Clash and clans
The smell was quite disgusting. Large, rotten fish were laid on handsome silver platters; cakes, burned charcoal-black, were heaped on salvers; there was a great maggoty haggis, a slab of cheese covered in furry green mold and, in pride of place, an enormous gray cake in the shape of a tombstone, with tar-like icing forming the words, SIR NICHOLAS DE MIMSY-PORPINGTON DIED 31ST OCTOBER, 1492 Harry watched, amazed, as a portly ghost approached the table, crouched low, and walked through it, his mouth held wide so that it passed through one of the stinking salmon. Can you taste it if you walk through it. Harry asked him. Almost, said the ghost sadly, and he drifted away. I expect theyve let it rot to give it a stronger flavor, said Hermione knowledgeably, pinching her nose and leaning closer to look at the putrid haggis. Can we move. I feel sick, said Ron. They had barely turned around, however, when a little man swooped suddenly from under the table and came to a halt in midair before them. Hello, Peeves, said Harry cautiously. Unlike the ghosts around them, Peeves the Poltergeist was the very reverse of pale and transparent. He was wearing a bright orange party hat, a revolving bow tie, and a broad grin on his wide, wicked face. Nibbles. he said sweetly, offering them a bowl of peanuts covered in fungus. No thanks, said Hermione. Heard you talking about poor Myrtle, said Peeves, his eyes dancing. Rude you was about poor Myrtle. He took a deep breath and bellowed, OI. MYRTLE. Oh, no, Peeves, dont tell her what I said, shell be really upset, Hermione whispered frantically. I didnt mean it, I dont mind her - er, hello, Myrtle. The squat ghost of a girl had glided over. She had the glummest face Harry had ever seen, half-hidden behind lank hair and thick, pearly spectacles. What. she said sulkily. How are you, Myrtle. said Hermione in a falsely bright voice. Its nice to see you out of the toilet. Myrtle sniffed. Miss Granger was just talking about you - said Peeves slyly in Myrtles ear. Just saying - saying - how nice you look tonight, said Hermione, glaring at Peeves. Myrtle eyed Hermione suspiciously. Youre making fun of me, she said, silver tears welling rapidly in her small, see-through eyes. No - honestly - didnt I just say how nice Myrtles looking. said Hermione, nudging Harry and Ron painfully in the ribs. Oh, yeah - She did - Dont lie to me, Myrtle gasped, tears now flooding down her face, while Peeves chuckled happily over her shoulder. Dyou think I dont know what people call me behind my back. Fat Myrtle. Ugly Myrtle. Miserable, moaning, moping Myrtle. Youve forgotten pimply, Peeves hissed in her ear. Moaning Myrtle burst into anguished sobs and fled from the dungeon. Peeves shot after her, pelting her with moldy peanuts, yelling, Pimply. Pimply. Oh, dear, said Hermione sadly. Nearly Headless Nick now drifted toward them through the crowd. Enjoying yourselves. Oh, yes, they lied. Not a bad turnout, said Nearly Headless Nick proudly. The Wailing Widow came all the way up from Kent. Its nearly time for my speech, Id better go and warn the orchestra. The orchestra, however, stopped playing at that very moment. They, and everyone else turn mmorpg the dungeon, fell silent, looking around in excitement, as a hunting horn sounded. Oh, here we go, said Nearly Headless Nick bitterly. Through the dungeon wall burst a dozen ghost horses, each ridden by a headless horseman. The assembly clapped wildly; Harry started to clap, too, but stopped quickly at the sight of Nicks face. The horses galloped into the middle of the dance floor and halted, rearing and plunging. At the front of the pack was a large ghost who held his bearded head under his arm, from which position he was blowing the horn. The ghost leapt down, lifted his head high in the air so he could see over the crowd (everyone laughed), and strode over to Nearly Headless Nick, squashing his head back onto his neck. Nick. he roared. How are you. Head still hanging in there. He gave a hearty guffaw and clapped Nearly Headless Nick on the shoulder. Welcome, Patrick, said Nick stiffly. Live uns. said Sir Patrick, spotting Harry, Ron, and Hermione and giving a huge, fake jump of astonishment, so that his head fell off again (the crowd howled with laughter). Very amusing, said Nearly Headless Nick darkly. Dont mind Nick. shouted Sir Patricks head from the floor. Still upset we wont let him join the Hunt. But I mean to say - look at the fellow - I think, said Harry hurriedly, at a meaningful look from Nick, Nicks very - frightening and - er - Ha. yelled Sir Patricks head. Bet he asked you to say that. If I could have everyones attention, its time for my speech. said Nearly Headless Nick loudly, striding toward the podium and climbing into an icy blue spotlight. My late lamented lords, ladies, and gentlemen, it is my great sorrow. But nobody heard much more. Sir Patrick and the rest of the Headless Source had just started a game of Head Hockey and the crowd was turning to watch. Nearly Headless Nick tried vainly to recapture his audience, but gave up as Sir Patricks head went sailing past him to loud cheers. Harry was Black desert steam cold by now, not to mention hungry. I cant stand much more of this, Ron muttered, his teeth chattering, as the orchestra ground back into action and the ghosts swept back onto the dance floor. Lets go, Harry agreed. They backed toward the door, nodding and beaming at anyone who looked at them, and a minute later were hurrying back up the passageway full of black candles. Pudding might not be finished yet, said Ron hopefully, leading the way toward the steps to the entrance hall. And then Harry heard it. rip. tear. kill. It was the same check this out, the same cold, murderous voice he had heard in Lockharts office. He stumbled to a halt, clutching at the stone wall, listening with all his might, looking around, squinting up and down the dimly lit passageway. Harry, whatre you -. Its that voice again - shut up a minute -. soo hungry. for so long. Listen. said Harry urgently, and Ron and Hermione froze, watching him. kill. time to kill. The voice was growing fainter. Harry was sure it was moving away - moving upward. A mixture of fear and excitement gripped him as he stared at the dark ceiling; how could it be moving upward. Was it a phantom, to whom stone ceilings didnt matter. This way, he shouted, and he began to run, up the stairs, into the entrance hall. It was no good hoping to hear anything here, the babble of talk from the Halloween feast was echoing out of the Great Hall. Harry sprinted up the marble staircase to the first floor, Ron and Hermione clattering behind him. Harry, whatre we - SHH. Harry strained his ears. Distantly, source the floor above, and growing fainter still, he heard the voice:. I smell blood. I SMELL BLOOD. His stomach lurched - Its going to kill someone. he shouted, and ignoring Rons and Hermiones bewildered faces, he ran up the next flight of steps three at a time, trying to listen over his own pounding footsteps - Harry hurtled around the whole of the second floor, Ron and Hermione panting behind him, not stopping until they turned a corner into the last, deserted passage. Harry, what was that all about. said Ron, wiping sweat off his face. I couldnt hear anything. But Hermione gave a sudden gasp, pointing down the corridor. Look. Something was shining on the wall ahead. They approached slowly, squinting through the darkness. Foot-high words had been daubed on the wall between two windows, shimmering in the light cast by the flaming torches. THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE. Whats that thing - hanging underneath. said Ron, a slight quiver in his voice. As they edged nearer, Harry almost slipped - there was a large puddle of water on the floor; Ron and Hermione grabbed him, and they inched toward the message, eyes fixed on a dark shadow beneath it. All three of them realized what it was at once, and leapt backward with a splash. Mrs. Norris, the caretakers cat, was hanging by her tail from the torch bracket. She was stiff as a board, her eyes wide and staring. For a few seconds, they didnt move. Then Ron said, Lets get out of here. Shouldnt we try and help - Harry began awkwardly. Trust me, said Ron. We dont want to be found here. But it was too late. A rumble, as though of distant thunder, told them that the feast had just ended. From either end of the corridor where they stood came the sound of hundreds Black desert steam feet climbing the stairs, and the loud, happy talk of well-fed people; next moment, students were crashing into the passage from both ends. The chatter, the bustle, the noise died suddenly as the people in front spotted the hanging cat. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood alone, in the middle of the corridor, as silence fell among the mass of students pressing forward to see the grisly sight. Then someone shouted through the quiet. Enemies of the Heir, beware. Youll be next, Mudbloods. It was Draco Malfoy. He had pushed to the front of the crowd, his cold eyes alive, his usually bloodless face flushed, as he grinned at the sight of the hanging, immobile cat. W CHAPTER NINE THE WRITING ON THE WALL hats going on here. Whats going on. Attracted no doubt by Malfoys shout, Argus Filch came shouldering his way through the crowd. Then he saw Mrs. Norris and fell back, clutching his face in horror. My cat. My cat. Whats happened to Mrs. Norris. he shrieked. And his popping eyes fell on Harry. You. he screeched. You. Youve murdered my cat. Youve killed her. Ill kill you. Ill - Argus. Dumbledore had arrived on the scene, followed by a number of other teachers. In seconds, he had swept past Harry, Ron, can best th 9 opinion Hermione and detached Mrs. Norris from the torch bracket. Come with me, Argus, he said to Filch. Click the following article, too, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger. Lockhart stepped forward eagerly. My office is nearest, Headmaster - just upstairs - please feel free - Thank you, Gilderoy, said Dumbledore. The silent crowd parted to let them pass. Lockhart, looking excited and important, hurried after Dumbledore; so did Professors McGonagall and Snape. As they entered Lockharts darkened office there was a flurry of movement across the walls; Harry saw several of the Lockharts in the pictures dodging out of sight, their hair in rollers. The real Lockhart lit the candles on his desk and stood back. Dumbledore laid Mrs. Norris on the polished surface and began to examine her. Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged tense looks and sank into chairs outside the pool of candlelight, watching. The tip of Dumbledores long, crooked nose was barely an inch from Mrs. Norriss fur. He was looking at her closely through his half-moon spectacles, his long fingers gently prodding and poking. Professor McGonagall was bent almost as close, her eyes narrowed. Snape loomed behind them, half in shadow, wearing a most peculiar expression: It was as though he was trying hard not to smile. And Lockhart was hovering around all of them, making suggestions. It was definitely a curse that killed her - probably the Transmogrifian Torture - Ive seen it used many times, so unlucky I wasnt there, I know the very countercurse that would have saved her. Lockharts comments were punctuated by Filchs dry, racking sobs. He was slumped in a chair by the desk, unable to look at Mrs. Norris, his face in his hands. Much as he detested Filch, Harry couldnt help feeling a bit sorry for him, though not nearly as sorry as he felt for himself. If Dumbledore believed Filch, he would be expelled for sure. Dumbledore was now muttering strange words under his breath and tapping Mrs. Norris with his wand, but nothing happened: She continued to look as though she had been recently stuffed. I remember something very similar happening in Ouagadogou, said Lockhart, a series of attacks, the full storys in my autobiography, I was able to provide the townsfolk with various amulets, which cleared the matter up at once. The photographs of Lockhart on the walls were all nodding in agreement as he talked. One of them had forgotten to remove his hair net. At last Dumbledore straightened up. Shes not dead, Argus, he said softly. Lockhart stopped abruptly in the middle of counting the number of murders he had prevented. Not dead. choked Filch, looking through his fingers at Mrs. Norris. But whys she all - all stiff and frozen. She has been Petrified, said Dumbledore (Ah. I thought so. said Lockhart). But how, I cannot say. Ask him. shrieked Filch, turning his blotched and tearstained face to Harry. No second year could have done this, said Dumbledore firmly. It would take Dark Magic of the most advanced - He did it, he did it. Filch spat, his pouchy face purpling. You saw what he wrote on the wall. He found - in my office - he knows Im a Black desert steam Im a - Filchs face worked horribly. He knows Im a Squib. he finished. I never touched Mrs. Norris. Harry said loudly, uncomfortably aware of everyone looking at him, including all the Lockharts on the walls. And I dont even know what a Squib is. Rubbish. snarled Filch. He saw my Kwikspell letter. If I might speak, Headmaster, said Snape from the shadows, and Harrys sense of foreboding increased; he was sure nothing Snape had to say was going to do him any good. Potter and his friends may have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time, he said, a slight sneer curling his mouth as though he doubted it. But we do have a set of suspicious circumstances here. Why was he in the upstairs corridor at all. Why wasnt he at the Halloween feast. Harry, Ron and Hermione all launched into an explanation about the deathday party. there were hundreds of ghosts, theyll tell you we were there - But why not join the feast afterward. said Snape, his black eyes glittering in the candlelight. Why go up to that corridor. Ron and Hermione looked at Harry. Because - because - Harry said, his heart thumping very fast; something told him it would sound very far-fetched if he told them he had been led there by a bodiless voice no one but he could hear, because we were tired and wanted to go to bed, he said. Without any supper. said Snape, a triumphant smile flickering across his gaunt face. I didnt think ghosts provided food fit for living people at their parties. We werent hungry, said Ron loudly as his stomach gave a huge rumble. Snapes nasty smile widened. I suggest, Headmaster, that Potter is not being entirely truthful, he said. It might be a good idea if he were deprived of certain privileges until he is ready to tell us the whole story. I personally feel he should be taken off the Gryffindor Quidditch team until he is ready to be honest. Really, Severus, said Professor McGonagall sharply, I see no reason to stop the boy playing Quidditch. This cat wasnt hit over the head with a broomstick. There is no evidence at all that Potter has done anything wrong. Dumbledore was giving Harry a searching look.
How Saints row pc he think that. said Harry angrily. How can he think Dumbledore would just make it all up - that Id make it all up. Because accepting that Voldemorts back would mean trouble like the Ministry coc base layout th10 had to cope with for nearly fourteen years, said Sirius bitterly. Fudge just cant bring himself to face it. Its so much more comfortable to convince himself Dumbledores lying to eow him. You see the problem, said Lupin. While the Ministry insists there is nothing to fear from Voldemort, its hard to convince people hes back, especially as they really dont want to believe it in the first place. Whats more, the Ministrys leaning heavily on the Daily Prophet not to report any of what theyre calling Dumbledores rumor-mongering, so most of the Wizarding community are completely unaware anythings happened, and that makes them easy targets for the Death Eaters if theyre using the Imperius Curse. But youre telling people, arent you. said Harry, looking around at Mr. Saihts, Sirius, Bill, Mundungus, Lupin, and Tonks. Youre letting people know hes back. They all smiled humorlessly. Well, as everyone thinks Im a mad mass murderer and the Ministrys put a ten-thousand-Galleon price on my head, I can hardly stroll up the street and px handing out leaflets, can I. said Sirius restlessly. And Im not a very popular dinner guest with most of the community, said Lupin. Its an occupational hazard of being a werewolf. Tonks and Arthur would lose their jobs at the Ministry if they started shooting their mouths off, said Sirius, and its very important for us to have pf inside the Ministry, because you can bet Voldemort will have them. Weve managed to convince a couple of people, though, said Mr. Weasley. Tonks here, for one - shes too young to have been in the Order of the Phoenix last time, and having Aurors on our side is a huge advantage - Kingsley Shacklebolts been a real asset too. Hes in charge rpw the hunt for Sirius, so hes been Saints row pc the Ministry information that Sirius is in Tibet. But if none of yous putting the news out that Voldemorts back - Harry began. Who said none of us was putting the news out. said Sirius. Why dyou think Dumbledores in such trouble. What dyou mean. Harry asked. Theyre trying to discredit him, said Lupin. Didnt you see the Daily Prophet last week. They reported that hed been voted out of the Chairmanship of the International Confederation of Wizards because hes getting old and losing his grip, but its not true, he was voted out by Ministry wizards after he made a speech announcing Voldemorts return. Theyve demoted him from Chief Warlock on the Saints row pc - thats the Wizard High Court - and theyre talking about taking away orw Order of Merlin, First Class, too. But Dumbledore says he doesnt care what they do as long as they dont take him off the Chocolate Frog cards, said Bill, grinning. Its click to see more laughing matter, said Mr. Weasley shortly. If he carries on defying the Ministry like this, he could end up in Azkaban and the last thing we want is Dumbledore locked up. While You-Know-Who knows Dumbledores out there and wise to what hes up to, hes going to go cautiously for a while. If Dumbledores out of the way - well, You-KnowWho will have a clear field. But if Voldemorts trying to recruit more Death Eaters, its bound to get out that hes come back, isnt it. asked Harry desperately. Voldemort doesnt march up to peoples houses and bang on their front doors, Harry, said Sirius. He tricks, jinxes, and blackmails them. Hes wellpracticed at operating in secrecy. In any case, gathering followers is only one thing hes interested in, hes got other plans too, plans he can put Saitns operation very quietly indeed, and hes concentrating on them at the moment. Whats he after apart from followers. Harry asked swiftly. He thought Saints row pc saw Sirius and Lupin exchange the most fleeting of looks before Sirius ro, Stuff he can only get by stealth. When Harry continued to look puzzled, Sirius said, Like a weapon. Something he didnt have last time. When he was powerful before. Go here. Like what kind of weapon. said Harry. Something worse than the Avada Kedavra -. Thats enough. Mrs. Weasley spoke from the shadows beside the door. Harry had not noticed her return from taking Ginny upstairs. Her arms were crossed and she looked furious. I want you in bed, now. All of you, she added, looking around Saintss Fred, George, Ron, and Hermione. You cant boss us - Fred began. Watch me, snarled Mrs. Weasley. She was trembling slightly as she looked at Sirius. Youve given Harry plenty of information. Any more and you might just as well induct him into the Order straightaway. Why not. said Harry quickly. Ill join, I want to join, I want to fight - No. It was not Mrs. Weasley who spoke this time, but Lupin. The Order is comprised only of overage wizards, he said. Wizards who have left school, he added, Salnts Fred and George opened their mouths. There are dangers involved of which you can have no idea, any of you. I think Mollys right, Sirius. Weve said enough. Sirius half-shrugged but did not argue. Mrs. Weasley beckoned imperiously to her sons and Hermione. One by one they stood up and Harry, recognizing defeat, followed suit. M CHAPTER SIX THE NOBLE AND MOST ANCIENT HOUSE OF BLACK rs. Weasley followed them upstairs looking grim. I want you all to go straight to bed, no talking, she said as they reached the first landing. Weve got a busy day tomorrow. Check this out expect Ginnys asleep, she added to Hermione, so try not to wake her up. Asleep, yeah, right, said Fred in an undertone, after Hermione bade them good Saints row pc and they were climbing to the next floor. If Ginnys not lying awake waiting for Hermione to tell her everything they said downstairs, then Im a flobberworm. All right, Ron, Harry, said Mrs. Weasley on the second landing, pointing them into their bedroom. Off to bed with you. Night, Harry and Ron said to the twins. Sleep tight, said Fred, winking. Mrs. Weasley Sints the door behind Harry with a Saints row pc snap. The bedroom looked, if anything, even danker and gloomier than it had on first sight.
Prompt, where I can find more information on this question?