The fact that Harry1 Potter was going out with Ginny Weasley seemed to interest a great number of people, most of them girls, yet Harry found himself newly and happily
impervious3 to gossip over the next few weeks. After all, it made a very nice change to be talked about because of something that was making him happier than he could
remember being for a very long time, rather than because he had been involved in horrific scenes of Dark magic.
“You'd think people had better things to gossip about,” said Ginny, as she sat on the common-room floor, leaning against Harry's legs and reading the Daily Prophet.
“Three Dementor attacks in a week, and all Romilda Vane does is ask me if it's true you've got a Hippogriff tattooed4 across your chest.”
Ron and Hermione both roared with laughter. Harry ignored them.
“What did you tell her?”
“I told her it's a Hungarian Horntail,” said Ginny, turning a page of the newspaper idly. “Much more macho.”
“Thanks,” said Harry, grinning. “And what did you tell her Ron's got?”
“A Pygmy Puff5, but I didn't say where.”
Ron scowled6 as Hermione rolled around laughing.
“Watch it,” he said, pointing wamingly at Harry and Ginny. “Just because I've given my permission doesn't mean I can't withdraw it—”
“'Your permission’ “, scoffed7 Ginny. “Since when did you give me permission to do anything? Anyway, you said yourself you'd rather it was Harry than Michael or
Dean.”
“Yeah, I would,” said Ron grudgingly8. “And just as long as you don't start snogging each other in public—”
“You filthy9 hypocrite! What about you and Lavender, thrashing around like a pair of eels10 all over the place?” demanded Ginny.
But Ron's tolerance11 was not to be tested much as they moved into June, for Harry and Ginny's time together was becoming increasingly restricted. Ginny's O.W.L.s were
approaching and she was therefore forced to revise for hours into the night. On one such evening, when Ginny had retired12 to the library and Harry was sitting beside the
window in the common room, supposedly finishing his Herbology home-work but in reality reliving a particularly happy hour he had spent down by the lake with Ginny at
lunch-time, Hermione dropped into the seat between him and Ron with an unpleasantly purposeful look on her face.
“I want to talk to you, Harry.”
“What about?” said Harry suspiciously. Only the previous day, Hermione had told him off for distracting Ginny when she ought to be working hard for her examinations.
“The so-called Half-Blood Prince.”
“Oh, not again,” he groaned13. “Will you please drop it?”
He had not dared to return to the Room of Requirement to retrieve14 his book, and his performance in Potions was suffering accordingly (though Slughorn, who approved of
Ginny, had jocularly attributed this to Harry being lovesick). But Harry was sure that Snape had not yet given up hope of laying hands on the Prince's book, and was
determined15 to leave it where it was while Snape remained on the lookout16.
“I'm not dropping it,” said Hermione firmly, “until you've heard me out. Now, I've been trying to find out a bit about who might make a hobby of inventing Dark
spells—”
“He didn't make a hobby of it—”
“He, he—who says it's a he?”
“We've been through this,” said Harry crossly. “Prince, Hermione, Prince!”
“Right!” said Hermione, red patches blazing in her cheeks as she pulled a very old piece of newsprint out of her pocket and slammed it down on the table in front of
Harry. “Look at that! Look at the picture!”
Harry picked up the crumbling17 piece of paper and stared at the moving photograph, yellowed with age; Ron leaned over for a look, too. The picture showed a skinny girl
of around fifteen. She was not pretty; she looked simultaneously18 cross and sullen19, with heavy brows and a long, pallid20 face. Underneath21 the photograph was the caption22:
Eileen Prince, Captain of the Hogwarts Gobstones Team.
“So?” said Harry, scanning the short news item to which the picture belonged; it was a rather dull story about inter-school competitions.
“Her name was Eileen Prince. Prince, Harry.”
They looked at each other and Harry realised what Hermione was trying to say. He burst out laughing.
“No way.”
“What?”
“You think she was the Half-Blood...? Oh, come on.”
“Well, why not? Harry, there aren't any real princes in the wizarding world! It's either a nickname, a made-up title somebody's given themselves, or it could be their
actual name, couldn't it? No, listen! If, say, her father was a wizard whose surname was ‘Prince', and her mother was a Muggle, then that would make her a ‘half-blood
Prince'!”
“Yeah, very ingenious, Hermione ...”
“But it would! Maybe she was proud of being half a Prince!”
“Listen, Hermione, I can tell it's not a girl. I can just tell.”
“The truth is that you don't think a girl would have been clever enough,” said Hermione angrily.
“How can I have hung round with you for five years and not think girls are clever?” said Harry, stung by this. “It's the way he writes. I just know the Prince was a
bloke, I can tell. This girl hasn't got anything to do with it. Where did you get this, anyway?”
“The library,” said Hermione, predictably. “There's a whole collection of old Prophets up there. Well, I'm going to find out more about Eileen Prince if I can.”
“Enjoy yourself,” said Harry irritably23.
“I will,” said Hermione. “And the first place I'll look,” she shot at him, as she reached the portrait hole, “is records of old Potions awards!”
Harry scowled after her for a moment, then continued his contemplation of the darkening sky.
“She's just never got over you outperforming her in Potions,” said Ron, returning to his copy of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi24.
“You don't think I'm mad, wanting that book back, do you?”
“Course not,” said Ron robustly25. “He was a genius, the Prince. Anyway ... without his bezoar tip ...” he drew his finger significantly across his own throat, “I
wouldn't be here to discuss it, would I? I mean, I'm not saying that spell you used on Malfoy was great—”
“Nor am I,” said Harry quickly.
“But he healed all right, didn't he? Back on his feet in no time.”
“Yeah,” said Harry; this was perfectly26 true, although his conscience squirmed slightly all the same. “Thanks to Snape ...”
“You still got detention27 with Snape this Saturday?” Ron continued.
“Yeah, and the Saturday after that, and the Saturday after that,” sighed Harry. “And he's hinting now that if I don't get all the boxes done by the end of term,
we'll carry on next year.”
He was finding these detentions28 particularly irksome because they cut into the already limited time he could have been spending with Ginny. Indeed, he had frequently
wondered lately whether Snape did not know this, for he was keeping Harry later and later every time, while making pointed29 asides about Harry having to miss the good
weather and the varied30 opportunities it offered.
Harry was shaken from these bitter reflections by the appearance at his side of Jimmy Peakes, who was holding out a scroll31 of parchment.
“Thanks, Jimmy ... hey, it's from Dumbledore!” said Harry excitedly, unrolling the parchment and scanning it. “He wants me to go to his office as quick as I can!”
They stared at each other.
“Blimey,” whispered Ron. “You don't reckon ... he hasn't found ...?”
“Better go and see, hadn't I?” said Harry, jumping to his feet.
He hurried out of the common room and along the seventh floor as fast as he could, passing nobody but Peeves32, who swooped33 past in the opposite direction, throwing bits
of chalk at Harry in a routine sort of way and cackling loudly as he dodged34 Harry's defensive35 jinx. Once Peeves had vanished, there was silence in the corridors; with
only fifteen minutes left until curfew, most people had already returned to their common rooms.
And then Harry heard a scream and a crash. He stopped in his tracks, listening.
“How—dare—you—aaaaargh!”
The noise was coming from a corridor nearby; Harry sprinted36 towards it, his wand at the ready, hurtled round another corner and saw Professor Trelawney sprawled37 upon
the floor, her head covered in one of her many shawls, several sherry bottles lying beside her, one broken.
“Professor—”
Harry hurried forwards and helped Professor Trelawney to her feet. Some of her glittering beads38 had become entangled39 with her glasses. She hiccoughed loudly, patted her
hair and pulled herself up on Harry's helping40 arm.
“What happened, Professor?”
“You may well ask!” she said shrilly41. “I was strolling along, brooding upon certain Dark portents42 I happen to have glimpsed ...”
But Harry was not paying much attention. He had just noticed where they were standing43: there on the right was the tapestry44 of dancing trolls and, on the left, that
smoothly45 impenetrable stretch of stone wall that concealed—
“Professor, were you trying to get into the Room of Requirement?”
“... omens46 I have been vouchsafed—what?”
She looked suddenly shifty.
“The Room of Requirement,” repeated Harry. “Were you trying to get in there?”
“I—well—I didn't know students knew about—”
“Not all of them do,” said Harry. “But what happened? You screamed ... it sounded as though you were hurt...”
“I—well,” said Professor Trelawney, drawing her shawls around her defensively and staring down at him with her vastly magnified eyes. “I wished to—ah—deposit
certain – um—personal items in the Room ...” And she muttered something about “nasty accusations47".
“Right,” said Harry, glancing down at the sherry bottles. “But you couldn't get in and hide them?”
He found this very odd; the Room had opened for him, after all, when he had wanted to hide the Half-Blood Prince's book.
“Oh, I got in all right,” said Professor Trelawney, glaring at the wall. “But there was somebody already in there.”
“Somebody in—? Who?” demanded Harry. “Who was in there?”
“I have no idea,” said Professor Trelawney, looking slightly taken aback at the urgency in Harry's voice. “I walked into the Room and I heard a voice, which has
never happened before in all my years of hiding—of using the Room, I mean.”
“A voice? Saying what?”
“I don't know that it was saying anything,” said Professor Trelawney. “It was ... whooping48.”
“Whooping?”
“Gleefully,” she said, nodding.
Harry stared at her.
“Was it male or female?”
“I would hazard a guess at male,” said Professor Trelawney.
“And it sounded happy?”
“Very happy,” said Professor Trelawney sniffily.
“As though it was celebrating?”
“Most definitely.”
“And then—?”
“And then I called out, ‘Who's there?'”
“You couldn't have found out who it was without asking?” Harry asked her, slightly frustrated49.
“The Inner Eye,” said Professor Trelawney with dignity, straightening her shawls and many strands50 of glittering beads, “was fixed51 upon matters well outside the
mundane52 realms of whooping voices.”
“Right,” said Harry hastily; he had heard about Professor Trelawney's Inner Eye all too often before. “And did the voice say who was there?”
“No, it did not,” she said. “Everything went pitch black and the next thing I knew, I was being hurled53 headfirst out of the Room!”
“And you didn't see that coming?” said Harry, unable to help himself.
“No, I did not, as I say, it was pitch—” She stopped and glared at him suspiciously.
“I think you'd better tell Professor Dumbledore,” said Harry. “He ought to know Malfoy's celebrating—I mean, that someone threw you out of the Room.”
To his surprise, Professor Trelawney drew herself up at this suggestion, looking haughty54.
“The Headmaster has intimated that he would prefer fewer visits from me,” she said coldly. “I am not one to press my company upon those who do not value it. If
Dumbledore chooses to ignore the warnings the cards show—”
Her bony hand closed suddenly around Harry's wrist.
“Again and again, no matter how I lay them out—”
And she pulled a card dramatically from underneath her shawls.
“—the lightning-struck tower,” she whispered. “Calamity. Disaster. Coming nearer all the time ...”
“Right,” said Harry again. “Well ... I still think you should tell Dumbledore about this voice and everything going dark and being thrown out of the Room ...”
“You think so?” Professor Trelawney seemed to consider the matter for a moment, but Harry could tell that she liked the idea of retelling her little adventure.
“I'm going to see him right now,” said Harry. “I've got a meeting with him. We could go together.”
“Oh, well, in that case,” said Professor Trelawney with a smile. She bent55 down, scooped56 up her sherry bottles and dumped them unceremoniously in a large blue and
white vase standing in a nearby niche57.
“I miss having you in my classes, Harry,” she said soulfully, as they set off together. “You were never much of a Seer ... but you were a wonderful Object...”
Harry did not reply; he had loathed58 being the Object of Professor Trelawney's continual predictions of doom59.
“I am afraid,” she went on, “that the nag—I'm sorry, the centaur—knows nothing of cartomancy. I asked him—one Seer to another—had he not, too, sensed the distant
vibrations60 of coming catastrophe61? But he seemed to find me almost comical. Yes, comical!”
Her voice rose rather hysterically62 and Harry caught a powerful whiff of sherry even though the bottles had been left behind.
“Perhaps the horse has heard people say that I have not inherited my great-great-grandmother's gift. Those rumours63 have been bandied about by the jealous for years.
You know what I say to such people, Harry? Would Dumbledore have let me teach at this great school, put so much trust in me all these years, had I not proved myself to
him?”
Harry mumbled64 something indistinct.
“I well remember my first interview with Dumbledore,” went on Professor Trelawney, in throaty tones. “He was deeply impressed, of course, deeply impressed ... I was
staying at the Hog's Head, which I do not advise, incidentally—bed bugs65, dear boy—but funds were low. Dumbledore did me the courtesy of calling upon me in my room at
the inn. He questioned me ... I must confess that, at first, I thought he seemed ill-disposed towards Divination66 ... and I remember I was starting to feel a little odd,
I had not eaten much that day ... but then ...”
And now Harry was paying attention properly for the first time, for he knew what had happened then: Professor Trelawney had made the prophecy that had altered the
course of his whole life, the prophecy about him and Voldemort.
“... but then we were rudely interrupted by Severus Snape!”
“What?”
“Yes, there was a commotion67 outside the door and it flew open, and there was that rather uncouth68 barman standing with Snape, who was waffling about having come the
wrong way up the stairs, although I'm afraid that I myself rather thought he had been apprehended69 eavesdropping70 on my interview with Dumbledore—you see, he himself was
seeking a job at the time, and no doubt hoped to pick up tips! Well, after that, you know, Dumbledore seemed much more disposed to give me a job, and I could not help
thinking, Harry, that it was because he appreciated the stark71 contrast between my own unassuming manners and quiet talent, compared to the pushing, thrusting young man
who was prepared to listen at keyholes—Harry, dear?”
She looked back over her shoulder, having only just realised that Harry was no longer with her; he had stopped walking and they were now ten feet from each other.
“Harry?” she repeated uncertainly.
Perhaps his face was white, to make her look so concerned and frightened. Harry was standing stock-still as waves of shock crashed over him, wave after wave,
obliterating72 everything except the information that had been kept from him for so long ...
It was Snape who had overheard the prophecy. It was Snape who had carried the news of the prophecy to Voldemort. Snape and Peter Pettigrew together had sent Voldemort
hunting after Lily and James and their son ...
Nothing else mattered to Harry just now.
“Harry?” said Professor Trelawney again. “Harry, I thought we were going to see the Headmaster together?”
“You stay here,” said Harry through numb2 lips.
“But, dear ... I was going to tell him how I was assaulted in the Room of—”
“You stay here!” Harry repeated angrily.
She looked alarmed as he ran past her, round the corner into Dumbledore's corridor, where the lone73 gargoyle74 stood sentry75. Harry shouted the password at the gargoyle and
ran up the moving spiral staircase three steps at a time. He did not knock upon Dumbledore's door, he hammered; and the calm voice answered ‘Enter’ after Harry had
already flung himself into the room.
Fawkes the phoenix76 looked round, his bright black eyes gleaming with reflected gold from the sunset beyond the window. Dumbledore was standing at the window looking out
at the grounds, a long, black travelling cloak in his arms.
“Well, Harry, I promised that you could come with me.”
For a moment or two, Harry did not understand; the conversation with Trelawney had driven everything else out of his head and his brain seemed to be moving very slowly.
“Come ... with you ... ?”
“Only if you wish it, of course.”
“If I...”
And then Harry remembered why he had been eager to come to Dumbledore's office in the first place.
“You've found one? You've found a Horcrux?”
“I believe so.”
Rage and resentment77 fought shock and excitement: for several moments, Harry could not speak.
“It is natural to be afraid,” said Dumbledore.
“I'm not scared!” said Harry at once, and it was perfectly true; fear was one emotion he was not feeling at all. “Which Horcrux is it? Where is it?”
“I am not sure which it is—though I think we can rule out the snake—but I believe it to be hidden in a cave on the coast many miles from here, a cave I have been
trying to locate for a very long time: the cave in which Tom Riddle78 once terrorised two children from his orphanage79 on their annual trip; you remember?”
“Yes,” said Harry. “How is it protected?”
“I do not know; I have suspicions that may be entirely80 wrong.” Dumbledore hesitated, then said, “Harry, I promised you that you could come with me, and I stand by
that promise, but it would be very wrong of me not to warn you that this will be exceedingly dangerous.”
“I'm coming,” said Harry, almost before Dumbledore had finished speaking. Boiling with anger at Snape, his desire to do something desperate and risky81 had increased
tenfold in the last few minutes. This seemed to show on Harry's face, for Dumbledore moved away from the window, and looked more closely at Harry, a slight crease82
between his silver eyebrows83.
“What has happened to you?”
“Nothing,” lied Harry promptly84.
“What has upset you?”
“I'm not upset.”
“Harry, you were never a good Occlumens—”
The word was the spark that ignited Harry's fury.
“Snape!” he said, very loudly, and Fawkes gave a soft squawk behind them. “Snape's what's happened! He told Voldemort about the prophecy, it was him, he listened
outside the door, Trelawney told me!”
Dumbledore's expression did not change, but Harry thought his face whitened under the bloody85 tinge86 cast by the setting sun. For a long moment, Dumbledore said nothing.
“When did you find out about this?” he asked at last.
“Just now!” said Many, who was refraining from yelling with enormous difficulty. And then, suddenly, he could not stop himself. “AND YOU LET HIM TEACH HERE AND HE
TOLD VOLDEMORT TO GO AFTER MY MUM AND DAD!”
Breathing hard as though he were fighting, Harry turned away from Dumbledore, who still had not moved a muscle, and paced up and down the study, rubbing his knuckles87 in
his hand and exercising every last bit of restraint to prevent himself knocking things over. He wanted to rage and storm at Dumbledore, but he also wanted to go with
him to try and destroy the Horcrux; he wanted to tell him that he was a foolish old man for trusting Snape, but he was terrified that Dumbledore would not take him
along unless he mastered his anger ...
“Harry,” said Dumbledore quietly. “Please listen to me.”
It was as difficult to stop his relentless88 pacing as to refrain from shouting. Harry paused, biting his lip, and looked into Dumbledore's lined face.
“Professor Snape made a terrible—”
“Don't tell me it was a mistake, sir, he was listening at the door!”
“Please let me finish.” Dumbledore waited until Harry had nodded curtly89, then went on. “Professor Snape made a terrible mistake. He was still in Lord Voldemort's
employ on the night he heard the first half of Professor Trelawney's prophecy. Naturally, he hastened to tell his master what he had heard, for it concerned his master
most deeply. But he did not know—he had no possible way of knowing—which boy Voldemort would hunt from then onwards, or that the parents he would destroy in his
murderous quest were people that Professor Snape knew, that they were your mother and father—”
Harry let out a yell of mirthless laughter.
“He hated my dad like he hated Sirius! Haven't you noticed, Professor, how the people Snape hates tend to end up dead?”
“You have no idea of the remorse90 Professor Snape felt when he realised how Lord Voldemort had interpreted the prophecy, Harry. I believe it to be the greatest regret
of his life and the reason that he returned—”
“But he‘s a very good Occlumens, isn't he, sir?” said Harry, whose voice was shaking with the effort of keeping it steady. “And isn't Voldemort convinced that
Snape's on his side, even now? Professor ... how can you be sure Snape's on our side?”
Dumbledore did not speak for a moment; he looked as though he was trying to make up his mind about something. At last he said, “I am sure. I trust Severus Snape
completely.”
Harry breathed deeply for a few moments in an effort to steady himself. It did not work.
“Well, I don't!” he said, as loudly as before. “He's up to something with Draco Malfoy right now, right under your nose, and you still—”
“We have discussed this, Harry,” said Dumbledore, and now he sounded stern again. “I have told you my views.”
“'You're leaving the school tonight and I'll bet you haven't even considered that Snape and Malfoy might decide to —”
“To what?” asked Dumbledore, his eyebrows raised. “What is it that you suspect them of doing, precisely91?”
“I ... they're up to something!” said Harry and his hands curled into fists as he said it. “Professor Trelawney was just in the Room of Requirement, trying to hide
her sherry bottles, and she heard Malfoy whooping, celebrating! He's trying to mend something dangerous in there and if you ask me he's fixed it at last and you're
about to just walk out of school without—”
“Enough,” said Dumbledore. He said it quite calmly, and yet Harry fell silent at once; he knew that he had finally crossed some invisible line. “Do you think that I
have once left the school unprotected during my absences this year? I have not. Tonight, when I leave, there will again be additional protection in place. Please do not
suggest that I do not take the safety of my students seriously, Harry.”
“I didn't—” mumbled Harry, a little abashed92, but Dumbledore cut across him.
“I do not wish to discuss the matter any further.”
Harry bit back his retort, scared that he had gone too far, that he had ruined his chance of accompanying Dumbledore, but Dumbledore went on, “Do you wish to come with
me tonight?”
“Yes,” said Harry at once.
“Very well, then: listen.”
Dumbledore drew himself up to his full height.
“I take you with me on one condition: that you obey any command I might give you at once, and without question.”
“Of course.”
“Be sure to understand me, Harry. I mean that you must follow even such orders as “run", “hide” or “go back". Do I have your word?”
“I—yes, of course.”
“If I tell you to hide, you will do so?”
“Yes.”
“If I tell you to flee, you will obey?”
“Yes.”
“If I tell you to leave me, and save yourself, you will do as I tell you?”
“I—”
“Harry?”
They looked at each other for a moment.
“Yes, sir.”
“Very good. Then I wish you to go and fetch your Cloak and meet me in the Entrance Hall in five minutes’ time.”
Dumbledore turned back to look out of the fiery93 window; the sun was now a ruby-red glare along the horizon. Harry walked quickly from the office and down the spiral
staircase. His mind was oddly clear all of a sudden. He knew what to do.
Ron and Hermione were sitting together in the common room when he came back. ‘What does Dumbledore want?’ Hermione said at once. ‘Harry, are you okay?’ she added
anxiously.
“I'm fine,” said Harry shortly, racing94 past them. He dashed up the stairs and into his dormitory, where he flung open his trunk and pulled out the Marauder's Map and
a pair of balled-up socks. Then he sped back down the stairs and into the common room, skidding95 to a halt where Ron and Hermione sat, looking stunned96.
“I haven't got much time,” Harry panted, “Dumbledore thinks I'm getting my Invisibility Cloak. Listen ...”
Quickly he told them where he was going, and why. He did not pause either for Hermione's gasps97 of horror or for Ron's hasty questions; they could work out the finer
details for themselves later.
“... so you see what this means?” Harry finished at a gallop98. “Dumbledore won't be here tonight, so Malfoy's going to have another clear shot at whatever he's up to.
No, listen to me!” he hissed99 angrily, as both Ron and Hermione showed every sign of interrupting. “I know it was Malfoy celebrating in the Room of Requirement. Here—
” He shoved the Marauder's Map into Hermione's hand. “You've got to watch him and you've got to watch Snape, too. Use anyone else who you can rustle100 up from the DA.
Hermione, those contact Galleons101 will still work, right? Dumbledore says he's put extra protection in the school, but if Snape's involved, he'll know what Dumbledore's
protection is, and how to avoid it—but he won't be expecting you lot to be on the watch, will he?”
“Harry—” began Hermione, her eyes huge with fear.
“I haven't got time to argue,” said Harry curtly. “Take this as well—” He thrust the socks into Ron's hands.
“Thanks,” said Ron. “Er—why do I need socks?”
“You need what's wrapped in them, it's the Felix Felicis. Share it between yourselves and Ginny too. Say goodbye to her from me. I'd better go, Dumbledore's waiting—
”
“No!” said Hermione, as Ron unwrapped the tiny little bottle of golden potion, looking awestruck. “We don't want it, you take it, who knows what you're going to be
facing?”
“I'Il be fine, I'll be with Dumbledore,” said Harry. “I want to know you lot are okay ... don't look like that, Hermione, I'll see you later”
And he was off, hurrying back through the portrait hole towards the Entrance Hall.
Dumbledore was waiting beside the oaken front doors. He turned as Harry came skidding out on to the topmost stone step, panting hard, a searing stitch in his side.
“I would like you to wear your Cloak, please,” said Dumbledore, and he waited until Harry had thrown it on before saying, “Very good. Shall we go?”
Dumbledore set off at once down the stone steps, his own travelling cloak barely stirring in the still summer air. Harry hurried alongside him under the Invisibility
Cloak, still panting and sweating rather a lot.
“But what will people think when they see you leaving, Professor?” Harry asked, his mind on Malfoy and Snape.
“That I am off into Hogsmeade for a drink,” said Dumbledore lightly. “I sometimes offer Rosmerta my custom, or else visit the Hog's Head ... or I appear to. It is as
good a way as any of disguising one's true destination.”
They made their way down the drive in the gathering102 twilight103. The air was full of the smells of warm grass, lake water and wood smoke from Hagrid's cabin. It was
difficult to believe that they were heading for anything dangerous or frightening.
“Professor,” said Harry quietly, as the gates at the bottom of the drive came into view, “will we be Apparating?”
“Yes,” said Dumbledore. “You can Apparate now, I believe?”
“Yes,” said Harry, “but I haven't got a licence.”
He felt it best to be honest; what if he spoiled everything by turning up a hundred miles from where he was supposed to go?
“No matter,” said Dumbledore, “I can assist you again.”
They turned out of the gates into the twilit, deserted104 lane to Hogsmeade. Darkness descended105 fast as they walked and by the time they reached the High Street night was
falling in earnest. Lights twinkled from windows over shops and as they neared the Three Broomsticks they heard raucous106 shouting.
“—and stay out!” shouted Madam Rosmerta, forcibly ejecting a grubby-looking wizard. “Oh, hello, Albus ... you're out late ...”
“Good evening, Rosmerta, good evening ... forgive me, I'm off to the Hog's Head ... no offence, but I feel like a quieter atmosphere tonight...”
A minute later they turned the corner into the side street where the Hog's Head's sign creaked a little, though there was no breeze. In contrast to the Three
Broomsticks, the pub appeared to be completely empty.
“It will not be necessary for us to enter,” muttered Dumbledore, glancing around. “As long as nobody sees us go ... now place your hand upon my arm, Harry. There is
no need to grip too hard, I am merely guiding you. On the count of three—one ... two ... three ...”
Harry turned. At once, there was that horrible sensation that he was being squeezed through a thick rubber tube; he could not draw breath, every part of him was being
compressed almost past endurance and then, just when he thought he must suffocate107, the invisible bands seemed to burst open, and he was standing in cool darkness,
breathing in lungfuls of fresh, salty air.
哈利·波特和金妮·韦斯莱交往的消息引起了很多人的兴趣，其中的大多数是女孩子，接下来的几周里，哈利重新高兴地发现自己不在为流言蜚语所影响了。毕竟，他们谈论的话题已经让他觉
得久违地开心，相对于恐怖的黑魔法事件要好得多。
“你会觉得人们有了更好的事情可谈论，”金妮坐在公共休息室地板上，依偎着哈利的腿，翻阅着《预言家日报》。“一周内发生了三次摄魂怪袭击，罗蜜尔达·文恩做的所有事情就是问
我你是不是在胸前纹了一只鹰头马身有翼兽。”
罗恩和赫敏都哄堂大笑。哈利没有理睬他们。
“你怎么告诉她的？”
“我告诉她那是一只匈牙利树蜂，”金妮懒散地翻过一页《预言家日报》。“更有男子汉气概。”
“谢谢，”哈利咧嘴笑了。“那你有没有告诉她罗恩纹的是什么？”
“一个侏儒蒲绒绒，但我没有告诉她纹在哪儿。”
赫敏转过脸去大笑，罗恩板起了脸。
“请注意，”罗恩警告地指着哈利和金妮。“我允许你们两个交往并不意味着我不可以收回——”
“‘你的允许’，”金妮嘲弄地说。“什么时候开始我要得到你的允许才能做事情？不管怎样，你自己都说了你更希望是哈利而不是迈克尔和迪安。”
“是啊，我是这么希望来着，”罗恩勉强地说。“只要你们不在公共场合接吻——”
“肮脏的伪君子！你和拉文德又怎么样，像一对鳗鱼一样到处翻来覆去？”金妮质问道。
可是进入六月之后测试罗恩容忍程度的机会就不多了，哈利和金妮在一起的时间被越来越多地限定了起来。金妮的O.W.L.考试临近，因此她不得不复习到深夜。就在这样一个晚上，金妮去
了图书馆，哈利则靠窗坐在公共休息室里，本来应该是在完成了他的草药课作业，可实际上却是在回味他们两人午饭时在湖边共同度过的美好时光。赫敏挤坐在哈利和罗恩中间，脸上带着不悦
的坚定表情。
“我有话要和你说，哈利。”
“什么事儿？”哈利怀疑地问。就在前一天，赫敏刚刚责备他分了金妮的心，她说金妮应该好好准备考试。
“关于那所谓的混血王子。”
“哦，别又来了，”他呻吟了一声。“你能不能不提了？”
哈利至今还不敢回有求必应屋取他的书，因此他的魔药课成绩一落千丈（不过斯拉霍恩同意金妮的观点，诙谐地把原因归结为哈利的相思病）。但哈利确信斯内普还没有放弃找到混血王子
的这本书。所以在斯内普保持警惕的情况下，哈利决定把它放一放。
“我不会不提它的！”赫敏坚定地说，“直到你听我说完。现在我已经查到了一些，知道了是谁有发明黑魔咒的嗜好——”
“他没有这种嗜好——”
“他，他——谁说那就一定是他？”
“我们讨论过这个了，”哈利执拗地说。“王子，赫敏，是王子！”
“好吧！”赫敏涨红了脸，从衣袋里掏出一张旧报纸，猛地摊在哈利面前，“你看！看看这些照片！”
哈利拾起残缺不全的报纸，盯着上面已经泛黄的活动照片；罗恩也把脑袋凑了过来。照片里是一个年约十五的瘦弱女孩。她长得并不漂亮；看上去性格乖戾、脸色阴沉，长着粗粗的眉毛和
一张狭长而苍白的脸。照片下的标题注明：艾琳·普林斯，霍格沃茨高布石队队长。
“所以？”哈利迅速地扫视了一遍照片附带的简短新闻；是一个有关校际比赛的无聊故事。
“她名叫艾琳·普林斯。普林斯（译注：在英语里姓氏普林斯和王子是一个单词），哈利。”
他们俩对视着，哈利明白了赫敏想说什么。他突然大笑了起来。
“不可能。”
“什么？”
“你认为她就是那个混血……？哦，算了吧。”
“好了，为什么不行？哈利，巫师世界根本就不存在真正的王子！它只不过是绰号，自己给自己起的名字，或者干脆就是真名，不是吗？不要，你听我说！如果说，她的父亲恰巧是一个姓
‘普林斯’的巫师，而母亲是个麻瓜，那么她就是一个‘混血的普林斯’！”
“是啊，非常有创意，赫敏……”
“但它就是这样！也许她还为自己是半个王子感到骄傲呢！”
“听着，赫敏，我可以看得出那不是一个女孩。我看得出来。”
“事实上是因为你不认为一个女孩会有这么聪明！”赫敏生气地说。
“我和你整整相处了五年，怎么会认为女孩不聪明？”哈利被刺痛了。“是从他写字的方式看出来的。我知道他是个小伙子。这个女孩和这件事没有关系。不过，你这报纸是从哪儿搞来的
？”
“图书室，”赫敏毫无悬念地。“那里收藏全套过去的《预言家日报》。嗯，如果能的话我会去找更多有关艾琳·普林斯的事情。”
“祝你过得愉快，”哈利急躁地说。
“我会的，”赫敏说。“我第一个要去查的地方，”她走到肖像洞的时候回头瞪了他一眼，“就是魔药奖励记录册。”
哈利满面愁容地看了看他，然后继续注视起变黑的天空来。
“她只是没法接受你在魔药课上比她做得还好，”罗恩返回去看他那本《千种神奇草药及蕈类》。
“你不觉得我想把那本书拿回来是疯了，对不对？”
“当然不觉得，”罗恩兴致勃勃地说。“王子是个天才。不管怎样……没有他关于牛黄的那个提示……”他把手指意味深长地放在喉咙上，“我就不会坐在这儿和你讨论了，是不是？我不
是说你用在马尔福身上的那个咒语很棒——”
“我也没这个意思，”哈利迅速说。
“但是他已经治愈了，不是吗？马上就站了起来。”
“是啊，”哈利说；这的确是事实，虽然哈利的良心有些不安。“多亏了斯内普……”
“你这个星期六还要去斯内普那儿关禁闭？”
“是啊。下个星期六，下下个星期六，”哈利叹了口气。“他还暗示，如果我这学期不能把所有的盒子都整理完，下学期还会继续！”
哈利发现关禁闭非常令人讨厌，因为它占去了他和金妮已经很有限的相处时间。他进来确实在不断地猜测斯内普是不是知道了这件事，因为他留住哈利的时间越来越晚，还常常明显地在哈
利旁边嘀咕着他又错过了好天气，错过了机会做各种各样的事。
哈利从辛酸的回忆中被摇醒了，吉米·皮克斯出现在了他身边，拿着一卷羊皮纸。
“谢谢，吉米……嘿，这是邓布利多的！”哈利激动地说，打开羊皮纸迅速地浏览。“他让我尽快去他的办公室。”
他们俩面面相觑。
“天哪，”罗恩小声说，“你不会觉得……他不会是找到了……？”
“去看看就知道了，是不是？”哈利跳了起来。
哈利奔出了公共休息室，在八楼全速地往前冲，途中只遇见了皮皮鬼。皮皮鬼从对面飞扑过来，像往常一样朝哈利扔粉笔头，在躲过哈利防御的咒语时咯咯大笑。皮皮鬼消失之后，走廊里
一片寂静；现在离睡觉时间只剩十五分钟了，几乎所有的人都回到了各自的公共休息室。
随后哈利听到了尖叫和撞击声。他停下了脚步听着。
“你——怎么——敢——啊！”
声音是从附近的一个走廊传来的。哈利掏出魔杖，向那儿跑去，转过一个拐角之后发现特里劳妮教授四肢摊开地躺在地上，脸被她的一条披肩遮着，身边倒着几个雪利酒瓶，其中一个破了
。
“教授——”
哈利快步上前扶特里劳妮教授。一些闪亮的珠子和她的眼镜缠在了一起。她响亮地打着嗝，抚摸着自己的头发，在哈利的搀扶下站了起来。
“发生了什么事情，教授？”
“问得好！”她尖声说。“我正沿着这里闲逛，苦苦思索着我刚才瞥见的黑魔法征兆……”
但是哈利没有注意听。他刚刚注意到他们所站的位置：右边是跳舞巨怪的挂毯，左边的那面光滑坚固的石墙就藏着——
“教授，你是想进有求必应屋吗？”
“……我获悉的那些预兆——什么？”
她突然看上去有些诡异。
“有求必应屋，”哈利重复道。“你是不是想进去？”
“我——嗯——我不知道还有学生知道——”
“不是所有的学生都知道，”哈利说。“但是刚才发生了什么？你尖叫了……听上去像是你受了伤……”
“我……很好，”特里劳妮教授防御性地拉了拉她的披肩，用她那被放得巨大的眼睛盯着哈利，“我想——啊——放一些——嗯——私人物品到屋子里去……”然后她嘀咕了一句，听起来
像是“龌龊的指控。”
“好吧，”哈利瞥了一眼她的雪利酒瓶，“但是你没法进去藏你的东西？”
他觉得这很奇特；毕竟当他想把混血王子的书藏起来的时候，有求必应屋就为他打开了。
“哦，我进去了，”特里劳妮瞪着那堵墙。“可是里面已经有人了。”
“有人在——？谁？”哈利问。“谁在里面？”
“我不知道，”特里劳妮教授看上去被哈利催促的语气吓到了。“我走进屋子，突然听到一个声音，我的意思是，这么多年来我藏——使用这屋子时从来没有发生过这种事。”
“一个声音？说了些什么？”
“我不记得它是在说话，”特里劳妮教授说。“它是……在欢呼。”
“欢呼？”
“很高兴地欢呼，”她点了点头。
哈利盯着她。
“是男的还是女的？”
“我大胆地揣测是个男的，”特里劳妮教授说。
“那声音听上去很高兴？”
“非常高兴，”特里劳妮以轻蔑的口吻说。
“就像在庆祝一样？”
“绝对是。”
“然后呢——？”
“然后我就问‘谁在那儿？’”
“你不问就不能弄清楚是谁了吗？”哈利有些失望地问她。
“天目，”特里劳妮庄严地说，整理着她的披肩和那串闪闪发亮的珠子，“不是盯在欢呼声这样的世俗领域的。”
“好吧，”哈利急忙说；特里劳妮天目的话题他过去实在已经听得太多了。“那个声音有没有说是谁在哪儿？”
“没有，”她说。“周围的一切都变得漆黑，随后就被头朝前地抛出了屋子。”
“难道您就没有一点准备吗？”哈利情不自禁地说。
“没有，我告诉过你，周围一团漆黑——”特里劳妮停住了，她怀疑地怒视着哈利。
“我想你最好还是告诉邓布利多教授，”哈利说。“他应该知道马尔福在庆祝——我是说，有人把你抛出屋子。”
出乎哈利意料的是，特里劳妮听到他的建议后直起了身子，看上去很傲慢。
“校长已经暗示了他不愿我经常去找他，”她冷冷地说。“我不会把我的友谊强加给那些不珍视它的人。如果邓布利多不理会纸牌显示的警告——”
她瘦骨嶙峋的手突然抓住了哈利的手腕。
“一次又一次，不管我怎么把它们展示出来——”
然后她戏剧性地从披肩下面抽出了一张牌。
“——塔楼上的惊魂，”她低声说。“灾难。祸事。一直在逼近……”
“对，”哈利又说了一遍。“嗯……我还是认为您应该和邓布利多校长说一下那个声音，以及周围都变黑了，还被扔出了屋子……”
“你这样认为？”特里劳妮似乎是在考虑，可是哈利看得出她喜欢复述自己的小历险。
“我正好要去见邓布利多，”哈利说。“我要和他会面。我们可以一起去。”
“哦，好吧，如果那样的话，”特里劳妮教授微笑着说。她弯下腰拾起雪利酒瓶，随手把它们扔进了旁边壁龛上的一个蓝白相间的大花瓶。
“我怀念你在我班上的时光，哈利，”他们一起出发时，特里劳妮充满热情地说。“你不是一个好预言家，但却是一个极好的预言对象……”
哈利没有回答；他很厌恶做那个对象，特里劳妮教授不停地预言着它的死亡。
“恐怕，”她接着说，“那匹老马——对不起，那位马人——不懂得纸牌占卜。我问他——预言家之间的讨论——是不是也遥远地感应到了大难临头？可是他似乎觉得我很滑稽。是的，滑
稽！”
她的声音变得歇斯底里起来，哈利闻到了一股雪利酒的味道，虽然瓶子已经被扔在了后头。
“也许那匹马听人说我没有从曾曾祖母那里遗传到她的才能。这些谣言已经被嫉妒的人传播了很多年。你知道我对这些人说了什么，哈利？如果我没有向邓布利多校长证明自己，这些年来
他会让我在这所伟大的学校授课并给予我如此多的信任吗？”
哈利嘴里含糊地咕哝什么。
“我清楚地记得我和邓布利多的第一次面试，”特里劳妮用她特有的那种低沉而洪亮的声音接着说。“他留下了深刻的印象，当然，深刻的印象……那天我在猪头酒吧投宿，顺便提一下，
我不推荐那儿——有臭虫，亲爱的孩子——但是我手头拮据。邓布利多在我的旅馆房间里礼貌地拜访了我。他问了我一些问题……我得承认，起先我觉得他对占卜怀有成见……后来我开始觉得
有点古怪，那天我没有吃多少东西……可是接着……”
现在哈利第一次真正注意了，因为他知道接下来发生了什么：特里劳妮教授做出了那个改变他一生进程的预言，关于他和伏地魔的预言。
“……可是接着我们的谈话被西弗勒斯·斯内普无礼地中断了！”
“什么？”
“是的，门外面有些混乱，然后门突然打开了，那个没有教养的招待员和斯内普站在一起，还胡扯什么上楼走错地方了，不过我恐怕觉得他被逮到正在偷听我和邓布利多的面试——你知道
吗，他那时候也在找工作，毫无疑问是想学到一些窍门！嗯，后来，邓布利多似乎很愿意提供我一个职位，我不禁想，哈利，那是因为我谦逊的风格和出色的天分，与那个从钥匙眼中偷窥的蝇
营狗苟之辈形成了鲜明的对比——哈利，亲爱的？”
她回过头才发现哈利没有和她走在一块儿；他已经停下了脚步，现在他们差了十英尺。
“哈利？”她不确定地重复道。
也许是哈利苍白的脸色让特里劳妮教授看上去既担心又害怕。哈利静静地站在那儿，震惊的波浪冲击着他，一波接一波，淹没了一切，只剩下了那个对他隐瞒了如此之久的信息。
是斯内普偷听了预言！是斯内普向伏地魔告的密！是斯内普和小矮星彼得一起怂恿的伏地魔去追杀莉莉、詹姆和他们的儿子……
现在任何其他的事对哈利来说都无关紧要了。
“哈利？”特里劳妮教授又说了一遍。“哈利——我们不是要一起去见校长吗？”
“你待在这儿，”哈利用麻木的双唇说。
“但是，亲爱的……我要告诉邓布利多刚才我在有求必应屋被袭击——”
“你给我待在这儿！”哈利生气地重复道。
哈利跑过惊恐的特里劳妮教授，转过弯来到了邓布利多的那条走廊，孤独的石兽在走廊上站岗。哈利冲石兽喊出口令，三步并作两步地跨上了旋转楼梯。他不是敲而是捶着校长办公室的门
；在平静的应答声‘请进’响起之前，哈利已经冲进了屋子。
凤凰福克斯转过了头，它明亮的黑眼珠反射出窗外夕阳的金色光芒。邓布利多站在窗前望着操场，手上搭着一件长长的黑色旅行斗篷。
“嗯，哈利，我答应过你可以和我一起去。”
起初哈利没有听懂；和特里劳妮的谈话把所有的事情都赶出了他的脑子，现在他的思维变得非常迟缓。
“和你……一起去？”
“只要你愿意，当然。”
“只要我……”
紧接着哈利想起了自己最初为什么要急切地来邓布利多的办公室。
“你找到了一个？你找到了一个灵魂碎片？”
“我相信如此。”
愤怒和怨恨正在同震惊和兴奋交战：哈利一时间说不出话来。
“感到害怕是很正常的，”邓布利多说。
“我不是害怕！”哈利马上说，也的确如此；他一点儿也没有感到害怕。“是哪个灵魂碎片？它在哪儿？”
“我不能肯定它是什么东西——不过我认为我们可以把那条蛇排除掉——但我相信它被藏在一个沿海的洞穴里，离这儿非常远，我找这个洞穴很长时间：汤姆·里德尔曾于某一年的远足时
在这个洞穴里恐吓过孤儿院的两个孩子；你还记得吗？”
“记得，”哈利说。“它是怎么被保护起来的？”
“我不知道；我有几个猜测，但它们可能完全是错的。”邓布利多犹豫了一下，然后说，“哈利，我答应过带你去就一定会遵守诺言，但是我必须警告你这件事极度危险。”
“我要去，”几乎没等邓布利多说完，哈利就抢着说。对斯内普怒火中烧的他，短短几分钟内铤而走险的渴望增大了十倍。这似乎也写在了哈利的脸上，因为邓布利多从窗户那边走过来，
更仔细地看着哈利，银色的眉毛微微皱了起来。
“你出了什么事？”
“没事，”哈利迅速撒谎。
“什么事使你心烦意乱？”
“我没有心烦意乱。”
“哈利，你可不是一个优秀的大脑封闭术师……”
这句话如同火花一样点燃了哈利心中的怒火。
“斯内普！”哈利非常大声地说，福克斯在他们身后轻轻地叫唤了一声以示抗议。“是斯内普！他把预言告诉了伏地魔，是他，是他在门外偷听，特里劳妮告诉了我！”
邓布利多的表情没有变，但哈利觉得在血红的落日照射下，他的脸更加苍白了。过了很久，邓布利多什么也没有说。
“你什么时候发现这个的？”他最后终于开了口。
“刚才！”哈利艰难地克制着不要大喊大叫。然后，他突然控制不住了。“你让他来这里教书，而他却让伏地魔去追杀我的父母！”
哈利就像在打架一样气喘吁吁，他转过身背对着纹丝不动的邓布利多，在办公室里踱来踱去，揉着他的指关节，用最后的一点理智克制自己不去摔东西。他想对邓布利多大发雷霆，但是他
也想和他一起去毁灭那个灵魂碎片；他想告诉邓布利多，他是一个信任斯内普的愚蠢老人，但他又害怕如果他不控制自己的愤怒，邓布利多就会不带上他去了……
“哈利，”邓布利多平静地说。“请听我说。”
和克制住叫喊一样，要克制住不再屋子里走来走去也是很困难的。哈利咬着嘴唇停了下来，盯着邓布利多布满皱纹的脸。
“斯内普教授犯了一个严重的——”
“别告诉我那是个错误，教授，他在偷听！”
“请让我说完。”邓布利多等到哈利敷衍地点了点头，才接着说。“斯内普教授犯了一个严重的错误。他偷听到预言前半部分的那个晚上还是伏地魔的手下。自然，他就赶紧把他听到的告
诉了他的主人，因为这和他的主人关系密切。但是他不知道——他不可能知道——伏地魔会去追杀哪一个男孩，也不知道在伏地魔的谋杀中牺牲的父母会是斯内普教授认识的人，也就是你的母
亲和父亲——”
哈利苦笑了一声。
“他恨我父亲，就像恨小天狼星一样！教授，难道你没有注意到斯内普所恨的人都是怎么死的？”
“你不知道斯内普在伏地魔那样解读预言之后有多悔恨，哈利。我相信那是他一生中最大的后悔，也是促使他回到了——”
“但他是个很优秀的大脑封闭术师，不是吗，教授？”哈利的声音在颤抖。“伏地魔不也相信斯内普是他那一边的吗……你怎么就肯定斯内普是我们这边的呢？”
邓布利多一时间没有说话；他看上去像是在下决心。最后他说，“我敢肯定。我完全信任西弗勒斯·斯内普。”
哈利做了一个深呼吸使自己镇定下来。但这不起作用。
“好吧，我不信任他！”他和刚才一样大声地叫着。“他现在正在和德拉科·马尔福密谋着什么，就在你的眼皮子底下，但是你还——”
“我们已经讨论过这个了，哈利，”邓布利多说，现在他的声音又变得严厉了。“我已经告诉过你我的观点了。”
“你今晚要离开学校，我敢打赌你没有考虑过斯内普和马尔福可能会决定要——”
“要干什么？”邓布利多问，扬起了眉毛。“你到底在怀疑他们做什么？”
“我……他们肯定在搞什么鬼！”哈利边说边握紧了拳头。“特里劳妮教授刚刚在有求必应屋藏她的雪利酒瓶，然后她听到了马尔福在欢呼，在庆祝！他一直试图在那儿修理某一件危险的
物品，如果你问我的话，我认为他终于修好了他，而你却正要离开学校，没有任何的——”
“够了，”邓布利多说。他说得很平静，但哈利还是立刻住了嘴；他知道自己已经越过了一条看不见的底线。“你以为我今年不在时候曾经让学校处于未受保护的状态吗？我没有。今晚，
当我离开的时候，这里依然会有适当的附加保护措施。请不要暗示我不重视我学生的安全，哈利。”
“我没有——”“哈利喃喃地说，显得有些窘迫。但邓布利多打断了他。
“我不希望再继续讨论这件事了。”
哈利咽下了自己的反驳，害怕他说得已经太过分了，害怕他已经毁掉了陪同邓布利多的机会，可是邓布利多接着说道，“你愿意今晚和我一起去吗？”
“是的，”哈利立刻说。
“很好，那么：听我说。”
邓布利多站直了身子。
“我带着你，只有一个条件：你要义无反顾地服从我给你的任何命令。”
“当然。”
“弄清楚我的意思，哈利。我是说你必须服从甚至这样的命令，比如‘跑’、‘藏起来’或者‘回去’。你能向我保证吗？”
“我——好的，当然。”
“如果我让你藏起来，你会这么做吗？”
“会的。”
“如果我让你逃走，你会遵从吗？”
“会的。”
“如果我让你快离开我，自己逃命，你会照我说的做吗？”
“我——”
“哈利？”
他们对视了一会儿。
“会的，教授。”
“非常好。那么现在我希望你去取隐形斗篷，五分钟后和我在门厅会合。”
邓布利多转过身向火红的窗外望去；太阳在地平线上放射出红宝石般的光芒。哈利迅速走出办公室，走下旋转楼梯。他的脑子突然奇怪地清醒了。他知道该做什么了。
他回去时，罗恩和赫敏正一起坐在公共休息室里。“邓布利多要干什么？”赫敏立刻说。“哈利，你还好吧？”她焦急地加上了一句。
“我还好，”哈利简短地说，迅速跑过了他们。他冲上了楼梯进了宿舍，掀开他的行李箱抽出了活点地图和一团卷成球的袜子。然后他加速冲下楼梯进入了公共休息室，在罗恩和赫敏坐的
地方刹了车，他们俩一脸震惊的表情。
“我没有太多时间，”哈利气喘吁吁地说，“邓布利多以为我来拿隐形斗篷。听我说……”
他飞快地告诉了他们自己要去哪儿，以及为什么要去。他没有因为赫敏恐惧的喘息和罗恩急促的提问而暂停；稍微他们应该能自己想明白更精确的细节。
“……那么你们知道这意味着什么吗？”哈利用最快的速度说完了。“邓布利多今晚不在，所以马尔福显然要动手了。不！听我说！”他生气地嘘了一声，因为罗恩和赫敏都想打断他。“
我知道在有求必应屋里欢呼的正是马尔福。拿着——”他把活点地图塞到赫敏手里，“你去监视他，而你去监视斯内普。用上你们能找到的任何一个D.A.的人。赫敏，那些联络用的金加隆还有
效吧？邓布利多说他已经采取了额外的保护措施，但如果斯内普也卷入的话，他会知道邓布利多的保护措施是什么，以及怎么避开它——但他不会料到你们在监视他，对吗？”
“哈利——”赫敏开口了，她的眼睛因为恐惧而睁得大大的。
“我没时间和你争辩，”哈利简短地说。“再拿上这个——”他把袜子塞进罗恩的手里。
“谢谢，”罗恩说。“呃——我要袜子干嘛？”
“你需要里面包的东西，是飞力飞思。你们和金妮分了它。帮我向她道别。我得走了，邓布利多在等我——”
“不！”赫敏说，这时罗恩一脸敬畏地把装着金色药水的小瓶子从里面取了出来。“我们不需要它，你喝了吧，谁知道你将要面对什么啊。”
“我不会有事的，我会和邓布利多在一起。”哈利说。“我要你们都没事……别那样看着我，赫敏，待会儿见……”
他离开了他们，匆忙地穿过肖像洞向门厅跑去。
邓布利多正在橡木大门旁边等着。他转过身，这时哈利在最高的石阶上急刹住了车，喘着粗气，肋部灼烧地刺痛。
“我要你穿上隐形斗篷，”邓布利多说，他等着哈利穿好，然后说，“非常好。我们走吧？”
邓布利多马上走下了石阶，他自己的旅行斗篷几乎没有搅动夏天静止的空气。穿着隐形斗篷的哈利赶紧气喘吁吁地跟上他，出了很多汗。
“人们看到你离开的话会怎么想？”他问，心里想着斯内普和马尔福。
“会认为我是去霍格莫德喝点酒，”邓布利多轻声说。“我有时会光顾罗斯默塔那儿，或者猪头酒吧……或者
收听单词发音 |
1
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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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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impervious
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| adj.不能渗透的，不能穿过的，不易伤害的 | |
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tattooed
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| v.刺青，文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击 | |
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puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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grudgingly
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filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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eels
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| abbr. 电子发射器定位系统（=electronic emitter location system） | |
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tolerance
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| n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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retrieve
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| vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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caption
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| n.说明，字幕，标题；v.加上标题，加上说明 | |
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irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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fungi
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| n.真菌，霉菌 | |
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robustly
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| adv.要用体力地，粗鲁地 | |
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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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detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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detentions
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| 拘留( detention的名词复数 )； 扣押； 监禁； 放学后留校 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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peeves
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| n.麻烦的事物，怨恨，触怒( peeve的名词复数 ) | |
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swooped
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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sprinted
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| v.短距离疾跑( sprint的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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shrilly
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| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
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portents
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| n.预兆( portent的名词复数 )；征兆；怪事；奇物 | |
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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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tapestry
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| n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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omens
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| n.前兆，预兆( omen的名词复数 ) | |
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accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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whooping
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| 发嗬嗬声的，发咳声的 | |
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49
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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strands
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| n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 ) | |
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51
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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mundane
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| adj.平凡的；尘世的；宇宙的 | |
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53
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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54
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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55
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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56
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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57
niche
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| n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等) | |
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58
loathed
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| v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的过去式和过去分词 )；极不喜欢 | |
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59
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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60
vibrations
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| n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动 | |
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61
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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62
hysterically
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| ad. 歇斯底里地 | |
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63
rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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64
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bugs
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| adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误 | |
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66
divination
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| n.占卜，预测 | |
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67
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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68
uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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69
apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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70
eavesdropping
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| n. 偷听 | |
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71
stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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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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73
lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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74
gargoyle
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| n.笕嘴 | |
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75
sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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76
phoenix
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| n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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78
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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79
orphanage
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| n.孤儿院 | |
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80
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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81
risky
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| adj.有风险的，冒险的 | |
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82
crease
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| n.折缝，褶痕，皱褶；v.(使)起皱 | |
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83
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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84
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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85
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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86
tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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87
knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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90
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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92
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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93
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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95
skidding
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| n.曳出，集材v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的现在分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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gasps
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| v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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98
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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100
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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101
galleons
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| n.大型帆船( galleon的名词复数 ) | |
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102
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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103
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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104
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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105
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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106
raucous
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| adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的 | |
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107
suffocate
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| vt.使窒息，使缺氧，阻碍；vi.窒息，窒息而亡，阻碍发展 | |
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