'Chapter 11 The Firebolt\r'

' encrust didnt portion disc leave forth up a really clear idea of how he had patchaged to get back into the H aneydukes cellar, through the tunnel, and into the fastness at a prison term more than(prenominal). each(prenominal) he knew was t instal on the return trip disclose go out birth heedmed to spot no time at from each angiotensin converting enzyme, and that he on the nose noniced what he was doing, because his draw was bland lb with the conversition he had honorable experience.\r\nWhy had cipher ever told him? Dumbledore, Hagrid, Mr. Weasley, Cornelius confuse…why hadnt e very(prenominal)one ever mentioned the circumstance that call forths parents had died because their best fri terminal had thinkrayed them?\r\nRon and Hermione watched desolate nervously all told through dinner, non daring to talk virtually what theyd allwhereheard, because Percy was seance close by them. When they went upstairs to the displace common manner, i t was to puzzle Fred and George had square mop up off half(a) a dozen Dungbombs in a touch of end-of-term high touch sensations. gravel, who didnt call for Fred and George asking him whether hed reached Hogsmeade or not, sneaked subdued up to the everyplaceturn dormitory and headed straight for his bed look confineet. He pushed his books aside and readyly found what he was verbal expressioning at for — the leather-bound photo record record album Hagrid had given him two days ago, which was full of wizard fits of his develop and father. He sat refine on his bed, draw the hangings near him, and started round the pages, searching, until …\r\nHe s conductped on a picture of his parents wedding day. there was his father waving up at him, beaming, the untidy black hair provoke had inherited standing up in all directions. t moot a leakher was his m another(prenominal), alight with happiness, lace in arm with his daddy. And in that respect…th at must be him. Their best man… chivvy had neer given him a fancy before.\r\nIf he hadnt k right awayn it was the same person, he would neer advance up guessed it was portentous in this old photograph. His pillowcase wasnt sunken and waxy, besides go pastsome, full of express mirthter. Had he al demandy been working for Voldemort when this picture had been restrainn? Was he already planning the deaths of the two people next to him? Did he realize he was facing twelve years in Azkaban, twelve years that would sham him unrecognis able?\r\n barely the Dementors dont affect him, devil mind, staring into the handsome, laughter compositors case. He doesnt have to hear my mammy thigh-slapper if they get withal close —\r\n bother slammed the album shut, reached everyplace and stuffed it back into his cabinet, took off his robe and render and got into bed, making sure as shooting the hangings were hiding him from view.\r\nThe dormitory accession sluttishe d.\r\nâ€Å" fire?” verbalize Rons vocalization uncertainly.\r\n neverthe slight rag lay still, pretending to be asleep. He heard Ron leave over again, and rolled over on his back, his snapper wide open.\r\nA hatred such as he had never drive inn before was cut through through call forth a comparable poison. He could look down(p) express beliefings at him through the darkness, as though individual had pasted the picture from the album over his look. He watched, as though somebody was playing him a piece of film, Sirius Black re headphone Peter Pettigrew (who resembled Neville Longbottom) into a thousand pieces. He could hear (though having no idea what Blacks voice might sound comparable) a low, emotional mutter. â€Å"It has excreteed, My Lord…the Potters have do me their Secret-Keeper” and then came another voice, laughing shrilly, the same laugh that devil heard interior his head whenever the Dementors drew near….\r\nâ€Å" plague , you — you reflexion terrible.”\r\n chivy hadnt gotten to sleep until daybreak. He had awoken to find the dormitory deserted, clotheed, and gone down the curl staircase to a common get on that was wholly abandon except for Ron, who was eating a bilsted Toad and massaging his stomach, and Hermione, who had spread her homework over triple tables.\r\nâ€Å"Where is all(prenominal)one?” state Harry.\r\nâ€Å"Gone! Its the first of all day of the holidays, ring?” verbalize Ron, watching Harry closely. â€Å"Its or so lunchtime; I was going to source and wake you up in a mi cranke.”\r\nHarry slumped into a hold next to the energize. Snow was still falling extracurricular the promotedows. Crookshanks was spread out in preliminary of the fire like a crowing, ginger rug.\r\nâ€Å"You really dont encounter good, you know,” Hermione express, peering anxiously into his face.\r\nâ€Å"Im fine,” give tongue to Harry.\r\n†Å"Harry, listen,” verbalise Hermione, exchanging a look with Ron, â€Å"you must be really up hang astir(predicate) what we heard yesterday. But the thing is, you mustnt go doing whateverthing inconclusive.”\r\nâ€Å" wish well what?” utter Harry.\r\nâ€Å"Like trying to go later on(prenominal) Black,” record Ron sharply.\r\nHarry could manifest they had rehearsed this conversation objet dart he had been asleep. He didnt say anything.\r\nâ€Å"You wont, will you, Harry?” tell Hermione.\r\nâ€Å"Because Blacks not worth dying for,” state Ron.\r\nHarry looked at them. They didnt nailm to at a lower placestand at all.\r\nâ€Å"Dyou know what I insure and hear every time a Dementor gets too near me?” Ron and Hermione move their heads, spirit apprehensive. â€Å"I toilette hear my silent sidesplitter and pleading with Voldemort. And if youd heard your mum screaming like that, just more or less to be killed, you wouldnt leave behind it in a hurry. And if you found out somebody who was supposed to be a friend of hers betrayed her and move Voldemort after her â€â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Theres nothing you can do!” utter Hermione, looking for stricken. â€Å"The Dementors will catch Black and hell go back to Azkaban and — and serve him right!”\r\nâ€Å"You heard what Fudge utter. Black isnt affected by Azkaban like approach pattern people are. Its not a punishment for him like it is for the others.”\r\nâ€Å"So what are you saying?” verbalise Ron, looking very tense. â€Å"You want to — to kill Black or something?”\r\nâ€Å"Dont be silly,” give tongue to Hermione in a terrified voice. â€Å"Harry doesnt want to kill anyone, do you, Harry?”\r\nAgain, Harry didnt answer. He didnt know what he wanted to do. each he knew was that the idea of doing nothing, time Black was at liberty, was nearly more than he could stand.\r\nâ€Å"Malfoy k nows,” he verbalize abruptly. â€Å"Remember what he utter to me in Potions? ‘If it was me, Id hunt him down myself…Id want revenge.”\r\nâ€Å"Youre going to take up Malfoys advice instead of ours?” give tongue to Ron peltiously. â€Å"Listen…you know what Pettigrews mother got back after Black had finished with him? daddy told me — the Order of Merlin, First Class, and Pettigrews finger in a box. That was the biggest sting of him they could find. Blacks a madman, Harry, and hes dangerous â€â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Malfoys dad must have told him,” said Harry, ignoring Ron. â€Å"He was right in Voldemorts inner circle â€â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Say You-Know-Who, will you?” interjected Ron angrily.\r\nâ€Å"†so on the face of it, the Malfoys knew Black was working for Voldemort â€â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"†and Malfoyd love to see you blown into rough a million pieces, like Pettigrew! capture a grip. Malfoys just hopi ng youll get yourself killed before he has to play you at Quidditch.”\r\nâ€Å"Harry, please,” said Hermione, her eyes now shining with tears, â€Å"Please be sensible. Black did a terrible, terrible thing, tho d-dont invest yourself in danger, its what Black wants…Oh, Harry, youd be playing right into Blacks hands if you went looking for him. Your mum and dad wouldnt want you to get hurt, would they? Theyd never want you to go looking for Black!”\r\nâ€Å"Ill never know what theyd have wanted, because thanks to Black, Ive never verbalise to them,” said Harry shortly.\r\nThere was a tranquillity in which Crookshanks stretched luxuriously flexing his claws. Rons firing quivered.\r\nâ€Å"Look,” said Ron, obviously casting most for a change of subject, â€Å"its the holidays! Its nearly Christmas! Lets — lets go down and see Hagrid. We havent visited him for ages!”\r\nâ€Å"No!” said Hermione quickly. â€Å"Harry isnt supposed to leave the castle, Ron â€â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Yeah, lets go,” said Harry, sitting up, â€Å"and I can ask him how come he never mentioned Black when he told me all to the highest degree my parents!”\r\nFurther discussion of Sirius Black plainly wasnt what Ron had had in mind.\r\nâ€Å"Or we could have a game of chess,” he said hastily, â€Å"or Gobstones. Percy leave a cook â€â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"No, lets visit Hagrid,” said Harry firmly.\r\nSo they got their cloaks from their dormitories and set off through the portrait hole (â€Å" rear and fight, you chickenhearted-bel be mongrels!”), down through the empty castle and out through the oak front entrances.\r\nThey make their way slowly down the lawn, making a shallow trench in the look, powdery snow, their socks and the hems of their cloaks besotted and freezing. The Forbidden Forest looked as though it had been enchanted, each tree s contented with silver, and Hagrids cabin looke d like an iced cake.\r\nRon knocked, save when there was no answer.\r\nâ€Å"Hes not out, is he?” said Hermione, who was shudder under her cloak.\r\nRon had his ear to the door.\r\nâ€Å"Theres a weird noise,” he said. â€Å"Listen — is that Fang?”\r\nHarry and Hermione dumbfound their ears to the door too. From inside the cabin came a series of low, throbbing moans.\r\nâ€Å" specify wed better go and get someone?” said Ron nervously.\r\nâ€Å"Hagrid!” called Harry, thumping the door. â€Å"Hagrid, are you in there?”\r\nThere was a sound of heavy footsteps, then the door creaked open. Hagrid stood there with his eyes red and swollen, tears splattering down the front of his leather vest.\r\nâ€Å"Youve heard?” he bellowed, and he flung himself onto Harrys neck.\r\nHagrid being at least double the size of a normal man, this was no laughing matter. Harry, some to collapse under Hagrids weight, was rescued by Ron and Hermione, who each seized Hagrid under an arm and heaved him back into the cabin. Hagrid allowed himself to be steered into a chair and slumped over the table, sobbing uncontrollably, his face glazed with tears that dripped down into his tangled beard.\r\nâ€Å"Hagrid, what is it?” said Hermione, aghast.\r\nHarry spotted an official-looking letter fraud open on the table.\r\nâ€Å"Whats this, Hagrid?”\r\nHagrids sobs redoubled, solely he shoved the letter toward Harry, who picked it up and read aloud:\r\nDear Mr. Hagrid, Further to our motion into the attack by a Hippogriff on a student in your class, we have accepted the assurances of prof Dumbledore that you bear no responsibility for the regrettable incident. â€Å"Well, thats authorize then, Hagrid!” said Ron, clapping Hagrid on the shoulder. But Hagrid go along to sob, and waved one of his gigantic hands, inviting Harry to read on.\r\nHowever, we must register our c erstrn to the highest degree the Hippogriff i n question. We have decided to uphold the official complaint of Mr. Lucius Malfoy, and this matter will therefore be taken to the commission for the judicature of Dangerous Creatures. The hearing will take place on April 20th, and we ask you to presend yourself and your Hippogriff at the Committees offices in London on that date. In the meantime, the Hippogriff should be kept tethered and isolated. Yours in overlookowship … There followed a list of the school governors.\r\nâ€Å"Oh,” said Ron. â€Å"But you said Buckbeak isnt a bad Hippogriff, Hagrid. I bet hell get off.”\r\nâ€Å"Yeh don know them gargoyles at the Committee fer the Disposal o Dangerous Creatures!” choked Hagrid, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. â€Å"Theyve got it in fer interestin creatures!”\r\nA abrupt sound from the corner of Hagrids cabin made Harry, Ron, and Hermione whip around. Buckbeak the Hippogriff was lying in the corner, chew on something that was oozing blood all o ver the foot.\r\nâ€Å"I couldn leave him tied up out there in the snow!” choked Hagrid. â€Å"All on his own! At Christmas.”\r\nHarry, Ron, and Hermione looked at one another. They had never seen eye to eye with Hagrid about what he called ‘interesting creatures and other people called ‘terrifying monsters. On the other hand, there didnt seem to be any particular harm in Buckbeak. In fact, by Hagrids usual standards, he was positively cute.\r\nâ€Å"Youll have to confide up a good sacrosanct defense, Hagrid,” said Hermione, sitting down and laying a hand on Hagrids massive forearm. â€Å"Im sure you can show Buckbeak is safe.”\r\nâ€Å"Won make no diffrence!” sobbed Hagrid. â€Å"Them Disposal devils, theyre all in Lucius Malfoys pocket! Scared o him! Ad if I lose the case, Buckbeak â€â€Å"\r\nHagrid drew his finger swiftly across his throat, then gave a with child(p) wail and lurched forward, his face in his arms.\r\n†Å"What about Dumbledore, Hagrid?” said Harry.\r\nâ€Å"Hes done moren bountiful fer me already,” groaned Hagrid. â€Å"Got enough on his plate what with keepin them Dementors outta the castle, an Sirius Black lurkin around.”\r\nRon and Hermione looked quickly at Harry, as though expecting him to start berating Hagrid for not telling him the truth about Black. But Harry couldnt bring himself to do it, not now that he saw Hagrid so miserable and scared.\r\nâ€Å"Listen, Hagrid,” he said, â€Å"you cant give up. Hermiones right, You just train a good defense. You can call us as witnesses â€â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Im sure Ive read about a case of Hippogriff-baiting,” said Hermione thoughtfully, â€Å"where the Hippogriff got off. Ill look it up for you, Hagrid, and see exactly what happened.”\r\nHagrid howled still more loudly. Harry and Hermione looked at Ron to help them.\r\nâ€Å"Er — shall I make a cup of tea?” said Ron.\r\nHarry stared at him.\r\nâ€Å"Its what my mum does whenever someones upset,” Ron m verbalise, shrugging.\r\nAt last, after many more assurances of help, with a steaming cross of tea in front of him, Hagrid blew his nose on a handkerchief the size of a tablecloth and said, â€Å"Yer right. I can afford to go ter pieces. Gotta pull meself together…”\r\nFang the boarhound came bashfully out from under the table and laid his head on Hagrids knee.\r\nâ€Å"Ive not bin meself lately,” said Hagrid, touch Fang with one hand and mopping his face with the other. â€Å" di reached abou Buckbeak, an no one likin me classes â€â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"We do like them!” lied Hermione at once.\r\nâ€Å"Yeah, theyre great!” said Ron, crossing his fingers under the table. â€Å"Er — how are the flobberworms?”\r\nâ€Å"Dead,” said Hagrid gloomily. â€Å"Too a good deal lettuce.”\r\nâ€Å"Oh no!” said Ron, his lip twitching.\r\n "An them Dementors make me finger ruddy terrible an all,” said Hagrid, with a sudden shudder. â€Å"Gotta walk past em evry time I want a drink in the Three broom handles. ‘S like bein back in Azkaban â€â€Å"\r\nHe fell silent, gulping his tea. Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched him breathlessly. They had never heard Hagrid talk about his brief spell in Azkaban before. After a pause, Hermione said timidly, â€Å"Is it awful in there, Hagrid?”\r\nâ€Å"Yehve no idea,” said Hagrid quietly. â€Å" neer bin anywhere like it. popular opinion I was goin mad. Kep goin over horrible stuff in me mind…the day I got expelled from Hogwarts…day me dad died…day I had ter let Norbert go …”\r\nHis eyes filled with tears. Norbert was the baby dragon Hagrid had once won in a game of computer menus.\r\nâ€Å"Yeh can really commemorate who yeh are after a while. An yeh can really see the point o livin at all. I used ter trust Id jus di e in me sleep. When they let me out, it was like bein born(p) again, evrythin came floodin back, it was the bes feelin in the world. Mind, the Dementors werent keen on lettin me go.”\r\nâ€Å"But you were not guilty!” said Hermione.\r\nHagrid snorted.\r\nâ€Å"Think that matters to them? They don care. Long as theyve got a couple o hundred humans stuck there with em, so they can leech all the happiness out of em, they don give a damn whos guilty an whos not.”\r\nHagrid went quiet for a moment, staring into his tea. Then he said quietly, â€Å"thought o jus letting Buckbeak go …tryin ter make him wing away…but how dyeh explain ter a Hippogriff its gotta go inter hidin? An — an Im scared o breakin the law…” He looked up at them, tears leaking down his face again. â€Å"I don ever want ter go back ter Azkaban.”\r\n??????????*??????????*??????????*??????????*??????????*??????????*\r\nThe trip to Hagrids, though far from fun, h ad nevertheless had the effect Ron and Hermione had hoped. Though Harry had by no means forgotten about Black, he couldnt brood constantly on revenge if he wanted to help Hagrid win his case against the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. He, Ron, and Hermione went to the program library the next day and returned to the empty common room laden with books that might help prepare a defense for Buckbeak. The three of them sat in front of the roaring fire, slowly turning the pages of dusty volumes about famous cases of marauding beasts, speaking occasionally when they ran across something relevant.\r\nâ€Å"Heres something…there was a case in 1722…but the Hippogriff was convicted — ugh, look what they did to it, thats disgusting â€â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"This might help, look — a mantiger savaged someone in 1296, and they let the Manticore off — oh — no, that was sole(prenominal) because everyone was too scared to go near it…â₠¬Â\r\nMeanwhile, in the rest of the castle, the usual princely Christmas decorations had been put up, despite the fact that hardly any of the students remained to enjoy them. Thick streamers of holly and mistletoe were strung along the corridors, mysterious lights shone from inside every suit of armor, and the gravid Hall was filled with its usual twelve Christmas trees, glittering with golden stars. A powerful and delicious nose out of cooking pervaded the corridors, and by Christmas Eve, it had grown so strong that even Scabbers poked his nose out of the shelter of Rons pocket to sniff hopefully at the air.\r\nOn Christmas morning, Harry was woken by Ron throwing his pillow at him.\r\nâ€Å"Oy! Presents!”\r\nHarry reached for his eyeglasses and put them on, squinting through the semi-darkness to the foot of his bed, where a small heap of packages had appeared. Ron was already ripping the opus off his own presents.\r\nâ€Å"Another sweater from Mum…maroon again …see if youve got one.”\r\nHarry had. Mrs. Weasley had sent him a scarlet sweater with the Gryffindor lion knit on the front, also a dozen homemade mince pies, some Christmas cake, and a box of nut brittle. As he travel all these things aside, he saw a long, thin package lying underneath.\r\nâ€Å"Whats that?” said Ron, looking over, a freshly uncover pair of maroon socks in his hand.\r\nâ€Å"Dunno…”\r\nHarry ripped the parcel open and gasped as a magnificent, incandescence sweep up handle rolled out onto his bedspread. Ron dropped his socks and jumped off his bed for a closer look.\r\nâ€Å"I dont believe it,” he said hoarsely.\r\nIt was a Firebolt, identical to the dream broom Harry had gone to see every day in Diagon passageway. Its handle glittered as he picked it up. He could feel it vibrating and let go; it hung in midair, unsupported, at exactly the right height for him to mount it. His eyes moved from the golden registration num ber at the top of the handle, right down to the perfectly smooth, streamlined flog twigs that made up the tail.\r\nâ€Å"Who sent it to you?” said Ron in a hushed voice.\r\nâ€Å"Look and see if theres a card,” said Harry.\r\nRon ripped apart the Firebolts wrappings.\r\nâ€Å"Nothing! Blimey, whod spend that overmuch on you?”\r\nâ€Å"Well,” said Harry, scent stunned, â€Å"Im betting it wasnt the Dursleys.”\r\nâ€Å"I bet it was Dumbledore,” said Ron, now walking around and around the Firebolt, taking in every magnificent inch. â€Å"He sent you the Invisibility Cloak anonymously…”\r\nâ€Å"That was my dads, though,” said Harry. â€Å"Dumbledore was just passing it on to me. He wouldnt spend hundreds of Galleons on me. He cant go good-looking students stuff like this â€â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Thats why he wouldnt say it was from him!” said Ron. â€Å"In case some shutout like Malfoy said it was favoritism. Hey , Harry â€â€ Ron gave a great whoop of laughter — â€Å"Malfoy! Wait til he sees you on this! Hell be sick as a cop! This is an international standard broom, this is!”\r\nâ€Å"I cant believe this,” Harry muttered, rails a hand along the Firebolt, while Ron sank onto Harrys bed, laughing his head off at the thought of Malfoy. â€Å"Whoâ€?”\r\nâ€Å"I know,” said Ron, controlling himself, â€Å"I know who it couldve been — lupine!”\r\nâ€Å"What?” said Harry, now starting to laugh himself â€Å"lupin? Listen, if he had this much gold, hed be able to buy himself some new robes.”\r\nâ€Å"Yeah, but he likes you,” said Ron. â€Å"And he was away when your Nimbus got smashed, and he mightve heard about it and decided to visit Diagon Alley and get this for you â€â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"What dyou mean, he was away?” said Harry. â€Å"He was ill when I was playing in that match.”\r\nâ€Å"Well, he wasnt in the hospital wing,” said Ron. â€Å"I was there, alter out the bedpans on that detention from Snape, remember?”\r\nHarry frowned at Ron.\r\nâ€Å"I cant see Lupin affording something like this.”\r\nâ€Å"Whatre you two laughing about?”\r\nHermione had just come in, wearing her dressing gown and carrying Crookshanks, who was looking very grumpy, with a string of tinsel tied around his neck.\r\nâ€Å"Dont bring him in here!” said Ron, hurriedly snatching Scabbers from the depths of his bed and stowing him in his pajama pocket.\r\nBut Hermione wasnt listening. She dropped Crookshanks onto Seamuss empty bed and stared, open-mouthed, at the Firebolt.\r\nâ€Å"Oh, Harry! Who sent you that?”\r\nâ€Å"No idea,” said Harry. â€Å"There wasnt a card or anything with it.”\r\nTo his great surp plagiarise, Hermione did not appear either excited or intrigued by the news. On the contrary, her face fell, and she bit her lip.\r\n†Å"Whats the matter with you?” said Ron.\r\nâ€Å"I dont know,” said Hermione slowly, â€Å"but its a bit odd, isnt it? I mean, this is supposed to be kinda a good broom, isnt it?”\r\nRon sighed exasperatedly.\r\nâ€Å"Its the best broom there is, Hermione,” he said.\r\nâ€Å"So it mustve been really high-ticket(prenominal)…”\r\nâ€Å"Probably cost more than all the Slytherins brooms put together,” said Ron happily.\r\nâ€Å"Well…whod send Harry something as expensive as that, and not even tell him theyd sent it?” said Hermione.\r\nâ€Å"Who cares?” said Ron impatiently. â€Å"Listen, Harry, can I have a go on it? raft I?”\r\nâ€Å"I dont think anyone should ride that broom just yet!” said Hermione shrilly.\r\nHarry and Ron looked at her.\r\nâ€Å"What dyou think Harrys going to do with it — sweep the floor?” said Ron.\r\nBut before Hermione could answer, Crookshanks sprang from Seamuss b ed, right at Rons chest.\r\nâ€Å"GET — HIM — OUT — OF — HERE!” Ron bellowed as Crookshankss claws ripped his pajamas and Scabbers act a wild escape over his shoulder. Ron seized Scabbers by the tail and aimed a misjudged kick at Crookshanks that hit the trunk at the end of Harrys bed, knocking it over and causing Ron to hop up and down, howling with agony.\r\nCrookshankss fur suddenly stood on end. A shrill, tinny, whistling was cream the room. The Pocket Sneakoscope had become dislodged from Uncle Vernons old socks and was whirling and gleaming on the floor.\r\nâ€Å"I forgot about that!” Harry said, flexure down and picking up the Sneakoscope. â€Å"I never wear those socks if I can help it…”\r\nThe Sneakoscope whirled and whistled in his palm. Crookshanks was hissing and spitting at it.\r\nâ€Å"Youd better take that cat out of here, Hermione,” said Ron furiously, sitting on Harrys bed nursing his toe. â€Å"Cant you shut that thing up?” he added to Harry as Hermione strode out of the room, Crookshankss yellow eyes still fixed maliciously on Ron.\r\nHarry stuffed the Sneakoscope back inside the socks and threw it back into his trunk. All that could be heard now were Rons stifled moans of pain and rage. Scabbers was huddled in Rons hands. It had been a while since Harry had seen him out of Rons pocket, and he was unpleasantly surprised to see that Scabbers, once so fat, was now very tight-fitting; patches of fur seemed to have fallen out too.\r\nâ€Å"Hes not looking too good, is he?” Harry said.\r\nâ€Å"Its stress!” said Ron. â€Å"Hed be fine if that big stupid furball left him alone!”\r\nBut Harry, remembering what the muliebrity at the Magical Menagerie had said about rats living only three years, couldnt help feeling that unless Scabbers had powers he had never revealed, he was reaching the end of his life. And despite Rons frequent complaints that Scabbers was both boring and useless, he was sure Ron would be very miserable if Scabbers died.\r\nChristmas spirit was definitely thin on the ground in the Gryffindor common room that morning. Hermione had shut Crookshanks in her dormitory, but was furious with Ron for trying to kick him; Ron was still fuming about Crookshankss fresh attempt to eat Scabbers. Harry gave up trying to make them talk to each other and devoted himself to examining the Firebolt, which he had brought down to the common room with him. For some reason this seemed to annoy Hermione as well; she didnt say anything, but she kept looking in darkness at the broom as though it too had been criticizing her cat.\r\nAt lunchtime they went down to the Great Hall, to find that the House tables had been moved against the walls again, and that a single table, set for twelve, stood in the middle of the room. profs Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sprout, and Flitwick were there, along with Filch, the caretaker, who had taken off his u sual brown coat and was wearing a very old and rather moldy-looking tailcoat. There were only three other students, two extremely nervous-looking first years and a sullen-faced Slytherin fifth year.\r\nâ€Å"Merry Christmas!” said Dumbledore as Harry, Ron, and Hermione approached the table. â€Å"As there are so a few(prenominal) of us, it seemed foolish to use the House tables… put down, sit down!”\r\nHarry, Ron, and Hermione sat down side by side at the end of the table.\r\nâ€Å" insane!” said Dumbledore enthusiastically, offering the end of a large silver noisemaker to Snape, who took it reluctantly and tugged. With a bang like a gunshot, the cracker flew apart to reveal a large, pointed witches hat topped with a stuffed vulture.\r\nHarry, remembering the Boggart, caught Rons eye and they both grinned; Snapes mouth thinned and he pushed the hat toward Dumbledore, who swapped it for his wizards hat at once.\r\nâ€Å"Dig in!” he advised the table , beaming around.\r\nAs Harry was component part himself to roast potatoes, the doors of the Great Hall opened again. It was professor Trelawney, gliding toward them as though on w leapers. She had put on a green sequined dress in honor of the occasion, making her look more than ever like a glittering, oversized dragonfly.\r\nâ€Å"Sibyll, this is a pleasant surprise!” said Dumbledore, standing up.\r\nâ€Å"I have been crystal gazing, Headmaster,” said prof Trelawney in her mistiest, most faraway voice, â€Å"and to my astonishment, I saw myself abandoning my cave man luncheon and coming to join you. Who am I to refuse the promptings of fate? I at once hastened from my tower, and I do beg you to forgive my lateness…”\r\nâ€Å"Certainly, certainly,” said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. â€Å"Let me draw you up a chair â€â€Å"\r\nAnd he did indeed draw a chair in midair with his wand, which revolved for a few seconds before falling with a thu d surrounded by professors Snape and McGonagall. prof Trelawney, however, did not sit down; her extensive eyes had been roving around the table, and she suddenly uttered a kind of soft scream.\r\nâ€Å"I take for granted not, Headmaster! If I join the table, we shall be thirteen! Nothing could be more unlucky! Never forget that when thirteen dine together, the first to rise will be the first to die!”\r\nâ€Å"Well run a risk it, Sibyll,” said prof McGonagall impatiently. â€Å"Do sit down, the turkeys acquiring stone cold.”\r\nprof Trelawney hesitated, then lowered herself into the empty chair, eyes shut and mouth clenched tight, as though expecting a thunderbolt to hit the table. professor McGonagall poked a large spoon into the nearest tureen.\r\nâ€Å"Tripe, Sibyll?”\r\nprof Trelawney ignored her. Eyes open again, she looked around once more and said, â€Å"But where is dear prof Lupin?”\r\nâ€Å"Im afraid the poor fellow is ill again,â⠂¬Â said Dumbledore, indicating that everybody should start serving themselves. â€Å"Most unfortunate that it should happen on Christmas Day.”\r\nâ€Å"But surely you already knew that, Sibyll?” said Professor McGonagall, her eyebrows raised.\r\nProfessor Trelawney gave Professor McGonagall a very cold look.\r\nâ€Å"Certainly I knew, Minerva,” she said quietly. â€Å"But one does not parade the fact that one is All-Knowing. I frequently act as though I am not possessed of the inner(a) Eye, so as not to make others nervous.”\r\nâ€Å"That explains a great deal,” said Professor McGonagall tartly.\r\nProfessor Trelawneys voice suddenly became a good deal less misty.\r\nâ€Å"If you must know, Minerva, I have seen that poor Professor Lupin will not be with us for very long. He seems aware, himself, that his time is short. He positively fled when I offered to crystal gaze for him â€â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Imagine that,” said Professor McGonagall dryly.\r\nâ€Å"I doubt,” said Dumbledore, in a cheerful but slightly raised voice, which put an end to Professor McGonagall and Professor Trelawneys conversation, â€Å"that Professor Lupin is in any immediate danger. Severus, youve made the potion for him again?”\r\nâ€Å"Yes, Headmaster,” said Snape.\r\nâ€Å"Good,” said Dumbledore. â€Å"Then he should be up and about in no time…Derek, have you had any of the chipolatas? Theyre excellent.”\r\nThe first-year boy went furiously red on being addressed outright by Dumbledore, and took the platter of sausages with trembling hands.\r\nProfessor Trelawney behaved almost normally until the very end of Christmas dinner, two hours later. dependable to bursting with Christmas dinner and still wearing their cracker hats, Harry and Ron got up first from the table and she shrieked loudly.\r\nâ€Å"My dears! Which of you left his seat first? Which?”\r\nâ€Å"Dunno,” said Ron, looking a nxiously at Harry.\r\nâ€Å"I doubt it will make much difference,” said Professor McGonagall coldly, â€Å"unless a mad axe-man is waiting outside the doors to slaughter the first into the beguile Hall.”\r\nEven Ron laughed. Professor Trelawney looked highly affronted.\r\nâ€Å"Coming?” Harry said to Hermione.\r\nâ€Å"No,” Hermione muttered. â€Å"I want a quick word with Professor McGonagall.”\r\nâ€Å"Probably trying to see if she can take any more classes,” yawned Ron as they make their way into the Entrance Hall, which was completely bleak of mad axe-men.\r\nWhen they reached the portrait hole they found Sir Cadogan enjoying a Christmas part with a couple of monks, several previous(prenominal) headmasters of Hogwarts and his fat pony. He pushed up his visor toast them with a flagon of mead.\r\nâ€Å"Merry — hic — Christmas! Password?”\r\nâ€Å"Scurvy cur,” said Ron.\r\nâ€Å"And the same to you, sir! roare d Sir Cadogan, as the painting swung forward to undertake them.\r\nHarry went straight up to the dormitory, collected his Firebolt and the Broomstick Servicing Kit Hermione had given him for his birthday, brought them downstairs and assay to find something to do with the Firebolt; however, there where no bend twigs to clip, and the handle was so shiny already it seemed surplus to polish it. He and Ron simply sat admiring it from every angle, until the portrait hole opened, and Hermione came in, accompanied by Professor McGonagall.\r\nThough Professor McGonagall was Head of Gryffindor House, Harry had only seen her in the common room once before, and that had been to make a very grave announcement. He and Ron stared at her, both holding the Firebolt. Hermione walked around them, sat down, picked up the nearest book and hid her face behind it.\r\nâ€Å"So thats it, is it?” said Professor McGonagall beadily, walking over to the abode and staring at the Firebolt. â€Å"Miss Granger has just informed me that you have been sent a broomstick, Potter.”\r\nHarry and Ron looked around at Hermione. They could see her forehead reddening over the top of her book, which was upside-down.\r\nâ€Å"May I?” said Professor McGonagall, but she didnt wait for an answer before force the Firebolt out of their hands. She examined it carefully from handle to twig-ends. â€Å"Hmm. And there was no note at all, Potter? No card? No message of any kind?”\r\nâ€Å"No,” said Harry blankly.\r\nâ€Å"I see…” said Professor McGonagall. â€Å"Well, Im afraid I will have to take this, Potter.”\r\nâ€Å"W — what?” said Harry, scrambling to his feet. â€Å"Why?”\r\nâ€Å"It will need to be checked for jinxes,” said Professor McGonagall. â€Å"Of course, Im no expert, but I daresay Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick will strip it down â€â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Strip it down?” repeated Ron, as though Professo r McGonagall was mad.\r\nâ€Å"It shouldnt take more than a few weeks,” said Professor McGonagall. â€Å"You will have it back if we are sure it is jinx-free.”\r\nâ€Å"Theres nothing wrong with it!” said Harry, his voice shudder slightly. â€Å"Honestly, Professor â€â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"You cant know that, Potter,” said Professor McGonagall, quite kindly, â€Å"not until youve flown it, at any rate, and Im afraid that is out of the question until we are certain that it has not been tampered with. I shall keep you informed.”\r\nProfessor McGonagall turned on her heel and carried the Firebolt out of the portrait hole, which closed behind her. Harry stood staring after her, the tin of High-Finish Polish still clutched in his hands. Ron, however, rounded on Hermione.\r\nâ€Å"What did you go running to McGonagall for?”\r\nHermione threw her book aside. She was still pink in the face, but stood up and faced Ron defiantly.\r\nâ€Å"Because I th ought — and Professor McGonagall agrees with me — that that broom was probably sent to Harry by Sirius Black!”\r\n'