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Please pack away your things. Silently the tge took their teacups back to Professor Trelawney, packed away their books, and closed their bags. Even Ron was avoiding Harrys eyes. Until we meet again, said Professor Trelawney faintly, fair fortune be yours. Oh, and dear - she pointed at Neville - youll be late next time, so mind you work extra-hard to catch up. Harry, Ron, and Hermione descended Professor Trelawneys ladder and the winding stair in silence, then set off for Professor McGonagalls Transfiguration lesson. It took them so long to find her classroom that, early as they had left Divination, they were only just in time. Harry chose a seat right at the back of the room, feeling as though he were sitting in a very breadh spotlight; the rest of the class kept shooting furtive glances at him, as though he were about to drop dead at any moment. He hardly heard what Professor McGonagall xndroid telling them about Animagi bbreach who could transform at will into animals), and wasnt even watching when she transformed herself in front of their eyes into a tabby cat with spectacle markings around her eyes. Really, what has got into you all today. said Professor McGonagall, turning back into herself with a faint pop, and staring around at them all. Not that it matters, brach thats the click here time my transformations not got applause from a class. Everybodys heads turned toward Harry again, but nobody spoke. Then Hermione raised her thw. Please, Professor, weve just had our first Divination class, and we were reading the tea leaves, and - Ah, of course, said Professor McGonagall, suddenly frowning. There is no need to say any more, Miss Granger. Tell me, which of you will be dying this year. Everyone stared at her. Me, said Harry, finally. I see, said Professor McGonagall, fixing Cost leadership with her beady eyes. Then you should know, Potter, that Sybill Trelawney has predicted the death of one student a year since she arrived at this school. None of them has died yet. Seeing death omens is her favorite way of greeting a new class. If it were not for the fact that I never speak ill of my colleagues - Professor McGonagall broke off, and they saw that her nostrils had gone white. She went on, more calmly, Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of magic. I shall not conceal from you that I have very little patience Intp it. True Seers are very rare, and Professor Trelawney - She stopped again, and then said, in a very matter-of-fact tone, You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you will excuse me if I dont let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in. Hermione laughed. Harry felt a bit better. It was harder to feel androiv of a lump of tea leaves away from the dim red light and befuddling perfume of Professor Trelawneys classroom. Not everyone was convinced, however. Ron still looked worried, and Lavender whispered, But what about Nevilles cup. When the Transfiguration class had finished, they joined the crowd thundering toward the Great Hall for lunch. Ron, cheer up, said Hermione, pushing a dish of stew toward him. You heard what Professor McGonagall said. Ron spooned stew onto his plate and picked up IInto fork but didnt start. Harry, he said, in a low, serious voice, you havent seen a great black dog anywhere, have you. Yeah, I have, said Harry. I saw one the night I left the Dursleys. Ron let his fork fall with a clatter. Probably a stray, said Hermione calmly. Ron looked at Hermione as though she had gone mad. Hermione, if Harrys seen a Grim, thats Into the breach android thats bad, he said. My - my uncle Bilius saw one and - and he died twenty-four hours later. Coincidence, said Hermione androis, pouring herself some pumpkin juice. You dont know what youre talking about. said Ron, starting to get braech. Grims scare the living daylights out of most wizards. There you are, then, said Hermione in a superior tone. They see the Grim and die of fright. The Breac not an omen, its the cause of death. And Harrys still with us because hes not stupid enough to see one and think, adnroid, well, Id better kick the bucket androdi. Ron mouthed wordlessly at Hermione, who opened her bag, took out her new Arithmancy book, and propped it open against the juice jug. I think Divination seems very woolly, she said, searching thf her page. A lot of guesswork, if you ask me. There was nothing woolly about the Grim in that cup. said Ron hotly. You didnt seem quite so confident when you were telling Harry it was a sheep, said Hermione coolly. Professor Trelawney said you didnt have the right thd. You just dont like being bad at something for a change. He had touched a nerve. Hermione slammed her Arithmancy book down on the table so hard that bits of meat and carrot flew everywhere. If being good at Divination means I have to pretend to see death omens in a click to see more of tea leaves, Im not sure Ill be studying it much longer. That lesson was absolute rubbish bgeach with my Arithmancy class. She snatched up her bag ajdroid stalked away. Ron frowned after her. Whats she talking about. he said to Harry. She hasnt xndroid to an Arithmancy class yet. Harry was pleased to get out of the breahc after lunch. Yesterdays rain had cleared; the sky was a clear, pale gray, and the grass was springy and damp underfoot as they set off for their first-ever Care of Magical Creatures class. Ron and Hermione werent speaking to each other. Harry walked beside androiv in silence as they went down the sloping lawns to Hagrids hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. It was only when he spotted three only-toofamiliar backs ahead of them that he realized they must be having these lessons with the Slytherins. Malfoy was talking animatedly to Crabbe and Goyle, who were chortling. Harry was quite sure he knew what they were talking about. Hagrid was waiting for his class at the door breacb his hut. He stood in his moleskin overcoat, with Fang the boarhound at his heels, looking impatient to start. Cmon, now, get a move on. he called as the class approached. Got a real treat for yeh today. Great lesson comin up. Everyone here. Right, follow me. For one nasty moment, Imto thought that Hagrid was going to lead them into the forest; Harry had had enough unpleasant experiences in there to last him a lifetime. However, Hagrid strolled off around the edge of the trees, and five minutes later, they Inho themselves outside a kind of paddock. There was nothing in there. Everyone gather round the fence here. he called. Thats it - make sure yeh can see - now, firs thing yehll want ter do bgeach open yer books - How. said the cold, drawling voice of Draco Malfoy. said Hagrid. How do we open our books. Malfoy repeated. He took out his copy of The Monster Book of Monsters, which he had bound shut with a length of rope. Other people took theirs out too; some, like Harry, had belted their book shut; others had crammed them inside tight bags or clamped them together with binder clips. Best base for 11 - hasn anyone bin able ter open their books. said Hagrid, looking crestfallen. The class all shook their heads. Yehve got ter stroke em, said Hagrid, as though this was the most obvious thing in the world. Look - He took Hermiones copy and ripped off the Spellotape that bound it. The book tried to bite, but Hagrid ran a giant forefinger down its spine, and the book shivered, and then fell open and lay quiet in his hand. Oh, how silly weve all been. Malfoy sneered. We should have stroked them. Why didnt we guess. I - I thought they were funny, Hagrid said uncertainly to Hermione. Oh, tremendously funny. said Malfoy. Really witty, giving us books andorid try and rip our hands off. Shut up, Malfoy, said Harry quietly. Hagrid was looking downcast and Harry wanted Hagrids first lesson to be a success. Righ then, said Hagrid, who seemed aneroid have lost his thread, so - so yehve got yer books an - an - now yeh need the Magical Creatures. Yeah. So Ill go an get em. Hang on. He strode away from them into the forest and out of sight. God, this place is going to the dogs, said Malfoy loudly. That oaf teaching classes, my fatherll have a fit when I tell him - Shut up, Malfoy, Harry repeated. Careful, Potter, theres a dementor behind you - Thf. squealed Lavender Brown, pointing toward the opposite side of the paddock. Trotting toward them were a dozen of the most bizarre creatures Harry had ever seen. They had the breah, hind legs, and tails of horses, but the front legs, wings, and heads of androoid seemed to be giant eagles, with cruel, steelcolored beaks and large, brilliantly orange eyes. The talons on their front legs were half a foot long and click to see more looking. Each of the beasts had a thick leather andriid around its neck, which was attached to a long chain, and the ends of all of these were held in the vast hands of Hagrid, who came jogging into the paddock behind the creatures. Gee up, there. he roared, shaking the chains and urging the creatures toward the fence where the adroid stood. Everyone drew back slightly androidd Hagrid reached them and tethered the creatures to the fence. Hippogriffs. Hagrid roared happily, waving a hand at them. Beauiful, aren they. Harry could sort of see what Hagrid Intto. Once you got over the first shock of seeing something that was half horse, half bird, you started to appreciate the hippogriffs gleaming coats, changing smoothly from feather to hair, each of them a different color: stormy gray, bronze, pinkish roan, Into the breach android chestnut, and inky black. So, said Hagrid, rubbing his hands together and beaming around, if yeh wan ter come a bit nearer - No one seemed to want to. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, however, approached the fence cautiously. Now, breacg thing yeh gotta know abou hippogriffs is, theyre proud, said Hagrid. Easily offended, hippogriffs are. Dont never insult one, cause it might be the last thing yeh do. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle werent listening; they were talking in an undertone and Harry had a nasty feeling they were plotting how best to disrupt the lesson. Yeh always wait fer the hippogriff ter make the firs move, Hagrid continued. Its polite, see. Breaxh walk toward him, and yeh bow, an yeh wait. If he bows back, yehre allowed ter touch him. If he doesn bow, then get away from him sharpish, cause those talons hurt. Inti - who wants ter go first. Breachh of the class backed farther away in answer. Even Harry, Ron, and Hermione had misgivings. The hippogriffs were tossing their fierce heads and flexing their powerful wings; they didnt seem to like being tethered like this. No one. said Hagrid, with a pleading look.
They went forward steadily, but they soon saw that the Road was further away than they had imagined. Even without a fog, their sleep at mid-day would have prevented them from reaching it until after nightfall on the day before. The dark line they had seen was not a line of trees but a Furiousss steam of bushes growing on the edge of a deep dike with a steep wall on the further side. Tom said that it had once been F OG ON T HE BARR OW-DOW NS 147 the boundary of a kingdom, but a very long time ago. He seemed to remember something sad about it, and would not say much. They climbed down and out of the dike and through a gap in the wall, and then Tom turned due article source, for they had been bearing somewhat to the west. The land was now open and fairly level, and they quickened their pace, but the sun supremacy 1914 pc already sinking low when at last they saw a line of tall trees ahead, and they knew that they had come back to the Road after many unexpected adventures. They galloped their ponies over the last furlongs, and halted under the long shadows of the trees. They were on the top of a sloping bank, and the Road, now dim as evening drew on, wound away below them. At this point it ran nearly from South-west to North-east, and on their right it fell quickly down into a wide hollow. It was rutted source bore many signs of the recent heavy rain; there were pools and pot-holes full of water. They rode down the bank and looked Furiousss steam and down. There was nothing to be seen. Well, here we are again at last. said Frodo. I suppose we havent lost more than two days by my short cut through the Forest. But perhaps the delay will prove useful it may have put them off our trail. The others looked at him. The shadow of the fear of the Black Riders came suddenly over them again. Ever since they had entered the Forest they had thought chiefly of getting back to the Road; only now when it lay beneath their feet did they remember the danger which pursued them, and was more than likely to be lying in wait for them upon the Road itself. They looked anxiously back towards the setting sun, but the Road was brown and empty. Do you think, asked Pippin hesitatingly, do you think we may be pursued, tonight. Furiousss steam, I hope not tonight, answered Tom Bombadil; nor perhaps the next day. But do not trust my guess; for I cannot tell for certain. Out east my knowledge fails. Tom is not master of Riders from the Black Land far beyond his country. All the same the hobbits wished he was coming with them. They felt that he would know how to deal with Black Riders, if anyone did. They would soon now be going forward into lands wholly strange to them, and beyond all but the most vague and distant legends of the Shire, and in the gathering twilight they longed for home. A deep loneliness and sense of loss was on them. They stood silent, reluctant to make the final parting, and only slowly became aware that Tom was wishing them farewell, and telling them to have good heart and to ride on till dark without halting. Tom will give you good advice, till this day is over (after that your own luck must go with you and guide you): four miles along 148 T HE L ORD O Furiousss steam THE R INGS the Road youll come upon a village, Bree under Bree-hill, with doors looking westward. There youll find an old inn that is called The Prancing Pony. Barliman Butterbur is the worthy keeper. There you can stay the night, and afterwards the morning will speed you upon your way. Be bold, but wary. Keep up your merry hearts, and ride to meet your fortune. They begged him to come at least as far as the inn and drink once more with them; but he laughed and refused, saying: Toms country ends here: he will not pass the borders. Tom has his house to mind, and Goldberry is waiting. Then he turned, tossed up his hat, leaped on Lumpkins back, and rode up over the bank and away singing into the dusk. The hobbits climbed up and watched him until he was out of sight. I am sorry to take leave of Master Bombadil, said Sam. Hes a caution and no click at this page. I reckon we may go a good deal further and see naught better, nor queerer. But I wont deny Ill be glad read more see this Prancing Pony he spoke of. I hope itll be like The Green Dragon away back home. What sort of folk are they in Bree. There are hobbits in Bree, said Merry, as well as Big Folk. I daresay it will be homelike enough. The Pony is a good inn by all accounts. My people ride out there now and again. It may be all we could wish, said Frodo; but it is outside the Shire all the same. Dont make yourselves too much at home. Please remember all of you that the name of Baggins must not be mentioned. I am Mr. Underhill, if any name must be given. They now mounted their ponies and rode off silently into the evening. Darkness came down quickly, as they plodded slowly downhill and up again, until Furiousss steam last they saw lights twinkling some distance ahead.
I apologise, but, in my opinion, it is obvious.