
‘Me,’ said Ron, who was still rather dishevelled. ‘I didn't realise that would happen. It's not fair!’ he added to Harry, as the girls headed off for the portrait hole, still giggling24 madly. ‘Hermione's allowed in our dormitory, how come we're not allowed —?’
‘Well, it's an old-fashioned rule,’ said Hermione, who had just slid neatly25 on to a rug in front of them and was now getting to her feet, ‘but it says in Hogwarts: A History, that the founders26 thought boys were less trustworthy than girls. Anyway, why were you trying to get in there?’
‘To see you—look at this!’ said Ron, dragging her over to the noticeboard.
Hermione's eyes slid rapidly down the notice. Her expression became stony27.
‘Someone must have blabbed to her!’ Ron said angrily.
‘They can't have done,’ said Hermione in a low voice.
‘You're so naive,’ said Ron, ‘you think just because you're all honourable28 and trustworthy —’
‘No, they can't have done, because I put a jinx on that piece of parchment we all signed,’ said Hermione grimly. ‘Believe me, if anyone's run off and told Umbridge, we'll know exactly who they are and they will really regret it.’
‘What'll happen to them?’ said Ron eagerly.
‘Well, put it this way,’ said Hermione, ‘it'll make Eloise Midgeon's acne look like a couple of cute freckles29. Come on, let's get down to breakfast and see what the others think ... I wonder whether this has been put up in all the houses?’
It was immediately apparent on entering the Great Hall that Umbridge's sign had not only appeared in Gryffindor Tower. There was a peculiar30 intensity31 about the chatter32 and an extra measure of movement in the Hall as people scurried33 up and down their tables conferring on what they had read. Harry, Ron and Hermione had barely taken their seats when Neville, Dean, Fred, George and Ginny descended34 upon them.
‘Did you see it?’
‘D'you reckon she knows?’
‘What are we going to do?’
They were all looking at Harry. He glanced around to make sure there were no teachers near them.
‘We're going to do it anyway, of course,’ he said quietly.
‘Knew you'd say that,’ said George, beaming and thumping35 Harry on the arm.
‘The prefects as well?’ said Fred, looking quizzically at Ron and Hermione.
‘Of course,’ said Hermione coolly.
‘Here come Ernie and Hannah Abbott,’ said Ron, looking over his shoulder. ‘And those Ravenclaw blokes and Smith ... and no one looks very spotty.’
Hermione looked alarmed.
‘Never mind spots, the idiots can't come over here now, it'll look really suspicious—sit down!’ she mouthed to Ernie and Hannah, gesturing frantically36 to them to rejoin the Hufflepuff table. ‘Later! We'll—talk—to—you—later!’
‘I'll tell Michael,’ said Ginny impatiently, swinging herself off her bench, ‘the fool, honestly ...’
She hurried off towards the Ravenclaw table; Harry watched her go. Cho was sitting not far away, talking to the curly-haired friend she had brought along to the Hog's Head. Would Umbridge's notice scare her off meeting them again?
But the full repercussions37 of the sign were not felt until they were leaving the Great Hall for History of Magic.
‘Harry! Ron!’
It was Angelina and she was hurrying towards them looking perfectly38 desperate.
‘It's OK,’ said Harry quietly, when she was near enough to hear him. ‘We're still going to—’
‘You realise she's including Quidditch in this?’ Angelina said over him. ‘We have to go and ask permission to re-form the Gryffindor team!’
‘What?’ said Harry.
‘No way,’ said Ron, appalled39.
‘You read the sign, it mentions teams too! So listen, Harry ... I am saying this for the last time ... please, please don't lose your temper with Umbridge again or she might not let us play any more!’
‘OK, OK,’ said Harry, for Angelina looked as though she was on the verge40 of tears. ‘Don't worry, I'll behave myself ...’
‘Bet Umbridge is in History of Magic,’ said Ron grimly, as they set off for Binns's lesson. ‘She hasn't inspected Binns yet ... bet you anything she's there ...’
But he was wrong; the only teacher present when they entered was Professor Binns, floating an inch or so above his chair as usual and preparing to continue his monotonous41 drone on giant wars. Harry did not even attempt to follow what he was saying today; he doodled idly on his parchment ignoring Hermione's frequent glares and nudges, until a particularly painful poke42 in the ribs43 made him look up angrily.
‘What?’
She pointed44 at the window. Harry looked round. Hedwig was perched on the narrow window ledge17, gazing through the thick glass at him, a letter tied to her leg. Harry could not understand it; they had just had breakfast, why on earth hadn't she delivered the letter then, as usual? Many of his classmates were pointing out Hedwig to each other, too.
‘Oh, I've always loved that owl16, she's so beautiful,’ Harry heard Lavender sigh to Parvati.
He glanced round at Professor Binns who continued to read his notes, serenely45 unaware46 that the class's attention was even less focused upon him than usual. Harry slipped quietly off his chair, crouched47 down and hurried along the row to the window, where he slid the catch and opened it very slowly.
He had expected Hedwig to hold out her leg so that he could remove the letter and then fly off to the Owlery, but the moment the window was open wide enough she hopped48 inside, hooting49 dolefully. He closed the window with an anxious glance at Professor Binns, crouched low again and sped back to his seat with Hedwig on his shoulder. He regained50 his seat, transferred Hedwig to his lap and made to remove the letter tied to her leg.
Only then did he realise that Hedwig's feathers were oddly ruffled51; some were bent52 the wrong way, and she was holding one of her wings at an odd angle.
‘She's hurt!’ Harry whispered, bending his head low over her. Hermione and Ron leaned in closer; Hermione even put down her quill53. ‘Look—there's something wrong with her wing—’
Hedwig was quivering; when Harry made to touch the wing she gave a little jump, all her feathers on end as though she was inflating54 herself, and gazed at him reproachfully.
‘Professor Binns,’ said Harry loudly, and everyone in the class turned to look at him. ‘I'm not feeling well.’
Professor Binns raised his eyes from his notes, looking amazed, as always, to find the room in front of him full of people.
‘Not feeling well?’ he repeated hazily55.
‘Not at all well,’ said Harry firmly, getting to his feet with Hedwig concealed56 behind his back. ‘I think I need to go to the hospital wing.’
‘Yes,’ said Professor Binns, clearly very much wrong-footed. ‘Yes ... yes, hospital wing ... well, off you go, then, Perkins ...’
Once outside the room, Harry returned Hedwig to his shoulder and hurried off up the corridor, pausing to think only when he was out of sight of Binns's door. His first choice of somebody to cure Hedwig would have been Hagrid, of course, but as he had no idea where Hagrid was his only remaining option was to find Professor Grubbly-Plank and hope she would help.
He peered out of a window at the blustery, overcast57 grounds. There was no sign of her anywhere near Hagrid's cabin; if she was not teaching, she was probably in the staff room. He set off downstairs, Hedwig hooting feebly as she swayed on his shoulder.
Two stone gargoyles58 flanked the staff-room door. As Harry approached, one of them croaked60, ‘You should be in class, Sonny Jim.’
‘This is urgent,’ said Harry curtly61.
‘Ooooh, urgent, is it?’ said the other gargoyle59 in a high-pitched voice. ‘Well, that's put us in our place, hasn't it?’
Harry knocked. He heard footsteps, then the door opened and he found himself face to face with Professor McGonagall.
‘You haven't been given another detention63!’ she said at once, her square spectacles flashing alarmingly.
‘No, Professor!’ said Harry hastily.
‘Well then, why are you out of class?’
‘It's urgent, apparently64,’ said the second gargoyle snidely.
‘I'm looking for Professor Grubbly-Plank,’ Harry explained. ‘It's my owl, she's injured.’
‘Injured owl, did you say?’
Professor Grubbly-Plank appeared at Professor McGonagall's shoulder, smoking a pipe and holding a copy of the Daily Prophet.
‘Yes,’ said Harry, lifting Hedwig carefully off his shoulder, ‘she turned up after the other post owls65 and her wing's all funny, look—’
Professor Grubbly-Plank stuck her pipe firmly between her teeth and took Hedwig from Harry while Professor McGonagall watched.
‘Hmm,’ said Professor Grubbly-Plank, her pipe waggling slightly as she talked. ‘Looks like something's attacked her. Can't think what would have done it, though. Thestrals will sometimes go for birds, of course, but Hagrid's got the Hogwarts Thestrals well-trained not to touch owls.’
Harry neither knew nor cared what Thestrals were; he just wanted to know that Hedwig was going to be all right. Professor McGonagall, however, looked sharply at Harry and said, ‘Do you know how far this owl's travelled, Potter?’
‘Er,’ said Harry. ‘From London, I think.’
He met her eyes briefly66 and knew, by the way her eyebrows67 had joined in the middle, that she understood ‘London’ to mean ‘number twelve, Grimmauld Place'.
Professor Grubbly-Plank pulled a monocle out of the inside of her robes and screwed it into her eye, to examine Hedwig's wing closely. ‘I should be able to sort this out if you leave her with me, Potter,’ she said, ‘she shouldn't be flying long distances for a few days, in any case.’
‘Er—right—thanks,’ said Harry, just as the bell rang for break.
‘No problem,’ said Professor Grubbly-Plank gruffly, turning back into the staff room.
‘Just a moment, Wilhelmina!’ said Professor McGonagall. ‘Potter's letter!’
‘Oh yeah!’ said Harry, who had momentarily forgotten the scroll68 tied to Hedwig's leg. Professor Grubbly-Plank handed it over and then disappeared into the staff room carrying Hedwig, who was staring at Harry as though unable to believe he would give her away like this. Feeling slightly guilty, he turned to go, but Professor McGonagall called him back.
‘Potter!’
‘Yes, Professor?’
She glanced up and down the corridor; there were students coming from both directions.
‘Bear in mind,’ she said quickly and quietly, her eyes on the scroll in his hand, ‘that channels of communication in and out of Hogwarts may be being watched, won't you?’
‘I—’ said Harry, but the flood of students rolling along the corridor was almost upon him. Professor McGonagall gave him a curt62 nod and retreated into the staff room, leaving Harry to be swept out into the courtyard with the crowd. He spotted69 Ron and Hermione already standing70 in a sheltered corner, their cloak collars turned up against the wind. Harry slit71 open the scroll as he hurried towards them and found five words in Sirius's handwriting:
Today, same time, same place.
‘Is Hedwig OK?’ asked Hermione anxiously, the moment he was within earshot.
‘Where did you take her?’ asked Ron.
‘To Grubbly-Plank,’ said Harry. ‘And I met McGonagall ... listen ...’
And he told them what Professor McGonagall had said. To his surprise, neither of the others looked shocked. On the contrary, they exchanged significant looks.
‘What?’ said Harry, looking from Ron to Hermione and back again.
‘Well, I was just saying to Ron ... what if someone had tried to intercept72 Hedwig? I mean, she's never been hurt on a flight before, has she?’
‘Who's the letter from, anyway?’ asked Ron, taking the note from Harry.
‘Snuffles,’ said Harry quietly.
‘"Same time, same place?” Does he mean the fire in the common room?’
‘Obviously,’ said Hermione, also reading the note. She looked uneasy. ‘I just hope nobody else has read this ...’
‘But it was still sealed and everything,’ said Harry, trying to convince himself as much as her. ‘And nobody would understand what it meant if they didn't know where we'd spoken to him before, would they?’
‘I don't know,’ said Hermione anxiously, hitching74 her bag back over her shoulder as the bell rang again, ‘it wouldn't be exactly difficult to re-seal the scroll by magic ... and if anyone's watching the Floo Network ... but I don't really see how we can warn him not to come without that being intercepted75, too!’
They trudged76 down the stone steps to the dungeons78 for Potions, all three of them, lost in thought, but as they reached the bottom of the steps they were recalled to themselves by the voice of Draco Malfoy, who was standing just outside Snape's classroom door, waving around an official-looking piece of parchment and talking much louder than was necessary so that they could hear every word.
‘Yeah, Umbridge gave the Slytherin Quidditch team permission to continue playing straightaway, I went to ask her first thing this morning. Well, it was pretty much automatic, I mean, she knows my father really well, he's always popping in and out of the Ministry ... it'll be interesting to see whether Gryffindor are allowed to keep playing, won't it?’
‘Don't rise,’ Hermione whispered imploringly80 to Harry and Ron, who were both watching Malfoy, faces set and fists clenched81. ‘It's what he wants.’
‘I mean,’ said Malfoy, raising his voice a little more, his grey eyes glittering malevolently82 in Harry and Ron's direction, ‘if it's a question of influence with the Ministry, I don't think they've got much chance ... from what my father says, they've been looking for an excuse to sack Arthur Weasley for years ... and as for Potter ... my father says it's a matter of time before the Ministry has him carted off to St. Mungo's ... apparently they've got a special ward18 for people whose brains have been addled83 by magic.’
Malfoy made a grotesque84 face, his mouth sagging85 open and his eyes rolling. Crabbe and Goyle gave their usual grunts87 of laughter; Pansy Parkinson shrieked88 with glee.
Something collided hard with Harry's shoulder, knocking him sideways. A split second later he realised that Neville had just charged past him, heading straight for Malfoy.
‘Neville, no!’
Harry leapt forward and seized the back of Neville's robes; Neville struggled frantically, his fists flailing89, trying desperately90 to get at Malfoy who looked, for a moment, extremely shocked.
‘Help me!’ Harry flung at Ron, managing to get an arm around Neville's neck and dragging him backwards, away from the Slytherins. Crabbe and Goyle were flexing91 their arms as they stepped in front of Malfoy, ready for the fight. Ron seized Neville's arms, and together he and Harry succeeded in dragging Neville back into the Gryffindor line. Nevilles face was scarlet92; the pressure Harry was exerting on his throat rendered him quite incomprehensible, but odd words spluttered from his mouth.
‘Not ... funny ... don't ... Mungo's ... show ... him ...’
The dungeon77 door opened. Snape appeared there. His black eyes swept up the Gryffindor line to the point where Harry and Ron were wrestling with Neville.
‘Fighting, Potter, Weasley, Longbottom?’ Snape said in his cold, sneering93 voice. ‘Ten points from Gryffindor. Release Longbottom, Potter, or it will be detention. Inside, all of you.’
Harry let go of Neville, who stood panting and glaring at him.
‘I had to stop you,’ Harry gasped94, picking up his bag. ‘Crabbe and Goyle would've torn you apart.’
Neville said nothing; he merely snatched up his own bag and stalked off into the dungeon.
‘What in the name of Merlin,’ said Ron slowly, as they followed Neville, ‘was that about?’
Harry did not answer. He knew exactly why the subject of people who were in St. Mungo's because of magical damage to their brains was highly distressing96 to Neville, but he had sworn to Dumbledore that he would not tell anyone Neville's secret. Even Neville did not know Harry knew.
Harry, Ron and Hermione took their usual seats at the back of the class, pulled out parchment, quills97 and their copies of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi98.The class around them was whispering about what Neville had just done, but when Snape closed the dungeon door with an echoing bang, everybody immediately fell silent.
‘You will notice,’ said Snape, in his low, sneering voice, ‘that we have a guest with us today.’
He gestured towards the dim corner of the dungeon and Harry saw Professor Umbridge sitting there, clipboard on her knee. He glanced sideways at Ron and Hermione, his eyebrows raised. Snape and Umbridge, the two teachers he hated most. It was hard to decide which one he wanted to triumph over the other.
‘We are continuing with our Strengthening Solution today. You will find your mixtures as you left them last lesson; it correctly made they should have matured well over the weekend—instructions—’ he waved his wand again ‘—on the board. Carry on.’
Professor Umbridge spent the first half hour of the lesson making notes in her corner. Harry was very interested in hearing her question Snape; so interested, that he was becoming careless with his potion again.
‘Salamander blood, Harry!’ Hermione moaned, grabbing his wrist to prevent him adding the wrong ingredient for the third time, ‘not pomegranate juice!’
‘Right,’ said Harry vaguely99, putting down the bottle and continuing to watch the corner. Umbridge had just got to her feet. ‘Ha,’ he said softly, as she strode between two lines of desks towards Snape, who was bending over Dean Thomas's cauldron.
‘Well, the class seem fairly advanced for their level,’ she said briskly to Snape's back. ‘Though I would question whether it is advisable to teach them a potion like the Strengthening Solution. I think the Ministry would prefer it if that was removed from the syllabus100.’
Snape straightened up slowly and turned to look at her.
‘Now ... how long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?’ she asked, her quill poised101 over her clipboard.
‘Fourteen years,’ Snape replied. His expression was unfathomable. Harry, watching him closely, added a few drops to his potion; it hissed102 menacingly and turned from turquoise103 to orange.
‘You applied104 first for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post, I believe?’ Professor Umbridge asked Snape.
‘Yes,’ said Snape quietly.
‘But you were unsuccessful?’
Snape's lip curled.
‘Obviously.’
Professor Umbridge scribbled105 on her clipboard.
‘And you have applied regularly for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post since you first joined the school, I believe?’
‘Yes,’ said Snape quietly, barely moving his lips. He looked very angry.
‘Do you have any idea why Dumbledore has consistently refused to appoint you?’ asked Umbridge.
‘I suggest you ask him,’ said Snape jerkily.
‘Oh, I shall,’ said Professor Umbridge, with a sweet smile.
‘I suppose this is relevant?’ Snape asked, his black eyes narrowed.
‘Oh yes,’ said Professor Umbridge, ‘yes, the Ministry wants a thorough understanding of teachers'—er—backgrounds.’
She turned away, walked over to Pansy Parkinson and began questioning her about the lessons. Snape looked round at Harry and their eyes met for a second. Harry hastily dropped his gaze to his potion, which was now congealing106 foully107 and giving off a. strong smell of burned rubber.
‘No marks again, then, Potter,’ said Snape maliciously109, emptying Harry's cauldron with a wave of his wand. ‘You will write me an essay on the correct composition of this potion, indicating how and why you went wrong, to be handed in next lesson, do you understand?’
‘Yes,’ said Harry furiously. Snape had already given them homework and he had Quidditch practice this evening; this would mean another couple of sleepless110 nights. It did not seem possible that he had awoken that morning feeling very happy. All he felt now was a fervent111 desire for this day to end.
‘Maybe I'll skive off Divination112,’ he said glumly113, as they stood in the courtyard after lunch, the wind whipping at the hems79 of robes and brims of hats. ‘I'll pretend to be ill and do Snape's essay instead, then I won't have to stay up half the night.’
‘You can't skive off Divination,’ said Hermione severely114.
‘Hark who's talking, you walked out of Divination, you hate Trelawney!’ said Ron indignantly.
‘I don't hate her,’ said Hermione loftily. ‘I just think she's an absolutely appalling115 teacher and a real old fraud. But Harry's already missed History of Magic and I don't think he ought to miss anything else today!’
There was too much truth in this to ignore, so half an hour later Harry took his seat in the hot, overperfumed atmosphere of the Divination classroom, feeling angry at everybody. Professor Trelawney was yet again handing out copies of The Dream Oracle116.Harry thought he'd surely be much better employed doing Snape's punishment essay than sitting here trying to find meaning in a lot of made-up dreams.
It seemed, however, that he was not the only person in Divination who was in a temper. Professor Trelawney slammed a copy of the Oracle down on the table between Harry and Ron and swept away, her lips pursed; she threw the next copy of the Oracle at Seamus and Dean, narrowly avoiding Seamus's head, and thrust the final one into Neville's chest with such force that he slipped off his pouffe.
‘Well, carry on!’ said Professor Trelawney loudly, her voice high-pitched and somewhat hysterical117, ‘you know what to do! Or am I such a sub-standard teacher that you have never learned how to open a book?’
The class stared perplexedly at her, then at each other. Harry, however, thought he knew what was the matter. As Professor Trelawney flounced back to the high-backed teachers chair, her magnified eyes full of angry tears, he leaned his head closer to Ron's and muttered, ‘I think she's got the results of her inspection118 back.’
‘Professor?’ said Parvati Patil in a hushed voice (she and Lavender had always rather admired Professor Trelawney). ‘Professor, is there anything—er—wrong?’
‘Wrong!’ cried Professor Trelawney in a voice throbbing119 with emotion. ‘Certainly not! I have been insulted, certainly ... insinuations have been made against me ... unfounded accusations120 levelled ... but no, there is nothing wrong, certainly not!’
She took a great shuddering121 breath and looked away from Parvati, angry tears spilling from under her glasses.
‘I say nothing,’ she choked, ‘of sixteen years of devoted122 service ... it has passed, apparently, unnoticed ... but I shall not be insulted, no, I shall not!’
‘But, Professor, who's insulting you?’ asked Parvati timidly.
‘The Establishment!’ said Professor Trelawney, in a deep, dramatic, wavering voice. ‘Yes, those with eyes too clouded by the mundane123 to See as I See, to Know as I Know ... of course, we Seers have always been feared, always persecuted124 ... it is—alas—our fate.’
She gulped126, dabbed127 at her wet cheeks with the end of her shawl, then she pulled a small embroidered128 handkerchief from her sleeve, and blew her nose very hard with a sound like Peeves129 blowing a raspberry.
Ron sniggered. Lavender shot him a disgusted look.
‘Professor,’ said Parvati, ‘do you mean ... is it something Professor Umbridge—?’
‘Do not speak to me about that woman!’ cried Professor Trelawney leaping to her feet, her beads130 rattling131 and her spectacles flashing. ‘Kindly continue with your work!’
And she spent the rest of the lesson striding among them, tears still leaking from behind her glasses, muttering what sounded like threats under her breath.
‘... may well choose to leave ... the indignity132 of it ... on probation133 ... we shall see ... how she dares ...’
‘You and Umbridge have got something in common,’ Harry told Hermione quietly when they met again in Defence Against the Dark Arts. ‘She obviously reckons Trelawney's an old fraud, too ... looks like she's put her on probation.’
Umbridge entered the room as he spoke73, wearing her black velvet134 bow and an expression of great smugness.
‘Good afternoon, class.’
‘Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge,’ they chanted dully.
‘Wands away, please.’
But there was no answering flurry of movement this time; nobody had bothered to take out their wands.
‘Please turn to page thirty-four of Defensive135 Magical Theory and read the third chapter, entitled “The Case for Non-Offensive Responses to Magical Attack". There will be—’
‘—no need to talk,’ Harry, Ron and Hermione said together, under their breaths.
‘No Quidditch practice,’ said Angelina in hollow tones when Harry, Ron and Hermione entered the common room after dinner that night.
‘But I kept my temper!’ said Harry, horrified136. ‘I didn't say anything to her, Angelina, I swear, I—’
‘I know, I know, said Angelina miserably137. ‘She just said she needed a bit of time to consider.’
‘Consider what?’ said Ron angrily. ‘She's given the Slytherins permission, why not us?’
But Harry could imagine how much Umbridge was enjoying holding the threat of no Gryffindor Quidditch team over their heads and could easily understand why she would not want to relinquish138 that weapon over them too soon.
‘Well,’ said Hermione, ‘look on the bright side—at least now you'll have time to do Snape's essay!’
‘That's a bright side, is it?’ snapped Harry, while Ron stared incredulously at Hermione. ‘No Quidditch practice, and extra Potions?’
Harry slumped139 down into a chair, dragged his Potions essay reluctantly from his bag and set to work. It was very hard to concentrate; even though he knew Sirius was not due in the fire until much later, he could not help glancing into the flames every few minutes just in case. There was also an incredible amount of noise in the room: Fred and George appeared finally to have perfected one type of Skiving Snackbox, which they were taking turns to demonstrate to a cheering and whooping140 crowd.
First, Fred would take a bite out of the orange end of a chew, at which he would vomit141 spectacularly into a bucket they had placed in front of them. Then he would force down the purple end of the chew, at which the vomiting142 would immediately cease. Lee Jordan, who was assisting the demonstration143, was lazily Vanishing the vomit at regular intervals144 with the same Vanishing Spell Snape kept using on Harry's potions.
What with the regular sounds of retching, cheering and the sound of Fred and George taking advance orders from the crowd, Harry was finding it exceptionally difficult to focus on the correct method for Strengthening Solution. Hermione was not helping145 matters; the cheers and the sound of vomit hitting the bottom of Fred and George's bucket were punctuated146 by her loud and disapproving147 sniffs148, which Harry found, if anything, more distracting.
‘Just go and stop them, then!’ he said irritably149, after crossing out the wrong weight of powdered griffin claw for the fourth time.
‘I can't, they're not technically150 doing anything wrong,’ said Hermione through gritted151 teeth. ‘They're quite within their rights to eat the foul108 things themselves and I can't find a rule that says the other idiots aren't entitled to buy them, not unless they're proven to be dangerous in some way and it doesn't look as though they are.’
She, Harry and Ron watched George projectile-vomit into the bucket, gulp125 down the rest of the chew and straighten up, beaming with his arms wide to protracted152 applause.
‘You know, I don't get why Fred and George only got three OWLs each,’ said Harry, watching as Fred, George and Lee collected gold from the eager crowd. ‘They really know their stuff.’
‘Oh, they only know flashy stuff that's of no real use to anyone,’ said Hermione disparagingly153.
‘No real use?’ said Ron in a strained voice. ‘Hermione, they've made about twenty-six Galleons154 already.’
It was a long while before the crowd around the Weasley twins dispersed155, then Fred, Lee and George sat up counting their takings even longer, so it was well past midnight when Harry, Ron and Hermione finally had the common room to themselves. At long last, Fred had closed the doorway156 to the boys’ dormitories behind him, rattling his box of Galleons ostentatiously so that Hermione scowled157. Harry, who was making very little progress with his Potions essay, decided158 to give it up for the night. As he put his books away, Ron, who was dozing159 lightly in an armchair, gave a muffled160 grunt86, awoke, and looked blearily into the fire.
‘Sirius!’ he said.
Harry whipped round. Sirius's untidy dark head was sitting in the fire again.
‘Hi,’ he said, grinning.
‘Hi,’ chorused Harry, Ron and Hermione, all three kneeling down on the hearthrug. Crookshanks purred loudly and approached the fire, trying, despite the heat, to put his face close to Sirius's.
‘How're things?’ said Sirius.
‘Not that good,’ said Harry, as Hermione pulled Crookshanks back to stop him singeing161 his whiskers. ‘The Ministry's forced through another decree, which means we're not allowed to have Quidditch teams—’
‘Or secret Defence Against the Dark Arts groups?’ Said Sirius.
There was a short pause.
‘How did you know about that?’ Harry demanded.
‘You want to choose your meeting places more carefully,’ said Sirius, grinning still more broadly. ‘The Hog's Head, I ask you.’
‘Well, it was better than the Three Broomsticks!’ said Hermione defensively. ‘That's always packed with people—’
‘Which means you'd have been harder to overhear,’ said Sirius. ‘You've got a lot to learn, Hermione.’
‘Who overheard us?’ Harry demanded.
‘Mundungus, of course,’ said Sirius, and when they all looked puzzled he laughed. ‘He was the witch under the veil.’
‘That was Mundungus?’ Harry said, stunned162. ‘What was he doing in the Hog's Head?’
‘What do you think he was doing?’ said Sirius impatiently. ‘Keeping an eye on you, of course.’
‘I'm still being followed?’ asked Harry angrily.
‘Yeah, you are,’ said Sirius, ‘and just as well, isn't it, if the first thing you're going to do on your weekend off is organise163 an illegal defence group.’
But he looked neither angry nor worried. On the contrary, he was looking at Harry with distinct pride.
‘Why was Dung hiding from us?’ asked Ron, sounding disappointed. ‘We'd've liked to've seen him.’
‘He was banned from the Hog's Head twenty years ago,’ said Sirius, ‘and that barman's got a long memory. We lost Moody's spare Invisibility Cloak when Sturgis was arrested, so Dung's been dressing164 as a witch a lot lately ... anyway ... first of all, Ron—I've sworn to pass on a message from your mother.’
‘Oh yeah?’ said Ron, sounding apprehensive165.
‘She says on no account whatsoever166 are you to take part in an illegal secret Defence Against the Dark Arts group. She says you'll be expelled for sure and your future will be ruined. She says there will be plenty of time to learn how to defend yourself later and that you are too young to be worrying about that right now. She also’ (Sirius's eyes turned to the other two) ‘advises Harry and Hermione not to proceed with the group, though she accepts that she has no authority over either of them and simply begs them to remember that she has their best interests at heart. She would have written all this to you, but if the owl had been intercepted you'd all have been in real trouble, and she can't say it for herself because she's on duty tonight.’
‘On duty doing what?’ said Ron quickly.
‘Never you mind, just stuff for the Order,’ said Sirius. ‘So it's fallen to me to be the messenger and make sure you tell her I passed it all on, because I don't think she trusts me to.’
There was another pause in which Crookshanks, mewing, attempted to paw Sirius's head, and Ron fiddled167 with a hole in the hearthrug.
‘So, you want me to say I'm not going to take part in the Defence group?’ he muttered finally.
‘Me? Certainly not!’ said Sirius, looking surprised. ‘I think it's an excellent idea!’
‘You do?’ said Harry, his heart lifting.
‘Of course I do!’ said Sirius. ‘D'you think your father and I would've lain down and taken orders from an old hag like Umbridge?’
‘But—last term all you did was tell me to be careful and not take risks—’
‘Last year, all the evidence was that someone inside Hogwarts was trying to kill you, Harry!’ said Sirius impatiently. ‘This year, we know there's someone outside Hogwarts who'd like to kill us all, so I think learning to defend yourselves properly is a very good idea!’
‘And if we do get expelled?’ Hermione asked, a quizzical look on her face.
‘Hermione, this whole thing was your idea!’ said Harry, staring at her.
‘I know it was. I just wondered what Sirius thought,’ she said, shrugging.
‘Well, better expelled and able to defend yourselves than sitting safely in school without a clue,’ said Sirius.
‘Hear, hear,’ said Harry and Ron enthusiastically.
‘So,’ said Sirius, ‘how are you organising this group? Where are you meeting?’
‘Well, that's a bit of a problem now,’ said Harry. ‘Dunno where we're going to be able to go.’
‘How about the Shrieking168 Shack169?’ suggested Sirius.
‘Hey, that's an idea!’ said Ron excitedly, but Hermione made a sceptical noise and all three of them looked at her, Sirius's head turning in the flames.
‘Well, Sirius, it's just that there were only four of you meeting in the Shrieking Shack when you were at school,’ said Hermione, ‘and all of you could transform into animals and I suppose you could all have squeezed under a single Invisibility Cloak if you'd wanted to. But there are twenty-eight of us and none of us is an Animagus, so we wouldn't need so much an Invisibility Cloak as an Invisibility Marquee—’
‘Fair point,’ said Sirius, looking slightly crestfallen170. ‘Well, I'm sure you'll come up with somewhere. There used to be a pretty roomy secret passageway behind that big mirror on the fourth floor, you might have enough space to practise jinxes in there.’
‘Fred and George told me it's blocked,’ said Harry, shaking his head. ‘Caved in or something.’
‘Oh ...’ said Sirius, frowning. ‘Well, I'll have a think and get back to—’
He broke off. His face was suddenly tense, alarmed. He turned sideways, apparently looking into the solid brick wall of the fireplace.
‘Sirius?’ said Harry anxiously.
But he had vanished. Harry gaped171 at the flames for a moment, then turned to look at Ron and Hermione.
‘Why did he—?’
Hermione gave a horrified gasp95 and leapt to her feet, still staring at the fire.
A hand had appeared amongst the flames, groping as though to catch hold of something; a stubby, short-fingered hand covered in ugly old-fashioned rings.
The three of them ran for it. At the door of the boys’ dormitory Harry looked back. Umbridge's hand was still making snatching movements amongst the flames, as though she knew exactly where Sirius's hair had been moments before and was determined172 to seize it.
剩下的周末时光里，哈利感到了整个学期以来前所未有的愉悦。他和罗恩又花了周日的大部分时间赶他们的作业，当然这不能称得上有趣。但因秋日阳光灿烂，他们不再围着桌子，而是把各自的功课扔在一边，在湖边大树的影子下闲逛起来。而决意按时做完所有功课的荷米恩，带了更多的毛线，对自己的织针施加了魔法，于是它们便在半空中中反射出耀眼的阳光，“滴答”作响地织出更多的帽子和桌巾。
在知道了他们正在采取行动抵抗昂布瑞吉和魔法部，而昂布瑞吉又是叛乱的一个关键人物的时候，哈利感到了极大的满足。他在脑中回想着每星期六的会面：所有这些到他这里学习黑魔法防卫术的人、他们听过他的所为后的神态、秋在 Triwizard 巡回赛中对他的表现的啧啧称赞——知道了这些人不再把他当成一个说谎的无赖，有些人甚至很崇拜他，他感到如此振奋，以至这种快乐的情绪延续到了星期一的早上——尽管这天没什么他喜欢的课程。 他和罗恩下了宿舍楼，讨论着安吉丽娜关于在夜间练习中练习一种叫Sloth Grip Roll的新动作的主意。当他们经过阳光普照的休息室时，他们注意到室中多出来的物品已经吸引了一小群人在观看。
格兰芬多的布告栏粘贴着一个巨大的告示，它覆盖了在布告栏上的所有其他东西 ——二手符咒书的售货清单、由Argus Filch张贴的学校常规提醒、魁地奇队的训练时间表、某种巧克力蛙卡交换启事、Weasleys最新的测试广告、去霍格莫德村的周末日期以及各种寻物启事。新的告示是用巨大的黑色字母书写的，在它的底部有一个官方印章，旁边是整齐的花体签名落款：
霍格瓦彻魔法学校令
所有学生组织、社团、团体、dubs即日起解散。
学生组织、社团、团体、俱乐部指3人或以上的学生例会。
重新建立必须通过高级检查官（昂布瑞吉教授）的批准。
未得到高级检查官认可和批准的任何社团、团体、俱乐部都不允许存在。
任何建立、参加未经高级检查官批准的组织、社团、群体、俱乐部的学生将被开除。
上述文件依据24号教育法令
签名：多洛瑞斯·昂布瑞吉，高级检查官
哈利和罗恩站在一群忧心忡忡的二年级学生后面，越过他们的脑袋，读着这张通知。
“这是否意味着他们将关闭Gobstones俱乐部？”其中一人问他的朋友。
“我估计你的Gobstones会没事，”罗恩阴沉沉地说，吓得这名二年级学生跳起来，“而我们就没那么幸运了，你说呢？”当二年级学生匆忙离去后，他问哈利。
哈利正在再次阅读这则告示，自星期六以来便充盈他全身的愉悦已消逝得无影无踪。他体内充满了愤怒。
“这绝非巧合”他说，他把手握成拳状，“她知道。”
“她不可能知道” 罗恩立刻答道。
“会有人在那酒店偷听，让我们面对这一点，我们不知道多少出现在我们眼前的人是值得信任的。他们中的任何人都可能跑去向昂布瑞吉告密。”
而他竟以为他们信任他，甚至认为他们崇拜着他。
“Zacharias Smith！” 罗恩立刻说道，并用拳猛击一下自己的手掌，“或者，我认为Michael Corner 也叛变了！” “我想知道荷米恩看到了这告示没有？” 哈利说，一边扫视那扇通向女生宿舍的门。 “让我们去告诉她吧。” 罗恩说。他向前跃进，打开了门，走上螺旋梯。 当他到了第六级阶梯时，一种高声的、哀号似的、听起来像高音喇叭的声音和阶梯融合在一起，形成了一道像平滑的石梯。罗恩试图逃跑，他的手疯狂的舞动着，就像一架风车。然后他被新形成的石梯击中，后背着地摔倒在哈利的脚下。
“恩，我不认为我们被允许进入女生宿舍” 哈利说着，把罗恩从他脚上扶起来，试图忍住不大笑出声。 两个四年级的女生笑着从石梯上走来。
“噢，谁想上楼去？”她们开心得吃吃直笑，蹦蹦跳跳的笑看着哈利和罗恩。
“是我。” 灰头土脸的罗恩说，“我不知道会发生那种事。这不公平！”当女孩们疯笑着从肖像画洞口离开时，他对哈利补充道：“荷米恩被允许进入我们的宿舍，为什么我们不能……？” “这是一条老规矩”，她优雅地滑下石梯，跳到他们面前的地毯上，不费吹灰之力。“在霍格沃兹而言，这是一个历史问题，创立者认为男生相对女生而言较为不值得信赖。不管怎样，你为什么要去那儿？”
“来找你，看看这个！” 罗恩不由分说地把她拖曳到告示板前。 荷米恩的眼睛快速地在告示上扫视，她的表情变得凝重起来。
“一定有人向她告密！” 罗恩愤愤不平地说道。 “他们不可能这么做，” 荷米恩低声说道 。
“你太天真了，” 罗恩说“因为你诚实可信，你就这样认为吗？” “不，他们不会这样做的，因为我对那张有我们签名的羊皮纸下了诅咒，” 荷米恩镇静地说道，“相信我，如果他们中的任何人跑去向昂布瑞吉告密，我们会清楚的知道他们是谁，他们也必定会对此感到由衷的后悔。” “他们会怎样？” 罗恩以渴望的声调说道。 “如果这样，” 荷米恩说，“这会让Eloise Midgeon的粉刺看起来像一对可爱斑点。来吧，让我们享用我们的早餐并看看其他人怎么想的。我想知道这张通知是否张贴在所有房间里。”
一走进大厅，他们就知道不光只是格兰芬多塔贴有昂布瑞吉氏的告示了。强烈的情绪和异常的躁动在门厅里蔓延，人们围着桌子围着桌子议论着他们读到的东西。哈利、罗恩 和荷米恩 刚一入座，奈威、Dean、弗来德、乔治 和 金妮 便径直向他们走来。 “你看到那告示了吗？”
“你们猜她知道了吗？”
“我们该怎么办呢？”
他们都注视着哈利，他向周围扫视了一周，确认附近没有老师。
“不管怎样，我们当然还是要那么做的。”他低声说道。
“就知道你会那么说！” 乔治兴奋地在哈利臂上重重一击。 “级长呢？” 弗来德问道，探询性的看向罗恩和荷米恩· “当然。” 荷米恩沉着地说。
“Ernie和Hannah Abbott在这儿，” 罗恩越过他的肩膀张望着，“这里是Ravenclaw blokes和Smith，没有人看起来是有污点的。”
荷米恩一脸警视：
“别去关心那些斑点，那些白痴现在还不会出现在这儿，这种举动让你看起来很可疑，坐下！”她对Ernie和Hannah比口形，疯狂地向他们作手势让他们重新坐到Hufflepuff桌。“稍后！我们—稍后——再—谈！”
“一直等到告诉Michael，” 金妮不耐烦地说，她在长凳上摇摆着，“那些笨蛋，彻头彻尾的笨蛋。” 她快速走向Ravenclaw那一桌；哈利看着她远去。秋坐得并不远，她正跟一个跟她一起去过猪头酒吧的卷发朋友说话。昂布拉吉是否注意到她又吓得不敢再跟他们会面了呢？
直到他们离开大厅，去上魔法史课，通知激起的巨大反应仍未平息。
“哈利！ 罗恩。”
是安吉丽娜，她带着绝望的表情，不顾一切的向他们冲过来。
“好的，”当她走近到足以听见他的声音时，哈利悄声说道，“我们仍然试图……”
“你难道不知道她的告示包括在魁地奇内吗？” 安吉丽娜打断了他，“我们必须申请得到许可，以重组格兰芬多队。 “什么？”哈利说。
“没门！”罗恩一脸惊骇。
“你们阅读了告示，它也提及了团队！因此，听我说，哈利，我说最后一次，请不要再跟昂布瑞吉大动肝火了，否则的话，她可能再也不让我们玩魁地奇了！”
“好吧好吧，”看见安吉丽娜的眼泪已经在眼眶里打转，哈利只好先答应下来，“别担心，我会自制的。”
“我打赌昂布瑞吉会出现在魔法史教室。”在他们去上宾斯教授的课的途中，罗恩冷冷地说，“她还没有检查宾斯教授呢。我打赌她在那里，赌什么都行。”
可他错了，当他们进入教室时，出现在他们眼前的只有唯一一位老师——宾斯教授，像平时一样飘浮在椅子上方一英尺的地方，正准备继续讲授单调而又长篇累牍的巨人战争。哈利今天甚至不想尝试着跟随他的讲课思路。他闲散地在他的羊皮纸上涂鸦，不去理睬荷米恩对他的频频怒视和推搡，直到肋骨上一次明显的刺痛惹恼了他，他才抬起头。
“什么？”
她指向窗，哈利环视四周，发现海维正栖息在窗子狭窄的边缘上，透过厚厚的玻璃窗凝视着他，它腿上绑着一封信。哈利真搞不明白它，他们刚刚一起用过早餐，究竟为什么它不像往常一样在那时递送这封信呢？他的许多同学也都认出了它。
“噢，我一直很喜欢那只猫头鹰，她是那么的漂亮” 哈利听到Lavender 对Parvati这样叹道。
他瞥了一眼还在继续朗读笔记的宾斯教授，教授仿佛丝毫没有察觉到班级里对他的注意力比往常更少了。哈利悄悄地离开他自己的座位，蜷缩着身子，飞快地穿过教室里的排排座位来到窗边，他滑动着窗钩，缓缓打开它。
他希望海维伸出它的脚，那么他就可以拿走信，然后让它飞回猫头鹰屋。但那个时候窗子已经开得足够宽，因此海维希望可以飞进去，于是它寂寞地叫了起来。他忙关上窗，不安地向教授瞥了一眼，再次蜷缩着身子，把海维放在肩膀上，快速返回到自己的座位，又把它转移到自己膝上，解下绑在它腿上的信件。
直到那时他才突然发现海维的羽毛奇怪地卷曲着；有些倒了，它的一只翅膀耷拉着。
“它受伤了！”哈利低声说，一边弯下头靠近它。荷米恩和罗恩倾斜着身子以便靠得更近；荷米恩甚至放下了她的羽毛笔。“看，它的翅膀的这里有些不妥。”
海维颤抖着，当哈利碰触她的翅膀时，它忍不住轻跳了起来。海维所有羽毛都竖了起来，它责备地看着他。
“宾斯教授，” 哈利大声说，教室里的所有人都转过来看向他，“我感到有点不舒服。” 宾斯教授把他的视线从笔记上移开，惊讶地看着哈利，却像往常一样，只发现满屋子的人。
“感到不舒服？”他模糊地重复道。
“浑身都不舒服，” 哈利把海维藏在背后，坚定地迈开步子，“我认为我需要飞速赶到医院去。” “是的，” 宾斯教授说，明显的有些手足无措，“是的，是的，飞速赶到医院，好的，你可以走了，那么，Perkins。”
一出教室，哈利就把海维重新放到肩上，匆忙地在廊上行走，直到离开宾斯教授的视力可及之处才停下来思考。他心目中治疗海维的首选当然是哈格力，但由于他现在并不知道哈格力在哪儿，于是他唯一剩余的选择就是向Grubbly-Plank教授寻求帮助。
他从窗内窥视窗外那阴郁多风的土地，靠近哈格力的小屋无论如何都不会有她的告示；如果她现在不在授课，她可能会在教研室。他走下楼，海维在他肩上虚弱地摇摆着，不时发出柔弱的哀号。
在教研室大门两侧分别嵌着一只石兽装饰。当哈利靠近大门，其中一个石兽用嘶哑的嗓音说道：“你现在应该在课堂上，小家伙。”
“这事很紧急。” 哈利说得很简略。
“噢，急事，是吗？”另一只石兽用尖锐的声调说道，“好吧，这倒让我们做起本职工作来了，不是吗？”
哈利敲了敲门，他听到脚步声，门开了，他与麦格教授面面相觑。
“你没有被判处又一次禁闭吧！”她立刻说道，她的方形眼镜闪耀着警示的光芒。
“没有，教授！” 哈利急忙为自己辩白。
“好的，那么，你为什么不在自己的课堂上呢？”
“显而易见的，是因为有急事，”第二只石兽用他的丑恶嘴脸说道。
“我在寻找Grubbly-Plank教授，” 哈利解释道，“这是我的猫头鹰，它受伤了。” “受伤的猫头鹰，是吗？”
Grubbly-Plank教授一手持着烟管，一手持着一份预言家日报，出现在麦格教授的肩上。
“是的。” 哈利小心翼翼地把肩膀上的海维轻轻举起来，“它出现在其他的投递猫头鹰后面，它的羽翼变得很古怪，看。” Grubbly-Plank教授用牙齿紧紧咬住烟管，然后在麦格教授的注视下从哈利手中拿走海维。
“恩，” Grubbly-Plank说，她的烟管在她说话时来回地摆动着，“它好象被某种东西袭击了。真难以想象什么东西会把它伤成这样。当然的，Thestrals会时常猎取鸟儿，但是哈格力已经好好地训练过霍格沃兹的Thestrals，让它们不再去招惹猫头鹰了。”
哈利不想知道也不关心什么是Thestrals，他只想知道海维能否复原。可麦格教授却用敏锐的目光看着哈利，问道：“你知道这只猫头鹰飞了多远的路吗，波特？”
“恩，”哈利说，“大概有到伦敦那么远，我想。”
他飞快地瞥了她一眼，当他看到她双眉紧缩，就知道她已经明了“伦敦”实际上意味着“Grimmauld Place，十二号。”
Grubbly-Plank教授从她的长袍中掏出一片单片眼镜，把它塞进自己的眼睛里，近距离检查海维的翅膀。“如果你把它交给我的话我可以很快让它复原，”她说，“她这几天无论如何不能飞得太远。”
“恩，好的，谢谢你。” 哈利说，正在此时，休息铃响了。 “没问题，” Grubbly-Plank教授粗声说，随即返回了教研室。
“等一下，Wilhelmina！”麦格教授匆匆喊道：“波特的信！”
“噢，是的！” 哈利说，他差点忘了海维腿上的纸卷。Grubbly-Plank把信移交给哈利，然后就带着海维在教研室中消失了。海维消失前一直紧盯着哈利，似乎不敢相信他会这样抛下它。哈利感到有点心虚，他正想离开，却被麦格教授叫了回来。
“波特！”
“是的，教授？”
她上下扫视着门廊，两个方向都有学生走出来。
“记住，”她看着他手中的纸卷快速地低声说道，“那个霍格沃兹与外界的联络渠道将会被看护得好好的，你会这样做吗？”
“我……” 哈利正想作答，但是走廊上的学生们已蜂拥而至。麦格教授向他点了点头，撤回了教研室。留下哈利被熙攘的人群席卷入院中。他发现罗恩和荷米恩早已站在安全的角落，他们的外衣领子在风中翻飞。哈利一边跑向他们，一边打开纸卷，发现纸卷上有五个词——是天狼星的笔迹：今天，老时间，老地方。 “海维还好吧？” 荷米恩忧虑地问道，此刻他才回过了神。 “你把它带去哪儿了？” 罗恩问
“Grubbly-Plank教授那儿，”哈利说，“我还见到了麦格，听着。”
他把麦格所说的话转告给他们。出乎他的意料之外，他们并不感到震惊。相反的，他们交换着意味深长的眼神。
“什么？” 哈利说，把眼神从罗恩身上转到荷米恩身上又再转回来。 “好，我刚刚只是在跟罗恩说话。如果有人试图在中途阻截海维，那会怎么样？我是说，它还从未在以前的飞行途中受过伤，不是吗？”
“无论怎样，那是谁的信？” 罗恩问，从哈利手中拿过纸条。 “用鼻音讲。”哈利轻声提醒道。
“‘老时间，老地方’？他说的是教研室的炉火中吗？”
“显然的，” 荷米恩说，她也正在阅读纸条，她有点心神不安，“我希望没有其他人读过它。” “但是它到我手里时依旧是密封的，” 哈利像她一样尽量试图让自己信服，“如果他们不知道我们以前跟他在哪见面，那么就没有人会知道它意味着什么，不是吗？” “我不知道，” 荷米恩一脸焦虑，当铃声再次响起来的时候她猛把他的背包拉过肩，“用魔法重新密封纸卷并不是什么难事，我们也并不知道是否有人在监视壁炉网络系统，但是我确实不知道我们怎么才能在信件不被阻截的情况下警告他。” 他们走下石梯去上魔法学课程，三个人都走了神。但当他们走到最后几级台阶时，却被马尔夫的声音从沉思中唤醒。他站在斯内普的教室门外，挥舞着一张官方文件样的羊皮纸，故意提高了声音以便让他们能够清楚的听到每个字。
“是的，昂布瑞吉批准史莱哲林学院的魁地奇球队继续活动，我今天一大早就去向她申请了。这其实是理所当然的，我是说，她跟我的父亲很熟，他经常出入魔法部。看格兰芬多是否能得到批准继续参加球赛是件趣事，不是吗？”
“别生气，” 荷米恩小声向哈利和罗恩哀求道，他们怒视着马尔夫，脸儿通红，拳头紧握，“这正称了他的意。” “我是说，” 马尔夫又把声调提高了一点，他的灰色眼睛里闪烁着恶意，看向哈利和罗恩所在的方向，“如果这个问题跟魔法部的影响有关，我可不认为他们有多少机会。据我父亲所言，他们近年来一直在找理由解雇韦斯利（罗恩的父亲，在魔法部任职）。波特也一样。我父亲说把他送到St Mungo魔法疾病医院去只是个时间问题。很明显，他们对脑袋被魔法搞混的人有特殊的防护措施。”
马尔夫做了个鬼脸，他垂着嘴，眼珠乱转。Crabbe和Goyle和往常一样发出咕哝的笑声，Pansy Parkinson快乐地尖叫起来。
似乎有什么东西在哈利的肩上猛撞了一记，撞得他向一边倒去。马上他就明白刚刚是奈威（哈利在葛来分多的同学，是记性差的迷糊鬼，常惹麻烦）走过他身旁，径直地向马尔夫冲去。
“奈威，不要！”
哈利飞奔向前，抓住了奈威的长袍。奈威疯狂的挣扎，他双拳乱舞，拼命挣扎着试图靠近马尔夫。马尔夫顿时惊骇万分。
“帮我！” 哈利向罗恩求助，他用一只手绕过奈威的脖子，勉力把他拖了回来，远离史莱哲林s学院。Crabbe和Goyle舞动着他们的胳膊，站到马尔夫身前，准备搏斗。罗恩抓住了奈威的手臂，和哈利一起成功地把奈威拖回格兰芬多线内。奈威的脸涨得通红，哈利强加于自己喉咙上的压力致使他变得相当混乱，单个的单词杂乱无章地从他口中蹦出来。
“不要，有趣，别，麻瓜，展示，他。”
魔法学教室的门开了，斯内普出现在那里。他用黑眼睛扫视着格兰芬多交界线，哈利和罗恩正在那里跟奈威扭打成一团。
“打得很起劲啊，波特, Weasley, 隆巴顿？” 斯内普用他冷酷的嗓音轻蔑地嘲弄道。格兰芬多扣十分。波特，放开隆巴顿，不然就罚你禁闭。全部给我进来！“哈利松开奈威，他气喘吁吁，对哈利怒目而视。
“我必须阻止你，” 哈利上气不接下气地说，一边捡起他的书包，“Crabbe 和Goyle会把你撕成两半！”
奈威一言不发； 他只是夺过自己的书包，走入魔法教室。 “以梅林的名义，” 罗恩缓慢地说，跟在奈威后面，“那是为什么？” 哈利没有回答。他清楚知道，奈威为什么会对石墙高中的人们的大脑受到魔法损害这种话题感到痛苦，但是他已经对丹伯多发誓，他将不告诉任何人奈威的秘密，甚至奈威也不知道哈利知道这件事。
哈利、罗恩和荷米恩像以前一样坐在班级靠后的位置上，拿出羊皮纸、羽毛笔和《一千种神奇药草与蕈类》。整个班级都在轻声议论奈威刚刚的举动，但当斯内普教授“砰”地关上室门，一切立刻归于沉寂。
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“你们应该注意到”斯内普用他低沉的声音轻蔑的说，“我们今天有位客人。”
他向地牢阴暗的一角示意，哈里看见昂布瑞奇教授正坐在那儿，她的膝盖上放着一个记事板。他向罗恩和荷米恩旁边瞟了一眼，抬了抬眉毛。斯内普和昂布瑞奇是他最讨厌的两个老师。他很难弄清他更希望谁取得胜利。
“我们今天将继续研究Strengthening Solution。你们会看到你们配的药和上周留下时的一样；如果配的正确，它们应该在周末后酿造成功——说明——”他再一次挥动他的魔杖“——在黑板上。继续干。”
墙角的昂布瑞奇教授把上课的第一个半小时花在做笔记上。哈里极有兴致的听着她向斯内普提问；他的兴致使他又对自己配的药掉以轻心。
“火蜥蜴血,哈里！”荷米恩一边抱怨一边抓住他的手腕，防第三次放错药，“不是石榴汁！”
“知道了”哈里含糊的说，他放下瓶子继续向那个角落看。昂布里奇站了起来。当她走到离正在弯腰看迪安·托马斯的锅炉的斯内普两条桌子
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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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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hunched
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| （常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦）耸肩弓身的，伏首前倾的 | |
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beech
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| n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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buoyed
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| v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神 | |
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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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sloth
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| n.[动]树懒；懒惰，懒散 | |
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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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affixed
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| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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reminders
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| n.令人回忆起…的东西( reminder的名词复数 )；提醒…的东西；（告知该做某事的）通知单；提示信 | |
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filch
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| v.偷窃 | |
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barter
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| n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易 | |
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organisation
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| n.组织，安排，团体，有机休 | |
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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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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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wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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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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giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ogling
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| v.（向…）抛媚眼，送秋波( ogle的现在分词 ) | |
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giggling
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 ) | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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founders
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| n.创始人( founder的名词复数 ) | |
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stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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freckles
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| n.雀斑，斑点( freckle的名词复数 ) | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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scurried
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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thumping
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| adj.重大的，巨大的；重击的；尺码大的；极好的adv.极端地；非常地v.重击(thump的现在分词)；狠打；怦怦地跳；全力支持 | |
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frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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repercussions
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| n.后果，反响( repercussion的名词复数 )；余波 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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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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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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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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regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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quill
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| n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶 | |
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inflating
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| v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的现在分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨 | |
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hazily
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| ad. vaguely, not clear | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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58
gargoyles
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| n.怪兽状滴水嘴( gargoyle的名词复数 ) | |
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59
gargoyle
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| n.笕嘴 | |
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60
croaked
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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61
curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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62
curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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63
detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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64
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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65
owls
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| n.猫头鹰( owl的名词复数 ) | |
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66
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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67
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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68
scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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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
slit
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| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
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72
intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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73
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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74
hitching
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| 搭乘； （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的现在分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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75
intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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76
trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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77
dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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78
dungeons
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| n.地牢( dungeon的名词复数 ) | |
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79
hems
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| 布的褶边，贴边( hem的名词复数 )； 短促的咳嗽 | |
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80
imploringly
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| adv. 恳求地, 哀求地 | |
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81
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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82
malevolently
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83
addled
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| adj.（头脑）糊涂的，愚蠢的；（指蛋类）变坏v.使糊涂( addle的过去式和过去分词 )；使混乱；使腐臭；使变质 | |
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84
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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85
sagging
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| 下垂[沉，陷]，松垂，垂度 | |
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86
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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87
grunts
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的第三人称单数 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说； 石鲈 | |
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88
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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89
flailing
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| v.鞭打( flail的现在分词 )；用连枷脱粒；（臂或腿）无法控制地乱动；扫雷坦克 | |
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90
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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91
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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92
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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93
sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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94
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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95
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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96
distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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97
quills
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| n.（刺猬或豪猪的）刺( quill的名词复数 )；羽毛管；翮；纡管 | |
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98
fungi
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| n.真菌，霉菌 | |
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99
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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100
syllabus
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| n.教学大纲，课程大纲 | |
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101
poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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102
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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103
turquoise
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| n.绿宝石；adj.蓝绿色的 | |
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104
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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105
scribbled
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| v.潦草的书写( scribble的过去式和过去分词 )；乱画；草草地写；匆匆记下 | |
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106
congealing
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| v.使凝结，冻结( congeal的现在分词 )；（指血）凝结 | |
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107
foully
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| ad.卑鄙地 | |
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108
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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109
maliciously
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| adv.有敌意地 | |
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110
sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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111
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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112
divination
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| n.占卜，预测 | |
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113
glumly
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| adv.忧郁地，闷闷不乐地；阴郁地 | |
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114
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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115
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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116
oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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117
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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118
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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119
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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120
accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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121
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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122
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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123
mundane
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| adj.平凡的；尘世的；宇宙的 | |
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124
persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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125
gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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126
gulped
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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127
dabbed
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| （用某物）轻触( dab的过去式和过去分词 )； 轻而快地擦掉（或抹掉）； 快速擦拭； （用某物）轻而快地涂上（或点上）… | |
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128
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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129
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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130
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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131
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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132
indignity
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| n.侮辱，伤害尊严，轻蔑 | |
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133
probation
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| n.缓刑(期)，(以观后效的)察看；试用(期) | |
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134
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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135
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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136
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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137
miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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138
relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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139
slumped
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| 大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下] | |
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140
whooping
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| 发嗬嗬声的，发咳声的 | |
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141
vomit
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| v.呕吐，作呕；n.呕吐物，吐出物 | |
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142
vomiting
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| 吐 | |
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143
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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144
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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145
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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146
punctuated
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| v.（在文字中）加标点符号，加标点( punctuate的过去式和过去分词 )；不时打断某事物 | |
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147
disapproving
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| adj.不满的，反对的v.不赞成( disapprove的现在分词 ) | |
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148
sniffs
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的第三人称单数 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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149
irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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150
technically
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| adv.专门地，技术上地 | |
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151
gritted
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| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的过去式和过去分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
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152
protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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153
disparagingly
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| adv.以贬抑的口吻，以轻视的态度 | |
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154
galleons
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| n.大型帆船( galleon的名词复数 ) | |
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155
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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156
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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157
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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158
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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159
dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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160
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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161
singeing
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| v.浅表烧焦( singe的现在分词 )；（毛发）燎，烧焦尖端[边儿]；烧毛 | |
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162
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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163
organise
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| vt.组织，安排，筹办 | |
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164
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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165
apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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166
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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167
fiddled
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| v.伪造( fiddle的过去式和过去分词 )；篡改；骗取；修理或稍作改动 | |
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168
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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169
shack
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| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
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170
crestfallen
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| adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的 | |
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171
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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172
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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