Where was Dumbledore, and what was he doing? Harry1 caught sight of the Headmaster only twice over the next few weeks. He rarely appeared at meals anymore, and Harry was
sure Hermione was right in thinking that he was leaving the school for days at a time. Had Dumbledore forgotten the lessons he was supposed to be giving Harry?
Dumbledore had said that the lessons were leading to something to do with the prophecy; Harry had felt bolstered2, comforted, and now he felt slightly abandoned.
Halfway3 through October came their first trip of the term to Hogsmeade. Harry had wondered whether these trips would still be allowed, given the increasingly tight
security measures around the school, but was pleased to know that they were going ahead; it was always good to get out of the castle grounds for a few hours.
Harry woke early on the morning of the trip, which was proving stormy, and whiled away the time until breakfast by reading his copy of Advanced Potion-Making. He did
not usually lie in bed reading his textbooks; that sort of behavior, as Ron rightly said, was indecent in anybody except Hermione, who was simply weird4 that way. Harry
felt, however, that the Half-Blood Prince's copy of Advanced Potion-Making hardly qualified5 as a textbook. The more Harry pored over the book, the more he realized how
much was in there, not only the handy hints and shortcuts6 on potions that was earning him such a glowing reputation with Slughorn, but also the imaginative little
jinxes and hexes scribbled8 in the margins9, which Harry was sure, judging by the crossings-out and revisions, that the Prince had invented himself.
Harry had already attempted a few of the Prince's self-invented spells. There had been a hex that caused toenails to grow alarmingly fast (he had tried this on Crabbe
in the corridor, with very entertaining results); a jinx that glued the tongue to the roof of the mouth (which he had twice used, to general applause, on an
unsuspecting Argus Filch10); and, perhaps most useful of all, Muffliato, a spell that filled the ears of anyone nearby with an unidentifiable buzzing, so that lengthy11
conversations could be held in class with out being overheard. The only person who did not find these charms amusing was Hermione, who maintained a rigidly12 disapproving13
expression throughout and refused to talk at all if Harry had used the Muffliato spell on anyone in the vicinity.
Sitting up in bed, Harry turned the book sideways so as to examine more closely the scribbled instructions for a spell that seemed to have caused the Prince some
trouble. There were many crossings-out and alterations14, but finally, crammed15 into a corner of the page, the scribble7:
Levicorpus (n-vbl)
While the wind and sleet16 pounded relentlessly17 on the windows, and Neville snored loudly, Harry stared at the letters in brackets. N-vbl... that had to mean “non-
verbal.” Harry rather doubted he would be able to bring off this particular spell; he was still having difficulty with non-verbal spells, something Snape had been
quick to comment on in every D.A. class. On the other hand, the Prince had proved a much more effective teacher than Snape so far.
Pointing his wand at nothing in particular, he gave it an upward flick18 and said Levicorpus! inside his head.
“Aaaaaaaargh!”
There was a flash of light and the room was full of voices: everyone had woken up as Ron had let out a yell. Harry sent Advanced Potion-Making flying in panic; Ron was
dangling19 upside-down in midair as though an invisible hook had hoisted20 him up by the ankle.
“Sorry!” yelled Harry, as Dean and Seamus roared with laughter, and Neville picked himself up from the floor, having fallen out of bed. “Hang on—I'll let you down—
”
He groped for the potion book and riffled through it in a panic, trying to find the right page; at last he located it and deciphered the cramped21 word underneath22 the
spell: praying that this was the counter-jinx, Harry thought Liberacorpus! with all his might. There was another flash of light, and Ron fell in a heap onto his
“Sorry,” repeated Harry weakly, while Dean and Seamus continued to roar with laughter.
“Tomorrow,” said Ron in a muffled24 voice, “I'd rather you set the alarm clock.”
By the time they had got dressed, padding themselves out with several of Mrs. Weasley's hand-knitted sweaters and carrying cloaks, scarves, and gloves, Ron's shock had
subsided25 and he had decided26 that Harry's new spell was highly amusing; so amusing, in fact, that he lost no time in regaling Hermione with the story as they sat down
for breakfast.
“... and then there was another flash of light and I landed on the bed again!” Ron grinned, helping27 himself to sausages.
Hermione had not cracked a smile during this anecdote28, and now turned an expression of wintry disapproval29 upon Harry.
“Was this spell, by any chance, another one from that potion book of yours?” she asked.
Harry frowned at her.
“Always jump to the worst conclusion, don't you?”
“Was it?”
“Well... yeah, it was, but so what?”
“So you just decided to try out an unknown, handwritten incantation and see what would happen?”
“Why does it matter if it's handwritten?” said Harry, preferring not to answer the rest of the question.
“Because it's probably not Ministry30 of Magic approved,” said Hermione. “And also,” she added, as Harry and Ron rolled their eyes, “because I'm starting to think
this Prince character was a bit dodgy.”
Both Harry and Ron shouted her down at once.
“It was a laugh!” said Ron, upending a ketchup31 bottle over his sausages. “Just a laugh, Hermione, that's all!”
“Dangling people upside down by the ankle?” said Hermione. “Who puts their time and energy into making up spells like that?”
“Fred and George,” said Ron, shrugging, “it's their kind of thing. And, er—”
“My dad,” said Harry. He had only just remembered.
“What?” said Ron and Hermione together.
“My dad used this spell,” said Harry. “I—Lupin told me.”
This last part was not true; in fact, Harry had seen his father use the spell on Snape, but he had never told Ron and Hermione about that particular excursion into the
Pensieve. Now, however, a wonderful possibility occurred to him. Could the Half-Blood Prince possibly be—?
“Maybe your dad did use it, Harry,” said Hermione, “but he's not the only one. We've seen a whole bunch of people use it, in case you've forgotten. Dangling people
in the air. Making them float along, asleep, helpless.”
Harry stared at her. With a sinking feeling, he too remembered the behavior of the Death Eaters at the Quidditch World Cup. Ron came to his aid.
“That was different,” he said robustly32. “They were abusing it. Harry and his dad were just having a laugh. You don't like the Prince, Hermione,” he added, pointing
a sausage at her sternly, “because he's better than you at Potions —”
“It's got nothing to do with that!” said Hermione, her cheeks reddening. “I just think it's very irresponsible to start performing spells when you don't even know
what they're for, and stop talking about ‘the Prince’ as if it's his title, I bet it's just a stupid nickname, and it doesn't seem as though he was a very nice person
to me!”
“I don't see where you get that from,” said Harry heatedly. “If he'd been a budding Death Eater he wouldn't have been boasting about being ‘half-blood,’ would he?
”
Even as he said it, Harry remembered that his father had been pure-blood, but he pushed the thought out of his mind; he would worry about that later.
“The Death Eaters can't all be pure-blood, there aren't enough pure-blood wizards left,” said Hermione stubbornly. “I expect most of them are half-bloods pretending
to be pure. It's only Muggle-borns they hate, they'd be quite happy to let you and Ron join up.”
“There is no way they'd let me be a Death Eater!” said Ron indignantly, a bit of sausage flying off the fork he was now brandishing33 at Hermione and hitting Ernie
Macmillan on the head. “My whole family are blood traitors34! That's as bad as Muggle-borns to Death Eaters!”
“And they'd love to have me,” said Harry sarcastically35. “We'd be best pals36 if they didn't keep trying to do me in.”
This made Ron laugh; even Hermione gave a grudging37 smile, and a distraction38 arrived in the shape of Ginny.
“Hey, Harry, I'm supposed to give you this.”
It was a scroll39 of parchment with Harry's name written upon it in familiar thin, slanting40 writing.
“Thanks, Ginny... It's Dumbledore's next lesson!” Harry told Ron and Hermione, pulling open the parchment and quickly reading its contents. “Monday evening!” He
felt suddenly light and happy. “Want to join us in Hogsmeade, Ginny?” he asked.
“I'm going with Dean—might see you there,” she replied, waving at them as she left.
Filch was standing41 at the oak front doors as usual, checking off the names of people who had permission to go into Hogsmeade. The process took even longer than normal
as Filch was triple-checking everybody with his Secrecy42 Sensor43.
“What does it matter if we're smuggling44 Dark stuff OUT?” demanded Ron, eyeing the long thin Secrecy Sensor with apprehension45. “Surely you ought to be checking what
we bring back IN?”
His cheek earned him a few extra jabs with the Sensor, and he was still wincing46 as they stepped out into the wind and sleet.
The walk into Hogsmeade was not enjoyable. Harry wrapped his scarf over his lower face; the exposed part soon felt both raw and numb47. The road to the village was full
of students bent48 double against the bitter wind. More than once Harry wondered whether they might not have had a better time in the warm common room, and when they
finally reached Hogsmeade and saw that Zonko's Joke Shop had been boarded up, Harry took it as confirmation49 that this trip was not destined50 to be fun. Ron pointed51, with
a thickly gloved hand, toward Honeydukes, which was mercifully open, and Harry and Hermione staggered in his wake into the crowded shop.
“Thank God,” shivered Ron as they were enveloped52 by warm, toffee-scented air. “Let's stay here all afternoon.”
“Harry, m'boy!” said a booming voice from behind them.
“Oh no,” muttered Harry. The three of them turned to see Professor Slughorn, who was wearing an enormous furry54 hat and an overcoat with matching fur collar, clutching
a large bag of crystalized pineapple, and occupying at least a quarter of the shop.
“Harry, that's three of my little suppers you've missed now!” said Slughorn, poking55 him genially56 in the chest. “It won't do, m'boy, I'm determined57 to have you! Miss
Granger loves them, don't you?”
“Yes,” said Hermione helplessly, “they're really —”
“So why don't you come along, Harry?” demanded Slughorn.
“Well, I've had Quidditch practice, Professor,” said Harry, who had indeed been scheduling practices every time Slughorn had sent him a little, violet ribbon-adorned
invitation. This strategy meant that Ron was not left out, and they usually had a laugh with Ginny, imagining Hermione shut up with McLaggen and Zabini.
“Well, I certainly expect you to win your first match after all the hard work!” said Slughorn. “But a little recreation never hurt any body. Now, how about Monday
night, you can't possibly want to practice in this weather....”
“I can't, Professor, I've got — er—an appointment with Professor Dumbledore that evening.”
“Unlucky again!” cried Slughorn dramatically. “Ah, well... you can't evade59 me forever, Harry!”
And with a regal wave, he waddled60 out of the shop, taking as little notice of Ron as though he had been a display of Cockroach61 Clusters.
“I can't believe you've wriggled62 out of another one,” said Hermione, shaking her head. “They're not that bad, you know... they're even quite fun sometimes...” But
then she caught sight of Ron's expression. “Oh, look—they've got Deluxe63 Sugar Quills64—those would last hours!”
Glad that Hermione had changed the subject, Harry showed much more interest in the new extra-large Sugar Quills than he would normally have done, but Ron continued to
look moody65 and merely shrugged66 when Hermione asked him where he wanted to go next.
“Let's go to the Three Broomsticks,” said Harry. “It'll be warm.”
They bundled their scarves back over their faces and left the sweetshop. The bitter wind was like knives on their faces after the sugary warmth of Honeydukes. The
street was not very busy; nobody was lingering to chat, just hurrying toward their destinations. The exceptions were two men a little ahead of them, standing just
outside the Three Broomsticks. One was very tall and thin; squinting67 through his rain-washed glasses Harry recognized the barman who worked in the other Hogsmeade pub,
the Hog's Head. As Harry, Ron, and Hermione drew closer, the barman drew his cloak more tightly around his neck and walked away, leaving the shorter man to fumble68 with
something in his arms. They were barely feet from him when Harry realized who the man was.
“Mundungus!”
The squat69, bandy-legged man with long, straggly, ginger70 hair jumped and dropped an ancient suitcase, which burst open, releasing what looked like the entire contents of
a junk shop window.
“Oh, ‘ello, ‘Arry,” said Mundungus Fletcher, with a most unconvincing stab at airiness. “Well, don't let me keep ya.”
And he began scrabbling on the ground to retrieve71 the contents of his suitcase with every appearance of a man eager to be gone.
“Are you selling this stuff?” asked Harry, watching Mundungus grab an assortment72 of grubby-looking objects from the ground.
“Oh, well, gotta scrape a living,” said Mundungus. “Gimme that!”
Ron had stooped down and picked up something silver.
“Hang on,” Ron said slowly. “This looks familiar —”
“Thank you!” said Mundungus, snatching the goblet73 out of Ron's hand and stuffing it back into the case. “Well, I'll see you all—OUCH!”
Harry had pinned Mundungus against the wall of the pub by the throat. Holding him fast with one hand, he pulled out his wand.
“You took that from Sinus's house,” said Harry, who was almost nose to nose with Mundungus and was breathing in an unpleasant smell of old tobacco and spirits. “That
had the Black family crest75 on it.”
“I—no—what—?” spluttered Mundungus, who was slowly turning purple.
“What did you do, go back the night he died and strip the place?” snarled76 Harry.
“I—no—”
“Give it to me!”
“Harry, you mustn't!” shrieked77 Hermione, as Mundungus started to turn blue.
There was a bang, and Harry felt his hands fly off Mundungus's throat. Gasping78 and spluttering, Mundungus seized his fallen case, then—CRACK— he Disapparated.
Harry swore at the top of his voice, spinning on the spot to see where Mundungus had gone.
“COME BACK, YOU THIEVING — !”
“There's no point, Harry.” Tonks had appeared out of nowhere, her mousy hair wet with sleet.
“Mundungus will probably be in London by now. There's no point yelling.”
“He's nicked Sirius's stuff! Nicked it!”
“Yes, but still,” said Tonks, who seemed perfectly80 untroubled by this piece of information. “You should get out of the cold.”
She watched them go through the door of the Three Broomsticks. The moment he was inside, Harry burst out, “He was nicking Sirius's stuff!”
“I know, Harry, but please don't shout, people are staring,” whispered Hermione. “Go and sit down, I'll get you a drink.”
Harry was still fuming81 when Hermione returned to their table a few minutes later holding three bottles of Butterbeer.
“Can't the Order control Mundungus?” Harry demanded of the other two in a furious whisper. “Can't they at least stop him stealing everything that's not fixed82 down
when he's at headquarters?”
“Shh!” said Hermione desperately83, looking around to make sure nobody was listening; there were a couple of warlocks sitting close by who were staring at Harry with
great interest, and Zabini was lolling against a pillar not far away. “Harry, I'd be annoyed too, I know it's your things he's stealing—”
Harry gagged on his Butterbeer; he had momentarily forgotten that he owned number twelve, Grimmauld Place.
“Yeah, it's my stuff!” he said. “No wonder he wasn't pleased to see me! Well, I'm going to tell Dumbledore what's going on, he's the only one who scares Mundungus.”
“Good idea,” whispered Hermione, clearly pleased that Harry was calming down. “Ron, what are you staring at?”
“Nothing,” said Ron, hastily looking away from the bar, but Harry knew he was trying to catch the eye of the curvy and attractive barmaid, Madam Rosmerta, for whom he
had long nursed a soft spot.
“I expect ‘nothing's’ in the back getting more firewhisky,” said Hermione waspishly.
Ron ignored this jibe84, sipping85 his drink in what he evidently considered to be a dignified86 silence. Harry was thinking about Sirius, and how he had hated those silver
goblets87 anyway. Hermione drummed her fingers on the table, her eyes flickering88 between Ron and the bar. The moment Harry drained the last drops in his bottle she said,
“Shall we call it a day and go back to school, then?”
The other two nodded; it had not been a fun trip and the weather was getting worse the longer they stayed. Once again they drew their cloaks tightly around them,
rearranged their scarves, pulled on their gloves, then followed Katie Bell and a friend out of the pub and back up the High Street. Harry's thoughts strayed to Ginny as
they trudged89 up the road to Hogwarts through the frozen slush. They had not met up with her, undoubtedly90, thought Harry, because she and Dean were cozily closeted in
Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, that haunt of happy couples. Scowling91, he bowed his head against the swirling92 sleet and trudged on.
It was a little while before Harry became aware that the voices of Katie Bell and her friend, which were being carried back to him on the wind, had become shriller and
louder. Harry squinted93 at their indistinct figures. The two girls were having an argument about something Katie was holding in her hand.
“It's nothing to do with you, Leanne!” Harry heard Katie say.
They rounded a corner in the lane, sleet coming thick and fast, blurring94 Harry's glasses. Just as he raised a gloved hand to wipe them, Leanne made to grab hold of the
package Katie was holding; Katie tugged96 it back and the package fell to the ground.
At once, Katie rose into the air, not as Ron had done, suspended comically by the ankle, but gracefully97, her arms outstretched, as though she was about to fly. Yet
there was something wrong, something eerie98... Her hair was whipped around her by the fierce wind, but her eyes were closed and her face was quite empty of expression.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Leanne had all halted in their tracks, watching.
Then, six feet above the ground, Katie let out a terrible scream. Her eyes flew open but whatever she could see, or whatever she was feeling, was clearly causing her
terrible anguish99. She screamed and screamed; Leanne started to scream too and seized Katie's ankles, trying to tug95 her back to the ground. Harry, Ron, and Hermione
rushed forward to help, but even as they grabbed Katie's legs, she fell on top of them; Harry and Ron managed to catch her but she was writhing100 so much they could
hardly hold her. Instead they lowered her to the ground where she thrashed and screamed, apparently101 unable to recognize any of them.
Harry looked around; the landscape seemed deserted102.
“Stay there!” he shouted at the others over the howling wind. “I'm going for help!”
He began to sprint103 toward the school; he had never seen anyone behave as Katie had just behaved and could not think what had caused it; he hurtled around a bend in the
lane and collided with what seemed to be an enormous bear on its hind53 legs.
“Hagrid!” he panted, disentangling himself from the hedgerow into which he had fallen.
“Harry!” said Hagrid, who had sleet trapped in his eyebrows104 and beard, and was wearing his great, shaggy beaverskin coat. “Jus’ bin58 visitin’ Grawp, he's comin’ on
so well yeh wouldn’ —”
“Hagrid, someone's hurt back there, or cursed, or something —”
“Wha ?” said Hagrid, bending lower to hear what Harry was saying over the raging wind.
“Someone's been cursed!” bellowed105 Harry.
“Cursed? Who's bin cursed—not Ron? Hermione?”
“No, it's not them, it's Katie Bell—this way...”
Together they ran back along the lane. It took them no time to find the little group of people around Katie, who was still writhing and screaming on the ground; Ron,
Hermione, and Leanne were all trying to quiet her.
“Get back!” shouted Hagrid. “Lemme see her!”
“Something's happened to her!” sobbed106 Leanne. “I don't know what —”
Hagrid stared at Katie for a second, then without a word, bent down, scooped107 her into his arms, and ran off toward the castle with her. Within seconds, Katie's piercing
screams had died away and the only sound was the roar of the wind.
Hermione hurried over to Katie's wailing109 friend and put an arm around her.
“It's Leanne, isn't it?”
The girl nodded.
“Did it just happen all of a sudden, or—?”
“It was when that package tore,” sobbed Leanne, pointing at the now sodden110 brown-paper package on the ground, which had split open to reveal a greenish glitter. Ron
bent down, his hand outstretched, but Harry seized his arm and pulled him back.
“Don't touch it!”
He crouched111 down. An ornate opal necklace was visible, poking out of the paper.
“I've seen that before,” said Harry, staring at the thing. “It was on display in Borgin and Burkes ages ago. The label said it was cursed. Katie must have touched
it.” He looked up at Leanne, who had started to shake uncontrollably. “How did Katie get hold of this?”
“Well, that's why we were arguing. She came back from the bathroom in the Three Broomsticks holding it, said it was a surprise for somebody at Hogwarts and she had to
deliver it. She looked all funny when she said it... Oh no, oh no, I bet she'd been Imperiused and I didn't realize!”
Leanne shook with renewed sobs112. Hermione patted her shoulder gently.
“She didn't say who'd given it to her, Leanne?”
“No... she wouldn't tell me... and I said she was being stupid and not to take it up to school, but she just wouldn't listen and... and then I tried to grab it from
her... and — and —”
Leanne let out a wail108 of despair.
“We'd better get up to school,” said Hermione, her arm still around Leanne. “We'll be able to find out how she is. Come on...”
Harry hesitated for a moment, then pulled his scarf from around his face and, ignoring Ron's gasp79, carefully covered the necklace in it and picked it up.
“We'll need to show this to Madam Pomfrey,” he said.
As they followed Hermione and Leanne up the road, Harry was thinking furiously. They had just entered the grounds when he spoke113, unable to keep his thoughts to himself
any longer.
“Malfoy knows about this necklace. It was in a case at Borgin and Burkes four years ago, I saw him having a good look at it while I was hiding from him and his dad.
This is what he was buying that day when we followed him! He remembered it and he went back for it!”
“I—I dunno, Harry,” said Ron hesitantly. “Loads of people go to Borgin and Burke... and didn't that girl say Katie got it in the girls’ bathroom?”
“She said she came back from the bathroom with it, she didn't necessarily get it in the bathroom itself—”
“McGonagall!” said Ron warningly.
Harry looked up. Sure enough, Professor McGonagall was hurrying down the stone steps through swirling sleet to meet them.
“Hagrid says you four saw what happened to Katie Bell—upstairs to my office at once, please! What's that you're holding, Potter?”
“It's the thing she touched,” said Harry.
“Good Lord,” said Professor McGonagall, looking alarmed as she took the necklace from Harry. “No, no, Filch, they're with me!” she added hastily, as Filch came
shuffling114 eagerly across the entrance hall holding his Secrecy Sensor aloft. “Take this necklace to Professor Snape at once, but be sure not to touch it, keep it
wrapped in the scarf!”
Harry and the others followed Professor McGonagall upstairs and into her office. The sleet-spattered windows were rattling115 in their frames, and the room was chilly116
despite the fire crackling in the grate. Professor McGonagall closed the door and swept around her desk to face Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the still sobbing117 Leanne.
“Well?” she said sharply. “What happened?”
Haltingly, and with many pauses while she attempted to control her crying, Leanne told Professor McGonagall how Katie had gone to the bathroom in the Three Broomsticks
and returned holding the unmarked package, how Katie had seemed a little odd, and how they had argued about the advisability of agreeing to deliver unknown objects, the
argument culminating in the tussle118 over the parcel, which tore open. At this point, Leanne was so overcome, there was no getting another word out of her.
“All right,” said Professor McGonagall, not unkindly, “go up to the hospital wing, please, Leanne, and get Madam Pomfrey to give you something for shock.”
When she had left the room, Professor McGonagall turned back to Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
“What happened when Katie touched the necklace?”
“She rose up in the air,” said Harry, before either Ron or Hermione could speak, “and then began to scream, and collapsed119. Professor, can I see Professor Dumbledore,
please?”
“The Headmaster is away until Monday, Potter,” said Professor McGonagall, looking surprised.
“Away?” Harry repeated angrily.
“Yes, Potter, away!” said Professor McGonagall tartly120. “But anything you have to say about this horrible business can be said to me, I'm sure!”
For a split second, Harry hesitated. Professor McGonagall did not invite confidences; Dumbledore, though in many ways more intimidating121, still seemed less likely to
scorn a theory, however wild. This was a life-and-death matter, though, and no moment to worry about being laughed at.
“I think Draco Malfoy gave Katie that necklace, Professor.”
On one side of him, Ron rubbed his nose in apparent embarrassment122; on the other, Hermione shuffled123 her feet as though quite keen to put a bit of distance between
herself and Harry.
“That is a very serious accusation124, Potter,” said Professor McGonagall, after a shocked pause. “Do you have any proof?”
“No,” said Harry, “but...” and he told her about following Malfoy to Borgin and Burkes and the conversation they had overheard between him and Mr. Borgin.
When he had finished speaking, Professor McGonagall looked slightly confused.
“Malfoy took something to Borgin and Burkes for repair?”
“No, Professor, he just wanted Borgin to tell him how to mend something, he didn't have it with him. But that's not the point, the thing is that he bought something at
the same time, and I think it was that necklace —”
“You saw Malfoy leaving the shop with a similar package?”
“No, Professor, he told Borgin to keep it in the shop for him —”
“But Harry,” Hermione interrupted, “Borgin asked him if he wanted to take it with him, and Malfoy said no —”
“Because he didn't want to touch it, obviously!” said Harry angrily.
“What he actually said was, ‘How would I look carrying that down the street?'” said Hermione.
“Well, he would look a bit of a prat carrying a necklace,” interjected Ron.
“Oh, Ron,” said Hermione despairingly, “it would be all wrapped up, so he wouldn't have to touch it, and quite easy to hide inside a cloak, so nobody would see it! I
think whatever he reserved at Borgin and Burkes was noisy or bulky, something he knew would draw attention to him if he carried it down the street—and in any case,”
she pressed on loudly, before Harry could interrupt, “I asked Borgin about the necklace, don't you remember? When I went in to try and find out what Malfoy had asked
him to keep, I saw it there. And Borgin just told me the price, he didn't say it was already sold or anything —”
“Well, you were being really obvious, he realized what you were up to within about five seconds, of course he wasn't going to tell you—anyway, Malfoy could've sent
off for it since —”
“That's enough!” said Professor McGonagall, as Hermione opened her mouth to retort, looking furious. “Potter, I appreciate you telling me this, but we cannot point
the finger of blame at Mr. Malfoy purely125 because he visited the shop where this necklace might have been purchased. The same is probably true of hundreds of people —”
“— that's what I said —” muttered Ron.
“— and in any case, we have put stringent126 security measures in place this year. I do not believe that necklace can possibly have entered this school without our
knowledge —”
“But —”
“— and what is more,” said Professor McGonagall, with an air of awful finality, “Mr. Malfoy was not in Hogsmeade today.”
Harry gaped127 at her, deflating.
“How do you know, Professor?”
“Because he was doing detention128 with me. He has now failed to complete his Transfiguration homework twice in a row. So, thank you for telling me your suspicions,
Potter,” she said as she marched past them, “but I need to go up to the hospital wing now to check on Katie Bell. Good day to you all.”
She held open her office door. They had no choice but to file past her without another word.
Harry was angry with the other two for siding with McGonagall; nevertheless, he felt compelled to join in once they started discussing what had happened.
“So who do you reckon Katie was supposed to give the necklace to?” asked Ron, as they climbed the stairs to the common room.
“Goodness only knows,” said Hermione. “But whoever it was has had a narrow escape. No one could have opened that package without touching129 the necklace.”
“It could've been meant for loads of people,” said Harry. “Dumbledore—the Death Eaters would love to get rid of him, he must be one of their top targets. Or
Slughorn — Dumbledore reckons Voldemort really wanted him and they can't be pleased that he's sided with Dumbledore. Or —”
“Or you,” said Hermione, looking troubled.
“Couldn't have been,” said Harry, “or Katie would've just turned around in the lane and given it to me, wouldn't she? I was behind her all the way out of the Three
Broomsticks. It would have made much more sense to deliver the parcel outside Hogwarts, what with Filch searching everyone who goes in and out. I wonder why Malfoy told
her to take it into the castle?”
“Harry, Malfoy wasn't in Hogsmeade!” said Hermione, actually stamping her foot in frustration130.
“He must have used an accomplice131, then,” said Harry. “Crabbe or Goyle—or, come to think of it, another Death Eater, he'll have loads better cronies than Crabbe and
Goyle now he's joined up —”
Ron and Hermione exchanged looks that plainly said, “There's no point arguing with him.”
“Dilligrout,” said Hermione firmly as they reached the Fat Lady.
The portrait swung open to admit them to the common room. It was quite full and smelled of damp clothing; many people seemed to have returned from Hogsmeade early
because of the bad weather. There was no buzz of fear or speculation132, however: clearly, the news of Katie's fate had not yet spread.
“It wasn't a very slick attack, really, when you stop and think about it,” said Ron, casually133 turfing a first year out of one of the good armchairs by the fire so
that he could sit down. “The curse didn't even make it into the castle. Not what you'd call foolproof.”
“You're right,” said Hermione, prodding134 Ron out of the chair with her foot and offering it to the first year again. “It wasn't very well thought-out at all.”
“But since when has Malfoy been one of the world's great thinkers?” asked Harry.
Neither Ron nor Hermione answered him.
邓布利多去哪儿了，他在做什么？在接下来的几周里，哈利只见过校长两次。他几乎不在用餐的时候出现了。哈利也相信了正如赫敏所说，他一走就是好几天。邓布利多是不是忘了要给哈利上
课？邓布利多说过他上的课和预言有关；哈利曾为此感到鼓舞和安慰，可他现在却有一点儿被抛弃的感觉。
十月中旬是本学期第一次去霍格莫德村度周末的日子。哈利有些疑惑，为什么现在还允许他们去霍格莫德，这无疑使得学校附近的安全防护措施变得更加严密，不过他还是很高兴能去；毕
竟走出城堡待几个小时还是令人愉快的一件事。
去霍格莫德那天哈利很早就醒了，外面风雨交加，哈利只好靠看《高级魔药制备》来打发早餐前的时间。他通常不会躺在床上看书；那种行为被罗恩认定为只有发生在赫敏身上才算正常，
因为她本来就那么古怪。不过话说回来，哈利觉得混血王子的这本《高级魔药制备》也不能算是一本合格的教科书。哈利越是钻研这本书，越是发现里面竟藏了那么多东西，不仅有能使他在斯
拉霍恩那儿赢得盛誉的魔药制作提示和方便的捷径，还有许多虚构出来的小咒语被胡乱地涂写在书的空白处，哈利敢肯定那是王子自己发明的，因为上面有许多删改之处。
哈利已经试验了几个王子发明的咒语。有一个咒语能使脚趾甲长得惊人的快（他已经在克拉布身上试过了，结果非常有趣）；还有一个咒语能让舌头粘着上颚（他已经两次对毫无戒备的费
尔奇用过了，博得了所有人的喝彩）；还有一个也许是最有用的咒语——悄声细语，能让附近任何人的耳朵里都充满了难以辨认的嗡嗡声，这样就可以在课堂上长时间地聊天而不被人听见。唯
一一个对此不感兴趣的人是赫敏，她自始至终都保持着坚决反对的表情，而且如果哈利对周围的人用了悄声细语咒，她就拒绝与他交谈。
哈利坐在床上，把书转了过来，以便更细致地查看书里一个潦草的咒语说明，这个咒语似乎让王子很伤脑筋。删除和改动了许多次，不过最终，在这一页的角落里，还是勉强塞进了几个潦
草的字：
轻身浮影（无声）
外面的风雨无情地敲打着窗子，纳威正在响亮地打着鼾，哈利盯着括号里的那几个字。无声……那一定是指无声咒语。哈利很是怀疑他能不能掌握这个咒语；他目前在无声咒语方面还有一
些困难，斯内普在每堂黑魔法防御术课上都讲得太快了。另一方面，就现在的情况看，王子已经证明了他是个比斯内普更好的老师。
他把魔杖漫无目的地轻轻往上一抖，在脑子里念了一句‘轻身浮影！’。
“啊——！”
一道光闪过，房子里充斥着叫声：罗恩的一声大叫把每个人都吵醒了。哈利惊慌地抛开《高级魔药制备》；罗恩被摇摇摆摆地倒挂了起来，仿佛有一只看不见的钩子把他的脚踝钩住了。
“对不起！”哈利大声说，迪安和西莫狂笑了起来，而纳威刚刚从床上掉下了地板，现在正重新站起来。“再挂一会儿——我马上就放你下来——”
他摸索着那本魔药书，惊慌失措地翻过到那一页；终于他找到了那句咒语，发现下面还挤着一行小字：哈利在心里默默地祈祷这就是解咒，拼命地想着‘现身释影！’。
又是一道闪光，罗恩又掉回到了床上。
“对不起，”哈利小声地重复着，而迪安和西莫仍在狂笑不止。
“明天，”罗恩含糊不清地说，“你来上闹钟好了。”
在他们穿好了衣服，套上几件韦斯莱夫人织的毛线衫，披着斗篷，戴上围巾和手套之后，罗恩的震惊已经消退了，他开始认定这是哈利的新咒语非常有趣；事实上，他们刚在早餐桌旁坐下
，罗恩就急不可待地和赫敏分享了这个故事。
“……然后又是一道闪光，我就回到床上了！“罗恩咧起嘴笑了，给自己又夹了几根香肠。
赫敏一直都没有笑，表情很冷漠，她不以为然地看着哈利。
“这个咒语，碰巧又是你那本魔药书里的？”她问。
哈利朝她皱了皱眉。
“你总要做出最坏的结论，是不是？”
“到底是不是？”
“嗯……没错，是的，那又怎么样？”
“于是你就想把这条未知的手写咒语试验一下，看看会发生什么？”
“它是手写的又怎么样？”哈利不愿意再回答剩下的问题了。
“因为它很可能没有经过魔法部的批准，”赫敏说。“而且，”她又加了一句，哈利和罗恩转了转眼珠，“因为我已经开始觉得王子这个人物有点危险。”
哈利和罗恩马上大叫着压下了她的话头。
“这是个玩笑！”把一瓶番茄酱倒在了他的香肠上。“只是一个玩笑，赫敏，那就是全部！”
“提着别人的脚踝让人倒挂起来？”赫敏说。“谁会花精力去发明那样的咒语？”
“弗雷德和乔治，”罗恩耸了耸肩，“这就是他们搞的那种玩意儿。而且，呃——”
“我爸爸，”哈利说。他刚刚想起来。
“什么？”罗恩和赫敏一同问道。
“我爸爸用过这个咒语，”哈利说。“我——卢平告诉我的。”
最后一句是谎话；实际上，哈利见过他父亲对斯内普使用这句咒语，可是他从来没有告诉过罗恩和赫敏自己在冥想盆里的经历。而现在他想到了一个美妙的可能性。这个混血王子会不会就
是——？
“也许你爸爸确实用过，哈利，”赫敏说，“但他不是唯一用过的。我们见过一群人用这个咒语，如果你没有忘记的话。把人们倒挂在空中。让还在睡梦中的他们无助地飘起来。”
哈利盯着她。他想起了魁地奇世界杯上食死徒们的所作所为，感到了一阵沉重。可罗恩帮他说话了。
“那不同，”他粗鲁地说。“他们那是乱用。哈利和他爸爸只是为了开玩笑。你不喜欢那个王子，赫敏，”他又接着说，用一根香肠严厉地指着赫敏，“就因为他的魔药课比你学得好——
”
“和那个没关系！”赫敏脸红了。“我只是觉得你们在不知道咒语有什么作用的时候就去施展它们，这样很不负责任，而且也别老‘王子’‘王子’的，好像他真是个王子似的，我敢打赌
那只不过是个愚蠢的诨名，而且我看他根本就不像是个好人！”
“我不知道你怎么会这样想，”哈利气愤地说，“如果他真是个食死徒苗子，他就不会夸耀自己的‘混血’了，不是吗？”
正巧在说这个的时候，哈利突然想到他的父亲是纯血统的，但他把这个想法抛到了九霄云外；现在没功夫考虑这个……
“食死徒不可能都是纯血统的，现在纯血统巫师剩得可不多了，”赫敏倔强地说。“我认为他们中的大多数都是混血的，只不过装作是纯血统而已。他们恨的只是麻瓜出身的人，你和罗恩
如果加入的话，都是他们欢迎的对象。”
“他们不可能让我成为食死徒！”罗恩愤怒地说，一小块香肠从罗恩正在挥舞的叉子上飞了出去，正好打中了厄尼·麦克米兰的脑袋。“我们全家都是血统背叛者！对食死徒来说这和麻瓜
出身的人一样可恨。”
“他们非常愿意要我，”哈利讽刺地说。“我们会成为最好的伙伴，如果他们不老想着要杀了我的话。”
罗恩大笑了起来；甚至赫敏勉强笑了笑，而金妮的到来终于让他们分了心。
“嘿，哈利，我是来把这个交给你的。”
那是一卷羊皮纸，上面用一种熟悉的纤细和倾斜的字体写着哈利的名字。
“谢谢，金妮……是邓布利多的下一堂课！”哈利告诉罗恩和赫敏，把羊皮纸展开来快速扫过里面的内容。“周一晚上！”他突然感觉到一阵轻松和幸福。“想和我们一起去霍格莫德吗，
金妮？”
“我和迪安一起去——也许在那儿会碰到你们，”她回答说，离开的时候向他们挥了挥手。
费尔奇和往常一样站在橡木大门那儿，检查着被允许前往霍格莫德村的人员名单。这个过程比从前更长了，因为费尔奇要用探密器把每个人搜查三遍。
“我们把黑魔法的东西带出去又有什么关系呢？”罗恩问，担心地盯着细长的探密器。“你肯定应该检查我们把什么带进来。”
他的脸蛋为此被探密器多捅了几下，当他们出发往狂风暴雨之中走去时，他还显得有些畏畏缩缩。
去霍格莫德的路上并不令人感到享受。哈利用围巾包住了脸的下半部分；而露出的部分马上就冻麻了。通往村子的路上全是为了躲避刺骨的寒风而几乎把身子对折起来的学生。哈利不止一
次地怀念起公共休息室的温暖时光，而当他们终于到达霍格莫德村时，却发现佐科笑话店被木条封了起来，哈利把它视作了这趟旅程不会太有趣的证明。罗恩戴着厚厚的手套指了指蜂蜜公爵（
还仁慈地开着），于是哈利和赫敏步履蹒跚地尾随罗恩走进了人头攒动的小店。
“感谢上帝，”罗恩在温暖、带着太妃糖香味的空气中发着抖。“我们一下午都待在这儿吧。”
“哈利，我的孩子！”一个隆隆的声音从他们身后传来。
“哦，不，”哈利咕哝道。他们三个转过身来，看见了斯拉霍恩教授，他戴着一顶巨大的毛皮帽，穿着一身配套的毛皮大衣，手里抓着一大包菠萝蜜饯，一个人占据了屋子里四分之一的空
间。
“哈利，你已经错过我的三顿晚餐了哦！”斯拉霍恩亲切地戳着哈利的胸膛。“这可不行，我的孩子，我下了决心一定要请到你！格兰杰小姐喜欢他们，是不是？”
“是啊，”赫敏无奈地说，“他们真是——”
“那你为什么不一起来呢，哈利？”斯拉霍恩问。
“嗯，我有魁地奇训练，教授，”实际上每当斯拉霍恩派人送来用紫色缎带系着的邀请信时，哈利就会安排魁地奇训练。这个策略使得他不用抛下罗恩，而且他们俩常常和金妮一起想象赫
敏与麦克拉根、沙比尼大眼瞪小眼的样子，然后哈哈大笑。
“嗯，我相信在这么努力地训练之后你们一定能赢得第一场比赛！”斯拉霍恩说。“可是来一次小小的消遣也无妨啊。那么，星期一晚上怎么样，你无论如何也不会想在这样的天气里训练
吧……”
“不行，教授，我已经——呃——和邓布利多教授约定了那天晚上见面。”
“又不走运！”斯拉霍恩引人注目地叫了一声。“啊，好吧……你不可能永远躲着我，哈利！”
他气派地挥了挥手，摇摇摆摆地走出了商店，一眼也没有看罗恩，仿佛他是陈列在旁边的蟑螂团子。
“真不敢相信你又逃脱了一次，”赫敏摇着头说。“他们没那么坏……有时还很有趣……”但她捕捉到了罗恩的眼神。“哦，看——这儿有豪华装的糖羽毛笔——可以持续几个小时！”
哈利很高兴地看到赫敏转换了话题，他假装对新式的超大型糖羽毛笔产生了浓厚的兴趣，而罗恩却还是闷闷不乐，赫敏问他接下来想去哪儿时，他只是耸了耸肩。
“我们去三把扫帚吧，”哈利说。“那里会很暖和。”
他们又用围巾把脸包住，走出了这家糖果店。离开了蜂蜜公爵甜蜜的温暖，刺骨的寒风又像刀子一样刮在了他们脸上。街上人不太多；没有人在闲聊，都埋着头只顾着走路。但有两个例外
，就在他们前面不远的地方，两个男人站在三把扫帚酒吧的门口。其中一个又高又瘦；斜眼盯着他手中被雨水冲刷的玻璃杯，哈利认出了他就是霍格莫德另一家酒吧——猪头酒吧的招待员。哈
利、罗恩和赫敏一走近，那个招待员就把斗篷往脖子上拉了拉走开了，剩下了那个矮一点的男人笨手笨脚在地上摸索着什么东西。走到还有几英尺的时候哈利把他认了出来。
“蒙顿格斯！”
这个蹲着的男人长着一头蓬乱的姜黄色头发，他猛地跳了起来，一只老式的手提箱掉了出来，摔在地上打开了，散落出整整一套看上去像是旧货商店里的东西。
“哦，你好，哈利，”蒙顿格斯·弗莱奇用一种不那么令人信服的轻松口气说。“嗯，我不打扰你们了。”
他开始在地上胡乱抓起地上的东西塞进手提箱，整个儿一副急着要走的样子。
“你在卖这些东西？”哈利问，看着蒙顿格斯从地上抓起那些看起来很脏的物品。
“哦，嗯，混口饭吃，”蒙顿格斯说。“把那个给我！”
罗恩刚刚弯下腰捡起了一件银器。
“等等，”罗恩慢慢地说。“这个看起来很眼熟——”
“谢谢你！”蒙顿格斯从罗恩手中夺过了那只高脚杯，把它塞进了手提箱。“好了，各位再见——哎哟！”
哈利抓住蒙顿格斯的喉咙把他顶到了酒吧的墙上。一手摁着他，另一只手抽出了魔杖。
“哈利！”赫敏尖叫了一声。
“你从小天狼星的房子里拿的，”哈利说，他和蒙顿格斯面对着面，闻到了一股不舒服的陈年烟草和酒精的气味。“那上面还有布莱克家族的纹章。”
“我——没有——什么——？”蒙顿格斯语无伦次地说，脸渐渐变成了紫色。
“你做了什么，他死的那晚回去把那地方洗劫一空？”
“我——没有——”
“把它给我！”
“哈利，你不能！”赫敏尖叫着，蒙顿格斯的脸开始变蓝了。
砰的一声，哈利觉得自己的手脱离了蒙顿格斯的喉咙。蒙顿格斯喘着粗气抓起地上的箱子，然后——啪的一声——他幻影移形了。
哈利用他最大的声音咒骂着，立即飞奔过去看蒙顿格斯往哪儿跑了。
“回来，你这个小偷——！”
“没用的，哈利。”
唐克斯不知从什么地方冒了出来，她灰褐色的头发被雨水淋湿了。
“蒙顿格斯说不定都已经到伦敦了。叫也没用。”
“他偷了小天狼星的东西！偷的！”
“是的，不过，”唐克斯看上去一点儿都不为这个消息着急，“别待在这儿，太冷了。”
她看着他们三个尽了三把扫帚的门。哈利一进门就嚷道，“他在偷小天狼星的东西！”
“我知道，哈利，但是请别叫了，大伙都看着呢，”赫敏小声说。“去找个地儿坐下来，我去买点儿饮料。”
赫敏拿着三杯黄油啤酒回来的时候，哈利仍在忿忿不平。
“凤凰社就管不住蒙顿格斯吗？”哈利狂暴地低声对他们俩说。“他们连最起码的不让他在指挥部顺手牵羊都做不到吗？”
“嘘！”赫敏绝望地说。她朝四周望了望，看有没有人听到；有坐在附近几个巫师正感兴趣地盯着哈利，而沙比尼正懒洋洋地靠在不远的一根柱子上。“哈利，我也很生气，我知道他偷的
那些东西是你的——”
哈利呛了一口黄油啤酒；他一时忘记了自己是格里莫广场12号的主人。
“是啊，那是我的东西！”他说。“难怪他不愿意见到我！好，我要去告诉邓布利多，他是唯一震得住蒙顿格斯的人。”
“好主意，”赫敏悄声说，明显在为哈利能平静下来感到高兴。“罗恩，你在盯着谁看？”
“没看谁，”罗恩赶紧把目光从吧台移了回来，不过哈利知道他刚才在试图吸引老板娘罗斯默塔女士的注意，她是个身材姣好、长相迷人的女人，罗恩一直对她怀有好感。
“我想你那个‘没看谁’正在后面拿热火威士忌吧，”赫敏尖刻地说。
罗恩没有理会她的嘲笑，而是啜饮起了饮料，他显然觉得这样的安静很有风度。哈利还在想小天狼星，想着他从前是多么恨那些银质高脚杯。赫敏敲着桌子，眼睛在罗恩和吧台之间游移。
哈利刚喝完杯子里的最后一滴酒，赫敏就说，“今天就到此为止吧，我们回学校去？”
另外两个点了点头；这不是一次愉快的出行，而且他们待得越久，天气就变得越糟糕。他们又把斗篷紧了紧，重新系好围巾，戴好了手套；然后跟在凯蒂·贝尔和她的一个朋友后面走出了
酒吧，回到了大路上。他们踩着地上的冻雪往回跋涉，哈利的思绪飘到了金妮身上。他们没有碰到她，哈利想，毫无疑问是因为她和迪安正惬意地躲在帕笛芙茶馆里，那个幸福伴侣们经常光顾
的地方。他皱起了眉，在打着旋的雨夹雪里垂下脑袋接着往前走。
过了一会儿哈利才听到凯蒂·贝尔和她朋友的声音，她们的声音变得越来越尖，越来越大，顺着风传到了哈利耳边。哈利眯起眼看着那两个模糊的身影。两个女孩正在争论着什么，好像和
凯蒂手上握着的东西有关。
“这和你没关系，琳恩！”哈利听到凯蒂说。
她们拐进了一条小巷，雨夹雪越来越大，把哈利的眼镜弄得模糊不清。就在他刚举起一只戴着手套的手来擦拭眼镜片时，琳恩一把抢过凯蒂的包裹；凯蒂往回一扯，包裹掉在了地上。
就在此时，凯蒂升到了空中，不是像罗恩那样滑稽地倒挂着，而是非常优雅缓慢，她的手伸展开来，就像要飞起来似的。然而似乎有什么不对劲，有些奇怪……她的头发被狂风吹起，但是
眼睛却闭上了，脸上没有任何表情。哈利、罗恩、赫敏和琳恩都僵在那儿，注视着她。
随后，凯蒂在离地面六英尺的半空中恐怖地尖叫了起来。她睁开了眼睛，但很明显她看到和感觉到的一切都令她异常痛苦。她不断地尖叫着；琳恩也开始尖叫了，她拉着凯蒂的脚踝，试图
把她拽回地面。哈利、罗恩和赫敏冲上去帮忙，可是他们刚一碰到凯蒂的腿，她就飘到了他们头顶上，哈利和罗恩试图抱住她，可是她扭动得那么厉害，根本不可能控制住。他们转而把她降到
了地面上，她躺在那里又叫又闹，俨然已经不认识他们中的任何人了。
哈利向四周看了看；似乎没有人。
“待在这儿！”他在呼啸的狂风中冲其他人喊道。“我去找人来帮忙！”
他朝学校的方向跑去；他从来没有见过谁有过凯蒂那样的症状，也想不出是什么导致的这一切；他飞速地拐过巷子，却感觉像是撞到了一只巨熊的后腿上。
“海格！”哈利喘着气，从旁边的灌木篱墙里爬起来。
“哈利！”海格眉毛和胡子上都堆满了雪，穿着那件粗糙的海狸皮大衣。“刚去看了格洛普，他过得真不错，你都不会——”
“海格，那儿有人受伤了，或者被咒语攻击了，或者别的什么——”
“什么？”海格说，他弯下腰试图在狂风中听清楚哈利说的话。
“有人被咒语攻击了！”哈利吼道。
“被咒语攻击了？谁被咒语攻击——不是罗恩吧？赫敏？”
“不是，不是他们俩，是凯蒂·贝尔——这边……”
他们一起沿着小巷往回跑。不一会儿就发现了他们三个围着凯蒂，她仍在地上扭动和尖叫；罗恩、赫敏和琳恩正试图让她安静下来。
“往后退！”海格大声说。“让我看看她！”
“她中了什么东西！”琳恩呜咽着。“我不知道是什么——”
海格盯着凯蒂看了一秒，然后一句话也没说就把她抱了起来朝城堡跑去。几秒钟之后，凯蒂刺耳的尖叫就消散在了怒吼的狂风之中。
赫敏快步走向凯蒂的朋友，她还在嚎啕大哭，赫敏用一只胳臂搂住了她。
“你叫琳恩，是吧？”
那个女生点了点头。
“刚才的事是突然发生的，还是——？”
“是那个包裹被撕开的时候，”琳恩抽泣着指向了那个已经浸湿的棕色包裹，那包裹已经裂开了，里面透出了绿色的光芒。罗恩弯下腰伸出了手，但哈利把他的手拉了回来。
“别碰它。”
他蹲下身子。一串精美的蛋白石项链从包装纸里露了出来。
“我以前见过这个，”哈利盯着那东西。“几年前博金－博克店曾经把它拿出来展示过。上面的标签说这条项链被诅咒了。凯蒂一定是碰了它。”他抬头看了看琳恩，她开始不由自主地颤
抖。“凯蒂怎么得到这个的？”
“嗯，那就是我们刚才争论的内容。她从三把扫帚的盥洗室出来时就拿着这个，还说这是给霍格沃茨里某个人的惊喜，她要亲自送过去。她说的时候样子很怪……不，哦，不，我敢打赌她
一定是被夺魂咒控制了，我刚才没有意识到！”
琳恩又重新抽泣起来。赫敏温柔地拍了拍她的肩。
“她没有告诉你给她这个包裹的是谁吗，琳恩？”
“没有……她不肯告诉我……我就说她太愚蠢了，让她别把这个带到学校，可是她就是不听……然后我想抢过来……然后——然后——”琳恩绝望地大哭了起来。
“我们最好快点回学校，”赫敏仍搂着琳恩，“这样就能知道她怎么样了。来吧……”
哈利犹豫了片刻，把围巾扯了下来，不顾罗恩的惊呼，小心地把项链裹在围巾里，然后捡了起来。
“我们得把这个给庞弗雷夫人看看，”他说。
他们跟在赫敏和琳恩后面往学校走去，哈利的脑子转得飞快。当他们走到学校的操场时，他终于忍不住说出了自己的想法。
“马尔福一定知道这条项链。四年前它就被放在博金－博克店的小盒子里，我躲起来的时候见他仔细地观察了那条项链。这就是他在我们跟踪他那天买的东西！他还记得这东西，回来把它
买走了。”
“我——我不知道，哈利，”罗恩吞吞吐吐地说。“许多人都去过博金－博克……而且那个女孩儿不是说凯蒂是在盥洗室发现它的吗？”
“她说她从盥洗室回来的时候就拿着它，她又不一定是在盥洗室拿到的——”
“麦格！”罗恩警告他说。
哈利抬头看去。果然麦格教授快步走下石阶，在打着旋的风雪里朝他们走过来。
“海格说你们四个看到凯蒂·贝尔出事的过程了——请马上到我的办公室来！你拿着什么，波特？”
“是她碰过的东西，”哈利说。
“天哪，”麦格教授看上去非常惊恐，她从哈利手中接过项链。“不，不，费尔奇，他们要跟着我！”看到费尔奇高高举着他的探密器从门厅那边急切地冲过来，麦格教授赶紧说。“把这
串项链马上送到斯内普教授那儿，千万不要碰它，一定要让它包在围巾里面！”
哈利他们跟着麦格教授上楼去她的办公室。溅满雨雪的窗户不断地嘎吱作响，屋子里虽然生了火，但还是很冷。麦格教授关上了门，走到她的办公桌前，面对着哈利、罗恩、赫敏和还在抽
抽答答的琳恩。
“那么？”她锐利地说。“发生了什么？”
琳恩试图控制住她的哭泣，她断断续续地告诉了麦格教授凯蒂是如何从三把扫帚的盥洗室出来，手里还拿着一个没有记号的包裹，凯蒂看起来如何怪，还有她们如何争论帮人传递未知物品
是不是明智，后来她们的争论演变成了对包裹的争夺，最后包裹被撕开了。说到这里，琳恩再也无法控制自己，她一个字都说不出来了。
“好吧，”麦格教授温和地说，“请去一趟校医院吧，琳恩，让庞弗雷夫人给你一些治疗惊吓的药。”
琳恩离开办公室后，麦格教授又转过身来看着哈利、罗恩和赫敏。
“凯蒂碰到那串项链后发生了什么？”
“她升到了空中，”哈利抢在罗恩和赫敏前面说。“然后开始尖叫，整个儿崩溃了。教授，请问我能见见邓布利多教授吗？”
“校长不在，周一才能回来，波特，”麦格教授看起来很惊讶。
“不在？”哈利愤怒地重复道。
“是的，波特，不在！”麦格教授尖刻地说。“不过我敢肯定你要是对这件可怕的事有什么想法，都可以跟我说！”
哈利犹豫了一瞬间。在麦格教授面前他不太自信；邓布利多虽然在很多方面都更令人害怕，但他似乎不太可能嘲笑别人的看法，不管那个看法有多疯狂。不过这是件生死攸关的大事，哈利
也顾不得被嘲笑了。
“我认为那串项链是德拉科·马尔福交给凯蒂的，教授。”
站在他旁边的罗恩揉了揉鼻子，显得很尴尬；站在另一边的赫敏把脚往边上挪了挪，仿佛要同哈利保持一定的距离。
“那是个非常严重的指控，波特，”麦格教授震惊地顿了顿，说。“你有什么证据吗？”
“没有，”哈利说，“可是……”他告诉了麦格教授他们跟踪马尔福到博金－博克店的事，还有他们偷听到的他和博金之间的谈话。
他说完这些之后，麦格教授看上去有些困惑。
“马尔福带了一些东西去博金－博克店修？”
“不是，教授，他只是想要博金告诉他怎么修那东西，他没有带上它。可这不是关键，问题是他同时还买了什么东西，我觉
收听单词发音 |
1
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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bolstered
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| v.支持( bolster的过去式和过去分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助 | |
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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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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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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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shortcuts
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| n.捷径( shortcut的名词复数 )；近路；快捷办法；被切短的东西（尤指烟草） | |
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scribble
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| v.潦草地书写，乱写，滥写；n.潦草的写法，潦草写成的东西，杂文 | |
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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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margins
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| 边( margin的名词复数 )； 利润； 页边空白； 差数 | |
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filch
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| v.偷窃 | |
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lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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rigidly
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| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
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disapproving
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| adj.不满的，反对的v.不赞成( disapprove的现在分词 ) | |
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alterations
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| n.改动( alteration的名词复数 )；更改；变化；改变 | |
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crammed
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| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
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sleet
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| n.雨雪；v.下雨雪，下冰雹 | |
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relentlessly
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| adv.不屈不挠地；残酷地；不间断 | |
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flick
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| n.快速的轻打，轻打声，弹开；v.轻弹，轻轻拂去，忽然摇动 | |
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dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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mattress
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| n.床垫，床褥 | |
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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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subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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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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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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anecdote
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| n.轶事，趣闻，短故事 | |
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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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ketchup
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| n.蕃茄酱，蕃茄沙司 | |
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robustly
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| adv.要用体力地，粗鲁地 | |
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brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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pals
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| n.朋友( pal的名词复数 )；老兄；小子；（对男子的不友好的称呼）家伙 | |
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grudging
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| adj.勉强的，吝啬的 | |
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distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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slanting
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| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
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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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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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sensor
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| n.传感器，探测设备，感觉器（官） | |
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smuggling
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| n.走私 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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wincing
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的现在分词 ) | |
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numb
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| adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木 | |
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48
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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50
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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54
furry
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| adj.毛皮的；似毛皮的；毛皮制的 | |
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55
poking
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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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56
genially
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| adv.亲切地，和蔼地；快活地 | |
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57
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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58
bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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59
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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60
waddled
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| v.（像鸭子一样）摇摇摆摆地走( waddle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
cockroach
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| n.蟑螂 | |
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62
wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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63
deluxe
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| adj.华美的，豪华的，高级的 | |
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64
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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65
moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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66
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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67
squinting
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| 斜视( squint的现在分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
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68
fumble
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| vi.笨拙地用手摸、弄、接等，摸索 | |
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69
squat
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| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
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70
ginger
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| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
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71
retrieve
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| vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索 | |
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72
assortment
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| n.分类，各色俱备之物，聚集 | |
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73
goblet
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| n.高脚酒杯 | |
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74
squealed
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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76
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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77
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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78
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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79
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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80
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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81
fuming
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| 愤怒( fume的现在分词 )； 大怒； 发怒； 冒烟 | |
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82
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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83
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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84
jibe
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| v.嘲笑，与...一致，使转向；n.嘲笑，嘲弄 | |
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85
sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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86
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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87
goblets
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| n.高脚酒杯( goblet的名词复数 ) | |
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88
flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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89
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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90
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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91
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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92
swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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93
squinted
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| 斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
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94
blurring
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| n.模糊，斑点甚多，（图像的）混乱v.（使）变模糊( blur的现在分词 )；（使）难以区分 | |
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95
tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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96
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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97
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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98
eerie
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| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
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99
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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100
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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101
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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102
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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103
sprint
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| n.短距离赛跑；vi. 奋力而跑，冲刺；vt.全速跑过 | |
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104
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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105
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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106
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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107
scooped
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| v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等） | |
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108
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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109
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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110
sodden
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| adj.浑身湿透的；v.使浸透；使呆头呆脑 | |
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111
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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112
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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113
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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114
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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115
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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116
chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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117
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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118
tussle
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| n.&v.扭打，搏斗，争辩 | |
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119
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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120
tartly
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| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
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121
intimidating
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| vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词) | |
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122
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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123
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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124
accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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125
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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126
stringent
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| adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的 | |
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127
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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128
detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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129
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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130
frustration
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| n.挫折，失败，失效，落空 | |
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131
accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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132
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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133
casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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134
prodding
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| v.刺，戳( prod的现在分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
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