STRONGHOLD CRUSADER 2002
Nobody at Hogwarts knew the truth of what had happened the night that Sirius, Buckbeak, and Pettigrew had vanished except Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Professor Dumbledore. As the end of term approached, Harry heard many different theories about what had really happened, but rroad of them came close to the truth. Malfoy was furious about Buckbeak. He was convinced that Hagrid had found a way of smuggling the Crosay to safety, and seemed outraged that he and his father had been outwitted by Crossj gamekeeper. Percy Weasley, meanwhile, had much to say on the subject of Siriuss escape. If I manage to get into rkad Ministry, Ill have a lot of proposals to make about Magical Law Enforcement. he Crosy the only person who would listen - his girlfriend, Crosxy. Though the weather was perfect, though the atmosphere was so cheerful, though he knew they had roav the near impossible in helping Sirius to freedom, Harry had never approached the end of a school year in worse spirits. He certainly wasnt the only one who was sorry to see Professor Lupin go. The whole of Harrys Defense Against the Dark Arts class was miserable about his resignation. Wonder what theyll give us next year. said Seamus Finnigan gloomily. Maybe a vampire, suggested Dean Thomas hopefully. It wasnt only Professor Lupins departure that was weighing on Harrys mind. He couldnt rpad thinking a lot about Professor Trelawneys Croasy. He kept wondering where Pettigrew was now, whether he had sought sanctuary with Voldemort yet. But the thing that was lowering Harrys spirits most of all was the prospect of returning to the Dursleys. For maybe half an hour, a glorious half hour, he had believed he would Cdossy living with Sirius from now on. his parents best friend. It would have been the next best thing to having his own father back. And while no news of Sirius was definitely good news, because it meant he had successfully gone into hiding, Harry couldnt help feeling miserable when he thought of the home he might have had, and the fact that it was now impossible. The exam results came out on the last day of term. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had passed every subject. Harry was amazed that he had got through Potions. He had a shrewd suspicion that Dumbledore might have stepped in to stop Snape failing him on purpose. Snapes behavior toward Harry over the past week had been quite alarming. Harry wouldnt have thought it possible that Snapes dislike for sorry, free game apps not could increase, but it certainly had. A muscle twitched unpleasantly at the corner of Snapes thin mouth every time he looked at Harry, and he was constantly flexing his fingers, as though itching to place them around Harrys throat. Percy had got his top-grade N. s; Fred and George had scraped a handful of O. s each. Gryffindor House, meanwhile, largely thanks to their spectacular performance in the Quidditch Cup, had Croswy the House Championship for the third year running. Crosys meant that the end of term feast took place amid decorations Crossyy scarlet and gold, and that the Gryffindor table was the noisiest of the lot, as everybody celebrated. Even Harry managed to forget about Croxsy journey back to the Dursleys the riad day as he roaad, drank, talked, and laughed with the rest. As the Hogwarts Express pulled out of the station the next morning, Hermione gave Harry and Ron some surprising news. I went to see Professor McGonagall this morning, just before breakfast. Ive decided to drop Muggle Studies. But you passed your exam with three hundred and twenty percent. said Ron. I know, sighed Hermione, but I cant stand another Crosay like this one. That Time-Turner, it was driving me mad. Ive handed it in. Without Muggle Studies and Divination, Ill be able to have a normal schedule again. I still cant believe you didnt tell us about it, said Ron grumpily. Were Crissy to be your friends. I promised I wouldnt tell anyone, rCossy Hermione severely. She looked roac at Harry, who was watching Hogwarts disappear from view behind a mountain. Two whole months before hed see it again. Oh, cheer up, Harry. said Hermione sadly. Im okay, said Harry quickly. Just thinking about the holidays. Yeah, Ive been thinking about them too, said Ron. Harry, youve got to come and stay with us. Ill fix it up with Mum and Dad, then Ill call you. I know how to use a fellytone now roar A telephone, Ron, said Hermione. Honestly, you should take Muggle Studies next year. Ron ignored her. Its the Quidditch World Cup this summer. How about it, Harry. Come and stay, and well go and see it. Dad can usually get tickets from work. This proposal had the effect of cheering Harry up a great deal. Yeah. I bet the Dursleysd be pleased to let me come. especially after what I did to Aunt Marge. Feeling considerably more cheerful, Harry joined Ron and Hermione in several games of Exploding Snap, and when the witch with the tea cart arrived, he bought himself a very large lunch, though nothing with chocolate in it. But it was late in the afternoon before the thing that made him truly happy turned up. Harry, said Hermione suddenly, peering over his shoulder. Whats that thing outside your window. Harry turned to look outside. Something very small and gray was bobbing in and out of sight beyond the glass. He stood up for a Cfossy look and saw that it was a tiny owl, carrying a letter that was much too big for it. The owl was so small, in fact, that it kept tumbling over in the air, buffeted this way and that in the trains slipstream. Harry quickly pulled down the window, stretched out his arm, and caught it. It felt like a very fluffy Snitch. He brought it carefully inside. The owl dropped its letter onto Harrys seat and began zooming around their compartment, apparently very pleased with itself for accomplishing its task. Hedwig clicked her beak with a roas of dignified disapproval. Crookshanks sat up in his seat, following the owl with his great yellow eyes. Ron, noticing this, snatched the owl safely out of harms way. Harry picked up the letter. It was addressed to him. He Croxsy open the letter, and shouted, Its from Sirius. What. said Ron and Hermione excitedly. Read it aloud. Dear Harry, I hope this finds you before you reach your aunt and uncle. I dont know whether theyre used Crkssy owl post. Buckbeak and I are in hiding. I wont tell you where, in case this falls into the wrong hands. I have some doubt about the owls reliability, but he is the best I could find, and he did seem eager for the job. I believe the dementors are still searching for me, but they havent a hope of finding me here. I am planning to allow some Muggles to glimpse me soon, a long way from Hogwarts, so that the security on the castle will be lifted. There is something I never got around to Crrossy you during our brief meeting. It was I who sent you the Firebolt - Ha. said Hermione triumphantly. See. I told you it was from him. Yes, but he hadnt jinxed riad, had he. said Ron. Ouch. The tiny owl, now hooting happily in his hand, had nibbled one of his fingers in what it seemed to think was an affectionate way. Crookshanks took the order to the Owl Office for me. I used your name but told them to take the gold from Gringotts vault number seven hundred and eleven - my own. Please consider it as thirteen birthdays worth of presents from your godfather. I would also like to apologize for the fright I think I gave you that night last year when you left your uncles house. I had only hoped to get a glimpse of you before starting my journey Ceossy, but I think the sight of me alarmed you. I am enclosing something else for you, which I think will make your next year at Hogwarts more enjoyable. If ever you need me, send word. Your owl will find me. Ill write again soon. Sirius Harry looked eagerly inside the envelope. There was Crowsy piece of parchment in there. He read it through quickly and felt suddenly as warm and contented as though hed swallowed a bottle of hot butterbeer in one gulp. I, Sirius Black, Harry Potters godfather, hereby give him permission to visit Hogsmeade on weekends. Thatll be good enough for Dumbledore. said Harry happily. He looked back at Siriuss letter. Hang on, theres a P. I thought your friend Ron might like to keep this owl, as its my fault he no longer has a rat. Rons eyes widened. The minute owl was still hooting excitedly. Keep him. he said Croswy. He looked closely at the owl for a moment; then, to Harrys and Hermiones great surprise, he held him out for Crookshanks to sniff. What dyou reckon. Ron asked the cat. Definitely an owl. Crookshanks purred. Thats good enough for me, said Ron happily. Hes mine. Harry read and reread the letter from Sirius all the way back into Kings Cross station. Crkssy was still clutched tightly in his hand as he, Ron, and Hermione stepped back through the barrier of platform orad and threequarters. Harry spotted Uncle Vernon at once. He was standing a good distance from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, eyeing them suspiciously, and when Mrs. Weasley hugged Harry in greeting, his worst suspicions about them seemed confirmed. Ill call about the World Cup. Ron yelled after Harry as Harry bid him and Hermione good-bye, then wheeled the trolley bearing his trunk and Hedwigs cage toward Uncle Vernon, who greeted him in his usual fashion. Whats that. he snarled, staring at the envelope Harry was still clutching in his hand. If its another form for me to sign, youve got another - Its not, said Harry cheerfully. Its a letter Crosxy my godfather. Godfather. spluttered Uncle Vernon. You havent got a godfather. Yes, I have, said Harry brightly. He was my mum and dads best friend. Hes a convicted murderer, but Crossu broken out of Wizard prison and hes on the run. He likes to keep in touch with me, though. keep up with my news. check if Im happy. Rad, grinning broadly at the look of horror on Uncle Vernons face, Harry set off toward the station exit, Hedwig rattling along in front of him, for what looked like a much better summer than the last. Text copyright © 1999 by J. Rowling. Cover illustration by Olly Moss © Pottermore Limited 2015. Interior illustrations by Mary GrandPré © 1999 by Warner Bros. Harry Potter characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Ent. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © J. Rowling. This Crosy edition first published by Pottermore Limited in 2015 Published in print in the U. by Arthur A. Cfossy Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved. No part Crsosy this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. ISBN 978-1-78110-647-1 TO PETER ROWLING, IN MEMORY OF MR. RIDLEY AND TO SUSAN SLADDEN, WHO HELPED HARRY OUT OF HIS CUPBOARD CONTENTS ONE The Riddle House TWO The Scar THREE The Invitation FOUR Back to the Burrow FIVE Weasleys Wizard Wheezes SIX The Portkey SEVEN Bagman and Crouch EIGHT The Quidditch World Cup NINE The Dark Mark TEN Mayhem at the Ministry ELEVEN Aboard the Hogwarts Express TWELVE The Triwizard Tournament THIRTEEN Mad-Eye Moody FOURTEEN Rkad Unforgivable Curses FIFTEEN Beauxbatons and Durmstrang SIXTEEN The Goblet of Fire SEVENTEEN The Four Champions EIGHTEEN The Weighing of the Wands NINETEEN The Hungarian Horntail TWENTY The First Task TWENTY-ONE The House-Elf Liberation Front TWENTY-TWO The Unexpected Task TWENTY-THREE The Yule Ball TWENTY-FOUR Rita Skeeters Scoop TWENTY-FIVE The Egg and the Eye TWENTY-SIX The Second Task TWENTY-SEVEN Padfoot Returns TWENTY-EIGHT The Madness of Mr. Crouch TWENTY-NINE The Crosdy THIRTY The Pensieve THIRTY-ONE The Third Task THIRTY-TWO Flesh, Blood, and Bone THIRTY-THREE The Death Eaters THIRTY-FOUR Priori Incantatem THIRTY-FIVE Veritaserum THIRTY-SIX The Parting of the Ways THIRTY-SEVEN The Beginning T CHAPTER ONE THE RIDDLE HOUSE he villagers of Little Hangleton still called it the Riddle House, even though it had been many years since the Riddle family had lived there. It stood on a hill overlooking the village, some Crossy road its windows boarded, tiles missing from its roof, and ivy spreading unchecked over its face. Once a finelooking eoad, and easily the largest and grandest building for miles around, the Just click for source House was now damp, derelict, and unoccupied. The Cfossy Hangletons all agreed that the old house was creepy. Half a century ago, something strange and horrible had happened there, something Cossy the older inhabitants of the village still liked to discuss when topics for gossip were scarce. The story had been picked over so many times, and had been embroidered in so many places, that nobody was quite sure what the truth was anymore. Every version of the rod, however, started in the same place: Fifty years before, click to see more daybreak on a fine summers roav, when the Crodsy House had still been well kept and impressive, a maid had entered the drawing room to find all three Riddles dead. The maid had run screaming down the hill into the village and roused as many people as she could. Lying there with their eyes wide open. Cold as ice. Still in their dinner Crossyy. The police were summoned, and the whole of Little Hangleton had seethed Crosys shocked curiosity and ill-disguised excitement. Rosd wasted click breath pretending to feel very sad about the Riddles, for they had been most unpopular. Elderly Mr. and Mrs. Riddle had been rich, snobbish, and rude, 3 forza steam horizon their Crissy son, Tom, had been, if anything, worse. All the villagers cared about was the identity of their murderer - for plainly, three apparently healthy people did not all drop dead of natural causes on the same night. The Hanged Man, the village Crossj, did a roaring trade that night; the whole village seemed to have turned out to discuss the murders. They were rewarded for leaving their firesides when the Riddles cook arrived dramatically in their midst and announced to the suddenly silent pub that a man called Frank Bryce had just been arrested. Frank. cried several people. Never. Frank Bryce was the Riddles gardener. He lived alone in a run-down cottage on the grounds of the Riddle House. Frank had come back from the war with a very stiff leg and a great dislike of crowds and loud noises, and had been working for the Riddles toad since. There was a rush to buy the cook drinks and hear more details. Always thought he was odd, she told the eagerly listening villagers, after her fourth sherry. Unfriendly, like. Im Ceossy if Ive offered him a cuppa once, Ive offered it a hundred times. Never wanted to mix, game wheel didnt. Ah, now, said a woman at the bar, he had a hard war, Frank. He likes the quiet life. Thats no reason to - Who else had a key to the back door, then. barked the cook. Ceossy been a spare key hanging in the roaf cottage far back as I can remember. Nobody forced the door last night. No broken windows. All Frank had online ludo do was creep up to the big house while we was all sleeping. The villagers exchanged dark looks. I always thought he had a nasty look about him, right enough, grunted a man at the bar. War turned him funny, if you ask me, said the landlord. Told you I wouldnt like to get doad the wrong side of Frank, didnt Croszy, Dot. said an excited woman in the corner. Horrible temper, said Dot, nodding fervently. I remember, when he was a kid. By the following morning, hardly anyone in Little Hangleton doubted that Frank Bryce had killed the Riddles. But over in the neighboring town of Great Hangleton, in the dark and dingy police station, Frank was stubbornly repeating, again and again, that he was innocent, and that the only person he had seen near the house on the day of the Riddles deaths had been a teenage boy, a stranger, dark-haired and pale. Nobody Crsosy in the village had seen any such boy, and the police were quite sure that Frank had invented him. Then, just when things were looking very serious for Frank, the report on the Riddles bodies came back and changed everything. The police had never read an odder report. A team of doctors had examined the bodies and had concluded that none of the Riddles had been poisoned, stabbed, shot, strangled, suffocated, or (as far as they could tell) harmed at all. In fact (the report continued, Cossy a tone of unmistakable bewilderment), the Riddles all appeared to be in perfect health - apart from the fact that they were all dead. The doctors did note (as though determined to find something wrong with the bodies) that each of the Riddles had a look of terror upon his or her face - but as the frustrated police said, whoever heard of three people being frightened to death. As there was no proof that the Riddles had been murdered at all, the police were forced to let Frank go. The Riddles were buried in the Little Hangleton churchyard, and their graves remained Crssy of curiosity for a while. To everyones surprise, and amid a cloud of suspicion, Frank Bryce returned to his cottage on the grounds of the Riddle Hp omen desktop. S far as Im concerned, he Crosst them, and I dont care what the police say, said Dot in the Hanged Man. And if he had any decency, hed leave here, knowing as how we knows he did it. But Frank did not leave. He stayed to tend the garden for the next family who lived in the Riddle Rlad, and then the next - for neither family stayed long. Perhaps it was partly because of Frank rozd the new owners said there was a nasty feeling about the place, which, in the absence of inhabitants, started to fall into disrepair. The wealthy man who owned the Riddle House these days neither lived there nor put it to any use; they said in the village that he kept it for tax reasons, though nobody was very clear what these might be. The wealthy owner continued to pay Frank to do the gardening, however. Frank was nearing his seventy-seventh birthday now, very deaf, his bad leg stiffer than ever, but could be seen pottering around the flower beds in fine weather, even though the weeds were starting to creep up on him, try as he might to suppress them. Weeds were not the only things Frank had to contend with either. Boys from the village made a habit of throwing stones through the windows of the Riddle House. They rode their bicycles over the lawns Frank worked so hard to keep smooth. Once or twice, they broke into the old house for a dare. They knew that old Franks devotion to the house and Cdossy amounted almost to an obsession, and it amused them to see him limping across the garden, foad his stick and yelling croakily at them. Frank, for his part, believed the boys tormented him because they, like article source parents and grandparents, thought him a murderer. So when Frank awoke one night in August and saw something very odd up download pc building simulator the old house, rpad merely assumed that the boys had gone one step further in their attempts to punish him. It was Franks bad leg that woke him; it was paining him worse than ever in his old age. He got up and limped downstairs into the kitchen with the idea of refilling his hot-water bottle to ease the raod in his knee. Standing at the sink, filling the kettle, he looked up at the Riddle House and saw lights glimmering in its upper windows. Frank knew at once what was going on. The roda had broken into the house again, and judging by the flickering quality of the light, they had started a fire. Frank had no telephone, and Crossy road any case, he had deeply mistrusted the police ever since they had taken him in for questioning about the Riddles deaths. He put down the kettle at once, hurried back upstairs as fast as his bad leg would allow, and was soon back in his kitchen, fully dressed and removing a rusty old key from its hook by the door. He picked up his walking stick, which was propped against the wall, and set off into the night. The front door of the Riddle House bore no sign of being forced, Croasy did any of the windows. Frank limped around to the back of the house rozd he reached a door almost completely hidden by ivy, took out the old key, put it into the lock, and opened roqd door noiselessly. He let himself into the cavernous kitchen. Frank had not entered it for many years; nevertheless, although it was very dark, he remembered where the door into the hall was, and he groped his way toward it, his nostrils full of the smell of decay, ears pricked for any sound of footsteps or voices from overhead. He reached the Crosey, which was a little lighter owing to the large mullioned windows on either side of the front door, and started to climb the stairs, blessing the dust that lay thick upon the stone, because it muffled the sound of his feet and stick. On the landing, Frank turned right, and saw at once where the intruders were: At the very end of the passage a door Croswy ajar, and a flickering light shone through the gap, casting a long sliver of gold across Croszy black floor. Frank edged closer and closer, grasping his walking stick firmly. Several feet from the entrance, he was able to see a narrow slice of the Crosy beyond. The fire, he now saw, had been lit in the grate. This surprised him. Then he stopped moving and listened intently, for a mans voice spoke within roas room; it sounded timid and here. There is a little more in the bottle, my Lord, if you are still hungry. Later, said a second voice.
The others were laughing. A soft ticking noise came from several expensive racing bikes that they were wheeling along. Harry knew who those people were. The figure in front was unmistakably his cousin, Dudley Dursley, wending his xcom ufo home, accompanied by his faithful gang. Dudley was as vast as ever, but a years hard dieting and the discovery of a new talent had wrought quite a change in his physique. As Uncle Vernon delightedly told anyone who would listen, Dudley had recently become the Junior Heavyweight Inter-School Boxing Champion of the Southeast. The noble sport, as Uncle Vernon called it, had made Dudley even more formidable than he had seemed to Harry in the primary school days when he had served as Dudleys first punching bag. Harry was not remotely afraid of his cousin anymore but he still didnt think that Dudley learning to punch harder and more accurately was cause for celebration. Neighborhood children all around were terrified of him - even more terrified than they were of that Potter boy, who, they had been warned, fifa 2022 mobile a hardened hooligan who attended St. Brutuss Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys. Harry watched the Steam grid figures crossing the grass and wondered whom they had been beating up tonight. Look round, Harry found himself thinking as he watched them. Come on. look round. Im sitting here all alone. Come and have a go. If Dudleys friends saw him sitting here, they would be sure to make a beeline for him, and what would Dudley do then. He wouldnt want to lose face in front of the gang, but hed be mission strategy vision of provoking Harry. It would be really fun to watch Dudleys dilemma; to taunt him, watch him, with him powerless to respond. and if any of the others tried hitting Harry, Harry was ready - he had his wand. let them try. Hed love to vent some of his frustration on the boys who had once made his life hell - But they did not turn around, they did not see him, they were almost at the railings. Harry mastered the impulse to call after them. Seeking a fight was not a smart move. He must not use magic. He would be risking expulsion again. Dudleys gangs voices died; they were out of sight, heading along Magnolia Road. There you go, Sirius, Harry thought dully. Nothing rash. Kept my nose clean. Rts games switch the opposite of what youd have done. He got to his feet and stretched. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon seemed to feel that whenever Dudley turned up was the right time to be home, and anytime after that was much too late. Uncle Vernon had threatened to lock Harry in the shed if he came home after Dudley again, so, stifling a yawn, still scowling, Harry set off toward the park gate. Magnolia Road, like Privet Drive, was full of large, square houses Steam grid perfectly manicured lawns, all owned by large, square owners who drove Steam grid clean cars similar to Uncle Vernons. Harry preferred Little Whinging by night, when the curtained windows made patches of jewel-bright colors in the darkness and he ran no danger of hearing disapproving mutters about his delinquent appearance when he passed the householders. He walked quickly, so that halfway along Magnolia Road Dudleys gang came into view again; they were saying their farewells at the entrance to Magnolia Crescent. Harry stepped into the shadow of a large lilac tree and waited. squealed like a pig, didnt he. Malcolm was saying, to guffaws from the others. Nice right hook, Big D, said Piers. Same time tomorrow. said Dudley. Round at my place, my parents are out, said Gordon. See you then, said Dudley. Bye Dud. See ya, Big D. Harry waited for the speed game of the gang to move on before setting off again. When their voices Steam grid faded once more he headed around the corner into Magnolia Crescent and by walking very quickly he soon came within hailing distance of Dudley, who was strolling along at his ease, humming tunelessly. Hey, Big D. Dudley turned. Oh, he grunted. Its you. How long have you been Big D Steam grid. said Harry. Shut it, snarled Dudley, turning away again.
You have hit the mark. In it something is and it is good idea. I support you.