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Lemon drop. she said. This was evidently a password, because the gargoyle sprang suddenly to life and hopped aside as the wall behind him split in two. Even full of dread for what was coming, Harry couldnt fail to be amazed. Behind the wall was a spiral staircase that was moving smoothly upward, like an escalator. As he and Professor McGonagall stepped onto it, Harry heard the wall thud closed behind them. They rose upward in circles, higher and higher, until at last, slightly dizzy, Harry saw a gleaming oak door ahead, with a brass knocker in the shape of a griffin. He knew now where he was being taken. This must be where Dumbledore lived. T CHAPTER TWELVE THE POLYJUICE POTION hey stepped off the stone staircase at the top, and Professor McGonagall rapped on the door. It opened silently and they entered. Professor McGonagall told Harry to wait and left him there, alone. Harry looked around. One thing was certain: of all the teachers offices Harry had visited so far this year, Dumbledores was by far the most interesting. If he hadnt been scared out of his wits that he was about to be thrown out of school, he would have been very pleased to have a chance Th 10 base look around it. It was a large and beautiful circular room, full of funny little noises. A number of curious silver instruments stood on spindle-legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were snoozing gently in their frames. There was also an enormous, claw-footed desk, and, sitting on a shelf behind it, a shabby, tattered wizards hat - the Sorting Hat. Harry hesitated. He cast a wary eye around the sleeping witches and wizards on the walls. Surely it couldnt hurt if he took the hat down and tried it on again. Just to see. just to make sure it had put him in the right House - He walked quietly around the desk, lifted the hat from its shelf, and lowered it slowly onto his head. It was much too large and slipped down over his eyes, just as it had done the last time hed put it on. Harry stared at the black inside of the hat, waiting. Then a small voice said in his ear, Bee in your bonnet, Harry Potter. Er, yes, Harry muttered. Er - sorry to bother you - I wanted to ask - Youve been article source whether I put you in the right House, said the hat smartly. Yes. you were particularly difficult to place. But I stand by what I said before - Harrys heart leapt - you would have done well in Slytherin - Harrys stomach plummeted. He grabbed the point of the hat and pulled it off. It hung limply in his hand, grubby and faded. Harry pushed it back onto its shelf, feeling sick. Youre wrong, he said aloud to the still and silent hat. It didnt move. Harry backed away, watching it. Then a strange, gagging noise behind him made him wheel around. He wasnt alone after all. Standing on a golden perch behind the door was a decrepit-looking bird that resembled a half-plucked turkey. Harry stared at it and the bird looked balefully back, making its gagging noise again. Harry thought it looked very ill. Its eyes were dull and, even as Harry watched, a couple more feathers fell out of its tail. Harry was just thinking that all he needed was for Dumbledores pet bird to die while he was alone in the office with it, when the bird burst into flames. Harry yelled in shock Th 10 base backed away into the desk. He looked feverishly around in case there was a glass of water somewhere but couldnt see one; the bird, meanwhile, had become a fireball; it gave one loud shriek and next second there was nothing but a smoldering pile of ash on the floor. The office door opened. Dumbledore came in, looking very somber. Professor, Harry gasped. Your bird - I couldnt do anything - he just caught fire - To Harrys astonishment, Dumbledore smiled. About time, too, he said. Hes been looking dreadful for days; Ive been telling him to get a move on. He chuckled at the stunned look on Harrys face. Fawkes is a phoenix, Harry. Phoenixes burst into flame when it is time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes. Watch him. Harry looked down in time to see a tiny, wrinkled, newborn bird poke its head out of the ashes. It was quite as ugly as the old gamekeys. Its a shame you had to see him on a Burning Day, said Dumbledore, seating himself behind his desk. Hes really very handsome most of the time, wonderful red and gold plumage. Fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, and they make highly faithful pets. In the shock of Fawkes catching fire, Harry had forgotten what he was there for, but it all came back to him as Dumbledore settled himself in the high chair behind the desk and fixed Harry with his penetrating, light-blue stare. Before Dumbledore could speak another word, however, the door of the office flew open with an almighty bang and Hagrid burst in, a wild look in his eyes, his balaclava perched on top of his shaggy black head and the dead rooster still swinging from see more hand. It wasn Harry, Professor Dumbledore. said Hagrid urgently. I was talkin ter him seconds before that kid was found, he never had time, sir - Dumbledore tried to say something, but Hagrid went ranting on, waving the rooster around in his agitation, sending feathers everywhere. - it cantve bin him, Ill swear it in front o the Ministry o Magic if I have to - Hagrid, I - - amusing poki com 2 opinion got the wrong boy, consider, don t starve strategy sorry, I know Harry never - Hagrid. said Dumbledore loudly. I do not think that Harry attacked those people. Oh, said Hagrid, the rooster falling limply at his side. Right. Ill wait outside then, Headmaster. And he stomped out looking embarrassed. You dont think it was me, Professor. Harry repeated hopefully as Dumbledore brushed rooster feathers off his desk. No, Harry, I dont, said Dumbledore, though his face was somber again. But I still want to talk to you. Harry waited nervously while Dumbledore considered him, the tips of his long fingers together. I must ask you, Harry, whether there is anything youd like to tell me, he said gently. Anything at all. Harry didnt know what to say. He thought of Malfoy shouting, Youll be next, Mudbloods. and of the Polyjuice Potion simmering away in Moaning Myrtles bathroom. Then he thought of the disembodied voice he had heard twice and remembered what Ron had said: Hearing voices no one else can hear isnt a good sign, even in the Wizarding world. He thought, too, about what everyone was saying about him, and his growing dread that he was somehow connected with Salazar Slytherin. No, said Harry. There isnt anything, Professor. The double attack on Justin and Nearly Headless Nick turned what had hitherto been nervousness into real panic. Curiously, it was Nearly Headless Nicks fate that seemed to worry people most. What could possibly do that to a ghost. people asked each other; what terrible power could harm someone who was already dead. There was almost a stampede to book seats on the Hogwarts Express so that students could go home for Christmas. At this rate, well be the only ones left, Ron told Harry and Hermione. Us, Malfoy, Check this out, and Goyle. What a jolly holiday its going to be. Crabbe and Goyle, who always did whatever Malfoy did, had signed up to stay over the holidays, too. But Harry was glad that most people were leaving. He was tired of people skirting around him in the corridors, as though he were about to sprout fangs or spit poison; tired of all the muttering, pointing, and hissing as he passed. Fred and George, however, found all this very funny. They went out of their way to march ahead of Harry down the corridors, shouting, Make way for the Heir of Slytherin, seriously evil wizard coming through. Percy was deeply disapproving of this behavior. It is not a laughing matter, he said coldly. Oh, get out of the way, Percy, said Fred. Harrys in a hurry. Yeah, hes off to the Chamber of Secrets for a cup of tea with his fanged servant, said George, chortling. Ginny didnt find it amusing either. Oh, dont, she wailed every time Fred asked Harry loudly who he was planning to attack next, or when George pretended to ward Harry off with a large clove of garlic when they met. Harry didnt mind; it made him feel better that Fred and George, at least, thought the idea of his being Slytherins heir was quite ludicrous. But their antics seemed to be aggravating Draco Malfoy, who looked increasingly sour each time he saw them at it. Its because hes bursting to say its really him, said Ron knowingly. You know how he hates anyone beating him at anything, and youre getting all the credit for his dirty work. Not for long, said Hermione in a satisfied tone. The Polyjuice Potions nearly ready. Well be getting the truth out of him any day now. At last the term ended, and a silence deep as the snow on the grounds descended on the castle. Harry found it peaceful, rather than gloomy, and enjoyed the fact that he, Hermione, and the Weasleys had the run of Gryffindor Tower, which meant they could play Exploding Snap loudly without bothering anyone, and practice dueling in private. Fred, George, and Ginny had chosen to stay at school rather than visit Bill in Egypt with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Percy, who disapproved of what he termed their childish behavior, didnt spend much time in the Gryffindor common room. He had already told them pompously that he was only staying over Christmas because it was his duty as a prefect to support the teachers during this troubled time.
You may leave for tonight. Do I still have to come back tomorrow. said Harry, picking up his schoolbag with his left hand rather than his smarting right. Oh yes, said Professor Umbridge, smiling widely as Pubg mobile free uc. Yes, I think we can etch the message a little deeper with another evenings work. He had never before considered the possibility that there might be another teacher in the world he hated more than Snape, but as he walked back toward Gryffindor Tower he had to admit he had found a contender. Shes evil, he thought, as he climbed a staircase to the seventh floor, shes an evil, twisted, mad, old - Ron. He had reached the top of the stairs, turned right, and almost walked into Ron, who was lurking behind a statue of Lachlan the Lanky, clutching his broomstick. He gave a great leap of surprise when he saw Harry and attempted to hide his new Cleansweep Eleven behind his back. What are you doing. Er - nothing. What are you doing. Harry frowned at him. Come on, you can tell me. What are you hiding here for. Im - Im hiding from Fred and George, if you must know, said Ron. They just went past with a bunch of first years, I bet click here testing stuff on them again, I mean, they cant do it in the common room now, can they, not with Hermione there. He was talking in a very fast, feverish way. But what have you got your broom for, you havent been flying, have you. Harry asked. I - well - well, okay, Ill tell you, but dont laugh, all right. Ron said defensively, turning redder with every second. I-I thought Id try out for Gryffindor Keeper now Ive got a decent broom. There. Go on. Laugh. Im not laughing, said Harry. Ron blinked. Pubg mobile free uc a brilliant idea. Itd be really cool if you got on the team. Ive never seen you play Keeper, are you this web page. Im not bad, evony for pc Ron, who looked immensely relieved at Harrys reaction. Charlie, Fred, and George always made me Keep for them when they were training during the holidays. So youve been practicing tonight. Source evening since Tuesday. just on my own, though, Ive been trying to bewitch Quaffles to fly at me, but it hasnt been easy and I dont know how much use itll be. Ron looked nervous and anxious. Fred and George are going to laugh themselves stupid when I turn up for the Pubg mobile free uc. They havent stopped taking Pubg mobile free uc mickey out of me since I got made a prefect. I wish I was going to be there, said Harry bitterly, as they set off together toward the common room. Yeah, so do - Harry, whats that on the back Pubg mobile free uc your hand. Harry, who had just scratched his nose with his free right hand, tried to hide it, but had as much success as Ron with his Cleansweep. Its just a cut - its nothing - its - Pubg mobile free uc Ron had grabbed Harrys forearm and pulled the back of Harrys hand up level with his eyes. There was a pause, during which he stared at the words carved into the skin, then he released Harry, looking sick. I thought you said she was giving you lines. Harry hesitated, but after all, Ron had been honest with him, so he told Ron the truth about the hours he had been spending in Umbridges office. The old hag. Ron said in a revolted whisper as they came to a halt in front of the Fat Lady, who was dozing peacefully with her best games to on against her frame. Shes sick. Go to McGonagall, say something. No, said Harry at once. Im not giving her the satisfaction of knowing shes got to me. Got to you. You cant let her get away with this. I dont know how much power McGonagalls got over her, said Harry. Dumbledore, then, tell Dumbledore. No, said Harry flatly.
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