No Ads Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone A Magical Sleep Story complete audiobook

hi dear listener welcome to yawn tonight we're venturing into the Magical World of Harry Potter and the philosopher stone chapter one The Boy Who Lived Mr and Mrs dersley of number four privet Drive were proud to say that they were perfectly normal thank you very much they were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious because they just didn't hold with such nonsense Mr dersley was the director of firm called grunnings which made drills he was big beefy man with hardly any neck although he did have very large mustache Mrs dersley was thin and blonde and had nearly twice the usual amount of neck which came in very useful as she spent so much of her time craning over garden fences spying on the neighbors the dersley had small son called Dudley and in their opinion there was no finer boy anywhere the dersley had everything they wanted but they also had secret and their greatest fear was that somebody would discover it they didn't think they could bear it if anyone found out about the Potters Mrs Potter was Mrs dersley sister but they hadn't met for several years in fact Mrs dersley pretended she didn't have sister because her sister and her good Forno husband were as undur leish as it was possible to be the dersley shuddered to think what the neighbors would say if the Potters arrived in the street the dersley knew that the Potters had small son too but they had never even seen him this boy was another good reason for keeping the Potters away they didn't want Dudley mixing with child like that when Mr and Mrs dersley woke up on the dull gray Tuesday our story starts there was nothing about the Cloudy Sky outside to suggest that strange and mysterious things would soon be happening all over the country Mr dersley hummed as he picked out his most Bor in tie for work and Mrs dersley gossiped away happily as she Wrestled screaming Dudley into his high chair none of them noticed large Tawny owl flutter past the window at Half 8 Mr dersley picked up his briefcase pecked Mrs dersley on the cheek and tried to kiss Dudley goodbye but missed because Dudley was now having tantrum and throwing his cereal at the walls little tyke chortled Mr dersley as he left the house he got into his car and backed out of number Four's drive it was on the corner of the street that he noticed the first sign of something peculiar cat reading map for second Mr dersley didn't realize what he had seen then he jerked his head around to look again there was tabby cat standing on the corner of privet drive but there wasn't map in sight what could he have been thinking of it must have been trick of the light Mr dersley blinked and stared at the cat it stared back as Mr dersley drove around the corner and up the road he watched The Cat In His mirror it was now reading the sign that said privet Drive no looking at the sign cats couldn't read Maps or signs Mr dersley gave himself little shake and put the cat out of his mind as he drove toward town he thought of nothing except large order of drills he was hoping to get that day but on the edge of town drills were driven out of his mind by something else as he sat in the usual morning traffic jam he couldn't help noticing that there seemed to be lot of Str strangely dressed people about people in cloaks Mr dersley couldn't bear people who dressed in funny clothes the getups you saw on young people he supposed this was some stupid new fashion he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and his eyes fell on huddle of these weirdos standing quite close by they were Whispering excitedly together Mr dersley was enraged to see that couple of them weren't young at all why that man had to be older than he was and wearing an emerald green cloak the nerve of him but then it struck Mr dersley that this was probably some silly stunt these people were obviously collecting for something yes that would be it the traffic moved on and few minutes later Mr dersley arrived in the grunnings park parking lot his mind back on drills Mr dersley always sat with his back to the window in his office on the ninth floor if he hadn't he might have found it harder to concentrate on drills that morning he didn't see the owls swooping past in broad daylight though people down in the street did they pointed and gazed open mouthed as owl after owl sped overhead most of them had never seen an owl even at nighttime Mr dersley however had perfectly normal owlf free morning he yelled at five different people he made several important telephone calls and shouted bit more he was in very good mood until lunchtime when he thought he'd stretch his legs and walk across the road to buy himself bun from the bakery he'd forgotten all about the people in cloaks until he passed group of them next to the Bakers he eyed them angrily as he passed he didn't know why but they made him uneasy this Bunch were Whispering excitedly too and he couldn't see single collecting tin it was on his way back past them clutching large donut in bag that he caught few words of what they were saying the pot that's right that's what heard yes their son Harry Mr dersley stopped dead fear flooded him he looked back at the whisperers as if he wanted to say something to them but thought better of it he dashed back across the road hurried up to his office snapped at his secretary not to disturb him seized his telephone and had almost finished dialing his home number when he he changed his mind he put the receiver back down and stroked his mustache thinking no he was being stupid Potter wasn't such an unusual name he was sure there were lots of people called Potter who had son called Harry come to think of it he wasn't even sure his nephew was called Harry he never even seen the boy it might have been Harvey or Harold there was no point point in worrying Mrs dersley she always got so upset at any mention of her sister he didn't blame her if he'd had sister like that but all the same those people in cloaks he found it lot harder to concentrate on drills that afternoon and when he left the building at 5:00 he was still so worried that he walked straight into someone just outside the door sorry he grunted as the tiny old man stumbled and almost fell it was few seconds before Mr dersley realized that the man was wearing violet cloak he didn't seem at all upset at being almost knocked to the ground on the contrary his face split into wide smile and he said in squeaky voice that made passers by stare don't be sorry my dear sir for for nothing could upset me today Rejoice for you know who has gone at last even Muggles like yourself should be celebrating this happy happy day and the old man hugged Mr dersley around the middle and walked off Mr dersley stood rooted to the spot he had been hugged by complete stranger he also thought he had been called muggle whatever that was he was rattled he hurried to his car and set off for home hoping he was imagining things which he had never hoped before because he didn't approve of imagination as he pulled into the driveway of number four the first thing he saw and it didn't improve his mood was the tabby cat he'd spotted that morning it was now sitting on his garden wall he was sure it was the same one it had the same markings around its eyes shoo said Mr dersley loudly the cat didn't move it just gave him stern look was this normal cat behavior Mr dersley wondered trying to pull himself together he led himself into the house he was still determined not to mention anything to his wife Mrs dersley had had nice normal day she told him over dinner all about Mrs next door's problems with her daughter and how Dudley had learned new word won't Mr dersley tried to act normally when Dudley had been put to bed he went into the living room in time to catch the last report on the evening news and finally bird watchers everywhere have reported that the nation's owls have been behaving very unusually today although ows normally hunt at night and are hardly ever seen in daylight there have been hundreds of sightings of these birds flying in every direction since Sunrise experts are unable to explain why the owls have suddenly changed their sleeping pattern the newscaster allowed himself grin most mysterious and now over to Jim McGuffin with the weather going to be any more Showers of owls tonight Jim well Ted said the weatherman don't know about that but it's not only the owls that have been acting oddly today viewers as far apart as Kent Yorkshire and dunde have been phoning in to tell me that instead of the rain promised yesterday they've had downpour of shooting stars perhaps people have been celebrating bonfire night early it's not until next week folks but can promise wet night tonight Mr dersley sat Frozen in his armchair shooting stars all over Britain owls flying by daylight mysterious people in cloaks all over the place and whisper whisper about The Potters Mrs dersley came into the living room carrying two cups of tea it was no good he'd have to say something to her he cleared his throat nervously petunia dear you haven't heard from your sister lately have you as he had expected Mrs dersley looked shocked and angry after all they normally pretended she didn't have sister no she said sharply why funny stuff on the news Mr dersley mumbled owls shooting stars and there were lot of funny looking people in town today so snapped Mrs dersley well just thought maybe it was something to do with you know her crowd Mrs dersley sipped her tea through pursed lips Mr dersley wondered whether he dared tell her he'd heard the name Potter he decided he didn't dare instead he said as casually as he could their son he'd be about age now wouldn't he suppose so said Mrs dersley stiffly what's his name again Howard isn't it Harry nasty common name if you ask me yes said Mr dersley his heart sinking horribly yes quite agree he didn't say another word on the subject as they went upstairs to bed while Mrs dersley was in the bathroom Mr dersley crept to the bedroom window and peered down into the front garden the cat was still there it was staring down private drive as though it were waiting for something was he imagining things could all this have anything to do with the Potters if it did if it got out that they were related to pair of well he didn't think he could bear it the dersley got into bed Mrs dersley felt fell asleep quickly but Mr dersley lay awake turning it all over in his mind his last comforting thought before he fell asleep was that even if the Potters were involved there was no reason for them to come near him and Mrs dersley The Potters knew very well what he and petunia thought about them and their kind he couldn't see how he and petunia could get mixed up in anything that might be going on he yawned and turned over it couldn't affect them how very wrong he was Mr dersley might have been drifting into an uneasy sleep but the cat on the wall outside was showing no sign of sleepiness it was sitting as still as statue its eyes fixed unblinkingly on the far corner of privet drive it didn't so much as quiver when when car door slammed on the next street nor when two owls swooped overhead in fact it was nearly midnight before the cat moved at all man appeared on the corner the cat had been watching appeared so suddenly and silently you'd have thought he'd just popped out of the ground the cat's tail twitched and its eyes narrowed nothing like this man had ever been seen on privet drive he was tall thin and very old judging by the silver of his hair and beard which were both long enough to tuck into his belt he was wearing long robes purple cloak that swept the ground and high heeled buckled boots his blue eyes were light bright and sparkling behind Half Moon spectacles and his nose was very long and crooked as though it had been broken at least twice this man's name was Albus Dumbledore Albus Dumbledore didn't seem to realize that he had just arrived in street where everything from his name to his boots was unwelcome he was busy rumaging in his cloak looking for something but he did seem to realize he was being watched because he looked up Suddenly at the cat which was still staring at him from the other end of the street for some reason the sight of the cat seemed to amuse him he chuckled and muttered should have known he found what he was looking for in his inside pocket it seemed to be silver cigarette lighter he flicked it open held it up in the air and clicked it the nearest Street Lamp went out with little pop he clicked it again the next lamp flickered Into Darkness 12 times he clicked the put outter until the only lights left on the whole street were two tiny pin Pricks in the distance which were the eyes of the cat watching him if anyone looked out of their window now even Beady eyed Mrs dersley they wouldn't be able to see anything that was happening down on the pavement Dumbledore slipped the put outter back inside his cloak and set off down the street toward number four where he sat down on the wall next to the cat he didn't look at it but after moment he spoke to it fancy seeing you here Professor mcgonagle he turned to smile at the Tabby but it had gone instead he was smiling at rather severe looking woman who was wearing square glasses exactly the shape of the markings the cat had had around its eyes she too was wearing cloak an emerald one her black hair was drawn into tight bun she looked distinctly ruffled how did you know it was me she asked my dear Professor I've never seen cat sit so stiffly you'd be stiff if you'd been sitting on brick wall all day said Professor mcgonagle all day when you could have been celebrating must have passed dozen feasts and parties on my way here Professor mcgonagal sniffed angrily yes everyone's celebrating all right she said impatiently you'd think they'd be bit more careful but no even the Muggles have noticed something's going on it was on their news she jerked her head back at the dersley dark living room window heard it flocks of owls shooting stars well they're not completely stupid they were bound to notice something shooting stars down in Kent I'll bet that was dead diggle he never had much sense you can't blame them said Dumbledore gently we've had precious little to celebrate for 11 years know that said Professor mcgonagle irritably but that's no reason to lose our heads people are being downright careless out on the streets in broad daylight not even dressed in muggle clothes swapping rumors she threw sharp sideways glance at Dumbledore here as though hoping he was going to tell her something but he didn't so she went on fine thing it would be if on the very day you know who seems to have disappeared at last the Muggles found out about us all suppose he really has gone Dumbledore it certainly seems so said Dumbledore we have much to be thankful for would you care for lemon drop what lemon drop they're kind of muggle sweet I'm rather fond of no thank you said professor mcgonagle coldly as though she didn't think this was the moment for lemon drops as say even if you know who has gone My Dear Professor surely sensible person like yourself can call him by his name all this you know who nonsense for 11 years have been trying to persuade people to call him by his proper name Voldemort Professor mcgonagal flinched but Dumbledore who was unsticking two lemon drops seemed not to notice it all gets so confusing if we keep saying you know who have never seen any reason to be frightened of saying Voldemort's name know you have an it said Professor mcgonagal sounding half exasperated half admiring but you're different everyone knows you're the only one you know all right Voldemort was frightened of you flatter me said Dumbledore calm Voldemort had powers will never have only because you're too well Noble to use them it's lucky it's dark haven't blushed so much since Madame Pomfrey told me she liked my new ear muffs Professor mcgonagal shot sharp look at Dumbledore and said the owls are nothing next to the rumors that are flying around you know what everyone's saying about why he's disappeared about what finally stopped him it seemed that Professor mcgonagal had reached the point she was most anxious to discuss the real reason she had been waiting on cold hard wall all day for neither as cat nor as woman had she fixed Dumbledore with such piercing stare as she did now it was plain that whatever everyone was saying she was not going to believe it until Dumbledore told her it was true Dumbledore however was choosing another lemon drop and did not answer what they're saying she pressed on is that last night Voldemort turned up in godric's Hollow he went to find The Potters the rumor is that Lily and James Potter are are that they're dead Dumbledore bowed his head professor gagal gasped Lily and James can't believe it didn't want to believe it Albus Dumbledore reached out and patted her on the shoulder know know he said heavily Professor McGonagle's voice trembled as she went on that's not all they're saying he tried to kill the Potter's son Harry but he couldn't he couldn't kill that little boy no one knows why or how but they're saying that when he couldn't kill Harry Potter Voldemort's power somehow broke and that's why he's gone Dumbledore nodded glumly it's it's true faltered Professor mcgonagal after all he's done all the people he's killed he couldn't kill little boy it's just astounding of all the things to stop him but how in the name of Heaven did Harry survive we can only guess said Dumbledore we may never know Professor mcgonagle pulled out lace handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes beneath her spectacles Dumbledore gave great sniff as he took golden watch from his pocket and examined it it was very odd watch it had 12 hands but no numbers instead little planets were moving around the edge it must have made sense to Dumbledore though because he put it back in his pocket and said Hagrid's late suppose it was he who told you I'd be here by the way yes said professor mcgonagle and don't suppose you're going to tell me why you're here of all places I've come to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle they're the only family he has left now you don't mean you can't mean the people who live here cried Professor mcgonagle jumping to her feet and pointing at number four Dumbledore you can't I've been watching them all day you couldn't find two people who are less like us and they've got this son saw him kicking his mother all the way up the street screaming for sweets Harry Potter come and live here it's the best place for him said Dumbledore firmly his aunt and uncle will be able to explain everything to him when he's older I've written them letter letter repeated Professor mcgonagle faintly sitting back down on the wall really Dumbledore you think you can explain all this in letter these people will never understand him he'll be famous legend wouldn't be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter Day in the future there will be books written about Harry every child in our world will know his name exactly said Dumbledore looking very seriously over the top of his Half Moon glasses it would be enough to turn any boy's head famous before he can walk and talk famous for something he won't even remember or you see how much better off he'll be growing up away from all that until he's ready to take it Professor mcgonagal opened her mouth changed her mind swallowed and then said yes yes you're right of course but how is the boy getting here Dumbledore she eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it Hagrid bringing him you think it's wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this would trust Hagrid with my life said Dumbledore I'm not saying his heart isn't in the right place said Professor mcgonagle grudgingly but you can't pretend he's not careless he does tend to what was that low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them it grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of headlight it swelled to Roar as they both looked up at the sky and huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them if the motorcycle was huge it was nothing to the man sitting Asti it he was almost twice as tall as normal man and at least five times as wide he looked simply too big to be allowed and so wild long Tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face he had hands the size of trash can lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins in his vast muscular arms he was holding bundle of blankets Hagrid said Dumbledore sounding relieved at last and where did you get that motorcycle borrowed it Professor Dumbledore said the giant climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke young serious black lent it to me I've got him sir no problems were there no sir house was almost destroyed but got him out all right before the Muggles started swarming around he fell asleep as we was flying over Bristol Dumbledore and professor mcgonagal bent forward over the bundle of blankets inside just visible was baby boy fast asleep under tuft of jet black hair over his forehead they could see curiously shaped cut like bolt of lightning is that where whispered Professor mcgonagle yes said Dumbledore he'll have that scar forever couldn't you do something about it Dumbledore even if could could wouldn't scars can come in handy have one myself above my left knee that is perfect map of the London Underground well give him here Hagrid we'd better get this over with Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the dersley house could could say goodbye to him sir asked Hagrid he bent his great Shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been very scratchy whiskery kiss then suddenly Hagrid let out howl like wounded dog sh hissed Professor mcgonagle you'll wake the Muggles sorry sobbed Hagrid taking out large spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it but could can't stand it Lily and James dead and poor little Harry off her with Muggles yes yes it's all very sad but get grip on yourself Hagrid or we'll be found Professor mcgonagal whispered patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low Garden Wall and walked to the front door he laid Harry gently on the doorstep took letter out of his cloak tucked it inside Harry's blankets and then came back to the other two for full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle Hagrid's shoulders shook Professor mcgonagle blinked furiously and the twinkling light that usually Shone from Dumbledore's eyes seemed to have gone out well said Dumbledore finally that's that we've no business staying here we may as well go and join the celebrations yeah said Hagrid in very muffled voice I'll be taken serious his bike back good night Professor mcgonagal Professor Dumbledore sir wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life with roar it Rose into the air and off into the night shall see you soon expect professor mcgonagal said dumble door nodding to her professor mcgonagal blew her nose in reply Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street on the corner he stopped and took out the silver put outer he clicked it once and 12 balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street he could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four good luck Harry he murmured he turned on his heel and with swish of his cloak he was gone breeze ruffled the neat Hedges of privet Drive which lay silent and tidy under the inky Sky the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up one small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on not knowing he was special not knowing he was famous not knowing he would be woken in few hours Time by Mrs dersley scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley he couldn't know that at this very moment people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices to Harry Potter The Boy Who Lived chapter 2 The Vanishing glass nearly 10 years had passed since the dersley had woken up to find their nephew on the front step but privet Drive had hardly changed at all the sun rose on the same tidy front Gardens and and lit up the brass number four on the dersley front door it crept into their living room which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr dersley had seen that fateful news report about the owls only the photographs on The Mantel piece really showed how much time had passed 10 years ago there had been lots of pictures of what looked like large pink beach ball wearing different colored bonnets but Dudley Durley was no longer baby and now the photographs showed large blonde boy riding his first bicycle On Carousel at the fair playing computer game with his father being hugged and kissed by his mother the room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house too yet Harry Potter was still there asleep at the moment but not for long his Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day up get up now Harry woke with start his aunt wrapped on the door again up she screeched Harry heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove he rolled onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having it had been good one there had been flying motorcycle in it he had funny feeling he'd had the same dream before his aunt was back outside the door are you up yet she demanded nearly said Harry well get move on want you to look after the bacon and don't you dare let it burn want everything perfect on duddy's birthday Harry groaned what did you say his aunt snapped through the door nothing nothing Dudley's birthday how could he have forgotten Harry got slowly out of bed and started looking for socks he found pair under his bed and after pulling spider off one of them put them on Harry was used to spiders because the cupboard Under the Stairs was full of them and that was where he slept when he was dressed he went down the hall into the kitchen the table was almost hidden beneath all Dudley's birthday pres it looked as though Dudley had gotten the new computer he wanted not to mention the second television and the racing bike exactly why Dudley wanted racing bike was mystery to Harry as Dudley was very fat and hated EXC exercise unless of course it involved punching somebody Dudley's favorite punching bag was Harry but he couldn't often catch him Harry didn't look it but he was very fast perhaps it had something to do with living in dark cupboard but Harry had always been small and skinny for his age he looked even smaller and skinnier than he really was because all he had to wear were old clothes of Dudley's and Dudley was about four times bigger than he was Harry had thin face knobbly knees black hair and bright green eyes he wore round glasses held together with lot of Scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose the only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was very thin scar on his forehead that was shaped like bolt of lightning he had had it as long as he could remember and the first question he could ever remember asking his Aunt Petunia was how he had gotten it in the car crash when your parents died she had said and don't ask questions don't ask questions that was the first rule for quiet life with the dersley uncle Vernon entered the kitchen as Harry was was turning over the bacon comb your hair He barked by way of morning greeting about once week Uncle Vernon looked over the top of his newspaper and shouted that Harry needed haircut Harry must have had more haircuts than the rest of the boys in his class put together but it made no difference his hair simply grew that way all over the place Harry was frying egg eggs by the time Dudley arrived in the kitchen with his mother Dudley looked lot like Uncle Vernon he had large pink face not much neck small watery blue eyes and thick blonde hair that lay smoothly on his thick fat head Aunt Petunia often said that Dudley looked like baby angel Harry often said that Dudley looked like pig in wig Harry put the plates of egg and bacon on the table which was difficult as there wasn't much room Dudley meanwhile was counting his presence his face fell 36 he said looking up at his mother and father that's two less than last year darling you haven't counted Auntie marg's presence see it's here under this big one from Mommy and Daddy all right 37 then said Dudley going going red in the face Harry who could see huge Dudley tantrum coming on began wolfing down his bacon as fast as possible in case Dudley turned the table over Aunt Petunia obviously sented danger too because she said quickly and we'll buy you another two presents while we're out today how's that Popkin two more presents is that all right Dudley thought for moment it looked like hard work finally he said slowly so I'll have 30 30 39 sedums said Aunt Petunia Dudley sat down heavily and grabbed the nearest parcel all right then Uncle Vernon chuckled little tyke wants his money's worth just like his father atab boy Dudley he ruffled Dudley's hair at that moment the telephone phone rang and Aunt Petunia went to answer it while Harry and Uncle Vernon watched Dudley unwrap the racing bike video camera remote control airplane 16 new computer games and VCR he was ripping the paper off gold wristwatch when Aunt Petunia came back from the telephone looking both angry and worried bad news Vernon she said Mrs figs broken her leg she can't take him she jerked her head in Harry's Direction Dudley's mouth fell open in horror but Harry's heart gave leap every year on Dudley's birthday his parents took him and friend out for the day to adventure parks hamburger restaurants or the movies every year Harry was left behind with Mrs fig mad old lady who lived two streets away Harry hated it there the whole house smelled of cabbage and Mrs fig made him look at photographs of all the cats she'd ever owned now what said Aunt Petunia looking furiously at Harry as though he'd planned this Harry knew he ought to feel sorry that Mrs fig had broken her leg but it wasn't easy when he reminded himself it would be whole year before he had to look at tibbles snowy Mr paw and tufty again we could phone Marge Uncle Vernon suggested don't be silly Vernon she hates the boy the dersley often spoke about Harry like this as though he wasn't there or rather as though he was something very nasty that couldn't understand them like slug what about what's her name your friend Ion on vacation in mayorca snapped Aunt Petunia you could just just leave me here Harry put in hopefully he'd be able to watch what he wanted on television for change and maybe even have go on Dudley's computer Aunt Petunia looked as though she'd just swallowed lemon and come back and find the house in ruins she snarled won't blow up the house said Harry but they weren't listening suppose we could take him to the zoo said Aunt Petunia slowly and leave him in the car that car is new he's not sitting in it alone Dudley began to cry loudly in fact he wasn't really crying it had been years since he'd really cried but he knew that if he screwed up his face and wailed his mother would give him anything he wanted dinky dudy Dums don't cry mommy won't let him spoil your special day she cried flinging her arms around him don't want him to come Dudley yelled between huge pretend sobs he always spoils everything he shot Harry nasty grin through the Gap in his mother's arms just then the doorbell rang good lord they're here said Aunt Petunia frantically and moment later Dudley's best friend Pierce pus walked in with his mother Pierce was scrawny boy with face like rat he was usually the one who held people's arms behind their backs while Dudley hit them Dudley stopped pretending to cry at once half an hour later Harry who couldn't believe his luck was sitting in the back of the dersley car with piers and Dudley on the way to the zoo for the first time in his life his aunt aunt and uncle hadn't been able to think of anything Mills to do with him but before they'd left Uncle Vernon had taken Harry aside I'm warning you he had said putting his large purple face right up close to Harry's I'm warning you now boy any funny business anything at all and you'll be in that cupboard from now until Christmas I'm not going to do anything said Harry honestly but Uncle Vernon didn't believe him no one ever did the problem was strange things often happened around Harry and it was just no good telling the dersley he didn't make them happen once Aunt Petunia tired of Harry coming back from The Barbers looking as though he hadn't been at all had taken pair of kitchen scissors and cut his hair so short he was almost bald except for his bangs which she left to hide that horrible scar Dudley had laughed himself silly at Harry who spent sleepless night imagining school the next day where he was already laughed at for his baggy clothes and taped glasses next morning however he had gotten up to find his hair exactly as it had been before Aunt Petunia had sheared it off he had been given week in his cupboard for this even though he had tried to explain that he couldn't explain how it had grown back so quickly another time Aunt Petunia had been trying to force him into revolting old sweater of Dudley's brown with orange puffballs the harder she tried to pull it over his head the smaller it seemed to become until finally it might have fitted hand puppet but certainly wouldn't fit Harry Aunt Petunia had decided it must have shrunk in the wash and to his great relief Harry wasn't punished on the other hand he'd gotten into terrible trouble for being found on the roof of the school kitchens Dudley's gang had been chasing him as usual when as much to Harry's surprise as anyone else's there he was sitting on the chimney the dersley had received very angry letter from Harry's head mistress telling them Harry had been climbing school buildings but all he tried to do as he shouted at Uncle Vernon through the locked door of his cupboard was jump behind the big trash cans outside the kitchen doors Harry supposed that the wind must have caught him in mid jump but today nothing was going to go wrong it was even worth being with Dudley and Pierce to be spending the day somewhere that was in school his cupboard or Mrs Fig's cabbage smelling living room while he drove Uncle Vernon complained to Aunt Petunia he liked to complain about things people at work Harry the council Harry the bank and Harry were just few of his favorite subjects this morning it was motorcycles roaring along like maniacs the young hoodlums he said as motorcycle overtook them had dream about motorcycle said Harry remembering suddenly it was flying Uncle Vernon nearly crashed into the car in front he turned right around in his seat and yelled at Harry his face like gigantic beat with mustache motorcycles don't fly Dudley and Pierce sniggered know they don't said Harry it was only dream but he wished he hadn't said anything if there was one thing the dersley hated even more than his asking questions it was his talking about anything acting in way it shouldn't no matter if it was in dream or even cartoon they seemed to think he might get dangerous ideas it was very sunny Saturday in the zoo was crowded with families the dersley bought Dudley and Pier large chocolate ice creams at the entrance and then because the smiling lady in the van had asked Harry what he wanted before they could hurry him away they bought him cheap lemon ice pop it wasn't bad either Harry thought licking it as they watched gorilla scratching its head who looked remarkably like Dudley except that it wasn't blonde Harry had the best morning he'd had in long time he was careful to walk little way apart from the dersley so that Dudley and peers who were starting to get bored with the Animals by lunchtime wouldn't fall back on their favorite hobby of hitting him they ate in the zoo restaurant and when Dudley had tantrum because his Knickerbocker Glory didn't have enough ice cream on top Uncle Vernon bought him another one and Harry was allowed to finish the first Harry felt afterward that he should have known it was all too good to last after lunch they went to the reptile house it was so cool and dark in there with lit Windows all along the walls behind the glass all sorts of lizards and snakes were crawling and slithering over bits of wood and stone Dudley and Piers wanted to see huge poisonous cobras and thick man crushing pythons Dudley quickly found the largest snake in the place it could have wrapped its body twice around uncle Vernon's car and crushed it into trash can but at the moment it didn't look in the mood in fact it was fast asleep Dudley stood with his nose pressed against the glass staring at the glistening Brown coils make it move he whined at his father Uncle Vernon tapped on the glass but the snake didn't budge do it again Dudley ordered Uncle Vernon wrapped the glass smartly with his knuckles but the snake just snoozed on this is boring Dudley moaned he shuffled away Harry moved in front of the tank and looked at intently at the snake he wouldn't have been surprised if it had died of boredom itself no company except stupid people drumming their fingers on the glass trying to disturb it all day long it was worse than having cupboard as bedroom where the only visitor was Aunt Petunia hammering on the door to wake you up at least he got to visit the rest of the house the snake suddenly opened its beady eyes slowly very slowly it raised its head until its eyes were on level with Harry's it winked Harry stared then he looked quickly around to see if anyone was watching they weren't he looked back at the snake and winked too the snake jerked its head toward Uncle Vernon and Dudley then raised its eyes to the ceiling it gave Harry look that said quite plainly get that all the time know Harry murmured through the glass though he wasn't sure the snake could hear him it must be really annoying the snake nodded vigorously where do you come from anyway Harry asked the snake jabbed its tail at little sign next to the glass Harry peered at it boa constrictor Brazil was it nice there the boa constrictor jabbed its tail at the sign again and Harry read on this specimen was bred in the zoo see so you've never been to Brazil as the snake shook its head deafening shout behind Harry made both of them jump Dudley Mr dersley come and look at this snake you won't believe what it's doing Dudley came waddling toward them as fast as he could out of the way you he said punching Harry in the ribs caught by surprise Harry fell hard on the concrete floor what came next happened so fast no one saw how it happened one second piers and dudle were leaning right up close to the glass the next they had leapt back with howls of horror Harry sat up and gasped the glass front of the boa constrictor tank had vanished the Great Snake was uncoiling itself rapidly slithering out onto the floor people throughout the reptile house screamed and started running for the exits as the snake slid swiftly past him Harry could have sworn low hissing voice said Brazil here come thanks amigo The Keeper of the reptile house was in shock but the glass he kept saying where did the glass go the zoo director himself made Aunt Petunia cup of strong sweet tea while he apologized over and over again piers and Dudley could only Jibber as far as Harry had seen the snake hadn't done anything except snap playfully at their heels as it passed but by the time they were all back in Uncle Vernon's car Dudley was telling them how it had nearly bitten off his leg while Piers was swearing it had tried to squeeze him to death but worst of all for Harry at least was peers calming down enough to say Harry was talking to it weren't you Harry Uncle Vernon waited until Piers was safely out of the house before starting on Harry he was so angry he could hardly speak he managed to say go cupboard stay no meals before he collapsed into chair and Aunt Petunia had to run and get him large Brandy Harry lay in his dark cupboard much later wishing he had watch he didn't know what time it was and he couldn't be sure the dersley were asleep yet until they were he couldn't risk sneaking to the kitchen for some food he'd lived with the dersley almost 10 years 10 miserable years as long as he he could remember ever since he'd been baby and his parents had died in that car crash he couldn't remember being in the car when his parents had died sometimes when he strained his memory during long hours in his cupboard he came up with strange Vision blinding flash of green light and burning pain on his forehead this he supposed was the crash though he couldn't imagine where all the green light came from he couldn't remember his parents at all his aunt and uncle never spoke about them and of course he was forbidden to ask questions there were no photographs of them in the house when he had been younger Harry had dreamed and dreamed of some unknown relation coming to take him away but it had never happened the dersley were his own only family yet sometimes he thought or maybe hoped that strangers in the street seemed to know him very strange strangers they were too tiny man in violet Top Hat had bowed to him once while out shopping with Aunt Petunia and Dudley after asking Harry furiously if he knew the man Aunt Petunia had rushed them out of the shop without buying anything wildl looking old woman dressed dressed all in green had waved merrily at him once on bus bald man in very long purple coat had actually shaken his hand in the street the other day and then walked away without word the weirdest thing about all these people was the way they seemed to vanish the second Harry tried to get closer look at school Harry had no one everybody knew that Dudley's gang hated that odd Harry Potter in his baggy old clothes and broken glasses and nobody liked to disagree with Dudley's gang chapter 3 the letters from no one The Escape of the Brazilian boa constrictor earned Harry his longest ever punishment by the time he was allowed out of his cupboard again the summer holidays had started and Dudley had already broken his new video camera crashed his remote control airplane and first time out on his racing bike knocked down old Mrs fig as she crossed privet drive on her crutches Harry was glad school was over but there was no escaping Dudley's gang who visited the house every single day Pierce Dennis Malcolm and Gordon were all big and stupid but as Dudley was the biggest and stupidest of the lot he was the leader the rest of them were all quite happy to join in Dudley's favorite sport Harry hunting this was why Harry spent as much time as possible out of the house wandering around and thinking about the end of the holidays where he could see tiny Ray of Hope When September came he would be going off to secondary school and for the first time in his life he wouldn't be with Dudley Dudley had been accepted at Uncle Vernon's old private school smeltings Pier's pus was going there too Harry on the other hand was going to Stonewall High the local public school Dudley thought this was very funny they stuffed people's heads down the toilet the first day at Stonewall he told Harry want to come upstairs and practice no thanks said Harry the poor toilets never had anything as horrible as your head down it it might be sick then he ran before Dudley could work out what he'd said one day in July Aunt Petunia took Dudley to London to buy his smeltings uniform leaving Harry at Mrs figs Mrs fig wasn't as bad as usual it turned out she'd broken her leg tripping over one of her cats and she didn't seem quite as fond of them as before she let Harry watch television and gave him bit of chocolate cake that tasted as though she'd had it for several years that evening Dudley paraded around the living room for the family in his brand new uniform smeltings boys wore maroon tail coats orange nicker boers and flat straw hats called boers they also carried knobbly sticks used for hitting each other while the teachers weren't looking this was supposed to be good training for later life as he looked at Dudley in his new Knickerbockers Uncle Vernon said gruffly that it was the proudest moment of his life Aunt Petunia burst into tears and said she couldn't believe it was her ickle dudle kins he looked so handsome and grown up Harry did didn't trust himself to speak he thought two of his ribs might already have cracked from trying not to laugh there was horrible smell in the kitchen the next morning when Harry went in for breakfast it seemed to be coming from large metal tub in the sink he went to have look the tub was full of what looked like dirty rags swimming in gray water what's this he asked Aunt Petunia her lips tightened as they always did if he dared to ask question your new school uniform she said Harry looked in the bowl again he said didn't realize it had to be so wet do be stupid snapped Aunt Petunia I'm dying some of Dudley's old things gray for you it'll look just like everyone else's when finished Harry seriously doubted this but thought it best not to argue he sat down at the table and tried not to think about how he was going to look on his first day at Stonewall high like he was wearing bits of old elephant skin probably Dudley and Uncle Vernon came in both with wrinkled noses because of the smell from Harry's new uniform Uncle Vernon opened his newspaper as usual and Dudley banged his SM melting stick which he carried everywhere on the table they heard the click of the mail slot and flop of letters on the doormat get the mail Dudley said Uncle Vernon from behind his paper make Harry get it get the mail Harry make Dudley get it poke him with your smelting stick Dudley Harry dodged the smelting stick and went to get the mail three things lay on the doorm postcard from Uncle Vernon's sister Marge who was vacationing on the aisle of white brown envelope that looked like bill and letter for Harry Harry picked it up and stared at it his heart twanging like giant elastic band no one ever in his whole life had written to him who would he had no friends no other relatives he didn't belong to the library so he'd never even got rude notes asking for books back yet here it was letter addressed so plainly there could be no mistake Mr Potter the cupboard under the stairs for privet Drive little wiing Su the envelope was thick and heavy made of yellowish parchment and the address was written in emerald green ink there was no stamp turning the envelope over his hand trembling Harry saw purple Wax Seal bearing coat of arms lion an eagle badger and snake surrounding large letter hurry up boy shouted Uncle Vernon from the kitchen what are you doing checking for letter bombs he chuckled at his own joke Harry went back to the kitchen still staring at his letter he handed Uncle Vernon the bill and the postcard sat down and slowly began to open the yellow envelope Uncle Vernon ripped open the bill snorted in disgust and flipped over the postcard Mar's ill he informed Aunt Petunia ate funny Welk dad said Dudley suddenly dad Harry's got something Harry was on the point of unfolding his letter which was written on the same heavy parchment as the envelope when it was jerked sharply out of his hand by Uncle Vernon that's mine said Harry trying to snatch it back who'd be writing to you sneered Uncle Vernon shaking the letter open with one hand and glancing at it his face went from red to Green faster than set of traffic lights and it didn't stop there within seconds it was the grayish white of old porridge Pipi petunia he gasped Dudley tried to grab the letter to read it but Uncle Vernon held it high out of his reach Aunt Petunia took it curiously and read the first line for moment it looked as though she might faint she clutched her throat and made choking noise Vernon my goodness Vernon they stared at each other seeming to have forgotten that Harry and Dudley were still in the room Dudley wasn't used to being ignored he gave his father sharp tap on the head with his smelting stick want to read that letter he said loudly want to read it said Harry furiously as it's mine get out both of you coked Uncle Vernon stuffing the letter back inside its envelope Harry didn't move want my letter he shouted let me see it demanded Dudley out roared Uncle Vernon and he took both Harry and Dudley by the scruffs of their necks and threw them into the Hall slamming the kitchen door behind them Harry and Dudley promptly had furious but silent fight over who would listen at the keyhole Dudley one so hairy his glasses dangling from one ear lay flat on his stomach to listen at the crack between door and floor Vernon Aunt Petunia was saying in quivering voice look at the address how could they possibly know where he sleeps you don't think they're watching the house watching spying might be following us muttered Uncle Vernon wildly but what should we do Vernon should we write back tell them we don't want Harry could see Uncle Vernon's shiny black shoes pacing up and down the kitchen no he said finally no we'll ignore it if they don't get an answer yes that's best we won't do anything but I'm not having one in the house petunia didn't we swear when we took him in we'd stamp out that dangerous nonsense that evening when got back from work Uncle Vernon did something he'd never done before he visited Harry in his cupboard where's my letter said Harry the moment Uncle Vernon had squeezed through the door who's writing to me no one it was addressed to you by mistake said Uncle Vernon shortly have burned it it was not mistake said Harry angrily it had my cupboard on on it silence yelled Uncle Vernon and couple of spiders fell from the ceiling he took few deep breaths and then forced his face into smile which looked quite painful yes Harry about this cupboard your aunt and have been thinking you're really getting bit big for it we think it might be nice if you moved into Dudley's second bedroom why said Harry don't ask questions snapped his uncle take this stuff upstairs now the dersley house had four bedrooms one for Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia one for visitors usually Uncle Vernon's sister Marge one where Dudley slept and one where Dudley kept all the toys and things that wouldn't fit into hit's first bedroom it only took Harry one trip upstairs to move everything he owned from the cupboard to this room he sat down on the bed and stared around him nearly everything in here was broken the month-old video camera was lying on top of small working tank Dudley had Once Driven over the next door neighbor's dog in the corner was Dudley's first ever television set which he'd put his foot through when his favorite program had been cancelled the was large bird cage which had once held parrot that Dudley had swapped at school for real air rifle which was up on shelf with the end all bent because Dudley had sat on it other shelves were full of books they were the only things in the room that looked as though they'd never been touched from downstairs came the sound of Dudley balling at his mother don't want him in there need that room make him get out Harry sighed and stretched out on the bed yesterday he'd have given anything to be up here today he'd rather be back in his cupboard with that letter than up here without it next morning at breakfast everyone was rather quiet Dudley was in shock he'd screamed whacked his father with his smelting stick been sick on purpose kicked his mother and thrown his tortoise through the greenhouse roof and he still didn't have his room back Harry was thinking about this time yesterday and bitterly wishing he'd opened the letter in the hall uncle veran and Aunt Petunia kept looking at each other Darkly when the maale arrived Uncle Vernon who seemed to be trying to be nice to Harry made Dudley go and get it they heard him banging things with his smelting stick all the way down the hall then he shouted there's another one Mr Potter the smallest bedroom privet drive with strangled cry Uncle Vernon leapt from his seat and ran down the hall Harry right behind him Uncle Vernon had to wrestle Dudley to the ground to get the letter from him which was made Difficult by the fact that Harry had grabbed Uncle Vernon around the neck from behind after minute of confused fighting in which everyone got hit lot by the smelting stick Uncle Vernon straightened up gasping for breath with Harry's letter clutched in his hand go to your cupboard mean your bedroom he wheezed at Harry Dudley go just go Harry walked round and round his new room someone knew he had moved out of his cupboard and they seemed to know he hadn't received his first letter surely that meant they'd try again and this time he'd make sure they didn't fail he had plan the repaired alarm clock rang at 6:00 the next morning Harry turned it off quickly and dressed silently he mustn't wake the Durley he stole downstairs without turning on any of the lights he was going to wait for the postman on the corner of privet drive and get the letters for number four first his heart hammered as he crept across the Dark Hall toward the front door Harry leapt into the air he'd trotten on something big and squashy on the doormat something alive lights clicked on upstairs and to his horror Harry realized that the big squashy something had been his uncle's face Uncle Vernon had been lying at the foot of the front door in sleeping bag clearly making sure that Harry didn't do exactly what he'd been trying to do he shouted at Harry for about half an hour and then told him to go and make cup of tea Harry shuffled miserably off into the kitchen and by the time he got back the maale had arrived right into Uncle Vernon's lap Harry could see three letters addressed in green ink want he began but Uncle Vernon was tearing the letters into pieces before his eyes Uncle Vernon didn't go to work that day he stayed at home and nailed up the mail slot see he explained to Aunt Petunia through mouthful of nails if they can't deliver them they'll just give up I'm not sure that'll work Vernon these people's minds work in strange ways petunia they're not like you and me said Uncle Vernon trying to knock in nail with the piece of fruit cake Aunt Petunia had just brought him on Friday no less than 12 letters arrived for Harry as they couldn't go through the mail slot they had been pushed under the door slotted through the sides and few even forced through the small window in the downstairs bathroom Uncle Vernon stayed at home again after burning all the letters he got out hammer and nails and boarded up the Cracks around the front and back doors so no one could go out he hummed Tiptoe Through the Tulips as he worked and jumped at small noises on Saturday things began to get out of hand 24 letters to Harry found their way into the house rolled up and hidden inside each of the two dozen eggs that their very confused Milkman had handed Aunt Petunia through the living room window while Uncle Vernon made Furious telephone calls to the post office and the dairy trying to find someone to complain to Aunt Petunia sh spred the letters in her food processor who on Earth wants to talk to you this badly Dudley asked Harry in amazement on Sunday morning Uncle Vernon sat down at the breakfast table looking tired and rather ill but happy no post on Sundays he reminded them cheerfully as he spread marmalade on his newspapers no damn letters today something came whizzing down the kitchen chimney as he spoke and caught him sharply on the back of the head next moment 30 or 40 letters came pelting out of the fireplace like bullets the dersley ducked but Harry leapt into the air trying to catch one out out Uncle Vernon seized Harry around the waist and threw him into the Hall when Aunt Petunia and Dudley had run out with their arms over their faces Uncle Vernon slammed the door shut they could hear the letters still streaming into the room bouncing off the walls and floor that does it said Uncle Vernon trying to speak calmly but pulling great tfts out of his mustache at the same time want you all back here in 5 minutes ready to leave we're going away just pack some clothes no arguments he looked so dangerous with half his mustache missing that no one dared argue 10 minutes later they had wrenched their way through the boarded up doors and were in the car speeding toward the highway Dudley was sniffling in the back seat his father had hit him round the head for holding them up while he tried to pack his television vcr and computer in his sports bag they drove and they drove even Aunt Petunia didn't dare ask where they were going every now and then Uncle Vernon would take sharp turn and drive in the opposite direction for while shake them off shake them off he would mutter whenever he did this they didn't stop to eat or drink all day by Nightfall Dudley was howling he'd never had such bad day in his life he was hungry he'd missed Five television programs he'd wanted to see and he'd never gone so long without blowing up an alien on his computer Uncle Vernon stopped at last outside gloomy looking Hotel on the outskirts of big city Dudley and Harry shared room with twin beds and damp musty sheets Dudley snored but Harry stayed awake sitting on the window sill staring down at the lights of passing cars and wondering they ate stale Corn Flakes and cold tinned tomatoes on toast for breakfast the next day they had just finished when the owner of the hotel came over to their table excuse me but as one of you Mr Potter only got about 100 of these at the front desk she held up letter so they could read the green ink address Mr Potter room rail viw Hotel cworth Harry made grab for the letter but Uncle Vernon knocked his hand out of the way the woman stared I'll take them said Uncle Vernon standing up quickly and following her from the dining room wouldn't it be better just to go home dear Aunt Petunia suggested timidly hours later but Uncle Vernon didn't seem to hear her exactly what he was looking for none of them knew he drove them into the middle of forest got out looked around shook his head got back in the car and off they went again the same thing happened in the middle of plowed field halfway across suspension bridge and at the top of multi parking garage Daddy's Gone mad hasn't he Dudley asked Aunt Petunia dully late that afternoon Uncle Vernon had parked at the coast locked them all inside the car car and disappeared it started to rain great drops beat on the roof of the car dudl sniveled it's Monday he told his mother the great Humberto's on tonight want to stay somewhere with television Monday this reminded Harry of something if it was Monday and you could usually count on Dudley to know the days the week because of television then tomorrow Tuesday was Harry's 11th birthday of course his birthdays were never exactly fun last year the dersley had given him coat hanger and pair of Uncle Vernon's old socks still you weren't 11 every day Uncle Vernon was back and he was smiling he was also carrying long thin package and didn't answer Aunt Petunia when she asked what he'd bought found the perfect place he said come on everyone out it was very cold outside the car Uncle Vernon was pointing at what looked like large Rock way out at Sea perched On Top of the Rock was the most miserable Little Shack you could imagine one thing was certain there was no television in there storm forecast for tonight said Uncle Vernon gleefully clapping his hands to together and this gentleman's kindly agreed to lend us his boat toothless old man came ambling up to them pointing with rather Wicked grin at an old rowboat bobbing in the iron gray water below them I've already got us some rations said Uncle Vernon so all aboard it was freezing in the boat icy seaspray and Rain crept down their necks and chilly wind whipped their faces after what seemed like hours they reached the rock where Uncle Vernon slipping and sliding led the way to the broken down house the inside was horrible it smelled strongly of seaweed the wind whistled through the gaps in the wooden walls and the fireplace was damp and empty there were only two rooms Uncle Vernon's rations turned out to be bag of chips each in four bananas he tried to start fire but the empty chip bags just smoked and shriveled up could do with some of those letters now he said cheerfully he was in very good mood obviously he thought nobody stood chance of reaching them here in storm to deliver mail Harry privately agreed though the thought didn't cheer him up at all as night fell the promise storm blew up around them spray from the high waves splattered the walls of the Hut and fierce wind rattled the filthy Windows Aunt Petunia found few moldy blankets in the second room and made up bed for Dudley on the moth eaten sofa she and Uncle Vernon went off to the lumpy bed next door and Harry was left to find the softest bit of floor he could and to curl up under the thinnest most ragged blanket the storm raged more and more ferociously as the night went on Harry couldn't sleep he shivered and turned over trying to get comfortable his stomach rumbling with Hunger Dudley's snores were drowned by the low rolls of Thunder that started near midnight the lighted dial of Dudley's watch which was dangling over the edge of the sofa on his fat wrist told Harry he'd be 11 in 10 minutes time he lay and watched his birthday tick nearer wondering if the dersley would remember at all wondering where the letter writer was now 5 minutes to go Harry heard something Creek outside he hoped the roof wasn't going to fall in although he might be warmer if it did 4 minutes to go maybe the house and privet drive would be so full of letters when they got back that he'd be able to steal one somehow 3 minutes to go was that the sea slapping hard on the Rock like that and 2 minutes to go what was that funny crunching noise was the rock crumbling into the sea 1 minute to go and he'd be 11 3 seconds 20 10 9 maybe he'd wake Dudley up just to annoy him 3 2 1 Boom the whole Shack shivered and Harry sat bolt upright staring at the door someone was outside knocking to come in chapter 4 The Keeper of the keys boom they knocked again Dudley jerked awake where's the cannon he said stupidly there was crash behind them and Uncle Vernon came skitting into the room room he was holding rifle in his hands now they knew what had been in the long thin package he had brought with them who's there he shouted warn you I'm armed there was pause then smash the door was hit with such force that it swung clean off its hinges and with deafening crash landed flat on the floor giant of man was standing in the doorway his face was almost completely hidden by long shaggy mane of hair and wild Tangled beard but you could make out his eyes glinting like black beetles under all the hair the giant squeezed his way into the Hut stooping so that his head just brushed the ceiling he bent down picked up the door and fitted it easily back into its frame the noise of the storm outside dropped dropped little he turned to look at them all couldn't make us cup of tea could you it's not been an easy Journey he stroe over to the sofa where Dudley sat Frozen with fear budge up ye great lump said the stranger Dudley squeaked and ran to hide behind his mother who was crouching terrified behind Uncle Vernon and here's Harry said the Giant Harry looked up into the fierce wild shadowy face and saw that the beetle eyes were crinkled in smile L's time saw you you was only baby said the giant you look lot like yet dad but you've got yet mom's eyes Uncle Vernon made funny rasping noise demand that you leave at once sit he said you are breaking and entering shut up dersley ye great PRI said the giant he reached over the back of the sofa jerked the gun out of Uncle Vernon's hands bent it into knot as easily as if it had been made of rubber and threw it into corner of the room Uncle Vernon made another funny noise like mouse being trotten on anyway Harry said the giant turning his back on the dersley very happy birthday to you got Summit for yoh here here might have sat on it at some point but it'll taste all right from an inside pocket of his black overcoat he pulled slightly squashed box Harry opened it with trembling fingers inside was large sticky chocolate cake with happy birthday Harry written on it in green icing Harry looked up at the giant he meant to say thank you but the words got lost on the way to his mouth and what he said instead was who are you the giant chuckled true haven't introduced myself rubius Hagrid keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts he held out an enormous hand and shook Harry's whole arm what about that tea then he said rubbing his hands together I'd not say no to Sumit stronger if you've got it mind his eyes fell on the empty great with the shriveled chip bags in it and he snorted he bent down over the fireplace they couldn't see what he was doing but when he drew back second later there was roaring fire there it filled the whole damp Hut with flickering light and Harry felt the warmth wash over him as though he'd sunk into hot bath the giant sat back down on the sofa which sagged under his weight wait and began taking all sorts of things out of the pockets of his coat Copper Kettle squashy package of sausages poker teapot several chipped mugs and bottle of some Amber liquid that he took swig from before starting to make tea soon the Hut was full of the sound and smell of sizzling sausage nobody said thing while the giant was working but as he slid the first six fat juicy slightly burnt sausages from the poker Dudley fidgeted little Uncle Vernon said sharply don't touch anything he gives you Dudley the giant chuckled Darkly yet great pudding of sun don't need fattening anymore dersley don't worry he passed the sausages to Harry who was so hungry he had never tasted anything so wonderful but he still couldn't take his eyes off the giant finally as nobody seemed about to explain anything he said I'm sorry but still don't really know who you are the giant took gulp of tea and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand call me Hagrid he said everyone does and like told you I'm keeper of keys at Hogwarts you'll know all about Hogwarts of course or no said Harry Hagrid looked shocked sorry Harry said quickly sorry barked Hagrid turning to stare at the dersley who shrank back into the Shadows it's as them as should be sorry knew you weren't getting your letters but never thought you wouldn't even know about Hogwarts for crying out loud did you never wonder where yet parents learned it all all what asked Harry all what Hagrid thundered now wait just one second he had leapt to his feet in his anger he seemed to fill the whole Hut the dersley were cowering against the wall do you mean to tell me he growled at the dersley that this boy this boy knows nothing about about anything Harry thought this was going bit far he had been to school after all and his marks weren't bad know some things he said can you know do math and stuff but Hagrid simply waved his hand and said about our world mean Your World My World your parents world what world Hagrid looked as if he was about to explode Durley he boomed Uncle Vernon who had gone very pale whispered something that sounded like mimble wimble Hagrid stared wildly at Harry but you must know about yet mom and dad he said mean they're famous you're famous what my my mom and dad weren't famous were they yet don't know yet don't know Hagrid ran his fingers through his hair fixing Harry with bewildered stare you don't know what you are he said finally Uncle Vernon suddenly found his voice stop he commanded stop right there sit forbid you to tell the boy anything braver man than Vernon dersley would have quailed under the Furious look Hagrid now gave him when Hagrid spoke his every syllable trembled with rage you never told him never told him what was in the letter Dumbledore left for him was there saw Dumbledore leave at dersley and you've kept it from him all these years kept what from me said Harry eagerly stop forbid you yelled Uncle Vernon in panic Aunt Petunia gave gasp of horror go boil yet heads both of you said Hagrid Harry yet wizard there was silence inside the hut only the Sea and the whistling wind could be heard what gasped Harry wizard of course said Hagrid sitting back down on the sofa which groaned and sank even lower and thumping Gooden I'd say once you've been trained up bit with mom and dad like yours what else would you be and reckon it's about time you read your letter Harry stretched out his hand at last to take the yellowish envelope addressed in emerald green to Mr Potter the floor HUD on the Rock the sea he pulled out the letter and read Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Headmaster Albus Dumbledore order of Merlin first class Grand sorc warlock Supreme mugwump International Confederation of wizards Dear Mr Potter we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at hogwart's school of of Witchcraft and Wizardry please find enclosed list of all necessary books and Equipment term begins on September 1st we await your owl by no later than July 31st your sincerely manura mcgonagal Deputy headmistress questions exploded inside Harry's head like fireworks and he couldn't decide which to ask first after few minutes he stamed Ed what does it mean they await my owl gallop and gorgens that reminds me said Hagrid clapping hand to his forehead with enough Force to knock over cart horse and from yet another pocket inside his Overcoat he pulled an owl real live rather ruffled looking owl Long Quill and roll of parchment with his tongue between his teeth he scribbled note that Harry could read upside down Dear Professor Dumbledore given Harry his letter taking him to buy his things tomorrow weather's horrible hope you're well Hagrid rolled up the note gave it to the owl which clamped it in its beak went to the door and threw the owl out into the storm then he came back and sat down as though this was as normal as talking on the telephone Harry realized his mouth was open and closed it quickly where was said Hagrid but at that moment Uncle Vernon still ashen-faced but looking very angry moved into the fire light he's not going he said Hagrid grunted I'd like to see great muggle like you stop him he said what said Harry interested muggle said Hagrid it's what we call non-magic folk like th and it's your bad luck you grew up in family of the biggest Muggles ever laid eyes on WE swore when we took him in we'd put stop to that rubbish said Uncle Vernon swore we'd stamp it out of him wizard indeed you knew said Harry you knew I'm wizard knew shrieked Aunt Petunia suddenly knew of course we knew how could you not be my Dred sister being what she was she got letter just like that and disappeared off to that that school and came home every vacation with her Pockets full of frog spawn turning teacups into rats was the only one who saw her for what she was freak but for my mother and father no it was Lily this and and Lily that they were proud of having witch in the family she stopped to draw deep breath and then went ranting on it seemed she had been wanting to say all this for years then she met that Potter at school and they left and got married and had you and of course knew you'd be just the same just as strange just as as abnormal and then if you please she went and got herself blown up and we got landed with you Harry had gone very white as soon as he found his voice he said blown up you told me they died in car crash car crash roared Hagrid jumping up so angrily that the dersley scuttled back to their Corner How could car crash kill Lily and James Potter it's an outrage scandal Harry Potter not knowing his own story when every kid in our world knows his name but why what happened Harry asked urgently the anger faded from Hagrid's face he looked suddenly anxious never expected this he said in low worried voice had no idea when Dumbledore told me there might be trouble getting hold of you how much you didn't know Harry don't know if I'm the right person to tell you but someone got to you can't go off to Hogwarts not kn he threw dirty look at the dersley well it's best you know as much as can tell you mind can't tell you everything it's great mystery parts of it he sat down stared Into the Fire for few seconds and then said it begins suppose with with person called but it's incredible you don't know his name everyone in our world knows who who well don't like saying the name if can help it no one does why not Gul in gargoyles Harry people are still scared blimy this is difficult see there was this wizard who went bad as bad as you could go worse worse than worse his name was Hagrid gulped but no words came out could you write it down Harry suggested now can't spell it all right Voldemort Hagrid shuddered Don't make me say it again anyway this this wizard about 20 years ago now started looking for followers got them too some were afraid some just wanted bit of his power cuz he was getting himself power all right Dark Days Harry didn't know who to trust didn't dare get friendly with strange Wizards or witches terrible things happened he was taken over course some stood up to him and he killed him horribly one of the only safe places left was Hogwarts reckon Dumbledore the only one you know who was afraid of didn't dare try taking the school not just then anyway now your mom and dad were as good Witch and Wizard as ever knew headb boy and girl at Hogwarts in their day suppose the mystery is why you know who never tried to get him on his side before probably knew they were too close to Dumbledore to want anything to do with the dark side maybe he thought he could persuade him maybe he just wanted him out of the way all anyone knows is he turned up in the village where you was all living on Halloween 10 years ago you was just year old he came to your house and and Hagrid suddenly pulled out very dirty spotted handkerchief and blew his nose with sound like fog horn sorry he said but it's that sad knew your mom and dad and nicer people you couldn't find anyway you know who killed him and then and this is the real mystery of the thing he tried to kill you too wanted to make clean job of it suppose or maybe he just liked killing by then but he couldn't do it never wondered how you got that Mark on your forehead that was no ordinary cut that's what you get when powerful evil curse touches you took care of your mom and dad and your house even but it didn't work on you and that's why your famous hair Bary no one ever lived after he decided to kill him no one except you and he'd killed some of the best witches and wizards of the age the McKinnon the bones the preets and you was only baby and you lived something very painful was going on in Harry's mind as Hagrid's story came to close he saw again the blinding flash of green light more clearly than he had ever remembered it before and he remembered something else for the first time in his life high cold cruel laugh Hagrid was watching him sadly took you from the ruined house myself on Dumbledore's orders brought Yater this lot load of old Tosh said Uncle Vernon Harry jumped he had almost forgotten that the dersley were there Uncle Vernon certainly seemed to have got back his courage he was glaring at Hagrid and his fists were clenched Now you listen here boy he snarled accept there's something strange about you probably nothing good beating wouldn't have cured and as for all this about your parents well they were weirdos no denying it and the world's better off without them in my opinion asked for all they got getting mixed up with these Wizarding types just what expected always knew they'd come to sticky end but at that moment Hagrid leapt from the sofa and Drew battered pink umbrella from inside his coat pointing this at Uncle Vernon like sword he said I'm warning you dersley I'm warning you one more word in danger of being speared on the end of an umbrella by bearded giant Uncle Vernon's courage failed again he flattened himself against the wall and fell silent that's better said Hagrid Breathing heavily and sitting back down on the sofa which this time sagged right down to the floor Harry meanwhile still had questions to ask hundreds of them but what happened to sorry mean you know who good question Harry disappeared vanished same night he tried to kill you makes you even more famous that's the biggest mystery see he was getting more and more powerful why'd he go some say he died codswallop in my opinion to know if he had enough human left in him to die some say he's still out there biing his time like but but don't believe it people who was on his side came back to ours some of them came out of kind of transes don't reckon they could have done if he was coming back most of us reckon he's still out there somewhere but lost his powers too weak to carry on cuz something about you finished him Harry there was something going on that night he hadn't counted on don't know what it was no one does but something about you stumped him all right Hagrid looked at Harry with warmth and respect blazing in his eyes but Harry instead of feeling pleased and proud felt quite sure there had been horrible mistake wizard him how could he possibly be he'd spent his life being clouded by Dudley and bullied by Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon if he was really wizard why hadn't they been turned into warty toads every time they tried to lock him in his cupboard if he'd once defeated the greatest sorcerer in the world how come Dudley had always been able to kick him around like football Hagrid he said quietly think you must have made mistake don't think can be wizard to his surprise Hagrid chuckled not wizard never made things happened when you was scared or angry Harry looked into the fire now he came to think about it every odd thing that had ever made his aunt and uncle furious with him had happened when he Harry had been upset or angry chased by Dudley's gang he had somehow found himself out of their reach dreading going to school with that ridiculous haircut he'd managed to make it grow back and the very last time Dudley had hit him hadn't he got his revenge without even realizing he was doing it hadn't he set boa constrictor on him Harry looked back at Hagrid smiling and saw that Hagrid was positively beaming at him see said Hagrid Harry Potter not wizard you wait you'll be right famous at Hogwarts but Uncle Vernon wasn't going to give in without fight haven't told you he's not going he hissed he's going to Stonewall high and he'll be grateful for it I've read those letters and he needs all sorts of rubbish spell books and Wands and if he wants to go great muggle like you won't stop him growled Hagrid stop Lily and James Potter's son go into Hogwarts you're mad his name's been down ever since since he was born he's off to the finest School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the world 7 years there and he won't know himself he'll be with youngsters of his own sort for change and he'll be under the greatest Headmaster Hogwarts ever had Alba stumbled am not paying for some crackpot old fool to teach him magic tricks yelled Uncle Vernon but he had finally gone too far Hagrid seized his umbrella and Whirled it over his head never he thundered insult Albus Dumbledore front of me he brought the umbrella swishing down through the air to point at Dudley there was flash of violet light sound like firecracker sharp squeal and the next second Dudley was dancing on the spot with his hands clasped over his fat bottom howling in pain when he turned his back on them Harry saw curly pig's tail poking through hole in his trousers Uncle Vernon roared pulling Aunt Petunia and Dudley into the other room he cast one last terrified look at Hagrid and slammed the door behind them Hagrid looked down at his umbrella and stroked his beard shouldn't have lost me temper he said ruly but it didn't work anyway Mentor turned him into pig but suppose he was so much like pig anyway there wasn't much left or do he cast sideways look at Harry under his bushy eyebrows be grateful if you didn't mention that to anyone at Hogwarts he said I'm not supposed to do magic strictly speaking was allowed to do bit to follow you and get your letters to you and stuff one of the reasons was so Keen to take on the job why aren't you supposed to do magic asked Harry well was at Hogwarts myself but or got expelled to tell you the truth in me third year they snapped me wand in half and everything but Dumbledore let me stay on as gamekeeper great man Dumbledore why were you expelled it's getting late and we've got lots to do tomorrow said Hagrid loudly got to get up to town get all your books and that he took off his thick black coat and threw it to Harry you can Kip under that he said don't mind if it wriggles bit think still got couple of dormis in one of the pockets chapter 5 dieo an alley Harry woke early the next morning although he could tell it was Daylight he kept his eyes shut tight it was dream he told himself firmly Dreamed giant called Hagrid came to tell me was going to school for wizards when open my eyes I'll be at home in my cupboard there was suddenly loud tapping noise and there's Aunt Petunia knocking on the door Harry thought his heart sinking but he still didn't open his eyes it had been such good dream tap tap tap all right Harry mumbled I'm getting up he sat up and Hagrid's heavy coat fell off him the Hut was full of sunlight the storm was over Hagrid himself was asleep on the collapsed sofa and there was an owl wrapping its Claw on the window newspaper held in its beak Harry scrambled to his feet so happy he felt as though large balloon was swelling inside him he went straight to the window and jerked it open the owl swooped in and dropped the newspaper on top of Hagrid who didn't wake up the owl then fluttered onto the floor and began to attack Hagrid's coat don't do that Harry tried to wave the owl out of the way but it snapped its beak fiercely at him and carried on savaging the coat Hagrid said Harry loudly there's an owl pay him Hagrid grunted into the sofa what he wants paying for delivering the paper look in the pockets Hagrid's coat seemed to be made of nothing but Pockets Bunches of keys slug pellets balls of string peppermint humbugs tea bags finally Harry pulled out handful of Strang looking coins give him five canuts said Hagrid sleepily guts the little bronze ones Harry counted out five little bronze coins and they owl held out his legs so Harry could put the money into small Leather Pouch tied to it then he flew off through the open window Hagrid yawned loudly sat up and stretched best be off Harry lots to do today got to get up to London and buy all your stuff for school Harry was turning over the wizard coins and looking at them he had just thought of something that made him feel as though the happy balloon inside him had got puncture Hagrid said Hagrid who was pulling on his huge boots haven't got any money money and you heard Uncle Vernon last night he won't pay for me to go and learn magic don't worry about that said Hagrid standing up and scratching his head do you think your parents didn't leave you anything but if their house was destroyed they didn't keep their gold in the house boy nah first stop for us is gringut Wizard's Bank have sausage they're not bad cold and wouldn't say note bit of your birthday cake neither Wizards have Banks just the one gring gots run by goblins Harry dropped the bit of sausage he was holding goblins yeah so you'd be mad to try and Rob it I'll tell you that never mess with goblins Harry grots is the safest place in the world for anything you want to keep safe SE Maybe Hogwarts as matter of fact got to visit gringut anyway for Dumbledore Hogwarts business Hagrid Drew himself up proudly he usually gets me to do important stuff for him fetching you getting things from gringut knows he can trust me see got everything come on then Harry followed Hagrid out onto the rock the sky was quite clear now and and the sea gleamed in the sunlight the boat Uncle Vernon had hired was still there with lot of water in the bottom After the Storm how did you get here Harry asked looking around for another boat flu said Hagrid flu yeah but we'll go back in this not supposed to use magic now I've got you they settled down in the boat Harry still staring at Hagrid trying to imagine him flying seems shame to row though said Hagrid giving Harry another of his sideways looks if was to or speed things up bit would you mind not mentioning it at Hogwarts of course not said Harry eager to see more magic Hagrid pulled out the pink umbrella again tapped it twice on the side of the boat and they sped off toward land why would you be mad to try and Rob gringut Harry asked spells enchantments said Hagrid unfolding his newspaper as he spoke they say there's dragons guard in the high security vaults and then you got to find your way Gringotts is hundreds of miles under London SE deep under the underground You' die of hunger trying to get out even if you did manage to get your hands on some Summit Harry sat and thought about this while Hagrid read his newspaper the daily Prophet Harry had learned from Uncle Vernon that people like to be left alone while they did this but it was very difficult he'd never had so many questions in His Life Ministry of magic messing things up as usual Hagrid muttered turning the page there's Ministry of magic Harry asked before he could stop himself course said Hagrid they want Dumbledore for Minister course but he'd never leave Hogwarts so old Cornelius fudge got the job bungler if ever there was one so he Pelt Dumbledore with owls every morning asking for advice but what does Ministry of magic do well their main job is to keep it from the Muggles that they're still witches and wizards up and down the country why why blimy hairy everyone would be wanting magic solutions to their problems we're best left alone at this moment the boat bumped gently into the harbor wall Hagrid folded up his newspaper and they clambered up the stone steps onto the street passers by stared lot at Hagrid as they walked through the little town to to the station Harry couldn't blame them Not only was Hagrid twice as tall as anyone else he kept pointing at perfectly ordinary things like parking meters and saying loudly see that Harry things these Muggles dream up Hagrid said Harry panting bit as he ran to keep up did you say there are dragons at gringut well so they say said Hagrid Cy I'd like dragon you'd like one wanted one ever since was kid here we go they had reached the station there was train to London in 5 minutes time Hagrid who didn't understand muggle money as he called it gave the bills to Harry so he could buy their tickets people stared more than ever on the train Hagrid took up two seats and sat knitting what looked like canary yellow circus tent still got your letter Harry he asked as he counted stitches Harry took the parchment envelope out of his pocket good said Hagrid there's list there of everything you need Harry unfolded second piece of paper he hadn't noticed the night before and read Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry uniform first year students were will require one three sets of plain work robes black two one plain pointed hat black for day wear three one pair of protective gloves Dragon hide or similar four one winter cloak black silver fastenings please note that all pupils clothes should carry name tags course books all students should have copy of each of the following the standard book of spells grade one by Miranda gosw history of Magic by batilda bagshot magical Theory by adelbert waffling beginner's guide to Transfiguration by emedic switch 1,000 magical herbs and fungi by filis Spore magical drafts and Potions by arenius Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by N's Commander the dark Forces guide to self- protection by Quenton Trimble other equipment wand cauldron peor standard size 2 set glass or Crystal files telescope set brass scales students may also bring an owl or cat or toad parents are reminded that first years are not allowed their own broomsticks can we buy all this in London Harry wondered aloud if you know where to go said Hagrid Harry had never been to London before although Hagrid seemed to know where he was going he was obviously not used to getting there in an ordinary way he got stuck in the ticket barrier on the Underground and complained loudly that the seats were too small and the trains too slow don't know how the Muggles manage without magic he said as they climbed broken down escalator that led up to bustling Road lined with shops Hagrid was so huge that he parted the crowd easily all Harry had to do was keep close behind him they passed bookshops and music stores hamburger restaurants and Cinemas but nowhere that looked as if it could sell you magic wand this was just an ordinary Street full of ordinary people could there really be piles of wizard gold buried miles beneath them were there really shops that sold spell books and Broomsticks might this not all be some huge joke that the dersley had cooked up if Harry hadn't known that the dersley had no sense of humor he might have thought so yet somehow even though everything Hagrid had told him so far was unbelievable Harry couldn't help trusting him this is it said Hagrid coming to halt The Leaky cauldron it's famous place it was tiny grubby looking Pub if Hagrid hadn't pointed it out Harry wouldn't have noticed it was there the people hurrying by didn't glance at it their eyes slid from the big book shop on one side to the Record Shop on the other as if they couldn't see the Leaky cauldron at all in fact Harry had the most PE peculiar feeling that only he and Hagrid could see it before he could mention this Hagrid had steered him inside for famous place it was very dark and shabby few old women were sitting in corner drinking tiny glasses of cherry one of them was smoking long pipe little man in top hat was talking to the old bartender who was quite bald and looked like toothless Walnut the low Buzz of chatter stopped when they walked in everyone seemed to know Hagrid they waved and smiled at him and the bartender reached for glass saying the usual Hagrid can't Tom I'm on hogwart's business said Hagrid clapping his great hand on Harry's shoulder and making Harry's knees Buckle good lord said the bartender peering at Harry is this can this be the Leaky cauldron had suddenly gone completely still and Silent bless my soul whispered the old bartender Harry Potter what an honor he hurried out from behind the bar rushed toward Harry and seized his hand tears in his eyes welcome back Mr Potter welcome back Harry didn't know what to say everyone was looking at him the old woman with the pipe was puffing on it without realizing it had gone out Hagrid was beaming then there was great scraping of chairs and the next moment Harry found himself shaking hands with everyone in the Leaky cauldron Doris crockford Mr Potter can't believe I'm meeting you at last so proud Mr Potter I'm just so proud always wanted to shake your hand I'm all of flutter delighted Mr Potter just can't tell you diggle's the name Deus diggle I've seen you before said Harry as Deus diggle's Top Hat fell off in his excitement you bowed to me once in shop he remembers cried dadus diggle looking around at everyone did you hear that he remembers me Harry shook hands again and again Doris crockford kept coming back for more pale young man made his way forward very nervously one of his eyes was twitching professor quirell said Hagrid Harry Professor quirell will be one of your teachers at Hogwarts ptter stammered Professor quirrel grasping Harry's hand can't to tell you how pleased am to meet you what sort of magic do you teach professor quirrel defense against the day dark arts muttered professor quirrel as though he'd rather not think about it not that you need it peep Potter he laughed nervously you'll be getting all your equipment suppose I've got to pick up new book on vampires myself he looked terrified at the very thought but the others wouldn't let professor quirrel keep Harry to himself it took almost 10 minutes to get away from them all at last Hagrid managed to make himself heard over the babble must get on loster by come on Harry Doris crockford shook Harry's hand one last time and Hagrid LED them through the bar and out into small walled Courtyard where there was nothing but trash can and few weeds Hagrid grinned at Harry told you didn't told you you was famous even Professor quirrel was trembling to meet you mind you he's usually trembling is he always that nervous yeah poor bloke brilliant mind he was fine while he was studying out of books but then he took year off to get some firsthand experience they say he met vampires in the black forest and there was nasty bit of trouble with hag never been the same since scared of the students scared of his own subject now where's me umbrella vampires hags Harry's head was swimming Hagrid meanwhile was counting bricks in the wall above the trash can three up two across he muttered right stand back Harry he tapped the wall three times with the point of his umbrella the brick he had touched quivered it wriggled in the middle small hole appeared it grew wider and wider second later they were facing an archway large enough even for Hagrid an archway onto cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight welcome said Hagrid to Diagon Alley he grinned at Harry's amazement they stepped through the archway Harry looked quickly over his shoulder and saw the archway shrink instantly back into solid wall the sun Shone brightly on stack of cauldrons outside the nearest shop cauldrons all sizes Copper Brass peor Silver Self stirring collapsible set sign hanging over them yeah you'll be needing one said Hagrid but we got to get your money first Harry wished he had about eight more eyes he turned his head in every direction as they walked up the street trying to look at everything at once the shops the things outside them the people doing their shopping plump woman outside an apothecary was shaking her head as they passed saying Dragon liver 17 sickles an ounce they're mad low sof soft hooting came from dark Shop with sign saying elop's owl Emporium tonny Screech Barn Brown and snowy several boys of about Harry's age had their noses pressed against window with broomsticks in it look Harry heard one of them say the new Nimbus 2000 fastest ever there were shops selling robes shops selling telescopes and strange silver inst instruments Harry had never seen before Windows stacked with barrels of bat spleens and eel's eyes tottering piles of spell books quills and rolls of parchment Potion bottles Globes of the Moon gringut said Hagrid they had reached snowy white building that towered over the other little shops standing beside its burnished bronze doors wearing uniform of scarlet and gold was yeah that's goblin said Hagrid quietly as they walked up the white stone steps toward him the goblin was about head shorter than Harry he had sthy clever face pointed beard and Harry noticed very long fingers and feet he bowed as they walked inside now they were facing second pair of doors silver this time with words engraved upon them enter stranger but take heed of what awaits the sin of greed for those who take but do not earn must pay most dearly in their turn so if you seek beneath our floors treasure that was never yours Thief you have been warned beware of finding more than treasure there like said you'd be mad to try and Rob it said Hagrid pair of goblins bowed them through the silver doors and they were in vast marble Hall about hundred more goblins were sitting on high stools behind long counter scribbling in large ledgers weighing coins and Brass scales examining precious stones through eyeglasses there were too many doors to count leading off the hall and yet more goblins were showing people in and out of these Hagrid and Harry made for the counter morning said Hagrid to free Goblin we've come to take some money out of Mr Harry Potter's safe you have his key sir got it here somewhere said Hagrid and he started emptying his pockets onto the counter scattering handful of moldy dog biscuits over the Goblin's Book of Numbers the goblin wrinkled his nose Harry watched the Goblin on their right weighing pile of rubies as big as glowing coals got it said Hagrid at last holding up tiny golden key the goblin looked at it closely that seems to be in order and I've also got letter here from Professor Dumbledore said Hagrid importantly throwing out his chest it's about the you know what in Vault 713 the goblin read the letter carefully very well he said handing it back to Hagrid will have someone take you down to both vaults grip hook grip Hook was yet another Goblin once Hagrid had crammed all the dog biscuits back inside his pockets he and Harry followed grip hook toward one of the doors leading off the hall what's the you know what in Vault 713 Harry asked can't tell you that said Hagrid mysteriously very secret hogwart's business dumbledor trusted me more than my Jobs worth to tell you that grip hook held the door open for them Harry who had expected more marble was surprised they were in narrow Stone passageway lit with flaming torches it sloped steeply downward and there were little railway tracks on the floor grip hook whistled and small cart came hurdling up the tracks toward them they climbed in Hagrid with some difficulty and were off at first they just hurdled through maze of twisting passages Harry tried to remember left right right left Middle Fork right left but it was impossible the rattling cart seemed to know its own way because grip hook wasn't steering Harry's eyes stung as the cold air rushed past them but he kept them wide open once he thought he saw burst of fire at the end of passage and twisted around to see if it was dragon but too late they plunged even deeper passing an underground Lake where huge stalactites and stalagmites Grew From the ceiling and floor never know Harry called to Hagrid over the noise of the cart what's the difference between stalagmite and stalactite stalagmites got Anam minute said Hagrid and don't ask me questions just now think I'm going to be sick he did look very green and when the cart stopped at last beside small door in the passage wall Hagrid got out and had to lean against the wall to stop his knees from trembling grip hook unlocked the door lot of Green Smoke came billowing out and as it cleared Harry gasped inside were mounds of gold coins Columns of silver heaps of little bronze nets all yours smiled Hagrid all Harry's it was incredible the dersley couldn't have known about this or they'd have had it from him faster than blinking how often had they complained how much Harry cost them to keep and all the time there had been small fortune belonging to him buried deep under London Hagrid helped Harry pile some of it into bag the gold ones are gallions he explained 17 silver sickles to gallion and 29 nuts to sickle it's easy enough right that should be enough for couple of terms we'll keep the rest safe for you he turned to grip hook Vault 713 now please and can we go more slowly one speed only said grip hook they were going even deeper now and Gathering speed the air became colder and colder as they hurdled around tight Corners they went rattling over an underground Ravine and Harry leaned over the side to try to see what was down at the dark bottom but Hagrid groaned and pulled him back by the Scruff of his neck VA 7133 had no Keyhole stand back said grip hook importantly he stroked the door gently with one of his long fingers and it simply melted away if anyone but gring's goblin tried that they'd be sucked through the door and trapped in there said grip hook how often do you check to see if anyone's inside Harry asked about once every every 10 years said grip hook with rather nasty grin something really extraordinary had to be inside this top Security Vault Harry was sure and he leaned forward eagerly expecting to see fabulous Jewels at the very least but at first he thought it was empty then he noticed grubby little package wrapped up in brown paper lying on the floor Hagrid picked it up and tucked it deep inside his coat Harry longed to know what it was but knew better than to ask come on back in this infernal cart and don't talk to me on the way back it's best if keep me mouth shut said Hagrid one wild cart ride later they stood blinking in the sunlight outside gringut Harry didn't know where to run first now that he had bag full of money he didn't have to know how many gallions there were to pound to know that he was holding more money than he'd had in his whole life more money than even Dudley had ever had might as well get your uniform said Hagrid nodding toward Madame malin's robes for All Occasions listen Harry would you mind if slipped off for pickme up in the Leaky cauldron hate them gringut carts he did still look bit sick so Harry entered Madame malc's shop alone feeling nervous Madame malcin was squat smiling witch dressed all in mauve Hogwarts clear she said when Harry started to speak got the lot here another young man being fitted up just now in fact in the back of the shop boy with pale pointed face was standing on foot stol while second witch pinned up his long black robes Madame malcin stood Harry on stool next to him slipped long robe over his head and began to pin it to the right length hello said the boy Hogwarts too yes said Harry my father's next door buying my books and mother's up the street looking at wands said the boy he had bored drawing voice then I'm going to drag them off to took at racing brooms don't see why First Years can't have their own think I'll bully father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow Harry was strongly reminded of Dudley have you got your own broom the boy went on no said Harry play Quidditch at all no Harry said again wondering what an earth quidditch could be do father says it's crime if I'm not picked to play for my house and must say agree know what house you'll be in yet no said Harry feeling more stupid by the minute well no one really knows until they get there do they but know I'll be in Slytherin all our family have been imagine being in Hufflepuff think I'd leave wouldn't you said Harry wishing he could say something bit more interesting say look at that man said the boy suddenly nodding toward the front window Hagrid was standing there grinning at Harry and pointing at two large ice creams to show he couldn't come in that's Hagrid said Harry pleased to know something the boy didn't he works at Hogwarts said the boy I've heard of him he's sort of servant isn't he he's the gamekeeper said Harry he was liking the boy less and less every second yes exactly heard he's sort of Savage lives in Hut on the school grounds and every now and then he gets drunk tries to do magic and ends up setting fire to his bed think he's brilliant said Harry coldly do you said the boy boy with slight sneer why is he with you where are your parents they're dead said Harry shortly he didn't feel much like going into the matter with this boy sorry said the other not sounding sorry at all but they were Our Kind weren't they they were Witch and Wizard if that's what you mean really don't think they should let the other sword in do you they're just not the same they've never been brought up to know our ways some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter imagine think they should keep it in the old Wizarding families what's your surname anyway but before Harry could answer Madame malcin said That's you done my dear and Harry not sorry for an excuse to stop talking to the boy hopped down from the foot stol well I'll see you at Hogwarts suppose said the drawing boy Harry was rather quiet as he ate the ice cream Hagrid had bought him chocolate and raspberry with chopped nuts what's up said hagd nothing Harry lied they stopped to buy parchment and quills Harry cheered up bit when he found bottle of ink that changed color as you wrote when they had left the shop he he said Hagrid what's quidditch blimy hay keep forgetting how little you know not knowing about quidditch don't make me feel worse said Harry he told Hagrid about the Pate boy in Madame melins and he said people from muggle families shouldn't even be allowed in you're not from muggle family if he'd known who you were he's grown up knowing your name if his parents are Wizard and folk you saw what everyone in the Leaky cauldron was like when they saw you anyway what does he know about it some of the best ever saw were the only ones with magic in him in long line zero Muggles look at your mom look what she had for sister so what is quiddit it's our sport wizard sport it's like like soccer in the Muggle World everyone follows quidditch played up in the air on broomsticks and there's four balls sort of hard to explain the rules and what are Slytherin and Hufflepuff School houses there's four everyone says Hufflepuff are lot of duffers but bet I'm in Hufflepuff said Harry gloomily better Hufflepuff than Slytherin said hagry Darkly there's not single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin you know who was One sorry you know who was at Hogwarts years and years ago said Hagrid they bought Harry's school books in shop called flourish and blots where the shelves were stacked to the ceiling with books as large as paving stones Bound in leather books the size of postage stamps in covers of silk books full of peculiar symbols and few books with nothing in them at all even Dudley who never read anything would have been wild to get his hands on some of these Hagrid almost had to drag Harry away from curses and counter curses bewitch your friends and befuddle your enemies with the latest revenges hair loss jelly legs tongue tying and much much more more by Professor vindictus vidiian was trying to find out how to curse Dudley I'm not saying that's not good idea but you're not to use magic in the Muggle world except in very special circumstances said Hagrid and anyway you couldn't work any of them curses yet you'll need lot more study before you get to that level Hagrid wouldn't let Harry buy solid gold cauldron either it says peor on your list but they got nice set of scales for weighing potion ingredients and collapsible brass telescope then they visited the Apothecary which was fascinating enough to make up for its horrible smell mixture of bad eggs and rotted cabbages barrels of slimy stuff stood on the floor jars of herbs dried roots and bright powders lined the walls bundles of feathers strings of fangs and snarled claws hung from the ceiling while Hagrid asked the man behind the counter for supply of some basic potion ingredients for Harry Harry himself examined silver unicorn horns at 21 gallions each and minuscule glittery black beetle eyes five canotes scoop outside the Apothecary Hagrid checked list again just your wand left yeah and still haven't got you birthday present Harry felt himself go red you don't have to know don't have to tell you what I'll get your animal not toad toads went out of fashion years ago you'd be laughed at and don't like cats they make me sneeze I'll get you an owl all the kids want owls they're dead useful carry your mail and everything 20 minutes later they left ao's owl Emporium which had been dark and full of rustling and flickering Jewel Bright Eyes Harry now carried large cage that held beautiful snowy owl fast asleep with her head under her Wing he couldn't stop stammering his thanks sounding just like Professor quirrel don't mention it said Hagrid gruffly don't expect you've had lot of presents from them dersley just olivanders left now only place for wands olivanders and you got to have the best wand magic wand this was what Harry had been really looking forward to the last shop was narrow and shabby peeling gold letters over the door Olive unders makers of fine wands since 382 BC single wand lay on faded purple cushion in the dusty window tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as they stepped inside it was tiny place empty except for single spindly chair that Hagrid sat on to wait Harry felt strangely as though he had entered very strict Library he swallowed lot of new questions that had just occurred to him and looked looked Instead at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling for some reason the back of his neck prickled the very dust and silence in here seemed to tingle with some secret magic good afternoon said soft voice Harry jumped Hagrid must have jumped too because there was loud crunching noise and he got quickly off the spindly chair an old man was standing before them his wide pale eyes shining like moons through the Gloom of the shop hello said Harry awkwardly yes said the man yes yes thought I'd be seeing you soon Harry Potter it wasn't question you have your mother's eyes it seems only yesterday she was in here herself buying her first wand 10 and a/4 in Long swishy made of nice wand for charm work Mr olivander moved closer to Harry Harry wished he would blink those silvery eyes were bit creepy your father on the other hand favored mahogany wand 11 in pliable little more power and excellent for Transfiguration well say your father favored it it's really the wand that chooses the wizard of course Mr olivander had come so close that he and Harry were almost nose to nose Harry could see himself reflected in those Misty Eyes and that's where Mr olivander touched the lightning scar on Harry's forehead with long white finger I'm sorry to say sold the wand that did it he said softly 13 and 1/2 in you powerful wand very powerful and in the wrong hands well if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do he shook his head and then to Harry's relief spotted Hagrid rubius rubius Hagrid how nice to see you again Oak 16 in rather bendy wasn't it it was sir yes said Hagrid good wand that one but suppose they snapped it in half when you got expelled said Mr olivander suddenly Stern or yes they did yes said Hagrid shuffling his feet I've still got the pieces though he added brightly but you don't use them said Mr olivander sharply no sir said Hagrid quickly Harry noticed he gripped his pink umbrella very tightly as he spoke said Mr olivander giving ha agrid piercing look well now Mr Potter let me see he pulled long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket which is your wand arm or well I'm right-handed said Harry hold out your arm that's it he measured Harry from shoulder to finger then wrist to Elbow shoulder to floor knee to armpit and round his head as he measured he said every olivander wand has core of powerful magical substance Mr Potter we use unicorn hairs Phoenix tail feathers and the heartstrings of dragons no two Olive under wands are the same just as no two unicorns dragons or phoenixes are quite the same and of course you will never get such good results with another Wizard's wand Harry suddenly realized that the tape measure which was measuring between his nostrils was doing this on its own Mr olivander was flitting around the shelves taking down boxes that will do he said and the tape measure crumpled into heap on the floor right then Mr Potter try this one Beachwood and dragon heartstring 9 in nice and flexible just take it and give it wave Harry took the wand and feeling foolish waved it around bit but Mr olivander snatched it out of his hand almost at once Maple and Phoenix Feather 7 in quite whippy try Harry tried but he had hardly raised the wand when it too was snatched back by Mr olivander no no here Ebony and unicorn hair 8 and 1/2 in springy go on go on try it out Harry tried and tried he had no idea what Mr olivander was waiting for the pile of tried wands was mounting higher and higher on the spinley chair but the more wands Mr olivander pulled from the shelves the happier he seemed to become tricky customer not to worry will find the perfect match here somewhere wonder now yes why not usual combination Holly and Phoenix Feather 11 in nice and supple Harry took the wand he felt sudden warmth in his fingers he raised the wand above his head brought it swishing down through the dusty air and stream of red and gold Sparks shot from the end like firework throwing dancing spots of light onto the walls Hagrid whooped and clapped and Mr olivander cried Bravo yes indeed very good well well well how curious how very curious he put Harry's wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper still muttering curious curious sorry said Harry but what's Curious Mr olivander fixed Harry with his pale stare remember every wand I've ever sold Mr Po every single wand it so happens that the Phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand gave another feather just one other it is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother why its brother gave you that scar Harry swallowed yes 13 and2 Ines you curious indeed how these things happen the wand chooses the wizard remember think we must expect great things from you Mr Potter after all he who must not be named did great things terrible yes but great Harry shivered he wasn't sure he liked Mr olivander too much he paid seven gold gallions for his wand and Mr olivander bowed them from his shop the late afternoon sun hung low in the sky sky as Harry and Hagrid made their way back down Diagon Alley back through the wall back through the Leaky cauldron now empty Harry didn't speak at all as they walked down the road he didn't even notice how much people were gawking at them on the Underground Laden as they were with all their funny shaped packages with the snowy owl asleep in its cage on Harry's lap up another escalator out into Paddington Station Harry only realized where they were when Hagrid tapped him on the shoulder got time for bite to eat before your train leaves he said he bought Harry hamburger and they sat down on plastic seats to eat them Harry kept looking around everything looks so strange somehow you all right Harry you're very quiet said Hagrid Harry wasn't sure he could explain he just had the best birthday of his life and yet he chewed his hamburger trying to find the words everyone thinks I'm special he said at last all those people in the Leaky cauldron Professor quirell Mr olivander but don't know anything about magic at all how can they expect great things I'm famous and can't even remember what I'm famous for don't know what what happened when sorry mean the night my parents died Hagrid leaned across the table behind the wild beard and eyebrows he wore very kind smile don't you worry Harry you'll learn fast enough everyone starts at the beginning at Hogwarts you'll be just fine just be yourself know it's hard you have been singled out and that's always hard but you'll have great time at Hogwarts did still do as matter of fact Hagrid helped Harry onto the train that would take him back to the dersley then handed him an envelope your ticket for Hogwarts he said 1st of September King's cross it's all on your ticket any problems with the dersley send me letter with your owl she'll know where to find me see you soon Harry The train pulled out of the station Harry wanted to watch Hagrid until he was out of sight he rose in his seat and pressed his nose against the window but he blinked and Hagrid had gone chapter 6 The Journey from Platform 9 and 3/4 Harry's last month with the dersley wasn't fun true Dudley was now so scared of Harry he wouldn't stay in in the same room while Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon didn't shut Harry in his cupboard force him to do anything or shout at him in fact they didn't speak to him at all half terrified half Furious they acted as though any chair with Harry in it were empty although this was an improvement in many ways it did become bit depressing after while Harry kept to his room with his new new owl for company he had decided to call her hedwick name he had found in history of magic his school books were very interesting he lay on his bed reading late into the night Hedwig swooping in and out of the open window as she pleased it was lucky that Aunt Petunia didn't come into vacuum anymore because Hedwig kept bringing back dead mice every night before he went to sleep Harry ticked off another day on the piece of paper he had pinned to the wall counting down to September the 1st on the last day of August he thought he'd better speak to his aunt and uncle about getting to King's cross station the next day so he went down to the living room where they were watching quiz show on television he cleared his throat to let them know he was there and Dudley screamed and ran from the room or Uncle Vernon Uncle Vernon grunted to show he was listening need to be at King's cross tomorrow too to go to Hogwarts Uncle Vernon grunted again would it be all right if you gave me lift grunt Harry supposed that meant yes thank you he was about to go back upstairs when Uncle Vernon actually spoke funny way to get to wizard school the train magic carpets all got punctures have they Harry didn't say anything where is this school anyway don't know said Harry realizing this for the first time he pulled the ticket Hagrid had given him out of his pocket just take the train from Platform 9 and 3/4 at 11:00 he read his aunt and uncle stared platform what 9 and 3/4 don't talk rubbish said Uncle Vernon there is no Platform 9 and 3/4 it's on my ticket barking said Uncle Vernon howling mad the lot of them you'll see you just wait all right we'll take you to King's cross we're going up to London tomorrow anyway or wouldn't bother why are you going to London Harry asked trying to keep things friendly taking Dudley to the hospital growled Uncle Vernon got to have that Ruddy tail removed before he goes to smeltings Harry woke at 5:00 the next morning and was too excited and nervous to go back to sleep he got up and pulled on his jeans because he didn't want to walk into the station in his Wizard's robes he'd change on the train he checked his Hogwarts list yet again to make sure he had everything he needed saw that Hedwig was shut safely in her cage and then paced the room waiting for the dersley to get up 2 hours later Harry's huge heavy trunk had been loaded into the dy's car Aunt Petunia had talked Dudley into sitting next to Harry and they had set off they reached King cross at half 10 Uncle Vernon dumped Harry's trunk onto cart and wheeled it into the station for him Harry thought this was strangely kind until Uncle Vernon stopped dead facing the platforms with nasty grin on his face well there you are boy Platform 9 platform 10 your platform should be somewhere in the middle but they don't seem to have built it yet do do they he was quite right of course there was big plastic number nine over one platform and big plastic number 10 over the one next to it and in the middle nothing at all have good term said Uncle Vernon with an even nastier smile he left without another word Harry turned and saw the dersley drive away all three of them were laughing Harry's mouth went rather dry what on Earth was he going to do he was starting to attract lot of funny looks because of head wck he'd have to ask someone he stopped passing guard but didn't dare mention Platform 9 and 3/4 the guard had never heard of Hogwarts and when Harry couldn't even tell him what part of the country it was in he started to get annoyed as though Harry was being stupid on purpose getting desperate Harry asked for the train that left at 11:00 but the guard said there wasn't one in the end the guard stroe away muttering about time wasters Harry was now trying hard not to panic according to the large clock over the arrivals board he had 10 minutes left to get on the train to Hogwarts and he had no idea how to do it he was was stranded in the middle of station with trunk he could hardly lift pocket full of wizard money and large owl Hagrid must have forgotten to tell him something you had to do like tapping the third brick on the left to get into Diagon Alley he wondered if he should get out his wand and start tapping the ticket inspector's stand between platforms 9 and 10 at that moment group of people passed just behind him and he caught few words of what they were saying packed with Muggles of course Harry swung round the speaker was plump woman who was talking to four boys all with flaming red hair each of them was pushing trunk like Harry's in front of him and they had an owl heart hammering Harry pushed his cart after them they stopped and so did he just near enough to hear what they were saying now what's the platform number said the boy's mother 9 and 3/4 piped small girl also redheaded who was holding her hand Mom can go you're not old enough Jenny now be quiet all right Percy you go first what looked like the oldest boy marched toward platforms 9 and 10 Harry watched careful not to Blink in case he missed it but just as the boy reached the dividing barrier between the two platforms large crowd of tourists came swarming in front of him and by the time the last backpack had cleared away the boy had vanished Fred you next the plump woman said I'm not Fred I'm George said the boy honestly woman you call yourself our mother you tell I'm George sorry George dear only joking am Fred said the boy and off he went his twin called after him to hurry up and he must have done so because second later he had gone but how had he done it now the third brother was walking briskly toward the barrier he was almost there and then quite suddenly he wasn't anywhere there was nothing else for for it excuse me Harry said to the plump woman hello dear she said first time at Hogwarts Ron's new too she pointed at the last and youngest of her sons he was tall thin and gangling with freckles big hands and feet and long nose yes said Harry the thing is the thing is don't know how to how to get onto the platform she said kindly and Harry nodded not to worry she said all you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms 9 and 10 don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it that's very important best to do it at bit of run if you're nervous go on go now before Ron or okay said Harry he pushed his trolley around and stared at the bear barer it looked very solid he started to walk toward it people jostled him on their way to platforms 9 and 10 Harry walked more quickly he was going to smash right into that barrier and then he'd be in trouble leaning forward on his cart he broke into heavy run the barrier was coming nearer and nearer he wouldn't be able to stop the cart was out of control he was foot away he closed his eyes ready for the crash it didn't come he kept on running he opened his eyes Scarlet steam engine was waiting next to platform packed with people sign overhead said Hogwarts Express 11:00 Harry looked behind him and saw rod iron Archway where the barrier had been with the words Platform 9 and 3/4 on it he had done it smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd while cats of every color wound here and there between their legs owls hooted to one another in disgruntled sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks the first few carriages were already packed with students some hanging out of the window to talk to their families some fighting over seats Harry pushed his cart off down the platform in search of an empty seat he passed round-faced boy who was saying Gran I've lost my toad again Neville he heard the old woman's sigh boy with dreadlocks was surrounded by small crowd give us look Lee go on the boy lifted the lid of box in his arms and the people around him shrieked and yelled as something inside poked out long hairy leg Harry pressed on through the crowd until he found an empty compartment near the end of the train he put Hedwig inside first and then started to shove and heave his trunk toward the train door he tried to lift it up the steps but could hardly raise one end and twice he dropped it painfully on his foot want hand it was one of the red-haired twins he'd followed through the barrier yes please Harry panted oi Fred come here and help with the twins help Harry's trunk was at last tucked away in corner of the compartment thanks said Harry pushing his sweaty hair out of his eyes what's that said one of the twins suddenly pointing at Harry's lightning scar blimy said the other twin are you he is said the first twin aren't you he added to Harry what said Harry Harry Potter chorused the twins him said Harry mean yes am the two boys gawked at him and Harry felt himself turning red then to his relief voice came floating in through the Train's Open Door Fred George are you there coming mom with last look look at Harry the twins hopped off the train Harry sat down next to the window where half hidden he could watch the red-haired family on the platform and hear what they were saying their mother had just taken out her handkerchief Ron you've got something on your nose the youngest boy tried to jerk out of the way but she grabbed him and began rubbing the end of his nose mom girof he wriggled free has iel Ronnie got some on his nosy said one of the twins shut up said Ron where's Percy said their mother he's coming now the oldest boy came striding into sight he had already changed into his billowing black Hogwarts robes and Harry noticed shiny silver badge on his chest with the letter on it can't stay long mother he said I'm UPF front the prefects have got two compartments to themselves are you prefect Percy said one of the twins with an air of great surprise you should have said something we had no idea hang on think remember him saying something about it said the other twin once or twice minute all summer shut up said Percy the prefect how come Percy gets new robes and Anyway said one of the twins because he's prefect said their mother fondly all right dear well have good term send me an owl when you get there she kissed Percy on the cheek and he left then she turned to the twins now you two this year you behave yourselves if get one more owl telling me you've you've blown up toilet or blown up toilet we've never blown up toilet great idea though thanks Mom it's not funny and look after Ron don't worry ichel ronins is safe with us shut up said Ron again he was almost as tall as the twins already and his nose was still pink where his mother had rubbed it hey mom guess what guess who we just met on the train Harry leaned back quickly so they could see him looking you know that blackhaired boy who was near us in the station know who he is who Harry Potter Harry heard the little girl's voice Mom can go on the train and see him mom please you've already seen him Jenny and the poor boy isn't something you goggle at in zoo is he really Fred how do you know asked him saw his scar it's really there like lightning poor dear no wonder he was alone wondered he was ever so polite when he asked how to get onto the platform never mind that do you think he remembers what you know who looks like their mother suddenly became very Stern forbid you to ask him Fred no don't you dare as though he needs reminding of them that on his first day at school all right keep your hair on whistle sounded hurry up their mother said and the three boys clambered onto the train they leaned out of the window for her to kiss them goodbye and their younger sister began to cry don't Jenny we'll send you loads of owls we'll send you hogwart's toilet seat George only joking mom the train began to move Harry saw the boy's mother waving and their sister half laughing half crying running to keep up with the train until it gathered too much speed then she fell back and waved Harry watched the girl and her mother disappear as the train rounded the corner houses flashed past the window Harry felt great leap of excitement he didn't know what he was going to but it had to be better than what he was leaving behind the door of the compartment slid open and the youngest red-headed boy came in anyone sitting there he asked pointing at the seat opposite Harry everywhere else is full Harry shook his head and the boy sat down he glanced at Harry and then looked quickly out of the window pretending he hadn't looked Harry saw he still had black mark on his nose Hey Ron the Twins were back listen we're going down the middle of the train Lee Jordan's got giant tarantula down there right mumbled Ron Harry said the other twin did we introduce ourselves Fred and George Weasley and this is Ron our brother see you later then bye said Harry and Ron the twins slid the compartment door shut behind them are you really Harry Potter Ron blurted out Harry nodded well thought it might be one of Fred and George's jokes said Ron and have you really got you know he pointed at Harry's forehead Harry pulled back his bangs to show the lightning scar Ron stared so that's where you know who yes said Harry but can't remember it nothing said Ron eagerly well remember lot of green light but nothing else wow said Ron he sat and stared at Harry for few moments then as though he had suddenly realized what he was doing he looked quickly out of the window again are all your family Wizards asked Harry who found Ron just as interested as Ron found him or yes think so said Ron think Mom's got second cousin who's an accountant but we never talk about him so you must know loads of magic already the Weasley were clearly one of those old Wizarding families the pale boy in Diagon Alley had talked about heard you went to live with Muggles said Ron what are they like horrible well not all of them my aunt and Uncle and Cousin are though wish I'd had three wizard Brothers five said Ron for some reason he was looking gloomy I'm the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts you could say I've got lot to live up to Bill and Charlie have already left bill was head boy and Charlie was Captain of quiddit now Percy's prefect Fred and George mess around lot but they still get really good marks and everyone thinks they're really funny everyone expects me to do as well as the others but if do it's no big deal because they did it first you never get anything new either with five brothers I've got Bill's Old robes Charlie's old wand and Percy's old rat Ron reached inside his jacket and pulled out fat gray rat which was asleep his name scabbers and he's useless he hardly ever wakes up Percy got an owl from my dad for being made prefect but they couldn't AF mean got scabbers instead Ron's ears went pink he seemed to think he'd said too much because he went back to staring out of the window Harry didn't think there was anything wrong with not being able to afford an owl after all all he'd never had any money in his life until month ago and he told Ron so all about having to wear Dudley's old clothes and never getting proper birthday presents this seemed to cheer Ron up and until Hagrid told me didn't know anything about being wizard or about my parents or Voldemort Ron gasped what said Harry you said you know whose name said Ron sounding both shocked and impressed I'd have thought you of all people I'm not trying to be brave or anything saying the name said Harry just never knew you shouldn't see what mean I've got loads to learn bet he added voicing for the first time something that had been worrying him lot lately bet I'm the worst in the class you won't be there's loads of people who come from muggle families and they learn quick enough while they had been talking the train had carried them out of London now they were speeding past Fields full of cows and sheep they were quiet for time watching the fields and Lanes flick past around half 12 there was great clattering outside in the corridor and smiling dimpled woman slid back their door and said anything off the cart deers Harry who hadn't had any breakfast leapt to his feet but Ron's ears went pink again and he muttered that he'd brought sandwiches Harry went out into the corridor he had never had any money for candy with the dersley and now that he had Pockets rattling with gold and silver he was ready to buy as many Mars Bars as he could carry but the woman didn't have Mars Bars what she did have were Betty Bots every flavor beans drupal's best blowing gum chocolate frogs pumpkin pasties cauldron cakes licorice wands and number of other strange things Harry had never seen in his life not wanting to miss anything he got some of everything and paid the woman 11 silver sickles and and seven bronze gats Ron stared as Harry brought it all back into the compartment and tipped it onto an empty seat hungry are you starving said Harry taking large bite out of pumpkin pasty Ron had taken out lumpy package and unwrapped it there were four sandwiches inside he pulled one of them apart and said she always forgets don't like corned beef swap you for one of these said Harry holding up pasty go on you don't want this it's all dry said Ron she hasn't got much time he added quickly you know with five of us go on have pasty said Harry who had never had anything to share before or indeed anyone to share it with it was nice feeling sitting there with Ron eating their way through all Harry's pasties cakes and candies the sandwiches lay forgotten what are these Harry asked Ron holding up pack of chocolate frogs they're not really frogs are they he was starting to feel that nothing would surprise him no said Ron but see what the card is I'm missing grippa what of course you wouldn't know chocolate frogs have cards inside them you know to collect famous witches and wizards I've got about 500 but haven't got grippa or tmy Harry unwrapped his chocolate frog and picked up the card it showed man's face he wore Half Moon glasses had long crooked nose and flowing silver hair beard and mustache underneath the picture was the name Albus Dumbledore so this is Dumbledore said Harry don't tell me you'd never heard of dumbledor said Ron can have frog might get grippa thanks Harry turned over his card and read Albus Dumbledore currently Headmaster of Hogwarts considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard grindle wall in 1945 for the discovery of the 12 uses of dragon's blood and his work on Alchemy with his partner Nicholas Flamel Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and 10pin bowling Harry turned the card back over and saw to his astonishment the Dumbledore's face had disappeared he's gone well you can't expect him to hang around all day said Ron he'll be back no I've got Morana again and I've got about six of her do you want it you can start collecting Ron's eyes strayed to the pile of chocolate frogs waiting to be unwrapped help yourself said Harry but in you know the Muggle world people just stay put in photos do they what they don't move at all Ron sounded amazed weird Harry St stared as Dumbledore sidled back into the picture on his card and gave him small smile Ron was more interested in eating the frogs than looking at the famous witches and wizards cards but Harry couldn't keep his eyes off them soon he had not only Dumbledore and Morgana but hangist of Woodcroft alri Gran Cersei paracelsus and Merlin he finally tore his eyes away from the druidas coda who who was scratching her nose to open bag of Birdie Bots every flavor beans you want to be careful with those Ron warned Harry when they say every flavor they mean every flavor you know you get all the ordinary ones like Chocolate and Peppermint and marmalade but then you can get spinach and liver and tripe George reckons he had booger flavored one once Ron picked up green bean looked at it carefully and bit into corner Blair see Sprouts they had good time eating the Every Flavor beans Harry got toast coconut baked bean strawberry Curry grass coffee sardine and was even brave enough to nibble the end off funny greay one Ron wouldn't touch which turned out to be pepper the countryside now flying past the window was becoming Wild the neat Fields had gone now there were Woods twisting rivers and dark green Hills there was knock on the door of their compartment and the round-faced boy Harry had passed on Platform 9 and 3/4 came in he looked tearful sorry he said but have you seen toad at all when they shook their heads he wailed I've lost him he keeps getting away from me he'll turn up said Harry yes said the boy miserably well if you see him he left don't know why he's so bothered said Ron if I'd brought toad I'd lose it as quick as could mind you brought scabbers so can't talk the rat was still snoozing on Ron's lap he might have died and you wouldn't know the difference said Ron in disgust tried to turn him yellow yesterday to make him more interesting but the spell didn't work I'll show you look he rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out very battered looking wand it was chipped in places and something white was glinting at the end unicorn hairs nearly poking out anyway he had just raised his wand when the compartment door slid open again the toless boy was back but this time he had girl with him she was already wearing her new Hogwarts robes has anyone seen toad Neville's lost one she said she had bossy sort of voice lots of bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth we've already told him we haven't seen it said Ron but the girl wasn't listening she was looking at the wand in his hand are you doing magic let's see it then she sat down Ron looked taken aback or all right he cleared his throat Sunshine Daisy's butter mellow turned the stupid fat rat yellow he waved his wand but nothing happened scabbers stayed gray and fast asleep are you sure that's real spell said the girl well it's not very good is it I've tried few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me nobody in my family's magic at all it was ever such surprise when got my letter but was ever so pleased of course mean it's the very best School of Witchcraft there is I've heard I've learned all our course books by heart of course just hope it will be enough I'm Hermione Granger by the way who are you she said all this very fast Harry looked at Ron and was relieved to see by his stunned face that he hadn't learned all the course books by heart either I'm Ron Weasley Ron muttered Harry Potter said Harry are you really said Hermione know all about you of course got few extra books for background reading and you're in modern magical history and the rise and fall of the dark arts and great Wizarding events of the 20th century am said Harry feeling dazed goodness didn't you know I'd have found out everything could if it was me said Hermione do either of you know what house you'll be in I've been asking around and hope I'm in Gryffindor it sounds by far the best hear Dumbledore him himself was in it but suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad anyway we'd better go and look for Neville's toad you two had better change you know expect we'll be there soon and she left taking the toless boy with her whatever house I'm in hope she's not in it said Ron he threw his wand back into his trunk stupid spell George gave it to me but he knew it was dud what house are your brothers in asked Harry Gryffindor said Ron Gloom seemed to be settling on him again mom and dad were in it too don't know what they'll say if I'm not don't suppose Ravenclaw would be too bad but imagine if they put me in Slytherin that's the house full mean you know who was in yeah said Ron he flopped back into his seat looking depressed you know think the ends of scabber whiskers are bit lighter said Harry trying to take Ron's mind off houses so what do your oldest Brothers do now that they've left anyway Harry was wondering what wizard did once he'd finished school Charlie's in Romania studying dragons and bills in Africa doing something for gringut said Ron did you hear about gring it's been all over the daily profit but don't suppose you get that with the Muggles someone tried to rob high Security Vault Harry stared really what happened to them nothing that's why it's such big news they haven't been caught my dad says it must have been powerful dark wizard to get round gringut but they don't think they took anything that's what's odd of course everyone gets scared when something like this happens in case you know who's behind it Harry turned this news over in his mind he was starting to get prickle of fear every time you know who was mentioned he supposed this was all part of entering the magical world but it had been lot more comfortable saying Voldemort without worrying what's your quiddit team Ron asked or don't know any Harry confessed what Ron looked dumbfounded you wait it's the best game in the world and he was off explaining all about the four balls and the positions of the seven players describing famous games he'd been to with his brothers and the broomstick he'd like to get if he had the money he was just taking Harry through the finer point points of the game when the compartment door slid open yet again but it wasn't Neville the toades boy or Hermione Granger this time three boys entered and Harry recognized the middle one at once it was the pale boy from Madame malin's robe shop he was looking at Harry with lot more interest than he'd shown back in Diagon Alley is it true he said they're saying all down the train that Harry Potters in this compartment so it's you is it yes said Harry he was looking at the other boys both of them were thick set and looked extremely mean standing on either side of the pale boy they looked like bodyguards this is crab and this is said the pale boy carelessly noticing where Harry was looking and my name's Malfoy Draco Mal Foy Ron gave slight cough which might have been hiding snig it Draco Malfoy looked at him think my name's funny do you no need to ask who you are my father told me all the Weasley have red hair freckles and more children than they can afford he turned back to Harry you'll soon find out some Wizarding families are much better than others Potter you don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort can help you there he held out his hand to shake Harry's but Harry didn't take it think can tell who the wrong sort are for myself thanks he said cooly Draco Malfoy didn't go red but pink tinge appeared in his pale cheeks I'd be careful if were you Potter he said slowly unless you're bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents they didn't know what was good for them either you hang around with riffraff like the Weasley and that Hagrid and it'll rub off on you both Harry and Ron stood up say that again Ron said his face as red as his hair you're going to fight us are you Malfoy sneered unless you get out now said Harry more bravely than he felt because crab and Goyle were lot bigger than him or Ron but we don't feet like leaving do we boys we've eaten all our food and you still seem to have some Goyle reached toward the chocolate frogs next to Ron Ron leapt forward but before he'd so much as touched Goyle Goyle let out horrible yell scabbers the rat was hanging off his finger sharp little teeth sunk deep into to goyle's knuckle crab and Malfoy backed away as Goyle swung scabbers round and round howling and when scabbit finally flew off and hit the window all three of them disappeared at once perhaps they thought there were more rats lurking among the sweets or perhaps they'd heard footsteps because second later Hermione Granger had come in what has been going on she said looking at the sweets all over the floor and Ron picking up scabbers by his tail think he's been knocked out Ron said to Harry he looked closer at scabbers no don't believe it he's gone back to sleep and so he had you've met Malfoy before Harry explained about their meeting in Diagon Alley I've heard of his family said Ron Darkly they were some of the first to come back to our side after you know who disappeared said they'd been Bewitched my dad doesn't believe it he says Malfoy's father didn't need an excuse to go over to the dark side he turned to hermion can we help you with something you'd better hurry up and put your robes on I've just been up to the front to ask the conductor and he says we're nearly there you haven't been fighting have you you'll be in trouble before we even get there scabbers has been fighting not us said Ron scowling at her would you mind leaving while we change all right only came in here because people outside are behaving very childishly racing up and down the corridors said hermion in sniffy voice and you've got dirt on your nose by the way did you know Ron glared at her as she left Harry peered out of the window it was getting dark he could see mountains and forests under deep purple sky the train did seem to be slowing down he and Ron took off their jackets and pulled on their long black robes Ron's were bit short for him you could see his sneakers underneath them voice echoed through the train we will be reaching Hogwarts in 5 minutes time please leave your luggage on the train it will be taken to the school separately Harry's stomach lurched with nerves and Ron he saw looked pale under his freckles they crammed their pockets with the last of the suets and joined the crowd thronging the corridor the train slowed right down and finally stopped people pushed their way toward the door and out onto tiny dark platform Harry shivered in the cold night air then lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students and Harry heard familiar voice years years over here all right there Harry Hagrid's big hairy face beamed Over the Sea of heads come on follow me any more fur years mind your step now First Years follow me slipping and stumbling they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be steep Narrow Path it was so dark on either side of them that Harry thought there must be thick trees there nobody spoke much Neville the boy who kept losing his toad sniffed once or twice youall get your first sight of Hogwarts in sec Hagrid called over his shoulder just round this Bend here there was loud the Narrow Path had opened suddenly onto the edge of great black perched at top high mountain on the other side its Windows sparkling in the Starry Sky was vast castle with many turrets and Towers no more in four to boat Hagrid called pointing to fleet of little boats sitting in the Water by the shore Harry and Ron were followed into their boat by Nevil and Hermione everyone in shouted Hagrid who had boat to himself right then forward and the fleet of little boats moved off all at once gliding across the lake which was as smooth as glass everyone was silent staring up at the great Castle overhead it towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood heads down yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff they all bent their head heads and the little boats carried them through curtain of Ivy that hid wide opening in The Cliff face they were carried along dark tunnel which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle until they reached kind of underground Harbor where they clambered out onto rocks and Pebbles oi you there is this your toad said Hagrid who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them Trevor cried Neville blissfully holding out his hands then they clambered up passageway in the Rock after Hagrid's lamp coming out at last onto smooth damp grass right in the shadow of the castle they walked up flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge Oak front door everyone here you there still got your toad Hagrid raised gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door chapter seven the Sorting Hat the door swung open at once tall blackhaired witch and in emerald green robes stood there she had very Stern face and Harry's first thought was that this was not someone to cross the first years professor mcgonagle said Hagrid thank you Hagrid will take them from here she pulled the door wide the entrance hall was so big you could have fit the hole of the dersley house in it the stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at gringut the ceiling was too high to make out and magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors they followed Professor mcgonagal across the flagged Stone floor Harry could hear the Drone of hundreds of voices from doorway to the right the rest of the school must already be here but Professor mcgonagal showed the first years into small empty chamber off the hall they crowded in standing rather closer together than they would usually have done peering about nervously welcome to Hogwarts said Professor mcgonagal the start of term banquet will begin shortly but before you take your seats in the Great Hall you will be sorted into your houses the Sorting is very important ceremony because while you are here your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts you will have classes with the rest of your house sleep in your house dormatory and spend free time in your house common room the four houses are called Gryffindor Hufflepuff Ravenclaw and Slytherin each house has its own Noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards while you are at Hogwarts your triumphs will earn your house points while any rule breaking will lose house points at the end of the year the house with the most points is awarded the house cup great honor hope each of you will be credit to whichever house becomes yours the Sorting ceremony will take place in few minutes in front of the rest of the school suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting her eyes lingered for moment on Neville's cloak which was fastened under his left ear and on Ron's smudged nose Harry nervously tried to flatten his hair shall return when we are ready for you said professor magonov please wait quietly she left the chamber Harry swallowed how exactly do they SAR us into houses he asked Ron some sort of test think Fred said it hurts lot but think he was joking Harry's heart gave horrible jolt test in front of the whole school but he didn't know any magic yet what on Earth would he have to do he hadn't expected something like this the moment they arrived he looked around anxiously and saw that everyone else looked terrified too no one was talking much except Hermione Granger who was whispering very fast about all the Spells she'd learned and wondering which one she'd need Harry tried hard not to listen to her he'd never been more nervous never not even when he'd had to take school report home to the dersley saying that he'd somehow turned his teacher's wig blue he kept his eyes fixed on the door any second now Professor mcgonagal would come back and lead him to his Doom then something happened that made him jump about foot in the air several people behind him screamed what the he gasped so did the people around him about 20 ghosts had just streamed through the back wall pearly white and slightly transparent they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years they seemed to be arguing what looked like fat little monk was saying forgive and forget say we ought to give him second chance my dear frier haven't we given peeves all the Chan as he deserves he gives us all bad name and you know he's not really even ghost say what are you all doing here ghost wearing rough and tights had suddenly noticed the first ears nobody answered new students said the fat frier smiling around at them about to be sorted suppose few people nodded mutely hope to see you in Hufflepuff said the frier my old house you know move along now said sharp voice the Sorting ceremonies about to start Professor mcgonagle had returned One By One The Ghost floated away through the opposite wall now form line Professor mcgonagle told the first ears and follow me feeling oddly as though his legs had turned to lead Harry got into line behind boy with Sandy hair hair with Ron behind him and they walked out of the chamber back across the hall and through pair of double doors into the Great Hall Harry had never even imagined such strange and Splendid place it was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables where the rest of the students were sitting these tables were laid with glittering Golden Plates and goblets at the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting Professor mcgonagal led the first years up here so that they came to halt in line facing the other students with the teachers behind them the hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candl light dotted here and there among the students the ghost shown Misty silver mainly to avoid all the staring eyes Harry looked upward and saw velvety black ceiling dotted with stars he heard hermion whisper it's Bewitched to look like the sky outside read about it in Hogwarts History it was hard to believe there was ceiling there at all and that the Great Hall didn't simply open onto the heavens Harry quickly looked down again as Prof Professor mcgonagal silently placed four-legged stool in front of the first years on top of the stool she put pointed wizard's hat this hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty Aunt Petunia wouldn't have let it in the house maybe they had to try and get rabbit out of it Harry thought wildly that seemed the sort of thing noticing that everyone in the hall was now staring at the Hat he stared at it too for few seconds there was complete silence then the Hat twitched rip near the brim opened wide like mouth and the hat began to sing you may not think I'm pretty but don't judge on what you see I'll eat myself if you can find smarter hat than me you can keep your Bowlers black your top hats sleek and tall for I'm the Hogwart Sorting Hat and can cap them all there's nothing hidden in your head the Sorting Hat can't see so try me on and will tell you where you ought to be you might belong in Gryffindor where dwell the brave at heart their daring nerve and chivalry set gryffindors apart you might belong in Hufflepuff where they are just and loyal those patient huffle puffers are true and unafraid of toil or yet in Wise Old Ravenclaw if you've ready mind where those of wit and learning will always find their kind or perhaps in Slytherin you'll make your real friends those cunning folk use any means to achieve their ends so put me on don't be afraid and don't get in flap you're in safe hands though have none for I'm thinking cap the whole Hall burst into Applause as the Hat finished its song it bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again so we've just got to try on the hat Ron whispered to Harry I'll kill Fred he was going on about wrestling troll Harry smiled weakly yes trying on the hat was lot better than having to do spell but he did wish they could have tried it on without everyone watching the Hat seemed to be asking rather lot Harry didn't feel Brave or quick witted or any of it at the moment if only the Hat had mentioned house for people who felt bit queasy that would have been the one for him professor mcgonagle now stepped forward holding long roll of parchment when call your name you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted she said abot Hannah pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line put on the hat which fell right down over her eyes and sat down moment's pause Hufflepuff shouted the Hat the table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table Harry saw the ghost of the fat fryer waving merrily at her bones Susan Hufflepuff shouted the Hat again and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah boot Terry Ravenclaw the table second from the left clapped this time several ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them brocklehurst Mandy went to Ravenclaw too but Brown lavender became the first new Gryffindor and the table on the far left exploded with cheers Harry could see Ron's twin brother's cat calling bolst milicent then became Slytherin perhaps it was Harry's imagination after all he'd heard about Slytherin but he thought they looked like an unpleasant lot he was starting to feel definitely sick now he remembered being picked for for teams during gym at his old school he had always been last to be chosen not because he was no good but because no one wanted Dudley to think they liked him Finch fletchley Justin Hufflepuff sometimes Harry noticed the Hat shouted out the house at once but at others it took little while to decide finegan Sheamus the sandy-haired boy next to Harry in the line sat on the stool for almost whole minute before the Hat declared him Gryffindor Granger Hermione Hermione almost ran to the stool and jammed the Hat eagerly on her head Gryffindor shouted the Hat Ron groaned horrible thought struck Harry as horrible thoughts always do when you're very nervous what if he wasn't chosen at all what if he just sat there with the hat over his eyes for ages until Professor mcgonagal jerked it off his head and said there had obviously been mistake and he'd better get back on the train when Neville Longbottom the boy who kept losing his toad was called he fell over on his way to the stool the Hat took long time to decide with Neville when it finally shouted Gryffindor Neville ran off still wearing it and had to jog back amid gales of laughter to give it to McDougall Morag Malfoy swaggered forward when his name was called and got his wish at once the Hat had barely touched his head when it screamed Slytherin Maloy went to join his friends crab and Goyle looking pleased with himself there weren't many people left now Moon not Parkinson then pair of twin girls pattil and patle then perks sallyanne and then at last Potter Harry as Harry stepped forward Whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall Potter did she say the Harry Potter the last thing Harry saw before the Hat dropped over his eyes was the hall full of people craning to get good look at him next second he was looking at the black inside of the Hat he waited said small voice in his ear difficult very difficult plenty of Courage see not bad mind either there's Talent my goodness yes and nice thirst to prove yourself now that's interesting so where shall put you Harry gripped the edges of the stool and thought not Slytherin not Slytherin not Slytherin said the Small Voice are you sure you could could be great you know it's all here in your head and Slytherin will help you on the way to Greatness no doubt about that no well if you're sure better be Gryffindor Harry heard the Hat shout the last word to the whole Hall he took off the hat and walked shakily toward the Gryffindor table he was so relieved to have been chosen and not put in Slytherin he hardly noticed that he was getting the loudest cheer yet Percy the prefect got up and shook his hand vigorously while the weasly twins yelled we got Potter we got Potter Harry sat down opposite the ghost in the rough he'd seen earlier the ghost patted his arm giving Harry the sudden horrible feeling he just plunged it into bucket of ice cold water he could see the high table properly now at the end nearest him Sat Hagrid who caught his eye and gave him the thumbs up Harry grinned back and there in the center of the high table in large gold chair sat Albus Dumbledore Harry recognized him at once from the card he'd gotten out of the chocolate frog on the train Dumbledore's silver hair was the only thing in the whole Hall that Shone as brightly as the ghosts Harry spotted Professor quirell too the nervous young man from The Leaky cauldron he was looking very peculiar in large purple turban and now there were only three people left to be sorted Thomas Dean black boy even taller than Ron joined Harry at the Gryffindor table Turpin Lisa became Ravenclaw and then it was Ron's turn he was pale green by now Harry crossed his fingers under the table and second later the Hat had shouted Gryffindor Harry clapped loudly with the rest as Ron collapsed into the chair next to him well done Ron excellent said Percy Weasley pompously across Harry as zabini Blaze was made Slytherin Professor mcgonagal rolled up her scroll and took the Sorting Hat away Harry looked down at his empty gold plate he had only just realized how hungry he was the pumpkin pasties seemed ages ago Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet he was beaming at the students his arms opened wide as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there welcome he said welcome to new year at Hogwarts before we begin our banquet would like to say few words and here they are nitwit blubber oddment tweak thank you he sat back down everybody clapped and cheered Harry didn't know whether to laugh or not is he bit mad he asked Percy uncertainly mad said Percy arily he's genius best wizard in the world but he is bit mad yes potatoes Harry Harry's mouth fell open the dishes in front of him were now piled with food he had never seen so many things he liked to eat on one table roast beef pork chops and Lamb Chops sausages bacon and steak boiled potatoes roast potatoes fries Yorkshire pudding peas carrots gravy ketchup and for some strange reason peppermint humbugs the dersley had never exactly starved Harry but he'd never been allowed to eat as much as he liked Dudley had always taken anything that Harry really wanted even if it made him sick Harry piled his plate with bit of everything except the peppermints and began to eat it was all delicious that does look good said the ghost in the rough sadly watching Harry cut up his steak can't you haven't eaten for nearly 400 years said the ghost don't need to of course but one does miss it don't think I've introduced myself Sir Nicholas to Mimsy porpington At Your Service resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower know who you are said Ron suddenly my brothers told me about you you're nearly headless Nick would prefer you to call me Sir Nicholas deimy the ghost began stiffly but sandy-haired Sheamus finnean interrupted nearly headless how can you be nearly headless Sir Nicholas looked extremely miffed as if their little chat wasn't going at all the way he wanted like this he said irritably he seized his left ear and pulled his whole head swung off his neck and fell onto his shoulder as if it was on hinge someone had obviously tried to behead him but not done it properly looking pleased at the stunned looks of on their faces nearly headless Nick flipped his head back onto his neck coughed and said so new gryffindors hope you're going to help us win the house Championship this year gryffindors have never gone so long without winning Slytherin have got the cup six years in row the bloody baronss becoming almost unbearable he's the Slytherin ghost Harry looked over at the Slytherin table and saw horrible ghost sitting there with blank staring eyes gaunt face and robes stained with silver blood he was right next to Malfoy who Harry was pleased to see didn't look too pleased with the seating arrangements how did he get covered in blood asked Sheamus with great interest I've never asked said nearly headless Nick delicately when every everyone had eaten as much as they could the remains of the food faded from the plates leaving them sparkling clean as before moment later the desserts appeared blocks of ice cream in every flavor you could think of apple pies trickle Tarts chocolate acares and jam Donuts trifle strawberries jell rice pudding as Harry helped himself to trial tart the turned to their families I'm half and half said Sheamus me Dad's muggle mom didn't tell him she was witch till after they were married bit of nasty shock for him the others laughed what about you Neville said Ron well my grand brought me up and she's witch said Neville but the family thought was all muggle for ages my great uncle algae kept trying to catch me off my guard and force some magic out of me he pushed me off the end of Blackpool Pier once nearly drowned but nothing happened until was eight great uncle algae came around for dinner and he was hanging me out of an upstairs window by the ankles when my great auntie Enid offered him morang and he accidentally let go but bounced all the way way down the garden and into the road they were all really pleased Gran was crying she was so happy and you should have seen their faces when got in here they thought might not be magic enough to come you see great uncle algae was so pleased he bought me my Toad on Harry's other side Percy Weasley and Hermione were talking about lessons do hope they start right away there's so much to learn I'm particularly interested in Transfiguration you know turning something into something else of course it's supposed to be very difficult you'll be starting small just matches into needles and that sort of thing Harry who was starting to feel warm and sleepy looked up at the high table again Hagrid was drinking deeply from his goblet Professor mcgonagal was talking to to Professor Dumbledore professor quirell in his absurd turban was talking to teacher with greasy black hair hooked nose and sow skin it happened very suddenly the hook noosed teacher looked past quirrell's turban straight into Harry's eyes in Sharp hot pain shot across the scar on Harry's forehead ouch Harry clapped hand to his head what is it asked Percy nothing the pain had gone as quickly as it had come harder to shake off was the feeling Harry had gotten from the teacher's look feeling that he didn't like Harry at all who's that teacher talking to Professor quirell he asked Percy you know quirell already do you no wonder he's looking so nervous that's Professor Snape he teaches potions but he doesn't want to everyone knows he's after quirrell's job knows an awful lot about the dark arts Snape Harry watched Snape for while but Snape didn't look at him again at last the desserts too disappeared and Professor Dumbledore Got To His Feet Again the hall fell silent aharn just few more words now that we are all fed and watered have few start of term notices to give you first years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils and few of our older students would do well to remember that as well Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins have also been asked by Mr filch the caretaker to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors quiddit trials will be held in the second week of the term anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch and finally must tell you that this year the third floor Corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die very painful death Harry laughed but he was one of the few who did he's not serious he muttered to Percy must be said Percy frowning at Dumbledore it's odd because he usually gives us reason why we're not allowed to go somewhere the forest's full of dangerous beasts everyone knows that do think he might have told us prefects at least and now before we go to bed let us sing the school song cried dumble door Harry noticed that the other teachers Smiles had become rather fixed Dumbledore gave his wand little flick as if he was trying to get fly off the end and long golden ribbon flew out of it which rose high above the tables and twisted itself snake likee into words everyone pick their favorite tune said Dumbledore and off we go and the school bellowed Hogwarts Hogwarts hoggy warty Hogwarts teach us something please whether we be old old and bald or young with scabby knees our heads could do with filling with some interesting stuff for now they're bare and full of air dead flies and bits of fluff so teach us things worth knowing bring back what we forgot just do your best we'll do the rest and learn until our brains all rot everybody finished the song at different times at Last Only the Weasley twins were left singing along to very slow funeral March Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished he was one of those who clapped loudest music he said wiping his eyes magic beyond all we do Here and Now bedtime off you Trot the Gryffindor First Years followed Percy through the chattering crowds out of the Great Hall and up the the marble staircase Harry's legs were like lead again but only because he was so tired and full of food he was too sleepy even to be surprised that the people in the portraits along the corridors whispered and pointed as they passed or that twice Percy LED them through doorways hidden behind sliding panels and hanging tapestries they climbed more staircases yawning and bragging their feet and Harry was just wondering how much farther they had to go when they came to sudden halt bundle of walking sticks was floating in midair ahead of them and as Percy took step toward them they started throwing themselves at him peeves Percy whispered to the first years poltergeist he raised his voice peeves show yourself loud rude sound like the air being let out of balloon answered do you want me to go to the Bloody Baron there was pop and little man with Wicked dark eyes and wide mouth appeared floating cross-legged in the air clutching the walking sticks he said with an evil cackle ickle firsties what fun he swooped Suddenly at them they all ducked go away away peeves or the baron will hear about this mean it barked Percy peeves stuck out his tongue and vanished dropping the walking sticks on Neville's head they heard him zooming away rattling coats of armor as he passed you want to watch out for peeves said Percy as they set off again the bloody Baron's the only one who can control him he won't even listen to us prefects he here we are at the very end of the corridor hung portrait of very fat woman in pink silk dress password she said capit draconus said Percy and the portrait swung forward to reveal round hole in the wall they all scrambled through it Neville needed leg up and found themselves in the Gryffindor common room cozy round room full of squashy armchairs per directed the girls through one door to their dormatory and the boys through another at the top of spiral staircase they were obviously in one of the towers they found their beds at last five four posters hung with deep red velvet curtains their trunks had already been brought up too tired to talk much they pulled on their pajamas and fell into bed great food isn't it Ron muttered to Harry through the hangings get off scabbers he's chewing my sheets Harry was going to ask Ron if he'd had any of the trial tart but he fell asleep almost at once perhaps Harry had eaten bit too much because he had very strange dream he was wearing Professor quirrell's turban which kept talking to him telling him he must transfer to Slytherin at once because it was his Destiny Harry told the turban he didn't want to be in Slytherin it got heavier and heavier he tried to pull it off but it tightened painfully and there was Malfoy laughing at him as he struggled with it then Malfoy turned into the hook noosed teacher Snape whose laugh became high and cold there was burst of green light and Harry woke sweating and shaking he rolled over and fell asleep again and when he woke next day he didn't remember the dream at all chapter 8 the potions Master there look where next to the tall kid with the red hair wearing the glasses did you see his face did you see his scar Whispers followed Harry from the moment he left his dormatory the next day people lining up outside classrooms stood on tiptoe to get look at him or doubled back to pass him in the corridors again staring Harry wished they wouldn't because he was trying to concentrate on finding his way to classes there were 142 staircases at Hogwarts wide sweeping ones narrow rickety ones some that led somewhere different on Friday some with Vanishing step halfway up that you had to remember to Jump Then There Were doors that wouldn't open unless you asked politely or tickled them in exactly the right place and doors that weren't really doors at all but solid walls just pretending it was also very hard to remember where anything was because it all seemed to move around lot the people in the portraits kept going to visit each other and Harry was sure the coats of armor could walk the ghosts didn't help either it was always nasty shock when one of them glided suddenly through door you were trying to open nearly headless Nick was always happy to Point new gryffindors in the right direction but peeves the Poltergeist was worth two locked doors and trick staircase if you met him when you were were late for class he would drop Waste Paper baskets on your head pull rugs from under your feet Pelt you with bits of chalk or sneak up behind you invisible grab your nose and Screech got your conk even worse than peeves if that was possible was the caretaker Argus filch Harry and Ron managed to get on the wrong side of him on their very first morning filch found them trying to force their way through door that unluckily turned out to be the entrance to the out of bounds Corridor on the third floor he wouldn't believe they were lost was sure they were trying to break into it on purpose and was threatening to lock them in the dungeons when they were rescued by Professor quirell who was passing filch owned cat called Mrs Norris scrawny dust colored creature with bulging lamp-like eyes just like filches she patrolled the corridors alone break rule in front of her put just one toe out of line and she'd whisk off her filch who'd appear we wheezing 2 seconds later filch knew the secret passageways of the school better than anyone except perhaps the weasly Twins and could pop up as suddenly as any of the ghosts the the students all hated him and it was the dearest ambition of many to give Mrs Norris good kick and then once you had managed to find them there were the classes themselves there was lot more to Magic as Harry quickly found out than waving your wand and saying few funny words they had to study the night skies through their telescopes every Wednesday at midnight and learn learn the names of different stars and the movements of the planets three times week they went out to the green houses behind the castle to study herbology with dumpy little witch called Professor Sprout where they learned how to take care of all the strange plants and fungi and found out what they were used for easily the most boring class was History of Magic which was the only one Tau by ghost Professor BS had been very old indeed when he had fallen asleep in front of the staff room fire and got up next morning to teach leaving his body behind him bins droned on and on while they scribbled down names and dates and got emedic the evil and urick the Oddball mixed up Professor Flitwick the charms teacher was tiny little wizard who had to stand on pile of books to see over his desk at the start of their first class he took the roll call and when he reached Harry's name he gave an excited squeak and toppled out of sight Professor mcgonagal was again different Harry had been quite right to think she wasn't teacher to cross strict and clever she gave them talking to the moment they sat down in her first class Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts she said anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back you have been warned then she changed her desk into pig and back again they were all very impressed and couldn't wait to get started but soon realized they weren't going to be changing the furniture into animals for long time after taking lot of complicated notes they were each given match and started trying to turn it into needle by the end of the lesson only Hermione Granger had made any difference to her match Professor mcgonagle showed the class how it had gone all silver and pointy and gave Hermione rare smile the class everyone had really been looking forward to was defense against the dark arts but quirrell's lessons turned out to be bit of joke his classroom smelled strongly of garlic which everyone said was to ward off vampire he'd met in Romania and was afraid would be coming back to get him one of these days his turban he told them had been given to him by an African prince as thank you for getting rid of Troublesome zombie but they weren't sure they believed the story for one thing when Sheamus finegan asked eagerly to hear how quirrel had fought off the zombie quirrel went pink and started talking about the weather for another they had noticed that funny smell hung around the turban and the Weasley twins insisted that it was stuffed full of garlic as well so that quirrel was protected wherever he went Harry was very relieved to find out that he wasn't my behind everyone else lots of people had come from muggle families and like him hadn't had any idea that they were witches and wizards there was so much to learn that even people like Ron didn't have much of head start Friday was an important day for Harry and Ron they finally managed to find their way down to the great hall for breakfast without getting lost once what have we got to today Harry asked Ron as he poured sugar on his porridge double potions with the slytherins said Ron snap's head of Slytherin house they say he always favors them we'll be able to see if it's true wish mcgonagal favored us said Harry Professor mcgonagle was head of Gryffindor House but it hadn't stopped her from giving them huge pile of homework the day before just then the maale arrived Harry had gotten used to this by now but it had given him bit of shock on the first morning when about hundred owls had suddenly streamed into the Great Hall during breakfast circling the tables until they saw their owners and dropping letters and packages onto their laps Hedwig hadn't brought Harry anything so far she sometimes flew in to nibble his ear and have bit of toast before going off to sleep in the owy with the other school owls this morning however she fluttered down between the marmalade and the Sugar Bowl and dropped note onto Harry's plate Harry tore it open at once it said in very untidy scroll dear Harry know you get Friday afternoon's off so would you like to come and have cup of tea with me around three want to hear all about your first week send us an answer back with Hedwig he grid Harry borrowed Ron's quill scribbled yes please see you later on the back of the note and sent Hedwig off again it was lucky that Harry had tea with Hagrid to look forward to because the potions lesson turned out to be the worst thing that had happened to him so far at the start of term banquet Harry had gotten the idea that Professor Snape disliked him by the end of the first potions lesson he knew he'd been wrong Snape didn't dislike Harry he hated him potions lessons took place down in one of the dungeons it was colder here than up in the main castle and would have been quite creepy enough without the Pickled animals floating in glass jars all around the walls Snape like Flitwick started the class by taking the roll call and like Flitwick he paused at Harry's name yes he said softly Harry Potter our new celebrity Draco Malfoy and his friends crab and sniggered behind their hands Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class his eyes were black like hagrids but they had none of Hagrid's warmth they were were cold and empty and made you think of dark tunnels you are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making he began he spoke in barely more than whisper but they caught every word like Professor mcgonagle Snape had caught every word like Professor mcgonagle Snape had the gift of keeping class silent without effort as there is little foolish wand waving here many of you will hardly believe this is Magic don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins bewitching the Mind ens snaring the senses can teach you how to bottle Fame Brew Glory even stop her death if you aren't as big bunch of dunderheads as usually have to teach more silence followed this little speech Harry and Ron exchanged looks with raised eyebrows her mayy Granger was on the edge of her seat and looked desperate to start proving that she wasn't dunderhead Potter said Snape suddenly what would get if added powdered root of Asphodel to an infusion of wormwood powdered roots of what to an infusion of what Harry glanced at Ron who looked as stumped as he was her Mayan's hand had shot into the air don't know sir said Harry snap's lips curled into sneer Tut Tut Fame clearly isn't everything he ignored herm's hand let's try again Potter where would you look if told you to find me beor her mayane stretched her hand as high into the air as it would go without her leaving her seat but Harry didn't have the finest idea what bizor was he tried not to look at Malfoy crab and Goyle who were shaking with laughter don't know sir thought you wouldn't open book before coming Potter Harry forced himself to keep looking straight into those cold eyes he had looked through his books at the dersley but did Snape expect him to remember everything in 1,000 magical herbs and fungi Snape was still ignoring her mion's quivering hand what is the difference Potter between monk Hood and Wolf Spain at this Hermione stood up her hand stretching toward the dungeon ceiling don't know said Harry quietly think Hermione does though why don't you try her few people laughed Harry caught Sheamus's eye and Sheamus winked Snape however was not pleased sit down he snapped at hermion for your information Potter Asphodel and wormwood make sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the draft of living death bizor is stone taken from the stomach of goat and it will save you from most poisons as for monk hood and wolfpain they are the same plant which also goes by the name of aconite well why aren't you all copying that down there was sudden rummaging for quills and parchment over the noise Snape said and point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek Potter things didn't improve for the gryffindors as the potions lesson continued Snape put them all into Pairs and and set them to mixing up simple potion to cure boils he swept around in his long black cloak watching them weigh dried Nettles and Crush snake fangs criticizing almost everyone except Malfoy whom he seemed to like he was just telling everyone to look at the perfect way Malfoy had stewed his horned slugs when clouds of acid Green Smoke and loud hissing filled the dungeon Neville had somehow managed to melt Sheamus's cauldron into twisted blob and their potion was seeping across the stone floor burning holes in people's shoes within seconds the whole class was standing on their stools while Neville who had been drenched in the potion when The Cauldron collapsed moaned in pain as Angry Red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs Idiot Boy snarled Snape clearing the spilled potion away with one wave of his wand suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking The Cauldron off the fire Neville whimpered as boils started to pop up all over his nose take him up to the hospital Wing Snape spat at Sheamus then he rounded on Harry and Ron who had been working next to Neville you Potter why didn't you tell him not to add the quills thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong did you that's another point you've lost for Gryffindor this was so unfair that Harry opened his mouth to argue but Ron kicked him behind their cauldron doy push it he muttered I've heard Snape can turn very nasty as they climbed the steps out of the dungeon an hour later Harry's mind was racing and his spirits were low he'd lost two points for Gryffindor in his very first week why did Snape hate him so much cheer up said Ron Snape's always taking points off Fred and George can come and meet Hagrid with you at 5 to 3 they left the castle and made their way across the grounds Hagrid lived in small wooden house on the edge of the bidden Forest crossbow and pair of gashes were outside the front door when Harry knocked they heard frantic scrabbling from inside and several booming barks then Hagrid's voice rang out saying back Fang back Hagrid's big hairy face appeared in the crack as he pulled the door open hang on he said back Fang he let them in struggling to keep hold on the collar of an enormous black Bor Hound there was only one room inside hams and pheasants were hanging from the ceiling Copper Kettle was boiling on the Open Fire and in the corner stood massive bed with patchwork quilt over it make yourselves at home said Hagrid letting go of fang who bounded straight at Ron and started licking his ears like Hagrid Fang was clearly not as Fierce as he looked this is Ron Harry told Hagrid who was pouring boiling water into large teapot and putting Rock Cakes onto plate another Weasley said Hagrid glancing at Ron's freckles spent half me life chasing your twin brothers away from the forest The Rock Cakes were shapeless lumps with raisins that almost broke their teeth but Harry and Ron pretended to be enjoying them as they told Hagrid all about their first lessons Fang rested his head on Harry's knee and drooled all over his robes Harry and Ron were delighted to hear Hagrid call Fitch that old git and as for that cat Mrs Norris I'd like to introduce her to Fang sometime do you know every time go up to the school she follows me everywhere can't get rid of her Fitch puts her up to it Harry told Hagrid about Snape's lesson Hagrid like Ron told Harry not to worry about it that Snape liked hardly any of the students but he seemed to really hate me rubbish said Hagrid why should he yet Harry couldn't help thinking that Hagrid didn't quite meet his eyes when he said that how's your brother Charlie Hagrid asked asked Ron liked him lot great with animals Harry wondered if Hagrid had changed the subject on purpose while Ron told Hagrid all about Charlie's work with dragons Harry picked up piece of paper that was lying on the table under the teac Cozy it was cutting from the daily profet gringut break-in latest investigations continue into the break-in at gringut on 3 1 July widely believed to be the work of dark Wizards or witches unknown Gringo's goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken the Vault that was searched had in fact been emptied the same day but we're not telling you what was in there so keep your noses out if you know what's good for you said gringut spokes Goblin this afternoon Harry remembered Ron telling him on the train that someone had tried to Rob gringut but Ron hadn't mentioned the date Hagrid said Harry that gringut Breakin happened on my birthday it might have been happening while we were there there was no doubt about it Hagrid definitely didn't meet Harry's eyes this time he grunted and offered him another rock cake Harry read the story again the Vault that was searched had in fact been emptied earlier that same day Hagrid had emptied Vault 713 if you could call it emptying taking out that grubby little package had that been what the thieves were looking for as Harry and Ron walked back to the castle for dinner their pockets weighed down with Rock Cakes they'd been too polite to refuse Harry thought that none of the lessons he'd had so far had given him as much to think about as tea with Hagrid had Hagrid collected that package just in time where was it now and did Hagrid know something about Snape that he didn't want to tell Harry chapter the midnight duel Harry had never believed he would meet boy he hated more than Dudley but that was before he met Draco Maloy still firste gryffindors only had potions with the slytherins so they didn't have to put up with Malfoy much or at least they didn't until they spotted notice pinned up in the Gryffindor common room that made them all groan flying lessons would be starting on Thursday and Gryffindor and Slytherin would be learning together typical said Harry Darkly just what always wanted to make make fool of myself on broomstick in front of Malfoy he had been looking forward to learning to fly more than anything else you don't know that you'll make fool of yourself said Ron reasonably anyway know Maloy is always going on about how good he is at quidditch but bet that's all talk Mal certainly did talk about flying lot he complained loudly about first years never getting on the house Quidditch teams and told long boastful stories that always seemed to end with him narrowly escaping Muggles in helicopters he wasn't the only one though the way Sheamus finnean told it he'd spent most of his childhood zooming around the countryside on his broomstick even Ron would tell anyone who'd listen about the time he'd almost hit hang glider on Charlie's old broom everyone from Wizarding families talked about quidditch constantly Ron had already had big argument with Dean Thomas who shared their dormitory about soccer Ron couldn't see what was exciting about game with only one ball where no one was allowed to fly Harry had caught Ron prodding Dean's poster of West Ham soccer team trying to make the players move Neville had never been on broomstick in his life because his grandmother had never let him near one privately Harry felt she'd had good reason because Neville managed to have an extraordinary number of accidents even with both feet on the ground her mayane Granger was almost as nervous about flying as Neville was this was something you couldn't learn by heart out of book not that she hadn't tried at breakfast on Thursday she bored them all stupid with flying tips she'd gotten out of library book called quidditch Through the Ages Neville was hanging on to her every word desperate for anything that might help him hang on to his broomstick later but everybody else was very pleased when herm's lecture was interrupted by the AR Ral of the maale Harry hadn't had single letter since Hagrid's note something that Malfoy had been quick to notice of course maloy's eagle owl was always bringing him packages of sweets from home which he opened gloatingly at the Slytherin table barn owl brought Neville small package from his grandmother he opened it excitedly and showed them glass ball the size of large marble which seemed to be full of white smoke it's rem all he explained Gran knows forget things this tells you if there's something you've forgotten to do look you hold it tight like this and if it turns red his face fell because the remal had suddenly glowed Scarlet you've forgotten something Neville was trying to remember remember what he'd forgotten when Draco Malfoy who was passing the Gryffindor table snatched the remal out of his hand Harry and Ron jumped to their feet they were half hoping for reason to fight Mal but Professor mcgonagal who could spot trouble quicker than any teacher in the school was there in Flash what's going on Malo got my remember all Professor scowling Malfoy quickly dropped the remal back on the table just looking he said and he sloped away with crab and Goyle behind him at 3:30 that afternoon Harry Ron and the other gryffindors hurried down the front steps onto the grounds for their first flying lesson it was clear breezy day and the grass rippled under their feet as they marched down the sloping Lawns toward smooth flat lawn on the opposite side of the grounds to the Forbidden Forest whose trees were swaying Darkly in the distance the Slytherin were already there and so were 20 broomsticks lying in neat lines on the ground Harry had heard Fred and George Weasley complain about the school brooms saying that some of them started to vibrate If you flew too high or always flew slightly to the left their teacher Madame Hooch arrived she had short gray hair and yellow eyes like hawk well what are you all waiting for she barked everyone stand by broomstick come on hurry up Harry glanced down at his broom it was old and some of the Twigs stuck out at odd angles stick out your right hand over your broom called Madam Hooch at the front and say up up everyone shouted Harry's broom jumped into his hand at once but it was one of the few that did hermy Grangers had simply rolled over on the ground and Nevels hadn't moved at all perhaps brooms like horses could tell when you were afraid thought Harry there was Quaver in Neville's voice that said only too clearly that he wanted to keep his feet feet on the ground Madame Hooch then showed them how to mount their brooms without sliding off the end and walked up and down the rows correcting their grips Harry and Ron were delighted when she told Maloy he'd been doing it wrong for years now when blow my whistle you kick off from the ground hard said Madam Hooch keep your brooms steady rise few feet and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly on my whistle 3 2 but Neville nervous and jumpy and frightened of being left on the ground pushed off hard before the whistle had touched Madame hooch's lips come back boy she shouted but Neville was Rising straight up like cork shot out of bottle 12 feet 20 ft Harry saw his scared white face look down at the ground fall Falling Away saw him gasp slip sideways off the broom and Wham thud and nasty crack and Neville lay face down on the grass in heap his broomstick was still Rising Higher and Higher and started to drift lazily toward the Forbidden Forest and out of sight Madame Hooch was bending over Neville her face as white as his broken wrist Harry heard her mutter come on boy it's all right up you get she turned to the rest of the class none of you is to move while take this boy to the hospital Wing you leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say quiddit come on dear Neville his face tear streaked clutching his wrist hobbled off with Madam Hooch who had her arm around him no sooner were they out of earshot than Malfoy burst into laughter did you see his face the great lump the other Slytherin joined in shut up Maloy snapped parva pattle sticking up for long bottom said pansy Parkinson hard-faced Slytherin girl never thought you'd like fat little crybabies Parvati look said Malfoy darting forward and snatching something out of the grass it's that stupid thing long Bottom's Grand sent him the remember all glittered in the Sun as he held it up give that here Maloy said Harry quietly everyone stopped talking to watch Malfoy smiled nastily think I'll leave it somewhere for long bottom to find how about up tree give it here Harry yelled but Malfoy had leapt onto his broomstick and taken off he hadn't been lying he could fly well hovering level with the topmost branches of an oak he called Come and Get It Potter Harry grabbed his broom no shouted Hermione Granger Madam Hooch told us not to move you'll get us all into trouble Harry ignored her blood was pounding in his ears he mounted the broom and kicked hard against the ground and up up he soared air rushed through his hair and his robes whipped out behind him and in rush of fierce Joy he realized he'd found something he could do without being taught this was easy this was wonderful he pulled his broomstick up little to take it even higher and heard screams and gasps of girls back on the ground and an admiring whoop from Ron he turned his broomstick sharply to face Malfoy in midair Malfoy looked stunned give it here Harry called or I'll knock you off that broom yeah said Malfoy trying to sneer but looking worried Harry knew somehow what to do he leaned forward and grasped the broom tightly in both hands and it shot toward malf like javelin Malfoy only just got out of the way in time Harry made sharp about face and held the broom steady few people below were clapping no crab and up here to save your neck Malfoy Harry called the same thought seemed to have struck Malfoy catch it if you can then he shouted and he threw the glass ball high into the air and streaked back toward the ground Harry saw as though in slow motion the ball rise up in the air and then start to fall he leaned forward and pointed his broom handle down next second he was gathering speed in steep dive racing the ball wind whistled in his ears mingled with the screams of people watching he stretched out his hand foot from the ground he caught it just in time to pull his broom straight and he toppled gently onto the grass with the remember all clutched safely in his fist Harry Potter his heart sank faster than he just dived Professor mcgonagal was running toward them he got to his feet trembling never in all my time at Hogwarts Professor mcgonagal was almost speechless with shock and her glasses flashed furiously how dare you might have broken your neck it wasn't his fault Professor be quiet Miss paddle but Maloy that's enough Mr Weasley Potter Follow Me Now Harry caught sight of Malfoy crab and goyle's triumphant faces as he left walking numbly in Professor McGonagle's wake as she stroe toward the castle he was going to be expelled he just knew it he wanted to say something to defend himself but there seemed to be something wrong with his voice Professor mcgonagle was sweeping along without even looking at him he had to jog to keep up now he'd done it he hadn't even lasted 2 weeks he'd be packing his bags in 10 minutes what would the dersley say when he turned up on the doorstep up the front steps up the marble staircase inside and still Professor mcgonagal didn't say word to him she wrenched open doors and marched along corridors with Harry trotting miserably behind her maybe she was taking him to Dumbledore he thought of Hagrid expelled but allowed to stay on as gamekeeper perhaps he could be Hagrid's assistant his stomach Twisted as he imagined it watching Ron and the others becoming Wizards while he stumped around the grounds carrying Hagrid's bag Professor mcgonagal stopped outside classroom she opened the door and poked her head inside excuse me Professor Flitwick could borrow wood for moment wood thought Harry bewildered was wood cane she was going to use on him but wood turned out to be person Burly fifth-year boy who came out of flit wile's class looking confused follow me you two said professor mcgonagal and they marched on up the corridor woodl looking curiously at Harry in here Professor mcgonagal pointed them into classroom that was empty except for peeves who was busy writing rude words on the Blackboard out peeves she barked peeves threw the chalk into bin which clanged loudly and he swooped out cursing Professor mcgonagal SL slammed the door behind him and turned to face the two boys Potter this is Oliver wood wood found you Seeker Wood's expression changed from puzzlement to Delight are you serious Professor absolutely said Professor mcgonagle crisply the boy's natural I've never seen anything like it was that your first time on broomstick Potter Harry nodded silently he didn't have clue what was going on but he didn't seem to be being expelled and some of the feeling started coming back to his legs he caught that thing in his hand after 50-ft dive Professor mcgonagle told wood didn't even scratch himself Charlie Weasley couldn't have done it wood was now looking as though all his dreams had come true at once ever seen game of quidditch Potter he asked excitedly Wood's captain of the Gryffindor team Professor mcgonagle explained he's just the build for Seeker too said wood now walking around Harry and staring at him light Speedy will have to get him decent broom Professor nimbus 2000 or clean sweep 7 I'd say shall speak to Professor Dumbledore and see if we can't bend the firste rule heaven knows we need better team than last year flattened in that last match by Slytherin couldn't look severis Snape in the face for weeks Professor mcgonagal peered sternly over her glasses at Harry want to hear your training hard Potter or may change my mind about punishing you then she suddenly smiled your father would have been proud she said he was an excellent quidditch player himself you're joking it was dinner time Harry had just finished telling Ron what had happened when he'd left the grounds with Professor mcgonagal Ron had piece of steak and kidney pie halfway to his mouth but he'd forgotten all about it Seeker he said but first years never you must be the youngest house player in about century said Harry shoveling pie into his mouth he felt particularly hungry after the excitement of the afternoon wood told me Ron was so amazed so impressed he just sat and gaped at Harry start training next week said Harry only don't tell anyone wants to keep it secret Fred and George Weasley now came into the Hall spotted Harry and hurried over well done said George in low voice wood told us we're on the team too beaters tell you we're going to win that quidditch cup for sure this year Said Fred we haven't won since Charlie left but this year's team is going to be brilliant you must be good Harry wood was almost skipping when he told us anyway we've got to go Lee Jordan reckons he's found new new secret passageway out of the school bet it's that one behind the statue of Gregory the smarmy that we found in our first week see you Fred and George had hardly disappeared when someone far less welcome turned up Malfoy flanked by crab and having last meal Potter when are you getting the train back to the Muggles you're lot braver now that you're back on the ground and you've got your little friends with you said Harry cooly there was of course nothing at all little about crab and but as the high table was full of teachers neither of them could do more than crack their Knuckles and scowl I'd take you on anytime on my own said Malfoy tonight if you want Wizards duel WS only no contact what's the matter never heard of Wizard's duel before suppose of course he has said Ron Wheeling around I'm his second who's yours Malfoy looked at crab and Goyle sizing them up crab he said midnight all right we'll meet you in the trophy room that's always unlocked when Malfoy had gone Ron and Harry looked at each other what is Wizard's duel said Harry and what do you mean you're my second well second's there to take over if you die said Ron casually getting started at last on his cold pie catching the look on Harry's face he added quickly but people only die in proper duels you know with real Wizards the most you and Malfoy will be able to do is send Sparks at each other neither of you knows enough magic to do any real damage bet he expected you to refuse anyway and what if wave my wand and nothing happens throw it away and punch him on the nose Ron suggested excuse me they both looked up it was Hermione Granger can't person eat in peace in this place said Ron Hermione ignored him and spoke to Harry couldn't help overhearing what you and Malfoy were saying bet you could Ron muttered and you mustn't go wandering around the school at night think of the points you'll lose Gryffindor if you're caught and you're bound to be it's really very selfish of you and it's really none of your business said Harry goodbye said Ron all the same it wasn't what you'd call the perfect end to the day Harry thought as he lay awake much later listening to Dean and Shamus falling asleep Neville wasn't back from the hospital Wing Ron had spent all evening giving him advice such as if he tries to curse you you'd better Dodge it because can't remember how to block them there was very good chance they were going to get caught by filch or Mrs Norris and Harry felt he was pushing his luck breaking another school rule today on the other hand Malfoy's sneering face kept looming up out of the darkness this was his big chance to beat Malfoy face to face he couldn't miss it half 11 Ron muttered at last we'd better go they pulled on their bathrobes picked up their wands and crept across the tower room down the spiral staircase and into the Gryffindor common room few Embers were still GL glowing in the fireplace turning all the armchairs into hunched black Shadows they had almost reached the portrait hole when voice spoke from the chair nearest them can't believe you're going to do this Harry lamp flickered on it was Hermione Granger wearing pink bathrobe and frown you said Ron furiously go back to bed almost told your brother Hermione snapped Percy he's prefect he'd put stop to this Harry couldn't believe anyone could be so interfering come on he said to Ron he pushed open the portrait of the fat lady and climbed through the hole Hermione wasn't going to give up that easily she followed Ron through the portrait hole hissing at them like an angry Goose don't you care about Gryffindor do you only care about yourselves don't want Slytherin to win the house cup and you'll lose all the points got from Professor mcgonagal for knowing about switching spells go away all right but warned you you just remember what said when you're on the train home tomorrow you're so but what they were they didn't find out Hermione had turned to the portrait of the fat lady to to get back inside and found herself facing an empty painting the fat lady had gone on nighttime visit and Hermione was locked out of Gryffindor tower now what am going to do she asked shrilly that's your problem said Ron we've got to go we're going to be late they hadn't even reached the end of the corridor when Hermione caught up with them I'm coming with you she said you are or not do you think I'm going to stand out here and wait for filch to catch me if he finds all three of us I'll tell him the truth that was trying to stop you and you can back me up you've got some nerve said Ron loudly shut up both of you said Harry sharply heard something it was sort of snuffling Mrs Norris breathed Ron squinting through the dark it wasn't Mrs Norris it was Neville he was curled up on the floor fast asleep but jerked suddenly awake as they crept nearer thank goodness you found me I've been out here for hours couldn't remember the new password to get into bed keep your voice down Neville the password's pig snout but it won't help you now the fat lady's gone off somewhere how's your arm said har fine said Neville showing them Madame Pomfrey mended it in about minute good well look Neville we've got to be somewhere we'll see you later don't leave me said Nevil scrambling to his feet don't want to stay here alone the bloody Baron's been passed twice already Ron looked at his watch and then glared furiously at Hermione and Neville if either of you get us caught I'll never rest until I've learned that curse of the Bogey's quirrel told us about and used it on you hermion opened her mouth perhaps to tell Ron exactly how to use the curse of the Bogies but Harry hiss at her to be quiet and beckoned them all forward they flitted along corridors striped with bars of moonlight from the high windows at every turn Harry expected to run into filch or Mrs Norris but they were lucky they sped up staircase to the third floor and tiptoed toward the trophy room Malfoy and crab Weren't There Yet the crystal trophy cases glimmered where the Moonlight caught them cups Shields plates and statues winked silver and gold in the darkness they edged along the walls keeping their eyes on the doors at either end of the room Harry took out his wand in case Malfoy leapt in and started at once the minutes crept by he's late maybe he's chickened out Ron whispered then noise in the Next Room made them jump Harry had only just raised his wand when they heard someone speak and it wasn't Maloy sniff around my sweet they might be lurking in corner it was filch speaking to Mrs Norris horror struck Harry waved madly at the other three to follow him as quickly as possible they scurried silently toward the door away from filch's voice Neville's robes had barely whipped Round the Corner when they heard filch enter the trophy room they're in here somewhere they heard him mutter probably hiding this way Harry mouthed to the others and petrified they began to creep down long Gallery full of suits of armor they could hear filch getting nearer Neville suddenly let out frightened squeak and broke into run he tripped grabbed Ron around the waist and the pair of them toppled right into suit of armor the clanging and crashing were enough to wake the whole Castle Run Harry yelled and the four of them sprinted down the gallery Not Looking Back to see whether filch was following they swung around the doorpost and galloped down one Corridor then another Harry in the lead without any idea where they were or where they were going they ripped through tapestry and found themselves in hidden passageway hurdled along it and came out near their charms classroom which they knew was my miles from the trophy room think we've lost him Harry panted leaning against the cold wall and wiping his forehead Neville was bent double wheezing and spluttering told you Hermione gasped clutching at the stitch in her chest told you we've got to get back to griffindor Tower said Ron quickly as possible Malfoy tricked you Hermione said to Harry you realize that don't you he was never going to meet you filch knew someone was going to be in the trophy room Malfoy must have tipped him off Harry thought she was probably right but he wasn't going to tell her that let's go it wasn't going to be that simple they hadn't gone more than dozen Paces when door knob rattled and something came shooting out of class room in front of them it was peeves he caught sight of them and gave squeal of delight shut up peeves please you'll get us thrown out peeves cackled wandering around at midnight ickle firsties Tut Tut Tut naughty naughty you'll get Coty not if you don't give us away peeves please should tell filch should said Peeves in saintly voice voice but his eyes glittered wickedly it's for your own good you know get out of the way snapped Ron taking swipe at peeves this was big mistake students out of bed peeves bellowed students out of bed down the charms Corridor ducking under peeves they ran for their lives right to the end of the corridor where they slammed into door and it was locked this is it Ron moaned as they pushed helplessly at the door we're done for this is the end they could hear footsteps filch running as fast as he could toward peeves as shouts move over her Mayan snarled she grabbed Harry's wand tapped the lock and whispered alohamora the lock clicked and the door swung open they piled through it shut it quickly and pressed their ears against it listening which way did they go peeves filch was saying quick tell me say please don't mess with me peeves now where did they go shant say nothing if you don't say please said Peeves in his annoying sing song voice all right please nothing haha told you wouldn't say nothing if you didn't say please haa and they heard the sound of peeves whoh pushing away and filch cursing in Rage he thinks this door is locked Harry whispered think we'll be okay get off Neville for Neville had been tugging on the sleeve of Harry's bathrobe for the last minute what Harry turned around and saw quite clearly what for moment he was sure he'd walked into nightmare this was too much on top of everything that had happened so far they weren't in room as he had supposed they were in corridor The Forbidden corer on the third floor and now they knew why it was forbidden they were looking straight into the eyes of monstrous dog dog that filled the whole space between ceiling and floor it had three heads three pairs of rolling mad eyes three noses twitching and quivering ing in their Direction three drooling mouths saliva hanging in Slippery ropes from yellowish fangs it was standing quite still all six eyes staring at them and Harry knew that the only reason they weren't already dead was that their sudden appearance had taken it by surprise but it was quickly getting over that there was no mistaking what those thunderous growls meant Harry groped for the door door knob between filch and death he'd take filch they fell backward Harry slammed the door shut and they ran they almost flew back down the corridor filch must have hurried off to look for them somewhere else because they didn't see him anywhere but they hardly cared all they wanted to do was put as much space as possible between them and that monster they didn't stop running until they reached the portrait of the fat lady on the seventh floor where on earth have you all been she asked looking at their bathrobes hanging off their shoulders and their flushed sweaty faces never mind that pig snout Pig snout panted Harry and the portrait swung forward they scrambled into the common room and collapsed trembling into armchair it was while before any of them said anything Neville indeed looked as if he'd never speak again what do they think they're doing keeping thing like that locked up in school said Ron finally if any dog needs exercise that one does Hermione had got both her breath and her bad temper back again you don't use your eyes any of you do you she snapped didn't you see what it was standing on the floor Harry suggested wasn't looking at its feet was too busy with its heads no not the floor it was standing on trapo it's obviously guarding something she stood up glaring at them hope you're pleased with yourselves we could all have been killed or Worse expelled now if you don't mind I'm going to bed Ron stared after her his mouth open no we don't mind he said you'd think we dragged her along wouldn't you but Hermione had given Harry something else to think about as he climbed back into bed the dog was guarding something what had Hagrid said Gringotts was the safest place in the world for something you wanted to hide except perhaps Hogwarts it looked as though Harry had found out where the grubby litty package from Vault 713 was chapter 10 Halloween Malfoy couldn't believe his eyes when he saw that Harry and Ron were still at Hogwarts the next day looking tired but perfectly cheerful indeed by the next morning Harry and Ron thought that meeting the three-headed dog had been an excellent adventure and they were quite quite Keen to have another one in the meantime Harry filled Ron in about the package that seemed to have been moved from gringut to Hogwarts and they spent lot of time wondering what could possibly need such heavy protection it's either really valuable or really dangerous said Ron or both said Harry but as all they knew for sure about the mysterious object was that it was about 2 in long they didn't have much chance of guessing what it was without further Clues neither Neville or Hermione showed the slightest interest in what lay underneath the dog and the trapo all Neville cared about was never going near the dog again Hermione was now refusing to speak to Harry and Ron but she was such bossy knowitall that they saw this as an added bonus all they really wanted now was way of getting back at Malfoy and to their great Delight just such thing arrived in the mail about week later as the owls flooded into the Great Hall as usual everyone's attention was caught at once by long thin package carried by six large screech owls Harry was just as interested as everyone else to see what was in this large parcel and when was amazed when the owls soared down and dropped it right in front of him knocking his bacon to the floor they had hardly fluttered out of the way when another owl dropped letter on top of the parcel Harry ripped open the letter first which was lucky because it said do not open the parcel at the table it contains your new Nimbus 2000 but don't want everybody knowing you've got broomstick or they'll all want one Oliver wood will meet you tonight on the quidditch field at 7:00 for your first training session Professor mcgonagle Harry had difficulty hiding his Glee as he handed the note to Ron to read nimbus 2000 Ron moaned enviously I've never even touched one they left the hall quick wanting to unwrap the broomstick in private before their first class but halfway across the entrance hall they found the way upstairs barred by crab and Maloy seized the package from Harry and felt it that's broomstick he said throwing it back to Harry with mixture of jealousy and spite on his face you'll be in for it this time Potter first ears aren't allowed them Ron couldn't resist it it's not any old broomstick he said it's nimbus 2000 what did you say you've got it home Malfoy comet 260 Ron grinned at Harry comets look flashy but they're not in the same league as the Nimbus what would you know about it Weasley you couldn't afford half the handle Malfoy snapped back suppose you and your brothers have to save up twig by twig before Ron could answer Professor Flitwick appeared at Malfoy's elbow not arguing hope boys he squeaked Potter's been sent broomstick professor said Malfoy quickly yes yes that's right said Professor Flitwick beaming at Harry Professor mcgonagal told me all about the special circumstances Potter and what model is it nimbus 2000 sir said Harry fighting not to laugh at the look of horror on Malfoy's face and it's really thanks to Maloy here that I've got it he added Harry and Ron headed upstairs smothering their laughter at maloy's obvious rage and confusion well it's true Harry chortled as they reached the top of the marble staircase if he hadn't stolen Neville's REM all wouldn't be on the team so suppose you think that's reward for breaking rules came an angry voice from just behind them Hermione was stomping up the stairs looking disapprovingly at the package in Harry's hand thought you weren't speaking to us said Harry yes don't stop now said Ron it's doing us so much good Hermione marched away with her nose in the air Harry had lot of trouble keeping his mind on his lessons that day it kept wandering up to the dormatory where his new broomstick was lying under his bed or straying off to the quidditch field where he'd be learning to play that night he bolted his dinner that evening without noticing what he was eating and then rushed upstairs with Ron to unwrap the Nimbus 2000 at last wow Ron on side as the broomstick rolled onto Harry's bed spread even Harry who knew nothing about the different brooms thought it looked wonderful sleek and shiny with mahogany handle it had long tail of neat straight twigs and Nimbus 2000 written in Gold near the top as 7:00 Drew nearer Harry left the castle and set off in the dusk toward the quiddit field held never been inside the stadium before hundreds of seats were raised in stands around the field so that the spectators were high enough to see what was going on at either end of the field were three golden poles with Hoops on the end they reminded Harry of the little plastic sticks muggle children blew bubbles through except that they were 50 ft High two eager to fly again to wait for wood Harry mounted his broomstick and kicked off from the ground what feeling he swooped in and out of the goalposts and then sped up and down the field the Nimbus 2000 turned wherever he wanted at his lightest touch hey Potter come down Oliver wood had arrived fi was carrying large wooden crate under his arm Harry landed next to him very nice said wood his eyes glinting see what mcgonagal meant you really are natural I'm just going to teach you the rules this evening then you'll be joining team practice three times week he opened the crate inside were four different sized balls right said wood now quiddit is easy enough to understand even if it's not too easy to play there are seven players on each side three of them are called Chasers three Chasers Harry repeated as wood took out bright red ball about the size of soccer ball this ball is called the quaffle said wood the Chasers throw the quaffle to each other and try and get it through one of the Hoops to score goal 10 points every time the quaffle goes through one of the Hoops follow follow me the Chasers throw the quaffle and put it through the Hoops to score Harry recited so that's sort of like basketball on broomsticks with six Hoops isn't it what's basketball said wood curiously never mind said Harry quickly now there's another player on each side who's called The Keeper I'm keeper for Gryffindor have to fly around our hoops and stopped the other team from scoring three Chasers one keeper said Harry who was determined to remember it all and they play with the quaffle okay got that so what are they for he pointed at the three balls left inside the box I'll show you now said wood take this he handed Harry small Club bit like short baseball bat I'm going to show you what the bludgers do wood said these two are the bludgers he showed Harry two identical balls jet black and slightly smaller than the red quaffle Harry noticed that they seemed to be straining to escape the straps holding them inside the Box stand back wood warned Harry he bent down and freed one of the bludgers at once the black ball Rose High in the air and then pelted straight at Harry's face Harry swung at it with the bat to stop it from breaking his nose and sent it zigzagging away into the air it zoomed around their heads and then shot at wood who dived on top of it and managed to pin It To The Ground see wood panted forcing the struggling bludger back into the crate and strapping it down safely the bluder rocket around trying to knock players off their brooms that's why you have two beaters on each team the Weasley twins are ours it's their job to protect their side from the bludgers and try and knock them toward the other team so think you've got all that three Chasers try and score with the quaffle the keeper guards the goalposts the beaters keep the bludgers away from their team Harry reeled off very good said wood have the bludgers ever killed anyone Harry asked hoping he sounded offhand never at Hogwarts we've had couple of broken jaws but nothing worse than that now the last member of the team is the Seeker that's you and you don't have to worry about the quaffle or the bludgers unless they crack my head open don't worry the Weasley are more than match for the bludgers mean they're like pair of human bludgers themselves wood reached into the crate and took out the fourth and last ball compared with the quaffle and the bludgers it was Tiny about the size of large Walnut it was bright gold and had little fluttering Silver Wings this said wood is the golden snitch and it's the most important ball of the lot it's very hard to catch because it's so fast and difficult to see it's the seeker's job to catch it you've got to weave in and out of the Chasers beaters bludgers and quaffle to get it before the other team's Seeker because whichever Seeker catches the snitch wins his team an extra 150 points so they nearly always win that's why SE ERS get fouled so much game of quidditch only ends when the snitch is caught so it can go on for ages think the record is 3 months they had to keep bringing on substitutes so the players could get some sleep well that's it any questions Harry shook his head he understood what he had to do all right it was doing it that was going to be the problem we won't practice with the snitch yet said wood carefully shutting it back inside the crate it's too dark we might lose it let's try you out with few of these he pulled bag of ordinary golf balls out of his pocket and few minutes later he and Harry were up in the air wood throwing the golf balls as hard as he could in every direction for Harry to catch Harry didn't miss single one and wood was delighted after half an hour night had really fallen and they couldn't carry on that quidditch cou will have our name on it this year said wood happily as they trudged back up to the castle wouldn't be surprised if you turn out better than Charlie Weasley and he could have played for England if he hadn't gone off chasing dragons perhaps it was because he was now so busy what with quidditch practice three evenings week on top of all his homework but Harry could hardly believe it when he realized that he'd already been at hogwart's 2 months the castle felt more like home than privet Drive ever had his lessons too were becoming more and more interesting now that they had mastered the basics on hallowen morning they woke to the delicious smell of baking pumpkin wafting through the corridors even better Professor Flitwick announced in charms that he thought they were ready to start making objects fly something they had all been dying to try since they'd seen him make Neville's toad Zoom around the classroom Professor Flitwick put the class into pairs to practice Harry's partner was Sheamus finegan which was relief because Neville had been trying to catch his eye Ron however was to be working with Hermione Granger it was hard to tell whether Ron or Hermione was angrier about this she hadn't spoken to either of them since the day Harry's broomstick had arrived now don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practicing squeaked Professor Flitwick perched on top of his pile of books as usual Swish and flick remember Swish and flick and saying the magic words properly is very important too never forget wizard baruffio who SS instead of and found himself on the floor with buffalo on his chest it was very difficult Harry and Sheamus swished and flicked but the feather they were supposed to be sending Skyward just lay on the desktop Sheamus got so impatient that he proted it with his wand and set fire to it Harry had to put it out with his hat Ron at the next table wasn't having much more luck when guardium Leviosa he shouted waving his long arms like windmill you're saying it wrong Harry heard her Mayan snap it's Wing gardam Leviosa make the gar nice and long you do it then if you're so clever Ron snarled Hermione rolled up the sleeves of her gown flicked her wand and said Wingardium Leviosa their feather Rose off the desk and hovered about 4 feet above their heads well done cried Professor Flitwick clapping everyone see here miss Granger's done it Ron was in Very Bad Mood by the end of the class it's no wonder no one can stand her he said to Harry as they pushed their way into the crowded Corridor she's nightmare honestly someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past him it was Hermione Harry caught glimpse of her face and was startled to see that she was in tears think she heard you so said Ron but he looked bit uncomfortable she must have noticed she's got no friends her mayone didn't turn up for the next class and wasn't seen all afternoon on their way down to the great hall for the Halloween Feast Harry and Ron overheard parva patil telling her friend lavender that hermion was crying in the girl's bathroom and wanted to be left alone Ron looked still more awkward at this but moment later they had entered the Great Hall where the Halloween decorations put Hermione out of their minds thousand live bats fluttered from the walls and ceiling while thousand more swooped over the tables in low black clouds making the candles and the pumpkins stutter the feast appeared suddenly on the Golden Plates as it had at the start of term banquet Harry was just helping himself to baked potato when Professor quirell came sprinting into the Hall his turban skew and Terror on his face everyone stared as he reached Professor Dumbledore's chair slumped against the table and gasped troll in the dungeons thought you ought to know he then sank to the floor in dead faint there was an uproar it took several purple firecrackers exploding from the end of Professor Dumbledore's wand to bring silence prefects he rumbled lead your houses back to the dormitories immediately Percy was in his element follow me stick together first years no need to fear the troll if you follow my orders stay close behind me now make way First Years coming through excuse me I'm prefect How could troll get in Harry asked as they climbed the stairs don't ask me they're supposed to be really stupid said Ron maybe peeves let it in for Halloween joke they passed different groups of people hurrying in different directions as they jostled their way through crowd of confused hufflepuffs Harry suddenly grabbed Ron's arm I've just thought Hermione what about her she doesn't know about the troll Ron bit his lip all right he snapped but Percy better not see us ducking down they joined the hufflepuffs going the other way slipped down deserted side Corridor and hurried off toward the girls bathroom they had just turned the corner when they heard quick footsteps behind them Percy hissed Ron pulling Harry behind large Stone Griffin peering around it however they saw not Percy but Snape he crossed the corridor and disappeared from view what's he doing Harry whispered why isn't he down in the dungeons with the rest of the teachers search me quietly as possible they crept along the next Corridor after snap's fading footsteps he's heading for the third floor Harry said but Ron held up his hand can you smell something Harry sniffed and foul stench reached his nostrils mixture of old socks and the kind of public toilet no one seems to clean and then they heard it low grunting and the shuffling footfalls of gigantic feet Ron pointed at the end of passage to the left something huge was moving toward them they shrank into the shadows and watched as it emerged into patch of moonlight it was horrible sight 12T tall its skin was dull granite gray its great lumpy body like boulder with its small bald head perched on top like coconut it had short legs thick as tree trunks with flat horny feet the smell coming from it was incredible it was holding huge wooden club which dragged along the floor because its arms were so long the troll stopped next to doorway and peered inside it waggled its long ears making up its tiny mind then slouched slowly into the room the keys in the lock Harry muttered we could lock it in good idea said Ron nervously they edged toward the open door mouths dry praying the troll wasn't about to come out of it with one great leap Harry managed to grab the key slam the door and lock it yes flushed with their Victory they started to run back up The Path passage but as they reached the corner they heard something that made their hearts stop high petrified scream and it was coming from the chamber they just chained up no said Ron pale as the bloody baren it's the girls bathroom Harry gasped Hermione they said together it was the last thing they wanted to do but what choice did they have Wheeling around they sprinted back to the the door and turned the key fumbling in their Panic Harry pulled the door open and they ran inside her mayy Granger was shrinking against the wall opposite looking as if she was about to faint the troll was advancing on her knocking the sinks off the walls as it went confuse it Harry said desperately to Ron and seizing tap he threw it as hard as he could against the wall the roll stopped few feet from Hermione it lumbered around blinking stupidly to see what had made the noise its mean little eyes saw Harry it hesitated then made for him instead lifting its Club as it went oi peab brain yelled Ron from the other side of the chamber and he threw metal pipe at it the troll didn't even seem to notice the pipe hitting its shoulder but but it heard the yell and paused again turning its ugly snout toward Ron instead giving Harry time to run around it come on run run Harry yelled at Hermione trying to pull her toward the door but she couldn't move she was still flat against the wall her mouth open with Terror the shouting and The Echoes seemed to be driving the troll berserk it roared again and started toward gron who was nearest and had no way to escape Harry then did something that was both very brave and very stupid he took great running jump and managed to fasten his arms around the Troll's neck from behind the troll couldn't feel Harry hanging there but even troll will notice if you stick long bit of wood up its nose and Harry's wand had still been in his hand when he jumped it had gone straight up one of the Troll's nostrils howling with pain the troll twisted and flailed its club with Harry clinging on for dear life any second the troll was going to rip him off or catch him terrible blow with the club Hermione had sunk to the floor in Fright Ron pulled out his own wand not knowing what he was going to do he heard himself cry the first spell that came into his head when guardium Leviosa the club flew suddenly out of the Troll's Hand Rose High high up into the air turned slowly over and dropped with sickening crack onto its owner's head the troll swayed on the spot and then fell flat on its face with thud that made the whole room tremble Harry got to his feet he was shaking and out of breath Ron was standing there with his wand still raised staring at what he had done it was Hermione who spoke first is it dead don't think so said Harry think it's just been knocked out he bent down and pulled his wand out of the Troll's nose it was covered in what looked like lumpy gray glue troll boogers he wiped it on the Troll's trousers sudden slamming and Loud footsteps made the three of them look up they hadn't realized what racket they had been making but of course someone downstairs must have heard the crashes and the trolls Roars moment later Professor mcgonagle had come bursting into the room closely followed by Snape with quirrel bringing up the rear quirrel took one look at the troll let out faint whimper and sat quickly down on toilet clutching his heart Snape bent over the troll Professor mcgonagal was looking at Ron and Harry Harry had never seen her look so angry her lips were white hopes of winning 50 points for Gryffindor faded quickly from Harry's mind what on Earth were you thinking of said Professor mcgonagle with cold Fury in her voice Harry looked at Ron who was still standing with his wand in the air you're lucky you weren't killed why aren't you in your dormatory Snape gave Harry swift piercing look Harry looked at the floor he wished Ron would put his wand down then small voice came out of the Shadows please Professor mcgonagal they were looking for me Miss Granger Hermione had managed to get to her feet at last went looking for the troll because thought could deal with it on my own you know because I've read all about them Ron dropped his wand Hermione Granger telling downright lie to teacher if they hadn't found me I'd be dead now Harry stuck his wand up its nose and Ron knocked it out with its own club they didn't have time to come and fetch anyone it was about to finish me off when they arrived Harry and Ron tried to look as though the story wasn't new to them well in that case said Professor mcgonagal staring at the three of them Miss Granger you foolish girl how could you think of tackling mountain troll on your own Hermione hung her head Harry was speechless Hermione was the last person to do anything against the rules and here she was pretending pretending she had to get them out of trouble it was as if Snape had started handing out sweets Miss Granger Five Points will be taken from Gryffindor for this said Professor mcgonagle I'm very disappointed in you if you're not hurt at all you'd better get off to Gryffindor Tower students are finishing the feast in their houses Hermione left Professor mcgonagle turned to Harry and Ron well still say you were lucky but not many First Years could have taken on full-grown mountain troll you each win Gryffindor Five Points Professor Dumbledore will be informed of this you may go they hurried out of the chamber and didn't speak at all until they had climbed two floors up it was relief to be away from the smell of the troll quite apart from anything else we should have gotten more than 10 points Ron grumbled five you mean once she's taken off her Mayan good of her to get us out of trouble like that Ron admitted mind you we did save her she might not have needed saving if we hadn't locked the thing in with her Harry reminded him they had reached the portrait of the fat lady Pig snout they said and entered the common room was packed and noisy everyone was eating the food that had been sent up Hermione however stood alone by the door waiting for them there was very embarrassed pause then none of them looking at each other they all said thanks and hurried off to get plates but from that moment on Hermione Granger became their friend there are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other and knocking out 12-ft mountain troll is one of them chapter 11 quidditch as they entered November the weather turned very cold the mountains around the school became icy gray and the lake like chilled steel every morning the ground was covered in Frost Hagrid could be seen from the upstairs windows defrosting broomsticks on the quidditch field bundled up in long mol skin Overcoat rabbit fur gloves and enormous beaver skin boots the quiddit season had begun on Saturday Harry would be playing in his first match after weeks of training Gryffindor versus Slytherin if Gryffindor won they would move up into second place in the house Championship hardly anyone had seen Harry Play Because wood had decided that as their secret weapon Harry should be kept well secret but the news that he was playing Seeker had leaked out somehow and Harry didn't know which was worse people telling him he'd be brilliant or people telling him they'd be running around Underneath Him holding mattress it was really lucky that Harry now had Hermione as friend he didn't know how he'd have gotten through all his homework without her what with all the last minute quidditch practice would was making them do she had also tent him quidditch Through the Ages which turned out to be very interesting read Harry learned that there were 700 ways of committing quidditch foul and that all of them had happened during World Cup match in 1473 that Seekers were usually the smallest and fastest players and that most serious quidditch accidents seemed to happen to them that although people rarely died playing quidditch referees had been known to vanish and turn up months later in the Sahara Desert Hermione had become bit more relaxed about breaking rules since Harry and Ron had saved her from the mountain troll and she was much nicer for it the day before Harry's first quidditch match the three of them were out in the freezing Courtyard during break and she had conjured them up bright blue fire that could be carried around in jam jar they were standing with their backs to it getting warm when Snape crossed the yard Harry noticed at once that Snape was limping Harry Ron and Hermione moved closer together to block the fire from VI knew they were sure it wouldn't be allowed unfortunately something about their guilty faces caught Snape's eye he limped over he hadn't seen the fire but he seemed to be looking for reason to tell them off anyway what's that you've got there Potter it was quidditch Through the Ages Harry showed him library books are not to be taken outside the school said Snape give it to me five points from Gryffindor he's just made that rule up Harry muttered angrily as Snape limped away wonder what's wrong with his leg don't know but hope it's really hurting him said Ron bitterly the Gryffindor common room was very noisy that evening Harry Ron and Hermione sat together next to window Hermione was checking Harry and Ron's charms home work for them she would never let them copy how will you learn but by asking her to read it through they got the right answers anyway Harry felt Restless he wanted quidditch Through the Ages back to take his mind off his nerves about tomorrow why should he be afraid of Snape getting up he told Ron and hermion he was going to ask Snape if he could have it better you than me they said together but Harry had an idea that Snape wouldn't refuse if there were other teachers listening he made his way down to the staff room and knocked there was no answer he knocked again nothing perhaps Snape had left the book in there it was worth try he pushed the door jar and peered inside and horrible scene met his eyes Snape and filch were inside died alone Snape was holding his robes above his knees one of his legs was bloody and mangled filch was handing Snape bandages blasted thing Snape was saying how are you supposed to keep your eyes on all three heads at once Harry tried to shut the door quietly but Potter Snape's face was twisted with Fury as he dropped his robes quickly to hide his leg Harry gulped just wondered if could have my book back get out out Harry left before Snape could take any more points from Gryffindor he sprinted back upstairs did you get it Ron asked as Harry joined them what's the matter in low whisper Harry told them what he'd seen you know what this means he finished breathlessly he tried to get past that three-headed dog at Halloween that's where he was going when we saw him he's after whatever it's guarding and it bet my broomstick he let that troll in to make diversion her Mayan's eyes were wide no he wouldn't she said know he's not very nice but he wouldn't try and steal something dumbledor was keeping safe honestly Hermione you think all teachers are Saints or something snapped Ron I'm with Harry wouldn't put anything past Snape but what's he after what's that dog guarding Harry went to bed with his head buzzing with the same question Nevil was snoring loudly but Harry couldn't sleep he tried to empty his mind he needed to sleep he had to he had his first quidditch match in few hours but the expression on Snape's face when Harry had seen his leg wasn't easy to forget the next morning dawned very bright and cold the Great Hall was full of the delicious smell of fried sausages and the cheerful chatter of everyone looking forward to good quidditch match you've got to eat some breakfast don't want anything just bit of toast weedel Hermione I'm not hungry Harry felt Terri able in an hour's time he'd be walking onto the field Harry you need your strength said Sheamus finnean Seekers are always the ones who get clobbered by the other team thanks Sheamus said Harry watching Sheamus pile ketchup on his sausages by 11:00 the whole school seemed to be out in the stands around the Quidditch pitch many students had binoculars the seats might be raised high in the air but it was still difficult to see what was going on sometimes Ron and hermy joined Neville Sheamus and Dean the West Ham fan up in the top row as surprise for Harry they had painted large Banner on one of the sheets scabbers had ruined it said Potter for president and Dean who was good at drawing had done large Gryffindor lion underneath then hermion had performed tricky little charm so that the paint flashed different colors meanwhile in the locker room Harry and the rest of the team were changing into their Scarlet quidditch robes Slytherin would be playing in green wood cleared his throat for silence okay men he said and women said Chaser Angelina Johnson and women would agreed this is it the big one Said Fred Weasley the one we've all been waiting for said George we know Oliver's speech by heart Fred told Harry we were on the team last year shut up you two said wood this is the best team gryffindors had in years we're going to win know it he glared at them all as if to say or else right it's time good luck all of you Harry followed Fred and George out of the locker room and hoping his knees weren't going to give way walked onto the field to loud cheers Madame Hooch was refereeing she stood in the middle of the field waiting for the two teams her broom in her hand now want nice fair game all of you she said once they were all gathered around her Harry noticed that she seemed to be speaking particularly to the Slytherin Captain Marcus Flint sixth year Harry thought Flint looked as if he had some troll blood in him out of the corner of his eye he saw the fluttering Banner high above flashing Potter for president over the crowd his heart skipped he felt braver Mount Your brooms please Harry clambered onto his Nimbus 2000 Madame Hooch gave loud blast on her silver whistle 15 brooms rose up high high into the air they were off and the quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor what an excellent Chaser that girl is and rather attractive too Jordan sorry Professor the Weasley twins friend Lee Jordan was doing the commentary for the match closely watched by professor mcgonagle and she's really belting along up there neat pass to Alicia spinet good find of ol ofer Woods last year only reserve back to Johnson and no the Slytherin have taken the quaffle Slytherin Captain Marcus Flint gains the quaffle and off he goes Flint Flying Like an Eagle up there he's going to no stopped by an excellent move by Gryffindor keeper wood and the gryffindors take the quaffle that's Chaser Katie Bell of Gryffindor there nice dive around Flint off up the field and ouch that must have hurt hit in the back of the head by bludger quaffle taken by the Slytherin that's Adrien speeding off toward the goalposts but he's blocked by second bludger sent his way by Fred or George Weasley can't tell which nice play by the Gryffindor beater anyway and Johnson back in possession of the quaffle clear field ahead and off she goes she's really flying Dodges speeding bludger the goalposts are ahead come on now Angelina keeper Bletchley Dives misses gryffindors score Gryffindor cheers filled the cold air with howls and moans from the slyther budge up there Move Along Hagrid Ron and hermion squeezed together to give Hagrid enough space to join them been watching from me Hut said Hagrid patting large pair of binoculars around his neck but it isn't the same as being in the crowd no sign of the snitch yet nope said Ron Harry hasn't had much to do yet kept out of trouble though that's something said Hagrid raising his binoculars and peering Skyward at the speck that was Harry way up above them Harry was Gliding Over the game squinting about for some sign of the snitch this was part of his and Wood's game plan keep out of the way until you catch sight of the snitch wood had said we don't want you attacked before you have to be when Angelina had scored Harry had done couple of loop the loops to let off his feelings now he was back to staring around for the snitch once he caught sight of flash of gold but it was just reflection from one of the Weasley's wrist watches and once bludger decided to come pelting his way more like canon ball than anything but Harry dodged it and Fred Weasley came chasing after it all right there Harry he had time to yell as he beat the bludger furiously toward Marcus Flint Slytherin in possession Lee Jordan was saying Chaser pucy Ducks two bludgers two Weasley and Chaser Bell and speeds toward the wait moment was that the snitch murmur ran through the crowd as Adrien PCY dropped the quaffle too busy busy looking over his shoulder at the flash of gold that had passed his left ear Harry saw it in great Rush of excitement he dived downward after the streak of gold Slytherin Seeker Terren higs had seen it too neck and neck they hurdled toward the snitch all the Chasers seemed to have forgotten what they were supposed to be doing as they hung in midair to watch Harry was was faster than higs he could see the little round ball Wings fluttering darting up ahead he put on an extra Spurt of speed Wham roar of Rage echoed from the gryffindors below Marcus Flint had blocked Harry on purpose and Harry's broom spun off course Harry holding on for dear life foul screamed at the gryffindors Madame Hooch spoke angrily to Flint and then ordered free shot at the goalposts for Gryffindor but in all the confusion of course the golden snitch had disappeared from sight again down in the stands Dean Thomas was yelling send him off ref red card what are you talking about Dean said Ron red card said Dean furiously in soccer you get shown the red card and you're out of the game but this isn't soccer Dean Ron reminded Ed him Hagrid however was on Dean's side they ought to changed the rules Flint could have knocked Harry out of the air Lee Jordan was finding it difficult not to take sides so after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating Jordan growled Professor mcgonagal mean after that open and revolting foul Jordan I'm warning you all right all right Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker which could happen to anyone I'm sure so penalty to Gryffindor taken by spinner who puts it away no trouble and we continue play Gryffindor still in possession it was as Harry dodged another bludger which went spinning dangerously past his head that it happened his broom gave sudden frightening Lurch for split second he thought he was going to fall he gripped the broom tightly with both his hands and knees he'd never felt anything like that it happened again it was as though the broom was trying to Buck him off but Nimbus 2000s did not suddenly decide to Buck their Riders off Harry tried to turn back toward the Gryffindor goalposts he had half mind to ask wood to call time out and then he realized that his broom was completely out of his control he couldn't turn it he couldn't direct it at all it was zigzagging through the air and every now and then making violent swishing movements that almost unseated him Lee was still commentating Slytherin in possession Flint with the quaffle passes spinette passes Bell hit hard in the face by bludger hope it broke his nose only joking Professor Slytherin score no the Slytherin were cheering no one seemed to have noticed that Harry's broom was behaving strangely it was carrying him slowly higher away from the game jerking and twitching as it went don't know what Harry thinks he's doing Hagrid mumbled he stared through his binoculars If Didn't Know Better I'd say he'd lost control of his broom but he can't have suddenly people were pointing up at Harry all over the stands his broom had started to roll over and over with him only just managing to hold on then the whole crowd gasped Harry's broom had given wild jerk and Harry swung off it he was now dangling from it holding on with only one hand did something happened to it when Flint blocked him Sheamus whispered can't have Hagrid said his voice shaking can't nothing interfere with broomstick except powerful dark magic no kid could do that to nimbus 2000 at these words hermion seized Hagrid's binoculars but instead of looking up at Harry she started looking frantically at the crowd what are you doing moaned Ron Gray face knew it Hermione gasped Snape look Ron grabbed the binoculars Snape was in the middle of the stands opposite them he had his eyes fixed on Harry and was muttering non-stop under his breath he's doing something jinxing the broom said Hermione what should we do leave it to me before Ron could say another word Hermione had disappeared Ron turned the binoculars back on Harry his broom was vibrating so hard it was almost impossible for him to hang on much longer the whole crowd was on its feet watching terrified as the Weasley flew up to try and pull Harry safely onto one of their brooms but it was no good every time they got near him the broom would jump higher still they dropped lower and circled beneath him him obviously hoping to catch him if he fell Marcus Flint seized the quaffle and scored five times without anyone noticing come on Hermione Ron muttered desperately Hermione had fought her way across to the stand where Snape stood and was now racing along the row behind him she didn't even stop to say sorry as she knocked Professor quirell head first into the row in front reaching Snape she crouched down pulled out her wand and whispered few well-chosen words bright blue flames shot from her wand onto the Hem of Snape's robes it took perhaps 30 seconds for Snape to realized that he was on fire sudden Yelp told her she had done her job scooping the fire off him into little jar in her pocket she scrambled back along the row Snape would never know what had happened happened it was enough up in the air Harry was suddenly able to clamber back onto his broom Nevil you can look Ron said Neville had been sobbing into Hagrid's jacket for the last 5 minutes Harry was speeding toward the ground when the crowd saw him clap his hand to his mouth as though he was about to be sick he hit the field on all fours coughed and something gold fell into his hand I've got the snitch he shouted waving it above his head and the game ended in complete confusion he didn't catch it he nearly swallowed it Flint was still howling 20 minutes later but it made no difference Harry hadn't broken any rules and Lee Jordan was still happily shouting the results Gryffindor had won by 170 points to 60 Harry heard none of this though he was being made cup of strong tea back in Hagrid's Hut with Ron and Hermione it was Snape Ron was explaining Hermione and saw him he was cursing your broomstick muttering he wouldn't take his eyes off you rubbish said Hagrid who hadn't heard word of what had gone on next to him in the stands why would Snape do so something like that Harry Ron and Hermione looked at one another wondering what to tell him Harry decided on the truth found out something about him he told Hagrid he tried to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween it bit him we think he was trying to steal whatever it's guarding Hagrid dropped the teapot how do you know about fluffy he said fluffy yeah he's mine bought him off Greek chappie met in the pub last year lent him to Dumbledore to guard yes said Harry eagerly now don't ask me anymore said Hagrid gruffly that's top secret that is but Snape's trying to steal it rubbish said Hagrid again snap's Hogwarts teacher he'd do nothing of the sort so why did he just try and kill hariry cried Hermione the afternoon's events certainly seem to have changed her mind about Snape know jinx when see one Hagrid I've read all about them you've got to keep eye contact and Snape wasn't blinking at all saw him I'm telling you you're wrong said Hagrid hotly don't know why Harry's broom acted like that but Snape wouldn't try and kill student now listen to me all three of you you're meddling in things that don't concern you it's dangerous you forget that dog and you forget what its Garden that's between Professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel said Harry so there's someone called Nicholas Flamel involved is there Hagrid looked furious with himself chapter 12 the mirror of arist Christmas was coming one morning in mid December Hogwarts woke to find itself covered in several feet of snow the lake froze solid and the Weasley twins were punished for bewitching several snowballs so that they followed quirrel around bouncing off the back of his turban the few owls that managed to battle their way through the stormy sky to deliver male had to be nursed back to health by Hagrid before they could fly off again no one could wait for the holidays to start while the Gryffindor common room and the Great Hall had roaring fires the drafty corridors had become icy and bitter wind rattled the windows in the classrooms worst of all were Professor snap's classes down in the dungeons where their breath Rose in Mist before them and they kept as close as possible to their hot cauldrons do feel so sorry said Draco Malfoy one potions class for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home he was looking over at Harry as he spoke crab and Goyle chuckled Harry who was measuring out powdered spine of lion fish ignored them Malfoy had been even been more unpleasant than usual since the Quidditch match disgusted that the Slytherin had lost he had tried to get everyone laughing at how wide mouthed tree frog would be replacing Harry as Seeker next then he'd realized that nobody found this funny because they were all so impressed at the way Harry had managed to stay on his bucking broomstick so Malfoy jealous and angry had gone back to taunting Harry about having no proper family it was true that Harry wasn't going back to privet drive for Christmas Professor mcgonagle had come around the week before making list of students who would be staying for the holidays and Harry had signed up at once he didn't feel sorry for himself at all this would probably be the best Christmas he'd ever had Ron and his brothers were staying too because Mr and Mrs Weasley were going to Romania to visit Charlie when they left the dungeons at the end of potions they found large fur tree blocking the corridor ahead two enormous feet sticking out at the bottom and loud puffing sound told them that Hagrid was behind it hi Hagrid want any help Ron asked sticking his head through the branches nah I'm all right thanks Ron would you mind moving out of the way came maloy's cold draw from behind them are you trying to earn some extra money Weasley hoping to be gamekeeper yourself when you leave Hogwarts suppose that Hut of hagrids must seem like palace compared to what your families used to Ron dived at Malfoy just as Snape came up the stairs Weasley Ron let go of the front of Malfoy's robes he was provoked Professor Snape said Hagrid sticking his huge hairy face out from behind the tree Malfoy was insulting his family be that as it may fighting is against hogwart's rules Hagrid said Snape silkily Five Points from Gryffindor Weasley and be grateful it isn't more move along all of you Malfoy cck ab and pushed roughly past the tree scattering needles everywhere and smirking I'll get him said Ron grinding his teeth at Malfoy's back one of these days will get him hate them both said Harry Malfoy and Snape come on cheer up it's nearly Christmas said Hagrid tell you what come with me and see the Great Hall looks treat so the the three of them followed Hagrid and his tree off to the Great Hall where professor mcgonagal and Professor Flitwick were busy with the Christmas decorations Hagrid the last tree put it in the far Corner would you the hall looked spectacular festoons of Holly and mistletoe hung all around the walls and no less than 12 towering Christmas trees stood around the room some sparkling with tiny icicles some glittering with hundreds of candles how many days you got left until your holidays Hagrid asked just one said hermion and that reminds me Harry Ron we've got half an hour before lunch we should be in the library yeah you're right said Ron tearing his eyes away from Professor Flitwick who had golden bubbles blossoming out of his wand and was trailing them over the branches of the new tree the library said Hagrid following them out of the hall just before the holidays bit Keen aren't you we're not working Harry told him brightly ever since you mentioned Nicholas Flamel we've been trying to find out who he is you what Hagrid looked shocked listen here I've told you drop it it's nothing to you what that dog's Garden we just want to know who Nicholas Flamel is that's all said Hermione unless you'd like to tell us and save us the Trouble Harry added we must have been through hundreds of books already and we can't find him anywhere just give us hint know I've read his name somewhere I'm saying nothing said Hagrid flatly just have to find out for ourselves then said on and they left Hagrid looking disgruntled and hurried off to the library they had indeed been searching books for flamel's name ever since Hagrid had let it slip because how else were they going to find out what Snape was trying to steal the trouble was it was very hard to know where to begin not knowing what Fel might have done to get himself into book he wasn't in great wizards of the 20th century or notable magical names of our time he was missing to from important modern magical discoveries and study of recent developments in Wizardry and then of course there was the sheer size of the library tens of thousands of books thousands of shelves hundreds of narrow rows Hermione took out list of subjects and titles she had decided to search while Ron stroe off down row of books and started pulling them off the shelves at random Harry wandered over to the Restricted Section he had been wondering for while if lamel wasn't somewhere in there unfortunately you needed specially signed note from one of the teachers to look in any of the restricted books and he knew he'd never get one these were the books containing powerful dark magic never taught at Hogwarts and only read by older students studying Advanced defense against the dark arts what are you looking for boy nothing said Harry Madam pin the librarian brandished feather duster at him you'd better get out then go on out wishing he'd been bit quicker at thinking up some story Harry left the Library he Ron and hermion had already agreed they'd better not ask Madam Pence where they could find Flamel they were sure she'd be able to tell them but they couldn't risk Snape hearing what they were up to Harry waited outside in the corridor to see if the other two had found anything but he wasn't very hopeful they had been looking for 2 weeks after but as they only had odd moments between lessons it wasn't surprising they'd found nothing what they really needed was nice long search without Madam Pence breathing down their necks 5 minutes later Ron and hermion joined him shaking their heads they went off to lunch you will keep looking while I'm away won't you said Hermione and send me an owl if you find anything and you could ask your parents if they know who FL Mel is said Ron it would be safe to ask them very safe as they're both dentists said Hermione once the holidays had started Ron and Harry were having too good time to think much about Fel they had the dormitory to themselves and the common room was Far emptier than usual so they were able to get the good armchairs by the fire they sat by the hour eating anything they could spear on toasting Fork bread English muffins marshmallows and plotting ways of getting Malfoy expelled which were fun to talk about even if they wouldn't work Ron also started teaching Harry wizard chess this was exactly like muggle chess except that the Figures were alive which made it lot like directing troops in battle Ron's set was very old and battered like everything else he owned it had once belonged to someone else in his family in this case his grandfather however old Chessmen weren't drawback at all Ron knew them so well he never had trouble getting them to do what he wanted Harry played with chesman Sheamus finegan had lent him and they didn't trust him at all he wasn't very good player yet and they kept shouting different bits of advice at him which was confusing don't send me there can't you see his night send him we can afford to lose him on Christmas Eve Harry went to bed looking forward to the next day for the food and the fun but not expecting any presents at all when he woke early in the morning however the first thing he saw was small pile of packages at the foot of his bed Merry Christmas said Ron sleepily as Harry scrambled out of bed and pulled on his bathrobe you too said Harry will you look at this I've got some presents what did you expect turnips said Ron turning to his own pile which was lot bigger than Harry's Harry picked up the top parcel it was wrapped in thick brown paper and scrolled across it was to Harry from Hagrid inside was roughly cut wooden flute Hagrid had obviously whittel it himself Harry blew it it sounded bit like an owl second very small parcel contained note we received your message and enclos your Christmas present from Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia taped to the note was 50 piece that's friendly said Harry Ron was fascinated by the 50 weird he said in of shape this is money you can keep it said Harry laughing at how pleased Ron was Hagrid and my aunt and uncle so who sent these think know who that one's from said Ron turning bit pink and pointing to very lumpy parcel my mom told her you didn't expect any presents and no he groaned she's made you weasly sweater Harry had torn open the parcel to find thick hand knitted sweater in emerald green and large box of homemade fudge every year she makes us sweater said Ron unwrapping his own and mine's always maroon that's really nice of her said Harry trying the fudge which was very tasty his next present also contained candy large box of chocolate frogs from Hermione this only left one parcel Harry picked it up and felt it it was very light he unwrapped it something fluid and silvery gray went slithering to the floor where it lay in gleaming folds Ron gasped I've heard of those he said in hushed voice dropping the box of every flavor beans he'd gotten from Hermione if that's what think it is they're really rare and really valuable what is it Harry picked The Shining silvery cloth off the floor it was strange to the touch like water woven into material it's an invisibility cloak said Ron look of awe on his face I'm sure it is try it on Harry threw the cloak around his shoulders and Ron gave yell it is look down Harry looked down at his feet but they were gone he dashed to the mirror sure enough his reflection looked back at him just his head suspended in midair his body completely invisible he pulled the cloak over his head and his reflection vanished completely there's note said Ron suddenly note fell out of it Harry pulled off the cloak and seized the letter written in narrow loopy writing he had never seen before were the following words your father left this in my possession before he died it is time it was returned to you use it well very Merry Christmas to you there was no signature Harry stared at the note Ron was admiring the cloak I'd give anything for one of these he said anything what's the matter nothing said har he felt very strange who had sent the cloak had it really once belonged to his father before he could say or think anything else the dormatory door was flung open and Fred and George Weasley bounded in Harry stuffed the cloak quickly out of sight he didn't feel like sharing it with anyone else yet Merry Christmas hey look Harry's got weasly sweater too Fred and Geor were wearing blue sweaters one with large yellow on it the other Harry's is better than ours though Said Fred holding up Harry's sweater she obviously makes more of an effort if you're not family why aren't you wearing yours Ron George demanded come on get it on they're lovely and warm hate Maroon Ron moaned half-heartedly as he pulled it it over his head you haven't got letter on yours George observed suppose she thinks you don't forget your name but we're not stupid we know we're called greed and Forge what's all this noise Percy Weasley stuck his head through the door looking disapproving he had clearly gotten halfway through unwrapping his presence as he too carried lumpy sweater over his arm which Fred seized for prefect get it on Percy come on we're all wearing ours even Harry got one don't want said Percy thickly as the twins forced the sweater over his head knocking his glasses skew and you're not sitting with the prefects today either said George Christmas is time for family they frog marched Percy from the room his arms pinned to his side by his sweater Harry had never in all his life had such Christmas dinner 100 Fat rosed Turkeys mountains of roast and boiled potatoes platters of chipil ladas Terin of buttered peas silver boats of thick Rich gravy and cranberry sauce and stacks of wizard crackers every few feet along the table these fantastic party favors were nothing like the feeble muggle ones the dersley usually bought with their little plastic toys and their flimsy paper hats inside Harry pulled wizard cracker with Fred and it didn't just bang it went off with blast like cannon and engulfed them all in cloud of blue smoke while from the inside exploded rear Admiral's hat and several live white mice up at the high table Dumbledore had swapped his pointed wizard's hat for flowered Bonnet and was chuckling merrily at joke Professor Flitwick had just read him flaming Christmas puddings followed the turkey Percy nearly broke his teeth on silver sickle embedded in his slice Harry watched Hagrid getting rer and redder in the face as he called for more wine finally kissing professor mcgonagle on the cheek who to Harry's amazement giggled and blushed her top hat lopsided when Harry finally left the table he was Laden down with stack of things out of the crackers including pack of non- explodable luminous balloons grow your own wartz kit and his own new Wizard Chest set the white mice had disappeared and Harry had nasty feeling they were going to end up as Mrs Norris's Christmas dinner Harry and the Weasley spent happy afternoon having furious snowball fight on the grounds then cold wet and gasping for breath they returned to the fire in the Gryffindor common room where Harry broke in his new chest set by losing spectacularly to Ron he suspected he wouldn't have lost so badly if Percy hadn't tried to help him so much after meal of turkey sandwiches crumpets trifle and Christmas cake everyone felt too full and sleepy to do much before bed except sit and watch Percy Chase Fred and George all over Gryffindor Tower because they' stolen his prefect badge it had been Harry's best Christmas Day Ever yet something had been nagging at the back of his mind all day not until he climbed into bed was he free to think about it the invisibility cloak and whoever had sent it Ron full of turkey and cake and with nothing mysterious to bother him fell asleep almost as soon as he' drawn the curtains of his four poster Harry leaned over the side of his own bed and pulled the cloak out from under it his father's this had been his father's he let the material flow over his hands smoother than silk light as air use it well the note had said he had to try it now he slipped out of bed and wrapped the cloak around himself looking down at his legs he saw only Moonlight and shadows it was very funny feeling use it well suddenly Harry felt Wide Awake the hole of Hogwarts was open to him in this cloak excitement flooded through him as he stood there in the dark and silence he could go anywhere in this anywhere and filch would never know Ron grunted in his sleep should Harry wake him something held him back his father's cloak he felt that this time the first time he wanted to use it alone he crept out of the dormatory down the stairs across the common room and climbed through the portrait hole who's there walked the fat lady Harry said nothing he walked quickly down the corridor where should he go he stopped his heart racing and thought and then it came to him the Restricted Section in the library he'd be able to read as long as he liked as long as it took to find out who Flamel was he set off drawing the invisibility cloak tied around him as he walked the library was Pitch Black and very very eerie Harry lit lamp to see his way along the rows of books the lamp looked as if it was floating along in midair and even though Harry could feel his arm supporting it the sight gave him the creeps the Restricted Section was right at the back of the library Ste ping carefully over the rope that separated these books from the rest of the library he held up his lamp to read the titles they didn't tell him much their peeling faded gold letters spelled words and languages Harry couldn't understand some had no title at all one book had dark stain on it that looked horribly like blood the hairs on the back of Harry's neck prickled maybe he was imagining it maybe not but he thought faint Whispering was coming from the books as though they knew someone was there who shouldn't be he had to start somewhere setting the lamp down carefully on the floor he looked along the bottom shelf for an interesting looking book large black and silver volume caught his eye he pulled it out with difficulty because it was very heavy and balancing it on his knee let it fall open piercing blood curdling shriek split the silence the book was screaming Harry snap snapped it shut but the shriek went on and on one high unbroken earsplitting note he stumbled backward and knocked over his lamp which went out at once panicking he heard footsteps coming down the corridor outside stuffing the shrieking book back on the Shelf he ran for it he passed filch in the doorway filch's pale wild eyes looked straight through him and Har slipped under filch's outstretched arm and streaked off up the corridor the books shrieks still ringing in his ears he came to sudden halt in front of tall suit of armor he had been so busy getting away from the library he hadn't paid attention to where he was going perhaps because it was dark he didn't recognize where he was at all there was suit of armor near the kitchens he knew but he must be five floors above there you asked me to come directly to you Professor if anyone was wandering around at night and somebody's been in the library Restricted Section Harry felt the blood drain out of his face wherever he was filch must know shortcut because his soft greasy voice was getting nearer and to his horror it was Snape who replied the rest Restricted Section well they can't be far we'll catch them Harry stood rooted to the spot as filch and snap came around the corner ahead they couldn't see him of course but it was narrow Corridor and if they came much nearer they'd knock right into him the cloak didn't stop him from being solid he backed away as quietly as he could door stood jar to his left it was his only hope he squeezed through it holding his breath trying not to move it and to his relief he managed to get inside the room without their noticing anything they walked straight past and Harry leaned against the wall breathing deeply listening to their footsteps dying away that had been close very close it was few seconds before he noticed anything about the room he had hidden in it looked like an unused classroom the dark shapes of desks and chairs were piled against the walls and there was an upturned Waste Paper basket but propped against the wall facing him was something that didn't look as if it belonged there something that looked as if someone had just put it there to keep it out of the way it was magnificent mirror as high as the ceiling with an ornate gold front frame standing on two clawed feet there was an inscription carved around the top Aries said strau ufu Oni his Panic fading now that there was no sound of filch and Snape Harry moved nearer to the mirror wanting to look at himself but see no reflection again he stepped in front of it he had to clap his hands to his mouth to stop himself from screaming he Whirled around his heart was pounding far more furiously than when the book had screamed for he had seen not only himself in the mirror but whole crowd of people standing right behind him but the room was empty breathing very fast he turned slowly back to the mirror there he was reflected in it white and scared looking and there reflected behind him were at least 10 others Harry looked over his shoulder but still no one was there or were they all invisible too was he in fact in room full of invisible people and this mirror's trick was that it reflected them invisible or not he looked in the mirror again woman standing right behind his reflection was smiling at him and waving he reached out hand and felt the air behind him if she was really there he'd touch her their Reflections were so close together but he felt only air she and the others existed only in the mirror she was very pretty woman she had dark red hair and her eyes her eyes are just like mine Harry thought edging little closer to the glass bright green exactly the same shape but then he noticed that she was crying smiling but crying at the same time the tall thin blackhaired man standing next to her put his arm around her he wore glasses and his hair was very untidy it stuck up at the back just as Harry's did Harry was So Close to the Mirror now that his nose was nearly touching that of his reflection mom he whispered Dad they just looked at him smiling and slowly Harry looked into the faces of the other people in the mirror and saw other pairs of green eyes like his other noses like his even little old man who looked as though he had Harry's knobbly knees Harry was looking at his family for the first time in his life The Potters smiled and waved at Harry and he stared hungrily back at them his hands pressed flat against the glass as though he was hoping to fall right through it and reach them he had powerful kind of ache inside him half Joy half terrible sadness how long he stood there he didn't know the reflections did not fade and he looked and looked until distant noise brought him back to his senses he couldn't stay here he had to find his way back to bed he tore his eyes away from his mother's face whispered I'll come back and hurried from the room you could have woken me up said Ron crossly you can come tonight I'm going back want to show you the mirror I'd like to see your mom and dad Ron said eagerly and want to see all your family all the Weasley you'll be able to show me your other brothers and everyone you can see them any old time said Ron just come around my house this summer anyway maybe it only shows dead people Shame about not finding Flamel though have some bacon or something why aren't you eating anything Harry couldn't eat he had seen his parents and would be seeing them again tonight he had almost forgotten about Flamel it didn't seem very important anymore who cared what the three-headed dog was guarding what did it matter if Snape stole it really are you all right said Ron you look odd what Harry feared most was that he might not be able to find the mirror room again with Ron covered in the cloak too they had to walk much more slowly the next night they tried retracing Harry's route from the library wandering around the dark passageway for nearly an hour I'm freezing said Ron let's forget it and go back no Harry hissed know it's here somewhere they passed the ghost of tall witch gliding in the opposite direction but saw no one else just as Ron started moaning that his feet were dead with cold Harry spotted the suit of armor it's here just here yes they pushed the door open Harry dropped the cloak from around his shoulders and ran to the mirror there they were his mother and father beamed at the sight of him see Harry whispered can't see anything look look at them all there are loads of them can only see you look in it properly go on stand where am Harry stepped aside but with Ron in front of the mirror he couldn't see his family anymore just Ron in his Paisley pajamas Ron though was staring transfixed at his image look at me he said can you see all your family standing around you no I'm alone but I'm Different look older and I'm head boy what am I'm wearing the badge like Bill used to and I'm holding the house Cup and the Quidditch cup I'm quidditch Captain too Ron tore his eyes away from this Splendid sight to look excitedly at Harry do you think this mirror shows the future how can it all my family are dead let me have another look you had it to yourself all last night give me bit more time you're only holding the quiditch cup what's interesting about that want to see my parents don't push me sudden noise outside in the corridor put an end to their discussion they hadn't realized how loudly they had been talking quick Ron threw the cloak back over them as the Luminous eyes of Mrs Norris came around the door Ron and Harry stood quite still both thinking the same thing did the cloak work on cats after what seemed an age she turned and left this isn't safe she might have gone for filch bet she heard us come on and Ron pulled Harry out of the room the snow still hadn't melted the next morning want to play chess Harry said Ron no why don't we go down and visit Hagrid no you go know what you're thinking about Harry that mirror don't go back tonight why not don't know I've just got bad feeling about it and anyway you've had too many close shaves already filch Snape and Mrs Norris are wandering around so what if they can't see you what if they walk into you what if you knock something over you sound like Hermione I'm serious Harry don't go but Harry only had one thought in his head which was to get back in front of the mirror and Ron wasn't going to to stop him that third night he found his way more quickly than before he was walking so fast he knew he was making more noise than was wise but he didn't meet anyone and there were his mother and father smiling at him again and one of his grandfathers nodding happily Harry sank down to sit on the floor in front of the mirror there was nothing to stop him from staying here all night with his his family nothing at all except so back again Harry Harry felt as though his insides had turned to ice he looked behind him sitting on one of the desks by the wall was none other than alus Dumbledore Harry must have walked straight past him so desperate to get to the mirror he hadn't noticed him didn't see you sir strange how nearsighted being invisible can make you said Dumbledore and Harry was relieved to see that he was smiling so said Dumbledore slipping off the desk to sit on the floor with Harry you like hundreds before you have discovered the Delights of the mirror of AA said didn't know it was called that sir but expect you've realized by now what it does it well it shows me my family and it showed your friend Ron himself as head boy how did you know don't need cloak to become invisible said Dumbledore gently now can you think what the mirror of arist shows us all Harry shook his head let me explain the happiest man on Earth would be able to use the mirror of arist like normal mirror that is he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is does that help Harry thought then he said slowly it shows us what we want whatever we want yes and no said Dumbledore quietly it shows us nothing more or less than the deepest most desperate desire of our hearts you who have never known your family see them standing around you Ronald Weasley who has always been overshadowed by his brothers sees himself standing alone the best of all of them however this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth men have wasted away before it entranced by what they have seen or been driven mad not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible the mirror will be moved to new home tomorrow Harry and ask you not to go looking for it again if you ever do run across it you will now be prepared it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live remember that now why don't you put that admirable cloak back on and get off to bed Harry stood up Sir Professor Dumbledore can ask you something obviously you've just done so Dumbledore smiled you may ask me one more thing however what do you see when you look in the mirror see myself holding pair of thick Woolen socks Harry stared one can never have enough socks said Dumbledore another Christmas has come and gone and didn't get single pair people will insist on giving me books it was only when he was back in bed that it struck Harry that Dumbledore might not have been quite truthful but then he thought as he shoved abers off his pillow it had been quite personal question chapter 13 Nicholas Flamel Dumbledore had convinced Harry not to go looking for the mirror of arist again and for the rest of the Christmas holidays the invisibility cloak stayed folded at the bottom of his trunk Harry wished he could forget what he'd seen in the mirror as easily but he couldn't he started having nightmares over and over again he dreamed about his parents disappearing in flash of green light while high voice cackled with laughter you see Dumbledore was right that mirror could drive you mad said Ron when Harry told him about these DRS Hermione who came back the day before term started took different view of things she was torn between hor horror at the idea of Harry being out of bed roaming the school three nights in row if filch had caught you and disappointment that he hadn't at least found out who Nicholas Fel was they had almost given up hope of ever finding Fel in library book even though Harry was still sure he'd read the name somewhere once term had started they were back to skimming through books for 10 10 minutes during their breaks Harry had even less time than the other two because quidditch practice had started again wood was working the team harder than ever even the endless rain that had replaced the snow couldn't dampen his spirits the Weasley complained that wood was becoming fanatic but Harry was on Wood's side if they won their next match against Hufflepuff they would overtake Slytherin in the house championship for the first time in seven years quite apart from wanting to win Harry found that he had fewer nightmares when he was tired out after training then during one particularly wet and muddy practice session wood gave the team bit of bad news he'd just gotten very angry with the Weasleys who kept dive bombing each other and pretending to fall off their brooms will you stop messing around he yelled that's exactly the sort of thing that'll lose us the match snap's refereeing this time and he'll be looking for any excuse to knock points off Gryffindor George Weasley really did fall off his broom at these words snapes refereeing he spluttered through mouthful of mud whens he ever refereed aquid match he's not going to be fair if we might overtake Slytherin the rest of the team landed next to George to complain too it's not my fault said wood we've just got to make sure we play clean game so Snape hasn't got an excuse to pick on us which was all very well thought Harry but he had another reason for not wanting Snape near him while he was playing quidditch the rest of the team hung back to talk to one another as usual at the end of practice but Harry headed straight back to the Gryffindor common room where he found Ron and hermion playing chess chess was the only thing herion ever lost at something Harry and Ron thought was very good for her don't talk to me for moment said Ron when Harry sat down next to him need to conson he caught sight of Harry's face what's the matter with you you look terrible speaking quietly so that no one else would hear Harry told the other two about snap's sudden Sinister desire to be quidditch referee don't play said hermion at once say you're ill said Ron pretend to break your leg hermion suggested really break your leg said Ron can't said Harry there isn't reserve Seeker if back out Gryffindor can't play at all at that moment Neville toppled into the common room how he had managed to climb through the portrait hole was anyone's guess because his legs had been stuck together with what they recognized at once as the leg Locker curse he must have had to Bunny Hop all the way up to Gryffindor Tower everyone fell over laughing except Hermione who leapt up and performed the counter curse Neville's legs sprang apart and he got to his feet trembling what happened hermion asked him leading him over to sit with Harry and Ron Maloy said Neville shakily met him outside the library he said he'd been looking for someone to practice that on go to Professor mcgonagal Hermione urged Neville report him Neville shook his head don't want more trouble he mumbled you've got to stand up to him Neville said Ron he's used to walking all over people but that's no reason to lie down in front of him and make it easier there's no need to tell me I'm not brave enough to be in griffindor Malfoy's already done that Neville choked out Harry felt in the pocket of his robes and pulled out chocolate frog the very last one from the box Hermione had given him for Christmas he gave it to Neville who looked as though he might cry Neville's lips twitched in weak Smile as he unwrapped the Frog thanks Harry think I'll go to bed do you want the card you collect them don't you as Neville walked away Harry looked at the the famous wizard card Dumbledore again he said he was the first one ever he gasped he stared at the back of the card then he looked up at Ron and Hermione found him he whispered found Fel told you I'd read the name somewhere before read it on the train coming here listen to this Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark dark wizard grindlewald in 1945 for the discovery of the 12 uses of dragon's blood and his work on Alchemy with his partner Nicholas Fel Hermione jumped to her feet she hadn't looked so excited since they'd gotten back the marks for their very first piece of homework stay there she said and she sprinted up the stairs to the girls dormitories Harry and Ron barely had time to exchange mystified looks before she was dashing back an enormous old book in her arms never thought to look in here she whispered excitedly got this out of the library weeks ago for bit of Light reading light said Ron but Hermione told him to be quiet until she'd looked something up and started flicking frantically through the pages muttering to herself at last she found what she was looking for knew it knew it are we allowed to speak yet said Ron grumpily Hermione ignored him Nicholas Fel she whispered dramatically is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone this didn't have quite the effect she'd expected the what said Harry and Ron honestly don't you two read look rid that there she pushed the book toward them and Harry and Ron read the ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Sorcerer's Stone legendary substance with astonishing Powers the stone will transform any metal into pure gold it also produces the elixir of Life which will make the Drinker Immortal there have been many reports of the Sorcerer's Stone over the centuries but the only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr Nicholas Fel the noted Alchemist and Opera lover Mr Fel who celebrated his 665 birthday last year enjoys quiet life in Devon with his wife Perell 658 see said Hermione when Harry and Ron had finished the dog must be guarding flamel's Sorcerer's Stone bet he asked Dumbledore to keep it safe for him because they're friends and he knew someone was after it that's why he wanted the stone moved out of gringut stone that makes gold and stops you from ever dying said Harry no wonder snapes after it anyone would want it and no wonder we couldn't find FL in that study of recent developments in Wizardry said Ron he's not exactly recent if he's 665 is he the next morning in defense against the dark arts while copying down different ways of treating werewolf bites Harry and Ron were still discussing what they'd do with Sorcerer's Stone if they had one it wasn't until Ron said he'd buy his own Quidditch team that Harry remembered about Snape and the coming match I'm going to play he told Ron and Hermione if don't all the Slytherin will think I'm just too scared to face Snape I'll show them it'll really wipe the smiles off their faces if we win just as long as we're not wiping you off the field said Hermione as the match Drew nearer however Harry became more and more nervous whatever he told Ron and Hermione the rest of the team wasn't too calm either the idea of overtaking Slytherin in the house Championship was wonderful no one had done it for seven years but would they be allowed to with such biased referee Harry didn't know whether he was imagining it or not but he seemed to keep running into Snape wherever he went at times he even wondered whether Snape was following him him trying to catch him on his own potion's lessons were turning into sort of weekly torture Snape was so horrible to Harry could Snape possibly know they'd found out about the Sorcerer's Stone Harry didn't see how he could yet he sometimes had the horrible feeling that Snape could read minds Harry knew when they wished him good luck outside the locker rooms the next afternoon that and Hermione were wondering whether they'd ever see him alive again this wasn't what you'd call comforting Harry hardly heard word of wood's pep talk as he pulled on his quidditch robes and picked up his Nimbus 2000 Ron and Hermione meanwhile had found place in the stands next to Neville who couldn't understand why they looked so grim and worried or why they had both brought their wands to the match little did Harry know that Ron and Hermione had been secretly practicing the leg Locker curse they'd gotten the idea from Malfoy using it on Neville and were ready to use it on Snape if he showed any sign of wanting to hurt Harry now don't forget it's locomoter Morse Hermione muttered as Ron slipped his wand up his sleeve know Ron snapped don't nag back in the locker room had taken Harry aside don't want to pressure you Potter but if we ever need an early capture of the snitch it's now finish the game before Snape can favor Hufflepuff too much the whole school's out there Said Fred Weasley peering out of the door even blimy Dumbledore come to watch Harry's heart did somersault Dumbledore he said dashing to the door to make sure Fred was right there was no mistaking that silver beard Harry could have laughed out loud with relief he was safe there was simply no way that Snape would dare to try to hurt him if Dumbledore was watching perhaps that was why Snape was looking so angry as the teams marched onto the field something that Ron noticed too I've never seen Snape look so mean he told Hermione look they're off ouch someone had poked Ron in the back of the head it was Malfoy sorry Weasley didn't see you there Malfoy grinned broadly at crab and wonder how long Potter's going to stay on his broom this time anyone want bet what about you Weasley Ron didn't answer Snape had just awarded Hufflepuff penalty because George Weasley had hit bludger at him hermion who had all her fingers crossed in her lap was squinting fixedly at Harry who was circling the game like hawk looking for the snitch you know how think they choose people for the Gryffindor team said Malfoy loudly few minutes later as Snape awarded Hufflepuff another penalty for no reason at all it's people they feel sorry for see there's Potter who's got no parents then there's the Weasley who've got no money you should be on the team long bottom you've got no brains Neville went bright red but turned in his seat to face Malfoy I'm worth 12 of you Malfoy he stammered Malfoy crab and Goyle howled with laughter but Ron still not daring to take his eyes from the game said you tell him Neville long bottom if brains were gold you'd be poorer than Weasley and that's saying something Ron's nerves were already stretched to the Breaking Point with anxiety about Harry I'm warning you Malfoy one more word Ron said hermion suddenly Harry what where Harry had suddenly gone into spectacular dive which Drew gasps and cheers from the crowd hermion stood up her crossed fingers and her mouth as Harry streaked toward the ground like bullet you're in luck Weasley Potter's obviously spotted some money on the ground said Maloy Ron snapped before Malfoy knew what was happening Ron was on top of him wrestling him to the ground Neville hesitated then clambered over the back of his seat to help come on Harry Hermione screamed leaping onto her seat to watch as Harry sped straight at Snape she didn't even notice Malfoy and Ron rolling around under her seat or the scuffles and Yelps coming from the Whirl of fists that was Neville crab and up in the air Snape turned on his broomstick just in time to see something Scarlet shoot past him missing him by inches the next second Harry had pulled out of the dive his arm raised in Triumph the snitch clasped in his hand the stands erupted it had to be record no one could ever remember the snitch being caught so quickly Ron Ron where are you the game's over Harry's won we've won Gryffindor is in the lead shrieked Hermione dancing up and down on on her seat and hugging parvity paddle in the row in front Harry jumped off his broom foot from the ground he couldn't believe it he' done it the game was over it had barely lasted 5 minutes as Griffin doors came spilling onto the field he saw Snape land nearby white-faced and tight lipped then Harry felt hand on his shoulder and looked up into Dumbledore's smiling face well done said Dumbledore quietly so that only Harry could hear nice to see you haven't been brooding about that mirror been keeping busy excellent Snape spat bitterly on the ground Harry left the locker room alone sometime later to take his Nimbus 2000 back to the broom shed he couldn't ever remember feeling happier he'd really done something to be proud of now no one could say he was just famous name anymore the evening air had never smelled so sweet he walked over the damp grass reliving the last hour in his head which was happy blur griffindor running to lift him onto their shoulders Ron and Hermione in the distance jumping up and down Ron cheering through heavy nose bleed Harry had reached the shed he' done it he'd shown Snape and speaking of Snape hooded figure came swiftly down the front steps of the castle clearly not wanting to be seen it walked as fast as possible toward the Forbidden Forest Harry's Victory faded from his mind as he watched he recognized the figure's prowling walk Snape sneaking into the forest while everyone else was at dinner what was going on Harry jumped back on his Nimbus 2000 and took off gliding silently over the castle he saw Snape enter the forest at run he followed the trees were so thick he couldn't see where Snape had gone he flew in circles lower and lower brushing the top branches of trees until he heard voices he glided toward them and landed noiselessly in towering Beach tree he climbed carefully along one of the branches holding tight to his broomstick trying to see through the leaves Below in shadowy clearing stood Snape but he wasn't alone quirrel was there too Harry couldn't make out the look on his face but he was stuttering worse than ever Harry strained to catch what they were saying don't know why you wanted to to meet here of all pea places seus thought we'd keep this private said Snape his voice icy students aren't supposed to know about the Sorcerer's Stone after all Harry leaned forward quirrel was mumbling something Snape interrupted him have you found out how to get past that Beast of hagrids yet but seus you don't want me as your enemy querel said Snape taking step toward him don't know what you you know perfectly well what mean an owl hooted loudly and Harry nearly fell out of the tree he steadied himself in time to hear Snape say your little bit of Hocus Pocus I'm waiting but did don't very well Snape cut in we'll have another little chat soon when you've had time to think things over and decided where your loyalties lie he threw his cloak over his head and stroe out of the clearing it was almost dark now but Harry could see quirrel standing quite still as though he was petrified Harry Where Have You Been hermion squeaked we won you won shouted Ron thumping Harry on the back and gave Malfoy black eye and Neville tried to take on crab and singlehanded he's still out cold but mad pumpy says he'll be all right talk about showing Slytherin everyone's waiting for you in the common room we're having party Fred and George stole some cakes and stuff from the kitchens never mind that now said Harry breathlessly let's find an empty room you wait till you hear this he made sure peeves wasn't inside before shutting the door behind them then he told them what he'd seen and heard so we were right it is the Sorcerer's Stone and snapes trying to force quirell to help him get it he asked if he knew how to get past fluffy and he said something about quirrell's Hocus Pocus reckon there are other things guarding the stone apart from fluffy loads of enchantments probably and quirrel would have done some anti- dark arts spell that Snape needs to break through so you mean the stones only safe as long as quirl stands up to Snape said Hermione in alarm it'll be gone by next Tuesday said Ron chapter 14 Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback quirell however must have been braver than they'd thought in the weeks that followed he did seem to be getting paler and thinner but it didn't look as though he'd cracked yet every time they passed the third floor Corridor Harry Ron and Hermione would press their ears to the door to check that fluffy was still growling inside Snape was sweeping about in his usual bad temper which surely meant that the stone was still safe whenever Harry passed quirrel these days he gave him an encouraging sort of smile and Ron had started telling people off for laughing at quirrel stutter Hermione however had more on her mind than the Sorcerer's Stone she had started drawing up study schedules and color coding all her notes Harry and Ron wouldn't have minded but she kept nagging them to do the same Hermione the exams are ages away 10 weeks hermy snapped that's not ages that's like second to Nicholas Fel but we're not 600 years old Ron reminded her anyway what are you studying for you already know it what am studying for are you crazy you realize we need to pass these exams to get into the second year they're very important should have started studying month ago don't know what's gotten into me unfortunately the teachers seemed to be thinking along the same lines as Hermione they piled so much homework on them that the Easter holidays weren't nearly as much fun as the Christmas ones it was hard to relax with Hermione next to you reciting the 12 uses of dragon's blood or practicing wand movements moaning and yawning Harry and Ron spent most of their free time in the library with her trying to get through all their extra work I'll never remember this Ron burst out one afternoon throwing down his quill and looking longingly out of the library window it was the first really fine day they'd had in months the sky was clear Forget Me Not blue and there was feeling in the air of Summer coming Harry who was looking up dney in 1,000 magical herbs and fungi didn't look up until he heard Ron say Hagrid what are you doing in the library Hagrid shuffled into view hiding something behind his back he looked very out of place in his mkin Overcoat just looking he said in Shifty voice that got their interest at once and what are you lot up to here he looked suddenly suspicious you're not still looking for Nicholas Fel are you we found out who he is ages ago said Ron impressively and we know what that dog guarding it's sorcerer sh Hagrid looked around quickly to see if anyone was listening don't go shouting about it what's the matter with you there are few things we wanted to ask you as matter of fact said Harry about what's guarding the stone apart from fluffy sh said Hagrid again listen come and see me later I'm not promising I'll tell you anything but don't go rabbiting about it in here students aren't supposed to know they'll think I've told you see you later then said Harry Hagrid shuffled off what was he hiding behind his back said Hermione thoughtfully do you think it had anything to do with the stone I'm going to see what section he was in said Ron who'd had enough of working he came back minute later with pile of books in his arms and slammed them down on the table dragons he whispered Hagrid was looking up stuff about dragons look at these Dragon species of Great Britain and Ireland from egg to Inferno dragon Keeper's guide hagrids always wanted dragon he told me so the first time ever met him said Harry but it's against our laws said Ron dragon breeding was outlawed by the warlocks convention 1,79 everyone knows that it's hard to stop Muggles from noticing us if we're keeping dragons in the back Garden anyway you can't tame Dragons It's Dangerous you should see the burns Charlie's got off Wild Ones in Romania but there aren't wild dragons in Britain said Harry of course there are said Ron common Welsh green and herdian blacks the ministry of magic has job hushing them up can tell you Our Kind have to keep putting spells on Muggles who've spotted them to make them forget so what on Earth's Hagrid up to said Hermione when they knocked on the door of the gamekeeper's Hut an hour later they were surprised to see that all the curtains were closed Hagrid called who is it before he let them in and then shut the door quickly behind them it was stifling hot inside even though it was such warm day there was blazing fire in the great Hagrid made them tea and offered them stoed sandwiches which they refused so you wanted to ask me something yes said Harry there was no point beating around the bush we were wondering if you could tell us what's guarding the Sorcerer's Stone apart from fluffy Hagrid frowned at him of course can't he said number one don't know myself number two you know too much already so wouldn't tell you if could that Stone's here for good reason it was almost stolen out of gringut suppose you've worked that out and all Beats me how you even know about fluffy come on Hagrid you might not want to tell us but you do know you know everything that goes on around here said Hermione in warm flattering voice Hagrid's beard twitched and they could tell he was smiling we only wondered who had done the guarding really hermion went on we wondered who Dumbledore had trusted enough to help him apart from you Hagrid's chest swelled at these last words Harry and Ron beamed at Hermione well don't suppose it could hurt or tell you that let's see he borrowed Fluffy from me then some of the teachers did enchantments Professor Sprout Professor Flitwick Professor mcgonagal he ticked them off on his fingers professor quirell and Dumbledore himself did something of course hang on I've forgotten someone yeah Professor Snape Snape yeah you're not still on about that ARA look Snape helped protect the stone he's not about to steal it Harry knew Ron and Hermione were thinking the same as he was you're the only one who knows how to get past fluffy aren't you Hagrid said Harry anxiously and you wouldn't tell anyone would you not not even one of the teachers not soul knows except me and Dumbledore said Hagrid proudly well that's something Harry muttered to the others Hagrid can we have window open I'm boiling can't Harry sorry said Hagrid Harry noticed him glance at the fire Harry looked at it too Hagrid what's that but he already knew what it was in the very heart of the fire underneath the kettle was huge black egg said Hagrid fiddling nervously with his beard that's her where did you get it Hagrid said Ron crouching over the fire to get closer look at the egg it must have cost you fortune it said Hagrid loss is night was down in the village having few drinks and got into game of cards with stranger think he was quite glad to get rid of it to be honest but what are you going to do with it when it's hatched said Hermione well I've been doing some reading said Hagrid pulling large book from under his pillow got this out of the library dragon breeding for pleasure and profit it's bit out of date of course but it's all in here keep the egg in the fire cuz their mothers breathe on am see and when it hatches feed it on bucket of Brandy mixed with chicken blood every half hour and see here how to recognize different eggs what got there's Norwegian Ridgeback they're rare them he looked very pleased with himself but Hermione didn't Hagrid you live in wooden house she said but Hagrid wasn't listening he was humming merrily as he stoked the fire so now they had something else to worry about what might happen to Hagrid if anyone found out he was hiding in legal dragon in his Hut wonder what it's like to have peaceful life Ron sighed as evening after evening they struggled through all the extra homework they were getting Hermione had now started making study schedules for Harry and Ron too it was driving them nuts then one breakfast time hedwick brought Harry another note from Hagrid he had written only two words it's hatching Ron wanted to skip herbology and go straight down to the Hut Hermione wouldn't hear of it Hermione how many times in our lives are we going to see dragon hatching we've got lessons will get into trouble and that's nothing to what Hagrid's going to be in when someone finds out what he's doing shut up Harry whispered Malfoy was only few feet away and he had stopped dead to listen how much had he heard Harry didn't like the look on maloy's face at all Ron and Hermione argued all the way to herbology and in the end hermion agreed to run down to hagrids with the other two during morning break when the bell sounded from the castle at the end of their lesson the three of them dropped their trowels at once and hurried through the grounds to the edge of the forest Hagrid greeted them looking flushed and excited it's nearly out he ushered them inside the egg was lying on the table there were deep cracks in it something was moving inside funny clicking noise was coming from it they all Drew their chair stairs up to the table and watched with baited breath all at once there was scraping noise and the eggs split open the baby dragon flopped onto the table it wasn't exactly pretty Harry thought it looked like crumpled black umbrella its spiny wings were huge compared to its skinny jet body it had long snout with wide nostrils the stubs of horns and bulging orange eyes it sneezed couple of Sparks flew out of its snout isn't he beautiful Hagrid murmured he reached out hand to stroke the dragon's head it snapped at his fingers showing pointed fangs bless him look he knows his mommy said Hagrid Hagrid said Hermione how fast do Norwegian Ridgebacks grow exactly Hagrid was about to answer when the color suddenly drained from his face he leapt to his feet and ran to the window what's the matter someone was looking through the Gap in the curtains it's kid he's running back up to the school Harry bolted to the door and looked out even at distance there was no mistaking him Malfoy had seen the dragon something about the smile lurking on maloy's face during the next week made Harry Ron and Hermione very nervous they spent most of their free time in Hagrid's darkened Hut trying to reason with him just let him go Harry urged set him free can't said Hagrid he's too little he'd die they looked at the dragon it had grown three times in length in just week smoke kept furling out of its nostrils Hagrid hadn't been doing his gamekeeping duties because the dragon was keeping him so busy there were empty Brandy bottles and chicken feathers all over the floor I've decided to call him Norbert said Hagrid looking at the dragon with Misty Eyes he really knows me now watch Norbert Norbert where's Mommy he's lost his marbles Ron muttered in Harry's ear Hagrid said Harry loudly give it to 2 weeks and norbert's going to be as long as your house Malfoy could go to Dumbledore at any moment Hagrid bit his lip know can't keep him forever but can't just as dump him can't Harry suddenly turned to Ron Charlie he said you're losing it too said Ron I'm Ron remember no Charlie your brother Charlie in Romania studying dragons we could send Norbert to him Charlie can take care of him and then put him back in the wild brilliant said Ron how about it Hagrid and in the end Hagrid agreed that they could send an owl to Charlie to ask him the following week dragged by Wednesday night found hermion and Harry sitting alone in the common room long after everyone else had gone to bed the clock on the wall had just chimed midnight night when the portrait hole burst open Ron appeared out of nowhere as he pulled off Harry's invisibility cloak he had been down at Hagrid's Hut helping him feed Norbert who was now eating dead rats by the crate it bit me he said showing them his hand which was wrapped in bloody handkerchief I'm not going to be able to hold quill for week tell you that dragon's the most horrible animal I've ever met but the way Hagrid goes on about it you'd think it was fluffy little bunny rabbit when it bit me he told me off for frightening it and when left he was singing it lullabi there was tap on the dark window it's hewig said Harry hurrying to let her in she'll have Charlie's answer the three of them put their heads together to read the note dear Ron how are you thanks for the letter I'd be glad to take the Norwegian Ridgeback but it won't be easy getting him here think the best thing will be to send him over with some friends of mine who are coming to visit me next week trouble is they mustn't be seen carrying an illegal Dragon could you get the ridge back up the tallest tower at midnight on Saturday they can meet you there and take him away while it's still dark send me an answer as soon as possible love Charlie they looked at one another we've got the invisibility cloak said Harry it shouldn't be too difficult think the cloak big enough to cover two of us and Norbert it was mark of how bad the last week had been that the other two agreed with him anything to get rid of Norbert and Foy there was hitch by the next morning Ron's bitten hand had swollen to twice its usual size he didn't know whether it was safe to go to Madame pomphrey would she recognize dragon bite by the afternoon though he had no choice the cut had turned nasty shade of green it looked as if norbert's fangs were poisonous Harry and Hermione rushed up to the Hospital Wing at the end of the day to find Ron in terrible state in bed it's not just my hand he whispered although that feels like it's about to fall off Malfoy told Madame Pumphrey he wanted to borrow one of my books so he could come and have good laugh at me he kept threatening to tell her what really bit me I've told her it was dog but don't think she believed me shouldn't have hit him at the Quidditch match that's why he's doing this Harry and Hermione tried to calm Ron down it'll all be over at midnight on Saturday said Hermione but this didn't soothe Ron at all on the contrary he sat bolt upright and broke into sweat midnight on Saturday he said in horar voice no no I've just remembered Charlie's letter was in that book Maloy took he's going to know we're getting rid of Norbert Harry and Hermione didn't get chance to answer Madame Pumphrey came over at that moment and made them leave saying Ron needed sleep it's too late to change the plan now Harry told Hermione we haven't got time to send Charlie another owl and this could be our only chance to get rid of Norbert we'll have to risk it and we have got the invisibility cloak Malfoy doesn't know about that they found Fang the Bor Hound sitting outside with bandaged tail when they went to tell Hagrid who opened window to talk to them won't let you in he puffed norbert's at tricky stage nothing can't handle when they told him about Charlie's letter his eyes filled with tears although that might have been because Norbert had just bitten him on the leg it's all right he only got my boot just playing he's only baby after all the baby banged its tail on the wall making the windows rattle Harry and hermion walked back to the castle feeling Saturday couldn't come quickly enough they would have felt sorry for Hagrid when the time came for him to SA goodbye to Norbert if they hadn't been so worried about what they had to do it was very dark cloudy night and they were bit late arriving at Hagrid's Hut because they'd had to wait for peeves to get out of their way in the entrance hall where he'd been playing tennis against the wall Hagrid had Norbert packed and ready in large crate he's got lots of rats and some Brandy for the Journey said Hagrid in muffled voice and I've packed his teddy bear in case he gets lonely from inside the crate came ripping noises that sounded to Harry as though the teddy was having his head torn off bye-bye Norbert Hagrid sobbed as Harry and Hermione covered the crate with the invisibility cloak and stepped underneath it themselves Mommy will never forget you how they managed to get the crate back up to the castle they never knew midnight ticked nearer as they heaved Norbert up the marble staircase in the entrance hall and along the dark corridors up another staircase than another even one of Harry's shortcuts didn't make the work much easier nearly there Harry panted as they reached the corridor beneath the tallest tower then sudden movement ahead of them made them almost drop the crate forgetting that they were already invisible they shrank into the Shadows staring at the dark outlines of two people grappling with each other 10 ft away lamp flared professor mcgonagal in Tartan bathrobe and hairnet had Malfoy by the ear detention she shouted and 20 points from Slytherin wandering around in the middle of the night how dare you you don't understand Professor Harry Potter's coming he's got dragon what utter rubbish how dare you tell such Lies come on shall see Professor Snape about you Maloy the Steep spiral staircase up to the top of the tower seemed the easiest thing in the world after that not until they'd stepped out into the cold night air did they throw off the cloak glad to be able to breathe properly again Hermione did sort of jig Malo got detention Could Sing Don't Harry advised her chuckling about Malfoy they waited Norbert thrashing about in his crate about 10 minutes later four broomsticks came swooping down out of the darkness Charlie's friends were cheery lot they showed Harry and Herm any the harness they'd rigged up so they could suspend Norbert between them they all helped Buckle Norbert safely into it and then Harry and hermion shook hands with the others and thanked them very much at last Norbert was going going gone they slipped back down the spiral staircase their hearts as light as their hands now that Norbert was off them no more Dragon Malfoy in attention what could spoil their happiness the answer to that was waiting at the foot of the stairs as they stepped into the corridor filch's face loomed suddenly out of the darkness well well well he whispered we are in trouble they'd left the invisibility cloak on top of the tower chapter 15 The Forbidden Forest things couldn't have been worse filch took them down to Professor gagle's study on the first floor where they sat and waited without saying word to each other Hermione was trembling excuses aliis and wild coverup stories chased each other around Harry's brain each more feeble than the last he couldn't see how they were going to get out of trouble this time they were cornered how could they have been so stupid as to forget the cloak there was no reason on Earth that Professor mcgonagal would accept for their being out of bed and creeping around the school in the dead of night let alone being up the tallest astronomy Tower which was out of bounds except for classes add Norbert and the invisibility cloak and they might as well be packing their bags already had Harry thought that things couldn't have been worse he was wrong when professor mcgonagle appeared she was leading Neville Harry Neville burst out the moment he saw the other two was trying to find you to warn you heard Maloy saying he was going to catch you he said you had Harry shook his head violently to shut Neville up but Professor mcgonagal had seen she looked more likely to breathe fire than Norbert as she towered over the three of them would never have believed it of any of you Mr filch says you were up in the astronomy Tower it's 1:00 in the morning explain yourselves it was the first time Hermione had ever failed to answer teacher's question she was staring at her slippers as still as statue think I've got good idea of what's been going on said Professor mcgonagle it doesn't take genius to work it out out you fed Draco Malfoy some and Bull story about dragon trying to get him out of bed and into trouble I've already caught him suppose you think it's funny that long bottom here heard the story and believed it too Harry caught Neville's eye and tried to tell him without words that this wasn't true because Neville was looking stunned and hurt poor blundering Neville Harry knew what it must have cost him to try and find them in the dark to warn them I'm disgusted said Professor mcgonagal four students out of bed in one night I've never heard of such thing before you miss Granger thought you had more sense as for you Mr Potter thought Gryffindor meant more to you than this all three of you will received detentions yes you too Mr long bottom nothing gives you the right to walk around school at night especially these days it's very dangerous and 50 points will be taken from Gryffindor 50 Harry gasped they would lose the lead the lead he'd won in the last quidditch match 50 points each said Professor mcgonagle Breathing heavily through her long pointed nose Professor please you can't don't tell me what can't can and can't do Potter now get back to bed all of you I've never been more ashamed of Gryffindor students 150 points lost that put Gryffindor in last place in one night they'd ruined any chance Gryffindor had had for the house cup Harry felt as though the bottom had dropped out of his stomach how could they ever make up for this Harry didn't sleep all night night he could hear Neville sobbing into his pillow for what seemed like hours Harry couldn't think of anything to say to comfort him he knew Neville like himself was dreading the dawn what would happen when the rest of Gryffindor found out what they'd done at first gryffindor's passing the giant hourglasses that recorded the house points the next day thought their been mistake how could they suddenly have 150 points fewer than yesterday and then the story started to spread Harry Potter the famous Harry Potter their hero of two quidditch matches had lost them all those points him and couple of other stupid First Years from being one of the most popular and admired people at the school Harry was suddenly the most hated even Ravenclaw and hufflepuffs turned on him because everyone had been longing to see Slytherin lose the house cup everywhere Harry went people pointed and didn't trouble to lower their voices as they insulted him Slytherin on the other hand clapped as he walked past them whistling and cheering thanks Potter we owe you one only Ron stood by him they'll all forget this in few weeks Fred and Jo George have lost loads of points in all the time they've been here and people still like them they've never lost 150 points in one go though have they said Harry miserably well no Ron admitted it was bit late to repair the damage but Harry swore to himself not to meddle in things that weren't his business from now on he'd had it with sneaking around and spying he he felt so ashamed of himself that he went to Wood and offered to resign from the Quidditch team resign wood thundered what good will that do how are we going to get any points back if we can't win at quiddit but even quiditch had lost its fun the rest of the team wouldn't speak to Harry during practice and if they had to speak about him they called him the Seeker Hermione and Neville were suffering too they didn't have as bad time as Harry because they weren't as well known but nobody would speak to them either Hermione had stopped drawing attention to herself in class keeping her head down and working in silence Harry was almost glad that the exams weren't far away all the studying he had to do kept his mind off his misery he Ron and Hermione kept to themselves working late into the night trying to remember the ingredients in complicated potions learn charms and spells by heart memorized the dates of magical discoveries and Goblin rebellions then about week before the exams were due to start Harry's new resolution not to interfere in anything that didn't concern him was put to an unexpected test walking back from the library on his own one afternoon he heard somebody whimpering from classroom up ahead as he drew closer he heard quirrell's voice no no not again please it sounded as though someone was threatening him Harry moved closer all right all right he heard quirrel SOB next second quirl came hurrying out of the classroom straightening his turban he was pale and looked as though he was about to cry he stroe out of sight Harry didn't think quirrel had even noticed him he waited until quirrell's footsteps had disappeared then peered into the classroom it was empty but door stood jar at the other end Harry was halfway toward it before he remembered what he'd promised himself about not meddling all the same he'd have gambled 12 sorcerer stones that Snape had just left the room and from what Harry had just heard Snape would be walking with new spring in his step quirl seemed to have given in at last Harry went back to the library where Hermione was testing Ron on astronomy Harry told them what he'd Heard snap's done it then said Ron if quels told him how to break his anti- dark force spell there's still fluffy though said Hermione maybe snapes found out how to get past him without asking Hagrid said Ron looking up at the thousands of books surrounding them bet there's book somewhere in here telling you how to get past giant three-headed dog so what do we do Harry the light of Adventure was kindling again in Ron's eyes but hermion answered before Harry could go to dumble door that's what we should have done ages ago if we try anything ourselves we'll be thrown out for sure but we've got no proof said Harry quirrell's too scared to back us up snapes only got to say he doesn't know how the troll got in at Halloween and that he was nowhere near the third floor who do you think they'll believe him or us it's not exactly secret we hate him Dumbledore will think we made it up to get him sacked filch wouldn't help us if his life depended on it he's too friendly with Snape and the more students get thrown out the better he'll think and don't forget we're not supposed to know about the stone or fluffy that'll take lot of explaining Hermione looked convinced but Ron didn't if we just do bit of poking around no said Harry flatly we've done enough poking around he pulled map of Jupiter toward him and started to learn the names of its moons the following morning notes were delivered to Harry Hermione and Neville at The Breakfast Table they were all the same your detention will take place at 11:00 tonight meet Mr filch in the entrance hall professor mcgonagle Harry had forgotten they still had detentions to do in the furer over the points they had lost he half expected hermion to complain that this was whole night of studying lost but she didn't say word like Harry she felt they deserved what they'd got at 11:00 that night they said goodbye to Ron in the common room and went down to the entrance hall with Neville filch was already there and so was Malfoy Harry had also forgotten that Malfoy had gotten detention too follow me said filch lighting lamp and leading them outside bet you'll think twice about breaking school rule again won't you he said learing at them yes hard work and pain are the best teachers if you ask me it's just pity they let the old punishments die out hang you by your wrists from the ceiling for few days I've got the chains still in my office keep them well oiled in case they're Ever Needed right off we go and don't think of running off now it'll be worse for you if you do they marched off across the dark grounds Neville kept sniffing Harry wondered what their punishment was going to be it must be something really horrible or filch wouldn't be sounding so so delighted the moon was bright but clouds scut across it kept throwing them into darkness ahead Harry could see the lighted Windows of Hagrid's Hut then they heard distant shout is that you filch hurry up want her get started Harry's Heart Rose if they were going to be working with Hagrid it wouldn't be so bad his relief must have showed in his face because filch said suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that well think again boy it's into the forest you're going and I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece at this Neville let out little moan and Malfoy stopped dead in his tracks the forest he repeated and he didn't sound quite as cool as usual we can't go in there at night there all sorts of things in there werewolves heard Neville clutched the sleeve of Harry's robe and made choking noise that's your problem isn't it said filch his voice cracking with Glee should have thought of them werewolves before you got in trouble shouldn't you Hagrid came striding toward them out of the dark Fang at his heel he was carrying his large crossbow and quiver of arrows hung over his shoulder about time he said I've been waiting for half an hour already all right Harry Hermione shouldn't be too friendly to them Hagrid said Phil coldly they're here to be punished after all that's why you're late is it said Hagrid frowning at filch been lecturing them it's not your place to do that you've done your bit I'll take over over from here I'll be back at dawn said filch for what's left of them he added nastily and he turned and started back toward the castle his lamp bobbing away in the darkness Malfoy now turned to Hagrid I'm not going in that Forest he said and Harry was pleased to hear the note of panic in his voice ye are if you want to stay at Hogwarts said Hagrid fiercely you've done wrong and now you've got her pay for it but this is servant stuff it's not for students to do thought we'd be copying lines or something if my father knew was doing this he'd tell you that's how it is at Hogwarts Hagrid growled copy and lines what goods that to anyone you'll do some useful or you'll get out if you think your father' rather you were expelled then get back off to the castle and pack go on Malfoy didn't move he looked at Hagrid furiously but then dropped his gaze right then said Hagrid now listen carefully cuz it's dangerous what we're going to do tonight and don't want no one taking risks follow me over here moment he led them to the very edge of the forest holding his lamp up high he pointed down narrow winding Earth Track that disappeared into the thick black trees light Breeze lifted their hair as they looked into the forest look there said Hagrid see that stuff shining on the ground silvery stuff that's Unicorn Blood there's unicorn in there hurt badly by Summit this is the second time in week found one dead last Wednesday we're going to try and find the poor thing we might have to put it out of its misery and what if whatever hurt the Unicorn finds us first said Malfoy unable to keep the fear out of his voice there's nothing that lives in the forest that'll hurt you if you're with me or Fang said Hagrid and keeped her the path right now we're going to split in her two parties and follow the trail in different directions there's blood all over the place it must have been staggering around since last night at least want fun said Malfoy quickly looking at Fang's long teeth all right but warn you he's coward said Hagrid so me Harry and hermion will go one way and Draco Neville and Fang will go the other now if any of us finds the Unicorn will send up green Sparks right get your wands out and practice now that's it and if anyone gets in trouble send up red Sparks and we'll all come and find you so be careful let's go the forest was black and Silent little way into it they reached fork in the earth path and Harry Hermione and Hagrid took the left path while Malfoy Neville and Fang took the right they walked in silence their eyes on the ground every now and then ray of moonlight through the branches above lit spot of silver blue blood on the fallen leaves Harry saw that Hagrid looked very worried could werewolf be killing the unicorns Harry asked not fast enough said Hagrid it's not easy to catch unicorn they're powerful magic creatures never knew one to be hurt before they walked past Mossy tree stump Harry could hear running water there must be stream somewhere close by there were still spots of Unicorn Blood here and there along the winding path you all right Hermione Hagrid whispered don't worry it can't have gone far if it's this badly hurt and then we'll be able to get behind that tree Hagrid seized Harry and hermion and hoisted them off the path behind towering Oak he pulled out an arrow and fitted it into his crossbow raising it ready to fire the three of them listened something was slithering over Dead Leaves nearby it sounded like cloak trailing along the ground Hagrid was squinting up the dark path but after few seconds the sound faded away knew it he murmured there's sum it in here that shouldn't be werewolf Harry suggested that was no werewolf and it was no unicorn neither said Hagrid grimly right follow me but careful now they walked more slowly ears straining for the faintest sound suddenly in clearing ahead something definitely moved who's there Hagrid called show yourself I'm armed and into the clearing came was it man or horse to the waist man with red hair and beard but below that was horse's gleaming Chestnut body with long reddish tail Harry and hermy's Jaws dropped it's you Ronan said Hagrid in relief how are you he walked forward and shook the centaur's hand good evening to you Hagrid said Ronan he had deep sorrowful voice were you going to shoot me can't be too careful Ronan said Hagrid patting his crossbow there's Summit bad loose in this Forest this is Harry Potter and Hermione Granger by the way students up at the school and this is Ronan you two he's centaur we'd noticed said Hermione faintly good evening said Ronan students are you and do you learn much up at the school bit said Hermione timidly bit well that's something Ronan sigh he flung back his head and stared at the sky Mars is bright tonight yeah said Hagrid glancing up too listen I'm glad we've run in her yay Ronan cuz there's unicorn been hurt you seen anything Ronan didn't answer immediately he stared unblinkingly upward then sighed again always the innocent are the first victims he said so it has been for ages past so it is now yeah said Hagrid but have you seen anything Ronan anything unusual Mars is bright tonight Ronan repeated while Hagrid watched him impatiently unusually bright yeah but was meaning anything unusual bit near home said Hagrid so ye haven't noticed anything strange yet again Ronan took while to answer at last he said the forest hides many Secrets movement in the trees behind Ronin made Hagrid raise his bow again but it was only second Centaur blackhaired and bodied and Wilder looking than Ronan hello Bane said Hagrid all right good evening Hagrid hope you are well well enough look I've just as been asking Ronin you seen anything odd in here here lately there's unicorn bin injured would you know anything about it Bane walked over to stand next to Ronan he looked Skyward Mars is bright tonight he said simply we've heard said Hagrid grumpily well if either of you do see anything let me know won't you we'll be off then Harry and Hermione followed him out of the clearing staring over their shoulders at Ronan and Bane until the trees blocked their view never said Hagrid irritably try and get straight answer out of centaur Ruddy stargazers not interested in anything closer in the moon are there many of them in here asked Hermione fair few keep themselves to themselves mostly but they're good enough about turning up If Ever want word they're deep mind centaurs they know things just don't let on much do you think that was centaur we heard earlier said Harry did that sound like Hooves to you now if you ask me that was what's been killing the unicorns never heard anything like it before they walked on through the dense dark trees Harry kept looking nervously over his shoulder he had the nasty feeling they were being watched he was very glad they had Hagrid and his crossbow with them they had just passed bend in the path when Hermione grabbed Hagrid's arm Hagrid look red Sparks the others are in trouble you two wait here Hagrid shouted stay on the path I'll come back for you they heard him crashing away through the undergrowth and stood looking at each other very scared until they couldn't hear anything but the rustling of leaves around them you don't think they've been hurt do you whispered herion don't care if Malfoy has but if something's got Neville it's our fault he's here in the first place the minutes dragged by their ears seemed sharper than usual Harry's seemed to be picking up every sigh of the wind every cracking twig what was going on where were the others at last great crunching noise announced Hagrid's return Malfoy Neville and Fang were with him Hagrid was fuming Malfoy it seemed had sneaked up behind Neville and grabbed him as joke Neville had panicked and sent up the Sparks we'll be lucky to catch anything now with the racket you two were making right we're changing groups Neville you stay with me in hermion Harry you go with Fang and this idiot I'm sorry Hagrid added in whisper to Harry but he'll have harder time frightening you and we've got to get this done so Harry set off into the heart of the forest with Malfoy and Fang they walked for nearly half an hour deeper and deeper into the forest until the path became almost impossible to follow because the trees were so thick Harry thought the blood seemed to be getting thicker there were splashes on the roots of tree as though the poor creature had been thrashing around in pain close by Harry could see clearing ahead through the Tangled branches of an ancient oak look he murmured holding out his arm to stop Malfoy something bright white was gleaming on the ground they inched closer it was the Unicorn already right and it was dead Harry had never seen anything so beautiful and sad its long slender legs were stuck out at odd angles where it had fallen and its man was spread pearly white on the dark leaves Harry had taken one step toward it when slithering sound made him freeze where he stood bush on the edge of the clearing quivered then out of the Shadows hooded figure came came crawling across the ground like some stalking Beast Harry Malfoy and Fang stood transfixed the cloaked figure reached the Unicorn lowered its head over the wound in the animal's side and began to drink its blood Malfoy let out terrible scream and bolted so did Fong the hooded figure raised its head and looked right at Harry Unicorn Blood was dribbling down its front it got to its feet and came swiftly toward Harry he couldn't move for fear then pain like he'd never felt before pierced his head it was as though his scar were on fire half blinded he staggered backward he heard Hooves behind him Galloping and something jumped clean over Harry charging at the figure the pain in Harry's head was so bad he fell to his knees it took minute or two to pass when he looked up the figure had gone centaur was standing over him not Ronin or Bane this one looked younger he had white blonde hair and Palamino body are you all right said the Centaur pulling Harry to his feet yes thank you what was that the Centaur didn't answer he had astonishingly blue eyes like pale sapphires he looked carefully at Harry his eyes lingering on the scar that stood out livid on Harry's forehead You Are The Potter boy he said you had better get back to Hagrid the forest is not safe at this time especially for you can you ride it will be quicker this way my name is fenzi he added as he lowered himself onto his front legs so that Harry could clamber onto his back there was suddenly sound of more Galloping from the other side of the clearing Ronin and Bane came bursting through the trees their flanks heaving and sweaty fenzi Bane thundered what are you doing you have human on your back have you no shame are you common mule do you realize who this is said fenz this is the Potter boy the quicker he leaves this for EST the better what have you been telling him growled Bane remember foren we are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens have we not read what is to come in the movements of the planets Ronan pawed the ground nervously I'm sure fenzi thought he was acting for the best he said in his gloomy voice Bane kicked his back legs in Anger for the best what is that to do with us centaurs are concerned with what has been foretold it is not our business to run around like donkeys after stray humans in our forest fenzi suddenly reared onto his hind legs in anger so that Harry had to grab his shoulders to stay on do you not see that unicorn fenzi bellowed at Bane do you not understand why it was killed or have the planets not let you in on that secret set myself against what is lurking in this Forest Bane yes with humans alongside me if must and fenzi whisked around with Harry clutching on as best he could they plunged off into the trees leaving Ronan and Bane behind them Harry didn't have clue what was going on why is Bane so angry he asked what was that thing you saved me from anyway fenzi slowed to walk warned Harry to keep his head bowed in case of lwh hanging branches but did not answer Harry's question they made their way through the trees in silence for so long that Harry thought fenzi didn't want to talk to him anymore they were passing through particularly dense patch of trees however when feny suddenly stopped Harry Potter do you know what Unicorn Blood used for no said Harry startled by the odd question we've only used the horn and tail hair in potions that is because it is monstrous thing to slay unicorn said fenzi only one who has nothing to lose and everything to gain would commit such crime the blood of unicorn will keep you alive even if you are an inch from death but at terrible price you have slain something pure and defenseless to save yourself and you will have but halflife cursed life from the moment the blood touches your lips Harry stared at the back of fen's head which was dappled to Silver in the Moonlight but who'd be that desperate he wondered aloud if you're going to be cursed forever death's better isn't it it is fenzi agreed unless all you need is to stay alive long enough to drink something else something that will bring you back to full strength and power something that will mean you can never die Mr Potter do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment the Sorcerer's Stone of course the elixir of life but don't understand who can you think of nobody who has waited many years to return to power who has clung to life awaiting their chance it was as though an iron fist had clenched suddenly around Harry's heart over the rustling of the trees he seemed to hear once more what Hagrid had told him on the night they had met some say he died codswallop in my opinion to know if he had enough human left in him to die do you mean Harry croaked that was Harry Harry are you all right Hermione was running toward them down the path Hagrid puffing along behind her I'm fine said Harry hardly knowing what he was saying the unicorn's dead Hagrid it's in that clearing back there This Is Where Leave You fenzi murmured as Hagrid hurried off to examine the Unicorn you are safe now Harry slid off his back good luck Harry Potter said fenzi the planets have been been read wrongly before now even by centaurs hope this is one of those times he turned and cantered back into the depths of the forest leaving Harry shivering behind him Ron had fallen asleep in the dark common room waiting for them to return He shouted something about quidditch fowls when Harry roughly shook him awake in matter of seconds though he was wide-eyed as Harry began to tell him and Hermione what had happened in the forest Harry couldn't sit down he paced up and down in front of the fire he was still shaking Snape wants the stone for Voldemort and Voldemort's waiting in the forest and all this time we thought Snape just wanted to get rich stop saying the name said Ron in terrified whisper as if he thought thought Voldemort could hear them Harry wasn't listening fenzi saved me but he shouldn't have done so Bane was Furious he was talking about interfering with what the planets say is going to happen they must show that Voldemort's coming back Bane thinks fenzi should have let Voldemort kill me suppose that's written in the stars as well will you stop saying the name Ron hissed so all I've got to wait for now is Snape to steal the stone Harry went on feverishly then Voldemort will be able to come and finish me off well suppose Bane will be happy Hermione looked very frightened but she had word of comfort Harry everyone says Dumbledore is the only one you know who was ever afraid of with Dumbledore around you know who won't touch you anyway who says the centaurs are right it sounds like fortunetelling to me and professor mcgonagal says that's very imprecise branch of Magic the sky had turned light before they stopped talking they went to bed exhausted their throats sore but the night's surprises weren't over when Harry pulled back his sheets he found his invisibility cloak folded neatly underneath them there was note pinned to it just in case chapter 16 through the trapd door in years to come Harry would never quite remember how he had managed to get through his exams when he half expected Voldemort to come bursting through the door at any moment yet the days crept by and there could be no doubt that fluffy was still alive and well behind the locked door it was sweltering hot especially in the large classroom where they did their written papers they had been given special new quills for the exams which had been Bewitched with an anti-cheating spell they had practical exams as well Professor Flitwick called them one by one into his class to see if they could make pineapple tap dance across desk professor gagle watched them turn mouse into snuffbox points were given for how pretty the snuffbox was but taken away if it had whiskers Snape made them all nervous breathing down their necks while they tried to remember how to make forgetfulness potion Harry did the best he could trying to ignore the stabbing pains in his forehead which had been bothering him ever since his trip into the Forest Neville thought Harry had bad case of exam nerves because Harry couldn't sleep but the truth was that Harry kept being woken by his old nightmare except that it was Now worse than ever because there was hooded figure dripping blood in it maybe it was because they hadn't seen what Harry had seen in the forest or because they didn't have scars burning on their foreheads but Ron and Hermione didn't seem as worried about the stone as Harry the idea of Voldemort certainly scared them but he didn't keep visiting them in dreams and they were so busy with their studying they didn't have much time to fret about what Snape or anyone else might be up to their very last exam was History of Magic one hour of answering questions about baddy old Wizards who'd invented self stirring cauldrons and they'd be free free for whole wonderful week until their exam results came out when the ghost of Professor bins told them to put down their quills and roll up their parchment Harry couldn't help cheering with the rest that was Far easier than thought it would be said hermion as they joined the crowds flocking out onto the sunny ground needn't have learned about the 1637 werewolf code of conduct or the uprising of elick the eager Hermione always liked to go through their exam papers afterward but Ron said this made him feel ill so they wandered down to the lake and flopped under tree the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan were tickling the tentacles of giant squid which was basking in the warm shallow no more studying Ron sighed happily stretching out on the grass you could look more cheerful Harry we've got week before we find out how badly we've done there's no need to worry yet Harry was rubbing his forehead wish knew what this means he burst out angrily my scar keeps hurting it's happened before but never as often as this go to Madam Pomfrey her Mayan suggested I'm not ill said Harry think it's warning it means Danger's coming Ron couldn't get worked up it was too hot Harry relax hermion is right the stones safe as long as dumble doors around anyway we've never had any proof Snape found out how to get past fluffy he nearly had his leg ripped off once he's not going to try it again in hurry and Neville will play Quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down Harry nodded but he couldn't shake off lurking feeling that there was something he'd forgotten to do something important when he tried to explain this Hermione said that's just the exams woke up last night and was halfway through my Transfiguration notes before remembered we'd done that one Harry was quite sure the unsettled feeling didn't have anything to do with work though he watched an owl flutter toward the school across the bright blue sky note clamped in its mouth Hagrid was the only one who ever sent him letters Hagrid would never betray Dumbledore Hagrid would never tell anyone how to get past fluffy never but Harry suddenly jumped to his feet where are you going said Ron sleepily I've just thought of something said Harry he had turned white we've got to go and see Hagrid now why panted Hermione hurrying to keep up don't you think it's bit odd said Harry scrambling up the grassy slope that what Hagrid wants more than anything else is dragon and stranger turns up who just happens to have an egg in his pocket how many people wander around with dragon eggs if it's against wizard law lucky they found Hagrid don't you think why didn't see it before what are you talking about said Ron but Harry sprinting across the grounds toward the forest didn't answer Hagrid was sitting in an armchair outside his house his trousers and sleeves were rolled up and he was shelling peas into large bowl hello he said smiling finished your exams got time for drink yes please said Ron but Harry cut him off no we're in hurry Hagrid I've got to ask you something you know that night you won Norbert what did the stranger you were playing cards with look like do know said Hagrid casually he wouldn't take his cloak off he saw the three of them look stunned and raised his eyebrows it's it's not that unusual you get lot of funny folk in the hog's head that's the pub down in the village might have been dragon dealer might he never saw his face he kept his hood up Harry sank down next to the bowl of peas what did you talk to him about Hagrid did you mention Hogwarts at all might have come up said Hagrid frowning as he tried to remember yeah he asked what did and told him was gamekeeper here he asked bit about the sort of creatures took after so told him and said what I'd always really wanted was dragon and then can't remember too well cuz he kept buying me drinks let's see yeah then he said he had the dragon egg and we could play cards for it if wanted but he had to be sure could handle it he didn't wanted to goer any old home so told him after fluffy dragon would be easy and did he did he seem interested in fluffy Harry asked trying to keep his voice calm well yeah how many three-headed dogs do you meet even around Hogwarts so told him Fluffy's piece of cake if you know how to calm him down just play him bit of music and he'll go straight off to sleep Hagrid suddenly looked horrified shouldn't have told you that he blurted out forget said it hey where you going Harry Ron and Hermione didn't speak to each other at all until they came to halt in the entrance hall which seemed very cold and gloomy after the grounds we've got to go to Dumbledore said Harry Hagrid told that stranger how to get past fluffy and it was either Snape or Voldemort under that cloak it must have been easy Once he'd got Hagrid drunk just hope Dumbledore believes us fenzi might back us up if Bane doesn't stop him where's Dumbledore's office they looked around as if hoping to see sign pointing them in the right direction they had never been told where Dumbledore lived nor did they know anyone who had been been sent to see him we'll just have to Harry began but voice suddenly rang across the hall what are you three doing inside it was Professor mcgonagal carrying large pile of books we want to see Professor Dumbledore said Hermione rather bravely Harry and Ron thought see Professor Dumbledore Professor mcgonagle repeated as though this was very fishy thing to want to do why Harry swallowed now what it's sort of secret he said but he wished it once he hadn't because Professor McGonagle's nostrils flared Professor Dumbledore left 10 minutes ago she said coldly he received an urgent owl from the ministry of magic and flew off for London at once he's gone said Harry frantically now Professor dum door is very great wizard Potter he has many demands on his time but this is important something you have to say is more important than the ministry of magic Potter look said Harry throwing caution to the winds Professor it's about the sorcerer's tone whatever Professor mcgonagal had expected it wasn't that the book she was carrying tumbled out of her arms but she didn't pick them up how do you know she spluttered Professor think know that someone's going to try and steal the stone I've got to talk to Professor Dumbledore she eyed him with mixture of shock and suspicion Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow she said finally don't know how you found out about the stone but rest assured no one can possibly steal it it's too well protected but Professor Potter know what I'm talking about she said shortly she bent down and gathered up the Fallen books suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine but they didn't it's tonight said Harry once he was sure Professor mcgonagal was out of earshot snapes going through the trapo night he's found out everything he needs and now he's got Dumbledore out of the way he sent that note bet the ministry of magic will get real shock when Dumbledore turns up but what can we Hermione gasped Harry and Ron wheeled round Snape was standing there good afternoon he said smoothly they stared at him you shouldn't be inside on day like this he said with an odd twisted smile we were Harry began without any idea what he was going to say you want to be more careful said Snape hanging around like this people will think you're up to something and Gryffindor really can't afford to lose any more points can it Harry flushed they turned to go outside but Snape called them back be warned Potter any more nighttime wandering and will personally make sure you are expelled good day to you he stroe off in the direction of the staff room out on the stone steps Harry turned to the others right here's what we've got to do he whispered urgently one of us has got to keep an eye on Snape wait outside the staff room and follow him if he leaves it Hermione you'd better do that why me it's obvious said Ron you can pretend to be waiting for Professor Flitwick you know he put on high voice Professor Flitwick I'm so worried think got question 14b wrong shut up said hermion but she agreed to go and watch out for Snape and we'd better stay outside the third floor Corridor Harry told Ron come on but that part of the plan didn't work no no sooner had they reached the door separating Fluffy from the rest of the school than Professor mcgonagal turned up again and this time she lost her temper suppose you think you're harder to get past than pack of enchantments she stormed enough of this nonsense if hear you've come anywhere near here again I'll take another 50 points from Gryffindor yes Weasley from my own house Harry and Ron went back to the common room Harry had just said at least her May on snap's tail when the portrait of the fat lady swung open and Hermione came in I'm sorry Harry she wailed Snape came out and asked me what was doing so said was waiting for Flitwick and Snape went to get him and I've only just got away don't know where Snape went well that's it then isn't it Harry said the other two stared at him he was pale and his eyes were glittering I'm going out of here tonight and I'm going to try and get to the stone first you're mad said Ron you can't said Hermione after what mcgonagle and Snape have said you'll be expelled so what Harry shouted don't you understand if Snape gets hold of the stone Voldemort's coming back haven't you heard what it was like when he was trying to take over there won't be any Hogwarts to get expelled from he'll flatten it or turn it into school for the dark arts losing points doesn't matter anymore can't you see do you think he'll leave you and your families alone if Gryffindor wins the house cup if get caught before can get to the stone well I'll have to to go back to the dersley and wait for Voldemort to find me there it's only dying bit later than would have because I'm never going over to the dark side I'm going through that trapo tonight and nothing you two say is going to stop me Voldemort killed my parents remember he glared at them you're right Harry said Hermione in small voice I'll use the invisibility cloak said said Harry it's just lucky got it back but will it cover all three of us said Ron all all three of us come off it you don't think we'd let you go alone of course not said Hermione briskly how do you think you'd get to the stone without us I'd better go and took through my books there might be something useful but if we get caught you two will be expelled too not if can help it said Hermione grimly Flitwick told me in secret that got 12% on his exam they're not throwing me out after that after dinner the three of them sat nervously apart in the common room nobody bothered them none of the gryffindors had anything to say to Harry anymore after all this was the first night he hadn't been upset by it Hermione was skimming through all her notes hoping to come across one of the enchantments they were about to try to break Harry and Ron didn't talk much both of them were thinking about what they were about to do slowly the room emptied as people drifted off to bed better get the cloak Ron muttered as Lee Jordan finally left stretching and yawning Harry ran upstairs to their dark dormatory he puted out the cloak and then his eyes fell on the flute Hagrid had given him for Christmas he pocketed it to use on fluffy he didn't feel much like singing he ran back down to the common room we'd better put the cloak on here and make sure it covers all three of us if filch spots one of our feet wandering Along on its own what are you doing said voice from the corner of the room room Neville appeared from behind an armchair clutching Trevor the toad who looked as though he'd been making another bid for Freedom nothing Neville nothing said Harry hurriedly putting the cloak behind his back Neville stared at their guilty faces you're going out again he said no no no said Hermione no we're not why don't you go to bed Neville Harry looked at the grandfather clock by the door they couldn't afford to waste any more time Snape might even now be playing fluffy to sleep you can't go out said Neville you'll be caught again Gryffindor will be an even more trouble you don't understand said Harry this is important but Neville was clearly stealing himself to do something desperate won't let you do it he said hurrying to stand in front of the portrait hole I'll I'll fight you Neville Ron exploded get away from that hole and don't be an idiot don't you call me an idiot said Neville don't think you should be breaking any more rules and you were the one who told me to stand up to people yes but not to us said Ron in exasperation Neville you don't know what you're doing he took took step forward and Neville dropped Trevor the toad who leapt out of sight go on then try and hit me said Neville raising his fists I'm ready Harry turned to hermion do something he said desperately hermion stepped forward Neville she said I'm really really sorry about this she raised her wand petrificus totalis she cried cried pointing it at Neville Neville's arms snapped to his sides his legs sprang together his whole body rigid he swayed where he stood and then fell flat on his face stiff as board Hermione ran to turn him over Neville's Jaws were jammed together so he couldn't speak only his eyes were moving looking at them in horror what have you done to him Harry whispered it's the full body bind said hermion miserably Neville I'm so sorry we had to Neville no time to explain said Harry you'll understand later Neville said Ron as they stepped over him and pulled on the invisibility cloak but leaving Neville lying motionless on the floor didn't feel like very good omen in their nervous state every statue's shadow looked like Phil every distant breath of wind sounded like peeves swooping down on them at the foot of the first set of stairs they spotted Mrs Norris skullking near the top let's kick her just this once Ron whispered in Harry's ear but Harry shook his head as they climbed carefully around her Mrs Norris turned her lamp-like eyes on them but didn't do anything they didn't meet anyone else until they reached the staircase up to the third floor peeves was bobbing halfway up loosening the carpet so that people would trip who's there he said suddenly as they climbed toward him he narrowed his Wicked black eyes know you're there even if can't see you are you ghouly or ghosty or we student beasty he rose up in the air and floated there squinting at them should call filch should if something's are creeping around unseen Harry had sudden idea peeves he said in horar whisper the Bloody Baron has his own reasons for being invisible peeves almost fell out of the air in shock he caught himself in time and hovered about foot off the stairs so sorry your bloodiness Mr Baron sir he said greasily my mistake my mistake didn't see you of course didn't you're invisible forgive old Peevy his little joke sir have business here peeves coked Harry stay away from this place tonight will sir most certainly will said peeves rising up in the air again hope your business goes well Baron I'll not bother you and he scooted off brilliant Harry whispered Ron few seconds later they were there outside the third floor Corridor and the door was already jar well there you are Harry said quietly snapes already got past fluffy seeing the open door somehow seemed to impress upon all three of them what was facing them underneath the cloak Harry turned to the other two if you want to go back won't blame you he said you can take the cloak won't need it now don't be stupid said Ron we're coming said Hermione Harry pushed the door open as the door creaked low rumbling growls met their ears all three of the dogs noses sniffed madly in their Direction even though it couldn't see them what's that at its feet Hermione whispered looks like harp said Ron Snape must have left it there it must wake up the moment you stop playing said Harry well here goes he put Hagrid's flute to his lips and blew it wasn't really tune but from the first note the beast's eyes began to droop Harry hardly Drew breath slowly the dog's growls ceased it tottered on its paws and fell to its knees then it slumped to the ground fast asleep keep playing Ron warned Harry as they slipped out of the cloak and crept toward the trap door they could feel the dog's hot smelly breath as they approached the giant heads think we'll be able to pull the door open said Ron peering over the dog's back want to go first Hermione no don't all right Ron gritted his teeth and stepped carefully over the dog's legs he bent and pulled the Ring of the trapo which SW wung up and open what can you see hermion said anxiously nothing just black there's no way of climbing down we'll just have to drop Harry who was still playing the flute waved at Ron to get his attention and pointed at himself you want to go first are you sure said Ron don't know how deep this thing goes give the flute to hermion so she can can keep him asleep Harry handed the flute over in the few seconds silence the dog growled and twitched but the moment Hermione began to play it fell back into its deep sleep Harry climbed over it and looked down through the trapo there was no sign of the bottom he lowered himself through the hole until he was hanging on by his fingertips then he looked up at Ron and said if anything happens to me don't follow go straight to the owy and send Hedwig to Dumbledore right right said Ron see you in minute hope and Harry let go cold damp air rushed past him as he fell down down down and flump he landed on something soft he sat up and felt around his eyes not used to the Gloom it felt as though he was sitting on some sort of plant it's okay he called up to the light the size of postage stamp which was the open trapo it's soft Landing you can jump Ron followed right away he landed sprawled next to Harry what's this stuff were his first words don't know some sort of plant thing suppose it's here to break the fall come on hermion the distant music stopped there was loud bark from from the dog but her Maye had already jumped she landed on Harry's other side we must be miles under the school she said lucky this plant things here really said Ron lucky shrieked Hermione look at you both she leapt up and struggled toward damp wall she had to struggle because the moment she had landed the plant had started to twist snake-like tendrils around her ankles as for Harry and Ron their legs had already been bound tightly in Long creepers without their noticing Hermione had managed to free herself before the plant got firm grip on her now she watched in horror as the two boys fought to pull the plant off them but the more they strained against it the Tighter and faster the plant wound around them stop moving Hermione ordered them know what this is It's Devil's snare I'm so glad we know what it's called that's great help snarled Ron leaning back trying to stop the plant from curling around his neck shut up I'm trying to remember how to kill it said Hermione well hurry up can't breathe Harry gasped wrestling with it as it curled around his chest Devil's snare devil snare snare what did Professor sprout say it likes the dark and the damp so light fire Harry choked yes of course but there's no wood Hermione cried ringing her hands have you gone mad Ron bellowed are you witch or not right said her Mayan and she whipped out her wand waved it muttered something and sent jet of the same Bluebell Flames she had used on snapee at the plant in matter of seconds the two boys felt it loosening its grip as it cringed away from the light and warmth wriggling and flailing it unraveled itself from their bodies and they were able to pull free lucky you pay attention in herbology Hermione said Harry as he joined her by the wall wiping sweat off his face yeah said Ron and lucky Harry doesn't lose his head in crisis there's no wood honestly this way said Harry pointing down stone passageway which was the only way forward all they could hear apart from their footsteps was the gentle drip of water trickling down the Walls the passageway sloped downward and Harry was reminded of gringut with an unpleasant jolt of the heart he remembered the dragon said to be guarding vaults in the Wizard's Bank if they met dragon fully grown Dragon Norbert had been bad enough can you hear something Ron whispered Harry listened soft rustling and clinking seemed to be coming from up ahead do you think it's ghost don't know sounds like Wings to me there's light ahead can see something moving they reached the end of the passageway and saw before them brilliantly lit chamber its ceiling arching high above them it was full of small Jewel bright Birds fluttering and tumbling all around the room on the opposite side of the chamber was heavy wooden door do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room said Ron probably said Harry they don't look very vicious but suppose if they all swoop down at once well there's no other Choice I'll run he took deep breath covered his face with his arms and sprinted across the room he expected to feel sharp beaks and Claws tearing at him any second but nothing happened he reached the door untouched he pulled the handle but it was locked the other two followed him they tugged and heaved at the door but it wouldn't budge not even when hermion tried her out alumur charm now what said Ron these birds they can't be here just for decoration said Hermione they watched the birds soaring overhead glittering they're not Birds Harry said suddenly they're Keys winged keys look carefully so that must mean he looked around the chamber while the other two squinted up at the flock of keys yes look broomsticks we've got to catch the key to the door but there are hundreds of them Ron examined the lock on the door we looking for big old-fashioned one probably silver like the handle they each seized broomstick and kicked off into the air soaring into the midst of the cloud of keys they grabbed and snatched but the Bewitched Keys darted and dived so quickly it was almost impossible to catch one not for nothing though was Harry the youngest Seeker in century he had knack for spotting things other people didn't after minute's weaving about through the Whirl of rainbow feathers he noticed large silver key that had bent Wing as if it had already been caught and stuffed roughly into the keyhole that one he called to the others that big one there no there with bright blue wings the feathers are all crumpled on one side Ron went speeding in the direction that Harry was pointing crashed into the ceiling and nearly fell off his broom we've got to close in on it Harry called not taking his eyes off the key with the damaged Wing Ron you come at it from above hermion stay below and stop it from going down and I'll try and catch it right now Ron dived Hermione rocketed upward the key dodged them both and Harry streaked after it It sped toward the wall Harry leaned forward and with nasty crunching noise pinned it against the stone with one hand Ron and herm's cheers echoed around the high chamber they landed quick quickly and Harry ran to the door the key struggling in his hand he rammed it into the lock and turned it worked the moment the lock had clicked open the key took flight again looking very battered now that it had been caught twice ready Harry asked the other two his hand on the door handle they nodded he pulled the door open the next chamber was so dark they couldn't see anything at all but as they stepped into it light suddenly flooded the room to reveal an astonishing sight they were standing on the edge of huge chessboard behind the black Chessmen which were all taller than they were and carved from what looked like black stone facing them way across the chamber were the white pieces Harry Ron and Hermione shivered slightly the tower White chestman had no faces now what do we do Harry whispered it's obvious isn't it said Ron we've got to play our way across the room behind the white pieces they could see another door how said Hermione nervously think said Ron we're going to have to be Chessmen he walked up to black knight and put his hand out to touch the knight's horse at Once the stone sprang to life the horse pawed the ground and the Knight turned his helmeted head to look down at Ron do we have to join you to get across the Black Knight nodded Ron turned to the other two this needs thinking about he said suppose we've got to take the place of three of the black pieces Harry and hermion stayed quiet watching Ron think finally he said now don't be offended or anything but neither of you are that good at chess we're not offended said Harry quickly just tell us what to do well Harry you take the place of that bishop and Hermione 90 next to him instead of that castle what about you I'm going to be knight said Ron the Chessman seemed to have been listening because at these words knight bishop and castle turned their backs on the white pieces and walked off the board leaving three empty squares that Harry Ron and Hermione took white always plays first in chess said Ron peering across the board yes look white Pawn had moved forward two squares Ron started to direct the black pieces they moved silently wherever he sent them Harry's knees were trembling what if they lost Harry moved diagonally four squares to the right their first real shock came when their other Knight was taken the White Queen smashed him to the floor and dragged him off the board where he lay quite still face down had to let that happen said Ron looking shaken leaves you free to take that Bishop Hermione go on every time one of their their men was lost the white pieces showed no mercy soon there was huddle of Limp black players slumped along the wall twice Ron only just noticed in time that Harry and Hermione were in danger he himself UND darted around the board taking almost as many white pieces as they had lost black ones were nearly there he muttered suddenly let me think let me think the White Queen turned her blank face toward him yes said Ron softly it's the only way I've got to be taken no Harry and hermion shouted that's chess snapped Ron you've got to make some sacrifices take one step forward and she'll take me that leaves you free to Checkmate the king Harry but do you want to stop Snape or not Ron look if you don't hurry up he'll already have the stone there was no alternative ready Ron called his face pale but determined here go now don't hang around once you've won he stepped forward and the White Queen pounced She struck Ron hard across the head with her Stone arm and he crashed to the floor hermion screamed but stayed on her Square the White Queen dragged Ron to one side he looked as if he'd been knocked out shaking Harry moved three spaces to the left the white king took off his crown and threw it at Harry's feet they had won the Chessmen parted and bowed leaving the door ahead clear with one last desperate look back at Ron Harry and hermion charged through the door and up the next passageway what if he's he'll be all right Right Said Harry trying to convince himself what do you reckons next we've had Sprouts that was the devil's snare Flitwick must have put charms on the keys mogle transfigured the chestman to make them alive that leaves quirrel spell and snapes they had reached another door all right Harry whispered go on Harry pushed it open disgusting smell filled their nostrils making both of them pull their robes up over their noses eyes watering they saw flat on the floor in front of them troll even larger than the one they had tackled out cold with bloody lump on its head I'm glad we didn't have to fight that one Harry whispered as they stepped carefully over one of its massive legs come on can't breathe he pulled open the next door both of them hardly daring to look at what came next but there was nothing very frightening in here just table with seven differently shaped bottles standing on it in line snapes said Harry what do we have to do they stepped over the threshold and immediately fire sprang up behind them in the doorway it wasn't ordinary fire either it was purple at the same instant black Flames shot up in the doorway leading onward they were trapped look Hermione seized roll of paper lying next to the bottles Harry looked over her shoulder to read it danger lies before you while safety lies behind two of us will help you whichever you would find one Among Us seven will let you move ahead another will trans support the Drinker back instead two among our number hold only nettle wine three of us are killers waiting bidden in line choose unless you wish to stay here forever more to help you in your choice we give you these clues for first however slightly the poison tries to hide you will always find some on nettle Wine's left side second different are those who stand at either end but if you you would move onward neither is your friend third as you see clearly all are different size neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides fourth the second left and the second on the right are twins once you taste them though different at First Sight Hermione let out great sigh and Harry amazed saw that she was smiling the very last thing he felt like doing brilliant said Hermione this isn't Magic it's logic puzzle lot of the greatest Wizards haven't got an ounce of logic they'd be stuck in here forever but so will we won't we of course not said Hermione everything we need is here on this paper seven bottles three are poison two are wine one will get us safely through the black fire and one will get us back through the purple but how do we know which to drink give me minute hermion read the paper several times then she walked up and down the line of bottles muttering to herself and pointing at them at last she clapped her hands got it she said the smallest bottle will get us through the black fire toward the stone Harry looked at the tiny bottle there's only enough there for one of us he said said that's hardly one swallow they looked at each other which one will get you back through the purple Flames Hermione pointed at rounded bottle at the right end of the line you drink that said Harry no listen get back and get Ron grab brooms from the flying key room they'll get you out of the trapo and passed fluffy go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore we need him might be able to hold Snape off for while but I'm no match for him really but Harry what if you know who's with him well was lucky once wasn't said Harry pointing at his scar might get lucky again her mayone lip trembled and she suddenly dashed at Harry and threw her arms around him Hermione Harry you're great wizard you know I'm not as good as you said Harry very embarrassed as she let go of him me said hermion books and cleverness there are more important things friendship and bravery and Harry be careful you drink first said Harry you are sure which is which aren't you positive said Herm she took long drink from the round bottle at the end and shuddered it's not poison said Harry anxiously no but it's like ice quick go before it wears off good luck take care go Hermione turned and walked straight through the purple fire Harry took deep breath and picked up the smallest bottle he turned to face the black Flames here come he said and he drained the little bottle in one gulp it was indeed as though ice was flooding his body he put the bottle down and walked forward he braced himself saw the black Flames licking his body but couldn't feel them for moment he could see nothing but dark fire then he was on the other side in the last chamber there was already someone there but it wasn't Snape it wasn't even Voldemort chapter 17 the man with two faces it was quirrel you gasped Harry quirrel smiled his face wasn't twitching at all me he said calmly wondered whether I'd be meeting you here Potter but thought Snape seus quirrel laughed and it wasn't his usual quivering treble either but cold and sharp yes seus does seem the type doesn't he so useful to have him swooping around like an over over grown bat next to him who would suspect poor stuttering Professor quirell Harry couldn't take it in this couldn't be true it couldn't but Snape tried to kill me no no no tried to kill you your friend Miss Granger accidentally knocked me over as she rushed to set fire to Snape at that quidditch match she broke my eye contact with you another few seconds and I'd have got you off that broom I'd have managed it before then if Snape hadn't been muttering counter curse trying to save you Snape was trying to save me of course said quirrel cooly why do you think he wanted to referee your next match he was trying to make sure didn't do it again funny really he needn't have bothered couldn't do anything with Dumbledore watching all the other teachers thought Snape was trying to stop Gryffindor from winning he did make himself unpopular and what waste of time when after all that I'm going to kill you tonight quirrel snapped his fingers ropes sprang out of thin air and wrapped themselves tightly around Harry you're too nosy to live Potter scurrying around the school on Halloween like that for all knew you'd seen seen me coming to look at what was guarding the stone you let the troll in certainly have special gift with trolls you must have seen what did to the One in the Chamber back there unfortunately while everyone else was running around looking for it Snape who already suspected me went straight to the third floor to head me off and not only did my troll fail to beat you to death that three headed dog didn't even manage to bite snap's leg off properly now wait quietly Potter need to examine this interesting mirror it was only then that Harry realized what was standing behind quirell it was the mirror of arist this mirror is the key to finding the stone quirrel murmured tapping his way around the frame trust Dumbledore to come up with something like this but but he's in London I'll be Far Away by the time he gets back all Harry could think of doing was to keep quirl talking and stop him from concentrating on the mirror saw you and Snape in the forest he blurted out yes said quirell idly walking around the mirror to look at the back he was on to me by that time trying to find out how far I'd got he suspected me all along tried to frighten me as though he could when had Lord Voldemort on my side quirell came back out from behind the mirror and stared hungrily into it see the stone I'm presenting it to my master but where is it Harry struggled against the ropes binding him but they didn't give he had to keep quirrel from giving his whole attention to the mirror but Snape always seemed to hate me so much he does said quirrel casually Heavens yes he was at Hogwarts with your father didn't you know they loathed each other but he never wanted you dead but heard you few days ago sobbing thought Snape was threatening you for the first time spasm of fear flitted across quirrell's face sometimes he said find it hard to follow my master instructions he is great wizard and am weak you mean he was there in the classroom with you Harry gasped he's with me wherever go said quirl quietly met him when traveled around the world foolish young man was then full of ridiculous ideas about good and evil Lord Voldemort showed me how wrong was there is no good and evil there is only Power and those two too weak to seek it since then have served him Faithfully although have let him down many times he has had to be very hard on me quirrel shivered suddenly he does not forgive mistakes easily when failed to steal the Stone from gringut he was most displeased he punished me decided he would have to keep closer watch on me quirrell's voice trailed away Harry was remembering during his trip to Diagon Alley how could he have been so stupid he'd seen quirrel there that very day shaking hands with him in the Leaky cauldron quirrel cursed under his breath don't understand is the stone inside the mirror should break it Harry's mind was racing what want more than anything else in the world at the moment he thought is to find the stone before quirrel does so if look in the mirror should see myself finding it which means I'll see where it's hidden but how can look without quirrel realizing what I'm up to he tried to Edge to the left to get in front of the glass without quirrel noticing but the ropes around his ankles were too tight he tripped and fell over quirrel ignored him he was still talking to himself what does this mirror do how does it work help me master and to Harry's horror voice answered and the voice seemed to come from quirrel himself use the boy use the boy quirrel rounded on Harry yes Potter come here he clapped his hands once and the ropes binding Harry fell off Harry got slowly to his feet come here quirrel repeated look in the mirror and tell me what you see Harry walked toward him must lie he thought desperately must look and lie about what see that's all quirrel moved close behind him Harry breathed in the funny smell that seemed to come from quirrell's turban he closed his eyes stepped in front of the mirror and opened them again he saw his reflection pale and scared looking at first but moment later the reflection smiled at him it put its hand into its pocket and pulled out blood red stone it winked and put the stone back in its pocket and as it did so Harry felt something heavy drop into his real pocket somehow incredibly he'd gotten the stone well said quirrel impatiently what do you see Harry screwed up his courage see myself shaking hands with Dumbledore he invented I've won the house cup for Gryffindor quirrel cursed again again get out of the way he said as Harry moved aside he felt the Sorcerer's Stone against his leg dare he make break for it but he hadn't walked Five Paces before high voice spoke though quirrel wasn't moving his lips he lies he lies Potter come back here quirrel shouted tell me the truth what did you just see the high voice spoke again let me speak to him face to face Master you are not strong enough have strength enough for this Harry felt as if Devil's snare was rooting him to the spot he couldn't move muscle petrified he watched as quirl reached up and began to unwrap his turbine what was going on the turbine fell away quirrell's head looked strangely small without it then he turned slowly on the spot Harry would have screamed but he couldn't make sound where there should have been back to quirrell's head there was face the most terrible face Harry had ever seen it was chalk white with glaring red eyes and slits for nostrils like snake Harry Potter it whispered Harry tried to take step backward but his legs wouldn't move see what have become the face said mere Shadow and Vapor have form only when can share another's body but there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and Minds Unicorn Blood has strengthened me these past weeks you saw faithful quirrel drinking it for me in the forest and once have the elixir of life will be able to create body of my own now why don't you give me that stone in your pocket so he knew knew the feeling suddenly surged back into Harry's legs he stumbled backward don't be fool snarled the face better save your own life and join me or you'll meet the same end as your parents they died begging me for Mercy liar Harry shouted suddenly quirrel was walking backward at him so that Voldemort could still see him the evil face was now smiling how touching it hissed always value bravery yes boy your parents were Brave killed your father first and he put up courageous fight but your mother needn't have died she was trying to protect you now give me the stone unless you want her to have died in vain never Harry sprang toward the flame door but Voldemort screamed sees him and the next second Harry felt quirrell's hand close on his wrist at once needle sharp pain seared across Harry's scar his head felt as though it was about to split in two he yelled struggling with all his might and to his surprise quirl let go of him the pain in his head lessened he looked around wildly to see where quirl had gone and saw him hunched in pain looking at his fingers they were Bliss in before his eyes seiz him seiz him shrieked Voldemort again and quiro lunged knocking Harry clean off his feet landing on top of him both hands around Harry's neck Harry's scar was almost blinding him with pain yet he could see quirl howling in agony master cannot hold him my hands my hands and quirrel though pinning Harry to the ground with his knees let go of his neck and stared bewildered at his own Palms Harry could see they looked burned raw red and shiny then kill him fool and be done screeched Voldemort quirell raised his hand to perform deadly curse but Harry by Instinct reached up and grabbed quirrell's face quirrel rolled off him his face blistering too and then Harry knew quirrel couldn't touch his bare skin not without suffering terrible pain his only chance was to keep hold of quirrel keep him in enough pain to stop him from doing curse Harry jumped to his feet caught quirrel by the arm and hung on as tight as he could quirrel screamed and tried to throw Harry off the pain in Harry's head was building he couldn't see he could only hear quirrell's terrible shrieks and Voldemort's yells of kill him kill him and other voices maybe in Harry's own head crying Harry Harry he felt quirrell's arm wrenched from his grasp knew all was lost and fell into Blackness down down down something gold was glinting just above him the snitch he tried to catch it but his arms were too heavy he blinked it wasn't the snitch at all it was was pair of glasses how strange he blinked again the smiling face of Albus Dumbledore swam into view above him good afternoon Harry said Dumbledore Harry stared at him then he remembered sir the stone it was quirrel he's got the stone sir quick calm yourself dear boy you are little behind the times said Dumbledore quirrel does not have the stone then who does does Harry please relax or Madame Pumphrey will have me thrown out Harry swallowed and looked around him he realized he must be in the hospital Wing he was lying in bed with white linen sheets and next to him was table piled high with what looked like half the Candy Shop tokens from your friends and admirers said Dumbledore beaming what happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor quirell is complete secret so naturally the whole school knows believe your friends mr's Fred and George Weasley were responsible for trying to send you toilet seat no doubt they thought it would amuse you Madame pomphrey however felt it might not be very hygienic and confiscated it how long have been in here 3 days Mr Ronald Weasley and Miss Granger will be most relieved you have come round they have been extremely worried but sir the stone see you are not to be distracted very well the stone Professor quir did not manage to take it from you arrived in time to prevent that although you were doing very well on your own must say you got there you got herm's owl we must have crossed cross in midair no sooner had reached London than it became clear to me that the place should be was the one had just left arrived just in time to pull quirrel off you it was you feared might be too late you nearly were couldn't have kept him off the stone much longer not the stone boy you the effort involved nearly killed you for one terrible moment there was afraid it had as for the stone it has been destroyed destroyed said Harry blankly but your friend Nicholas Flamel you know about Nicholas said Dumbledore sounding quite delighted you did do the thing properly didn't you well Nicholas and have had little chat and agreed it's all for the best but that means he and his wife will die won't they they have enough Elixir stored to set their Affairs in order and then yes they will die Dumbledore smiled at the look of Amazement on Harry's face to one as young as you I'm sure it seems incredible but to Nicholas and panel it really is like going to bed after very very long day after all to the well organized mind death is but the next great adventure you know the stone was really not such wonderful thing as much money and life as you could want the two things most human beings would choose above all the trouble is humans do have knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them Harry lay there lost for words Dumbledore hummed little and smiled at the ceiling sir said Harry I've been thinking sir even if the Stone's gone mean you know who call him Voldemort Harry always use the proper name for things fear of name increases fear of the thing itself yes sir well Voldemort's going to try other ways of coming back isn't he mean he hasn't gone has he no Harry he has not he is still out out there somewhere perhaps looking for another body to share not being truly alive he cannot be killed he left quiro to die he shows just as little Mercy to his followers as his enemies nevertheless Harry while you may only have delayed his return to power it will merely take someone else who is prepared to fight what seems losing battle next time and if he is delayed again and again why he may never return to power Harry nodded but stopped quickly because it made his head hurt then he said sir there are some other things I'd like to know if you can tell me things want to know the truth about the truth Dumbledore side it is beautiful and terrible thing and should therefore be treated with great caution however shall I'll answer your questions unless have very good reason not to in which case beg you'll forgive me shall not of course lie well Voldemort said that he only killed my mother because she tried to stop him from killing me but why would he want to kill me in the first place Dumbledore sighed very deeply this time alas the first thing you ask me cannot tell you not today not now you will know one day put it from your mind for now Harry when you are older know you hate to hear this when you are ready you will know and Harry knew it would be no good to argue but why couldn't quirl touch me your mother died to save you if there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand it is love then he could go back to hating your father's memory and piece Harry tried to understand this but it made his head pound so he stopped and Sir there's one more thing just the one how did get the stone out of the mirror now I'm glad you asked me that it was one of my more brilliant ideas and between you and me that's saying something you see only one who wanted to find the stone find it but not use it would be able to get it otherwise they'd just see themselves making gold or drinking elixir of life my brain surprises even me sometimes now enough questions suggest you make start on these sweets Betty Bots every flavor beans was unfortunate enough in my youth to come across vomit flavored one and since then I'm afraid I've rather lost lost my liking for them but think I'll be safe with nice toffee don't you he smiled and popped the golden brown Bean into his mouth then he choked and said alas ear wax Madam pomphrey the nurse was nice woman but very strict just 5 minutes Harry pleaded absolutely not you let Professor Dumbledore in well of course that was the Headmaster quite different you need rest am resting look lying down and everything go on Madam Pomfrey very well she said but 5 minutes only and she let Ron and Hermione in Harry Hermione looked ready to fling her arms around him again but Harry was glad she held herself in as his head was still very sore Harry we were sure you were going to don't umore was so worried the whole school's talking about it said Ron what really happened it was one of those rare occasions when the true story is even more strange and exciting than the wild rumors Harry told them everything querel the mirror the stone and Voldemort Ron and Hermione were very good audience they gasped in all the right places and when Harry told them what was under quirrell's turban hermion screamed out loud so the Stone's gone said Ron finally flamel's just going to die that's what said but Dumbledore thinks that what was it to the well organized mind death is but the next great adventure always said he was off his rocker said Ron looking quite impressed at how crazy his hero was so what happened to you you to said Harry well got back all right said Hermione brought Ron round that took while and we were dashing up to the owy to contact Dumbledore when we met him in the entrance hall he already knew he just said Harry's gone after him hasn't he and hurdled off to the third floor do you think he meant you to do it said Ron sending you your father's cloak and everything well Hermione exploded if he did mean to say that's terrible you could have been killed no it isn't said Harry thoughtfully he's funny man Dumbledore think he sort of wanted to give me chance think he knows more or less everything that goes on here you know reckon he had pretty good idea we were going to try and instead of stopping us he just taught us enough to help don't think it was an accident he let me find out how the mirror worked it's almost like he thought had the right to face Voldemort if could yeah Dumbledore's off his rocker all right said Ron proudly listen you've got to be up for the end of year Feast tomorrow the points are all in and Slytherin won of course you missed the last quidditch match we were steamrollered by Ravenclaw without you but the food will be good at that moment Madame Pomfrey bustled over you've had nearly 15 minutes now out she said firmly after good night's sleep Harry felt nearly back to normal want to go to the feast he told Madame Pomfrey as she straightened his many candy boxes can can't Professor Dumbledore says you are to be allowed to go she said stiffly as though in her opinion Professor Dumbledore didn't realize how risky feasts could be and you have another visitor good said Harry who is it Hagrid sidled through the door as he spoke as usual when he was indoors Hagrid looked too big to be allowed he sat down next to Harry took one look at him and burst into tears it's all my Ruddy fault he sobbed his face in his hands told the evil git how to get past fluffy told him it was the only thing he didn't know and told him you could have died all for dragon egg I'll never drink again should be chucked out and made her live as muggle Hagrid said Harry shocked to see Hagrid shaking with grief and remorse great tears leaking down into his beard Hagrid he'd have found out somehow this is Voldemort we're talking about he'd have found out even if you hadn't told him you could have died sobbed Hagrid and don't say the name Voldemort Harry bellowed and Hagrid was so shocked he stopped crying I've met him and I'm calling him by his name please cheer up Hagrid we saved the Stone it's gone he can't use it have chocolate frog I've got loads Hagrid wiped his nose on the back of his hand and said that reminds me I've got you present it's not sto sandwich is it said Harry anxiously and at last Hagrid gave weak chuckle nah Dumbledore gave me the day off yesterday to fix it of course he should have sacked me instead anyway got you this it seemed to be handsome leather covered book Harry opened it curiously it was full of wizard photographs smiling and waving at him from every page were his mother and father sent owls off to all your parents old school friends asking for photos knew you didn't have any do you like it Harry couldn't speak but Hagrid understood Harry made his way down to the end ofe Feast alone that night he had been held up by Madam pumphrey's fussing about insisting on giving him one last checkup so the Great Hall was already full it was decked out in the Slytherin colors of green and silver to celebrate slytherin's winning the house cup for the seventh year in row huge Banner showing the Slytherin serpent covered the wall behind the high table when Harry walked in there was sudden hush and then everybody started talking loudly at once he slipped into seat between Ron and hermion at the Gryffindor table and tried to ignore the fact that people were standing up to look at him fortunately Dumbledore arrived moments later the Babel died away another year gone Dumbledore said cheerfully and must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feast what year it has been hopefully your heads are all little Fuller than they were you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts now as understand it the house cup here needs awarding and the points stand thus in fourth place Gryffindor with 312 points in third Hufflepuff with 352 Ravenclaw has 426 and Slytherin 472 storm of cheering and stamping broke out from the Slytherin table Harry could see Draco Malfoy banging his goblet on the table it was sickening sight yes yes well done Slytherin said Dumbledore however recent events must be taken into account the room went very still the slytherin's smiles faded little said Dumbledore have few last minute points to dish out let me see yes first to Mr Ronald Weasley Ron went purple in the face he looked like radish with bad sunburn for the best played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years award Griffin door house 50 points Gryffindor cheers nearly raised the Bewitched ceiling the Stars overhead seemed to quiver Percy could be heard telling the other prefects my brother you know my youngest brother got past McGonagle's giant chest set at last there was silence again second to miss Hermione Granger for the use of cool logic in the face of fire award great griffindor house 50 points Hermione buried her face in her arms Harry strongly suspected she had burst into tears gryffindors up and down the table were beside themselves they were 100 points up third to Mr Harry Potter said Dumbledore the room went deadly quiet for Pure nerve and outstanding courage award Gryffindor House 60 points the den was deafening those who could add up while yelling themselves horse knew that Gryffindor now had 472 points exactly the same as Slytherin they had tied for the house cup if only Dumbledore had given Harry just one more Point Dumbledore raised his hand the room gradually fell silent there are all kinds of Courage said Dumbledore smiling it takes great deal of bre bravery to stand up to our enemies but just as much to stand up to our friends therefore award 10 points to Mr Neville Longbottom someone standing outside the Great Hall might well have thought some sort of explosion had taken place so loud was the noise that erupted from the Gryffindor table Harry Ron and Hermione stood up to yell and cheer as Neville white with shock disappeared under pile of people hugging him he had never won so much as point for Gryffindor before Harry still cheering nudged Ron in the ribs and pointed at Malfoy who couldn't have looked more stunned and horrified if he just had the body bind curse put on him which means Dumbledore called over the storm of Applause for even Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were celebrating the downfall of Slytherin we need little change of decoration he clapped his hands in an instant the green hangings became scarlet and the silver became gold the huge Slytherin serpent vanished and towering Gryffindor lion took its place Snape was shaking Professor McGonagle's hand with horrible forced smile he caught Harry's eye and Harry knew at once that snap's feelings toward him hadn't changed one jot this didn't worry Harry it seemed as though life would be back to normal next year or as normal as it ever was at Hogwarts it was the best evening of Harry's life better than winning at quidditch or Christmas or knocking out Mountain trolls he would never ever forget tonight Harry had almost forgotten that the exam results were still to come but come they did to their great surprise both he and Ron passed with good marks Hermione of course had the best grades of the first years even Neville scraped through his good herbology Mark making up for his abysmal potions one they had hoped that Goyle who was almost as stupid as he was mean might be thrown out but he had passed too it was shame but as Ron said you couldn't have everything in life and suddenly their wardrobes were empty their trunks were packed Neville's toad was found lurking in corner of the toilets notes were handed out to all students warning them not to use magic over the holidays always hope they'll forget to give us these Said Fred Weasley sadly Hagrid was there to take them down to the fleet of boats that sailed across the lake they were boarding the Hogwarts Express talking and laughing as the countryside became Greener and tidier eating Betty Bots every flavor beans as they sped past muggle towns pulling off their wizard robes and putting on jackets and coats pulling into Platform 9 and 3/4 at King's cross station it took quite while for them all to get off the platform wizened Old Guard was up by the ticket barrier letting them go through the gate in twos and threes so they didn't attract attention by all bursting out of solid wall at once and alarming the Muggles you must come and stay this summer said Ron both of you I'll send you an owl thanks said Harry I'll need something to look forward to people jostled them as they moved forward toward the Gateway back to the mug World some of them called bye Harry see you Potter still famous said Ron grinning at him not where I'm going promise you said Harry he Ron and Hermione passed through the Gateway together there he is Mom there he is look it was Jenny Weasley Ron's younger sister but she wasn't pointing at Ron Harry Potter she squealed look Mom can see be quiet Jenny and it's rude to point Mrs Weasley smiled down at them busy here she said very said Harry thanks for the fudge and the sweater Mrs Weasley it was nothing dear ready are you it was Uncle Vernon still purple-faced still mustached still looking furious at the nerve of Harry carrying an owl in cage in station full of ordinary people behind him stood Aunt Petunia and Dudley looking terrified at the very sight of Harry you must be Harry's family said Mrs Weasley in manner of speaking said Uncle Vernon hurry up boy we haven't got all day he walked away Harry hung back for last word with Ron and Hermione see you over the summer then hope you have or good holiday said hermion looking uncertainly after Uncle Vernon shocked that anyone could be so unpleasant will said Harry and they were surprised at the grin that was spreading over his face they don't know we're not allowed to use magic at home I'm going to have lot of fun with Dudley this summer for