Late in the afternoon, a few days after New Year, Harry1, Ron, and Ginny lined up beside the kitchen fire to return to Hogwarts. The Ministry2 had arranged this one-off
connection to the Floo Network to return students quickly and safely to the school. Only Mrs. Weasley was there to say good-bye, as Mr. Weasley, Fred, George, Bill, and
Fleur were all at work. Mrs. Weasley dissolved into tears at the moment of parting. Admittedly, it took very little to set her off lately; she had been crying on and
off ever since Percy had stormed from the house on Christmas Day with his glasses splattered with mashed3 parsnip (for which Fred, George, and Ginny all claimed credit).
“Don't cry, Mum,” said Ginny, patting her on the back as Mrs. Weasley sobbed4 into her shoulder. “It's okay...”
“Yeah, don't worry about us,” said Ron, permitting his mother to plant a very wet kiss on his cheek, “or about Percy. He's such a prat, it's not really a loss, is
it?”
Mrs. Weasley sobbed harder than ever as she enfolded Harry in her arms.
“Promise me you'll look after yourself... stay out of trouble...”
“I always do, Mrs. Weasley,” said Harry. “I like a quiet life, you know me.”
She gave a watery5 chuckle6 and stood back.
“Be good, then, all of you...”
Harry stepped into the emerald fire and shouted “Hogwarts!” He had one last fleeting7 view of the Weasleys’ kitchen and Mrs. Weasley's tearful face before the flames
engulfed8 him; spinning very fast, he caught blurred9 glimpses of other Wizarding rooms, which were whipped out of sight before he could get a proper look; then he was
slowing down, finally stopping squarely in the fireplace in Professor McGonagall's office. She barely glanced up from her work as he clambered out over the grate.
“Evening, Potter. Try not to get too much ash on the carpet.”
“No, Professor.”
Harry straightened his glasses and flattened10 his hair as Ron came spinning into view. When Ginny had arrived, all three of them trooped out of McGonagall's office and
off toward Gryffindor Tower. Harry glanced out of the corridor windows as they passed; the sun was already sinking over grounds carpeted in deeper snow than had lain
over the Burrow11 garden. In the distance, he could see Hagrid feeding Buckbeak in front of his cabin.
“Baubles,” said Ron confidently, when they reached the Fat Lady, who was looking rather paler than usual and winced12 at his loud voice.
“No,” she said.
“What d'you mean, ‘no’ ?”
“There is a new password,” she said. “And please don't shout.”
“But we've been away, how're we supposed to—?”
“Harry! Ginny!”
Hermione was hurrying toward them, very pink-faced and wearing a cloak, hat, and gloves.
“I got back a couple of hours ago, I've just been down to visit Hagrid and Buck—I mean Witherwings,” she said breathlessly. “Did you have a good Christmas?”
“Yeah,” said Ron at once, “pretty eventful, Rufus Scrim —”
“I've got something for you, Harry,” said Hermione, neither looking at Ron nor giving any sign that she had heard him. “Oh, hang on—password. Abstinence.”
“Precisely,” said the Fat Lady in a feeble voice, and swung forward to reveal the portrait hole.
“What's up with her?” asked Harry.
“Overindulged over Christmas, apparently13,” said Hermione, rolling her eyes as she led the way into the packed common room. “She and her friend Violet drank their way
through all the wine in that picture of drunk monks14 down by the Charms corridor. Anyway...”
She rummaged15 in her pocket for a moment, then pulled out a scroll16 of parchment with Dumbledore's writing on it.
“Great,” said Harry, unrolling it at once to discover that his next lesson with Dumbledore was scheduled for the following night. “I've got loads to tell him—and
you. Let's sit down —”
But at that moment there was a loud squeal17 of “Won-Won!” and Lavender Brown came hurtling out of nowhere and flung herself into Ron's arms. Several onlookers18
sniggered; Hermione gave a tinkling19 laugh and said, “There's a table over here... coming. Ginny?”
“No, thanks, I said I'd meet Dean,” said Ginny, though Harry could not help noticing that she did not sound very enthusiastic. Leaving Ron and Lavender locked in a
kind of vertical20 wrestling, match, Harry led Hermione over to the spare table.
“So how was your Christmas?”
“Oh, fine,” she shrugged22. “Nothing special. How was it at Won-Won's?”
“I'll tell you in a minute,” said Harry. “Look, Hermione, can't you —”
“No, I can't,” she said flatly. “So don't even ask.”
“I thought maybe, you know, over Christmas —”
“It was the Fat Lady who drank a vat23 of five-hundred-year-old wine, Harry, not me. So what was this important news you wanted to tell me?”
She looked too fierce to argue with at that moment, so Harry dropped the subject of Ron and recounted all that he had overheard between Malfoy and Snape.
When he had finished, Hermione sat in thought for a moment and then said, “Don't you think—?”
“— he was pretending to offer help so that he could trick Malfoy into telling him what he's doing?”
“Well, yes,” said Hermione.
“Ron's dad and Lupin think so,” Harry said grudgingly24. “But this definitely proves Malfoy's planning something, you can't deny that.”
“No, I can't,” she answered slowly.
“And he's acting25 on Voldemort's orders, just like I said!”
“Hmm... did either of them actually mention Voldemort's name?”
Harry frowned, trying to remember.
“I'm not sure... Snape definitely said ‘your master,’ and who else would that be?”
“I don't know,” said Hermione, biting her lip. “Maybe his father?”
She stared across the room, apparently lost in thought, not even noticing Lavender tickling26 Ron. “How's Lupin?”
“Not great,” said Harry, and he told her all about Lupin's mission among the werewolves and the difficulties he was facing. “Have you heard of this Fenrir Greyback?
”
“Yes, I have!” said Hermione, sounding startled. “And so have you, Harry!”
“When, History of Magic? You know full well I never listened ...”
“No, no, not History of Magic — Malfoy threatened Borgin with him!” said Hermione. “Back in Knockturn Alley27, don't you remember? He told Borgin that Greyback was an
old family friend and that he'd be checking up on Borgin's progress!”
Harry gaped28 at her. “I forgot! But this proves Malfoy is a Death Eater, how else could he be in contact with Greyback and telling him what to do?”
“It is pretty suspicious,” breathed Hermione. “Unless...”
“Oh, come on,” said Harry in exasperation29, “you can't get round this one!”
“Well... there is the possibility it was an empty threat.”
“You're unbelievable, you are,” said Harry, shaking his head. “We'll see who's right... You'll be eating your words, Hermione, just like the Ministry. Oh yeah, I had
a row with Rufus Scrimgeour as well...”
And the rest of the evening passed amicably30 with both of them abusing the Minister of Magic, for Hermione, like Ron, thought that after all the Ministry had put Harry
through the previous year, they had a great deal of nerve asking him for help now.
The new term started next morning with a pleasant surprise for the sixth-years: a large sign had been pinned to the common room notice boards overnight.
APPARITION31 LESSONS
If you are seventeen years of age, or will turn seventeen on or before the 31st August next, you are eligible32 for a twelve-week course of Apparition Lessons from a
Ministry of Magic Apparition instructor33.
Please sign below if you would like to participate.
Harry and Ron joined the crowd that was jostling around the notice and taking it in turns to write their names at the bottom. Ron was just taking out his quill35 to sign
after Hermione when Lavender crept up behind him, slipped her hands over his eyes, and trilled, “Guess who, Won-Won?” Harry turned to see Hermione stalking off; he
caught up with her, having no wish to stay behind with Ron and Lavender, but to his surprise, Ron caught up with them only a little way beyond the portrait hole, his
ears bright red and his expression disgruntled. Without a word, Hermione sped up to walk with Neville.
“So—Apparition,” said Ron, his tone making it perfectly36 plain that Harry was not to mention what had just happened. “Should be a laugh, eh?”
“I dunno,” said Harry. “Maybe it's better when you do it yourself, I didn't enjoy it much when Dumbledore took me along for the ride.”
“I forgot you'd already done it... I'd better pass my test first time,” said Ron, looking anxious. “Fred and George did,”
“Charlie failed, though, didn't he?”
“Yeah, but Charlie's bigger than me,” Ron held his arms out from his body as though he was a gorilla37, “so Fred and George didn't go on about it much... not to his
face anyway...”
“When can we take the actual test?”
“Soon as we're seventeen. That's only March for me!”
“Yeah, but you wouldn't be able to Apparate in here, not in the castle...”
“Not the point, is it? Everyone would know I could Apparate if I wanted.”
Ron was not the only one to be excited at the prospect38 of Apparition. All that day there was much talk about the forthcoming lessons; a great deal of store was set by
being able to vanish and reappear at will.
“How cool will it be when we can just —” Seamus clicked his ringers to indicate disappearance39. “Me cousin Fergus does it just to annoy me, you wait till I can do it
back... he'll never have another peaceful moment...”
Lost in visions of this happy prospect, he flicked40 his wand a little too enthusiastically, so that instead of producing the fountain of pure water that was the object
of today's Charms lesson, he let out a hoselike jet that ricocheted off the ceiling and knocked Professor Flitwick flat on his face.
“Harry's already Apparated,” Ron told a slightly abashed41 Seamus, after Professor Flitwick had dried himself off with a wave of his wand and set Seamus lines (“I am a
wizard, not a baboon42 brandishing43 a stick.”) “Dum—er—someone took him. Side-Along-Apparition, you know.”
“Whoa!” whispered Seamus, and he, Dean, and Neville put their heads a little closer to hear what Apparition felt like. For the rest of the day, Harry was besieged44
with requests from the other sixth years to describe the sensation of Apparition. All of them seemed awed45, rather than put off, when he told them how uncomfortable it
was, and he was still answering detailed46 questions at ten to eight that evening, when he was forced to lie and say that he needed to return a book to the library, so as
to escape in time for his lesson with Dumbledore.
The lamps in Dumbledore's office were lit, the portraits of previous headmasters were snoring gently in their frames, and the Pensieve was ready upon the desk once
more. Dumbledore's hands lay on either side of it, the right one as blackened and burnt-looking as ever. It did not seem to have healed at all and Harry wondered, for
perhaps the hundredth time, what had caused such a distinctive47 injury, but did not ask; Dumbledore had said that he would know eventually and there was, in any case,
another subject he wanted to discuss. But before Harry could say anything about Snape and Malfoy, Dumbledore spoke48.
“I hear that you met the Minister of Magic over Christmas?”
“Yes,” said Harry. “He's not very happy with me.”
“No,” sighed Dumbledore. “He is not very happy with me either. We must try not to sink beneath our anguish49, Harry, but battle on.”
Harry grinned.
“He wanted me to tell the wizarding community that the Ministry's doing a wonderful job.”
Dumbledore smiled.
“It was Fudge's idea originally, you know. During his last days in office, when he was trying desperately50 to cling to his post, he sought a meeting with you, hoping
that you would give him your support —”
“After everything Fudge did last year?” said Harry angrily. “After Umbridge?”
“I told Cornelius there was no chance of it, but the idea did not die when he left office. Within hours of Scrimgeour's appointment we met and he demanded that I
arrange a meeting with you —”
“So that's why you argued!” Harry blurted51 out. “It was in the Daily Prophet.”
“The Prophet is bound to report the truth occasionally,” said Dumbledore, “if only accidentally. Yes, that was why we argued. Well, it appears that Rufus found a way
to corner you at last.”
“He accused me of being ‘Dumbledore's man through and through'.”
“How very rude of him.”
“I told him I was.”
Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again. Behind Harry, Fawkes the phoenix52 let out a low, soft, musical cry. To Harry's intense embarrassment53, he
suddenly realized that Dumbledore's bright blue eyes looked rather watery, and stared hastily at his own knees. When Dumbledore spoke, however, his voice was quite
steady.
“I am very touched, Harry.”
“Scrimgeour wanted to know where you go when you're not at Hogwarts,” said Harry, still looking fixedly54 at his knees.
“Yes, he is very nosy55 about that,” said Dumbledore, now sounding cheerful, and Harry thought it safe to look up again. “He has even attempted to have me followed.
Amusing, really. He set Dawlish to tail me. It wasn't kind. I have already been forced to jinx Dawlish once; I did it again with the greatest regret.”
“So they still don't know where you go?” asked Harry, hoping for more information on this intriguing56 subject, but Dumbledore merely smiled over the top of his half-
moon spectacles.
“No, they don't, and the time is not quite right for you to know either. Now, I suggest we press on, unless there's anything else—?”
“There is, actually, sir,” said Harry. “It's about Malfoy and Snape.”
“Professor Snape, Harry.”
“Yes, sir. I overheard them during Professor Slughorn's party... well, I followed them, actually...”
Dumbledore listened to Harry's story with an impassive face. When Harry had finished he did not speak for a few moments, then said, “Thank you for telling me this,
Harry, but I suggest that you put it out of your mind. I do not think that it is of great importance.”
“Not of great importance?” repeated Harry incredulously. “Professor, did you understand—?”
“Yes, Harry, blessed as I am with extraordinary brainpower, I understood everything you told me,” said Dumbledore, a little sharply. “I think you might even consider
the possibility that I understood more than you did. Again, I am glad that you have confided57 in me, but let me reassure58 you that you have not told me anything that
Harry sat in seething60 silence, glaring at Dumbledore. What was going on? Did this mean that Dumbledore had indeed ordered Snape to find out what Malfoy was doing, in
which case he had already heard everything Harry had just told him from Snape? Or was he really worried by what he had heard, but pretending not to be?
“So, sir,” said Harry, in what he hoped was a polite, calm voice, “you definitely still trust — ?”
“I have been tolerant enough to answer that question already,” said Dumbledore, but he did not sound very tolerant anymore. “My answer has not changed.”
“I should think not,” said a snide voice; Phineas Nigellus was evidently only pretending to be asleep. Dumbledore ignored him.
“And now, Harry, I must insist that we press on. I have more important things to discuss with you this evening.”
Harry sat there feeling mutinous61. How would it be if he refused to permit the change of subject, if he insisted upon arguing the case against Malfoy? As though he had
read Harry's mind, Dumbledore shook his head.
“Ah, Harry, how often this happens, even between the best of friends! Each of us believes that what he has to say is much more important than anything the other might
have to contribute!”
“I don't think what you've got to say is unimportant, sir,” said Harry stiffly.
“Well, you are quite right, because it is not,” said Dumbledore briskly. “I have two more memories to show you this evening, both obtained with enormous difficulty,
and the second of them is, I think, the most important I have collected.”
Harry did not say anything to this; he still felt angry at the reception his confidences had received, but could not see what was to be gained by arguing further.
“So,” said Dumbledore, in a ringing voice, “we meet this evening to continue the tale of Tom Riddle62, whom we left last lesson poised63 on the threshold of his years at
Hogwarts. You will remember how excited he was to hear that he was a wizard, that he refused my company on a trip to Diagon Alley, and that I, in turn, warned him
against continued thievery when he arrived at school.
“Well, the start of the school year arrived and with it came Tom Riddle, a quiet boy in his second-hand64 robes, who lined up with the other first years to be sorted. He
was placed in Slytherin House almost the moment that the Sorting Hat touched his head,” continued Dumbledore, waving his blackened hand toward the shelf over his head
where the Sorting Hat sat, ancient and unmoving. “How soon Riddle learned that the famous founder65 of the House could talk to snakes, I do not know — perhaps that very
evening. The knowledge can only have excited him and increased his sense of self-importance.
“However, if he was frightening or impressing fellow Slytherins with displays of Parseltongue in their common room, no hint of it reached the staff. He showed no sign
of outward arrogance66 or aggression67 at all. As an unusually talented and very good-looking orphan68, he naturally drew attention and sympathy from the staff almost from
the moment of his arrival. He seemed police, quiet, and thirsty for knowledge. Nearly all were most favorably impressed by him.”
“Didn't you tell them, sir, what he'd been like when you met him at the orphanage69?” asked Harry.
“No, I did not. Though he had shown no hint of remorse70, it was possible that he felt sorry for how he had behaved before and was resolved to turn over a fresh leaf. I
chose to give him that chance.”
Dumbledore paused and looked inquiringly at Harry, who had opened his mouth to speak. Here, again, was Dumbledore's tendency to trust people in spite of overwhelming
evidence that they did not deserve it! But then Harry remembered something...
“But you didn't really trust him, sir, did you? He told me... the Riddle who came out of that diary said, ‘Dumbledore never seemed to like me as much as the other
teachers did'.”
“Let us say that I did not take it for granted that he was trustworthy,” said Dumbledore. “I had, as I have already indicated, resolved to keep a close eye upon him,
and so I did. I cannot pretend that I gleaned71 a great deal from my observations at first. He was very guarded with me; he felt, I am sure, that in the thrill of
discovering his true identity he had told me a little too much. He was careful never to reveal as much again, but he could not take back what he had let slip in his
excitement, nor what Mrs. Cole had confided in me. However, he had the sense never to try and charm me as he charmed so many of my colleagues.
“As he moved up the school, he gathered about him a group of dedicated72 friends; I call them that, for want of a better term, although as I have already indicated,
Riddle undoubtedly73 felt no affection for any of them. This group had a kind of dark glamour74 within the castle. They were a motley collection; a mixture of the weak
seeking protection, the ambitious seeking some shared glory, and the thuggish gravitating toward a leader who could show them more refined forms of cruelty. In other
words, they were the forerunners75 of the Death Eaters, and indeed some of them became the first Death Eaters after leaving Hogwarts.
“Rigidly controlled by Riddle, they were never detected in open wrong-doing, although their seven years at Hogwarts were marked by a number of nasty incidents to which
they were never satisfactorily linked, the most serious of which was, of course, the opening of the Chamber76 of Secrets, which resulted in the death of a girl. As you
know, Hagrid was wrongly accused of that crime.
“I have not been able to find many memories of Riddle at Hogwarts,” said Dumbledore, placing his withered77 hand on the Pensieve. “Few who knew him then are prepared
to talk about him; they are too terrified. What I know, I found out after he had left Hogwarts, after much painstaking78 effort, after tracing those few who could be
tricked into speaking, after searching old records and questioning Muggle and wizard witnesses alike.
“Those whom I could persuade to talk told me that Riddle was obsessed79 with his parentage. This is understandable, of course; he had grown up in an orphanage and
naturally wished to know how he came to be there. It seems that he searched in vain for some trace of Tom Riddle senior on the shields in the trophy80 room, on the lists
of prefects in the old school records, even in the books of Wizarding history. Finally he was forced to accept that his father had never set foot in Hogwarts. I believe
that it was then that he dropped the name forever, assumed the identity of Lord Voldemort, and began his investigations81 into his previously82 despised mother's family—
the woman whom, you will remember, he had thought could not be a witch if she had succumbed83 to the shameful84 human weakness of death.
“All he had to go upon was the single name ‘Marvolo,’ which he knew from those who ran the orphanage had been his mother's father's name. Finally, after painstaking
research, through old books of Wizarding families, he discovered the existence of Slytherin's surviving line. In the summer of his sixteenth year, he left the orphanage
to which he returned annually85 and set off to find his Gaunt relatives. And now, Harry, if you will stand ...”
Dumbledore rose, and Harry saw that he was again holding a small crystal bottle filled with swirling86, pearly memory.
“I was very lucky to collect this,” he said, as he poured the gleaming mass into the Pensieve. “As you will understand when we have experienced it. Shall we?”
Harry stepped up to the stone basin and bowed obediently until his face sank through the surface of the memory; he felt the familiar sensation of falling through
nothingness and then landed upon a dirty stone floor in almost total darkness.
It took him several seconds to recognize the place, by which time Dumbledore had landed beside him. The Gaunts’ house was now more indescribably filthy88 than anywhere
Harry had ever seen. The ceiling was thick with cobwebs, the floor coated in grime; moldy89 and rotting food lay upon the table amidst a mass of crusted pots. The only
light came from a single guttering90 candle placed at the feet of a man with hair and beard so overgrown Harry could see neither eyes nor mouth. He was slumped91 in an
armchair by the fire, and Harry wondered for a moment whether he was dead. But then there came a loud knock on the door and the man jerked awake, raising a wand in his
right hand and a short knife in his left.
The door creaked open. There on the threshold, holding an old-fashioned lamp, stood a boy Harry recognized at once: tall, pale, dark-haired, and handsome—the teenage
Voldemort.
Voldemort's eyes moved slowly around the hovel and then found the man in the armchair. For a few seconds they looked at each other, then the man staggered upright, the
many empty bottles at his feet clattering92 and tinkling across the floor.
And he hurtled drunkenly at Riddle, wand and knife held aloft.
“Stop.”
Riddle spoke in Parseltongue. The man skidded94 into the table, sending moldy pots crashing to the floor. He stared at Riddle. There was a long silence while they
contemplated95 each other. The man broke it.
”You speak it?”
”Yes, I speak it,” said Riddle. He moved forward into the room, allowing the door to swing shut behind him. Harry could not help but feel a resentful admiration96 for
Voldemort's complete lack of fear. His race merely expressed disgust and, perhaps, disappointment.
”Where is Marvolo?” he asked.
”Dead,” said the other. ”Died years ago, didn't he?”
Riddle frowned.
”Who are you, then?”
”I'm Morfin, ain't I?”
”Marvolo's son?”
”‘Course I am, then...”
Morfin pushed the hair out of his dirty face, the better to see Riddle, and Harry saw that he wore Marvolo's black-stoned ring on his right hand.
”I thought you was that Muggle,” whispered Morfin. ”You look mighty97 like that Muggle.”
”What Muggle?” said Riddle sharply.
”That Muggle what my sister took a fancy to, that Muggle what lives in the big house over the way,” said Morfin, and he spat98 unexpectedly upon the floor between them.
”You look right like him. Riddle. But he's older now, i'n ‘e? He's older'n you, now I think on it...”
Morfin looked slightly dazed and swayed a little, still clutching the edge of the table for support.
”He come back, see,” he added stupidly.
Voldemort was gazing at Morfin as though appraising99 his possibilities. Now he moved a little closer and said, ”Riddle came back?”
”Ar, he left her, and serve her right, marrying filth87!” said Morfin, spitting on the floor again. ”Robbed us, mind, before she ran off. Where's the locket, eh,
where's Slytherin's locket?”
Voldemort did not answer. Morfin was working himself into a rage again; he brandished100 his knife and shouted, ”Dishonored us, she did, that little slut! And who're you,
coming here and asking questions about all that? It's over, innit... it's over...”
He looked away, staggering slightly, and Voldemort moved forward. As he did so, an unnatural101 darkness fell, extinguishing Voldemort's lamp and Morfin's candle,
extinguishing everything... Dumbledore's fingers closed tightly around Harry's arm and they were soaring back into the present again. The soft golden light in
Dumbledore's office seemed to dazzle Harry's eyes after that impenetrable darkness.
“Is that all?” said Harry at once. “Why did it go dark, what happened?”
“Because Morfin could not remember anything from that point onward,” said Dumbledore, gesturing Harry back into his seat. “When he awoke next morning, he was lying
on the floor, quite alone. Marvolo's ring had gone.
“Meanwhile, in the village of Little Hangleton, a maid was running along the High Street, screaming that there were three bodies lying in the drawing room of the big
house: Tom Riddle Senior and his mother and father.
“The Muggle authorities were perplexed102. As far as I am aware, they do not know to this day how the Riddles103 died, for the Avada Kedavra Curse does not usually leave any
sign of damage... the exception sits before me,” Dumbledore added, with a nod to Harry's scar. “The Ministry, on the other hand, knew at once that this was a wizard's
murder. They also knew that a convicted Muggle-hater lived across the valley from the Riddle house, a Muggle-hater who had already been imprisoned104 once for attacking
one of the murdered people.
“So the Ministry called upon Morfin. They did not need to question him, to use Veritaserum or Legilimency. He admitted to the murder on the spot, giving details only
the murderer could know. He was proud, he said, to have killed the Muggles, had been awaiting his chance all these years. He handed over his wand, which was proved at
once to have been used to kill the Riddles. And he permitted himself to be led off to Azkaban without a fight. All that disturbed him was the fact that his fathers ring
had disappeared. ‘He'll kill me for losing it,’ he told his captors over and over again. ‘He'll kill me for losing his ring.’ And that, apparently, was all he ever
said again. He lived out the remainder of his life in Azkaban, lamenting105 the loss of Marvolo's last heirloom, and is buried beside the prison, alongside the other poor
souls who have expired within its walls.”
“So Voldemort stole Morfin's wand and used it?” said Harry, sitting up straight.
“That's right,” said Dumbledore. “We have no memories to show us this, but I think we can be fairly sure what happened. Voldemort Stupefied his uncle, took his wand,
and proceeded across the valley to ‘the big house over the way.’ There he murdered the Muggle man who had abandoned his witch mother, and, for good measure, his
Muggle grandparents, thus obliterating106 the last of the unworthy Riddle line and revenging himself upon the father who never wanted him. Then he returned to the Gaunt
hovel, performed the complex bit of magic that would implant107 a false memory in his uncle's mind, laid Morfin's wand beside its unconscious owner, pocketed the ancient
ring he wore, and departed.”
“And Morfin never realized he hadn't done it?”
“Never,” said Dumbledore. “He gave, as I say, a full and boastful confession108.”
“But he had this real memory in him all the time!”
“Yes, but it took a great deal of skilled Legilimency to coax109 it out of him,” said Dumbledore, “and why should anybody delve110 further into Morfin's mind when he had
already confessed to the crime? However, I was able to secure a visit to Morfin in the last weeks of his life, by which time I was attempting to discover as much as I
could about Voldemort's past. I extracted this memory with difficulty. When I saw what it contained, I attempted to use it to secure Morfin's release from Azkaban.
Before the Ministry reached their decision, however, Morfin had died.”
“But how come the Ministry didn't realize that Voldemort had done all that to Morfin?” Harry asked angrily. “He was underage at the time, wasn't he? I thought they
could detect underage magic!”
“You are quite right—they can detect magic, but not the perpetrator: you will remember that you were blamed by the Ministry for the Hover111 Charm that was, in fact,
cast by —”
“Dobby,” growled112 Harry; this injustice113 still rankled114. “So if you're underage and you do magic inside an adult witch or wizard's house, the Ministry won't know?”
“They will certainly be unable to tell who performed the magic,” said Dumbledore, smiling slightly at the look of great indignation on Harry's face. “They rely on
witch and wizard parents to enforce their offspring's obedience115 while within their walls.”
“Well, that's rubbish,” snapped Harry. “Look what happened here, look what happened to Morfin!”
“I agree,” said Dumbledore. “Whatever Morfin was, he did not deserve to die as he did, blamed for murders he had not committed. But it is getting late, and I want
you to see this other memory before we part...”
Dumbledore took from an inside pocket another crystal phial and Harry fell silent at once, remembering that Dumbledore had said it was the most important one he had
collected. Harry noticed that the contents proved difficult to empty into the Pensieve, as though they had congealed116 slightly; did memories go bad?
“This will not take long,” said Dumbledore, when he had finally emptied the phial. “We shall be back before you know it. Once more into the Pensieve, then...”
And Harry fell again through the silver surface, landing this time right in front of a man he recognized at once.
It was a much younger Horace Slughorn. Harry was so used to him bald that he found the sight of Slughorn with thick, shiny, straw-colored hair quite disconcerting; it
looked as though he had had his head thatched, though there was already a shiny Galleon-sized bald patch on his crown. His mustache, less massive than it was these
days, was gingery-blond. He was not quite as rotund as the Slughorn Harry knew, though the golden buttons on his richly embroidered117 waistcoat were taking a fair amount
of strain. His little feet resting upon a velvet118 pouffe, he was sitting well back in a comfortable winged armchair, one hand grasping a small glass of wine, the other
searching through a box of crystalized pineapple.
Harry looked around as Dumbledore appeared beside him and saw that they were standing119 in Slughorn's office. Half a dozen boys were sitting around Slughorn, all on
harder or lower seats than his, and all in their mid-teens. Harry recognized Voldemort at once. His was the most handsome face and he looked the most relaxed of all the
boys. His right hand lay negligently120 upon the arm of his chair; with a jolt121, Harry saw that he was wearing Marvolo's gold-and-black ring; he had already killed his
father.
“Sir, is it true that Professor Merrythought is retiring?” he asked.
“Tom, Tom, if I knew I couldn't tell you,” said Slughorn, wagging a reproving, sugar-covered finger at Riddle, though ruining the effect slightly by winking122. “I must
say, I'd like to know where you get your information, boy; more knowledgeable123 than half the staff, you are.”
Riddle smiled; the other boys laughed and cast him admiring looks.
“What with your uncanny ability to know things you shouldn't, and your careful flattery of the people who matter—thank you for the pineapple, by the way, you're quite
right, it is my favorite—”
As several of the boys tittered, something very odd happened. The whole room was suddenly filled with a thick white fog, so that Harry could see nothing but the face of
Dumbledore, who was standing beside him. Then Slughorn's voice rang out through the mist, unnaturally124 loudly: “—you'll go wrong, boy, mark my words.”
The fog cleared as suddenly as it had appeared and yet nobody made any allusion125 to it, nor did anybody look as though anything unusual had just happened. Bewildered,
Harry looked around as a small golden clock standing upon Slughorn's desk chimed eleven o'clock.
“Good gracious, is it that time already?” said Slughorn. “You'd better get going, boys, or we'll all be in trouble. Lestrange, I want your essay by tomorrow or it's
detention126. Same goes for you, Avery.”
Slughorn pulled himself out of his armchair and carried his empty glass over to his desk as the boys filed out. Voldemort, however, stayed behind. Harry could tell he
had dawdled127 deliberately128, wanting to be last in the room with Slughorn.
“Look sharp, Tom,” said Slughorn, turning around and finding him still present. “You don't want to be caught out of bed out of hours, and you a prefect...”
“Sir, I wanted to ask you something.”
“Ask away, then, m'boy, ask away....”
“Sir, I wondered what you know about... about Horcruxes?”
And it happened all over again: the dense129 fog filled the room so that Harry could not see Slughorn or Voldemort at all; only Dumbledore, smiling serenely130 beside him.
Then Slughorn's voice boomed out again, just as it had done before.
“I don't know anything about Horcruxes and I wouldn't tell you if I did! Now get out of here at once and don't let me catch you mentioning them again!”
“Well, that's that,” said Dumbledore placidly131 beside Harry. “Time to go.”
And Harry's feet left the floor to fall, seconds later, back onto the rug in front of Dumbledore's desk.
“That's all there is?” said Harry blankly.
Dumbledore had said that this was the most important memory of all, but he could not see what was so significant about it. Admittedly the fog, and the fact that nobody
seemed to have noticed it, was odd, but other than that nothing seemed to have happened except that Voldemort had asked a question and failed to get an answer.
“As you might have noticed,” said Dumbledore, reseating himself behind his desk, “that memory has been tampered132 with.”
“Tampered with?” repeated Harry, sitting back down too.
“Certainly,” said Dumbledore. “Professor Slughorn has meddled133 with his own recollections.”
“But why would he do that?”
“Because, I think, he is ashamed of what he remembers,” said Dumbledore. “He has tried to rework the memory to show himself in a better light, obliterating those
parts which he does not wish me to see. It is, as you will have noticed, very crudely done, and that is all to the good, for it shows that the true memory is still
there beneath the alterations134.
“And so, for the first time, I am giving you homework, Harry. It will be your job to persuade Professor Slughorn to divulge135 the real memory, which will undoubtedly be
our most crucial piece of information of all.”
Harry stared at him.
“But surely, sir,” he said, keeping his voice as respectful as possible, “you don't need me—you could use Legilimency ... or Veritaserum...”
“Professor Slughorn is an extremely able wizard who will be expecting both,” said Dumbledore. “He is much more accomplished136 at Occlumency than poor Morfin Gaunt, and
I would be astonished if he has not carried an antidote137 to Veritaserum with him ever since I coerced138 him into giving me this travesty139 of a recollection.
“No, I think it would be foolish to attempt to wrest21 the truth from Professor Slughorn by force, and might do much more harm than good; I do not wish him to leave
Hogwarts. However, he has his weaknesses like the rest of us, and I believe that you are the one person who might be able to penetrate140 his defenses. It is most
important that we secure the true memory, Harry... how important, we will only know when we have seen the real thing. So, good luck... and goodnight.”
A little taken aback by the abrupt141 dismissal, Harry got to his feet quickly. “Good night, sir.”
As he closed the study door behind him, he distinctly heard Phineas Nigellus say, “I can't see why the boy should be able to do it better than you, Dumbledore.”
“I wouldn't expect you to, Phineas,” replied Dumbledore, and Fawkes gave another low, musical cry.
几天以后的一个傍晚，哈利、罗恩和金妮在厨房的壁炉边排着队准备返回霍格沃茨。魔法部安排了这趟临时的飞路网络连接来把学生安全地送回学校。由于韦斯莱先生、弗雷德、乔治、比尔和
芙蓉都上班去了，所以只有韦斯莱夫人送他们。分别的时候韦斯莱夫人还掉了眼泪。无疑，最近韦斯莱夫人特别多愁善感；自从圣诞节那天珀西戴着溅满了防风草根汁的眼镜冲出屋子之后（弗
雷德、乔治和金妮都宣称是自己的功劳），她时不时地就会哭起来。
“别哭了，妈妈，”金妮拍了拍韦斯莱夫人的背，她正靠在女儿的肩膀上呜咽。“没事的……”
“是啊，别为我们担心，”罗恩让他妈妈在脸上重重地吻了一下，“也别为珀西担心。他就是个大傻瓜，这真的不是什么损失，对不对？”
韦斯莱夫人拥抱哈利的时候哭得更厉害了。
“向我保证你会照顾好自己……别惹麻烦……”
“我一直都如此，韦斯莱夫人，”哈利说。“我喜欢平静的生活，你了解我的。”
她含着泪笑了笑，站到了一边。
“那么要表现好，你们所有的人……”
哈利走进了翠绿色的火焰，喊道，“霍格沃茨！”最后短暂地瞥了一眼韦斯莱家的厨房和韦斯莱夫人沾满泪水的脸，然后就被火焰吞没了；他飞快地旋转着，眼前模糊地闪过其他巫师的屋
子，可还没等他看清楚就飘不见了；然后他开始减速，最终稳稳当当地停在了麦格教授办公室的壁炉里。他从壁炉里爬出来的时候麦格教授的眼睛几乎都没抬起来。
“晚上好，波特。请尽量别把炉灰带到地毯上。”
“好的，教授。”
哈利扶正了眼镜，抹了抹头发，这时罗恩从壁炉里旋转着冒了出来。等金妮也出来之后，他们一起离开了麦格教授的办公室朝格兰芬多塔楼走去。哈利经过走廊的窗子时往外面看了一眼；
太阳已经落到了地平线上，地面覆盖着比陋居的花园里还厚的积雪。他可以远远地看到海格正在他的小屋前给巴克比克喂食。
“小丑手杖，”罗恩自信地说，他们已经走到了胖夫人那儿，她的脸色看上去比平时要更苍白，被罗恩响亮的声音吓了一跳。
“不，”她说。
“什么叫‘不’？”
“换了新口令，”她说。“请不要喊叫。”
“可是我们回家去了，我们怎么会——？”
“哈利！金妮！”
赫敏匆匆向他们走了过来，脸上红扑扑的，穿戴着斗篷、帽子和手套。
“我几个小时前才回来，我刚去看了海格和巴克——我是说韦瑟文，”她气喘吁吁地说。“你们圣诞节过得好吗？”
“是啊，”罗恩马上说，“发生了好多事情，鲁弗斯·斯克林——”
“我有件东西要给你，哈利，”赫敏既没有看罗恩，也没有表现出她听到了罗恩说的话。“哦，等一下——口令。戒酒。”
“正确，”胖夫人无力地说，打开画像露出了肖像洞。
“她怎么了？”哈利问。
“很显然在圣诞节期间放纵了一把，”赫敏翻了翻眼珠，带头往挤满人的公共休息室走去。“她和她的朋友维奥莱特喝光了那幅画里所有的酒，就是楼下魔咒课教室走廊旁‘醉酒的修道士
’那幅。不管怎样……”
她在口袋里翻了一阵子，掏出了一卷带有邓布利多字迹的羊皮纸。
“太好了，”哈利赶紧解开了它，发现邓布利多的下一堂课就安排在明天晚上。“我有一大堆的事儿要告诉他——还有你。我们坐下来说——”
可就在此时突然传来一声响亮的尖叫“哇－哇！”，拉文德·布朗不知从哪儿飞奔过来投入了罗恩的怀抱。旁边的几个人吃吃地笑了起来；赫敏也清脆地笑了，她说，“这儿有张桌子……
过来吧，金妮？”
“不了，谢谢，我说好了要去和迪安见面的，”可哈利不禁注意到她的声音并不是很热情。抛下了正进行着直立式摔跤比赛的罗恩和拉文德，哈利领着赫敏坐到了那张空桌子旁。
“你的圣诞节过得怎么样？”
“哦，很好，”她耸了耸肩。“没什么特别的。你在‘哇－哇’的家里过得如何？”
“我马上就告诉你，”哈利说。“赫敏，你就不能——？”
“对，我不能，”她平淡地说。“所以别徒劳了。”
“你也知道，我以为经过了一个圣诞假期——”
“是胖夫人喝光了一桶酿造了五百年的葡萄酒，哈利，不是我。你想告诉我什么重要消息？”
她看上去太凶了，哈利知道这时和她争辩也没有，于是放弃了罗恩的话题，向她复述了自己偷听到的马尔福和斯内普之间谈话的内容。
他说完之后，赫敏坐在那儿想了想，然后说，“你不觉得——？”
“——他是在假装提出帮助马尔福，这样就可以骗马尔福说出他在做什么——？”
“嗯，是的，”赫敏说。
“罗恩的爸爸和卢平都这么认为，”哈利不大情愿地说。“可是这肯定证明了马尔福在计划着什么，这你总不能否认吧。”
“对，我不否认，”她缓慢地回答。
“而且他是在奉伏地魔的命令办事，就像我说的那样！”
“嗯……他们俩谁真正提到了伏地魔的名字？”
哈利皱起眉头，努力地回忆着。
“我不敢肯定……斯内普肯定说过‘你的主人’，那还会是谁？”
“我不知道，”赫敏咬着嘴唇说。“也许他的父亲？”
她凝视着休息室的另一头，显然陷入了沉思之中，可她仍没忘记留意拉文德正在胳肢罗恩。“卢平怎么样。”
“不是太好，”哈利说，他告诉了赫敏卢平在狼人中的任务和面临的困难。“你从前听说过这个芬利·格雷巴克吗？”
“是啊，听说过！”赫敏有些吃惊。“你也听说过啊，哈利！”
“什么时候，魔法史课上？你知道得很清楚，我从来不听……”
“不是，不是，不是魔法史——马尔福用他威胁过博金！”赫敏说。“在翻倒巷，你不记得了吗？他告诉博金说格雷巴克是他们家的老朋友，还会去检查他的进展！”
哈利目瞪口呆地看着她。“我忘了！可是这个证明了马尔福是个食死徒，否则他怎么能联系上格雷巴克，还告诉他该做什么！”
“这个相当可疑，”赫敏低声说。“除非……”
“哦，得了吧，”哈利恼怒地说，“你没法回避这个事实！”
“嗯……这可能只是一个凭空的威胁。”
“你就是不愿相信，就是不愿意，”哈利摇着头说。“等着看谁是对的吧……你会认错的，赫敏，就像魔法部一样。哦，对了，我还和鲁弗斯·斯克林杰吵了一架……”
那晚剩下的时光在他们俩对魔法部的共同谩骂中和平地度过了，赫敏和罗恩一样，认为魔法部在去年那样地对待了哈利之后，如今又来要求他去帮忙真是厚颜无耻。
第二天早上开始的新学期给了六年级学生一个惊喜：公共休息室的布告牌昨天夜里钉上了一张大告示。
幻影显形培训
如果你是七年级学生，或者在八月三十一日前年满十七周岁，你就有资格参加一项由魔法部教员讲授，历时十二周的幻影显形培训课程。
如果你愿意参加请在下面签上姓名。
费用：12加隆。
哈利和罗恩加入了拥挤的人群中，他们正一个接一个地在下面登记自己的姓名。排在赫敏后面的罗恩刚拿出羽毛笔，拉文德就悄悄出现在他身后，偷偷地蒙上了他的眼睛，用婉转地声音说
，“猜猜我是谁，哇－哇？”哈利转身看到赫敏大步地走开了；他不想同罗恩和拉文德待在一块儿，于是追上了赫敏，让他吃惊的是，他们刚走出肖像洞不远罗恩就追了上来，耳朵红红的，一
副不太高兴的样子。赫敏一句话也没说，快步地追上纳威和他一块儿走了。
“那么——幻影显形，”罗恩的语气已经很清楚了，哈利没有提刚才发生的事情。“应该会很有趣，嗯？”
“我不知道，”哈利说。“也许你自己做的时候好一些吧，邓布利多带着我一起做的时候我感觉不是太舒服。”
“我忘了你已经做过了……我最好一次就能过关，”罗恩看上去很急切。“弗雷德和乔治就是。”
“不过查理没一次成功，是不是？”
“是啊，可是查理块头比我大，”罗恩像大猩猩一样伸出了手臂，“所以弗雷德和乔治没有不停地唠叨这个……不管怎样，没有当着他的面……”
“我们什么时候能参加实际测试？”
“过了十七岁就行。对我来说只要等到三月份了！”
“是啊，可是你不能在这儿幻影显形，城堡里不行……”
“这没关系，不是吗？每个人都会知道我只要想幻影显形就能办到。”
罗恩不是唯一一个对幻影显形的前景感到兴奋的人。那一天到处都有人在谈论这门即将到来的课程；人们似乎十分看好这种随意消失和重现的能力。
“太酷了，如果我们能——”西莫打了个响指来代表消失。“我的表哥弗格斯常用这一招来骚扰我，等我会做了之后……他就永无宁日了……”
他陷入了憧憬之中，挥魔杖的动作有些过于狂热，那节魔咒课的目标本来是变出一股纯水，可是他的魔杖却喷出了一条橡皮水管一样的东西，从天花板上反弹回来直接打到了弗立维教授的
脸上。
“哈利已经幻影显形过了，”在弗立维教授挥动魔杖把身上弄干并罚了西莫写句子（“我是一个巫师，不是一个挥舞着棍子的狒狒”）之后，罗恩告诉有些发窘的西莫。“邓——呃——有
人带他做过了。依附显形，你知道的。”
“哇！”西莫低声说，然后他、迪安和纳威把脑袋凑得更近了一些来听哈利描述幻影显形的感觉。这一天余下的时间里，哈利被询问幻影显形感觉的其他六年级学生团团围住了。尽管他告
诉他们幻影显形有多么的不舒服，可似乎他们的敬畏之情还是要多于放弃之意，直到八点差十分，人们还在不断地问他细节上的问题，他不得不撒谎说需要去图书馆还一本书，才得以脱身准时
去上邓布利多的课。
邓布利多办公室的灯已经点上了，前任校长们的画像正在画框里轻轻地打着鼾，冥想盆又一次早早地摆在了邓布利多的桌子上。邓布利多把手放在冥想盆的两侧，其中右手和从前一样烧得
发黑。看上去根本就没有好转，哈利第一百次猜测起是什么导致了如此特殊的伤害，可是他没有问；邓布利多说过他会终究知道的，而且不管怎样他还有另一个话题想要和邓布利多讨论。可是
在他开口说斯内普和马尔福的事情之前，邓布利多先说话了。
“我听说圣诞假期里你见到了魔法部部长？”
“是的，”哈利说。“他不是很喜欢我。”
“对，”邓布利多叹息道。“他也不喜欢我。可我们不能在痛苦中消沉，哈利，而是要继续战斗下去。”
哈利咧嘴笑了。
“他想要我告诉巫师公众魔法部的工作很出色。”
邓布利多微笑了起来。
“这最开始是福吉的想法。在他任内的最后几天里，为了不顾一切地保住自己的职位，他就寻求过和你会面，希望你能给他一些支持——”
“在福吉去年做了所有那些事情之后？”哈利生气地说。“在乌姆里奇的事情之后？”
“我告诉康奈利绝不可能，可是这个想法并没有随着他的离任而消失。斯克林杰上任几个小时之后我们就见面了，他要求我安排你和他会面——”
“这就是你们争吵的原因！”哈利脱口而出。“《预言家日报》上登了。”
“《预言家日报》肯定偶尔也会报道真相，”邓布利多说。“也许只是意外。是的，那就是我们争吵的原因。不过，似乎鲁弗斯最后还是找到办法堵住你了。”
“他指责我‘从头到脚都是邓布利多的人’。”
“那他真是太没有礼貌了。”
“我告诉他我是。”
邓布利多张开嘴想说什么，但是又闭上了。哈利身后的福克斯发出了一声低沉、温柔、悦耳的鸣叫。他突然意识到邓布利多明亮的蓝眼睛看上去有些湿润，他感到了一阵极度地尴尬，只好
赶紧盯着自己的膝盖。不过邓布利多重新开口时声音却相当平和。
“我非常感动，哈利。”
“斯克林杰想知道你不在霍格沃茨时去了哪儿，”哈利说，仍旧凝视着自己的双膝。
“是的，他确实很喜欢打听那个，”邓布利多的声音现在变得愉快了，于是哈利觉得这个时候抬头已经安全了。“他甚至想派人跟踪我。真是很有趣。他派的是德力士。这可不太友好。我
已经被迫对德力士施过一次咒了；我带着极大的歉意又做了一次。”
“这么说他们还是不知道你去了哪儿？”哈利问，他希望在这个感兴趣的问题上得到更多的信息，可是邓布利多只是从他半月形眼镜的上方笑了笑。
“对，他们不知道，而且现在也没有到告诉你的时候。现在，我建议我们继续以前的内容，除非你还有什么——？”
“事实上确实有，教授，”哈利说。“关于马尔福和斯内普的。”
“是斯内普教授，哈利。”
“是，教授。我在斯拉霍恩教授的聚会上偷听到了他们的谈话……嗯，实际上我跟踪了他们……”
邓布利多面无表情地听完了哈利的故事。哈利讲完之后他沉默了片刻，然后说，“谢谢你告诉我这些，哈利，可是我建议你忘掉它。我认为它不太重要。”
“不太重要？”哈利难以置信地重复道。“教授，你弄懂了——？”
“是的，哈利，我有幸拥有着非凡的智力，所以你告诉我的每一件事我都弄懂了，”邓布利多有点儿尖锐地说。“我想你甚至应该考虑到我可能你比懂得更多。我很高兴你能信任我，但是
我向你保证你告诉我的事情并没有引起我的不安。”
哈利安静地坐在那里，可心里却泛起了波澜，他瞪着邓布利多。到底发生了什么？既然他已经告诉了邓布利多所有这些关于斯内普的事，这是不是就意味着确实是邓布利多派斯内普去查的
德拉科？又或者他的的确确对听到的事情感到很担心，却装成了若无其事的样子？
“那么，教授，”哈利希望他的声音能显得礼貌和平静，“你确实还信任——？”
“我已经足够耐心地回答过那个问题了，”可是他听上去不那么有耐性了。“我的回答没有改变。”
“我可不这么想，”一个讽刺的声音说；菲尼亚斯·奈杰勒斯显然只是在装睡。邓布利多没有理他。
“那么现在，哈利，我得坚持继续我们的课程了。今晚我有更重要的东西要和你讨论。”
哈利反抗般地坐在那儿。要是他拒绝改变话题，要是他坚持争论马尔福事件会怎么样呢？邓布利多摇了摇头，仿佛看穿了他的想法。
“啊，哈利，这种事情发生得多么经常啊，即使是在最好的朋友之间！每个人都相信自己要说的东西比别人的重要得多！”
“我没有认为你要说的东西不重要，教授，”哈利生硬地说。
“嗯，你是对的，因为他们确实很重要，”邓布利多快活地说。“今晚我有两份记忆要展示给你，每一份都来之不易，而且我认为第二份记忆是我所收集的回忆之中最重要的一份。”
哈利对此没有发表任何评论；他还在为自己吐露的秘密遭到冷遇而感到忿忿不平，可是他不知道继续争论下去有什么结果。
“那么，”邓布利多用响亮的声音说，“我们今晚就继续汤姆·里德尔的故事吧，上次说到他已经站在了他霍格沃茨生涯的门槛上。你一定还记得他听说自己是个巫师时有多么兴奋，记得
他拒绝了在我的陪同下去对角巷，也记得我告诫了他到校后不要继续行窃。
“那么，他的学校生涯开始了，汤姆·里德尔，一个穿着二手袍子，和其他一年级新生一起排队等候分院仪式的安静男孩。分院帽几乎刚一接触到他的脑袋就把他分入了斯莱特林，”邓布
利多向静静地摆在架子上的古老分院帽挥了挥他那只发黑的手，接着说。“我不知道他多快就发现了著名的学院创建者也能和蛇说话——也许就在那晚吧。这个消息无疑令他感到兴奋，也提升
了他的自尊心。
“然而，即便他曾经在公共休息室展示过蛇佬腔来吓唬他的斯莱特林同伴，这些也都没有传到教员们的耳朵里。他一点儿也没有公开地展示过自己的傲慢与好斗。作为一个既有天资又长得
好看的孤儿，他几乎是一到霍格沃茨就博得了教员们的注意和同情。他看上去非常礼貌、安静和渴望获得知识。他给几乎所有的人都留下了好印象。”
“你没有告诉他们吗，教授，你没有告诉他们他在孤儿院里是什么样子吗？”哈利问。
“是的，我没有。虽然没有迹象表明他在忏悔，可是有可能他会为过去的所作所为感到抱歉并决心重新做人。我选择了给他一个机会。”
邓布利多停了下来，询问地望着哈利，他刚刚张了嘴想说话。这又是邓布利多在随便信任人了，虽然有压倒性的证据表明那个人根本就不值得他信任！可是哈利突然想起了什么……
“但是你并不真的信任他，教授，是不是？他告诉我……从那本日记里出来的里德尔说‘邓布利多从来不像其他老师那样喜欢我’。”
“我并没有想当然地认为他值得信赖，”邓布利多说。“我当时已经下定决心要密切地注意他，我也这么做了。我可不能妄称自己一开始就从他那里知道了很多。他对我充满了戒心；我敢
肯定，他觉得在发现自己身份的激动之余告诉我的东西有点儿太多了。他再也没有那样泄露过自己的事儿，可是他没法收回兴奋之中不小心对我说的那些话，也无法收回科尔夫人对我透露的秘
密。然而，他却从来不去尝试像迷惑我的诸多同事那样地迷惑我。
“随着学业的进展，他集拢了一批热忱的朋友；我这么称呼他们，只是因为没有更合适的字眼，其实正如我曾指出来的，里德尔对他们中的任何人都毫无友情可言。这个团体在城堡里有一
种黑色的魅力；他们由五花八门的人组成；有想寻求庇护的弱者、渴望分享荣誉的野心家，还有一伙暴徒，他们都聚集在一个能够把残忍玩弄得更加炉火纯青的领袖周围。换言之，他们就是食
死徒的先驱，其中的有些人离开霍格沃茨之后也的确成为了最早的一批食死徒。
“他们被里德尔牢牢地控制在手里，尽管他们在校的七年里霍格沃茨发生了几起严重的变故，可是人们没有发现其中任何一宗与他们有很大的关系，其中最严重的，自然是密室的开启，这
导致了一个女孩的丧生。正如你所知道的，海格为这项罪行背了黑锅。
“我没能找到许多关于里德尔在霍格沃茨的记忆，”邓布利多把他皱巴巴的手放到冥想盆上。“几乎没有当时认识他的人愿意谈论起他；他们都太害怕了。我所知道的都是在他离开学校之
后，经过辛苦的努力，经过追寻那些极少数能被哄开口的人，经过搜索旧的记录和询问麻瓜与巫师目击者之后才查访到的。
“那些能被我劝开口的人告诉我，里德尔对自己的出身非常困扰。这个当然很容易理解；他是在孤儿院长大的，自然会想知道自己为什么到了那儿。他似乎没能在学校的奖杯陈列室里找到
老汤姆·里德尔的名字，在学校过去的级长名册上、甚至在巫师的历史书上也没有找到。最后他不得不相信自己的父亲从来就没有进入过霍格沃茨。我相信就是从那时起他永远地抛弃了自己的
名字，设想出了伏地魔的身份，并开始了对自己过去曾轻视的母亲家庭进行调查——你一定记得，就是那个他本以为不可能是巫师的女人，就因为她屈服在了人类面对死亡的可耻软弱之下。
“他的线索只有‘马沃罗’这个名字，开孤儿院的人告诉过他这是
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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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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mashed
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| a.捣烂的 | |
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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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watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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engulfed
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| v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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blurred
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| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
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flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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burrow
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| vt.挖掘(洞穴)；钻进；vi.挖洞；翻寻；n.地洞 | |
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winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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rummaged
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| 翻找，搜寻( rummage的过去式和过去分词 )； 已经海关检查 | |
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scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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squeal
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| v.发出长而尖的声音；n.长而尖的声音 | |
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onlookers
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| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
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tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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vertical
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| adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置 | |
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wrest
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| n.扭，拧，猛夺；v.夺取，猛扭，歪曲 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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vat
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| n.(=value added tax)增值税，大桶 | |
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grudgingly
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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tickling
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| 反馈，回授，自旋挠痒法 | |
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alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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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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exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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amicably
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| adv.友善地 | |
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apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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eligible
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| adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的 | |
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instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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galleons
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| n.大型帆船( galleon的名词复数 ) | |
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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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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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gorilla
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| n.大猩猩，暴徒，打手 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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flicked
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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baboon
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| n.狒狒 | |
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brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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distinctive
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| adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的 | |
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48
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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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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51
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
phoenix
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| n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生 | |
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53
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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54
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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nosy
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| adj.鼻子大的，好管闲事的，爱追问的；n.大鼻者 | |
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56
intriguing
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| adj.有趣的；迷人的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的现在分词)；激起…的好奇心 | |
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57
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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58
reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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59
disquiet
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| n.担心，焦虑 | |
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60
seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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61
mutinous
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| adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变 | |
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62
riddle
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| n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜 | |
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63
poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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64
second-hand
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| adj.用过的，旧的，二手的 | |
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65
Founder
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| n.创始者，缔造者 | |
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66
arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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67
aggression
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| n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害 | |
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68
orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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69
orphanage
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| n.孤儿院 | |
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70
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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71
gleaned
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| v.一点点地收集（资料、事实）( glean的过去式和过去分词 )；（收割后）拾穗 | |
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72
dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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73
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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74
glamour
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| n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住 | |
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75
forerunners
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| n.先驱( forerunner的名词复数 )；开路人；先兆；前兆 | |
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76
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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77
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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78
painstaking
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| adj.苦干的；艰苦的，费力的，刻苦的 | |
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obsessed
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| adj.心神不宁的,鬼迷心窍的,沉迷的 | |
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80
trophy
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| n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品 | |
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81
investigations
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| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
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82
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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83
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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84
shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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85
annually
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| adv.一年一次，每年 | |
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86
swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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87
filth
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| n.肮脏，污物，污秽；淫猥 | |
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88
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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89
moldy
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| adj.发霉的 | |
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90
guttering
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| n.用于建排水系统的材料；沟状切除术；开沟 | |
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91
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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92
clattering
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的现在分词形式） | |
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bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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94
skidded
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| v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的过去式和过去分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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95
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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96
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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97
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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98
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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99
appraising
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| v.估价( appraise的现在分词 )；估计；估量；评价 | |
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100
brandished
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| v.挥舞( brandish的过去式和过去分词 )；炫耀 | |
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101
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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102
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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103
riddles
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| n.谜（语）( riddle的名词复数 )；猜不透的难题，难解之谜 | |
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104
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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105
lamenting
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| adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) | |
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106
obliterating
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| v.除去( obliterate的现在分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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107
implant
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| vt.注入，植入，灌输 | |
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108
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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109
coax
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| v.哄诱，劝诱，用诱哄得到，诱取 | |
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110
delve
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| v.深入探究，钻研 | |
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111
hover
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| vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫 | |
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112
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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113
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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114
rankled
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| v.（使）痛苦不已，（使）怨恨不已( rankle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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115
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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116
congealed
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| v.使凝结，冻结( congeal的过去式和过去分词 )；（指血）凝结 | |
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117
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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118
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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119
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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120
negligently
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121
jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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122
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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123
knowledgeable
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| adj.知识渊博的；有见识的 | |
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124
unnaturally
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| adv.违反习俗地；不自然地；勉强地；不近人情地 | |
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125
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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126
detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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127
dawdled
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| v.混（时间）( dawdle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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128
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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129
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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130
serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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131
placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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132
tampered
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| v.窜改( tamper的过去式 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄 | |
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133
meddled
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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134
alterations
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| n.改动( alteration的名词复数 )；更改；变化；改变 | |
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135
divulge
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| v.泄漏(秘密等)；宣布，公布 | |
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136
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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137
antidote
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| n.解毒药，解毒剂 | |
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138
coerced
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| v.迫使做( coerce的过去式和过去分词 )；强迫；（以武力、惩罚、威胁等手段）控制；支配 | |
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139
travesty
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| n.歪曲，嘲弄，滑稽化 | |
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140
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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141
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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