Harry Potter and the half-blood prince part 4 AUDIOBOOK

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#harrypotter  #audiobook #harrypotterfan  Narrator: James Dobinson

Transcript

00:00:00Chapter 9 THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

00:00:04Harry and Ron met Hermione in the common room before breakfast the next morning.

00:00:08Hoping for support for his theory, Harry lost no time in telling Hermione what he had overheard

00:00:13Malfoy saying on the Hogwarts Express.

00:00:15But he was obviously showing off for Parkinson, wasn't he?

00:00:18interjected Ron quickly, before Hermione could say anything.

00:00:21Well, she said uncertainly, I don't know, it would be like Malfoy to make himself seem

00:00:26more important than he is.

00:00:28But that's a big lie to tell.

00:00:30Exactly, said Harry, but he could not press the point, because so many people were trying

00:00:34to listen in to his conversation, not to mention staring at him and whispering behind their hands.

00:00:39It's rude to point, Ron snapped at a particularly minuscule first year as they joined the queue

00:00:44to climb out of the portrait hall.

00:00:46The boy, who had been muttering something about Harry behind his hand to his friend,

00:00:49promptly turned scarlet and toppled out of the hall in alarm.

00:00:53Ron sniggered.

00:00:54I love being a sixth year.

00:00:56And we're going to be getting free time this year, whole periods, where we can just sit

00:01:00up here and relax.

00:01:01We're going to need that time for studying, Ron, said Hermione, as they set off down the

00:01:06corridor.

00:01:07Yeah, but not today, said Ron.

00:01:09Today's going to be a real doss, I reckon.

00:01:11Hold it, said Hermione, throwing out an arm and halting a passing fourth year, who was

00:01:15attempting to push past her with a lime green disc clutched tightly in his hand.

00:01:19Banged frisbees are banned.

00:01:21Hand it over, she told him sternly.

00:01:23The scowling boy handed over the snarling frisbee, ducked under Hermione's arm and took

00:01:28off after his friends.

00:01:30Ron waited for him to vanish and then tugged the frisbee from Hermione's grip.

00:01:33Excellent.

00:01:34I've always wanted one of these.

00:01:37Hermione's remonstration was drowned by a loud giggle.

00:01:39Lavender Brown had apparently found Ron's remark highly amusing.

00:01:42She continued to laugh as she passed them, glancing back at Ron over her shoulder.

00:01:46Ron looked rather pleased with himself.

00:01:48The ceiling of the great hall was serenely blue and streaked with frail, wispy clouds,

00:01:53just like the squares of sky visible through the high, millioned windows.

00:01:57While they tucked into porridge and eggs and bacon, Harry and Ron told Hermione about their

00:02:01embarrassing conversation with Hagrid the previous evening.

00:02:04But he can't really think we'd continue care of magical creatures, she said, looking distressed.

00:02:09I mean, where has any of us, when of us has any of us expressed, you know, any enthusiasm?

00:02:15That's it, though, isn't it? said Ron, swallowing an entire fried egg whole.

00:02:19We were the ones who made the most effort in classes because we like Hagrid.

00:02:23But he thinks we like the stupid subject.

00:02:25Do you reckon anyone's going to go on to Newt?

00:02:28Neither Harry nor Hermione answered.

00:02:30There was no need.

00:02:31They knew perfectly well that nobody in their year would want to continue care of magical

00:02:34creatures.

00:02:35They avoided Hagrid's eye and returned his cheery wave only half-heartedly when he left

00:02:40the staff table ten minutes later.

00:02:42After they had eaten, they remained in their places, awaiting Professor McGonagall's descent

00:02:46from the staff table.

00:02:47The distribution of timetables was more complicated than usual this year, for Professor McGonagall

00:02:52needed first to confirm that everybody had to achieve the necessary owl grades to continue

00:02:56with their chosen Newt.

00:02:59Hermione was immediately cleared to continue with charms, defense against the dark arts,

00:03:03transfiguration, herbology, arithmancy, ancient runes and potions, and shot off to a first

00:03:08period ancient runes class without further ado.

00:03:12Neville took a little longer to sort out.

00:03:14His round face was anxious as Professor McGonagall looked down his application and then consulted

00:03:18his owl results.

00:03:20Herbology, fine, she said.

00:03:22Professor Sprate will be delighted to see you back with an outstanding owl.

00:03:26And you qualify for defense against the dark arts with exceeds expectations.

00:03:30But the problem is transfiguration.

00:03:32I'm sorry, Longbottom, but an acceptable really isn't good enough to continue to Newt level.

00:03:36I just don't think you'd be able to cope with your coursework.

00:03:40Neville hung his head.

00:03:41Professor McGonagall peered at him through her square spectacles.

00:03:44Why do you want to continue with transfiguration anyway?

00:03:47I've never had the impression that you particularly enjoyed it.

00:03:51Neville looked miserable and muttered something about my grandmother once.

00:03:55Hmm, snorted Professor McGonagall, say time your grandmother learned to be proud of your

00:04:00grandson she's got rather than the one she thinks she ought to have, particularly after

00:04:04what happened at the ministry.

00:04:06Neville turned very pink and blinked confusedly.

00:04:09Professor McGonagall had never paid him a compliment before.

00:04:12I'm sorry, Longbottom, but I can't let you into my Newt class.

00:04:16I see that you have an exceeds expectations in charms, however.

00:04:19Why not try a Newt in charms?

00:04:21My grandmother thinks charms is a soft option, mumbled Neville.

00:04:25Take charms, said Professor McGonagall, and I shall drop Augusta a line reminding her

00:04:30that just because she failed her charms owl, the subject is not necessarily worthless.

00:04:35Smiling slightly at the look of delighted incredulity on Neville's face, Professor

00:04:40McGonagall tapped a blank timetable with the tip of her wand and handed it, now carrying

00:04:45details of his new classes, to Neville.

00:04:48Professor McGonagall turned next to Pavarti Patil, whose first question was whether Ferenz,

00:04:53the handsome centaur, was still teaching divination.

00:04:56He and Professor Trolloni are dividing classes between them this year, said Professor McGonagall,

00:05:01a hint of disapproval in her voice.

00:05:04It was common knowledge that she despised the subject of divination.

00:05:07The sex year is being taken by Professor Trolloni.

00:05:10Pavarti set off for divination five minutes later, looking slightly questfallen.

00:05:16So Potter, Potter, said Professor McGonagall, consulting her notes, as she turned to Harry.

00:05:22Charms, defence against the dark arts, herbology, transfiguration, all fine.

00:05:27I must say I was pleased with your transfiguration, Mark Potter, very pleased.

00:05:31Now, why haven't you applied to continue with potions?

00:05:34I thought it was your ambition to become an Auror.

00:05:37It was, but you told me I had to get an outstanding in my Owl, Professor.

00:05:41And so you did when Professor Snape was teaching the subject.

00:05:44Professor Slughorn, however, is perfectly happy to accept newt students who have exceeded

00:05:48expectations at Owl.

00:05:50Do you wish to proceed with potions?

00:05:52Yes, said Harry, but I didn't buy the books, or any ingredients, or anything.

00:05:56I'm sure Professor Slughorn will be able to lend you some, said Professor McGonagall.

00:06:01Very well, Potter.

00:06:02Here is your timetable.

00:06:03Oh, by the way, twenty hopefuls have already put down their names for the Gryffindor Quidditch

00:06:07team.

00:06:08I shall pass the list to you in due course, and you can fix up trials at your leisure.

00:06:13A few minutes later, Ron was cleared to do the same subjects as Harry, and the two of

00:06:17them left the table together.

00:06:19Look, said Ron delightedly, gazing at his timetable.

00:06:22We've got a free period now, and a free period after break, and after lunch.

00:06:26Excellent!

00:06:27They returned to the common room, which was empty apart from half a dozen seventh years,

00:06:31including Katie Bell, the only remaining member of the original Gryffindor Quidditch team

00:06:35that Harry had joined in his first year.

00:06:37I thought you'd get that.

00:06:39Well done, she called over, pointing at the captain's badge on Harry's chest.

00:06:43Tell me when you call trials.

00:06:44Don't be stupid, said Harry.

00:06:46You don't need to try out.

00:06:47I've watched you play for five years.

00:06:49You mustn't start off like that, she said warningly.

00:06:52For all you know, there's someone much better than me out there.

00:06:55Good teams have been ruined before, now, because captains just keep playing the old

00:06:59faces, or letting in their friends.

00:07:02Ron looked a little uncomfortable, and began playing with a fanged frisbee Hermione had

00:07:05taken from the fourth year.

00:07:07It zoomed around the common room, snarling and attempting to take bites of the tapestry.

00:07:11Crookshank's yellow eyes followed it, and he hissed when it came too close.

00:07:15An hour later, they reluctantly left the sunlit common room for the Defence Against the Dark

00:07:19Arts classroom, four floors below.

00:07:21Hermione was already queuing outside, carrying an armful of heavy books and looking put upon.

00:07:26We've got so much homework for runes, she said anxiously, when Harry and Ron joined

00:07:31her.

00:07:32A fifteen-inch essay, two translations, and I've got to read these by Wednesday.

00:07:36Shame, yawned Ron.

00:07:38You wait, she said resentfully.

00:07:39I bet Snape gives us loads.

00:07:42The classroom door opened as she spoke, and Snape stepped into the corridor, his sallow

00:07:47face framed as ever by two curtains of greasy black hair.

00:07:52Snape's eyes fell over the queue immediately.

00:07:54Inside, he said.

00:07:56Harry looked around as they entered.

00:07:58Snape had imposed his personality upon the room already.

00:08:00It was gloomier than usual, as curtains had been drawn over the windows and was lit by

00:08:05candlelight.

00:08:06New pictures adorned the walls, many of them showing people who appeared to be in pain,

00:08:10sporting grisly injuries, or strangely contorted body parts.

00:08:14Nobody spoke as they settled down, looking around at the shadowy, gruesome pictures.

00:08:18I have not asked you to take out your books, said Snape, closing the door and moving to

00:08:23face the class from behind his desk.

00:08:25Hermione hastily dropped her copy of Confronting the Faceless back into her bag and stowed

00:08:30it under her chair.

00:08:32I wish to speak to you, and I want your fullest attention.

00:08:36His black eyes roved over their upturned faces, lingering for a fraction of a second longer

00:08:40on Harry's than anyone else's.

00:08:42You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe.

00:08:47You believe, like you haven't watched them all come and go, Snape, hoping you'll be next,

00:08:52thought Harry scathingly.

00:08:53Naturally, these teachers will all have had their own methods and priorities.

00:08:59Given this confusion, I am surprised so many of you scraped an owl in this subject.

00:09:04I shall be even more surprised if all of you manage to keep up with the newt-work, which

00:09:08will be much more advanced.

00:09:10Snape set off around the edge of the room, speaking now in a lower voice.

00:09:14The class craned their necks to keep him in view.

00:09:17The Dark Arts, said Snape, are many, varied, ever-changing and eternal.

00:09:23Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which each time, and neck is severed,

00:09:28sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before.

00:09:32You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible.

00:09:38Harry stared at Snape.

00:09:39It was surely one thing to respect the Dark Arts as a dangerous enemy, another to speak

00:09:43of them, as Snape was doing, with a loving caress in his voice.

00:09:47Your defences, said Snape a little louder, must therefore be as flexible and inventive

00:09:52as the Arts you seek to undo.

00:09:55These pictures, he indicated a few of them as he swept past, give a fair representation

00:10:00of what happens to those who suffer, for instance, the Cruciatus Curse.

00:10:04He waved a hand towards a witch who was clearly shrieking in agony, feel the Dementor's kiss.

00:10:11A wizard lying huddled and blank-eyed slumped against a wall, or provoke the aggression

00:10:16of the Inferius, a bloody mass upon the ground.

00:10:20Has an Inferius been seen then, said Parvati Patil, in a high-pitched voice?

00:10:25Is it definite?

00:10:26Is he using them?

00:10:27The Dark Lord has used Inferi in the past, said Snape, which means you would be well

00:10:32advised to assume he might use them again.

00:10:35Now, he set off again around the other side of the classroom towards his desk, and again

00:10:40The class watched him as he walked, his dark robes billowing behind him.

00:10:44You are, I believe, complete novices in the use of non-verbal spells.

00:10:49What is the advantage of a non-verbal spell?

00:10:52Hermione's hand shot into the air, Snape took his time, looking around at everybody else,

00:10:57making sure he had no choice before saying curtly, Very well, Miss Granger.

00:11:02Your adversary has no warning about what kind of magic you are about to perform, said Hermione,

00:11:07which gives you a split-second advantage.

00:11:09An answer copied almost word for word from the Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6, said

00:11:14Snape dismissively.

00:11:15Over in the corner Malfoy sniggered, But correct in essentials, yes, those whose progress to

00:11:21using magic without shouting incantations gain an element of surprise in their spellcasting.

00:11:28Not all wizards can do this, of course.

00:11:30It is a question of concentration and mind-power, which some, his gaze lingered maliciously

00:11:36upon Harry once more.

00:11:38Lack!

00:11:40Harry knew Snape was thinking of their disastrous Occulmancy lessons on the previous year.

00:11:45He refused to drop his gaze, but glowered at Snape, and Snape looked away.

00:11:50You will now divide, Snape went on, into pairs.

00:11:53One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking.

00:11:57The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence.

00:12:01Carry on.

00:12:02Although Snape did not know it, Harry had taught at least half the class, everyone who

00:12:06had been a member of the DA, how to perform a shield charm the previous year.

00:12:10None of them had ever cast the charm without speaking, however.

00:12:13A reasonable amount of cheating ensued.

00:12:15Many people were merely whispering the incantation instead of saying it aloud.

00:12:19Typically, ten minutes into the lesson Hermione managed to repel Neville's muttered jelly-legs

00:12:24jinx without uttering a single word, a feat that would surely have earned her twenty points

00:12:28for Gryffindor from any reasonable teacher, thought Harry bitterly, but which Snape ignored.

00:12:33He swept between them as they practised, looking just as much like an overgrown bat as ever,

00:12:38lingering to watch Harry and Ron struggling with the task.

00:12:41Ron, who was supposed to be jinxing Harry, was purple in the face, his lips tightly compressed

00:12:46to save himself from the temptation of muttering the incantation.

00:12:50Harry had his wand raised, waiting on tenterhooks to repel a jinx that seemed unlikely ever

00:12:54to come.

00:12:55Pathetic, Weasley, said Snape after a while, here, let me show you.

00:13:01He turned his wand on Harry, so fast that Harry reacted instinctively.

00:13:06All thought of non-verbal spells forgotten, he yelled, Protego!

00:13:10His shield charm was so strong Snape was knocked off balance and hit a desk.

00:13:14The whole class had looked around and now watched as Snape righted himself scowling.

00:13:19Do you remember me telling you, you are practising non-verbal spells, Potter?

00:13:25Yes, said Harry stiffly, yes sir.

00:13:28There's no need to call me sir, Professor.

00:13:32The words had escaped him before he knew what he was saying.

00:13:35Several people gasped, including Hermione.

00:13:37Behind Snape, however, Ron, Dean and Seamus grinned appreciatively.

00:13:41Detention, Saturday night, my office, said Snape.

00:13:44I do not take cheek from anyone, Potter, not even the chosen one.

00:13:49That was brilliant, Harry, chortled Ron, once they were safely on their way back to a break

00:13:53a short while later.

00:13:55You really shouldn't have said it, said Hermione, frowning at Ron.

00:13:58What made you?

00:13:59He tried to jinx me, in case you didn't notice, fumed Harry.

00:14:02Had enough of that during those Occulumency lessons.

00:14:04Why doesn't he use another guinea pig for a change?

00:14:07What's Dumbledore playing at anyway, letting him teach defence?

00:14:10Did you hear him talking about the dark arts?

00:14:12He loves them, all that unfixed, indestructible stuff.

00:14:16Well said Hermione, I thought he sounded a bit like you.

00:14:19Like me?

00:14:20Yes, when you were telling us what it's like to face Voldemort, you said it wasn't just

00:14:24memorising a bunch of spells, you said it was just you and your brains and your guts.

00:14:28Well, wasn't that what Snape was saying?

00:14:30That it really comes down to being brave and quick thinking?

00:14:34Harry was so disarmed that she had thought his words as well worth memorising as the

00:14:39standard book of spells, that he did not argue.

00:14:42Harry, hey Harry!

00:14:44Harry looked around.

00:14:45Jack Sloper, one of the beaters on the previous year's Gryffindor Quidditch team, was hurrying

00:14:49towards him, holding a roll of parchment.

00:14:51For you, panted Sloper.

00:14:53Listen, I heard you're the new captain.

00:14:56When are you holding trials?

00:14:57I'm not sure yet, said Harry, thinking privately that Sloper would be very lucky to get back

00:15:01on the team.

00:15:02I'll let you know.

00:15:03Oh right, I was hoping it would be this weekend.

00:15:07But Harry was not listening.

00:15:08He had just recognised the thin slanting writing on the parchment.

00:15:12Leaving Sloper in mid-sentence, he hurried away with Ron and Hermione, unrolling the

00:15:16parchment as he went.

00:15:18Dear Harry, I would like to start our private lessons this Saturday.

00:15:24Kindly come along to my office at 8pm.

00:15:26I hope you are enjoying your first day back at school.

00:15:29Yours sincerely, Albus Dumbledore.

00:15:31P.S.

00:15:32I enjoy acid pops.

00:15:34He enjoys acid pops, said Ron, who had read the message over Harry's shoulder and was

00:15:38looking perplexed.

00:15:39It's the password to get past the gargoyle outside the study, said Harry in a low voice.

00:15:44Ha!

00:15:45Snape's not going to be pleased.

00:15:46I won't be able to do his detention.

00:15:48He, Ron and Hermione spent the whole of break speculating on what Dumbledore would teach

00:15:52Harry.

00:15:53Ron thought it most likely to be spectacular jinxes and hexes of the type the Death Eaters

00:15:57would not know.

00:15:58Hermione said such things were illegal and thought it much more likely that Dumbledore

00:16:02wanted to teach Harry advanced defensive magic.

00:16:06After break, she went off to a riffmancy while Harry and Ron returned to the common room,

00:16:10where they grudgingly started Snape's homework.

00:16:13This turned out to be so complex that they still had not finished when Hermione joined

00:16:16them in their after-lunch free period, although she considerably speeded up the process.

00:16:21They'd only just finished when the bell rang for the afternoon's double potions, and they

00:16:26beat the familiar path down to the dungeon classroom that had for so long been Snape's.

00:16:32When they arrived in the corridor, they saw that there were only a dozen people progressing

00:16:36to Newt level.

00:16:37Crabbe and Goyle had evidently failed to achieve the required owl grade, but four Slytherins

00:16:41had made it through, including Malfoy.

00:16:44Four Ravenclaws were there, and one Hufflepuff, Ernie Macmillan, whom Harry liked despite

00:16:49his rather pompous manner.

00:16:51Harry, Ernie said potentiously, holding out his hand as Harry approached, didn't get a

00:16:56chance to speak in defence against the Dark Arts this morning.

00:16:59Good lesson, I thought, but shield charms are old hats, of course, for us old D.A. lags.

00:17:04And how are you, Ron, Hermione?

00:17:06Before they could say more than fine, the dungeon door opened and Slughorn's belly preceded

00:17:11him out of the door.

00:17:13As they filed into the room, his great walrus moustache curved above his beaming mouth and

00:17:19he greeted Harry and Zabini with particular enthusiasm.

00:17:22The dungeon was, most unusually, already full of vapours and odd smells.

00:17:27Harry, Ron and Hermione sniffed interestedly as they passed large bubbling cauldrons.

00:17:32The four Slytherins took a table together, as did the four Ravenclaws.

00:17:36This left Harry, Ron and Hermione to share a table with Ernie.

00:17:39They chose the one nearest a gold-coloured cauldron that was emitting one of the most

00:17:43seductive scents Harry had ever inhaled.

00:17:46Somehow it reminded him simultaneously of treacle tart, the woody smell of a broomstick

00:17:50handle and something flowery he thought he might have smelled at the burrow.

00:17:54He found that he was breathing very slowly and deeply and that the potion's fumes seemed

00:17:58to be filling him up like drink.

00:18:00A great contentment stole over him.

00:18:02He grinned across at Ron, who grinned lazily back.

00:18:06Now then!

00:18:07Now then!

00:18:08Now then! said Slughorn, whose massive outline was quivering through the many shimmering

00:18:13vapours.

00:18:14Scales out, everyone, and potion kits, and don't forget your copies of Advanced Potion

00:18:19Making.

00:18:20Sir, said Harry, raising his hand, Harry, my boy, I haven't got a book, or scales, or anything.

00:18:26Nor's Ron.

00:18:27We didn't realise we'd be able to do the newt, you see.

00:18:29Ah, yes, Professor McGonagall did mention.

00:18:32Not to worry, my dear boy, not to worry at all.

00:18:34You can use ingredients from the store cupboard today, and I'm sure we can lend you some scales,

00:18:39and we've got a small stock of old books here.

00:18:42They'll do until you can write to flourish and blots.

00:18:45Slughorn strode over to a corner cupboard, and after a moment's foraging emerged with

00:18:49two very battered-looking copies of Advanced Potion Making by Lavacious Borage, which he

00:18:54gave to Harry and Ron, along with two sets of tarnished scales.

00:18:58Now then! said Slughorn, returning to the front of the class and inflating his already

00:19:02bulging chest so that the buttons on his waistcoat threatened to burst off.

00:19:06I've prepared a few potions for you to have a look at.

00:19:10Just out of interest, you know, these are the kind of thing you ought to be able to

00:19:13make after completing your newts.

00:19:15You ought to have heard of them, even if you haven't made them yet.

00:19:18Anyway, tell me what this one is.

00:19:20He indicated the cauldron nearest the slivering table.

00:19:23Harry raised himself slightly in his seat, and saw what looked like plain water boiling

00:19:27away inside it.

00:19:29Hermione's well-practised hand hit the air before anybody else's.

00:19:33Slughorn pointed at her.

00:19:34It's veritaserum, a colourless, odourless potion that forces the drinker to tell the

00:19:39truth, said Hermione.

00:19:40Very good, very good, said Slughorn happily.

00:19:43Now, he continued, pointing at the cauldron nearest the ravenclaw table.

00:19:47This one here is a pretty well-known, featured in a few ministry leaflets lately, too.

00:19:54Who can...

00:19:55Hermione's hand was fastest once more.

00:19:58It's polyjuice potion, sir, she said.

00:20:00Harry, too, had recognised the slow-bubbling, mud-like substance in the second cauldron,

00:20:05but did not resent Hermione getting the credit for answering the question.

00:20:08She, after all, was the one who had succeeded in making it back in their second year.

00:20:13Excellent, excellent.

00:20:14Now, this one here.

00:20:16Yes, my dear, said Slughorn, now looking slightly bemused, as Hermione's hand punched the air

00:20:21again.

00:20:22It's amortentia.

00:20:23It is, indeed.

00:20:25It seems almost foolish to ask, said Slughorn, who was looking mightily impressed.

00:20:30But I assume you know what it does.

00:20:32It's the most powerful love potion in the world, said Hermione.

00:20:35Quite right.

00:20:36You recognised it, I suppose, by its distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen, and the steam rising

00:20:41in characteristic spirals, said Hermione enthusiastically.

00:20:45And it's supposed to smell differently to each of us, according to what attracts us.

00:20:49And I can smell freshly mown grass, and now new parchment, and...

00:20:53But she turned slightly pink and did not complete the sentence.

00:20:56May I ask your name, my dear, said Slughorn, ignoring Hermione's embarrassment.

00:21:01Hermione Granger, sir.

00:21:03Granger?

00:21:04Granger?

00:21:05Can you possibly be related to Hector Dagworf Granger, who founded the most extraordinary

00:21:10society of potioneers?

00:21:11No, I don't think so, sir.

00:21:14A muggle-born, you see.

00:21:16Harry saw Malfoy lean close to Knot and whisper something.

00:21:19Both of them sniggered, but Slughorn showed no dismay.

00:21:22On the contrary, he beamed and looked from Hermione to Harry, who was sitting next to

00:21:26her.

00:21:27Oh-ho!

00:21:28One of my best friends is muggle-born, and she's the best in our year.

00:21:32I'm assuming this is the very friend of whom you spoke, Harry.

00:21:35Yes, sir, said Harry.

00:21:37Well, well.

00:21:38Take twenty well-earned points for Gryffindor, Miss Granger, said Slughorn genially.

00:21:44Malfoy looked rather as he had done the time Hermione had punched him in the face.

00:21:48Hermione turned to Harry with a radiant expression and whispered.

00:21:51Did you really tell him I'm the best in the year?

00:21:54Oh, Harry!

00:21:55Well, what's so impressive about that?

00:21:57Whispered Ron, who for the same reason looked annoyed.

00:22:00You are the best in the year.

00:22:01I'd have told him so if he'd asked me.

00:22:04Hermione smiled, but made a shushing gesture so that they could hear what Slughorn was

00:22:08saying.

00:22:09Ron looked slightly disgruntled.

00:22:11Amortentia doesn't really create love, of course.

00:22:14It is impossible to manufacture or imitate love.

00:22:17No, this will simply cause a powerful infatuation or obsession.

00:22:22It is probably the most dangerous and powerful potion in this room.

00:22:25Oh, yes, he said, nodding gravely at Malfoy and Knot, both of whom were smirking sceptically.

00:22:30When you have seen as much of life as I have, you will not underestimate the power of obsessive

00:22:36love.

00:22:37And now, said Slughorn, it's time for us to start work.

00:22:40Sir, you haven't told us what's in this one, said Ernie Macmillan, pointing at a small

00:22:44black cauldron standing on Slughorn's desk.

00:22:48The potion within was splashing about merrily.

00:22:50It was the colour of molten gold, and large drops were leaping like goldfish above the

00:22:54surface, though not a particle had spilled.

00:22:57Oh-ho, said Slughorn again.

00:22:59Harry was sure that Slughorn had not forgotten the potion at all, but had waited to be asked

00:23:03for dramatic effect.

00:23:04Yes, that, well, that one, ladies and gentlemen, is a most curious little potion called Felix

00:23:11Phyllises.

00:23:12I take it.

00:23:14He turned, smiling, to look at Hermione, who had let out an audible gasp that you know

00:23:18what Felix Phyllises does, Miss Granger.

00:23:22It's liquid luck, said Hermione excitedly.

00:23:24It makes you lucky.

00:23:26The whole class seemed to sit up a little straighter.

00:23:29Now all Harry could see of Malfoy was the back of his sleek blonde head, because he

00:23:33was at last giving Slughorn his full and undivided attention.

00:23:38Quite right.

00:23:39Take another ten points for Gryffindor.

00:23:40Yes, it's a funny little potion, Felix Phyllises, said Slughorn.

00:23:45Desperately tricky to make, and disastrous to get wrong.

00:23:48However, if brewed correctly, as this has been, you will find that all your endeavours

00:23:52tend to succeed, at least until the effects wear off.

00:23:56Why don't people drink it all the time, sir? said Terry Boot, eagerly.

00:24:00Because if taken in excess, it causes giddiness, recklessness, and dangerous overconfidence,

00:24:06said Slughorn.

00:24:07Too much of a good thing, you know.

00:24:09Highly toxic in large quantities, but taken sparingly, and very occasionally.

00:24:13Have you ever taken it, sir? asked Michael Corner, with great interest.

00:24:17Twice in my life, said Slughorn.

00:24:20Once when I was twenty-four.

00:24:21Once when I was fifty-seven.

00:24:23Two tablespoonfuls taken with breakfast.

00:24:25Two perfect days.

00:24:27He gazed dreamily into the distance.

00:24:29Whether he was play-acting or not, thought Harry, the effect was good.

00:24:33And that, said Slughorn, apparently coming back to earth, is what I shall be offering

00:24:37as a prize in this lesson.

00:24:38There was a silence in which every bubble and gurgle of the surrounding potions seemed

00:24:43magnified tenfold.

00:24:45One tiny bottle of Felix Felicis, said Slughorn, taking a minuscule glass bottle with a cork

00:24:52in it out of his pocket and showing it to them all.

00:24:56Enough for twelve hours' luck.

00:24:58From dawn till dusk, you will be lucky in everything you attempt.

00:25:02Now, I must give you a warning that Felix Felicis is a banned substance in organised

00:25:08competitions, sporting events, for instance, examinations or elections.

00:25:11So the winner is to use it in an ordinary day only.

00:25:15And watch how that ordinary day becomes extraordinary.

00:25:18So, said Slughorn, suddenly brisk, how are you to win my fabulous prize?

00:25:23Well by turning to page ten of Advanced Potion Making, we have a little over an hour left

00:25:28to a switch, should be time for you to make a decent attempt at the draft of living death.

00:25:34I know it is more complex than anything you have attempted before, and I do not expect

00:25:38a perfect potion from anybody.

00:25:40The person who does best, however, will win little Felix here.

00:25:44Off you go.

00:25:45There was a scraping as everyone drew their cauldrons towards them, and some loud clunks

00:25:49as people began adding weights to their scales, but nobody spoke.

00:25:53The concentration within the room was almost tangible.

00:25:55Harry saw Malfoy riffling feverishly through his copy of Advanced Potion Making.

00:26:01It could not have been clearer that Malfoy really wanted that lucky day.

00:26:05Harry bent swiftly over the tattered book Slughorn had lent him.

00:26:09To his annoyance, he saw that the previous owner had scribbled all over the pages, so

00:26:13that the margins were as black as the printed portions, bending low to decipher the ingredients.

00:26:19Even here, the previous owner had made annotations and crossed things out.

00:26:23Harry hurried off towards the store cupboard to find what he needed.

00:26:26As he dashed back to his cauldron, he saw Malfoy cutting up Valerian roots as fast as

00:26:31he could.

00:26:32Everyone kept glancing around at what the rest of the class was doing.

00:26:36This was both an advantage and a disadvantage of potions, that it was hard to keep your

00:26:39work private.

00:26:40Within ten minutes, the whole place was full of bluish steam.

00:26:44Hermione, of course, seemed to have progressed furthest.

00:26:47Her potion already resembled the smooth, black, current, coloured liquid mentioned as the

00:26:52ideal halfway stage.

00:26:54Having finished chopping his roots, Harry bent low over his book again.

00:26:58It was really very irritating, having to try and decipher the directions under all the

00:27:02stupid scribbles of the previous owner, who for some reason had taken issue with the order

00:27:06to cut up the Sophorophos bean and had written in the alternative instruction,

00:27:12Crush with flat side of silver dagger, releases juice better than cutting.

00:27:18Sir, I think you knew my grandfather, Abracus Malfoy.

00:27:25Harry looked up.

00:27:26Slughorn was just passing the Slytherin table.

00:27:28Yes, said Slughorn, without looking at Malfoy.

00:27:31I was sorry to hear he had died, although, of course, it wasn't unexpected, dragon pox

00:27:36at his age.

00:27:37And he walked away.

00:27:39Harry bent back over his cauldron, smirking.

00:27:41He could tell that Malfoy had expected to be treated like Harry or Zerbini, perhaps

00:27:44even hoped for some preferential treatment of the type he had learned to expect from

00:27:49Snape.

00:27:50It looked as though Malfoy would have to rely on nothing but talent to win the bottle of

00:27:54Felix Felicis.

00:27:56The Sophorophos bean was proving very difficult to cut up.

00:28:00Harry turned to Hermione.

00:28:01Can I borrow your silver knife?

00:28:04She nodded impatiently, not taking her eyes off her potion, which was still deep purple,

00:28:09though according to the book, ought to be turning a light shade of lilac by now.

00:28:14Harry crushed his bean with the flat side of the dagger.

00:28:16To his astonishment, it immediately exuded so much juice, he was amazed the shriveled

00:28:20bean could have held up, held it all, hastily scooping it all into the cauldron he saw,

00:28:26to his surprise that the potion immediately turned exactly the shade of lilac described

00:28:30by the textbook.

00:28:32His annoyance with the previous owner vanished on the spot.

00:28:35Harry now squinted at the next line of instructions.

00:28:39According to the book, he had to stir counterclockwise until the potion turned clear as water.

00:28:44According to the addition in the previous owner had made, however, he ought to add a

00:28:47clockwise stir after every seventh counterclockwise stir.

00:28:52Could the old owner be right twice?

00:28:54Harry stirred counterclockwise, held his breath, and stirred once clockwise.

00:28:59The effect was immediate.

00:29:00The potion turned palest pink.

00:29:03How are you doing that, demanded Hermione, who was red-faced and whose hair was growing

00:29:07bushier and bushier in the fumes from her cauldron.

00:29:10Her potion was still resolutely purple.

00:29:13Add a clockwise stir.

00:29:14No, no, the book says counterclockwise, she snapped.

00:29:18Harry shrugged and continued what he was doing.

00:29:21Seven stirs counterclockwise, one clockwise.

00:29:24Pause.

00:29:25Seven stirs counterclockwise, one stir clockwise.

00:29:28Across the table, Ron was cursing fluently under his breath.

00:29:32His potion looked like liquid licorice.

00:29:34Harry glanced around.

00:29:35As far as he could see, no one else's potion had turned as pale as his.

00:29:39He felt elated, something that had certainly never happened before in this dungeon.

00:29:44And time's up, called Slughorn.

00:29:47Stop stirring, please.

00:29:49Slughorn moved slowly between the tables, peering into cauldrons.

00:29:52He made no comment, but occasionally gave the potions a stir or a sniff.

00:29:56At last, he reached the table where Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ernie were sitting.

00:30:00He smiled ruefully at the tar-like substance in Ron's cauldron.

00:30:04He passed over Ernie's navy concoction.

00:30:07Hermione's potion he gave an approving nod.

00:30:09And then he saw Harry's, and a look of incredulous delight spread over his face.

00:30:15The clear winner! he cried to the dungeon.

00:30:18Excellent, excellent, Harry.

00:30:19Good lord, it's clear you've inherited your mother's talent.

00:30:22She was a dab hand at potions, Lily was.

00:30:25Here you are, then.

00:30:26Here you are.

00:30:27One bottle of Felix Felicis, as promised.

00:30:28And use it well.

00:30:30Harry slipped the tiny bottle of golden liquid into his inner pocket, feeling an odd combination

00:30:35of delight at the furious looks on the Slytherin's faces, and guilt at the disappointed expression

00:30:40on Hermione's.

00:30:41Ron looked simply dumbfounded.

00:30:43How did you do that? he whispered to Harry, as they left the dungeon.

00:30:47Got lucky, I suppose, said Harry, because Malfoy was within earshot.

00:30:51Once they were securely ensconced at the Gryffindor table for dinner, however, he felt safe enough

00:30:56to tell them.

00:30:57Hermione's face became stonier, and at every word he uttered,

00:31:01I suppose you think I cheated, he finished, aggravated by her expression.

00:31:05Well, it wasn't exactly your own work, was it? she said stiffly.

00:31:09He only followed different instructions to ours, said Ron.

00:31:12Could have been a catastrophe, couldn't it?

00:31:14But he took a risk, and it paid off.

00:31:16He heaved a sigh.

00:31:17Slughorn could have handed me that book, but no, I get the one no one's ever written in.

00:31:22Puked on, by the look of page fifty-two, but...

00:31:26Hang on, said a voice, close by Harry's left ear, and he caught a sudden waft of that

00:31:31flowery spell he had picked up on Slughorn's dungeon.

00:31:34He looked around and saw that Ginny had joined them.

00:31:36Did I hear right?

00:31:37You've been taking orders from something someone wrote in a book, Harry.

00:31:42She looked alarmed and angry.

00:31:44Harry knew what was on her mind at once.

00:31:46It's nothing, he said reassuringly, lowering his voice.

00:31:48It's not like, you know, Riddle's Diary.

00:31:51It's just an old textbook someone scribbled in, but you're doing what it says.

00:31:55I just tried a few of the tips written into the margins.

00:31:58Honestly, Ginny, there's nothing funny.

00:32:01Ginny's got a point, said Hermione, perking up at once.

00:32:03We ought to check that there's nothing odd about it.

00:32:05I mean, all these funny instructions.

00:32:08Who knows?

00:32:09Hey, said Harry indignantly, as she pulled his copy of Advanced Potion-Making out of

00:32:13his bag and raised her wand.

00:32:16Specialis Revealio, she said, wrapping it smartly on the front cover.

00:32:21Nothing whatsoever happened.

00:32:22The book simply lay there, looking old and dirty and dog-eared.

00:32:26Finished? said Harry irritably.

00:32:28Why do you want to wait and see if it does a few backflips?

00:32:32Seems all right, said Hermione, still staring at the book suspiciously.

00:32:35I mean, it really does seem to be just a textbook.

00:32:38Good.

00:32:39Then I'll have it back, said Harry, snatching it off the table.

00:32:43But it slipped from his hand and landed on the floor.

00:32:45Nobody else was looking.

00:32:47Harry bent low to retrieve the book, and as he did so, he saw something scribbled along

00:32:51the bottom of the back cover in the same small, cramped handwriting as the instructions that

00:32:57had won him the bottle of Felix Felicis, now safely hidden inside a pair of socks in his

00:33:01trunk upstairs.

00:33:03This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince.

00:33:09Chapter 10 The House of Gaunt

00:33:11For the rest of the week's potion lessons, Harry continued to follow the Half-Blood Prince's

00:33:15instructions, wherever they deviated from labacious borages, with the result that by

00:33:20their fourth lesson, Slughorn was raving about Harry's abilities, saying that he had rarely

00:33:24taught anyone so talented.

00:33:26Neither Ron nor Hermione was delighted by this, although Harry had offered to share

00:33:30his book with both of them.

00:33:31Ron had more difficulty deciphering the handwriting than Harry did, and could not keep asking Harry

00:33:36to read aloud, or it might look suspicious.

00:33:38Hermione, meanwhile, was resolutely ploughing on what she called the official instructions,

00:33:43but becoming increasingly bad-tempered as they yielded poorer results than the Prince's.

00:33:48Harry wondered vaguely who the Half-Blood Prince had been, although the amount of homework

00:33:52they had been given prevented him from reading the whole of his copy of Advanced Potion-Making.

00:33:57He had skimmed through it sufficiently to see that there was barely a page on which

00:34:00the Prince had not made additional notes.

00:34:02Not all of them concerned with potion-making.

00:34:04Here and there were directions for what looked like spells that the Prince had made up himself.

00:34:09Or herself, said Hermione irritably, overhearing Harry pointing some of those out to Ron in

00:34:15the common-room on Saturday evening.

00:34:17It might have been a girl.

00:34:18I think the handwriting looks more like a girl's than a boy's.

00:34:21The Half-Blood Prince, he was called, Harry said.

00:34:24How many girls have been princes?

00:34:26Hermione seemed to have no answer to this.

00:34:28She merely scowled and twitched her essay on the principles of rematerialisation away

00:34:34from Ron, who was trying to read it upside down.

00:34:38Harry looked at his watch and hurriedly put the old copy of Advanced Potion-Making back

00:34:42into his bag.

00:34:43It's five to eight.

00:34:44I'd better go.

00:34:45I'll be late for Dumbledore.

00:34:47Ooh, gasped Hermione, looking up at once.

00:34:49Good luck.

00:34:50We'll wait up.

00:34:51I hope you hear what he teaches you.

00:34:52Hope it goes OK, said Ron, and the pair of them watched Harry leave through the portraits

00:34:56hall.

00:34:57Harry proceeded through deserted corridors, though he had to step hastily behind a statue

00:35:02when Professor Trelawney appeared around a corner, muttering to herself as she shuffled

00:35:07a pack of dirty-looking playing cards, reading them as she walked.

00:35:10Two of spades.

00:35:11Conflict, she murmured, as she passed the place where Harry crouched hidden.

00:35:16Seven of spades.

00:35:17Oh, an ill omen.

00:35:19Ten of spades.

00:35:20Violence.

00:35:21Knave of spades.

00:35:22A dark young man, possibly troubled.

00:35:25One who dislikes the questioner.

00:35:27She stopped dead, right on the other side of Harry's statue.

00:35:30Well, that can't be right, she said annoyed, and Harry heard her reshuffling vigorously

00:35:34as she set off again, leaving nothing but a whiff of cooking sherry behind her.

00:35:39Harry waited until he was quite sure she had gone, and then hurried off again until he

00:35:43reached the spot in the seventh-floor corridor where a single gargoyle stood against the

00:35:48wall.

00:35:49The door suddenly popped, said Harry.

00:35:50The gargoyle leapt aside, the wall behind it slid apart, and a moving spiral stone staircase

00:35:55was revealed, onto which Harry stepped, so that he was carried in smooth circles up to

00:36:00the door with a brass knocker that led to Dumbledore's office.

00:36:04Harry knocked.

00:36:05Come in, said Dumbledore's voice.

00:36:07Good evening, sir, said Harry, walking into the headmaster's office.

00:36:10Ah, good evening, Harry.

00:36:12Sit down, said Dumbledore, smiling.

00:36:14I hope you've had an enjoyable first week back at school.

00:36:17Ah, yes, thanks, sir, said Harry.

00:36:20You must have been busy.

00:36:21A detention under your belt already?

00:36:23Ah, began Harry awkwardly, but Dumbledore did not look too stern.

00:36:27I have arranged with Professor Snape that you will do your detention next Saturday instead.

00:36:32Right, said Harry, who had more pressing matters on his mind than Snape's detention, and now

00:36:37looked around surreptitiously for some indication of what Dumbledore was planning to do with

00:36:42him that evening.

00:36:43The circular office looked just as it always did.

00:36:46The delicate silver instruments stood on spindle-legged tables, puffing smoke and whirring, portraits

00:36:52of previous headmasters and headmistresses dozed in their frames, and Dumbledore's magnificent

00:36:57phoenix, Fawkes, stood on the perch behind the door, watching Harry with bright interest.

00:37:02It did not even look as though Dumbledore had cleared a space for duelling practice.

00:37:06So, Harry, said Dumbledore in a business-like voice, you have been wondering, I am sure,

00:37:11what I have planned for you during these, for want of a better word, lessons.

00:37:16Yes, sir.

00:37:17Well, I have decided that it is time, now that you know what prompted Lord Baldomort

00:37:21to try and kill you fifteen years ago, for you to be given certain information.

00:37:26There was a pause.

00:37:28You said at the end of last term you were going to tell me everything, said Harry.

00:37:32It was hard to keep a note of accusation from his voice.

00:37:35Sir, he added.

00:37:36And so I did, said Dumbledore placidly.

00:37:39I told you everything I know.

00:37:41From this point forth we shall be leaving the firm foundation of fact, and journeying

00:37:45together through the murky marshes of memory, into thickets of wildest guesswork.

00:37:51From here on in, Harry, I may be as woefully wrong as Humphrey Belcher, who believed the

00:37:56time was ripe for a cheese-cauldron.

00:37:59But you think you are right, said Harry.

00:38:01Naturally I do.

00:38:02But as I have already proven to you, I make mistakes, like the next man.

00:38:06In fact, being, forgive me, rather cleverer than most men, my mistakes tend to be correspondingly

00:38:11huger.

00:38:12Sir, said Harry tentatively, does that, does what you are going to tell me have anything

00:38:19to do with the prophecy?

00:38:20Will it help me survive?

00:38:23It has a very great deal to do with the prophecy, said Dumbledore, as casually as if Harry had

00:38:27asked him what the next day's weather was going to be.

00:38:30And I certainly hope that it will help you to survive.

00:38:34Dumbledore got to his feet and walked around the desk past Harry, who turned eagerly in

00:38:38his seat to watch Dumbledore bending over the cabinet beside the door.

00:38:42When Dumbledore straightened up, he was holding a familiar shallow stone basin etched with

00:38:46odd markings around its rim.

00:38:48He placed the pensieve on the desk in front of Harry.

00:38:51You look worried.

00:38:52Harry had indeed been eyeing the pensieve, and some apprehension.

00:38:56His previous experiences with the odd device that stored and revealed thoughts and memories,

00:39:01though highly instructive, had also been uncomfortable.

00:39:04The last time he had disturbed its contents, he had seen much more than he would have wished,

00:39:09but Dumbledore was smiling.

00:39:10This time you enter the pensieve with me, and, even more unusually, with permission.

00:39:17Where are we going, sir?

00:39:19For a trip down Bob Ogden's memory lane, said Dumbledore, pulling from his pocket a crystal

00:39:24bottle containing a swirling silvery-white substance.

00:39:28Who was Bob Ogden?

00:39:29He was employed by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, said Dumbledore.

00:39:34He died some time ago, but not before I had tracked him down and persuaded him to confide

00:39:39these recollections to me.

00:39:41We are about to accompany him on a visit he made in the course of his duties.

00:39:45If you will stand, Harry.

00:39:47But Dumbledore was having difficulty pulling out the stopper of the crystal bottle.

00:39:50His injured hand seemed stiff and painful.

00:39:53Shall I, sir?

00:39:55No matter, Harry.

00:39:57Dumbledore pointed his wand at the bottle, and the cork flew out.

00:40:00Sir, how did you injure your hand?

00:40:02Harry asked again, looking at the blackened fingers with a mixture of revulsion and pity.

00:40:07Now is not the moment for that story, Harry.

00:40:09Not yet.

00:40:10We have an appointment with Bob Ogden.

00:40:12Dumbledore tipped the silvery contents of the bottle into the pensieve, where they swirled

00:40:16and shimmered, neither liquid nor gas.

00:40:19After you, said Dumbledore, gesturing towards the bowl.

00:40:22Harry bent forwards, took a deep breath, and plunged his face into the silvery substance.

00:40:27He felt his feet leave the office floor.

00:40:29He was falling, falling through whirling darkness, and then, quite suddenly, he was blinking

00:40:34in dazzling sunlight.

00:40:36Before his eyes had adjusted, Dumbledore landed beside him.

00:40:39They were standing in a country lane bordered by high, tangled hedgerows, beneath a summer

00:40:43sky as bright and blue as a forget-me-not.

00:40:46Some ten feet in front of them stood a short, plump man wearing enormously thick glasses

00:40:51that reduced his eyes to mole-like specks.

00:40:54He was reading a wooden signpost that was sticking out of the brambles on the left-hand

00:40:58side of the road.

00:40:59Harry knew this must be Ogden.

00:41:01He was the only person in sight, and he was also wearing the strange assortment of clothes

00:41:04so often chosen by inexperienced wizards trying to look like muggles.

00:41:09In this case, a frock coat and spats over a striped one-piece bathing costume.

00:41:13Before Harry had time to do more than register his bizarre appearance, however, Ogden had

00:41:17set off at a brisk walk down the lane.

00:41:20Dumbledore and Harry followed.

00:41:22As they passed the wooden sign, Harry looked up at its two arms.

00:41:25The one pointing back the way they had come read,

00:41:28GREAT HANGLETON, FIVE MILES.

00:41:30The arm pointing after Ogden said, LITTLE HANGLETON, ONE MILE.

00:41:35They walked a short while with nothing to see but the hedgerows, the wide blue sky overhead

00:41:39and the swishing, frock-coated figure ahead.

00:41:42Then the lane curved to the left and fell away, sloping steeply down a hillside, so

00:41:47that they had a sudden, unexpected view of a whole valley laid out in front of them.

00:41:52Harry could see a village, undoubtedly Little Hangleton, nestling between the two steep

00:41:56hills, its church and graveyard clearly visible.

00:41:59Across the valley, set on the opposite hillside, was a handsome manor house, surrounded by

00:42:03a wide expanse of velvety green lawn.

00:42:06Ogden had broken into reluctant trot due to the steep downward slope.

00:42:11Dumbledore lengthened his stride and Harry hurried to keep up.

00:42:14He thought Little Hangleton must be their final destination, and wondered, as he had

00:42:18done on the night they had found Slughorn, why they had to approach it from such a distance.

00:42:23He soon discovered that he was mistaken in thinking that they were going to the village,

00:42:26however.

00:42:27The lane curved to the right, and when they rounded the corner, it was to see the very

00:42:31edge of Ogden's frock-coat vanishing through a gap in the hedge.

00:42:35Dumbledore and Harry followed him to a narrow, dirt track, bordered by higher and wider hedgerows

00:42:41from those that they had left behind.

00:42:43The path was crooked, rocked and potholed, sloping downhill like the last one, and it

00:42:47seemed to be heading for a patch of dark trees a little below them.

00:42:51Sure enough, the track soon opened up at the copse, and Dumbledore and Harry came to a

00:42:55halt behind Ogden, who had stopped and drawn his wand.

00:42:59Despite the cloudless sky, the old trees ahead cast deep, dark, cool shadows, and it was

00:43:04a few seconds before Harry's eyes discerned the building half-hidden amongst the tangle

00:43:09of trunks.

00:43:10It seemed to him a very strange location to choose for a house, or else an odd decision

00:43:15to leave the trees growing nearby, blocking all light and the view of the valley below.

00:43:19He wondered whether it was inhabited.

00:43:21Its walls were mossy, and so many tiles had fallen off the roof that the rafters were

00:43:25visible in places.

00:43:27Nettles grew all around it, their tips reaching the windows, which were tiny and thick with

00:43:32grime.

00:43:33Just as he had concluded that nobody could possibly live there, however, one of the windows

00:43:37was thrown open with a clatter and a thin trickle of steam or smoke issued from it,

00:43:41as though somebody was cooking.

00:43:43Ogden moved forwards quietly, and it seemed to Harry rather cautiously.

00:43:47As the dark shadows of the trees slid over him, he stopped again, staring at the front

00:43:51door to which somebody had nailed a dead snake.

00:43:54Then there was a rustle and a crack, and a man in rags dropped from the nearest tree,

00:43:59landing on his feet right in front of Ogden, who leapt backwards so fast that he stood

00:44:03on the tails of the frock coat and stumbled.

00:44:05You're not welcome.

00:44:07The man standing before them had thick hair so matted with dirt it could have been any

00:44:11colour.

00:44:12Several of his teeth were missing, his eyes were small and dark, and stared in opposite

00:44:16directions.

00:44:17He might have looked comical, but he did not.

00:44:19The effect was frightening, and Harry could not blame Ogden for backing away several more

00:44:23paces before he spoke.

00:44:25Er, good morning, I'm from the Ministry of Magic.

00:44:29You're not welcome.

00:44:30Er, I'm sorry, I don't understand you, said Ogden nervously.

00:44:34Harry thought Ogden was being extremely dim.

00:44:36The stranger was making himself very clear in Harry's opinion, particularly as he was

00:44:39brandishing a wand in one hand and a short and rather bloody knife in the other.

00:44:44You understand him?

00:44:45I'm sure, Harry, said Dumbledore quietly.

00:44:47Yes, of course, said Harry, slightly nonplussed.

00:44:50Why can't Ogden?

00:44:51But his eyes found the dead snake on the door again.

00:44:54He suddenly understood.

00:44:55He's speaking Parseltongue.

00:44:57Very good, said Dumbledore, nodding and smiling.

00:45:00The man in rags was now advancing on Ogden, knife in one hand, wand in the other.

00:45:05Now, now look, Ogden began, but too late.

00:45:08There was a bang, and Ogden was on the ground clutching his nose, while a nasty yellowish

00:45:12goo squirted from between his fingers.

00:45:15Morphin, said a loud voice.

00:45:17An elderly man had come hurrying out of the cottage, banging the door behind him so that

00:45:21the dead snake swung pathetically.

00:45:23This man was shorter than the first, and oddly proportioned.

00:45:26His shoulders were very broad and his arms overlong, which, with his bright brown eyes,

00:45:31short scrubby hair and wrinkled face, gave him the look of a powerful aged monkey.

00:45:36He came to a halt beside the man with a knife, who was now cackling with laughter at the

00:45:40sight of Ogden on the ground.

00:45:42Ministry, is it? said the older man, looking down at Ogden.

00:45:45Correct, said Ogden angrily, dabbing his face.

00:45:48And you, I take it, are Mr. Gaunt?

00:45:50That's right, said Gaunt.

00:45:52Got you in the face, did he?

00:45:54Yes, he did, snapped Ogden.

00:45:57Should have made your presence known, shouldn't you? said Gaunt aggressively.

00:45:59This is private property.

00:46:00Can't just walk on here and not expect my son to defend himself.

00:46:04Defend himself against what, man? said Ogden, clambering back to his feet.

00:46:09Busybodies, intruders, muggles and filth.

00:46:12Ogden pointed his wand at his own nose, which was still issuing large amounts of what looked

00:46:16like yellow pus, and the flow stopped at once.

00:46:19Mr. Gaunt spoke out of the corner of his mouth to Morphin.

00:46:22Get in the house, don't argue.

00:46:25This time, ready for it, Harry recognised Parseltongue.

00:46:28Even while he could understand what was being said, he distinguished the weird hissing noise

00:46:33that was all Ogden could hear.

00:46:35Morphin seemed to be on the point of disagreeing, but when his father cast him a threatening

00:46:39look, he changed his mind, lumbering away to the cottage with an odd rolling gate and

00:46:44slamming the front door behind him, so that the snake swung sadly again.

00:46:48It's your son I'm here to see, Mr. Gaunt, said Ogden, as he mopped the last of the pus

00:46:53from the front of his coat.

00:46:54That was Morphin, was it?

00:46:56Ah, that was Morphin, said the old man indifferently.

00:47:00Are you pureblood? he asked, suddenly aggressive.

00:47:03That's neither here nor there, said Ogden coldly, and Harry felt his respect for Ogden

00:47:07rise.

00:47:08Apparently Gaunt felt rather differently.

00:47:10He squinted into Ogden's face and muttered, in what was clearly supposed to be an offensive

00:47:15tone.

00:47:16When I come to think about it, I've seen noses like yours down in the village.

00:47:20I don't doubt it.

00:47:21If your son's been let loose on them, said Ogden, perhaps we could continue this discussion

00:47:25inside?

00:47:26Inside?

00:47:27Yes, Mr. Gaunt, I've already told you I'm here about Morphin.

00:47:31We sent an owl.

00:47:32I've no use for owls, said Gaunt, I don't open letters.

00:47:36Then you can hardly complain that you get no warning of visitors, said Ogden tartly.

00:47:41I am here following a serious breach of wizarding law which occurred here in the early hours

00:47:46of this morning.

00:47:47All right, all right, all right, bellowed Gaunt.

00:47:50Come on in the bleeding house, then, and much good it'll do you.

00:47:55The house seemed to contain three tiny rooms.

00:47:58Two doors led off the main room, which served as kitchen and living-room combined.

00:48:02Morphin was sitting in a filthy arm-chair beside the smoking fire, twisting a live adder

00:48:07between his thick fingers and crooning softly at it in parcel tongue.

00:48:12Hissy, hissy, little snakey, slither on the floor.

00:48:17You be good to Morphin, or he'll nail you to the door.

00:48:22There was a scuffling noise in the corner beside the open window, and Harry realised

00:48:26that there was somebody else in the room.

00:48:28A girl whose ragged, grey dress was the exact colour of the dirty stone wall behind her.

00:48:33She was standing beside a steaming pot on a grimy black stove, and was fiddling around

00:48:37with a shelf of squalid-looking pots and pans above it.

00:48:41Her hair was lank and dull, and she had a plain, pale, rather heavy face.

00:48:45Her eyes, like her brother's, stared in opposite directions.

00:48:49She looked a little cleaner than the two men, but Harry thought he had never seen a more

00:48:53defeated-looking person.

00:48:54A daughter!

00:48:55Merope!

00:48:56said Gaunt grudgingly, as Ogden looked inquiringly towards her.

00:49:00Good morning! said Ogden.

00:49:02She did not answer, but with a frightened glance at her father, turned her back on the

00:49:06room and continued shifting the pots on the shelf behind her.

00:49:09Well, Mr. Gaunt, said Ogden, to get straight to the point, we have reason to believe that

00:49:13your son Morphin performed magic in front of a muggle late last night.

00:49:18There was a deafening clang.

00:49:20Merope had dropped one of the pots.

00:49:21Pick it up!

00:49:23Gaunt bellowed at her.

00:49:24That's it!

00:49:25Grub on the floor like some filthy muggle!

00:49:27What's your wand for, you useless sack of muck?

00:49:30Mr. Gaunt, please! said Ogden, in a shocked voice, as Merope, who had already picked up

00:49:35the pot, flushed blotchily, scarlet, lost her grip on the pot again, drew her wand shakily

00:49:41from her pocket, pointed it at the pot and muttered a hasty, inaudible spell that caused

00:49:46the pot to shoot across the floor away from her, hit the opposite wall and crack in two.

00:49:51Morphin let out a mad cackle of laughter.

00:49:53Gaunt screamed.

00:49:54Mend it, you pointless lump!

00:49:56Mend it!

00:49:58Merope stumbled across the room, but before she had time to raise her wand, Ogden had

00:50:02lifted his own and said firmly, Repero!

00:50:05The pot mended itself instantly.

00:50:08Gaunt looked for a moment as though he was going to shout at Ogden, but seemed to think

00:50:11better of it.

00:50:12Instead, he jeered at his daughter.

00:50:14Luckily, they're nice man from the ministries here, isn't it?

00:50:17Perhaps he'll take you off my hands.

00:50:19Perhaps he doesn't mind, dirty squibs!

00:50:22Without looking at anybody or thanking Ogden, Merope picked up the pot and returned it,

00:50:27his hands trembling, to its shelf.

00:50:29She then stood quite still, her back against the wall between the filthy window and the

00:50:32stove, as though she wished for nothing more than to sink into the stone and vanish.

00:50:37Mr. Gaunt, Ogden began again, has, I've said, the reason for my visit.

00:50:42I heard you the first time, snapped Gaunt, and so what?

00:50:45Morphin gave a muggle a bit of what was coming to him.

00:50:47What's about it, then?

00:50:49Morphin has broken wizarding law, said Ogden sternly.

00:50:52Morphin has broken wizarding law, Gaunt imitated Ogden's voice, making it pompous

00:50:57and sing-song.

00:50:58Morphin cackled again.

00:51:00He taught a filthy muggle a lesson.

00:51:02That's illegal now, is it?

00:51:03Yes, said Ogden.

00:51:04I'm afraid it is.

00:51:06He pulled from inside a pocket a small scroll of parchment and unrolled it.

00:51:09What's that, then?

00:51:11His sentence, said Gaunt, his voice rising angrily.

00:51:14It is a summons to the ministry for a hearing.

00:51:16Summons?

00:51:17Summons?

00:51:18Who do you think you are, summoning my son anywhere?

00:51:21I'm head of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad, said Ogden.

00:51:25And you think we're scum, do you?

00:51:27Screamed Gaunt, advancing on Ogden now, with a dirty yellow-nailed finger pointing at his

00:51:31chest.

00:51:32Scum!

00:51:33He'll come running while the ministry tells him to.

00:51:35Do you know who you're talking to, you filthy little mudblood?

00:51:39Do you?

00:51:40I was under the impression that I was speaking to Mr Gaunt, said Ogden, looking wary but

00:51:45standing his ground.

00:51:46That's right, roared Gaunt.

00:51:48For a moment, Harry thought Gaunt was making an obscene hand gesture, but then realised

00:51:52that he was showing Ogden the ugly, black-stoned ring he was wearing on his middle finger,

00:51:57waving it before Ogden's eyes.

00:51:59See this?

00:52:00See this?

00:52:01Know what it is?

00:52:02Know where it came from?

00:52:03Centuries it's been in our family, that's how far back we go, and pure blood all the

00:52:08way.

00:52:09Know how much I've been offered for this, with the peverell coat of arms engraved on

00:52:13the stone?

00:52:14I've really no idea, said Ogden, blinking as the ring sailed within an inch of his nose.

00:52:20And it's quite beside the point, Mr Gaunt.

00:52:22Your son has committed?

00:52:23With a howl of rage, Gaunt ran towards his daughter.

00:52:26For a split second, Harry thought he was going to throttle her as his hand flew to her throat.

00:52:31Next moment, he was dragging her towards Ogden by a gold chain around her neck.

00:52:35See this?

00:52:36he bellowed at Ogden, shaking a heavy gold locket at him, while Merope spluttered and

00:52:41gasped for breath.

00:52:42I see it!

00:52:43I see it! said Ogden hastily.

00:52:45Slytherins! yelled Gaunt.

00:52:47Salazar Slytherins!

00:52:49We're his last living descendants!

00:52:51What do you say to that, eh?

00:52:53Mr Gaunt, your daughter, said Ogden in alarm, but Gaunt had already released Merope.

00:52:58She staggered away from him, back to her corner, massaging her neck and gulping for air.

00:53:03So, said Gaunt triumphantly, as though he had proved a complicated point beyond all

00:53:08possible dispute.

00:53:09Don't you go talking to us as if we're dirt on your shoes.

00:53:13Generations are purebloods, wizards all, more than you can say, I don't doubt.

00:53:17And he spat on the floor at Ogden's feet.

00:53:20Morphin cackled.

00:53:21Merope huddled beside the window, her head bowed and her face hidden by her lank hair,

00:53:26and said nothing.

00:53:27Mr Gaunt, said Ogden doggedly, I am afraid that neither your ancestors nor mine have

00:53:32anything to do with the matter in hand.

00:53:34I am here because of Morphin, Morphin and the muggle he accosted late last night.

00:53:39Our information, he glanced down at his scroll of parchment, is that Morphin performed a

00:53:43jinx or hex on the said muggle, causing him to erupt in highly painful hives.

00:53:49Morphin giggled.

00:53:50Be quiet, boy, snarled Gaunt in parcel tongue, and Morphin fell silent again.

00:53:55And so what have he did, then, Gaunt said defiantly to Ogden.

00:53:59I expect you've wiped the muggle's filthy face clean for him, and his memory to boot.

00:54:03That's hardly the point, is it, Mr Gaunt, said Ogden.

00:54:06This was an unprovoked attack on a defenceless-

00:54:08Ah!

00:54:10Had you marked out as a muggle-lover the moment I saw you, sneered Gaunt, and he spat on the

00:54:14floor again.

00:54:15This discussion is getting us nowhere, said Ogden firmly.

00:54:18It is clear from your son's attitude that he feels no remorse for his actions.

00:54:22He glanced down at his scroll of parchment again.

00:54:25Morphin will attend a hearing on the 14th of September to answer the charges of using

00:54:29magic in front of a muggle, and causing harm and distress to that same muggle-

00:54:34Ogden broke off.

00:54:36The jingling, clopping sounds of horses and loud laughing voices were drifting in through

00:54:40the open window.

00:54:41Apparently, the winding lane to the village passed very close to the copse, where the

00:54:45house stood.

00:54:46Gaunt froze, listening, his eyes wide.

00:54:49Morphin hissed and turned his face towards the sounds, his expression hungry.

00:54:53Merope raised her head, her face.

00:54:55Harry Saw was starkly white.

00:54:58My God!

00:54:59What an eyesore, rang out a girl's voice, as clearly audible through the open window,

00:55:05as if she had stood in the room beside them.

00:55:07Couldn't your father have that hovel cleared away, Tom?

00:55:10It's not ours, said a young man's voice.

00:55:13On the other side of the valley belongs to us, but that cottage belongs to an old tramp

00:55:17called Gaunt and his children.

00:55:19The sun's quite mad.

00:55:20You should hear some of the stories they tell in the village.

00:55:23The girl laughed.

00:55:24The jingling, clopping noises were growing louder and louder.

00:55:27Morphin made to get out of his armchair.

00:55:30Keep your seat, said his father warningly, in parcel tongue.

00:55:34Tom, said the girl's voice again, now so close they were clearly right beside the house.

00:55:38I might be wrong, but has somebody nailed a snake to the door?

00:55:42Good Lord!

00:55:43You're right, said the man's voice.

00:55:44That'll be the sun.

00:55:45I told you he's not right in the head.

00:55:47Don't look at it, Cecilia, darling.

00:55:49The jingling and clopping sounds were now growing fainter again.

00:55:53Darling, whispered Morphin in parcel tongue, looking at his sister.

00:55:57Darling, he called her, so he wouldn't have you anyway.

00:56:01Marope was so white, Harry felt sure she was going to faint.

00:56:04What's that? said Gaunt sharply, also in parcel tongue, looking from his son to his daughter.

00:56:10What did you say, Morphin?

00:56:12He likes looking at that muggle, said Morphin, a vicious expression on his face, as he stared

00:56:17at his sister, who now looked terrified, always in the garden when he passes, peering through

00:56:22the hedge at him, isn't he?

00:56:24Isn't she?

00:56:25And last night, Marope shook her head jerkily and ploringly, but Morphin went on ruthlessly,

00:56:30hanging out of the window, waiting for him to ride home, wasn't she?

00:56:35Hanging out of the window to look at a muggle, said Gaunt quietly.

00:56:38All three of the Gaunts seemed to have forgotten Ogden, who was looking both bewildered and

00:56:43irritated at this renewed outbreak of incomprehensible hissing and rasping.

00:56:47Is it true? said Gaunt in a deadly voice, advancing a step or two towards the terrified

00:56:52girl.

00:56:53My daughter, pure-blooded descendant of Salazar Slytherin, hankering after a filthy, dirt-veined

00:57:00muggle.

00:57:01Marope shook her head frantically, pressing herself into the wall, apparently unable to

00:57:06speak.

00:57:07But...

00:57:08I got him, father, cackled Morphin, I got him as he went by, and he didn't look so pretty

00:57:13with hives all over him, did he, Marope?

00:57:17You disgusting little squib, you filthy little blood-traitor, roared Gaunt, losing control

00:57:22and his hands closed around his daughter's throat.

00:57:26Both Harry and Ogden yelled no at the same time.

00:57:28Ogden raised his wand and cried, Relecio!

00:57:32Gaunt was thrown backwards, away from his daughter.

00:57:34He tripped over a chair and fell flat on his back.

00:57:37With a roar of rage, Morphin leapt out of his chair and ran at Ogden, brandishing his

00:57:41bloody knife and firing hexes indiscriminately from his wand.

00:57:46Ogden ran for his life.

00:57:47Dumbledore indicated that they ought to follow and Harry obeyed, Marope's screams echoing

00:57:52in his ears.

00:57:54Ogden hurtled up the path and erupted onto the main lane, his arms over his head, where

00:57:58he collided with a glossy chestnut horse ridden by a very handsome, dark-haired young

00:58:03man, both he and the pretty girl riding beside him, and a grey horse roared with laughter

00:58:07at the sight of Ogden, who bounced off the horse's flank and set off again, his flock

00:58:12coat flying, covered from head to foot in dust, running pell-mell up the lane.

00:58:17I think that will do, Harry, said Dumbledore.

00:58:21He took Harry by the elbow and tugged.

00:58:23Next moment they were both soaring weightlessly through darkness, until they landed squarely

00:58:28on their feet back in Dumbledore's now twilight office.

00:58:32What happened to the girl in the cottage, said Harry at once, as Dumbledore lit extra

00:58:37lamps with a flick of his wand.

00:58:39Marope, or whatever her name was.

00:58:41Oh, she survived, said Dumbledore, reseating himself behind his desk and indicating that

00:58:46Harry should sit down too.

00:58:48Ogden apparated back to the ministry and returned with reinforcements within fifteen minutes.

00:58:54Ogden and his father attempted a fight, but both were overpowered, removed from the cottage

00:58:59and subsequently convicted by the Wisengamot.

00:59:01Morfin, who already had a record of muggle attacks, was sentenced to three years in Azkaban.

00:59:07Marvolo, who had injured several ministry employees in addition to Ogden, received six

00:59:13months.

00:59:14Marvolo, Harry repeated wonderingly.

00:59:16That's right, said Dumbledore, smiling in approval, I'm glad to see you're keeping

00:59:21up.

00:59:22Yes, old man was.

00:59:24Voldemort's grandfather, yes, said Dumbledore.

00:59:27Marvolo, his son Morfin and his daughter Marope, were the last of the Gaunts, a very ancient

00:59:32wizarding family noted for a vein of instability and violence that flourished through the generations

00:59:38due to their habit of marrying their own cousins.

00:59:41Lack of sense, coupled with a great liking for grandeur, meant that the family gold was

00:59:46squandered several generations before Marvolo was born.

00:59:49He, as you saw, was left in squalor and poverty, with a very nasty temper, a fantastic amount

00:59:55of arrogance and pride, and a couple of family heirlooms that he treasured just as much as

01:00:01his son and rather more than his daughter.

01:00:03So Marope, said Harry, leaning forwards in his chair and staring at Dumbledore.

01:00:08So Marope was.

01:00:09Sir, does that mean she was Voldemort's mother?

01:00:12It does, said Dumbledore, and it so happens that we also had a glimpse of Voldemort's

01:00:17father.

01:00:18I wonder whether you noticed.

01:00:20The muggle Morfin attacked, the man on the horse.

01:00:23Very good indeed, said Dumbledore, beaming.

01:00:26Yes, that was Tom Riddle, senior, the handsome muggle who used to go riding past the Gaunt

01:00:31cottage and for whom Marope Gaunt cherished a secret burning passion.

01:00:37And they ended up married, Harry said in disbelief, unable to imagine two people less likely to

01:00:41fall in love.

01:00:42I think you are forgetting, said Dumbledore, that Marope was a witch.

01:00:46I do not believe that her magical powers appeared to their best advantage when she

01:00:51was being terrorized by her father.

01:00:53Once Marvolo and Morfin were safely in Azkaban, once she was alone and free for the first

01:00:59time in her life, then I am sure she was able to give full reign to her abilities and to

01:01:04plot her escape from the desperate life she had led for eighteen years.

01:01:09Can you not think of any measure Marope could have taken to make Tom Riddle forget his muggle

01:01:15companion and fall in love with her instead?

01:01:18The imperious curse, Harry suggested, or a love-potion?

01:01:23Very good, personally, I am inclined to think that she used a love-potion.

01:01:27I am sure it would have seemed more romantic to her, and I do not think it would have been

01:01:31very difficult, some hot day when Riddle was riding alone, to persuade him to take a drink

01:01:36of water.

01:01:37In any case, within a few months of the scene we have just witnessed, the village of Little

01:01:41Hangleton enjoyed a tremendous scandal.

01:01:44You can imagine the gossip it caused when the squire's son ran off with the tramp's

01:01:48daughter Marope.

01:01:49But the village's shock was nothing to Marvolo's.

01:01:53He returned from Azkaban expecting to find his daughter dutifully awaiting his return

01:01:58of a hot meal ready on his table.

01:02:00Instead he found a clear inch of dust and her note of farewell, explaining what she

01:02:04had done.

01:02:06From all that I have been able to discover, he never mentioned her name of existence from

01:02:09that time forth.

01:02:11The shock of her desertion may have contributed to his early death, or perhaps he had simply

01:02:16never learned to feed himself.

01:02:18Azkaban had greatly weakened Marvolo, and he did not live to see Morphin return to the

01:02:22cottage.

01:02:23And Marope?

01:02:24She—she died, didn't she?

01:02:26Wasn't Voldemort brought up in an orphanage?

01:02:28Yes, indeed, said Dumbledore.

01:02:30We must do a certain amount of guessing here, although I do not think it is difficult to

01:02:35deduce what happened.

01:02:36You see, within a few months of their runaway marriage, Tom Riddle appeared at the manor

01:02:41house in Little Hangleton without his wife.

01:02:43The rumour flew around the neighbourhood that he was talking of being hoodwinked and taken

01:02:48in.

01:02:49What he meant, I am sure, is that he had been under an enchantment that had now lifted,

01:02:53though I dare say he did not date—dare use these precise words for fear of being thought

01:02:58insane.

01:02:59When they heard what he was saying, however, the villagers guessed that Marope had lied

01:03:03to Tom Riddle, pretending that she was going to have his baby, and that he had married

01:03:07her for this reason.

01:03:09But she did have his baby?

01:03:11Yes, but not until a year after they were married.

01:03:14Tom Riddle left her while she was still pregnant.

01:03:17What went wrong?

01:03:18asked Harry.

01:03:19Why did the love-potion stop working?

01:03:21Again, this is guesswork, said Dumbledore, but I believe that Marope, who was deeply

01:03:26in love with her husband, could not bear to continue enslaving him by magical means.

01:03:31I believe that she made the choice to stop giving him the potion.

01:03:35Perhaps, besotted as she was, she had convinced herself that he would, by now, have fallen

01:03:40in love with her in return.

01:03:42Perhaps she thought he would stay for the baby's sake.

01:03:45If so, she was wrong on both counts.

01:03:47He left her, never saw her again, and never troubled to discover what became of his son.

01:03:53The sky outside was inky black, and the lamps in Dumbledore's office seemed to glow more

01:03:57brightly than before.

01:03:59I think that will do for to-night, Harry, said Dumbledore, after a moment or two.

01:04:04Yes, sir, said Harry.

01:04:05He got to his feet, but did not leave.

01:04:08Sir, is it important to know all this about Voldemort's past?

01:04:12Very important, I think, said Dumbledore.

01:04:14And it?

01:04:15It's got something to do with the prophecy.

01:04:17It has everything to do with the prophecy.

01:04:19Right, said Harry, a little confused, but reassured all the same.

01:04:23He turned to go.

01:04:24Then another question occurred to him, and he turned back again.

01:04:27Sir, am I allowed to tell Ron and Hermione everything you've told me?

01:04:32Dumbledore considered him for a moment, and then said, Yes, I think Mr. Weasley and Miss

01:04:35Granger have proved themselves trustworthy, but, Harry, I am going to ask you to ask them

01:04:40not to repeat any of this to anybody else.

01:04:43It would not be a good idea if word got around how much I know or suspect about Lord Voldemort's

01:04:48secrets.

01:04:49No, sir, I'll make sure it's just Ron and Hermione.

01:04:52Good-night.

01:04:53He turned away again, and was almost at the door when he saw it, sitting on one of the

01:04:57little spindle-legged tables that supported so many frail-looking silver instruments was

01:05:02an ugly gold ring set with a large, cracked, black stone.

01:05:06Sir, said Harry, staring at it, that ring.

01:05:10Yes, said Dumbledore, you were wearing it when we visited Professor Slughorn that night.

01:05:15So I was, Dumbledore agreed, but isn't it, sir, isn't it the same ring Marvolo Gaunt

01:05:21showed Ogden?

01:05:23Dumbledore bowed his head.

01:05:24The very same.

01:05:26Sir, how come?

01:05:27Have you always had it?

01:05:28No, I acquired it very recently, said Dumbledore, a few days before I came to fetch you from

01:05:33your aunt and uncles, in fact.

01:05:35That would be around the time you injured your hand then, sir.

01:05:39Around that time, yes, Harry.

01:05:41Harry hesitated.

01:05:42Dumbledore was smiling.

01:05:43Sir, how exactly?

01:05:45Too late, Harry.

01:05:46You shall hear the story another time.

01:05:48Good-night.

01:05:49Good-night, sir.

01:05:54Chapter 11 Hermione's Helping Hand

01:05:57As Hermione had predicted, the six years' free periods were not the hours of blissful

01:06:01relaxation Ron had anticipated, but times in which to attempt to keep up with the vast

01:06:06amount of homework they were being set.

01:06:08Not only were they studying as though they had bad exams every day, but the lessons themselves

01:06:14had become more demanding than ever before.

01:06:16Harry barely understood half of what Professor McGonagall said to them these days.

01:06:20Even Hermione had had to ask to repeat instructions once or twice.

01:06:24As they grew increasingly into Hermione's increasing resentment, Harry's best subject

01:06:27had suddenly become potions, thanks to the Half-Blood Prince.

01:06:31Non-verbal spells were now expected, not only in defence against the dark arts, but in charms

01:06:35and transfiguration too.

01:06:37Harry frequently looked over at his classmates in the common room or at mealtimes to see

01:06:41them purple in the face and straining as though they had overdosed on You-Know-Poo, but he

01:06:46knew that they were really struggling to make spells work without saying incantations aloud.

01:06:51It was a relief to get outside into the greenhouses.

01:06:54They were dealing with more dangerous plants than ever in Herbology, but at least they

01:06:58were still allowed to swear loudly if the venomous tentacular seized them unexpectedly

01:07:03from behind.

01:07:05One result of their enormous workload and the frantic hours of practising non-verbal

01:07:08spells was that Harry, Ron and Hermione had so far been unable to find time to go and

01:07:13visit Hagrid.

01:07:14He had stopped coming to meals at the staff table, an ominous sign, and on the few occasions

01:07:19when they had passed him in the corridors or out in the grounds, he had mysteriously

01:07:22failed to notice them or hear their greetings.

01:07:25We've got to go and explain, said Hermione, looking up at Hagrid's huge empty chair at

01:07:30the staff table the following Saturday at breakfast.

01:07:32We've got Quidditch tryouts this morning, said Ron, and we're supposed to be practising

01:07:37that Aguamenti charm for Flitwick?

01:07:40Anyway, explain what?

01:07:41How are we going to tell him we hated his stupid subject?

01:07:44We didn't hate it, said Hermione.

01:07:46Speak for yourself.

01:07:47I haven't forgotten the Scroots, said Ron, darkly, and I'm telling you now, we've had

01:07:51a narrow escape.

01:07:52You didn't hear him going on about his gormless brother.

01:07:55We'd have been teaching Grawp how to tie his shoelaces if we'd stayed.

01:07:59I hate not talking to Hagrid, said Hermione, looking upset.

01:08:02We'll go down after Quidditch, Harry assured her.

01:08:05He too was missing Hagrid, although like Ron he thought they were better off without Grawp

01:08:09in their lives.

01:08:11But trials might take all morning.

01:08:14The number of people who have applied.

01:08:15He felt slightly nervous at confronting the first hurdle of his captaincy.

01:08:19I don't know why the team's this popular all of a sudden.

01:08:22Oh, come on, Harry, said Hermione, suddenly impatient.

01:08:25It's not Quidditch that's popular.

01:08:27It's you.

01:08:28You've never been more interesting, and frankly, you've never been more fanciable.

01:08:32Ron gagged on a large piece of kipper.

01:08:34Hermione spared him one look of disdain before turning back to Harry.

01:08:39Everyone knows you've been telling the truth now, don't they?

01:08:41The whole wizarding world has had to admit that you were right about Voldemort being

01:08:45back and that you really have fought him twice in the last two years and escaped both times.

01:08:50And now they're calling you the chosen one.

01:08:53Well, come on.

01:08:54Can't you see why people are fascinated by you?

01:08:57Harry was finding the Great Hall very hot all of a sudden, even though the ceiling still

01:09:00looked cold and rainy.

01:09:02And you've been through all that persecution from the ministry when they were trying to

01:09:07make out you were unstable and a liar.

01:09:10You can still see the marks where that evil woman made you write with your own blood,

01:09:14but you stuck to your own story anyway.

01:09:16You can still see why those brains got hold of me in the ministry, look, said Ron, shaking

01:09:21back his sleeves.

01:09:22And it doesn't hurt that you've grown about a foot over the summer either, Hermione finished,

01:09:26ignoring Ron.

01:09:27I'm tall, said Ron inconsequentially.

01:09:30The post owls arrived, swooping down through rain-flecked windows, scattering everyone

01:09:35with droplets of water.

01:09:36Most people were receiving more posts than usual.

01:09:39Ron's parents were keen to hear from their children and to reassure them in turn that

01:09:42all was well at home.

01:09:44Harry had received no mail since the start of term, his only regular correspondent was

01:09:48now dead, and although he had hoped that Lupin might write occasionally, he had so far been

01:09:52disappointed.

01:09:53He was very surprised, therefore, to see the snowy white Hedwig circling amongst all the

01:09:58brown and grey owls.

01:09:59She landed in front of him carrying a large square package.

01:10:02A moment later, an identical package landed in front of Ron, crushing beneath its minuscule

01:10:07and exhausted owl, Pigwigin.

01:10:09Ha! said Harry, unwrapping the parcel to reveal a new copy of Advanced Potion Making, fresh

01:10:13from Flourish and Blotts.

01:10:15Oh good, said Hermione, delighted.

01:10:17Now you can give that graffitied copy back.

01:10:20Are you mad? said Harry.

01:10:21I'm keeping it.

01:10:22Look!

01:10:23I've fought it out.

01:10:24He pulled the old copy of Advanced Potion Making out of his bag and tapped the cover

01:10:28with his wand, muttering, Defindo!

01:10:30The cover fell off.

01:10:32He did the same thing with a brand new book.

01:10:34Hermione looked scandalised.

01:10:36She then swapped the covers, tapped each and said, Repero!

01:10:39Then sat the Prince's copy, disguised as a new book, and there sat the fresh copy from

01:10:44Flourish and Blotts, looking thoroughly second hand.

01:10:47I'll give Slughorn back the new one.

01:10:49He can't complain.

01:10:50It cost nine galleons.

01:10:52Hermione pressed her lips together, looking angry and disapproving, but was distracted

01:10:56by a third owl landing in front of her carrying that day's copy of the Daily Prophet.

01:11:01She unfolded it hastily and scanned the front page.

01:11:04Anyone we know dead? asked Ron in a determinedly casual voice.

01:11:08He posed the same question every time Hermione opened her paper.

01:11:12No, but there have been more Dementor attacks, said Hermione, and an arrest.

01:11:16Excellent!

01:11:17Who? said Harry, thinking of Bellatrix Lestrange.

01:11:21Stan Shunpike, said Hermione.

01:11:23What? said Harry, startled.

01:11:25Stanley Shunpike, conductor on the popular wizarding conveyance The Night Bus, has been

01:11:29arrested on suspicion of Death Eater activity.

01:11:32Mr Shunpike, twenty-one, was taken into custody late last night after a raid on his Clapham

01:11:38home.

01:11:39Stan Shunpike, a Death Eater, said Harry, remembering the spotty youth he had first

01:11:44met three years before.

01:11:46No way!

01:11:47He might have been put under the Imperious Curse, said Ron reasonably.

01:11:50You never can tell.

01:11:51It doesn't look like it, said Hermione, who was still reading.

01:11:55It says here he was arrested after he was overheard talking about the Death Eater's

01:11:58secret plans in a pub.

01:12:00She looked up with a troubled expression on her face.

01:12:02If he was under the Imperious Curse, he'd hardly stand around gossiping about their

01:12:06plans, would he?

01:12:07It sounds like he was trying to make out he knew more than he did, said Ron.

01:12:10Isn't he the one who claimed he was going to become Minister for Magic when he was trying

01:12:15to chat up those Veela?

01:12:16Yeah, that's him, said Harry.

01:12:18I don't know what they're playing at, taking Stan seriously.

01:12:22They probably want to look as though they're doing something, said Hermione, frowning.

01:12:25People are terrified.

01:12:27You know, the Pateel twins' parents want them to go home, and Eloise Midgen has already

01:12:31been withdrawn.

01:12:32Her father picked her up last night.

01:12:34What, said Ron, goggling at Hermione.

01:12:37But Hogwarts is safer than their homes, bound to be.

01:12:39We've got auras and all of those extra protective spells, and we've got Dumbledore.

01:12:44I don't think we've got him all the time, said Hermione very quietly, glancing towards

01:12:48the staff table over the top of the Prophet.

01:12:50Haven't you noticed?

01:12:51His seat's been empty as often as Hagrid's this past week.

01:12:55Harry and Ron looked up at the staff table.

01:12:57The Headmaster's chair was indeed empty.

01:12:59Now Harry came to think of it.

01:13:00He had not seen Dumbledore since their private lesson a week ago.

01:13:03I think he's left the school to do something with the Order, said Hermione in a low voice.

01:13:07I mean, it's all looking serious, isn't it?

01:13:11Harry and Ron did not answer, but Harry knew that they were all thinking the same thing.

01:13:15There had been a horrible incident the day before, when Hannah Abbott had been taken

01:13:19out of Herbology to be told her mother had been found dead.

01:13:22They had not seen Hannah since.

01:13:24When they left the Gryffindor table five minutes later to head down to the Quidditch pitch,

01:13:28they passed Lavender Brown and Pavarti Patil.

01:13:31Remembering what Hermione had said about the Patil twins' parents wanting them to leave

01:13:34Hogwarts, Harry was unsurprised to see what the two best friends were whispering together,

01:13:39looking distressed.

01:13:40What did surprise him was that when Ron drew level with them, Pavarti suddenly nudged Lavender,

01:13:45who looked around and gave Ron a wide smile.

01:13:47Ron blinked at her and then returned the smile uncertainly.

01:13:51His walk instantly became something more like a strut.

01:13:54Harry resisted the temptation to laugh, remembering that Ron had refrained from doing so after

01:13:58Malfoy had broken Harry's nose.

01:14:00Hermione, however, looked cold and distant all the way down to the stadium through the

01:14:04cool, misty drizzle, and departed to find a place in the stands without wishing Ron good luck.

01:14:10As Harry had expected, the trials took most of the morning.

01:14:14Half of Gryffindor House seemed to have turned up, from first-years who were nervously clutching

01:14:18a selection of the dreadful old-school brooms, to seventh-years who towered over the rest

01:14:23looking coolly intimidating, the latter including a large, wiry-haired boy Harry recognised

01:14:28immediately from the Hogwarts Express.

01:14:30We met on the train, in old Sluggy's compartment, he said confidently, stepping out of the crowd

01:14:35to shake Harry's hand.

01:14:36Cormac McLaggen, Keeper.

01:14:38You didn't try out last year, did you?

01:14:40asked Harry, taking note of the breadth of McLaggen and thinking that he would probably

01:14:45block all three goal hoops without even moving.

01:14:48I was in the hospital wing when they held the trials, said McLaggen, with something

01:14:52of a swagger.

01:14:52Ate a pound of doxy eggs for a bet.

01:14:55Right, said Harry.

01:14:56Well, if you wait over there, he pointed over to the edge of the pitch, close to where Hermione

01:15:01was sitting.

01:15:02He thought he saw a flicker of annoyance pass over McLaggen's face, and wondered whether

01:15:05McLaggen expected preferential treatment because they were both old Sluggy's favourites.

01:15:11Harry decided to start with a basic test, asking all applicants for the team to divide

01:15:15into groups of ten and fly once across the pitch.

01:15:19This was a good decision.

01:15:20The first ten was made up of first years, and it could not have been plainer that they

01:15:24had hardly ever flown before.

01:15:26Only one boy managed to remain airborne for more than a few seconds, and he was so surprised

01:15:30he probably crashed into one of the goalposts.

01:15:32The second group comprised ten of the silliest girls Harry had ever encountered, who, when

01:15:37he blew his whistle, merely fell about giggling and clutching each other.

01:15:40Romil Devane was amongst them.

01:15:42When he told them to leave the pitch, they did so quite cheerfully, and went to sit in

01:15:46the stands to heckle everyone else.

01:15:49The third group had a pile-up halfway through the pitch.

01:15:52Most of the fourth group had come without broomsticks.

01:15:55The fifth group were Hufflepuffs.

01:15:57If there's anyone else here who's not from Gryffindor, roared Harry, who was starting

01:16:01to get seriously annoyed, leave now, please!

01:16:04There was a pause, and then a couple of little Ravenclaws went sprinting off the pitch, snorting

01:16:09with laughter.

01:16:10After two hours, many complaints and several tantrums, one involved a crashed Cornet 260

01:16:17and several broken teeth, Harry had found himself three chasers.

01:16:21Katie Bell returned to the team after an excellent trial, a new find called Demelza Robbins,

01:16:26who was particularly good at dodging bludgers, and Ginny Weasley, who had outflown all the

01:16:31competition and scored 17 goals to boot.

01:16:33Pleased though he was with his choices, Harry had also shouted himself hoarse at the many

01:16:38complainers, and was now enduring a similar battle with the rejected beaters.

01:16:42That's my final decision, and if you don't get out of the way for the keepers, I'll

01:16:45hex you, he bellowed.

01:16:47Neither of his chosen beaters had the old brilliance of Fred and George, but he was

01:16:51still reasonably pleased with them.

01:16:52Jimmy Peaks, a short but broad-chested third-year who had managed to raise a lump the size of

01:16:57an egg on the back of Harry's head with a ferociously hit bludger, and Richie Coote,

01:17:01who looked weedy but aimed well.

01:17:03They now joined the spectators in the stands to watch the selection of their last team

01:17:06member.

01:17:07Harry had deliberately left the trial of the keepers until last, hoping for an emptier

01:17:11stadium and less pressure on all concerned.

01:17:14Unfortunately, however, all the rejected players and a number of people who had come

01:17:17down to watch after a lengthy breakfast had joined the crowd by now, so that was larger

01:17:22than ever.

01:17:23As each keeper flew up to the goal hoops, the crowd roared and jeered in equal measure.

01:17:27Harry glanced over at Ron, who had always had a problem with nerves.

01:17:30Harry had hoped that winning their final match last term might have cured it, but apparently

01:17:35not.

01:17:36Ron was a delicate shade of green.

01:17:38None of the first five applicants saved more than two goals apiece.

01:17:42To Harry's great disappointment, Cormac McLagan saved four penalties out of five.

01:17:46On the last one, however, he shot off in completely the wrong direction.

01:17:50The crowd laughed and booed, and McLagan returned to the ground, grinding his teeth.

01:17:54Ron looked ready to pass out as he mounted his clean sweep eleven.

01:17:58Good luck, cried a voice from the stands.

01:18:00Harry looked around, expecting to see Hermione, but it was Lavender Brown.

01:18:04He would have quite liked to have hidden his face in his hands, as she did a moment later,

01:18:10but thought that as the captain he ought to show slightly more grit,

01:18:15and so turned to watch Ron do his trial.

01:18:17Yet he need not have worried.

01:18:20Ron saved one, two, three, four, five penalties in a row.

01:18:24Delighted and resisting, joining in the cheers of the crowd with difficulty,

01:18:28Harry turned to McLagan to tell him that, most unfortunately, Ron had beaten him,

01:18:32only to find McLagan's red face inches from his own.

01:18:35He stepped back hastily.

01:18:37His sister didn't really try, said McLagan menacingly.

01:18:40There was a vein pulsing in his temple like the one Harry had often admired in Uncle Vernon's.

01:18:45She gave him an easy save.

01:18:47Rubbish, said Harry coldly.

01:18:49That was the one he nearly missed.

01:18:51McLagan took a step nearer Harry, who stood his ground this time.

01:18:54Give me another go.

01:18:56No, said Harry.

01:18:57You've had your go.

01:18:58You saved four.

01:18:58Ron saved five.

01:19:00Ron's keeper.

01:19:00He won it fair and square.

01:19:02Get out of my way.

01:19:04He thought for a moment that McLagan might punch him,

01:19:06but he contented himself with an ugly grimace and stormed away,

01:19:09growling what sounded like frets to thin air.

01:19:12Harry turned around to find his own team beaming at him.

01:19:16Well done, he croaked.

01:19:17You flew really well.

01:19:19You did brilliantly, Ron.

01:19:20This time it really was Hermione running towards them from the stands.

01:19:24Harry saw Lavender walking off the pitch arm in arm with Pavarti,

01:19:27a rather grumpy expression on her face.

01:19:29Ron looked extremely pleased with himself

01:19:32and even taller than usual as he grinned around at the team and at Hermione.

01:19:36After fixing the time of then first full practice for the following Thursday,

01:19:40Harry, Ron and Hermione bade goodbye to the rest of the team and headed off towards Hagrid's.

01:19:45A watery sun was trying to break through the clouds now and it stopped drizzling at last.

01:19:49Harry felt extremely hungry.

01:19:51He hoped there would be something to eat at Hagrid's.

01:19:54I thought I was going to miss that fourth penalty, Ron was saying happily.

01:19:57Tricky shot from Demelza.

01:19:59Did you see?

01:20:00Had a bit of spin on it.

01:20:01Yes, yes.

01:20:02You were magnificent, said Hermione looking amused.

01:20:05I was better than McClaggan anyway, said Ron in a highly satisfied voice.

01:20:08Did you see him lumbering off in the wrong direction on his fifth?

01:20:11Looked like he'd been confunded.

01:20:13To Harry's surprise, Hermione turned a very deep shade of pink at these words.

01:20:18Ron noticed nothing but he was too busy describing each of his other penalties in loving detail.

01:20:24The great grey hippogriff Buckbeak was tethered in front of Hagrid's cabin.

01:20:28He clicked his razor-sharp beak at their approach and turned his huge head towards them.

01:20:33Oh dear, said Hermione nervously.

01:20:35He's still a bit scary, isn't he?

01:20:37Come off it.

01:20:37You've ridden him, haven't you?

01:20:39Said Ron.

01:20:39Harry stepped forwards and bowed low to the hippogriff without breaking eye contact or blinking.

01:20:45After a few seconds, Buckbeak sank into a bow too.

01:20:48How are you?

01:20:49Harry asked him in a low voice, moving forwards to stroke the feathery head.

01:20:53Missing him.

01:20:54But you're okay here with Hagrid, aren't you?

01:20:57Oi, said a loud voice.

01:20:59Hagrid had come striding from the corner of his cabin,

01:21:01wearing a large flowery apron and carrying a sack of potatoes.

01:21:05His enormous boar-hound Fang was at his heels.

01:21:08Fang gave a booming bark and bounded forwards.

01:21:10Get away from him!

01:21:12He'll have your fingers!

01:21:13Oh, it's you lot!

01:21:15Fang was jumping up at Hermione and Ron, attempting to lick their ears.

01:21:18Hagrid stood and looked at them, all for a split second,

01:21:21and then turned and strode into his cabin, slamming the door behind him.

01:21:26Oh dear, said Hermione, looking stricken.

01:21:28Don't worry about it, said Harry grimly.

01:21:30He walked over to the door and knocked loudly.

01:21:32Hagrid, open up!

01:21:34We want to talk to you!

01:21:35There was no sound from within.

01:21:37If you don't open the door, we'll blast it open, Harry said, pulling out his wand.

01:21:41Harry, said Hermione, sounding shocked.

01:21:43You can't possibly...

01:21:44Yeah, I can, said Harry.

01:21:46Stand back!

01:21:47But before he could say anything else, the door flew open again,

01:21:50as Harriet had known it would.

01:21:52And there stood Hagrid, glowering down at him and looking,

01:21:55despite the flowery pinny, positively alarming.

01:21:58I'm a teacher, he roared at Harry.

01:22:00A teacher potter!

01:22:01How dare you threaten to break down my door!

01:22:04I'm sorry, sir, said Harry,

01:22:05emphasising the last word as he stowed his wand inside his robes.

01:22:09Hagrid looked stunned.

01:22:11Since when have you called me sir?

01:22:13Since when have you called me potter?

01:22:15Oh, very clever, growled Hagrid.

01:22:17Very amusing.

01:22:18That's me outsmarted, innit?

01:22:20All right, come in then, you ungrateful little...

01:22:23Mumbling darkly, he stood back to let them pass.

01:22:26Hermione scurried in after Harry, looking rather frightened.

01:22:29Well, said Hagrid grumpily,

01:22:31as Harry, Ron and Hermione sat down around his enormous wooden table,

01:22:34Fang laying his head immediately upon Harry's knee,

01:22:37and drooling all over his robes.

01:22:40What's this?

01:22:40Feeling sorry for me?

01:22:42Reckon I'm lonelier a summer?

01:22:44No, said Harriet once.

01:22:45We wanted to see you.

01:22:47We've missed you, said Hermione, tremulously.

01:22:49Missed me, have you? snorted Hagrid.

01:22:51Yeah, right.

01:22:52He stomped around, brewing up tea in his enormous copper kettle,

01:22:56muttering all the while.

01:22:57Finally, he slammed down three bucket-sized mugs of mahogany brown tea in front of them,

01:23:02and a plate of his rock cakes.

01:23:04Harry was hungry enough even for Hagrid's cooking,

01:23:06and took one at once.

01:23:09Hagrid, said Hermione timidly,

01:23:11when he joined them at the table and started peeling his potatoes,

01:23:14with a brutality that suggested that each tuber had done him a great personal wrong.

01:23:19We really wanted to carry on with care of magical creatures, you know.

01:23:23Hagrid gave another great snort.

01:23:25Harry rather thought some bogeys landed on the potatoes,

01:23:28and was inwardly thankful that they were not staying for dinner.

01:23:31We did, said Hermione, but none of us could fit it into our timetables.

01:23:35Yeah, right, said Hagrid again.

01:23:37There was a funny squelching sound, and they all looked around.

01:23:40Hermione let out a tiny shriek,

01:23:42and Ron leapt out of his seat and hurried around the table,

01:23:44away from the large barrel standing in the corner

01:23:47that they had only just noticed.

01:23:49It was full of what looked like foot-long maggots,

01:23:52slimy, white and writhing.

01:23:54What are they, Hagrid? asked Harry,

01:23:57trying to sound interested rather than revolted,

01:23:59but putting down his rock cake all the same.

01:24:02Just giant grubs, said Hagrid.

01:24:05And they grow in too, said Ron, looking apprehensive.

01:24:09They won't grow into nothing, said Hagrid.

01:24:11I got them to feed to Aragog.

01:24:14And without warning, he burst into tears.

01:24:16Hagrid, cried Hermione, leaping up,

01:24:18hurrying around the table to long a way to avoid the barrel of maggots,

01:24:23and putting an arm around his shaking shoulders.

01:24:26What is it?

01:24:27It's him, gulped Hagrid,

01:24:29his beetle-black eyes streaming as he mopped his face with his apron.

01:24:33It's Aragog. I think he's dying.

01:24:37He got ill over the summer, and he's not getting better.

01:24:40I don't know what I'll do if we've been together so long.

01:24:44Hermione patted Hagrid's shoulder, looking at a complete loss for anything to say.

01:24:49Harry knew how she felt.

01:24:50He had known Hagrid to present a vicious baby dragon with a teddy bear,

01:24:54seen him croon over giant scorpions with suckers and stings,

01:24:57attempt to reason with his brutal giant of a half-brother.

01:25:01But this was perhaps the most incomprehensible of all his monster fancies,

01:25:05the gigantic talking spider, Aragog, that dwelled deep in the Forbidden Forest,

01:25:10and which he and Ron had only narrow escaped four years previously.

01:25:14Is there anything we can do? Hermione asked,

01:25:17ignoring Ron's frantic grimaces and head-shakings.

01:25:20I don't think there is, Hermione, choked Hagrid, attempting to stem the flood of his tears.

01:25:25See, the rest of the tribe, Aragog's family,

01:25:28they're getting a bit funny now he's ill, but a bit restive.

01:25:32Yeah, I think we saw a bit of that side of them, said Ron in an undertone.

01:25:36I don't reckon it'd be safe for anyone but me to go near the colony at them all,

01:25:40Hagrid finished, blowing his nose hard on the apron and looking up.

01:25:44But thanks for offering, Hermione, it means a lot.

01:25:47After that, the atmosphere lightened considerably, for although neither Harry nor Ron

01:25:51had shown any inclination to go and feed giant grubs to a murderous, gargantuan spider,

01:25:56Hagrid seemed to take it for granted that they would have liked to have done,

01:26:00and became his usual self once more.

01:26:03I always knew you'd find it hard to squeeze me into your timetables,

01:26:06he said gruffly, pouring them more tea, even if you applied for timeturners.

01:26:11We couldn't have done, said Hermione.

01:26:13We smashed the entire stock at Ministry Timeturners when we were there in the summer.

01:26:17It was in the Daily Prophet.

01:26:19Ah, well then, said Hagrid, there's no way you could have done it.

01:26:22I'm sorry, I've been, uh, you know, I've just been worried about Aragog,

01:26:26and I did wonder whether, if Professor Grubbly Plank had been teaching you.

01:26:30At which all three of them stated categorically and untruthfully

01:26:34that Professor Grubbly Plank, who had submitted, had substituted for Hagrid a few times,

01:26:38was a dreadful teacher, with the result by the time Hagrid waved them off

01:26:42the premises at dusk, he looked quite cheerful.

01:26:46I'm starving, said Harry, once the door had closed behind them,

01:26:49and they were hurrying through the dark and deserted grounds.

01:26:51He had abandoned the rock cake after an ominous cracking noise from one of his back teeth.

01:26:56And I've got that detention with Snape tonight.

01:26:58Haven't got much time for dinner.

01:27:00As they came into the castle, they spotted Cormac McLagan entering the great hall.

01:27:04It took him two attempts to get through the doors.

01:27:06He ricocheted off the frame on the first attempt.

01:27:09Ron merely gaffawed gloatingly and strode off into the hall after him.

01:27:13But Harry caught Hermione's arm and held her back.

01:27:16What, said Hermione defensively.

01:27:18If you ask me, said Harry quietly, McLagan looks like he was confunded.

01:27:23And he was standing right in front of where you were sitting.

01:27:26Hermione blushed.

01:27:28Oh, all right, then I did it, she whispered.

01:27:31But you should have heard the way he was talking about Ron and Ginny.

01:27:34Anyway, he's got a nasty temper.

01:27:36You saw how he reacted when he didn't get in.

01:27:39You wouldn't have wanted someone like that on the team.

01:27:41No, said Harry.

01:27:42No, I suppose that's true.

01:27:44But wasn't that dishonest, Hermione?

01:27:46I mean, you're a prefect, aren't you?

01:27:48Oh, be quiet, she snapped as he smirked.

01:27:51What are you two doing, demanded Ron,

01:27:53reappearing in the doorway to the great hall and looking suspicious?

01:27:56Nothing, said Harry and Hermione together, and they hurried after Ron.

01:28:00The smell of roast beef made Harry's stomach ache with hunger.

01:28:04But they had barely taken three steps towards the Gryffindor table

01:28:07when Professor Slughorn appeared in front of them, blocking their path.

01:28:10Harry, Harry, just the man I was hoping to see, he boomed genially,

01:28:15twiddling the ends of his walrus moustache and puffing out his enormous belly.

01:28:19I was hoping to catch you before dinner.

01:28:21What do you say to a spot of supper tonight in my room instead?

01:28:24We're having a little party, just a few rising stars.

01:28:28I've got MacLagan coming and Zabini, the charming Melinda Bobbin.

01:28:32I don't know whether you know her.

01:28:33Her family owns a large chain of apocrypharies,

01:28:37and of course I hope very much that Miss Granger will favour me by coming too.

01:28:42Slughorn made Hermione a little bow as he finished speaking.

01:28:45It was as though Ron was not present.

01:28:47Slughorn did not so much as look at him.

01:28:50I can't come, Professor, said Harry at once.

01:28:52I've got a detention with Professor Snape.

01:28:54Oh dear, said Slughorn, his face falling comically.

01:28:58Dear, dear, I was counting on you, Harry.

01:29:00Well now, I'll just have to have a word with Severus and explain the situation.

01:29:05I'm sure I'll be able to persuade him to postpone your detention.

01:29:08Yes, I'll see you both later.

01:29:10He bustled away out of the hall.

01:29:12He's got no chance of persuading Snape, said Harry,

01:29:14the moment Slughorn was out of earshot.

01:29:16This detention's already been postponed once.

01:29:18Snape did it for Dumbledore, but he won't do it for anyone else.

01:29:22Oh, I wish you could come.

01:29:23I don't want to go on my own, said Hermione anxiously.

01:29:26Harry knew that she was thinking about McLaggen.

01:29:28I doubt you'll be alone.

01:29:30Jimmy will probably be invited, snapped Ron,

01:29:32who did not seem to have taken kindly to being ignored by Slughorn.

01:29:36After dinner, they made their way back to Gryffindor Tower.

01:29:38The common room was very crowded, as most people had finished dinner by now,

01:29:43but they managed to find a free table and sat down.

01:29:45Ron, who had been in a bad mood ever since the encounter with Slughorn,

01:29:49folded his arms and frowned at the ceiling.

01:29:51Hermione reached out for a copy of The Evening Prophet,

01:29:54which somebody had left abandoned on a chair.

01:29:57Anything new? said Harry.

01:29:58Not really.

01:29:59Hermione had opened the newspaper and was scanning the inside pages.

01:30:03Oh, look, your dad's in here, Ron.

01:30:05He's all right, she added quickly, for Ron had looked around in alarm.

01:30:09It just says he's been to visit the Malfoy's house.

01:30:12This second search of the Death Eater's residence

01:30:15does not seem to have yielded any results.

01:30:17Arthur Weasley of the Office for the Detection and Conviscation

01:30:21of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects

01:30:24said that his team had been acting upon a confidential tip-off.

01:30:27Yeah, mine, said Harry.

01:30:29I told him at King's Cross about Malfoy,

01:30:31and that thing he was trying to get Borgin to fix.

01:30:34Well, if it's not at their house,

01:30:36he must have brought whatever it is to Hogwarts with him.

01:30:38But how can he have done, Harry? said Hermione,

01:30:41putting down the newspaper with a surprised look.

01:30:43We were all searched when we arrived, weren't we?

01:30:46Were you? said Harry, taken aback.

01:30:48I wasn't.

01:30:49Oh no, of course you weren't.

01:30:50I forgot you were late.

01:30:52Well, Filch ran over all of us with secrecy sensors

01:30:55when we got into the entrance hall.

01:30:57Any dark object would have been found.

01:30:58I know for a fact Crabbe had a shrunken head confiscated.

01:31:02So you see, Malfoy can't have brought in anything dangerous.

01:31:06Momentarily stunned, Harry watched Ginny Weasley

01:31:10playing with Arnold the Pygmy Puff for a while

01:31:12before seeing a way around this objection.

01:31:15Someone sent it to him by owl then, he said.

01:31:17His mother or someone.

01:31:19All the owls were being checked too, said Hermione.

01:31:21Filch told us.

01:31:22So when he was jabbing those secrecy sensors everywhere,

01:31:25he could reach.

01:31:27Really stumped this time, Harry found nothing else to say.

01:31:30There did not seem to be any way Malfoy could have brought

01:31:33a dangerous or dark object into the school.

01:31:36He looked hopefully at Ron,

01:31:37who was sitting with his arms folded,

01:31:38staring over at Lavender Brown.

01:31:40Can you think of any way, Malfoy?

01:31:42Oh, drop it, Harry, said Ron.

01:31:44Listen, it's not my fault Slughorn invited Hermione

01:31:47and me to his stupid party.

01:31:49Neither of us wanted to go, you know, said Harry, firing up.

01:31:52Well, as I'm not invited to any parties, said Ron,

01:31:55getting to his feet again, I think I'll go back to bed.

01:31:58He stomped off towards the door to the boys dormitories,

01:32:01leaving Harry and Hermione staring after him.

01:32:04Harry, said the new chaser, Demelza Robbins,

01:32:06appearing suddenly at his shoulder.

01:32:08I've got a message for you.

01:32:10From Professor Slughorn?

01:32:11Asked Harry, sitting up hopefully.

01:32:13No, from Professor Snape, said Demelza.

01:32:16Harry's heart sank.

01:32:17He says you're to come to his office at half past eight tonight

01:32:20to do your detention,

01:32:22no matter how many party invitations you've received.

01:32:25And he wanted you to know you'll be sorting out rotten blobber worms

01:32:29from good ones to use in potions.

01:32:31And he says there's no need to bring protective gloves.

01:32:34Right, said Harry grimly.

01:32:36Thanks a lot, Demelza.

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