Harry Potter and the half-blood prince part 3 AUDIOBOOK

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#harrypotter  #audiobook #harrypotterfan  Narrator: James Dobinson

Transcript

00:00:00Chapter 6 Draco's Detour

00:00:05Harry remained within the confines of the Burroughs Garden over the next few weeks.

00:00:09He spent most of his days playing two-a-side quidditch in the Weasley's Orchard, he and

00:00:13Hermione against Ron and Ginny. Hermione was dreadful and Ginny good, so they were reasonably

00:00:17well matched, and his evenings eating triple helpings of everything Mrs Weasley put in

00:00:21front of him. It would have been a happy, peaceful holiday had it not been for the stories

00:00:25of disappearances, odd accidents, even of deaths now appearing almost daily in the Prophet.

00:00:32Sometimes Bill and Mr Weasley brought him news before it even reached the paper. To

00:00:36Mrs Weasley displeasure, Harry's 16th birthday celebrations were marred by grisly tidings

00:00:40brought to the party by Remus Lupin, who was looking gaunt and grim, his brown hair streaked

00:00:46liberally with grey, his clothes more ragged and patched than ever.

00:00:49There had been another couple of dementor attacks, he announced, as Mrs Weasley passed

00:00:54him a large slice of birthday cake, and they found Igor Karkaroff's body in a shack up

00:00:59north. The dark mark had been set over it, but frankly I'm surprised he stayed alive

00:01:04for even a year after deserting the Death Eaters. Sirius's brother Regulus only managed

00:01:09a few days as far as I can remember.

00:01:11Yes, well, said Mrs Weasley, frowning, perhaps we should talk about something diff. Did you

00:01:15hear about Florian Fortescue, Remus? asked Bill, who was being plied with wine by Fleur.

00:01:20The man who ran the ice-cream place in Diagon Alley, Harry interrupted with an unpleasant,

00:01:25hollow sensation in the pit of his stomach. He used to give me free ice-creams. What's

00:01:29happened to him? Dragged off, by the look of his place.

00:01:33Why? asked Ron, while Mrs Weasley pointedly glared at Bill. Who knows? He must have upset

00:01:39them somehow. He was a good man, Florian.

00:01:43Talking of Diagon Alley, said Mr Weasley, looks like Ollivander's gone too.

00:01:47The wand-maker? said Ginny, looking startled. That's the one. Shop's empty. No sign of a

00:01:52struggle. No one knows whether he left voluntarily or was kidnapped.

00:01:55But wands? What'll people do for wands?

00:01:59They'll make do with other makers, said Lupin. But Ollivander was the best. And if the other

00:02:03side have got him, it's not so good for us.

00:02:06The day after this rather gloomy birthday tea, their letters and book lists arrived

00:02:10from Hogwarts. Harry's included a surprise. He had been made Quidditch captain.

00:02:15That gives you equal status with prefects, cried Hermione happily. You can use our special

00:02:19bathroom now. And everything.

00:02:21Wow. I remember when Charlie wore one of those, said Ron, examining the badge with glee. Harry,

00:02:25this is so cool. You're my captain. If you let me back on the team, I suppose.

00:02:30Well, I don't suppose we can put off a trip to Diagon Alley much longer now you've got

00:02:35these, sighed Mrs Weasley, looking down Ron's book list. We'll go on Saturday, as long as

00:02:40your father doesn't have to go into work again. I'm not going there without him.

00:02:43Mum, do you honestly think you know who's going to be hiding behind a bookshelf in

00:02:47Flourish and Blotts, sniggered Ron.

00:02:50Fortescue and Ollivander went on holiday, did they, said Mrs Weasley, firing up at once.

00:02:54If you think security is a laughing matter, you can stay behind and I'll get your things

00:02:58myself.

00:02:59No, I want to come. I want to see Fred and George's shop, said Ron hastily.

00:03:03Then you just buck up your ideas, young man, before I decide you're too immature to come

00:03:07with us, said Mrs Weasley angrily, snatching up her clock, all nine hands of which were

00:03:12still pointing at mortal peril and balancing it on top of a pile of just laundered towels.

00:03:17And that goes for returning to Hogwarts as well.

00:03:20Ron turned to stare incredulously at Harry as his mother hoisted the laundry basket and

00:03:24the teetering clock into her arms and stormed out of the room.

00:03:28Blimey, you can't even make a joke around here anymore.

00:03:31But Ron was careful not to be flippant about Voldemort over the next few days.

00:03:35Saturday dawned without any more outbursts from Mrs Weasley, though she seemed very tense

00:03:39at breakfast.

00:03:40Bill, who would be staying at home with Fleur, much to Hermione and Ginny's pleasure, passed

00:03:45a full money bag across the table to Harry.

00:03:48Where's mine? demanded Ron at once, his eyes wide.

00:03:51That's already Harry's, idiot, said Bill.

00:03:53I got it out of your vault for you, Harry, because it's taking about five hours for the

00:03:57public to get their gold at the moment.

00:03:59The goblins have tightened security so much.

00:04:02Two days ago, Arky Thilpot had a property probe stuck up his... well, trust me, this

00:04:08way's easier.

00:04:09Thanks, Bill, said Harry, pocketing his gold.

00:04:11He is always so fruitful, purred Fleur adoringly, stroking Bill's nose.

00:04:18Ginny mimed, vomiting into her cereal behind Fleur.

00:04:21Harry choked over his cornflakes and Ron thumped him on the back.

00:04:25It was an overcast, murky day.

00:04:27One of the special Ministry of Magic cars in which Harry had ridden once before was

00:04:31awaiting them in the front yard when they emerged from the house pulling on their cloaks.

00:04:35It's good Dad can get us these again, said Ron appreciatively, stretching luxuriously

00:04:40as the car moved smoothly away from the burrow, Bill and Fleur waving from the kitchen window.

00:04:44He, Harry, Hermione and Ginny were all sitting in roomy comfort in the wide back seat.

00:04:50Don't get used to it.

00:04:51It's only because of Harry, said Mr Weasley over his shoulder.

00:04:54He and Mrs Weasley were in front with the Ministry driver.

00:04:57The front passenger seat had obligingly stretched into what resembled a two-seater sofa.

00:05:02He's been given top-grade security status and will be joining up with additional security

00:05:06at the Leaky Cauldron too.

00:05:08Harry said nothing.

00:05:09He did not much fancy doing his shopping while surrounded by a battalion of Aurors.

00:05:13He had stowed his invisibility cloak in his backpack and felt that, if that was good enough

00:05:18for Dumbledore, it ought to be good enough for the Ministry.

00:05:21Though now he came to think of it, he was not sure the Ministry knew about his cloak.

00:05:25Here you are then, said a driver a surprisingly short while later, speaking for the first

00:05:30time as he slowed in Charing Cross Road and stopped outside the Leaky Cauldron.

00:05:34I'm to wait for you.

00:05:35Any idea how long you'll be?

00:05:37Couple of hours, I expect, said Mr Weasley.

00:05:39Ah, good.

00:05:40He's here.

00:05:41Harry imitated Mr Weasley and peered through the window.

00:05:44His heart leapt.

00:05:45There were no Aurors waiting outside the inn, but instead the gigantic, black-bearded form

00:05:51of Rubeus Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper, wearing a long beaverskin coat, beaming at

00:05:56the sight of Harry's face and oblivious to the startled stares of passing muggles.

00:06:00Harry! he boomed, sweeping Harry into a bone-crushing hug the moment Harry had stepped out of the

00:06:05car.

00:06:06Buckbeak!

00:06:07Wither-wings, I mean!

00:06:08Yeah, you should have seen him!

00:06:10Harry, he's so happy to be back in the open air!

00:06:12Glad he's pleased, said Harry, grinning as he massaged his ribs.

00:06:16We didn't know security meant you.

00:06:19I know.

00:06:20Just like old times, innit?

00:06:21See the Ministry wanted to send a bunch of Aurors, but Dumbledore said I'd do, said

00:06:25Hagrid proudly, throwing out his chest and tucking his thumbs into his pockets.

00:06:30Let's get going then!

00:06:31After you, Molly!

00:06:32After!

00:06:33The leaky cauldron was, for the first time in Harry's memory, completely empty.

00:06:37Only Tom, the landlord, wizened and toothless, remained of the old crowd.

00:06:41He looked up hopefully as they entered, but before he could speak, Hagrid said importantly,

00:06:45Just passing through today.

00:06:47Tom, sure you understand, Hogwarts business, you know.

00:06:51Tom nodded gloomily and returned to wiping glasses.

00:06:54Harry, Hermione, Hagrid and the Weasleys walked through the bar and out into the chilly little

00:06:58courtyard at the back where the dustbins stood.

00:07:00Hagrid raised his pink umbrella and wrapped a certain brick in the wall, which opened

00:07:05at once to form an archway onto a winding cobbled street.

00:07:08They stepped through the entrance and paused, looking around.

00:07:12Diagon Alley had changed.

00:07:13The colourful, glittering window displays of spell books, potion ingredients and cauldrons

00:07:18were lost to view, hidden behind the large Ministry of Magic posters that had been posted

00:07:23over them.

00:07:24Most of these sombre purple posters carried blown up versions of the security advice on

00:07:29the ministry pamphlets that had been sent out over the summer, but others bore moving

00:07:33black and white photographs of Death Eaters known to be on the loose.

00:07:37Bellatrix Lestrange was sneering from the front of the nearest apothecary.

00:07:41A few windows were boarded up, including those of Florian Fortescue's ice cream parlour.

00:07:46On the other hand, a number of shabby looking stalls had sprung up along the street.

00:07:50The nearest one, which had been erected outside Flourish and Blotts under a striped stained

00:07:55awning, had a cardboard sign pinned to its front.

00:07:59Amulets, effective against werewolves, dementors and inferi.

00:08:03A seedy-looking wizard was rattling armfuls of silver symbols on chains at passers-by.

00:08:08"'One for your little girl, madam,' he called at Mrs Weasley as they passed, leering at

00:08:12Ginny.

00:08:13"'Protect her pretty neck!'

00:08:14"'If I were on duty,' said Mr Weasley, glaring angrily at the amulet seller.

00:08:19"'Yes.

00:08:20But don't go arresting anyone, dear, we're in a hurry,' said Mrs Weasley, nervously

00:08:24consulting a list.

00:08:25"'I think we'd better do Madam Malkin's first.

00:08:28Hermione wants new dress robes, and Ron's showing much too much ankle in his school

00:08:32robes.

00:08:33And you must need new ones too, Harry.

00:08:35You've grown so much.

00:08:36Come on, everyone.'

00:08:37"'Molly, it doesn't make sense for us all to go to Madam Malkin's,' said Mr Weasley.

00:08:41"'Why don't those three go with Hagrid, and we can go to Flourish and Blotts and get

00:08:45everyone's schoolbooks?'

00:08:46"'I don't know,' said Mrs Weasley anxiously.

00:08:49Clearly torn between a desire to finish the shopping quickly and the wish to stick together

00:08:53in a pack.

00:08:54"'Hagrid, do you think—'

00:08:55"'Don't fret.

00:08:56They'll be fine with me, Molly,' said Hagrid soothingly, waving an airy hand the size of

00:09:01a dustbin lid.

00:09:02Mrs Weasley did not look entirely convinced, but followed and allowed their separation,

00:09:07scurrying off towards Flourish and Blotts with her husband and Ginny while Harry, Ron,

00:09:12Hermione and Hagrid set off for Madam Malkin's.

00:09:15Harry noticed that many of the people who passed them had the same harried, anxious

00:09:19look as Mrs Weasley, and that nobody was stopping to talk any more.

00:09:22The shoppers stayed together in their own tightly-knit groups, moving intently about

00:09:26their business.

00:09:28Nobody seemed to be shopping alone.

00:09:29"'Might be a bit of a squeeze in there, with all of us,' said Hagrid, stopping outside

00:09:33Madam Malkin's and bending down to peer through the window.

00:09:36"'I'll stand guard outside, all right!'

00:09:39So Harry, Ron and Hermione entered the little shop together.

00:09:42It appeared at first glance to be empty, but no sooner had the door swung shut behind

00:09:46them than they heard a familiar voice issuing from behind a rack of dress-robes in spangled

00:09:50green and blue.

00:09:51"'Not a child!

00:09:53In case you haven't noticed, Mother, I am perfectly capable of doing my shopping alone!'

00:09:58There was a clucking noise, and a voice Harry recognised as that of Madam Malkin said,

00:10:02"'Now, dear, your mother's quite right.

00:10:04None of us is supposed to be wandering around on our own any more.

00:10:07It's nothing to do with being a child.

00:10:09Watch where you're sticking that pin, will you?'

00:10:12A teenage boy with a pale pointed face and white blonde hair appeared from behind the

00:10:16rack wearing a handsome set of dark green robes that glittered with pins around the

00:10:20hem on the edges of the sleeves.

00:10:22He strode to the mirror and examined himself.

00:10:25It was a few moments before he noticed Harry, Ron and Hermione reflected over his shoulder,

00:10:29his light grey eyes narrowed.

00:10:31"'If you're wondering what the smell is, Mother, a mudblood just walked in,' said Draco

00:10:35Malfoy.

00:10:36"'I don't think there's any need for language like that,' said Madam Malkin, scurrying out

00:10:40from behind the clothes rack but holding a tape measure and a wand.

00:10:43"'And I don't want wands drawn in my shop either,' she added hastily, for a glance towards

00:10:48the door had shown her Harry and Ron both standing there with their wands out and pointing

00:10:52at Malfoy.

00:10:53Hermione, who was standing slightly behind them, whispered, ''No, don't, honestly, it's

00:10:58not worth it.'

00:10:59"'Yeah, like you dare do magic out of school,' sneered Malfoy.

00:11:03"'Who blacked your eye, Granger?

00:11:05I want to send them flowers.'

00:11:06"'That's quite enough,' said Madam Malkin, sharply, looking over her shoulder for support.

00:11:11"'Madam, please—' Narcissa Malfoy strolled out from behind the clothes rack.

00:11:15"'Put those away,' she said coldly to Harry and Ron.

00:11:18''If you attack my son again, I shall ensure that it is the last thing you ever do.'

00:11:23"'Really?' said Harry, taking a step forwards and gazing into the smoothly arrogant face

00:11:27that for all its pallor still resembled her sister's.

00:11:30He was as tall as she was now.

00:11:32"'Going to get a few deaf eater pals to do us in, are ye?'

00:11:36Madam Malkin squealed and clutched at her heart.

00:11:38"'Really?

00:11:39You shouldn't accuse.

00:11:40Dangerous thing to say.

00:11:41The wand's away, please.'

00:11:43But Harry did not lower his wand.

00:11:45Narcissa Malfoy smiled unpleasantly.

00:11:47"'I see that being Dumbledore's favourite has given you a false sense of security, Harry

00:11:51Potter.

00:11:52But Dumbledore won't always be there to protect you.'

00:11:55Harry looked mockingly all around the shop.

00:11:57"'Wow, look at that.

00:11:59He's not here now.

00:12:01So why not have a go?

00:12:02They might be able to find you a double cell in Azkaban with your loser of a husband.'

00:12:06Malfoy made an angry movement towards Harry but stumbled over his overlong robe.

00:12:11Ron laughed loudly.

00:12:12"'Don't you dare talk to my mother like that, Potter!'

00:12:15Malfoy snarled.

00:12:16"'It's all right, Draco,' said Narcissa, restraining him with her thin white fingers

00:12:21upon his shoulder.

00:12:22"'I expect Potter will be reunited with dear Sirius before I am reunited with Lucius.'

00:12:28Harry raised his wand higher.

00:12:31"'Harry, no!' moaned Hermione, grabbing his arm and attempting to push it down by his

00:12:36side.

00:12:37"'Think you mustn't.

00:12:38You'll be in such trouble.'

00:12:39Madame Malkin divvied for a moment on the spot, then seemed to decide to act as though

00:12:43nothing was happening, in the hope that it wouldn't.

00:12:46She bent towards Malfoy, who was still glaring at Harry.

00:12:48"'I think this left sleeve could come up a little bit more, dear.

00:12:52Let me just—'

00:12:53"'Ouch!'

00:12:54bellowed Malfoy, slapping her hand away.

00:12:56"'Watch where you're putting your pins, woman.

00:12:59"'Mother, I don't think I want these any more.'

00:13:01He pulled the robes over his head and threw them onto the floor at Madame Malkin's feet.

00:13:04"'You're right, Draco,' said Narcissa, with a contemptuous glance at Hermione.

00:13:09"'Now I know the kind of scum that shops here will do better at twill-fit and tattings.'

00:13:15And with that the pair of them strode out of the shop, Malfoy taking care to bang as

00:13:18hard as he could into Ron on the way out.

00:13:21"'Well, really,' said Madame Malkin, statching up the fallen robes and moving the tip of

00:13:26her wand over them like a vacuum cleaner so that it removed the dust.

00:13:30She was distracted all through the fitting of Ron and Harry's new robes, tried to sell

00:13:33Hermione wizard's dress robes instead of witches, and when she finally bowed them out of the

00:13:39shop it was with an air of being glad to see the back of them.

00:13:42"'Got everything?'

00:13:43asked Hagrid brightly when they reappeared at his side.

00:13:45"'Just about,' said Harry.

00:13:47"'Did you see the Malfoys?'

00:13:48"'Yeah,' said Hagrid, unconcerned, ''but they wouldn't dare make trouble in the middle

00:13:52of Diagon Alley.

00:13:53Harry, don't you worry about them!'

00:13:55Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged looks, but before they could disabuse Hagrid of this

00:14:01comfortable notion, Mr and Mrs Weasley and Ginny appeared, all clutching heavy packages

00:14:06of books.

00:14:07"'Everyone all right?' said Mrs Weasley.

00:14:09"'Got your robes?

00:14:11Right then, we can pop in at the apothecary and...

00:14:14Uh, Elops, on the way to Fred and George's.

00:14:16Stick close, now!'

00:14:18Neither Harry nor Ron bought any ingredients at the apothecary, seeing that they were no

00:14:22longer studying potions, but both bought large boxes of owl nuts for Hedwig and Pigwidgeon

00:14:27at Elops Owl Emporium.

00:14:29Then, with Mrs Weasley checking her watch every minute or so, they headed further along

00:14:34the street in search of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, the joke shop run by Fred and George.

00:14:39"'We really haven't got too long,' Mrs Weasley said, ''so we'll just have a quick look around

00:14:44and then back to the car.

00:14:45We must be close.

00:14:46That's number ninety-two.

00:14:47Uh, ninety-four!'

00:14:49"'Whoa!' said Ron, stopping in his tracks.

00:14:53Set against the dull, poster-muffled shop fronts around them, Fred and George's windows

00:14:58hit the eye like a firework display.

00:15:00Casual passers-by were looking back over their shoulders at the windows, and a few rather

00:15:04stunned-looking people had actually come to a halt, transfixed.

00:15:08The left-hand window was dazzlingly full of an assortment of goods that revolved, popped,

00:15:12flashed, bounced and shrieked.

00:15:15Harry's eyes began to water just looking at it.

00:15:17The right-hand window was covered with a gigantic poster, purple like those of the Ministry,

00:15:22but emblazoned with flashing yellow letters.

00:15:24"'Why are you worrying about you-know-who?

00:15:26You should be worrying about...

00:15:28You-Know-Poo!

00:15:30The constipation sensation that's gripping the nation!'

00:15:34Harry started to laugh.

00:15:36He heard a weak sort of moan beside him, and looked around to see Mrs Weasley gazing, dumbfounded

00:15:41at the poster, her lips moved, silently mouthing the name, You-Know-Poo!

00:15:46"'They'll be murdered in their beds!' she whispered.

00:15:49"'No, they won't,' said Ron, who, like Harry, was laughing.

00:15:53"'This is brilliant!'

00:15:55And he and Harry led the way into the shop.

00:15:57It was packed with customers.

00:15:58Harry could not get near the shelves.

00:16:00He stared around, looking up at the boxes piled to the ceiling.

00:16:03Here were the skiving snack boxes that the twins had perfected during their last unfinished

00:16:08year at Hogwarts.

00:16:10Harry noticed that the nosebleed nougat was most popular, with only one battered box

00:16:15left on the shelf.

00:16:17There were bins full of trick wands, the cheapest merely turning into rubber chickens or pairs

00:16:22of pants when they waved, the most expensive beating the unwary user around the head and

00:16:26neck, boxes of quills, which came in self-inking, spell-checking and smart answer varieties.

00:16:32A space cleared in the crowd, and Harry pushed his way towards the counter, where a gaggle

00:16:36of delighted ten-year-olds was watching a tiny little wooden man slowly ascending the

00:16:41steps to a real set of gallows.

00:16:43Both perched on the box that read REUSABLE HANGMAN, spell it or he'll swing, patented

00:16:49daydream charms.

00:16:51Hermione had managed to squeeze through to a large display near the counter and was reading

00:16:55the information on the back of a box bearing a highly coloured picture of a handsome youth

00:16:59and a swooning girl who were standing on the deck of a pirate ship.

00:17:03One simple incantation and you will enter a top quality, highly realistic, thirty minute

00:17:08daydream, easy to fit into the average school lesson and virtually undetectable.

00:17:13Side effects include vacant expression and minor drooling.

00:17:16Not for sale to under-sixteens.

00:17:17You know, said Hermione, looking up at Harry, that really is extraordinary magic.

00:17:22For that, Hermione, said a voice behind them, you can have one for free.

00:17:27A beaming Fred stood before them, wearing a set of magenta robes that clashed magnificently

00:17:32with his flaming hair.

00:17:33How are you, Harry?

00:17:35They shook hands.

00:17:36And what's happened to your eye, Hermione?

00:17:38Your punching telescope?

00:17:40She said ruefully.

00:17:41Oh, blimey.

00:17:42I forgot about those, said Fred.

00:17:43Here.

00:17:44He pulled a tub out of his pockets and handed it to her.

00:17:46She unscrewed it gingerly to reveal a thick yellow paste.

00:17:50Just dab it on.

00:17:51That bruise will be gone within an hour, said Fred.

00:17:53We had to find a decent bruise remover.

00:17:55We're testing most of our products on ourselves.

00:17:57Hermione looked nervous.

00:18:00It is safe, isn't it?

00:18:01Of course it is, said Fred bracingly.

00:18:03Come on, Harry.

00:18:04I'll give you a tour.

00:18:05Harry left Hermione, dabbing her black eye with paste, and followed Fred towards the

00:18:09back of the shop, where he saw a stand of card and rope tricks.

00:18:13Muggle magic tricks, said Fred happily, pointing them out.

00:18:16For freaks like Dad, you know, who love Muggle stuff, it's not a big earner, but we do fairly

00:18:21steady business.

00:18:22They're great novelties.

00:18:23Oh, here's George.

00:18:25Fred's twin shook Harry's hand energetically.

00:18:28Giving him the tour?

00:18:29Oh, come through to the back, Harry.

00:18:30That's where we're making the real money.

00:18:32Pocket anything, you, and you'll pay in more than galleons, he added warningly to a small

00:18:37boy who hastily whipped his hand out of the tub labelled Edible Dark Marks.

00:18:42They'll make anyone sick.

00:18:44George pushed back a curtain beside the Muggle tricks, and Harry saw a darker, less crowded

00:18:49room.

00:18:50The packaging on the products lining these shelves was more subdued.

00:18:53We've just developed this more serious line, said Fred.

00:18:56Funny how it happened.

00:18:57You wouldn't believe how many people, even people who work at the Ministry, can't do

00:19:01a decent shield charm, said George.

00:19:03Of course, they didn't have you teaching them, Harry.

00:19:07That's right.

00:19:08Well, we thought shield hats were a bit of a laugh.

00:19:11You know, challenge your mate to jinx you while wearing it, and watch his face while

00:19:15the jinx just bounces off.

00:19:16But the Ministry bought 500 for all its support staff, and we're still getting massive orders.

00:19:22So we've expanded into a range of shield cloaks.

00:19:25Shield gloves.

00:19:26I mean, they wouldn't help much against the unforgivable curses, but for minor to moderate

00:19:31hexes or jinxes.

00:19:33And then we thought we'd get the whole area of defence against the dark arts, because

00:19:37He's such a money spinner, continued George enthusiastically.

00:19:40This is cool.

00:19:41Look.

00:19:42Instant darkness powder.

00:19:43We're importing it from Peru.

00:19:44Handy if you want to make a quick escape.

00:19:46And our decoy detonators are just walking off the shelves.

00:19:50Look, said Fred, pointing at a number of weird-looking black hooter-type objects that were indeed

00:19:55attempting to scurry out of sight.

00:19:57You just drop one surreptitiously, and it'll run off and make a nice loud noise out of

00:20:01sight, giving you a diversion if you need one.

00:20:03Handy, said Harry, impressed.

00:20:05There's a customer out here looking for a joke cauldron, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Weasley,

00:20:21she said.

00:20:22Harry found it very odd to hear Fred and George called Mr. Weasley, but they took it in their

00:20:26stride.

00:20:27Right you are, Verity.

00:20:28I'm coming, said George promptly.

00:20:29Harry, you help yourself to anything you want, all right?

00:20:32No charge.

00:20:33I can't do that, said Harry, who had already pulled

00:20:35out his money bag to pay for the decoy detonators.

00:20:39You don't pay here, said Fred firmly, waving away Harry's gold.

00:20:43But you gave us our start-up loan, we haven't forgotten, said George sternly.

00:20:47Take whatever you like.

00:20:49And just remember to tell people where you got it, if they ask.

00:20:53George swept off through the curtain to help with the customers, and Fred led Harry back

00:20:57into the main part of the shop to find Hermione and Ginny still poring over the patented daydream

00:21:02charms.

00:21:03Haven't you girls found our special Wonder Witch products yet? asked Fred.

00:21:07Follow me, ladies.

00:21:08Near the window was an array of violently pink products, around which a cluster of excited

00:21:13girls was giggling enthusiastically.

00:21:16Hermione and Ginny both hung back, looking wary.

00:21:18There you go, said Fred proudly.

00:21:21Best range of love potions you'll find anywhere.

00:21:23Ginny raised an eyebrow sceptically.

00:21:25Do they work?

00:21:27Certainly they work for up to 24 hours at a time, depending on the weight of the boy

00:21:30in question.

00:21:31And the attractiveness of the girl, said George, reappearing suddenly at their side.

00:21:36But we're not selling them to our sister, he added, becoming suddenly stern.

00:21:40Not when she's already got about five boys on the go from what we've...

00:21:44Whatever you've heard from Ron is a big fat lie, said Ginny calmly, leaning forwards to

00:21:48take a small pink pot off the shelf.

00:21:51What's this?

00:21:52Guaranteed ten-second pimple vanisher, said Fred.

00:21:56Excellent on everything from boils to blackheads.

00:21:58But don't change the subject.

00:22:00Are you, or are you not, currently going out with a boy called Dean Thomas?

00:22:03Yes, I am, said Ginny.

00:22:06And last time I looked, he was definitely one boy, not five.

00:22:09What are these?

00:22:10She was pointing at a number of round balls of fluff in shades of pink and purple, all

00:22:14rolling around the bottom of a cage and emitting high-pitched squeaks.

00:22:18Pygmy puffs, said George.

00:22:20Miniature puffskins.

00:22:22We can't breed them fast enough, so...

00:22:25What about Michael Corner?

00:22:27I dumped him.

00:22:28He was a bad loser, said Ginny.

00:22:30Pointing a finger through the bars of the cage and watching the pygmy puffs crowd around

00:22:34it.

00:22:35They're really cute.

00:22:36They're fairly cuddly, yes, conceded Fred.

00:22:39But you're moving through boyfriends a bit fast, aren't you?

00:22:42Ginny turned to look at him, her hands on her hips.

00:22:44There was such a Mrs. Weasley glare on her face that Harry was surprised Fred didn't

00:22:48recoil.

00:22:49It's none of your business, and I'll thank you, she added angrily to Ron, who had just

00:22:53appeared at George's elbow laden with merchandise, not to tell tales about me to these two.

00:22:59That's three galleons, nine sickles and a nut, said Fred, examining the many boxes in

00:23:03Ron's arms.

00:23:04Cough up.

00:23:05I'm your brother.

00:23:07And that's our stuff you're nicking.

00:23:08Three galleons, nine sickles.

00:23:10I'll knock off the nut.

00:23:11But I haven't got three galleons, nine sickles.

00:23:14You better put it all back then, and mind you put it in the right shelves.

00:23:18Ron dropped several boxes, swore, and made a rude hand gesture at Fred that was unfortunately

00:23:23spotted by Mrs. Weasley, who had chosen that moment to appear.

00:23:26If I see you do that again, I'll jinx your fingers together, she said sharply.

00:23:31Mum, can I have a pygmy puff, said Ginny at once.

00:23:34A what?

00:23:35said Mrs. Weasley warily.

00:23:37Look, they're so sweet.

00:23:39Mrs. Weasley moved aside to look at the pygmy puffs, and Harry, Ron and Hermione momentarily

00:23:44had an unimpeded view out of the window.

00:23:47Draco Malfoy was hurrying up the street alone.

00:23:49As he passed Weasley's wizard wheezes, he glanced over his shoulder.

00:23:53Minutes later he moved beyond the scope of the window, and they lost sight of him.

00:23:57"'Wonder where his mummy is,' said Harry, frowning.

00:24:00"'Given her the slip by the looks of it,' said Ron.

00:24:02"'Why, though?' said Hermione.

00:24:04Harry said nothing.

00:24:05He was thinking too hard.

00:24:07Narcissa Malfoy would not have let her precious son out of her sight willingly.

00:24:11Malfoy must have made a real effort to free himself from her clutches.

00:24:15Harry, knowing and loathing Malfoy, was sure the reason could not be innocent.

00:24:19He glanced around.

00:24:20Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were bending over the pygmy puffs.

00:24:23Mrs. Weasley was delightedly examining a pack of muggle-marked playing cards.

00:24:28Fred and George were both helping customers.

00:24:30On the other side of the glass, Hagrid was standing with his back to them, looking up

00:24:33and down the street.

00:24:35"'Get under here quick,' said Harry, pulling his invisibility cloak out of his bag.

00:24:40"'Oh, I don't know, Harry,' said Hermione, looking uncertainly towards Mrs. Weasley.

00:24:44"'Come on,' said Ron.

00:24:46She hesitated for a second longer, then ducked under the cloak with Harry and Ron.

00:24:50Nobody noticed them vanish.

00:24:52They were all too interested in Fred and George's products.

00:24:55Harry, Ron and Hermione squeezed their way out of the door as quickly as they could,

00:24:58but by the time they gained the street, Malfoy had disappeared just as successfully as they

00:25:03had.

00:25:04"'He was going in that direction,' murmured Harry, as quietly as possible, so that the

00:25:08humming Hagrid could not hear them.

00:25:11"'Come on!'

00:25:12They scurried along, peering left and right, through shop windows and doors, until Hermione

00:25:16pointed ahead.

00:25:17"'That's him, isn't it?' she whispered, turning left.

00:25:20"'Big surprise!'

00:25:21whispered Ron.

00:25:22For Malfoy had glanced around, then slid into Nocturne Alley and out of sight.

00:25:26"'Quick, or we'll lose him,' said Harry, speeding up.

00:25:29"'How feet have we seen?' said Hermione, anxiously, as the cloak flapped a little around their

00:25:34ankles.

00:25:35It was much more difficult hiding all three of them under it nowadays.

00:25:39"'It doesn't matter,' said Harry, impatiently.

00:25:41'Just hurry!'

00:25:43But Nocturne Alley, the side street devoted to the dark arts, looked completely deserted.

00:25:48They peered into windows as they passed, but none of the shops seemed to have any customers

00:25:51at all.

00:25:52Harry supposed it was a bit of a giveaway in these dangerous and suspicious times to

00:25:56buy dark artefacts, or at least to be seen buying them.

00:26:00Hermione gave his arm a hard pinch.

00:26:02"'Ouch!

00:26:03Shh!

00:26:04Look!

00:26:05He's in there!'

00:26:06she breathed in Harry's ear.

00:26:07They had drawn level with the only shop in Nocturne Alley that Harry had ever visited,

00:26:10Borgin and Burke's, which sold a wide variety of sinister objects.

00:26:14There in the midst of the cases full of skulls and old bottles stood Draco Malfoy, with his

00:26:19back to them, just visible beyond the very same large black cabinet in which Harry had

00:26:23once hidden to avoid Malfoy and his father.

00:26:26Judging by the movements of Malfoy's hands, he was talking animatedly.

00:26:30The proprietor of the shop, Mr Borgin, an oily-haired, stooping man, stood facing Malfoy.

00:26:36He was wearing a curious expression of mingled resentment and fear.

00:26:39"'If only we could hear what they're saying,' said Hermione.

00:26:42"'We can,' said Ron excitedly.

00:26:44'Hang on!

00:26:45Damn!'

00:26:46He dropped a couple more of the boxes.

00:26:48He was still clutching, as he fumbled with the largest.

00:26:51"'Extendable ears!

00:26:52Look!'

00:26:53"'Fantastic!'

00:26:54said Hermione, as Ron unravelled the long, flesh-coloured strings and began to feed them

00:26:58towards the bottom of the door.

00:26:59"'Oh!

00:27:00I hope the door isn't imperturbable?'

00:27:02"'No,' said Ron gleefully.

00:27:04'Listen!'

00:27:05They put their hands together and listened intently to the ends of the strings, through

00:27:09which Malfoy's voice could be heard loud and clear, as though a radio had been turned

00:27:14on.

00:27:15"'You know how to fix it?'

00:27:16"'Possibly,' said Borgin, in a tone that suggested he was unwilling to commit himself.

00:27:20"'I'll need to see it, though.

00:27:22Why don't you bring it into the shop?'

00:27:23"'I can't,' said Malfoy.

00:27:25"'It's got to stay put.

00:27:26I just need you to tell me how to do it.'

00:27:29Harry saw Borgin lick his lips nervously.

00:27:31"'Well, without seeing it, I must say, it will be a very difficult job, perhaps impossible.

00:27:36I couldn't guarantee anything.'

00:27:37"'No?'

00:27:38said Malfoy, and Harry knew, just by his tone, that Malfoy was sneering.

00:27:42"'Perhaps this will make you more confident.'

00:27:45He moved towards Borgin and was blocked from view by the cabinet.

00:27:48Harry, Ron and Hermione shuffled sideways to try and keep him in sight, but all they

00:27:53could see was Borgin, looking very frightened.

00:27:56"'Tell anyone,' said Malfoy, 'and there will be retribution.

00:28:00You know Fenyir Greyback.

00:28:02He's a family friend.

00:28:03He'll be dropping in from time to time to make sure you're giving the problem your full

00:28:07attention.'

00:28:08"'There will be no need for—'

00:28:09"'I'll decide that,' said Malfoy.

00:28:11''Well, I'd better be off.

00:28:13And don't forget to keep that one safe.

00:28:16I'll need it.'

00:28:17"'Perhaps you'd like to take it now?'

00:28:19"'No.

00:28:20Of course I wouldn't, you stupid little man.

00:28:22How would I look carrying that down the street?

00:28:25Just don't sell it.'

00:28:26"'Of course not, sir.'

00:28:28Borgin made a bow, as deep as the one Harry had once seen him give Lucius Malfoy.

00:28:33"'Not a word to anyone, Borgin.

00:28:36That includes my mother.

00:28:37Understand?'

00:28:38"'Naturally.

00:28:39Naturally,' murmured Borgin, bowing again.

00:28:43Next moment the bell over the door tinkled loudly as Malfoy stalked out of the shop,

00:28:47looking very pleased with himself.

00:28:49He passed so close to Harry, Ron and Hermione that they felt the cloak flutter around their

00:28:53knees again.

00:28:55Inside the shop Borgin remained frozen.

00:28:57His unctuous smile had vanished.

00:28:59He looked worried.

00:29:00"'What was that about?'

00:29:02whispered Ron, reeling in the extendable ears.

00:29:05"'Dunno,' said Harry, thinking hard.

00:29:07"'He wants something mended, and he wants to reserve something in there.

00:29:10Could you see what he pointed at when he said that one?

00:29:13No.

00:29:14He was behind that cabinet.'

00:29:15"'You two stay here,' whispered Hermione.

00:29:17"'What are you?'

00:29:19But Hermione had already ducked out from under the cloak.

00:29:21She checked her hair and the reflection in the glass, then marched into the shop, setting

00:29:25the bell tinkling again.

00:29:27Ron hastily fed the extendable ears back under the door and passed one of the strings to

00:29:31Harry.

00:29:32"'Hello.

00:29:33Horrible morning, isn't it?'

00:29:35Hermione said brightly to Borgin, who did not answer, but cast her a suspicious look.

00:29:40Humming cheerily, Hermione strolled through the jumble of objects on display.

00:29:44"'Is this necklace for sale?'

00:29:46she asked, pausing beside a glass-fronted case.

00:29:49"'If you've got one and a half thousand galleons,' said Borgin coldly.

00:29:54"'Oh, no, I haven't got quite that much,' said Hermione, walking on.

00:29:58"'And what about this lovely, um, skull?'

00:30:01"'Sixteen galleons.'

00:30:02"'So it's for sale, then.

00:30:04It isn't being kept for anyone?'

00:30:07Borgin squinted at her.

00:30:08Harry had the nasty feeling he knew exactly what Hermione was up to.

00:30:12Apparently Hermione felt she had been rumbled too, because she suddenly threw caution to

00:30:16the winds.

00:30:17"'The thing is that, uh, that boy who was in here just now, Draco Malfoy, well, he's

00:30:21a friend of mine, and I want to get him a birthday present, but if he's already reserved

00:30:25anything, I obviously don't want to get him the same thing, so, um...'

00:30:29It was a pretty lame story, in Harry's opinion, and apparently Borgin thought so too.

00:30:33"'Out!' he said sharply.

00:30:34"'Get out!'

00:30:35Hermione did not wait to be asked twice, but hurried to the door, with Borgin at her heels.

00:30:40As the bell tinkled again, Borgin slammed the door behind her, and put up the close

00:30:44sign.

00:30:45"'Ah, well,' said Ron, throwing the cloak back over Hermione, ''worth a try, but you

00:30:49were a bit obvious.'

00:30:51"'Well, next time you can show me how it's done, Master of Mystery,' she snapped.

00:30:55Ron and Hermione bickered all the way back to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, where they were

00:30:59forced to stop so that they could dodge undetected around a very anxious-looking Mrs Weasley

00:31:03and Hagrid, who had clearly noticed their absence.

00:31:06Once in the shop, Harry whipped off the invisibility cloak, hid it in his bag, and joined in with

00:31:11the other two when they insisted, in answer to Mrs Weasley's accusations, that they had

00:31:16been in the back room all along, and that she could not have looked properly.

00:31:23Chapter 7 The Slug Club

00:31:26Harry spent a lot of the last week of the holidays pondering the meaning of Malfoy's

00:31:30behaviour in Nocturne Alley.

00:31:32What disturbed him most was the satisfied look on Malfoy's face as he had left the shop.

00:31:37Nothing that made Malfoy look that happy could be good news.

00:31:40To his slight annoyance, however, neither Ron nor Hermione seemed quite as curious about

00:31:44Malfoy's activities as he was, or at least they seemed to get bored of discussing it

00:31:48after a few days.

00:31:49Yes, I've already agreed it was fishy, Harry, said Hermione a little impatiently.

00:31:53She was sitting on the windowsill in Fred and George's room, with her feet up on one

00:31:57of the cardboard boxes, and only grudgingly looked up from her new copy of Advanced Rune

00:32:02Translation.

00:32:03But haven't we agreed there could be a lot of explanations?

00:32:06Maybe he's broken his hand of glory, said Ron vaguely, as he attempted to straighten

00:32:10his broomstick's bent tail wigs.

00:32:13Remember, that shriveled up arm Malfoy had.

00:32:16But what about when he said, don't forget to keep that one safe, asked Harry for the

00:32:20umpteenth time?

00:32:21That sounded to me like Borgin's got another one of the broken objects, and Malfoy wants both.

00:32:26You reckon, said Ron, now trying to scrape some dirt off his broom handle.

00:32:29Yeah, I do, said Harry, when neither Ron nor Hermione answered.

00:32:33He said, Malfoy's father's in Azkaban.

00:32:36Don't you think Malfoy'd like revenge?

00:32:38Ron looked up, blinking.

00:32:39Malfoy?

00:32:40Revenge?

00:32:41What can he do about it?

00:32:43That's my point.

00:32:44I don't know, said Harry, frustrated.

00:32:45But he's up to something, and I think we should take it seriously.

00:32:48His father's a Death Eater, and...

00:32:50Harry broke off, his eyes fixed on the window behind Hermione.

00:32:54His mouth open.

00:32:55A startling thought had just occurred to him.

00:32:57Harry?

00:32:58said Hermione in an anxious voice.

00:33:00What's wrong?

00:33:01Your scar's not hurting again, is it? asked Ron nervously.

00:33:04He's a Death Eater, said Harry slowly.

00:33:06He's replaced his father as a Death Eater.

00:33:09There was a silence.

00:33:10Then Ron erupted in laughter.

00:33:13Malfoy?

00:33:14He's sixteen, Harry.

00:33:15You think you know who would let Malfoy join?

00:33:18It seems very unlikely, Harry, said Hermione in a repressive sort of voice.

00:33:22What makes you think?

00:33:23It's Madame Malkin's.

00:33:24She didn't touch him.

00:33:25But he yelled and jerked his arm away from her when she went to roll up his sleeve.

00:33:29It was his left arm.

00:33:31He's been branded with the Dark Mark.

00:33:33Ron and Hermione looked at each other.

00:33:34Well, said Ron, sounding thoroughly unconvinced.

00:33:37I think he just wanted to get out of there, Harry, said Hermione.

00:33:41He showed Borgin something we couldn't see, Harry pressed on stubbornly.

00:33:44Something that seriously scared Borgin.

00:33:46It was the Mark.

00:33:47I know it.

00:33:48He was showing Borgin who he was dealing with.

00:33:50You saw how seriously Borgin took him.

00:33:53Ron and Hermione exchanged another look.

00:33:55I'm not sure, Harry.

00:33:56Yeah, I still don't reckon you know who would let Malfoy join.

00:34:00Annoyed but absolutely convinced he was right, Harry snatched up a pile of filthy Quidditch

00:34:05robes and left the room.

00:34:07Mrs Weasley had been urging them for days not to leave their washing and packing until

00:34:11the last moment.

00:34:13On the landing he bumped into Ginny, who was returning to her room carrying a pile of freshly

00:34:17laundered clothes.

00:34:18I wouldn't go in the kitchen just now, she warned him.

00:34:21There's a lot of phlegm around.

00:34:23I'll be careful not to slip on it, smiled Harry.

00:34:26Sure enough, when he entered the kitchen it was to find Fleur sitting at the kitchen table

00:34:29in full flow about plans for her wedding to Bill, while Mrs Weasley kept watch over a

00:34:34pile of self-peeling sprouts, looking bad-tempered.

00:34:37Bill and I have almost decided on only two bridesmaids.

00:34:41Ginny and Gabrielle will look very sweet together.

00:34:43I am thinking of dressing them in pale gold.

00:34:46Pink would of course be horrible with Ginny's hair.

00:34:50Ah, Harry, said Mrs Weasley loudly, cutting across Fleur's monologue.

00:34:54Good, I wanted to explain about the security arrangements for the journey to Hogwarts tomorrow.

00:34:58We've got ministry cars again and there will be Aurors waiting at the station.

00:35:02Is Tonks going to be there?

00:35:04asked Harry, handing over his Quidditch things.

00:35:06No, I don't think so.

00:35:07She's been stationed somewhere else, from what Arthur said.

00:35:10She has a little self-guise at Tonks, mused Fleur, examining her own stunning reflection

00:35:15in the back of a teaspoon.

00:35:16A big mistake, if you ask.

00:35:18Yes, thank you, said Mrs Weasley tartly, cutting across Fleur again.

00:35:23You'd better get on, Harry.

00:35:24I want the trunks ready tonight, if possible, so we don't have the usual last-minute scramble.

00:35:29And in fact, their departure the following morning was smoother than usual.

00:35:33The ministry cars glided up to the front of the burrow to find them waiting, trunks packed,

00:35:38Hermione's cat Crookshanks safely enclosed in his travelling basket, and Hedwig, Ron's

00:35:43owl pigwidgeon, and Ginny's new purple pygmy puff, Arnold, in cages.

00:35:48Au revoir, Harry, said Fleur, frotily, kissing him goodbye.

00:35:53Ron hurried forwards, looking hopeful, but Ginny stuck out her foot and Ron fell, sprawling

00:35:57in the dust at Fleur's feet.

00:35:59Furious, red-faced, and dirt-spattered, he hurried into the car without saying goodbye.

00:36:04There was no cheerful hagrid waiting for them at King's Cross Station.

00:36:07Instead, two grim-faced, bearded aurors in dark muggle suits moved forwards the moment

00:36:12the car stopped, and, flanking the party, marched them into the station without speaking.

00:36:17Quick, quick, through the barrier, said Mrs Weasley, who seemed a little flustered by

00:36:21this austere efficiency.

00:36:24Harry had better go first, with…

00:36:25She looked inquiringly at one of the aurors, who nodded briefly, seized Harry's upper

00:36:29arm and attempted to steer him towards the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10.

00:36:34I can walk, thanks, said Harry irritably, jerking his arm out of the auror's grip.

00:36:39He pushed his trolley directly at the solid barrier, ignoring his silent companion, and

00:36:43found himself, a second later, standing on Platform 9 and Three-Quarters, where the scarlet

00:36:48Hogwarts Express stood belching steam over the crowd.

00:36:51Hermione and the Weasleys joined him within seconds, without waiting to consult his grim

00:36:55faced auror.

00:36:56Harry motioned to Ron and Hermione to follow him up the platform, looking for an empty

00:37:00compartment.

00:37:01We can't, Harry, said Hermione, looking apologetic.

00:37:04Ron and I've got to go to the Prefect Carriage first, and then patrol the corridors for a

00:37:08bit.

00:37:09Oh, yeah, I forgot, said Harry.

00:37:10You'd better get straight on the train, all of you.

00:37:12You've only got a few minutes to go, said Mrs Weasley, consulting her watch.

00:37:16Well, have a lovely term, Ron.

00:37:19Mr Weasley, can I have a quick word, said Harry, making up his mind on the spur of the

00:37:23moment.

00:37:24Of course, said Mr Weasley, who looked slightly surprised, but followed Harry out of earshot

00:37:28of the others nevertheless.

00:37:31Harry had thought it through carefully, and come to the conclusion that if he were to

00:37:34tell anyone, Mr Weasley would be the right person.

00:37:37Firstly, because he worked at the Ministry, and was therefore in the best position to

00:37:41make further investigations, and secondly, because he thought that there was not too

00:37:45much risk of Mr Weasley exploding with anger.

00:37:48He could see Mrs Weasley and the grim faced auror casting the pair of them suspicious

00:37:52looks as they moved away.

00:37:54When we were in a Diagon Alley, Harry began, but Mr Weasley forestalled him with a grimace.

00:37:59Am I about to discover where you, Ron and Hermione disappeared to, while you were supposed

00:38:03to be in the back room of Fred and George's shop?

00:38:06How did you?

00:38:07Harry, please, you're talking to the man who raised Fred and George.

00:38:11Yeah, all right, we weren't in the back room.

00:38:13Very well then, let's hear the worst.

00:38:15Well, we followed Draco Malfoy.

00:38:17We used my invisibility cloak.

00:38:19Did you have any particular reason for doing so, or was it a mere whim?

00:38:23Because I thought Malfoy was up to something, said Harry, disregarding Mr Weasley's look

00:38:28of mingled exasperation and amusement.

00:38:30He'd given his mother the slip, and I wanted to know why.

00:38:33Of course you did, said Mr Weasley, sounding resigned.

00:38:36Well, did you find out why?

00:38:38He went into Borgin and Burke's, said Harry, and started bullying the bloke in there, Borgin,

00:38:42to help him fix something, and he said he wanted Borgin to keep something else for him.

00:38:48He made it sound like it was the same kind of thing that needed fixing, like they were

00:38:52a pair, and Harry took a deep breath.

00:38:55There's something else.

00:38:56We saw Malfoy jump about a mile when Madam Malkin tried to touch his left arm.

00:39:01I think he's been branded with a dark mark.

00:39:03I think he's replaced his father as a Death Eater.

00:39:06Mr Weasley looked taken aback.

00:39:08After a moment he said, Harry, I doubt whether you know who would allow a sixteen-year-old.

00:39:12Does anyone really know what you know who would or wouldn't do, asked Harry angrily.

00:39:17Mr Weasley, I'm sorry, but isn't it worth investigating?

00:39:22If Malfoy wants something fixing, and he needs to threaten Borgin to get it done, it's probably

00:39:26something dark or dangerous, isn't it?

00:39:28I doubt it, to be honest, Harry, said Mr Weasley slowly.

00:39:31You see, when Lucius Malfoy was arrested, we raided his house.

00:39:35We took away everything that might have been dangerous.

00:39:38I think you missed something, said Harry stubbornly.

00:39:40Well, maybe, said Mr Weasley, but Harry could tell that Mr Weasley was humouring him.

00:39:45There was a whistle behind them.

00:39:46Nearly everyone had boarded the train and the doors were closing.

00:39:49You'd better hurry, said Mr Weasley.

00:39:51As Mrs Weasley cried, Harry, quickly!

00:39:54He hurried forwards and Mr and Mrs Weasley helped him load his trunk onto the train.

00:39:58Now dear, you're coming to us for Christmas.

00:40:01It's all fixed with Dumbledore, so we'll see you quite soon, said Mrs Weasley through the

00:40:05window.

00:40:06As Harry slammed the door shut behind him and the train began to move.

00:40:09You make sure you look after yourself and...

00:40:11The train was gathering speed.

00:40:13Be good and...

00:40:14She was jogging to keep up now.

00:40:16Stay safe!

00:40:17Harry waved until the train had turned a corner and Mr and Mrs Weasley were lost from view,

00:40:22then turned to see where the others had got to.

00:40:24He supposed Ron and Hermione were cloistered in the prefect carriage, but Ginny was a little

00:40:28way along the corridor, chatting to some friends.

00:40:31He made his way towards her, dragging his trunk.

00:40:34People stared shamelessly as he approached.

00:40:36They even pressed their faces against the windows of their compartments to get a good

00:40:39look at him.

00:40:40He had expected an upswing in the amount of gaping and gawping he would have to endure

00:40:44this term after all the chosen one rumours in the Daily Prophet, but he did not enjoy

00:40:48the sensation of standing in a very bright spotlight.

00:40:52He tapped Ginny on the shoulder, fancy trying to find a compartment.

00:40:55I can't, Harry.

00:40:56I said I'd meet Dean, said Ginny brightly.

00:40:58See you later.

00:40:59Right, said Harry.

00:41:00He felt a strange twinge of annoyance as she walked away, her long red hair dancing behind

00:41:05her.

00:41:06Harry was so used to her presence over the summer that he'd almost forgotten that Ginny

00:41:10did not hang around with him, Ron and Hermione, while at school.

00:41:13Then he blinked and looked around.

00:41:15He was surrounded by mesmerised girls.

00:41:17Hi, Harry, said a familiar voice from behind him.

00:41:20Neville, said Harry in relief, turning to see a round-faced boy struggling towards him.

00:41:24Hello, Harry, said a girl with long hair and large misty eyes, who was just behind Neville.

00:41:30Luna, hi.

00:41:31How are you?

00:41:32Very well, thank you, said Luna.

00:41:34She was clutching a magazine to her chest.

00:41:36Large letters on the front announced that there was a pair of free spectrospecs inside.

00:41:42The Quibbler?

00:41:43Still going strong, then?

00:41:44Asked Harry, who felt a certain fondness for the magazine, having given it an exclusive

00:41:48interview the previous year.

00:41:50Oh, yes.

00:41:51Circulation's well up, said Luna happily.

00:41:53Let's find seats, said Harry.

00:41:56And the three of them set off along the train, through hordes of silently staring students.

00:42:00Alas, they found an empty compartment, and Harry hurried inside gratefully.

00:42:05David, they're even staring at us, said Neville, indicating himself and Luna, because we're

00:42:10with you.

00:42:11They're staring at you because you were at the ministry too, said Harry, as he hoisted

00:42:15his trunk into the luggage rack.

00:42:17Our little adventure there was all over the Daily Prophet.

00:42:20You must have seen it.

00:42:21Yes, I thought Gran would be angry about all the publicity, said Neville, but she was really

00:42:26pleased.

00:42:27Says I'm starting to live up to my dad at long last.

00:42:29You bought me a new wand, look.

00:42:31He pulled it out and showed it to Harry.

00:42:33Cherry and unicorn hair, he said proudly.

00:42:36We think it was one of the last Ollivander ever sold.

00:42:39He'd vanish next day.

00:42:40Oi, come back here, Trevor.

00:42:42And he dived under the seat to retrieve his toad, as it made one of its frequent bids

00:42:46for freedom.

00:42:47Are we, uh, doing D.A. meetings this year, Harry?

00:42:51Asked Luna, who was detaching a pair of psychedelic spectacles from the middle of the quibbler.

00:42:56No point now we've got rid of Umbridge, is there, said Harry, sitting down.

00:42:59Neville bumped his head against the seat as he emerged from under it.

00:43:02He looked most disappointed.

00:43:04I liked the D.A.

00:43:05I learned loads with you.

00:43:07I enjoyed the meetings too, said Luna serenely.

00:43:10It was like having friends.

00:43:12This was one of those uncomfortable things Luna often said, and which made Harry feel

00:43:15a squirming mixture of pity and embarrassment.

00:43:18Before he could respond, however, there was a disturbance outside their compartment door.

00:43:22A group of fourth-year girls was whispering and giggling together on the other side of

00:43:26the glass.

00:43:27You ask him.

00:43:28No, you.

00:43:29I'll do it.

00:43:30And one of them, a bold-looking girl with large dark eyes, a prominent chin and long

00:43:34black hair, pushed her way through the door.

00:43:36Hi, Harry.

00:43:37I'm Remilda.

00:43:38Remilda Vane, she said loudly and confidently.

00:43:40Why don't you join us in our compartment?

00:43:43You don't have to sit with them, she added in a stage whisper, indicating Neville's bottom,

00:43:48which was sticking out from under the seat again as he groped around for Trevor.

00:43:53And Luna, who was now wearing her frieze spec-to-specs, which gave her the look of a demented, multi-coloured

00:43:57owl.

00:43:58They're friends of mine, said Harry coldly.

00:44:01Oh, said the girl, looking very surprised.

00:44:03Oh, okay, and she withdrew, sliding the door closed behind her.

00:44:08People expect you to have cooler friends than us, said Luna once again, displaying her knack

00:44:13for embarrassing honesty.

00:44:14You are cool, said Harry shortly.

00:44:16None of them was at the ministry.

00:44:18They didn't fight with me.

00:44:20That's a very nice thing to say, beamed Luna, and she pushed her spec-to-specs further up

00:44:25her nose and settled down to read the quibbler.

00:44:28We didn't face him, though, said Neville, emerging from under the seat with fluff and

00:44:32dust in his hair and a resigned-looking Trevor in his hand.

00:44:35You did.

00:44:36You should hear my gran talk about you.

00:44:38That Harry Potter's got more backbone than the whole Ministry of Magic put together.

00:44:42She'd give anything to have you as a grandson.

00:44:45Harry laughed uncomfortably and changed the subject to owl results as soon as he could.

00:44:50While Neville recited his grades and wondered aloud whether he would be allowed to take

00:44:53a transfiguration newt with only an acceptable, Harry watched him without really listening.

00:44:59Neville's childhood had been blighted by Voldemort just as much as Harry's had, but Neville had

00:45:03no idea how close he had come to having Harry's destiny.

00:45:06The prophecy could have referred to either of them, yet for his own inscrutable reasons,

00:45:11Voldemort had chosen to believe that Harry was the one that he meant.

00:45:15Had Voldemort chosen Neville, it would be Neville sitting opposite Harry, bearing the

00:45:19lightning-shaped scar and the weight of the prophecy.

00:45:22Or would it?

00:45:23Would Neville's mother have died to save him, as Lily had died for Harry?

00:45:26Surely she would.

00:45:27But what if she had been unable to stand between her son and Voldemort?

00:45:31Would there then have been no chosen one at all?

00:45:34An empty seat where Neville now sat, and a scarless Harry, who would have been kissed

00:45:37goodbye by his own mother, not Ron's?

00:45:40You all right, Harry?

00:45:41You look funny, said Neville.

00:45:43Harry started.

00:45:45Sorry, I, uh…

00:45:46Rakspert gotcha, asked Luna sympathetically, peering at Harry through her enormous coloured

00:45:51spectacles.

00:45:52I, uh…

00:45:53What?

00:45:54A Rakspert.

00:45:55They're invisible.

00:45:56They float in through your ears and make your brain go fuzzy, she said.

00:45:59I thought I felt one zooming around in here.

00:46:02She flapped her hands up thin air, as though beating off large invisible moths.

00:46:06Harry and Neville caught each other's eye and hastily began to talk a quidditch.

00:46:10The weather beyond the train windows was as patchy as it had been all summer.

00:46:14They passed through stretches of the chilling mist, then out into weak, clear sunlight.

00:46:18It was during one of the clear spells, when the sun was visible almost directly overhead,

00:46:22that Ron and Hermione entered the compartment at last.

00:46:26Wish the lunch trolley would hurry up, I'm starving, said Ron longingly, slumping into

00:46:30the seat beside Harry and rubbing his stomach.

00:46:32Hi, Neville.

00:46:33Hi, Luna.

00:46:34Guess what?

00:46:35He added, turning to Harry.

00:46:36Malfoy's not doing prefect duty.

00:46:38He's just sitting in his compartment, with the other Slytherins.

00:46:41We saw him when we passed.

00:46:44Harry sat up straight, interested.

00:46:45It was not like Malfoy to pass up the chance to demonstrate his power as prefect, which

00:46:49he had happily abused all the previous year.

00:46:53What did he do when he saw you?

00:46:55The usual, said Ron indifferently, demonstrating a rude hand gesture.

00:46:59Not like him though, is it?

00:47:00Well, that is.

00:47:02He did the hand gesture again.

00:47:03But why isn't he out there bullying first years?

00:47:06Dunno, said Harry, but his mind was racing.

00:47:09Didn't this look as though Malfoy had more important things on his mind than bullying

00:47:12younger students?

00:47:14Maybe he preferred the Inquisitorial Squad, said Hermione.

00:47:17Maybe being a prefect seems a bit tame after that.

00:47:20I don't think so, said Harry.

00:47:22I think he's...

00:47:23But before he could expound on the theory, the compartment door slid open again and a

00:47:27breathless third-year girl stepped inside.

00:47:29I'm supposed to deliver these to Neville Longbottom and Harry Potter, she faltered as her eyes

00:47:36met Harry's and she turned scarlet.

00:47:38She was holding out two scrolls of parchment tied with violet ribbon.

00:47:42Perplexed, Harry and Neville took the scroll addressed to each of them and the girl stumbled

00:47:46back out of the compartment.

00:47:47What is it?

00:47:48Ron demanded as Harry unrolled his.

00:47:50An invitation, said Harry.

00:47:52Harry, I would be delighted if you would join me for a bite of lunch in compartment C.

00:47:58Sincerely, Professor H.E.J.

00:48:01Slughorn.

00:48:02Who's Professor Slughorn?

00:48:04Asked Neville, looking perplexedly at his own invitation.

00:48:09New teacher, said Harry.

00:48:10Well, I suppose we'll have to go, won't we?

00:48:12But what does he want me for?

00:48:14Asked Neville nervously, as though he were expecting detention.

00:48:17No idea, said Harry, which was not entirely true, though he had no proof yet that his

00:48:22hunch was correct.

00:48:23Listen, he added, seized by a sudden brainwave.

00:48:26Let's go under the invisibility cloak.

00:48:28Then we might get a good look at Malfoy on the way, see what he's up to.

00:48:31This idea, however, came to nothing.

00:48:33The corridors, which were packed with people on the lookout for the lunch trolley, were

00:48:37impossible to negotiate while wearing the cloak.

00:48:39Harry stowed it regretfully back in his bag, reflecting that it would have been nice to

00:48:43wear it just to avoid all the staring, which seemed to have increased in intensity even

00:48:48since he had last walked down the train.

00:48:50Every now and then, students would hurtle out of their compartments to get a better

00:48:54look at him.

00:48:55The exception was Cho Chang, who darted into her compartment when she saw Harry coming.

00:49:00As Harry passed the window, he saw her deep in determined conversation with her friend

00:49:04Marietta, who was wearing a very thick layer of makeup that did not entirely obscure the

00:49:08odd formation of pimples still etched across her face.

00:49:12Smirking slightly, Harry pushed on.

00:49:15When they reached compartment C, they saw at once that they were not Slughorn's only

00:49:19invitees, although, judging by the enthusiasm of Slughorn's welcome, Harry was the most

00:49:23warmly anticipated.

00:49:25Hurry, my boy, said Slughorn, jumping up at the sight of him so that his great velvet-covered

00:49:30belly seemed to fill all the remaining space in the compartment.

00:49:34His shiny bald head and great silver moustache gleamed as brightly in the sunlight as the

00:49:39golden buttons on his waistcoat.

00:49:40Good to see you, good to see you, and you must be Mr. Longbottom!

00:49:45Neville nodded, looking scared, as at a gesture from Slughorn they sat down opposite each

00:49:50other in the only two empty seats, which were nearest to the door.

00:49:54Harry glanced around at their fellow guests.

00:49:56He recognised a Slytherin from their year, a tall black boy with a high cheekbone and

00:50:00long slanting eyes.

00:50:02There were also two seventh-year boys.

00:50:04Harry did not know, and squashed in the corner beside Slughorn, and looking as though she

00:50:08was not entirely sure how she had got there, Ginny.

00:50:11Now, do you know everyone?

00:50:14Slughorn asked Harry and Neville.

00:50:16Blaise Zerbini is in your year, of course.

00:50:18Zerbini did not make any sign of recognition or greeting, and nor did Harry or Neville.

00:50:23Gryffindor and Slytherin students loathed each other on principle.

00:50:27This is Cormac McLagan.

00:50:29Perhaps you've come across each other?

00:50:31No?

00:50:32Slughorn looked in at a large wire hair jeef, raised a hand, and Harry and Neville nodded

00:50:35back at him.

00:50:37And this is Marcus Belby.

00:50:38I don't know whether…

00:50:40Belby, who was thin and nervous-looking, gave a strained smile.

00:50:43And this charming young lady tells me she knows you.

00:50:47Slughorn finished.

00:50:48Ginny grimaced at Harry and Neville from behind Slughorn's back.

00:50:51Well, now this is most pleasant, said Slughorn cosily.

00:50:56A chance to get to know you all a little better.

00:50:58Here, take a napkin.

00:51:00I've packed my own lunch.

00:51:01The trolley, as I remember it, is heavy on licorice wands, and a poor old man's digestive

00:51:06system isn't quite up to such things.

00:51:08Pheasant?

00:51:09Belby?

00:51:10Belby started, and accepted what looked like half a cold pheasant.

00:51:15I was just telling young Marcus here that I had the pleasure of teaching his uncle Damocles,

00:51:21Slughorn told Harry and Neville, now passing around a basket of rolls.

00:51:26Outstanding wizard!

00:51:27Outstanding!

00:51:28And his Order of Merlin most well deserved.

00:51:30Do you see much of your uncle, Marcus?

00:51:32Unfortunately, Belby had just taken a large mouthful of pheasant, and in his haste to

00:51:36answer Slughorn, he swallowed too fast, turned purple, and began to choke.

00:51:41Appanappanayo, said Slughorn calmly, pointing his wand at Belby, whose airway seemed to

00:51:46clear at once.

00:51:47Not, uh, not much of him, no, gasped Belby, his eyes streaming.

00:51:52Well, of course I dare say he's busy, said Slughorn, looking questioningly at Belby.

00:51:57I doubt he invented the wolf's bane potion without considerable hard work.

00:52:01I suppose, said Belby, who seemed afraid to take another bite of pheasant, until he was

00:52:06sure that Slughorn had finished with him.

00:52:08Uh, he and my dad don't get on very well, you see, so I don't really know much about…

00:52:14His voice trailed away as Slughorn gave him a cold smile, and turned to MacLagan instead.

00:52:18Now you, Cormac, said Slughorn, I happen to know you see a lot of your uncle Tiberius,

00:52:25he was a rather splendid picture of the two of you hunting nogtails in, I think, Norfolk?

00:52:30Oh yeah, that was fun, that was, said MacLagan.

00:52:33We went with Bertie Higgs and Rufus Scrimgeour.

00:52:36This was before he became minister, obviously.

00:52:39Ah, you know Bertie and Rufus too, beamed Slughorn, now offering around a small tray

00:52:44of pies.

00:52:45Somehow, Belby was missed out.

00:52:47Now, tell me.

00:52:49It was as Harry had suspected, everyone had seemed to have been invited because they were

00:52:52connected to somebody well-known or influential.

00:52:56Everyone except Ginny.

00:52:57Zerbini, who was interrogated after MacLagan, turned out to have a famously beautiful witch

00:53:02for a mother.

00:53:03From what Harry could make out, she had been married seven times, each of her husbands

00:53:07dying mysteriously and leaving her mounds of gold.

00:53:11It was Neville's turn next.

00:53:12This was a very uncomfortable ten minutes.

00:53:14For Neville's parents, well-known Aurors had been tortured into insanity by Bellatrix

00:53:19Lestrange and a couple of Death Eater cronies.

00:53:22At the end of Neville's interview, Harry had the impression that Slughorn was reserving

00:53:26judgement on Neville, yet to see whether he had any of his parents' flair.

00:53:31And now, said Slughorn, shifting massively in his seat with the air of a compere, introducing

00:53:37his star act, Harry Potter!

00:53:39Where to begin?

00:53:40I feel I barely scratched the surface when we met over the summer.

00:53:43He contemplated Harry for a moment, as though he was a particularly large and succulent

00:53:47piece of pheasant, and then said, The Chosen One!

00:53:51They're calling you now!

00:53:52Harry said nothing.

00:53:53Belby, MacLagan and Zerbini were all staring at him.

00:53:56Of course, said Slughorn, watching Harry closely, there have been rumours for years.

00:54:01I remember when, well, after that terrible night, Lily, James and you survived, and the

00:54:07word was that you must have powers beyond the ordinary.

00:54:10Zerbini gave a tiny little cough that was clearly supposed to indicate amused scepticism,

00:54:15as an angry voice burst out from behind Slughorn.

00:54:18Yeah, Zerbini, because you're so talented at posing.

00:54:22Oh dear, chuckled Slughorn comfortably, looking around at Ginny, who was glaring at Zerbini

00:54:27around Slughorn's great belly.

00:54:29You want to be careful, Blaze.

00:54:30I saw this young lady perform the most marvellous bat-bogey hex as I was passing her carriage.

00:54:35I wouldn't cross her.

00:54:37Zerbini merely looked contemptuous.

00:54:39Anyway, said Slughorn, turning back to Harry, such rumours this summer!

00:54:44Of course, one doesn't know what to believe.

00:54:47The Prophet has been known to print inaccuracies, make mistakes, but there seems little doubt,

00:54:52given the number of witnesses, that there was quite a disturbance at the Ministry, and

00:54:56that you were there in the thick of it all.

00:54:58Harry, who could not see any way out of this without flatly lying, nodded but still said

00:55:03nothing.

00:55:04Slughorn beamed at him.

00:55:05So modest, so modest!

00:55:07No wonder Dumbledore is so fond.

00:55:09You were there, then?

00:55:11What?

00:55:12The rest of the stories.

00:55:13So sensational, of course.

00:55:15One doesn't know quite what to believe.

00:55:17This fabled prophecy, for instance.

00:55:19We never heard a prophecy, said Neville, turning geranium pink as he said it.

00:55:24That's right, said Ginny staunchly.

00:55:26Neville and I were both there too, and all this chosen one rubbish is just the Prophet

00:55:31making things up as usual.

00:55:33You were both there too, were you? said Slughorn, with great interest, looking from Ginny to

00:55:38Neville, but both of them sat, clam-like, before his encouraging smile.

00:55:42Yes, well, it is true that the Prophet often exaggerates, of course, Slughorn continued,

00:55:48sounding a little disappointed.

00:55:49I remember dear Gwenog telling me, Gwenog Jones, I mean, of course, Captain of the Hollyhead

00:55:54Harpies.

00:55:55He meandered off into a long-winded reminiscence, but Harry had the distinct impression that

00:55:59Slughorn had not finished with him, and that he had not been convinced by Neville and Ginny.

00:56:05The afternoon wore on with more anecdotes about illustrious wizards Slughorn had taught,

00:56:10all of whom had been delighted to join what he called the Slug Club at Hogwarts.

00:56:15Harry could not wait to leave, but couldn't see how to do so politely.

00:56:19Finally the train emerged from yet another long misty stretch into the red sunset, and

00:56:23Slughorn looked around, blinking in the twilight.

00:56:26Good gracious, it's getting dark already, I didn't notice that they'd lit the lamps.

00:56:31You better go and change into your robes, all of you.

00:56:33Gin, you must drop by and borrow that little book on Nog Tales.

00:56:37Harry, Blaze, any time you're passing.

00:56:40Same goes for you, Miss, he twinkled at Ginny.

00:56:42Well, off you go, off you go.

00:56:44As he pushed past Harry into the darkening corridor, Zabini shot him a filthy look, but

00:56:49Harry returned with interest.

00:56:51He, Ginny and Neville followed Zabini back along the train.

00:56:54I'm glad that's over, muttered Neville.

00:56:56Strange man, isn't he?

00:56:58Yeah, he is a bit, said Harry, his eyes on Zabini.

00:57:01How come you ended up in there, Ginny?

00:57:03He saw me, a hex, Zachariah Smith, said Ginny.

00:57:06You remember that idiot from Hufflepuff, he was in the DA.

00:57:09He kept on and on and asking about what happened at the ministry, and in the end he annoyed

00:57:13me so much I hexed him.

00:57:15When Slughorn came in, I thought I was going to get detention, but he just thought it was

00:57:19a really good hex, and invited me to lunch.

00:57:21Mad, eh?

00:57:22Better reason for inviting someone than because their mother's famous, said Harry, scowling

00:57:27at the back of Zabini's head, or because they're uncool.

00:57:30But he broke off.

00:57:31An idea had just occurred to him, a reckless but potentially wonderful idea.

00:57:35In a minute's time, Zabini was going to re-enter the Slytherin's six-year compartment, and

00:57:40Malfoy would be sitting there, thinking himself unheard by anybody except fellow Slytherins.

00:57:46If Harry could only enter unseen behind him, what might he not see or hear?

00:57:51True, there was a little of the journey left.

00:57:54Hogsmeade station had been less than half an hour away, judging by the wildness of the

00:57:58scenery, flashing by the windows.

00:58:00But nobody else seemed prepared to take Harry's suspicions seriously, so it was down to him

00:58:04to prove them.

00:58:05I'll see you later, said Harry under his breath, pulling out his invisibility cloak and flinging

00:58:10it over himself.

00:58:12But where are you?

00:58:13What are you? asked Neville.

00:58:15Later, whispered Harry, darting after Zabini, as quietly as possible, though the rattling

00:58:20of the train made such caution almost pointless.

00:58:23The corridors were almost completely empty now.

00:58:25Nearly everyone had returned to their carriages to change into their school robes and pack

00:58:29up their possessions.

00:58:30Though he was as close as he could get to Zabini without touching him, Harry was not

00:58:34quick enough to slip into the compartment when Zabini opened the door.

00:58:38Zabini was already sliding it shut when Harry hastily stuck out his foot to prevent it closing.

00:58:43What's wrong with this thing? said Zabini angrily, as he smashed the sliding door repeatedly

00:58:48into Harry's foot.

00:58:50Harry seized the door and pushed it open hard.

00:58:52Zabini, still clinging on to the handle, toppled over sideways into Gregory Goyle's lap, and

00:58:57in the ensuing ruckus, Harry darted into the compartment, leapt onto Zabini's temporarily

00:59:02empty seat, and hoisted himself up into the luggage rack.

00:59:06It was fortunate that Goyle and Zabini were snarling at each other, drawing all eyes on

00:59:09to them, for Harry was quite sure his feet and ankles had been revealed as the cloak

00:59:14had flapped around them.

00:59:15Indeed, for one horrible moment, he thought he saw Malfoy's eyes follow his trainer as

00:59:19it whipped upwards out of sight.

00:59:21But then Goyle slammed the door shut and flung Zabini off him.

00:59:25Zabini collapsed into his own seat looking ruffled.

00:59:27Vincent Crabb returned to his comic, and Malfoy, sniggering, lay back down across two seats

00:59:33with his head in Pansy Parkinson's lap.

00:59:36Harry lay curled uncomfortably under the cloak to ensure that every inch of him remained

00:59:40hidden, and watched Pansy stroke the sleek blonde hair of Malfoy's forehead, smirking

00:59:45as she did so, as though anyone would have loved to have been in her place.

00:59:51The lanterns swinging from the carriage ceiling cast a bright light over the scene.

00:59:55Harry could read every word at Crabb's comic, directly below him.

00:59:59So, Zabini, said Malfoy, what did Slughorn want?

01:00:02Just trying to make up to well-connected people, said Zabini, who was still glaring at Goyle,

01:00:09not that he managed to find many.

01:00:11This information did not seem to please Malfoy.

01:00:13Who else had he invited, he demanded.

01:00:16MacLagan from Gryffindor, said Zabini, oh yeah, his uncle's big in the ministry, said

01:00:20Malfoy.

01:00:22Someone else called Belby from Ravenclaw?

01:00:25Not him, he's a prat, said Pansy.

01:00:27And Longbottom, Potter and that Weasley girl, finished Zabini.

01:00:31Malfoy sat up very suddenly, knocking Pansy's hand aside.

01:00:34He invited Longbottom.

01:00:36Well, I assume so, as Longbottom was there, said Zabini indifferently.

01:00:41What's Longbottom got to interest Slughorn?

01:00:43Zabini shrugged.

01:00:45Potter, precious Potter, obviously he wanted to look at the chosen one, sneered Malfoy.

01:00:50But that Weasley girl, what's so special about her?

01:00:53A lot of boys like her, said Pansy, watching Malfoy out of the corner of her eyes for his

01:00:58reaction.

01:00:59Even you think she's good looking, don't you, Blaze, and we all know how hard you are to

01:01:02please.

01:01:03I wouldn't touch a filthy little blood traitor like her, whatever she looked like, said Zabini

01:01:08coldly, and Pansy looked pleased.

01:01:10Malfoy sank back across her lap and allowed her to resume the stroking of his hair.

01:01:15Well, I pity Slughorn's taste.

01:01:18Maybe he's going a bit senile.

01:01:20Shame, my father always said he was a good wizard in his day.

01:01:23My father used to be a bit of a favourite of his.

01:01:26Slughorn probably hasn't heard I'm on the train, or...

01:01:29I wouldn't bank on an invitation, said Zabini.

01:01:32He asked me about Knott's father when I first arrived.

01:01:35They used to be old friends, apparently, but when he heard he'd been caught at the Ministry,

01:01:39he didn't look happy, and Knott didn't get an invitation, did he?

01:01:42I don't think Slughorn's interested in Death Eaters.

01:01:45Malfoy looked angry, but forced out a singularly humorless laugh.

01:01:50Well, who cares what he's interested in?

01:01:53What is he, when you come down to it, just some stupid teacher?

01:01:57Malfoy yawned ostentatiously.

01:01:59I mean, I might not even be at Hogwarts next year.

01:02:02What's it matter to me if some fat old has-been likes me or not?

01:02:06What do you mean, you might not be at Hogwarts next year, said Pansy indignantly,

01:02:10ceasing grooming Malfoy at once.

01:02:12Well, you never know, said Malfoy, with a ghost of a smirk.

01:02:15I might have, er, moved on to, er, bigger and better things.

01:02:20Crouched in the luggage rack under his cloak, Harry's heart began to race.

01:02:24What would Ron and Hermione say about this?

01:02:26Crabbe and Goyle were gawping at Malfoy.

01:02:28Apparently, they had had no inkling of any plans to move on to bigger and better things.

01:02:33Even Zabini had allowed a look of curiosity to mar his haughty features.

01:02:37Pansy resumed the so slow stroking of Malfoy's hair, looking dumbfounded.

01:02:42Do you mean, him?

01:02:44Malfoy shrugged.

01:02:45Mother wants me to complete my education, but personally,

01:02:48I don't see it as that important these days.

01:02:50I mean, think about it, when the Dark Lord takes over,

01:02:53is he going to care how many owls or newts anyone's got?

01:02:56Of course he isn't.

01:02:57It'll be all about the kind of service he received, the level of devotion he was shown.

01:03:02And you think you'll be able to do something for him?

01:03:05Asked Zabini scathingly.

01:03:06Sixteen years old, I'm not even fully qualified yet.

01:03:10I've just said, haven't I?

01:03:11Maybe he doesn't care if I'm qualified.

01:03:13Maybe the job he wants me to do isn't something that you need to be qualified for,

01:03:18said Malfoy quietly.

01:03:20Crabbe and Goyle were both sitting with their mouths open like gargoyles.

01:03:23Pansy was gazing down at Malfoy, as though she had never seen anything so awe-inspiring.

01:03:28I can see Hogwarts, said Malfoy,

01:03:30clearly relishing the effect he had created, as he pointed out of the blackened window.

01:03:35We'd better get our robes on.

01:03:36Harry was so busy staring at Malfoy, he did not notice Goyle reaching up for his trunk.

01:03:41As he swung it down, it hit Harry hard on the side of his head.

01:03:45He let out an involuntary gasp of pain,

01:03:47and Malfoy looked up at the luggage rack, frowning.

01:03:50Harry was not afraid of Malfoy, but he still did not much like the idea of being discovered,

01:03:55hiding under his invisibility cloak by a group of unfriendly Slytherins.

01:04:00Eyes still watering and head still throbbing, he drew his wand,

01:04:03careful not to disarrange the cloak, and waited, breath held.

01:04:07To his relief, Malfoy seemed to decide that he had imagined the noise.

01:04:11He pulled on his robes like the others, locked his trunk, and,

01:04:14as the train slowed to a jerky crawl, fastened a thick new travelling cloak around his neck.

01:04:19Harry could see the corridors filling up again,

01:04:22and hoped that Hermione and Ron would take his things out onto the platform for him.

01:04:26He was stuck where he was until the compartment had quite emptied.

01:04:30At last, with a final lurch, the train came to a complete halt.

01:04:34Goyle threw the door open and muscled his way out into a crowd of second years,

01:04:39punching them aside.

01:04:40Crabbe and Zabini followed.

01:04:42You go on, Malfoy said, told Pansy,

01:04:44who was waiting for him with her hand held out as though hoping he would hold it.

01:04:48I just want to check something.

01:04:50Pansy left.

01:04:51Now Harry and Malfoy were alone in the compartment.

01:04:54People were filing past, descending onto the dark platform.

01:04:58Malfoy moved over to the compartment door and let down the blinds,

01:05:01so that people in the corridor beyond could not peer in.

01:05:05He then bent down over his trunk and opened it again.

01:05:09Harry peered down over the edge of the luggage rack, his heart pumping a little faster.

01:05:13What had Malfoy wanted?

01:05:15To hide from Pansy?

01:05:16Was he about to see the mysterious broken object it was so important to mend?

01:05:21Petrificus Totalus!

01:05:23Without warning, Malfoy pointed his wand at Harry, who was instantly paralysed,

01:05:27as though in slow motion he toppled out of the luggage rack and fell,

01:05:30with an agonising, floor-shaking crash at Malfoy's feet.

01:05:34The invisibility cloak trapped beneath him,

01:05:36his whole body revealed with his legs still curled absurdly into the cramped kneeling position.

01:05:41He couldn't move a muscle.

01:05:43He could only gaze up at Malfoy, who smiled broadly.

01:05:46I thought so, he said jubilantly.

01:05:48I heard Goyle's trunk hit you,

01:05:50and I thought I saw something white flash through the air after Zabini came back.

01:05:54His eyes lingered for a moment upon Harry's trainers.

01:05:57That was you, blocking the door when Zabini came back in, I suppose.

01:06:01He considered Harry for a moment.

01:06:02He didn't hear anything I care about, Potter, but while I've got you here.

01:06:06And he stamped hard on Harry's face.

01:06:09Harry felt his nose break, blood spurted everywhere.

01:06:12That's from my father.

01:06:14Now, let's see.

01:06:16Malfoy dragged the cloak out from under Harry's immobilised body

01:06:19and threw it over him.

01:06:20I don't reckon they'll find you till the train's back in London, he said quietly.

01:06:25See you around, Potter.

01:06:26Or not.

01:06:27And taking care to tread on Harry's fingers, Malfoy left the compartment.

01:06:34Chapter 8 Snape Victorious

01:06:37Harry could not move a muscle.

01:06:39He lay there beneath the invisibility cloak,

01:06:41feeling the blood from his nose flow, hot and wet over his face.

01:06:45Listening to the voices and footsteps in the corridor beyond,

01:06:47his immediate thought was that someone surely would check the compartments

01:06:51before the train departed again.

01:06:53But at once came the dispiriting realisation

01:06:55that even if somebody looked into the compartment,

01:06:57he would be neither seen nor heard.

01:06:59His best hope was that somebody else would walk in and step on him.

01:07:03Harry had never hated Malfoy more than as he lay there,

01:07:06like an absurd turtle on its back, blood dripping sickeningly into his open mouth.

01:07:11What a stupid situation to have landed himself in.

01:07:13And now the last few footsteps were dying away.

01:07:16Everyone was shuffling along the dark platform outside.

01:07:19He could hear the scraping of trunks and the loud babble of talk.

01:07:23Ron and Hermione would think that he had left the train without them.

01:07:26Once they arrived at Hogwarts and took their places in the Great Hall,

01:07:29looked up and down the Gryffindor table a few times,

01:07:31and finally realised that he was not there,

01:07:33he no doubt would be halfway back to London.

01:07:36He tried to make a sound, even a grunt, but it was impossible.

01:07:39Then he remembered that some wizards, like Dumbledore,

01:07:42could perform spells without speaking.

01:07:44So he tried to summon his wand, which had fallen out of his hand,

01:07:47by saying the words,

01:07:48ASIO WAND, over and over again in his head.

01:07:51But nothing happened.

01:07:52He thought he could hear the rustling of the trees that surrounded the lake

01:07:55and the far-off hoot of an owl, but no hint of search being made.

01:07:59Or even, he despised himself slightly for hoping it,

01:08:02panicked voices wondering where Harry Potter had gone.

01:08:05A feeling of hopelessness spread through him

01:08:07as he imagined the convoy of festal-drawn carriages

01:08:10trundling up to the school and the muffled yells of laughter

01:08:13issuing from whichever carriage Malfoy was riding in,

01:08:16where he would be recounting his attack on Harry to his fellow Slytherins.

01:08:21The train lurched, causing Harry to roll over onto his side.

01:08:24Now he was staring at the dusty underside of the seats instead of the ceiling.

01:08:28The floor began to vibrate as the engine roared into life.

01:08:31The express was leaving, and nobody knew he was still on it.

01:08:35Then he felt his invisibility cloak fly off him,

01:08:37and a voice overhead said,

01:08:39WATCH IT HARRY!

01:08:40There was a flash of red light and Harry's body unfroze.

01:08:43He was able to push himself into a more dignified sitting position,

01:08:46hastily wipe the blood off his bruised face with the back of his hand,

01:08:49and raise his head to look up at Tonks,

01:08:52who was holding the invisibility cloak she had just pulled away.

01:08:55We'd better get out of here quickly, she said,

01:08:57as the train windows became obscured with steam

01:09:00and the train began to move out of the station.

01:09:02Come on, we'll jump!

01:09:03Harry hurried after her into the corridor.

01:09:05Tonks pulled open the train door and leapt onto the platform,

01:09:09which seemed to be sliding underneath them as the train gathered momentum.

01:09:12Harry followed her, staggered a little on landing,

01:09:15and then straightened up in time to see the gleaming scarlet steam engine

01:09:19pick up speed round the corner and disappear from view.

01:09:22The cold night air was soothing on his frobbing nose.

01:09:25Tonks was looking at him.

01:09:26He felt angry and embarrassed that he had been discovered

01:09:29in such a ridiculous position.

01:09:31Silently, she handed him back the invisibility cloak.

01:09:33Who did it?

01:09:34Draco Malfoy, said Harry bitterly.

01:09:37Thanks for er... well...

01:09:39No problem, said Tonks, without smiling.

01:09:41From what Harry could see in the darkness,

01:09:43she was as mousy-haired and miserable-looking as she had been

01:09:46when he had met her at the burrow.

01:09:48I can fix your nose if you stand still.

01:09:50Harry did not think much of this idea.

01:09:52He had been intending to visit Madame Pomfrey, the matron,

01:09:55in whom he had little more confidence when it came to healing spells.

01:09:58But it seemed rude to say this, so he stayed stock still and closed his eyes.

01:10:03Episkey, said Tonks.

01:10:05Harry's nose felt very hot and then very cold.

01:10:08He raised a hand and felt it gingerly.

01:10:10It seemed to be mended.

01:10:11Thanks a lot.

01:10:13You'd better put that cloak back on and we can walk up to the school,

01:10:16said Tonks, still unsmiling.

01:10:18As Harry swung the cloak back over himself, she waved her wand.

01:10:21An immense silvery four-legged creature erupted from it

01:10:24and streaked off into the darkness.

01:10:26Was that a Patronus?

01:10:28Asked Harry, who had seen Dumbledore send messages like this.

01:10:32Yes, I'm sending word to the castle that I've got you,

01:10:35or they'll worry.

01:10:36Come on, we'd better not dawdle.

01:10:38They set off towards the lane that led to the school.

01:10:40How did you find me?

01:10:42I noticed you hadn't left the train and I knew you had that cloak.

01:10:45I thought you might be hiding for some reason.

01:10:47When I saw the blinds were drawn down on that compartment, I thought I'd check.

01:10:50But what are you doing here anyway?

01:10:52Harry asked.

01:10:53I'm stationed in Hogsmeade now to give the school extra protection, said Tonks.

01:10:57Is it just you who's stationed up here or...

01:11:00No, Proudfoot, Savage and Dawlish are here too.

01:11:03Dawlish?

01:11:04That aura Dumbledore attacked last year?

01:11:06That's right.

01:11:07They trudged up the dark deserted lane following the freshly made carriage tracks.

01:11:12Harry looked sideways at Tonks under his cloak.

01:11:15Last year she had been inquisitive to the point of being a little annoying at times.

01:11:19She had laughed easily.

01:11:20She had made jokes.

01:11:21Now she seemed older and much more serious and purposeful.

01:11:24Was this all the effect of what had happened at the ministry?

01:11:27He reflected uncomfortably that Hermione would have suggested he lay something

01:11:31consoling about Sirius to her, that it hadn't been her fault at all.

01:11:35But he couldn't bring himself to do it.

01:11:37He was far from blaming her for Sirius's death.

01:11:39It was no more her fault than anyone else's, and much less his, much less than his.

01:11:44But he did not like talking about Sirius if he could avoid it.

01:11:47And so they tramped on through the cold night in silence,

01:11:50Tonks' long cloak whispering on the ground behind them.

01:11:54Having always travelled there by carriage,

01:11:56Harry had never before appreciated just how far Hogwarts was from Hogsmeade station.

01:12:01With great relief, he finally saw the tall pillars on either side of the gates,

01:12:05each topped with a winged boar.

01:12:07He was cold.

01:12:08He was hungry.

01:12:09And he was quite keen to leave this new gloomy Tonks behind.

01:12:12But when he put out a hand to push open the gates, he found them chained shut.

01:12:16Alohomora, he said confidently, pointing his wand at the padlock.

01:12:20But nothing happened.

01:12:22That won't work on these, said Tonks.

01:12:23Dumbledore bewitched them himself.

01:12:26Harry looked around.

01:12:27I could climb a wall, he suggested.

01:12:29No, you couldn't, said Tonks flatly.

01:12:32Anti-intruder jinxes on all of them.

01:12:34Security's been tightened a hundredfold this summer.

01:12:37Well then, said Harry, starting to feel annoyed at her lack of helpfulness.

01:12:40I suppose I'll just have to sleep out here and wait for the morning.

01:12:44Someone's coming down for you, said Tonks.

01:12:46Look.

01:12:46A lantern was bobbing at the distant foot of the castle.

01:12:49Harry was so pleased to see it, he felt he could even endure Filch's wheezy criticisms

01:12:54of his tardiness and rants about how his timekeeping would improve

01:12:59the regular application of thumbscrews.

01:13:01It was not until the glowing yellow light was ten feet away from them,

01:13:04and Harry had pulled off his invisibility cloak so that he could be seen,

01:13:07that he recognised with a rush of pure loathing an uplit,

01:13:11hooked nose and long, black, greasy hair of Severus Snape.

01:13:15Well, well, well, sneered Snape, taking out his wand and tapping the padlock once,

01:13:21so that the chains snaked backwards and the gates creaked open.

01:13:24Nice of you to turn up, Potter, although you have evidently decided

01:13:29that the wearing of school robes would detract from your appearance.

01:13:33I couldn't change.

01:13:34I didn't have my—

01:13:35Harry began, but Snape cut across him.

01:13:37There is no need to wait, Nymphadora.

01:13:39Potter is quite, er, safe in my hands.

01:13:42I meant Hagrid to get the message, said Tonks, frowning.

01:13:45Hagrid was late for the start of term feast, just like Potter here, so I took it instead.

01:13:51And incidentally, said Snape, standing back to allow Harry to pass him,

01:13:55I was interested to see your Patronus.

01:13:58He shut the gates in her face with a loud clang and tapped the chains with his wand again,

01:14:03so that they slithered, clinking, back into place.

01:14:06I think you were better off with the old one, said Snape,

01:14:09the malice in his voice unmistakable.

01:14:11The new one looks weak.

01:14:14As Snape's swung the lantern about, Harry saw, fleetingly,

01:14:17a look of shock and anger on Tonks' face.

01:14:19Then she was covered in darkness once more.

01:14:22Good night, Harry called to her over his shoulder,

01:14:25and he began the walk up to the school with Snape.

01:14:27Thanks for everything.

01:14:29See you, Harry.

01:14:31Snape did not speak for a minute or so.

01:14:33Harry felt as though his body was generating waves of hatred so powerful

01:14:37that it seemed incredible that Snape could not feel them burning him.

01:14:41He had loathed Snape from their first encounter,

01:14:43but Snape had placed himself forever and irrevocably

01:14:48beyond the possibility of Harry's forgiveness by his attitude towards Sirius.

01:14:52Whatever Dumbledore said, Harry had had time to think over the summer,

01:14:56and had concluded that Snape's snide remarks to Sirius about remaining safely hidden

01:15:00while the rest of the Order of the Phoenix were fighting Voldemort

01:15:03had probably been a powerful factor in Sirius rushing off to the Ministry

01:15:07the night that he had died.

01:15:08Harry clung to this notion because it enabled him to blame Snape,

01:15:12which felt satisfying, and also because he knew that if anyone

01:15:15was not sorry that Sirius was dead,

01:15:17it was the man now striding next to him in the darkness.

01:15:20Fifty points from Gryffindor for lateness, I think, said Snape,

01:15:24and let me see, another twenty for your muggle attire?

01:15:28You know, I don't believe my house has ever been in negative figures this early in the term.

01:15:33We haven't even started pudding.

01:15:35Hugh might have set a record, Potter.

01:15:38The fury and hatred bubbling inside Harry seemed to blaze white-hot,

01:15:42but he would rather have been immobilised all the way back to London

01:15:46than tell Snape why he was late.

01:15:48I suppose you want to make an entrance, did you?

01:15:52Snape continued, and with no flying car available,

01:15:55you decided that bursting into the great hall halfway through the feast

01:15:58ought to create a dramatic effect.

01:16:00Still, Harry remained silent, though he thought his chest might explode.

01:16:04He knew that Snape had come to fetch him for this,

01:16:07for the few minutes when he could needle and torment Harry without anyone else listening.

01:16:11They reached the castle steps at last,

01:16:13and as the great oaken front doors swung open on the vast flagged entrance hall,

01:16:18a burst of talk and laughter and of tinkling plates and glasses greeted them

01:16:22through the doors standing open into the great hall.

01:16:25Harry wondered whether he could slip his invisibility cloak back on,

01:16:28thereby gaining his seat at the long Gryffindor table,

01:16:31which inconveniently was the furthest from the entrance hall without being noticed.

01:16:35As though he had read Harry's mind, however, Snape said,

01:16:38No cloak.

01:16:39You can walk in so that everyone sees you, which is what you wanted, I'm sure.

01:16:44Harry turned on the spot and marched straight through the open doors,

01:16:47anything to get away from Snape.

01:16:49The great hall, with its four long house tables and its staff table set at the top of the room,

01:16:54was decorated as usual with floating candles that made the plates below glitter and glow.

01:17:00It was all a shimmering blur to Harry, however,

01:17:02who walked so fast that he was passing the Hufflepuff table before people really started to stare,

01:17:07and by the time they were standing up to get a good look at him,

01:17:10he had spotted Ron and Hermione sped along the benches towards them

01:17:13and forced his way in between them.

01:17:15Where have you…

01:17:16Blimey!

01:17:17What have you done to your face?

01:17:18said Ron, goggling at him along with everyone else in the vicinity.

01:17:21Why?

01:17:22What's wrong with it?

01:17:23said Harry, grabbing a spoon and squinting at his distorted reflection.

01:17:27You're covered in blood!

01:17:28said Hermione.

01:17:29Come here!

01:17:30She raised her wand, said,

01:17:32Teju!

01:17:32and siphoned off the dry blood.

01:17:35Thanks, said Harry, feeling his now clean face.

01:17:37How's my nose looking?

01:17:39Normal, said Hermione anxiously.

01:17:41Why shouldn't it, Harry?

01:17:42What happened?

01:17:43We've been terrified.

01:17:44I'll tell you later, said Harry curtly.

01:17:46He was very conscious that Ginny, Neville, Dean and Seamus were listening in.

01:17:50Even nearly headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost,

01:17:53had been floating along the bench to eavesdrop.

01:17:55But, said Hermione, not now, said…

01:17:58Not now, Hermione, said Harry, in a darkly significant voice.

01:18:01He hoped very much that they would all assume he had been involved in something heroic,

01:18:06preferably involving a couple of Death Eaters and a Dementor.

01:18:09Of course, Malfoy would spread the story as far and wide as he could,

01:18:12but there was always a chance it wouldn't reach too many Gryffindor ears.

01:18:16He reached across Ron for a couple of chicken legs and a handful of chips,

01:18:19but before he could take them, they vanished, to be replaced with puddings.

01:18:23You missed the sorting anyway, said Hermione, as Ron dived for a large chocolate gato.

01:18:28Hat, say anything interesting? asked Harry, taking a piece of treacle tart.

01:18:32More of the same, really, advising us all to unite in the face of our enemies, you know.

01:18:36Dumbledore mention Voldemort at all?

01:18:38Not yet, but he always saves his proper speech for after the feast, doesn't he?

01:18:42It can't be long now.

01:18:44Snape said Hagrid was late for the feast.

01:18:46You've seen Snape?

01:18:47How come? said Ron, between frenzied mouthfuls of gato.

01:18:50Bumped into him, said Harry evasively.

01:18:53Hagrid was only a few minutes late, said Hermione.

01:18:55Look, he's waving at you, Harry.

01:18:58Harry looked up at the staff table and grinned at Hagrid, who was indeed waving at him.

01:19:02Hagrid had never quite managed to comfort himself with the dignity of Professor Morgonagall,

01:19:07head of Gryffindor House,

01:19:08the top of whose head came up to somewhere between Hagrid's elbow and shoulder

01:19:12as they were sitting side by side,

01:19:14and he was looking disapproving at this enthusiastic greeting.

01:19:17Harry was surprised to see the divination teacher, Professor Trelawney,

01:19:21sitting on Hagrid's other side.

01:19:22She rarely left her tower room, and he had never seen her at the start of term feast before.

01:19:27She looked as odd as ever, glittering with beads and trailing shawls,

01:19:30her eyes magnified to enormous size by her spectacles.

01:19:34Having always considered her a bit of a fraud,

01:19:36Harry had been shocked to discover at the end of the previous term

01:19:39that it had been she who had made the prediction that caused Lord Voldemort

01:19:42to kill Harry's parents and attack Harry himself.

01:19:45The knowledge had made him even less eager to find himself in her company,

01:19:49but thankfully this year he would be dropping divination.

01:19:52Her great beacon-like eyes swivelled in his direction.

01:19:55He hastily looked away towards the slivering table.

01:19:58Draco Malfoy was miming the shattering of a nose to raucous laughter and applause.

01:20:03Harry dropped his gaze to his treacle tart.

01:20:06His insides burning again.

01:20:07What he could not give, what he would not give to fight Malfoy one on one.

01:20:12So what did Professor Slughorn want? Hermione asked.

01:20:16To know what really happened at the ministry, said Harry.

01:20:20Him and everyone else here, sniffed Hermione.

01:20:22People were interrogating us about it on the train, weren't they, Ron?

01:20:26Yes, said Ron, all wanting to know if you really are the Chosen One.

01:20:30There's been much talk on that very subject, even amongst the ghosts,

01:20:33interrupted nearly headless Nick, inclining his barely connected head towards Harry,

01:20:38so that it wobbled dangerously on its rough.

01:20:40I am considered something of a Potter authority.

01:20:43It is widely known that we are friendly.

01:20:45I have assured the spirit community that I will not pester you for information.

01:20:49However, Harry Potter knows that he can confide in me with complete confidence, I told them.

01:20:54I would rather die than betray his trust.

01:20:56That's not saying much, seeing as you're already dead, Ron observed.

01:21:00Once again, you show all the sensitivity of a blunt axe, said nearly headless Nick,

01:21:05in affronted tones.

01:21:06And he rose into the air and glided back towards the far end of the Gryffindor table,

01:21:10just as Dumbledore got to his feet at the staff table.

01:21:13The talk and laughter echoing around the hall died away almost instantly.

01:21:18The very best of evenings to you, he said, smiling broadly.

01:21:22His arms opened wide as though to embrace the whole room.

01:21:25What happened to his hand? gasped Hermione.

01:21:28She was not the only one who had noticed.

01:21:30Dumbledore's right hand was blackened and dead looking,

01:21:33as it had been on the night he had come to fetch Harry from the Dursleys.

01:21:36Whispers swept the room.

01:21:38Dumbledore, interpreting them correctly,

01:21:41merely smiled and shook his purple and gold sleeve over his injury.

01:21:45Nothing to worry about, he said airily.

01:21:47Now, to our new students, welcome.

01:21:50To our old students, welcome back.

01:21:52Another year full of magical education awaits you.

01:21:56His hand was like that when I saw him over the summer, Harry whispered to Hermione.

01:22:00I thought he'd have cured it by now, though.

01:22:01Or Madame Pomfrey would have done.

01:22:03It looks as if it's died, said Hermione with a nauseated expression.

01:22:08But there are some injuries you can't cure.

01:22:10Old curses.

01:22:11And there are potions without antidotes.

01:22:14And Mr Filch, our caretaker, has asked me to say

01:22:17that there is a blanket ban on any joke items

01:22:20bought at the shop called Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.

01:22:24Those wishing to play for their house Quidditch teams

01:22:27should give their names to the heads of house as usual.

01:22:29We are also looking for new Quidditch commentators

01:22:32who should do look likewise.

01:22:34We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year, Professor Slughorn.

01:22:39Slughorn stood up, his bald head gleaming in the candlelight,

01:22:42his big waist-coated belly casting the table below into shadow.

01:22:46Here's a former colleague of mine who has agreed to resume

01:22:49his old post of Potions Master.

01:22:52Potions?

01:22:53Potions?

01:22:54The word echoed all over the hall

01:22:56as people wondered whether they had heard right.

01:22:59Potions, said Ron and Hermione together, turning to stare at Harry.

01:23:03But you said, Professor Snape?

01:23:05Meanwhile, said Dumbledore, raising his voice

01:23:08so that it carried over all the muttering,

01:23:10we'll be taking over the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts, teacher.

01:23:15No, said Harry, so loudly that many heads turned in his direction.

01:23:19He did not care.

01:23:20He was staring up at the staff table, incensed.

01:23:22How could Snape be given the Defence Against the Dark Arts job after all this time?

01:23:27Hadn't it been widely known for years that Dumbledore did not trust him to do it?

01:23:32But Harry, you said that Slughorn was going to be teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts,

01:23:36said Hermione.

01:23:37I thought he was, said Harry,

01:23:39racking his brains to remember when Dumbledore had told him this.

01:23:42But now that he came to think of it,

01:23:44he was unable to recall Dumbledore ever telling him what Slughorn would be teaching.

01:23:49Snape, who was sitting on Dumbledore's right,

01:23:51did not stand up at the mention of his name,

01:23:53merely raised a hand in a lazy acknowledgement

01:23:55of the applause from the slivering table.

01:23:57Yet Harry was sure he could detect a look of triumph on the features he loathed so much.

01:24:02Well, there's one good thing, he said savagely.

01:24:06Snape will be gone by the end of the year.

01:24:08What do you mean, asked Ron.

01:24:10That job's jinxed.

01:24:11No one's lasted more than a year.

01:24:12Quirrell actually died doing it.

01:24:14Personally, I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for another death.

01:24:17Harry, said Hermione, shocked and reproachful.

01:24:20He might just go back to teaching potions at the end of the year, said Ron, reasonably.

01:24:25That Slughorn bloke might not want to stay long term.

01:24:28Moody didn't.

01:24:29Dumbledore cleared his throat.

01:24:31Harry, Ron and Hermione were not the only ones who had been talking.

01:24:34The whole hall had erupted in buzz of conversation at the news

01:24:37that Snape had finally achieved his heart's desire.

01:24:39Seemingly oblivious to the sensational nature of the news he had just imparted,

01:24:43Dumbledore said nothing more about staff appointments,

01:24:46but waited a few seconds to ensure that the silence was absolute before continuing.

01:24:52Now, as everybody in this hall knows,

01:24:54Lord Voldemort and his followers are once more at large and gaining in strength.

01:24:59The silence seemed to tauten and strain as Dumbledore spoke.

01:25:03Harry glanced at Malfoy.

01:25:04Malfoy was not looking at Dumbledore,

01:25:06but making his fork hover in midair with his wand

01:25:09as though he found the headmaster's words unworthy of his attention.

01:25:12I cannot emphasize strongly enough how dangerous the present situation is

01:25:17and how much care each of us at Hogwarts must take to ensure that we remain safe.

01:25:22The castle's magical fortifications have been strengthened over the summer.

01:25:26We are protected in new and more powerful ways,

01:25:29but we must still guard scrupulously against carelessness

01:25:32on the part of any student or member of staff.

01:25:35I urge you, therefore, to abide by any security restrictions

01:25:39that your teachers might impose upon you, however irksome you might find them.

01:25:43In particular, the rule that you are not to be out of bed after hours.

01:25:49I implore you, should you notice anything strange or suspicious within

01:25:53or outside the castle, to report it to a member of staff immediately.

01:25:57I trust you to conduct yourselves always with the utmost regard

01:26:01for your own and each other's safety.

01:26:03Dumbledore's blue eyes swept over the students before he smiled once more.

01:26:07But now, your beds await, as warm and comfortable as you could possibly wish,

01:26:12and I know that your top priority is to be well-rested for your lessons tomorrow.

01:26:17Let us, therefore, say good night.

01:26:18Pip-nip, pip-pip.

01:26:20With the usual deafening, scraping noise, the benches were moved back

01:26:24and the hundreds of students began to file out of the great hall towards their dormitories.

01:26:28Harry, who was in no hurry at all to leave with the gawping crowd,

01:26:31nor to get near enough to Malfoy to allow him to retell the story of the nose-stamping,

01:26:36lagged behind, pretending to retie the lace on his trainer,

01:26:40allowing most of the Gryffindors to draw ahead of him.

01:26:43Hermione had darted ahead to fulfil her prefect's duty of shepherding the first years,

01:26:47but Ron remained with Harry.

01:26:50What really happened to your nose? he asked,

01:26:52once they were at the very back of the frong, pressing out of the hall,

01:26:55and out of earshot of anyone else.

01:26:57Harry told him.

01:26:58It was a mark of the strength of their friendship that Ron did not laugh.

01:27:01I saw Malfoy miming something to do with a nose, he said darkly.

01:27:05Yeah, well, never mind that, said Harry bitterly.

01:27:08Listen to what he was saying before he found out I was there.

01:27:11Harry had expected Ron to be stunned by Malfoy's boasts.

01:27:14With what Harry considered pure pig-headedness, however, Ron was unimpressed.

01:27:18Come on, Harry, he was just showing off for Parkinson.

01:27:21What kind of mission would you-know-who have given him?

01:27:24How do you know Voldemort doesn't need someone at Hogwarts?

01:27:26He wouldn't be the first.

01:27:28I wish you'd stop saying that name, Harry, said a reproachful voice behind him.

01:27:32Harry looked over his shoulder to see Hagrid shaking his head.

01:27:36Dumbledore uses that name, said Harry stubbornly.

01:27:39Yeah, well, that's Dumbledore, isn't it, said Hagrid mysteriously.

01:27:43So how come you were late, Harry?

01:27:45I was worried.

01:27:46Got held up on the train, said Harry.

01:27:48Why were you late?

01:27:49I was with Grom, said Hagrid happily.

01:27:53Last track of time.

01:27:54He's got a new home up in the mountains now.

01:27:56Dumbledore fixed it.

01:27:57Nice big cave.

01:27:58He's much happier than he was in the forest.

01:28:00We having a good chat?

01:28:02Really, said Harry, taking care not to catch Ron's eye the last time he had met Hagrid's

01:28:06half-brother, a vicious giant with a talent for ripping up trees by the roots.

01:28:10His vocabulary comprised five words, two of which he was unable to pronounce properly.

01:28:15Oh, yeah, he's really come on, said Hagrid proudly.

01:28:18You'll be amazed.

01:28:19I'm thinking of training him up to be my assistant.

01:28:22Ron snorted loudly, but managed to pass it off as a violent sneeze.

01:28:26They were now standing beside the oak front doors.

01:28:30Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow.

01:28:31First lesson straight after lunch.

01:28:33Come early and you can say hello to Buck.

01:28:35I mean, Wither Wings.

01:28:37Raising an arm in cheery farewell, he headed out of the front doors into the darkness.

01:28:42Harry and Ron looked at each other.

01:28:44Harry could tell that Ron was experiencing the same sinking feeling as himself.

01:28:48You're not taking care of magical creatures, are you?

01:28:51Ron shook his head.

01:28:53And you're not either, are you?

01:28:54Harry shook his head too.

01:28:56And Hermione, said Ron.

01:28:57She's not, is she?

01:28:58Harry shook his head again.

01:29:00Exactly what Hagrid would say when he realised his three favourite students had given up his

01:29:04subject, he did not like to think.

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