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?' Harry heard her ask as they arrived at the trestle table where the group of captive Bowtruckles were scrabbling around for woodlice like so many living twigs. 'Quite correct,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank, hands behind her back and bouncing on the balls of her feet. 'I am a substitute teacher standing in for Professor Hagrid.' Harry exchanged uneasy looks with DECLAN and Hermione. Malfoy was whispering with Crabbe and Goyle; he would surely love this opportunity to tell tales on Hagrid to a member of the Ministry. 'Hmm,' said Professor Umbridge, dropping her voice, though Harry could still hear her quite clearly. 'I wonder - the Headmaster seems strangely reluctant to give me any information on the matter - can you tell me what is causing Professor Hagrid's very extended leave of absence?' Harry saw Malfoy look up eagerly and watch Umbridge and Grubbly-Plank closely. ''Fraid I can't,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank breezily. 'Don't know anything more about it than you do. Got an owl from Dumbledore, would I like a couple of weeks' teaching, work. I accepted. That's as much as I know. Well... shall I get started then?' 'Yes, please do,' said Professor Umbridge, scribbling on her clipboard. Umbridge took a different tack in this class and wandered amongst the students, questioning them on magical creatures. Most people were able to answer well and Harry's spirits lifted somewhat; at least the class was not letting Hagrid down. 'Overall,' said Professor Umbridge, returning to Professor Grubbly-Plank's side after a lengthy interrogation of Dean Thomas, 'how do you, as a temporary member of staff- an objective outsider, I suppose you might say - how do you find Hogwarts? Do you feel you receive enough support from the school management?' 'Oh, yes, Dumbledore's excellent,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank heartily. 'Yes, I'm very happy with the way things are run, very happy indeed.'

Harry heard her ask as they arrived at the trestle table where the group of captive Bowtruckles were scrabbling around for woodlice like so many living twigs. 'Quite correct,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank, hands behind her back and bouncing on the balls of her feet. 'I am a substitute teacher standing in for Professor Hagrid.' Harry exchanged uneasy looks with DECLAN and Hermione. Malfoy was whispering with Crabbe and Goyle; he would surely love this opportunity to tell tales on Hagrid to a member of the Ministry. 'Hmm,' said Professor Umbridge, dropping her voice, though Harry could still hear her quite clearly. 'I wonder - the Headmaster seems strangely reluctant to give me any information on the matter - can you tell me what is causing Professor Hagrid's very extended leave of absence?' Harry saw Malfoy look up eagerly and watch Umbridge and Grubbly-Plank closely. ''Fraid I can't,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank breezily. 'Don't know anything more about it than you do. Got an owl from Dumbledore, would I like a couple of weeks' teaching, work. I accepted. That's as much as I know. Well... shall I get started then?' 'Yes, please do,' said Professor Umbridge, scribbling on her clipboard. Umbridge took a different tack in this class and wandered amongst the students, questioning them on magical creatures. Most people were able to answer well and Harry's spirits lifted somewhat; at least the class was not letting Hagrid down. 'Overall,' said Professor Umbridge, returning to Professor Grubbly-Plank's side after a lengthy interrogation of Dean Thomas, 'how do you, as a temporary member of staff- an objective outsider, I suppose you might say - how do you find Hogwarts? Do you feel you receive enough support from the school management?' 'Oh, yes, Dumbledore's excellent,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank heartily. 'Yes, I'm very happy with the way things are run, very happy indeed.'

Looking politely incredulous, Umbridge made a tiny note on her clipboard and went on, 'And what are you planning to cover with this class this year - assuming, of course, that Professor Hagrid does not return?' 'Oh, I'll take them through the creatures that most often come up in OWL,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank. 'Not much left to do - they've studied unicorns and Nifflers, I thought we'd cover Porlocks and Kneazles, make sure they can recognise Crups and Knarls, you know...' 'Well, you seem to know what you're doing, at any rate,' said Professor Umbridge, making a very obvious tick on her clipboard. Harry did not like the emphasis she put on 'you' and liked it even less when she put her next question to Goyle. 'Now, I hear there have been injuries in this class?' Goyle gave a stupid grin. Malfoy hastened to answer the question. That was me,' he said. 'I was slashed by a Hippogriff.' 'A Hippogriff?' said Professor Umbridge, now scribbling frantically. 'Only because he was too stupid to listen to what Hagrid told him to do,' said Harry angrily. Both CALLUM and Hermione groaned. Professor Umbridge turned her head slowly in Harry's direction. 'Another night's detention, I think,' she said softly. 'Well, thank you very much, Professor Grubbly-Plank, I think that's all I need here. You will be receiving the results of your inspection within ten days.' 'Jolly good,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank, and Professor Umbridge set off back across the lawn to the castle. * It was nearly midnight when Harry left Umbridge's office that night, his hand now bleeding so severely that it was staining the scarf he had wrapped around it. He expected the common room to be empty when he returned, but WILLIAM and Hermione had sat up waiting for him. He was pleased to see them, especially as Hermione was disposed to be sympathetic rather than

politely incredulous, Umbridge made a tiny note on her clipboard and went on, 'And what are you planning to cover with this class this year - assuming, of course, that Professor Hagrid does not return?' 'Oh, I'll take them through the creatures that most often come up in OWL,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank. 'Not much left to do - they've studied unicorns and Nifflers, I thought we'd cover Porlocks and Kneazles, make sure they can recognise Crups and Knarls, you know...' 'Well, you seem to know what you're doing, at any rate,' said Professor Umbridge, making a very obvious tick on her clipboard. Harry did not like the emphasis she put on 'you' and liked it even less when she put her next question to Goyle. 'Now, I hear there have been injuries in this class?' Goyle gave a stupid grin. Malfoy hastened to answer the question. That was me,' he said. 'I was slashed by a Hippogriff.' 'A Hippogriff?' said Professor Umbridge, now scribbling frantically. 'Only because he was too stupid to listen to what Hagrid told him to do,' said Harry angrily. Both CALLUM and Hermione groaned. Professor Umbridge turned her head slowly in Harry's direction. 'Another night's detention, I think,' she said softly. 'Well, thank you very much, Professor Grubbly-Plank, I think that's all I need here. You will be receiving the results of your inspection within ten days.' 'Jolly good,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank, and Professor Umbridge set off back across the lawn to the castle. * It was nearly midnight when Harry left Umbridge's office that night, his hand now bleeding so severely that it was staining the scarf he had wrapped around it. He expected the common room to be empty when he returned, but WILLIAM and Hermione had sat up waiting for him. He was pleased to see them, especially as Hermione was disposed to be sympathetic rather than

critical. 'Here,' she said anxiously, pushing a small bowl of yellow liquid towards him,'soak your hand in that, it's a solution of strained and pickled Murtlap tentacles, it should help.' Harry placed his bleeding, aching hand into the bowl and experienced a wonderful feeling of relief. Crookshanks curled around his legs, purring loudly, then leapt into his lap and settled down. Thanks,' he said gratefully, scratching behind Crookshanks's ears with his left hand. 'I still reckon you should complain about this,' said XAVIER in a low voice. 'No,' said Harry flatly. 'McGonagall would go nuts if she knew - ' 'Yeah, she probably would,' said Harry dully. 'And how long do you reckon it'd take Umbridge to pass another decree saying anyone who complains about the High Inquisitor gets sacked immediately?' VICTOR opened his mouth to retort but nothing came out and, after a moment, he closed it again, defeated. 'She's an awful woman,' said Hermione in a small voice. 'Awful. You know, I was just saying to RHYS when you came in... we've got to do something about her.' 'I suggested poison,' said IAIN grimly. 'No... I mean, something about what a dreadful teacher she is, and how we're not going to learn any Defence from her at all,' said Hermione. 'Well, what can we do about that?' said TRISTAN, yawning. "S too late, isn't it? She's got the job, she's here to stay. Fudge'll make sure of that.' 'Well,' said Hermione tentatively. 'You know, I was thinking today...' she shot a slightly nervous look at Harry and then plunged on, 'I was thinking that - maybe the time's come when we should just - just do it ourselves.' 'Do what ourselves?' said Harry suspiciously, still floating his hand in the essence of Murtlap tentacles.

. 'Here,' she said anxiously, pushing a small bowl of yellow liquid towards him,'soak your hand in that, it's a solution of strained and pickled Murtlap tentacles, it should help.' Harry placed his bleeding, aching hand into the bowl and experienced a wonderful feeling of relief. Crookshanks curled around his legs, purring loudly, then leapt into his lap and settled down. Thanks,' he said gratefully, scratching behind Crookshanks's ears with his left hand. 'I still reckon you should complain about this,' said XAVIER in a low voice. 'No,' said Harry flatly. 'McGonagall would go nuts if she knew - ' 'Yeah, she probably would,' said Harry dully. 'And how long do you reckon it'd take Umbridge to pass another decree saying anyone who complains about the High Inquisitor gets sacked immediately?' VICTOR opened his mouth to retort but nothing came out and, after a moment, he closed it again, defeated. 'She's an awful woman,' said Hermione in a small voice. 'Awful. You know, I was just saying to RHYS when you came in... we've got to do something about her.' 'I suggested poison,' said IAIN grimly. 'No... I mean, something about what a dreadful teacher she is, and how we're not going to learn any Defence from her at all,' said Hermione. 'Well, what can we do about that?' said TRISTAN, yawning. "S too late, isn't it? She's got the job, she's here to stay. Fudge'll make sure of that.' 'Well,' said Hermione tentatively. 'You know, I was thinking today...' she shot a slightly nervous look at Harry and then plunged on, 'I was thinking that - maybe the time's come when we should just - just do it ourselves.' 'Do what ourselves?' said Harry suspiciously, still floating his hand in the essence of Murtlap tentacles.

'Well - learn Defence Against the Dark Arts ourselves, said Hermione. 'Come off it,' groaned OWEN. 'You want us to do extra work? D'you realise Harry and I are behind on homework again and it's only the second week?' 'But this is much more important than homework!' said Hermione. Harry and RHYS goggled at her. 'I didn't think there was anything in the universe more important than homework!' said ALISTAIR. 'Don't be silly, of course there is,' said Hermione, and Harry saw, with an ominous feeling, that her face was suddenly alight with the kind of fervour that SPEW usually inspired in her. 'It's about preparing ourselves, like Harry said in Umbridge's first lesson, for what's waiting for us out there. It's about making sure we really can defend ourselves. If we don't learn anything for a whole year - ' 'We can't do much by ourselves,' said CALLUM in a defeated voice. 'I mean, all right, we can go and look jinxes up in the library and try and practise them, I suppose - ' 'No, I agree, we've gone past the stage where we can just learn things out of books,' said Hermione. 'We need a teacher, a proper one, who can show us how to use the spells and correct us if we're going wrong.' 'If you're talking about Lupin...' Harry began. 'No, no, I'm not talking about Lupin,' said Hermione. 'He's too busy with the Order and, anyway, the most we could see him is during Hogsmeade weekends and that's not nearly often enough.' 'Who, then?' said Harry, frowning at her. Hermione heaved a very deep sigh. 'Isn't it obvious?' she said. 'I'm talking about you, Harry.' There was a moment's silence. A light night breeze rattled the windowpanes behind SEAMUS, and the fire guttered. 'About me what?' said Harry.

Well - learn Defence Against the Dark Arts ourselves, said Hermione. 'Come off it,' groaned OWEN. 'You want us to do extra work? D'you realise Harry and I are behind on homework again and it's only the second week?' 'But this is much more important than homework!' said Hermione. Harry and RHYS goggled at her. 'I didn't think there was anything in the universe more important than homework!' said ALISTAIR. 'Don't be silly, of course there is,' said Hermione, and Harry saw, with an ominous feeling, that her face was suddenly alight with the kind of fervour that SPEW usually inspired in her. 'It's about preparing ourselves, like Harry said in Umbridge's first lesson, for what's waiting for us out there. It's about making sure we really can defend ourselves. If we don't learn anything for a whole year - ' 'We can't do much by ourselves,' said CALLUM in a defeated voice. 'I mean, all right, we can go and look jinxes up in the library and try and practise them, I suppose - ' 'No, I agree, we've gone past the stage where we can just learn things out of books,' said Hermione. 'We need a teacher, a proper one, who can show us how to use the spells and correct us if we're going wrong.' 'If you're talking about Lupin...' Harry began. 'No, no, I'm not talking about Lupin,' said Hermione. 'He's too busy with the Order and, anyway, the most we could see him is during Hogsmeade weekends and that's not nearly often enough.' 'Who, then?' said Harry, frowning at her. Hermione heaved a very deep sigh. 'Isn't it obvious?' she said. 'I'm talking about you, Harry.' There was a moment's silence. A light night breeze rattled the windowpanes behind SEAMUS, and the fire guttered. 'About me what?' said Harry.

'I'm talking about you teaching us Defence Against the Dark Arts.' Harry stared at her. Then he turned to LIAM, ready to exchange the exasperated looks they sometimes shared when Hermione elaborated on far-fetched schemes like SPEW. To Harry's consternation, however, MILES did not look exasperated. He was frowning slightly, apparently thinking. Then he said, 'That's an idea.' 'What's an idea?' said Harry. 'You,' said KEIR. Teaching us to do it.' 'But...' Harry was grinning now, sure the pair of them were pulling his leg. 'But I'm not a teacher, I can't - ' 'Harry, you're the best in the year at Defence Against the Dark Arts,' said Hermione. 'Me?' said Harry now grinning more broadly than ever. 'No I'm rot, you've beaten me in every test - ' 'Actually I haven't,' said Hermione coolly. 'You beat me in our turd year - the only year we both sat the test and had a teacher who actually knew the subject. But I'm not talking about test results, Harry. Think what you've clone!' 'How d'you mean?' 'You know what, I'm not sure I want someone this stupid teaching me,' SEAMUS said to Hermione, smirking slightly. He turned to Harry. 'Let's think,' he said, pulling a face like Goyle concentrating. 'Uh... first year - you saved the Philosopher's Stone from You-Know-Who.' 'But that was luck,' said Harry, 'it wasn't skill - ' 'Second year,' HAMISH interrupted, 'you killed the Basilisk and destroyed Riddle.' 'Yeah, but if Fawkes hadn't turned up, I - ' Third year,' said FINLAY, louder still, 'you fought off about a hundred Dementors at once - ' 'You know that was a fluke, if the Time-Turner hadn't - '

I'm talking about you teaching us Defence Against the Dark Arts.' Harry stared at her. Then he turned to LIAM, ready to exchange the exasperated looks they sometimes shared when Hermione elaborated on far-fetched schemes like SPEW. To Harry's consternation, however, MILES did not look exasperated. He was frowning slightly, apparently thinking. Then he said, 'That's an idea.' 'What's an idea?' said Harry. 'You,' said KEIR. Teaching us to do it.' 'But...' Harry was grinning now, sure the pair of them were pulling his leg. 'But I'm not a teacher, I can't - ' 'Harry, you're the best in the year at Defence Against the Dark Arts,' said Hermione. 'Me?' said Harry now grinning more broadly than ever. 'No I'm rot, you've beaten me in every test - ' 'Actually I haven't,' said Hermione coolly. 'You beat me in our turd year - the only year we both sat the test and had a teacher who actually knew the subject. But I'm not talking about test results, Harry. Think what you've clone!' 'How d'you mean?' 'You know what, I'm not sure I want someone this stupid teaching me,' SEAMUS said to Hermione, smirking slightly. He turned to Harry. 'Let's think,' he said, pulling a face like Goyle concentrating. 'Uh... first year - you saved the Philosopher's Stone from You-Know-Who.' 'But that was luck,' said Harry, 'it wasn't skill - ' 'Second year,' HAMISH interrupted, 'you killed the Basilisk and destroyed Riddle.' 'Yeah, but if Fawkes hadn't turned up, I - ' Third year,' said FINLAY, louder still, 'you fought off about a hundred Dementors at once - ' 'You know that was a fluke, if the Time-Turner hadn't - '

'Last year,' MILES said, almost shouting now, 'you fought off You-know-Who again - ' 'Listen to me!' said Harry, almost angrily, because HAMISH and Hermione were both smirking now. 'Just listen to me, all right? It sounds great when you say it like that, but all that stuff was luck - I didn't know what I was doing half the time, I didn't plan any of it, I just did whatever I could think of, and I nearly always had help - ' DECLAN and Hermione were still smirking and Harry felt his temper rise; he wasn't even sure why he was feeling so angry. 'Don't sit there grinning like you know better than I do, I was there, wasn't I?' he said heatedly. 'I know what went on, all right? And I didn't get through any of that because I was brilliant at Defence Against the Dark Arts, I got through it all because - because help came at the right time, or because I guessed right - but I just blundered through it all, I didn't have a clue what I was doing - 'STOP LAUGHING!' The bowl of Murtlap essence fell to the floor and smashed. He became aware that he was on his feet, though he couldn't remember standing up. Crookshanks streaked away under a sofa. HAMISH and Hermione's smiles had vanished. 'You don't know what it's like! You - neither of you - you've never had to face him, have you? You think it's just memorising a bunch of spells and throwing them at him, like you're in class or something? The whole time you're sure you know there's nothing between you and dying except your own - your own brain or guts or whatever - 'like you can think straight when you know you're about a nanosecond from being murdered, or tortured, or watching your friends die - 'they've never taught us that in their classes, what it's like to deal with things like that - and you two sit there acting like I'm a clever little boy to be standing here, alive, like Diggory was stupid

Last year,' MILES said, almost shouting now, 'you fought off You-know-Who again - ' 'Listen to me!' said Harry, almost angrily, because HAMISH and Hermione were both smirking now. 'Just listen to me, all right? It sounds great when you say it like that, but all that stuff was luck - I didn't know what I was doing half the time, I didn't plan any of it, I just did whatever I could think of, and I nearly always had help - ' DECLAN and Hermione were still smirking and Harry felt his temper rise; he wasn't even sure why he was feeling so angry. 'Don't sit there grinning like you know better than I do, I was there, wasn't I?' he said heatedly. 'I know what went on, all right? And I didn't get through any of that because I was brilliant at Defence Against the Dark Arts, I got through it all because - because help came at the right time, or because I guessed right - but I just blundered through it all, I didn't have a clue what I was doing - 'STOP LAUGHING!' The bowl of Murtlap essence fell to the floor and smashed. He became aware that he was on his feet, though he couldn't remember standing up. Crookshanks streaked away under a sofa. HAMISH and Hermione's smiles had vanished. 'You don't know what it's like! You - neither of you - you've never had to face him, have you? You think it's just memorising a bunch of spells and throwing them at him, like you're in class or something? The whole time you're sure you know there's nothing between you and dying except your own - your own brain or guts or whatever - 'like you can think straight when you know you're about a nanosecond from being murdered, or tortured, or watching your friends die - 'they've never taught us that in their classes, what it's like to deal with things like that - and you two sit there acting like I'm a clever little boy to be standing here, alive, like Diggory was stupid

, like he messed up - you just don't get it, that could just as easily have been me, it would have been if Voldemort hadn't needed me -' 'We weren't saying anything like that, mate,' said VICTOR, looking aghast. 'We weren't having a go at Diggory, we didn't - you've got the wrong end of the - ' He looked helplessly at Hermione, whose face was stricken. 'Harry,' she said timidly, 'don't you see? This... this is exactly why we need you... we need to know what it's r-really like... facing him... facing V-Voldemort.' It was the first time she had ever said Voldemort's name and it was this, more than anything else, that calmed Harry. Still breathing hard, he sank back into his chair, becoming aware as he did so that his hand was throbbing horribly again. He wished he had not smashed the bowl of Murtlap essence 'Well... think about it,' said Hermione quietly. 'Please?' Harry could not think of anything to say. He was feeling ashamed of his outburst already. He nodded, hardly aware of what he was agreeing to. Hermione stood up. 'Well, I'm off to bed,' she said, in a voice that was clearly as natural as she could make it. 'Erm... night.' EWAN had got to his feet, too. 'Coming?' he said awkwardly to Harry. 'Yeah,' said Harry. 'In... in a minute. I'll just clear this up.' He indicated the smashed bowl on the floor. IAIN nodded and left. 'Reparo,' Harry muttered, pointing his wand at the broken pieces of china. They flew back together, good as new, but there was no returning the Murtlap essence to the bowl. He was suddenly so tired he was tempted to sink back into his armchair and sleep there, but instead he forced himself to his feet and followed DECLAN up

like he messed up - you just don't get it, that could just as easily have been me, it would have been if Voldemort hadn't needed me -' 'We weren't saying anything like that, mate,' said VICTOR, looking aghast. 'We weren't having a go at Diggory, we didn't - you've got the wrong end of the - ' He looked helplessly at Hermione, whose face was stricken. 'Harry,' she said timidly, 'don't you see? This... this is exactly why we need you... we need to know what it's r-really like... facing him... facing V-Voldemort.' It was the first time she had ever said Voldemort's name and it was this, more than anything else, that calmed Harry. Still breathing hard, he sank back into his chair, becoming aware as he did so that his hand was throbbing horribly again. He wished he had not smashed the bowl of Murtlap essence 'Well... think about it,' said Hermione quietly. 'Please?' Harry could not think of anything to say. He was feeling ashamed of his outburst already. He nodded, hardly aware of what he was agreeing to. Hermione stood up. 'Well, I'm off to bed,' she said, in a voice that was clearly as natural as she could make it. 'Erm... night.' EWAN had got to his feet, too. 'Coming?' he said awkwardly to Harry. 'Yeah,' said Harry. 'In... in a minute. I'll just clear this up.' He indicated the smashed bowl on the floor. IAIN nodded and left. 'Reparo,' Harry muttered, pointing his wand at the broken pieces of china. They flew back together, good as new, but there was no returning the Murtlap essence to the bowl. He was suddenly so tired he was tempted to sink back into his armchair and sleep there, but instead he forced himself to his feet and followed DECLAN up

stairs. His restless night was punctuated once more by dreams of long corridors and locked doors and he awoke next day with his scar prickling again. - CHAPTER SIXTEEN - In the Hog's Head Hermione made no mention of Harry giving Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons for two whole weeks after her original suggestion. Harry's detentions with Umbridge were finally over (he doubted whether the words now etched into the back of his hand would ever fade entirely); TRISTAN had had four more Quidditch practices and not been shouted at during the last two; and all three of them had managed to Vanish their mice in Transfiguration (Hermione had actually progressed to Vanishing kittens), before the subject was broached again, on a wild, blustery evening at the end of September, when the three of them were sitting in the library, looking up potion ingredients for Snape. 'I was wondering,' Hermione said suddenly, 'whether you'd thought any more about Defence Against the Dark Arts, Harry.' 'Course I have,' said Harry grumpily, 'can't forget it, can we, with that hag teaching us - ' 'I meant the idea IAIN and I had -'ALISTAIR cast her an alarmed, threatening kind of look. She frowned at him, '- Oh, all right, the idea I had, then - about you teaching us.' Harry did not answer at once. He pretended to be perusing a page of Asiatic Anti-Venoms, because he did not want to say what was in his mind. He had given the matter a great deal of thought over the past fortnight. Sometimes it seemed an insane idea, just as it had on the night Hermione had proposed it, but at others, he had found himself thinking about the spells that had served him best in his various encounters with Dark creatures and Death Eaters - found himself, in fact, subconsciously planning lessons... 'Well,' he said slowly, when he could no longer pretend to find Asiatic Anti-Venoms interesting, 'yeah, I - I've thought about it a bit.' 'And

airs. His restless night was punctuated once more by dreams of long corridors and locked doors and he awoke next day with his scar prickling again. - CHAPTER SIXTEEN - In the Hog's Head Hermione made no mention of Harry giving Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons for two whole weeks after her original suggestion. Harry's detentions with Umbridge were finally over (he doubted whether the words now etched into the back of his hand would ever fade entirely); TRISTAN had had four more Quidditch practices and not been shouted at during the last two; and all three of them had managed to Vanish their mice in Transfiguration (Hermione had actually progressed to Vanishing kittens), before the subject was broached again, on a wild, blustery evening at the end of September, when the three of them were sitting in the library, looking up potion ingredients for Snape. 'I was wondering,' Hermione said suddenly, 'whether you'd thought any more about Defence Against the Dark Arts, Harry.' 'Course I have,' said Harry grumpily, 'can't forget it, can we, with that hag teaching us - ' 'I meant the idea IAIN and I had -'ALISTAIR cast her an alarmed, threatening kind of look. She frowned at him, '- Oh, all right, the idea I had, then - about you teaching us.' Harry did not answer at once. He pretended to be perusing a page of Asiatic Anti-Venoms, because he did not want to say what was in his mind. He had given the matter a great deal of thought over the past fortnight. Sometimes it seemed an insane idea, just as it had on the night Hermione had proposed it, but at others, he had found himself thinking about the spells that had served him best in his various encounters with Dark creatures and Death Eaters - found himself, in fact, subconsciously planning lessons... 'Well,' he said slowly, when he could no longer pretend to find Asiatic Anti-Venoms interesting, 'yeah, I - I've thought about it a bit.' 'And

?' said Hermione eagerly. 'I dunno,' said Harry, playing for time. He looked up at XAVIER. 'I thought it was a good idea from the start,' said NIALL, who seemed keener to join in this conversation now that he was sure Harry was not going to start shouting again. Harry shifted uncomfortably in his chair. 'You did listen to what I said about a load of it being luck, didn't you?' 'Yes, Harry,' said Hermione gently, 'but all the same, there's no point pretending that you're not good at Defence Against the Dark Arts, because you are. You were the only person last year who could throw off the Imperius Curse completely, you can produce a Patronus, you can do all sorts of stuff that full-grown wizards can't, Viktor always said - ' SEAMUS looked round at her so fast he appeared to crick his neck. Rubbing it, he said, 'Yeah? What did Vicky say?' 'Ho ho,' said Hermione in a bored voice. 'He said Harry knew how to do stuff even he didn't, and he was in the final year at Durmstrang.' NIALL was looking at Hermione suspiciously. 'You're not still in contact with him, are you?' 'So what if I am.?' said Hermione coolly, though her face was a little pink. 'I can have a pen-pal if I - ' 'He didn't only want to be your pen-pal,' said OWEN accusingly. Hermione shook her head exasperatedly and, ignoring CALLUM, who was continuing to watch her, said to Harry, 'Well, what do you think? Will you teach us?' 'Just you and FINLAY, yeah?' 'Well,' said Hermione, looking a mite anxious again. 'Well... now, don't fly off the handle again, Harry, please... but I really think you ought to teach anyone who wants to learn. I mean, we're talking about defending ourselves against V-Voldemort. Oh, don't be path

said Hermione eagerly. 'I dunno,' said Harry, playing for time. He looked up at XAVIER. 'I thought it was a good idea from the start,' said NIALL, who seemed keener to join in this conversation now that he was sure Harry was not going to start shouting again. Harry shifted uncomfortably in his chair. 'You did listen to what I said about a load of it being luck, didn't you?' 'Yes, Harry,' said Hermione gently, 'but all the same, there's no point pretending that you're not good at Defence Against the Dark Arts, because you are. You were the only person last year who could throw off the Imperius Curse completely, you can produce a Patronus, you can do all sorts of stuff that full-grown wizards can't, Viktor always said - ' SEAMUS looked round at her so fast he appeared to crick his neck. Rubbing it, he said, 'Yeah? What did Vicky say?' 'Ho ho,' said Hermione in a bored voice. 'He said Harry knew how to do stuff even he didn't, and he was in the final year at Durmstrang.' NIALL was looking at Hermione suspiciously. 'You're not still in contact with him, are you?' 'So what if I am.?' said Hermione coolly, though her face was a little pink. 'I can have a pen-pal if I - ' 'He didn't only want to be your pen-pal,' said OWEN accusingly. Hermione shook her head exasperatedly and, ignoring CALLUM, who was continuing to watch her, said to Harry, 'Well, what do you think? Will you teach us?' 'Just you and FINLAY, yeah?' 'Well,' said Hermione, looking a mite anxious again. 'Well... now, don't fly off the handle again, Harry, please... but I really think you ought to teach anyone who wants to learn. I mean, we're talking about defending ourselves against V-Voldemort. Oh, don't be path

etic, VICTOR. It doesn't seem fair if we don't offer the chance to other people.' Harry considered this for a moment, then said, 'Yeah, but I doubt anyone except you two would want to be taught by me. I'm a nutter, remember?' 'Well, I think you might be surprised how many people would be interested in hearing what you've got to say,' said Hermione seriously. 'Look,' she leaned towards him - WILLIAM, who was still watching her with a frown on his face, leaned forwards to listen too - 'you know the first weekend in October's a Hogsmeade weekend? How would it be if we tell anyone who's interested to meet us in the village and we can talk it over?' 'Why do we have to do it outside school?' said EWAN. 'Because,' said Hermione, returning to the diagram of the Chinese Chomping Cabbage she was copying, 'I don't think Umbridge would be very happy if she found out what we were up to.' * Harry had been looking forward to the weekend trip into Hogsmeade, but there was one thing worrying him. Sirius had maintained a stony silence since he had appeared in the fire at the beginning of September; Harry knew they had made him angry by saying they didn't want him to come - but he still worried from time to time that Sirius might throw caution to the winds and turn up anyway. What were they going to do if the great black dog came bounding up the street towards them in Hogsmeade, perhaps under the nose of Draco Malfoy? 'Well, you can't blame him for wanting to get out and about,' said RHYS, when Harry discussed his fears with him and Hermione. 'I mean, he's been on the run for over two years, hasn't he, and I know that can't have been a laugh, but at least he was free, wasn't he? And now he's just shut up all the time with that ghastly elf.' Hermione scowled at ANGUS, but otherwise ignored the slight on Kreacher. The trouble is,' she said to Harry, 'until V-

, VICTOR. It doesn't seem fair if we don't offer the chance to other people.' Harry considered this for a moment, then said, 'Yeah, but I doubt anyone except you two would want to be taught by me. I'm a nutter, remember?' 'Well, I think you might be surprised how many people would be interested in hearing what you've got to say,' said Hermione seriously. 'Look,' she leaned towards him - WILLIAM, who was still watching her with a frown on his face, leaned forwards to listen too - 'you know the first weekend in October's a Hogsmeade weekend? How would it be if we tell anyone who's interested to meet us in the village and we can talk it over?' 'Why do we have to do it outside school?' said EWAN. 'Because,' said Hermione, returning to the diagram of the Chinese Chomping Cabbage she was copying, 'I don't think Umbridge would be very happy if she found out what we were up to.' * Harry had been looking forward to the weekend trip into Hogsmeade, but there was one thing worrying him. Sirius had maintained a stony silence since he had appeared in the fire at the beginning of September; Harry knew they had made him angry by saying they didn't want him to come - but he still worried from time to time that Sirius might throw caution to the winds and turn up anyway. What were they going to do if the great black dog came bounding up the street towards them in Hogsmeade, perhaps under the nose of Draco Malfoy? 'Well, you can't blame him for wanting to get out and about,' said RHYS, when Harry discussed his fears with him and Hermione. 'I mean, he's been on the run for over two years, hasn't he, and I know that can't have been a laugh, but at least he was free, wasn't he? And now he's just shut up all the time with that ghastly elf.' Hermione scowled at ANGUS, but otherwise ignored the slight on Kreacher. The trouble is,' she said to Harry, 'until V-

Voldemort - oh, for heaven's sake, KEIR - comes out into the open, Sirius is going to have to stay hidden, isn't he? I mean, the stupid Ministry isn't going to realise Sirius is innocent until they accept that Dumbledore's been telling the truth about him all along. And once the fools start catching real Death Eaters again, it'll be obvious Sirius isn't one... I mean, he hasn't got the Mark, for one thing.' 'I don't reckon he'd be stupid enough to turn up,' said VICTOR bracingly. 'Dumbledore'd go mad if he did and Sirius listens to Dumbledore even if he doesn't like what he hears.' When Harry continued to look worried, Hermione said, 'Listen, NIALL and I have been sounding out people who we thought might want to learn some proper Defence Against the Dark Arts, and there are a couple who seem interested. We've told them to meet us in Hogsmeade.' 'Right,' said Harry vaguely, his mind still on Sirius. 'Don't worry, Harry,' Hermione said quietly. 'You've got enough on your plate without Sirius, too.' She was quite right, of course, he was barely keeping up with his homework, though he was doing much better now that he was no longer spending every evening in detention with Umbridge. EWAN was even further behind with his work than Harry, because while they both had Quidditch practice twice a week, ALISTAIR also had his prefect duties. However, Hermione, who was taking more subjects than either of them, had not only finished all her homework but was also finding time to knit more elf clothes. Harry had to admit that she was getting better; it was now almost always possible to distinguish between the hats and the socks. The morning of the Hogsmeade visit dawned bright but windy. Alter breakfast they queued up in front of Filch, who matched their names to the long list of students who had permission from their parents or guardian to visit the village. With a slight pang, Harry remembered that if it hadn't been for

demort - oh, for heaven's sake, KEIR - comes out into the open, Sirius is going to have to stay hidden, isn't he? I mean, the stupid Ministry isn't going to realise Sirius is innocent until they accept that Dumbledore's been telling the truth about him all along. And once the fools start catching real Death Eaters again, it'll be obvious Sirius isn't one... I mean, he hasn't got the Mark, for one thing.' 'I don't reckon he'd be stupid enough to turn up,' said VICTOR bracingly. 'Dumbledore'd go mad if he did and Sirius listens to Dumbledore even if he doesn't like what he hears.' When Harry continued to look worried, Hermione said, 'Listen, NIALL and I have been sounding out people who we thought might want to learn some proper Defence Against the Dark Arts, and there are a couple who seem interested. We've told them to meet us in Hogsmeade.' 'Right,' said Harry vaguely, his mind still on Sirius. 'Don't worry, Harry,' Hermione said quietly. 'You've got enough on your plate without Sirius, too.' She was quite right, of course, he was barely keeping up with his homework, though he was doing much better now that he was no longer spending every evening in detention with Umbridge. EWAN was even further behind with his work than Harry, because while they both had Quidditch practice twice a week, ALISTAIR also had his prefect duties. However, Hermione, who was taking more subjects than either of them, had not only finished all her homework but was also finding time to knit more elf clothes. Harry had to admit that she was getting better; it was now almost always possible to distinguish between the hats and the socks. The morning of the Hogsmeade visit dawned bright but windy. Alter breakfast they queued up in front of Filch, who matched their names to the long list of students who had permission from their parents or guardian to visit the village. With a slight pang, Harry remembered that if it hadn't been for

Sirius, he would not have been going at all. When Harry reached Filch, the caretaker gave a great sniff as though trying to detect a whiff of something from Harry. Then he gave a curt nod that set his jowls aquiver again and Harry walked on, out on to the stone steps and the cold, sunlit day. 'Er - why was Filch sniffing you?' asked ALISTAIR, as he, Harry and Hermione set off at: a brisk pace down the wide drive to the gates. 'I suppose he was checking for the smell of Dungbombs,' said Harry with a small laugh. T forgot to tell you...' And he recounted the story of sending his letter to Sirius and Filch bursting in seconds later, demanding to see the letter. To his slight surprise, Hermione found this story highly interesting, much more, indeed, than he did himself. 'He said he was tipped off you were ordering Dungbombs? But who tipped him off?' 'I dunno,' said Harry, shrugging. 'Maybe Malfoy he'd think it was a laugh.' They walked between the tall stone pillars topped with winged boars and turned left on to the road into the village, the wind whip-, ping their hair into their eyes. 'Malfoy?' said Hermione, sceptically. 'Well... yes... maybe...' And she remained deep in thought all the way into the outskirts of Hogsmeade. 'Where are we going, anyway?' Harry asked. The Three Broomsticks?' 'Oh - no,' said Hermione, coming out of her reverie, 'no, it's always packed and really noisy. I've told the others to meet us in the Hog's Head, that other pub, you know the one, it's not on the main road. I think it's a bit... you know... dodgy... but students don't normally go in there, so I don't think we'll be overheard.' They walked down the main street past Zonko's Wizarding Joke Shop,

rius, he would not have been going at all. When Harry reached Filch, the caretaker gave a great sniff as though trying to detect a whiff of something from Harry. Then he gave a curt nod that set his jowls aquiver again and Harry walked on, out on to the stone steps and the cold, sunlit day. 'Er - why was Filch sniffing you?' asked ALISTAIR, as he, Harry and Hermione set off at: a brisk pace down the wide drive to the gates. 'I suppose he was checking for the smell of Dungbombs,' said Harry with a small laugh. T forgot to tell you...' And he recounted the story of sending his letter to Sirius and Filch bursting in seconds later, demanding to see the letter. To his slight surprise, Hermione found this story highly interesting, much more, indeed, than he did himself. 'He said he was tipped off you were ordering Dungbombs? But who tipped him off?' 'I dunno,' said Harry, shrugging. 'Maybe Malfoy he'd think it was a laugh.' They walked between the tall stone pillars topped with winged boars and turned left on to the road into the village, the wind whip-, ping their hair into their eyes. 'Malfoy?' said Hermione, sceptically. 'Well... yes... maybe...' And she remained deep in thought all the way into the outskirts of Hogsmeade. 'Where are we going, anyway?' Harry asked. The Three Broomsticks?' 'Oh - no,' said Hermione, coming out of her reverie, 'no, it's always packed and really noisy. I've told the others to meet us in the Hog's Head, that other pub, you know the one, it's not on the main road. I think it's a bit... you know... dodgy... but students don't normally go in there, so I don't think we'll be overheard.' They walked down the main street past Zonko's Wizarding Joke Shop,

where they were not surprised to see Fred, George and Lee Jordan, past the post office, from which owls issued at regular intervals, and turned up a side-street at the top of which stood a small inn. A battered wooden sign hung from a rusty bracket over the door, with a picture on it of a wild boar's severed head, leaking blood on to the white cloth around it. The sign creaked in the wind as they approached. All three of them hesitated outside the door. 'Well, come on,' said Hermione, slightly nervously. Harry led the way inside. It was not at all like the Three Broomsticks, whose large bar gave an impression of gleaming warmth and cleanliness. The Hog's Head bar comprised one small, dingy and very dirty room that smelled strongly of something that might have been goats. The bay windows were so encrusted with grime that very little daylight could permeate the room, which was lit instead with the stubs of candles sitting on rough wooden tables. The floor seemed at first glance to be compressed earth, though as Harry stepped on to it he realised that there was stone beneath what seemed to be the accumulated filth of centuries. Harry remembered Hagrid mentioning this pub in his first year: 'Yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head,' he had said, explaining how he had won a dragon's egg from a hooded stranger there. At the time Harry had wondered why Hagrid had not found it odd that the stranger kept his face hidden throughout their encounter; now he saw that keeping your face hidden was something of a fashion in the Hog's Head. There was a man at the bar whose whole head was wrapped in dirty grey bandages, though he was still managing to gulp endless glasses of some smoking, fiery substance through a slit over his mouth; two figures shrouded in hoods sat at a table in one of the windows; Harry might have thought them Dementors if they had not been talking in strong Yorkshire accents, and in a shadowy corner beside the fireplace sat a witch with a thick, black veil that fell to her toes. They could just see the tip of her nose because it caused the veil to protrude slightly

they were not surprised to see Fred, George and Lee Jordan, past the post office, from which owls issued at regular intervals, and turned up a side-street at the top of which stood a small inn. A battered wooden sign hung from a rusty bracket over the door, with a picture on it of a wild boar's severed head, leaking blood on to the white cloth around it. The sign creaked in the wind as they approached. All three of them hesitated outside the door. 'Well, come on,' said Hermione, slightly nervously. Harry led the way inside. It was not at all like the Three Broomsticks, whose large bar gave an impression of gleaming warmth and cleanliness. The Hog's Head bar comprised one small, dingy and very dirty room that smelled strongly of something that might have been goats. The bay windows were so encrusted with grime that very little daylight could permeate the room, which was lit instead with the stubs of candles sitting on rough wooden tables. The floor seemed at first glance to be compressed earth, though as Harry stepped on to it he realised that there was stone beneath what seemed to be the accumulated filth of centuries. Harry remembered Hagrid mentioning this pub in his first year: 'Yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head,' he had said, explaining how he had won a dragon's egg from a hooded stranger there. At the time Harry had wondered why Hagrid had not found it odd that the stranger kept his face hidden throughout their encounter; now he saw that keeping your face hidden was something of a fashion in the Hog's Head. There was a man at the bar whose whole head was wrapped in dirty grey bandages, though he was still managing to gulp endless glasses of some smoking, fiery substance through a slit over his mouth; two figures shrouded in hoods sat at a table in one of the windows; Harry might have thought them Dementors if they had not been talking in strong Yorkshire accents, and in a shadowy corner beside the fireplace sat a witch with a thick, black veil that fell to her toes. They could just see the tip of her nose because it caused the veil to protrude slightly

. 'I don't know about this, Hermione,' Harry muttered, as they crossed to the bar. He was looking particularly at the heavily veiled witch. 'Has it occurred to you Umbridge might be under that?' Hermione cast an appraising eye over the veiled figure. 'Umbridge is shorter than that woman,' she said quietly. 'And anyway, even if Umbridge does come in here there's nothing she can do to stop us, Harry, because I've double- and triple-checked the school rules. We're not out of bounds; I specifically asked Professor Flitwick whether students were allowed to come in the Hog's Head, and he said yes, but he advised me strongly to bring our own glasses. And I've looked up everything I can think of about study groups and homework groups and they're definitely allowed. I just don't think it's a good idea if we parade what we're doing.' 'No,' said Harry drily, 'especially as it's not exactly a homework group you're planning, is it?' The barman sidled towards them out of a back room. He was a grumpy-looking old man with a great deal of long grey hair and beard. He was tall and thin and looked vaguely familiar to Harry. What? he grunted. 'Three Butterbeers, please,' said Hermione. The man reached beneath the counter and pulled up three very dusty, very dirty bottles, which he slammed on the bar. 'Six Sickles,' he said. 'I'll get them,' said Harry quickly, passing over the silver. The barman's eyes travelled over Harry, resting for a fraction of a second on his scar. Then he turned away and deposited Harry's money in an ancient wooden till whose drawer slid open automatically to receive it. Harry, VICTOR and Hermione retreated to the furthest table from the bar and sat down, looking around. The man in the dirty grey bandages rapped the counter with his knuckles and received another smoking drink from the barman. 'You know what?' RHYS murmured, looking over at the bar with enthusiasm. 'We could order anything we

'I don't know about this, Hermione,' Harry muttered, as they crossed to the bar. He was looking particularly at the heavily veiled witch. 'Has it occurred to you Umbridge might be under that?' Hermione cast an appraising eye over the veiled figure. 'Umbridge is shorter than that woman,' she said quietly. 'And anyway, even if Umbridge does come in here there's nothing she can do to stop us, Harry, because I've double- and triple-checked the school rules. We're not out of bounds; I specifically asked Professor Flitwick whether students were allowed to come in the Hog's Head, and he said yes, but he advised me strongly to bring our own glasses. And I've looked up everything I can think of about study groups and homework groups and they're definitely allowed. I just don't think it's a good idea if we parade what we're doing.' 'No,' said Harry drily, 'especially as it's not exactly a homework group you're planning, is it?' The barman sidled towards them out of a back room. He was a grumpy-looking old man with a great deal of long grey hair and beard. He was tall and thin and looked vaguely familiar to Harry. What? he grunted. 'Three Butterbeers, please,' said Hermione. The man reached beneath the counter and pulled up three very dusty, very dirty bottles, which he slammed on the bar. 'Six Sickles,' he said. 'I'll get them,' said Harry quickly, passing over the silver. The barman's eyes travelled over Harry, resting for a fraction of a second on his scar. Then he turned away and deposited Harry's money in an ancient wooden till whose drawer slid open automatically to receive it. Harry, VICTOR and Hermione retreated to the furthest table from the bar and sat down, looking around. The man in the dirty grey bandages rapped the counter with his knuckles and received another smoking drink from the barman. 'You know what?' RHYS murmured, looking over at the bar with enthusiasm. 'We could order anything we

liked in here. I bet that bloke would sell us anything, he wouldn't care. I've always wanted to try Firewhisky - ' 'You - are - a - prefect,' snarled Hermione. 'Oh,' said TRISTAN, the smile fading from his face. 'Yeah...' 'So, who did you say is supposed to be meeting us?' Harry asked, wrenching open the rusty top of his Butterbeer and taking a swig. 'Just a couple of people,' Hermione repeated, checking her watch and looking anxiously towards the door. 'I told them to be here about now and I'm sure they all know where it is - oh, look, this might be them now.' The door of the pub had opened. A thick band of dusty sunlight split the room in two for a moment and then vanished, blocked by the incoming rush of a crowd of people. First came Neville with Dean and Lavender, who were closely followed by Parvati and Padma Patil with (Harry's stomach did a back-flip) Cho and one of her usually-giggling girlfriends, then (on her own and looking so dreamy she might have walked in by accident) Luna Lovegood; then Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson, Colin and Dennis Creevey Ernie Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott, a Hufflepuff girl with a long plait clown her back whose name Harry did not know; three Ravenclaw boys he was pretty sure were called Anthony Goldstein, Michael Corner and Terry Boot, Ginny, closely followed by a tall skinny blond boy with an upturned nose whom Harry recognised vaguely as being a member of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team and, bringing up the rear, Fred and George CLARK with their friend Lee Jordan, all three of whom were carrying large paper bags crammed with Zonko's merchandise. 'A couple of people?' said Harry hoarsely to Hermione. 'A couple of people?' 'Yes, well, the idea seemed quite popular,' said Hermione happily. 'LIAM,

in here. I bet that bloke would sell us anything, he wouldn't care. I've always wanted to try Firewhisky - ' 'You - are - a - prefect,' snarled Hermione. 'Oh,' said TRISTAN, the smile fading from his face. 'Yeah...' 'So, who did you say is supposed to be meeting us?' Harry asked, wrenching open the rusty top of his Butterbeer and taking a swig. 'Just a couple of people,' Hermione repeated, checking her watch and looking anxiously towards the door. 'I told them to be here about now and I'm sure they all know where it is - oh, look, this might be them now.' The door of the pub had opened. A thick band of dusty sunlight split the room in two for a moment and then vanished, blocked by the incoming rush of a crowd of people. First came Neville with Dean and Lavender, who were closely followed by Parvati and Padma Patil with (Harry's stomach did a back-flip) Cho and one of her usually-giggling girlfriends, then (on her own and looking so dreamy she might have walked in by accident) Luna Lovegood; then Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson, Colin and Dennis Creevey Ernie Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott, a Hufflepuff girl with a long plait clown her back whose name Harry did not know; three Ravenclaw boys he was pretty sure were called Anthony Goldstein, Michael Corner and Terry Boot, Ginny, closely followed by a tall skinny blond boy with an upturned nose whom Harry recognised vaguely as being a member of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team and, bringing up the rear, Fred and George CLARK with their friend Lee Jordan, all three of whom were carrying large paper bags crammed with Zonko's merchandise. 'A couple of people?' said Harry hoarsely to Hermione. 'A couple of people?' 'Yes, well, the idea seemed quite popular,' said Hermione happily. 'LIAM,

do you want to pull up some more chairs?' The barman had frozen in the act of wiping out a glass with a rag so filthy it looked as though it had never been washed. Possibly, he had never seen his pub so full. 'Hi,' said Fred, reaching the bar first and counting his companions quickly, 'could we have... twenty-five Butterbeers, please?' The barman glared at him for a moment, then, throwing down his rag irritably as though he had been interrupted in something very important, he started passing up dusty Butterbeers from under the bar. 'Cheers,' said Fred, handing them out. 'Cough up, everyone, I haven't got enough gold for all of these...' Harry watched numbly as the large chattering group took their beers from Fred and rummaged in their robes to find coins. He could not imagine what all these people had turned up for until the horrible thought occurred to him that they might be expecting same kind of speech, at which he rounded on Hermione. 'What have you been telling people?' he said in a low voice. 'What are they expecting?' 'I've told you, they just want to hear what you've got to say,' said Hermione soothingly; but Harry continued to look at her so furiously that she added quickly, 'you don't have to do anything yet, I'll speak to them first.' 'Hi, Harry' said Neville, beaming and taking a seat opposite him. Harry tried to smile back, but did not speak; his mouth was exceptionally dry. Cho had just smiled at him and sat down on TRISTAN's right. Her friend, who had curly reddish-blonde hair, did not smile, but gave Harry a thoroughly mistrustful look which plainly told him that, given her way, she would not be here at all. In twos and threes the new arrivals settled around Harry, NIALL and Hermione, some looking rather excited, others curious, Luna Lovegood gazing dreamily into space. When everybody had pulled up a chair, the chatter died out. Every eye was upon Harry. 'Er,' said Hermione

you want to pull up some more chairs?' The barman had frozen in the act of wiping out a glass with a rag so filthy it looked as though it had never been washed. Possibly, he had never seen his pub so full. 'Hi,' said Fred, reaching the bar first and counting his companions quickly, 'could we have... twenty-five Butterbeers, please?' The barman glared at him for a moment, then, throwing down his rag irritably as though he had been interrupted in something very important, he started passing up dusty Butterbeers from under the bar. 'Cheers,' said Fred, handing them out. 'Cough up, everyone, I haven't got enough gold for all of these...' Harry watched numbly as the large chattering group took their beers from Fred and rummaged in their robes to find coins. He could not imagine what all these people had turned up for until the horrible thought occurred to him that they might be expecting same kind of speech, at which he rounded on Hermione. 'What have you been telling people?' he said in a low voice. 'What are they expecting?' 'I've told you, they just want to hear what you've got to say,' said Hermione soothingly; but Harry continued to look at her so furiously that she added quickly, 'you don't have to do anything yet, I'll speak to them first.' 'Hi, Harry' said Neville, beaming and taking a seat opposite him. Harry tried to smile back, but did not speak; his mouth was exceptionally dry. Cho had just smiled at him and sat down on TRISTAN's right. Her friend, who had curly reddish-blonde hair, did not smile, but gave Harry a thoroughly mistrustful look which plainly told him that, given her way, she would not be here at all. In twos and threes the new arrivals settled around Harry, NIALL and Hermione, some looking rather excited, others curious, Luna Lovegood gazing dreamily into space. When everybody had pulled up a chair, the chatter died out. Every eye was upon Harry. 'Er,' said Hermione

, her voice slightly higher than usual out of nerves. 'Well - er - hi.' The group focused its attention on her instead, though eyes continued to dart back regularly to Harry. 'Well... erm... well, you know why you're here. Erm... well, Harry here had the idea - I mean' (Harry had thrown her a sharp look) 'I had the idea - that it might be good if people who wanted to study Defence Against the Dark Arts - and I mean, really study it, you know, not the rubbish that Umbridge is doing with us - '(Hermione's voice became suddenly much stronger and more confident)'- because nobody could call that Defence Against the Dark Arts -'('Hear, hear,' said Anthony Goldstein, and Hermione looked heartened)'- Well, I thought it would be good if we, well, took matters into our own hands.' She paused, looked sideways at Harry and went on, 'And by that I mean learning how to defend ourselves properly, not just in theory but doing the real spells - ' 'You want to pass your Defence Against the Dark Arts OWL too, though, I bet?' said Michael Corner, who was watching her closely. 'Of course I do,' said Hermione at once. 'But more than that, I want to be properly trained in defence because... because...' she took a great breath and finished, 'because Lord Voldemort is back.' The reaction was immediate and predictable. Clio's friend shrieked and slopped Butterbeer down herself; Terry Boot gave a kind of involuntary twitch; Padma Patil shuddered, and Neville gave an odd yelp that he managed to turn into a cough. All of them, however, looked fixedly, even eagerly, at Harry. Well... that's the plan, anyway,' said Hermione. 'If you want to join us, we need to decide how we're going to - 'Where's the proof You-Know-Who's back?' said the blond Hufflepuff player in a rather aggressive voice. 'Well, Dumbledore believes it -'Hermione began.

her voice slightly higher than usual out of nerves. 'Well - er - hi.' The group focused its attention on her instead, though eyes continued to dart back regularly to Harry. 'Well... erm... well, you know why you're here. Erm... well, Harry here had the idea - I mean' (Harry had thrown her a sharp look) 'I had the idea - that it might be good if people who wanted to study Defence Against the Dark Arts - and I mean, really study it, you know, not the rubbish that Umbridge is doing with us - '(Hermione's voice became suddenly much stronger and more confident)'- because nobody could call that Defence Against the Dark Arts -'('Hear, hear,' said Anthony Goldstein, and Hermione looked heartened)'- Well, I thought it would be good if we, well, took matters into our own hands.' She paused, looked sideways at Harry and went on, 'And by that I mean learning how to defend ourselves properly, not just in theory but doing the real spells - ' 'You want to pass your Defence Against the Dark Arts OWL too, though, I bet?' said Michael Corner, who was watching her closely. 'Of course I do,' said Hermione at once. 'But more than that, I want to be properly trained in defence because... because...' she took a great breath and finished, 'because Lord Voldemort is back.' The reaction was immediate and predictable. Clio's friend shrieked and slopped Butterbeer down herself; Terry Boot gave a kind of involuntary twitch; Padma Patil shuddered, and Neville gave an odd yelp that he managed to turn into a cough. All of them, however, looked fixedly, even eagerly, at Harry. Well... that's the plan, anyway,' said Hermione. 'If you want to join us, we need to decide how we're going to - 'Where's the proof You-Know-Who's back?' said the blond Hufflepuff player in a rather aggressive voice. 'Well, Dumbledore believes it -'Hermione began.

'You mean, Dumbledore believes him,' said the blond boy, nodding at Harry. 'Who are you?' said ALISTAIR, rather rudely. 'Zacharias Smith,' said the boy, 'and I think we've got the right to know exactly what makes him say You-Know-Who's back.' 'Look,' said Hermione, intervening swiftly, 'that's really not what this meeting was supposed to be about - ' 'It's OK, Hermione,' said Harry. It had just dawned on him why there were so many people there. He thought Hermione should have seen this coming. Some of these people - maybe even most of them - had turned up in the hopes of hearing Harry's story firsthand. 'What makes me say You-Know-Who's back?' he repeated, looking Zacharias straight in the face. 'I saw him. But Dumbledore told the whole school what happened last year, and if you didn't believe him, you won't believe me, and I'm not wasting an afternoon trying to convince anyone.' The whole group seemed to have held its breath while Harry spoke. Harry had the impression that even the barman was listening. He was wiping the same glass with the filthy rag, making it steadily dirtier. Zacharias said dismissively, 'All Dumbledore told us last year was that Cedric Diggory got killed by You-Know-Who and that you brought Diggory's body back to Hogwarts. He didn't give us details, he didn't tell us exactly how Diggory got murdered, I think we'd all like to know - ' 'If you've come to hear exactly what it looks like when Voldemort murders someone I can't help you,' Harry said. His temper, always so close to the surface these days, was rising again. He did not take his eyes from Zacharias Smith's aggressive face, and was determined not to look at Cho. 'I don't want to talk about Cedric Diggory, all right? So if that's what you're here for, you might as well clear out.' He cast an angry look in Hermione's direction

'You mean, Dumbledore believes him,' said the blond boy, nodding at Harry. 'Who are you?' said ALISTAIR, rather rudely. 'Zacharias Smith,' said the boy, 'and I think we've got the right to know exactly what makes him say You-Know-Who's back.' 'Look,' said Hermione, intervening swiftly, 'that's really not what this meeting was supposed to be about - ' 'It's OK, Hermione,' said Harry. It had just dawned on him why there were so many people there. He thought Hermione should have seen this coming. Some of these people - maybe even most of them - had turned up in the hopes of hearing Harry's story firsthand. 'What makes me say You-Know-Who's back?' he repeated, looking Zacharias straight in the face. 'I saw him. But Dumbledore told the whole school what happened last year, and if you didn't believe him, you won't believe me, and I'm not wasting an afternoon trying to convince anyone.' The whole group seemed to have held its breath while Harry spoke. Harry had the impression that even the barman was listening. He was wiping the same glass with the filthy rag, making it steadily dirtier. Zacharias said dismissively, 'All Dumbledore told us last year was that Cedric Diggory got killed by You-Know-Who and that you brought Diggory's body back to Hogwarts. He didn't give us details, he didn't tell us exactly how Diggory got murdered, I think we'd all like to know - ' 'If you've come to hear exactly what it looks like when Voldemort murders someone I can't help you,' Harry said. His temper, always so close to the surface these days, was rising again. He did not take his eyes from Zacharias Smith's aggressive face, and was determined not to look at Cho. 'I don't want to talk about Cedric Diggory, all right? So if that's what you're here for, you might as well clear out.' He cast an angry look in Hermione's direction

. This was, he felt, all her fault; she had decided to display him like some sort of freak and of course they had all turned up to see just now wild his story was. But none of them left their seats, not even Zacharias Smith, though he continued to gaze intently at Harry. 'So,' said Hermione, her voice very high-pitched again. 'So... like I was saying... if you want to learn some defence, then we need to work out how we're going to do it, how often we're going to meet and where we're going to - ' 'Is it true,' interrupted the girl with the long plait down her back, looking at Harry, 'that you can produce a Patronus?' There was a murmur of interest around the group at this. 'Yeah,' said Harry slightly defensively. 'A corporeal Patronus?' The phrase stirred something in Harry's memory. 'Er - you don't know Madam Bones, do you?' he asked. The girl smiled. 'She's my auntie,' she said. 'I'm Susan Bones. She told me about your hearing. So - is it really true? You make a stag Patronus?' 'Yes,' said Harry. 'Blimey, Harry!' said Lee, looking deeply impressed. 'I never knew that!' 'Mum told ANGUS not to spread it around,' said Fred, grinning at Harry. 'She said you got enough attention as it was.' 'She's not wrong,' mumbled Harry, and a couple of people laughed. The veiled witch sitting alone shifted very slightly in her seat. 'And did you kill a Basilisk with that sword in Dumbledore's office?' demanded Terry Boot. That's what one of the portraits on the wall told me when I was in there last year...' 'Er - yeah, I did, yeah,' said Harry. Justin Finch-Fletchley whistled; the Creevey brothers exchanged awestruck looks and Lavender Brown said 'Wow!' softly. Harry was feeling slightly hot around the collar now;

This was, he felt, all her fault; she had decided to display him like some sort of freak and of course they had all turned up to see just now wild his story was. But none of them left their seats, not even Zacharias Smith, though he continued to gaze intently at Harry. 'So,' said Hermione, her voice very high-pitched again. 'So... like I was saying... if you want to learn some defence, then we need to work out how we're going to do it, how often we're going to meet and where we're going to - ' 'Is it true,' interrupted the girl with the long plait down her back, looking at Harry, 'that you can produce a Patronus?' There was a murmur of interest around the group at this. 'Yeah,' said Harry slightly defensively. 'A corporeal Patronus?' The phrase stirred something in Harry's memory. 'Er - you don't know Madam Bones, do you?' he asked. The girl smiled. 'She's my auntie,' she said. 'I'm Susan Bones. She told me about your hearing. So - is it really true? You make a stag Patronus?' 'Yes,' said Harry. 'Blimey, Harry!' said Lee, looking deeply impressed. 'I never knew that!' 'Mum told ANGUS not to spread it around,' said Fred, grinning at Harry. 'She said you got enough attention as it was.' 'She's not wrong,' mumbled Harry, and a couple of people laughed. The veiled witch sitting alone shifted very slightly in her seat. 'And did you kill a Basilisk with that sword in Dumbledore's office?' demanded Terry Boot. That's what one of the portraits on the wall told me when I was in there last year...' 'Er - yeah, I did, yeah,' said Harry. Justin Finch-Fletchley whistled; the Creevey brothers exchanged awestruck looks and Lavender Brown said 'Wow!' softly. Harry was feeling slightly hot around the collar now;

he was determinedly looking anywhere but at Cho. 'And in our first year,' said Neville to the group at large, 'he saved that Philological Stone - ' 'Philosopher's,' hissed Hermione. 'Yes, that - from You-Know-Who,' finished Neville. Hannah Abbotts eyes were as round as Galleons. 'And that's not to mention,' said Cho (Harry's eyes snapped across to her; she was looking at him, smiling; his stomach did another somersault) 'all the tasks he had to get through in the Triwizard Tournament last year - getting past dragons and merpeople and Acromantula and things...' There was a murmur of impressed agreement around the table. Harry's insides were squirming. He was trying to arrange his face so that he did not look too pleased with himself. The fact that Cho had just praised him made it much, much harder for him to say the thing he had sworn to himself he would tell them. 'Look,' he said, and everyone fell silent at once, 'I... I don't want to sound like I'm trying to be modest or anything, but... I had a lot of help with all that stuff...' 'Not with the dragon, you didn't,' said Michael Corner at once. 'That was a seriously cool bit of flying...' 'Yeah, well -'said Harry, feeling it would be churlish to disagree. 'And nobody helped you get rid of those Dementors this summer,' said Susan Bones. 'No,' said Harry, 'no, OK, I know I did bits of it without help, but the point I'm trying to make is - ' 'Are you trying to weasel out of showing us any of this stuff?' said Zacharias Smith. 'Here's an idea,' said IAIN loudly, before Harry could speak, 'why don't you shut your mouth?' Perhaps the word 'weasel' had affected CALLUM particularly strongly. In any case, he was now looking at Zacharias as though he would like nothing better than to thump him.

was determinedly looking anywhere but at Cho. 'And in our first year,' said Neville to the group at large, 'he saved that Philological Stone - ' 'Philosopher's,' hissed Hermione. 'Yes, that - from You-Know-Who,' finished Neville. Hannah Abbotts eyes were as round as Galleons. 'And that's not to mention,' said Cho (Harry's eyes snapped across to her; she was looking at him, smiling; his stomach did another somersault) 'all the tasks he had to get through in the Triwizard Tournament last year - getting past dragons and merpeople and Acromantula and things...' There was a murmur of impressed agreement around the table. Harry's insides were squirming. He was trying to arrange his face so that he did not look too pleased with himself. The fact that Cho had just praised him made it much, much harder for him to say the thing he had sworn to himself he would tell them. 'Look,' he said, and everyone fell silent at once, 'I... I don't want to sound like I'm trying to be modest or anything, but... I had a lot of help with all that stuff...' 'Not with the dragon, you didn't,' said Michael Corner at once. 'That was a seriously cool bit of flying...' 'Yeah, well -'said Harry, feeling it would be churlish to disagree. 'And nobody helped you get rid of those Dementors this summer,' said Susan Bones. 'No,' said Harry, 'no, OK, I know I did bits of it without help, but the point I'm trying to make is - ' 'Are you trying to weasel out of showing us any of this stuff?' said Zacharias Smith. 'Here's an idea,' said IAIN loudly, before Harry could speak, 'why don't you shut your mouth?' Perhaps the word 'weasel' had affected CALLUM particularly strongly. In any case, he was now looking at Zacharias as though he would like nothing better than to thump him.

Zacharias flushed. 'Well, we've all turned up to learn from him and now he's telling us he can't really do any of it,' he said. That's not what he said,' snarled Fred. 'Would you like us to clean out you: ears for you?' enquired Greorge, pulling a long and lethal-looking metal instrument from inside one of the Zonko's bags. 'Or any part of your body, really, we're not fussy where we stick this,' said Fred. 'Yes, well, said Hermione hastily, moving on... the point is, are we agreed we want to take lessons from Harry?' There was a murmur of general agreement. Zacharias folded his arms and said nothing, though perhaps this was because he was too busy keeping an eye on the instrument in Fred's hand. 'Right,' said Hermione, looking relieved that something had at last been settled. 'Well, then, the next question is how often we do it. I really don't think there's any point in meeting less than once a week - ' 'Hang on,' said Angelina, 'we need to make sure this doesn't clash with our Quidditch practice.' 'No,' said Cho, 'nor with ours.' 'Nor ours,' added Zacharias Smith. 'I'm sure we can find a night that suits everyone,' said Hermione, slightly impatiently, 'but you know, this is rather important, we're talking about learning to defend ourselves against V-Voldemort's Death Eaters - ' 'Well said!' barked Ernie Macmillan, who Harry had been expecting to speak long before this. 'Personally, I think this is really important, possibly more important than anything else we'll do this year, even with our OWLs coming up!' He looked around impressively, as though waiting for people to cry 'Surely not!' When nobody spoke, he went on, 'I, personally, am at a loss to see why the Ministry has foisted such a useless teacher on us at this critical period. Obviously, they are in denial about the return of You-Know-Who, but to

arias flushed. 'Well, we've all turned up to learn from him and now he's telling us he can't really do any of it,' he said. That's not what he said,' snarled Fred. 'Would you like us to clean out you: ears for you?' enquired Greorge, pulling a long and lethal-looking metal instrument from inside one of the Zonko's bags. 'Or any part of your body, really, we're not fussy where we stick this,' said Fred. 'Yes, well, said Hermione hastily, moving on... the point is, are we agreed we want to take lessons from Harry?' There was a murmur of general agreement. Zacharias folded his arms and said nothing, though perhaps this was because he was too busy keeping an eye on the instrument in Fred's hand. 'Right,' said Hermione, looking relieved that something had at last been settled. 'Well, then, the next question is how often we do it. I really don't think there's any point in meeting less than once a week - ' 'Hang on,' said Angelina, 'we need to make sure this doesn't clash with our Quidditch practice.' 'No,' said Cho, 'nor with ours.' 'Nor ours,' added Zacharias Smith. 'I'm sure we can find a night that suits everyone,' said Hermione, slightly impatiently, 'but you know, this is rather important, we're talking about learning to defend ourselves against V-Voldemort's Death Eaters - ' 'Well said!' barked Ernie Macmillan, who Harry had been expecting to speak long before this. 'Personally, I think this is really important, possibly more important than anything else we'll do this year, even with our OWLs coming up!' He looked around impressively, as though waiting for people to cry 'Surely not!' When nobody spoke, he went on, 'I, personally, am at a loss to see why the Ministry has foisted such a useless teacher on us at this critical period. Obviously, they are in denial about the return of You-Know-Who, but to

give us a teacher who is trying to actively prevent us from using defensive spells - ' 'We think the reason Umbridge doesn't want us trained in Defence Against the Dark Arts,' said Hermione, 'is that she's got some... some mad idea that Dumbledore could use the students in the school as a kind of private army. She thinks he'd mobilise us against the Ministry' Nearly everybody looked stunned at this news; everybody except Luna Lovegood, who piped up, 'Well, that makes sense. After all, Cornelius Fudge has got his own private army' 'What?' said Harry, completely thrown by this unexpected piece of information. 'Yes, he's got an army of Heliopaths,' said Luna solemnly. 'No, he hasn't,' snapped Hermione. 'Yes, he has,' said Luna. 'What are Heliopaths?' asked Neville, looking blank. They're spirits of fire,' said Luna, her protuberant eyes widening so that she looked madder than ever, 'great tall flaming creatures that gallop across the ground burning everything in front of - ' They don't exist, Neville,' said Hermione tartly. 'Oh, yes, they do!' said Luna angrily. 'I'm sorry, but where's the proof of that?' snapped Hermione. There are plenty of eye-witness accounts. Just because you're so narrow-minded you need to have everything shoved under your nose before you - ' 'Hem, hem,' said Ginny, in such a good imitation of Professor Umbridge that several people looked around in alarm and then laughed. 'Weren't we trying to decide how often we're going to meet and have defence lessons?' 'Yes,' said Hermione at once, 'yes, we were, you're right, Ginny.' Well, once a week sounds cool,' said Lee Jordan. 'As long as -'began Angelina. 'Yes, yes, we know about the Quidditch,' said Hermione in a tense voice. 'Well, the other thing to decide is

us a teacher who is trying to actively prevent us from using defensive spells - ' 'We think the reason Umbridge doesn't want us trained in Defence Against the Dark Arts,' said Hermione, 'is that she's got some... some mad idea that Dumbledore could use the students in the school as a kind of private army. She thinks he'd mobilise us against the Ministry' Nearly everybody looked stunned at this news; everybody except Luna Lovegood, who piped up, 'Well, that makes sense. After all, Cornelius Fudge has got his own private army' 'What?' said Harry, completely thrown by this unexpected piece of information. 'Yes, he's got an army of Heliopaths,' said Luna solemnly. 'No, he hasn't,' snapped Hermione. 'Yes, he has,' said Luna. 'What are Heliopaths?' asked Neville, looking blank. They're spirits of fire,' said Luna, her protuberant eyes widening so that she looked madder than ever, 'great tall flaming creatures that gallop across the ground burning everything in front of - ' They don't exist, Neville,' said Hermione tartly. 'Oh, yes, they do!' said Luna angrily. 'I'm sorry, but where's the proof of that?' snapped Hermione. There are plenty of eye-witness accounts. Just because you're so narrow-minded you need to have everything shoved under your nose before you - ' 'Hem, hem,' said Ginny, in such a good imitation of Professor Umbridge that several people looked around in alarm and then laughed. 'Weren't we trying to decide how often we're going to meet and have defence lessons?' 'Yes,' said Hermione at once, 'yes, we were, you're right, Ginny.' Well, once a week sounds cool,' said Lee Jordan. 'As long as -'began Angelina. 'Yes, yes, we know about the Quidditch,' said Hermione in a tense voice. 'Well, the other thing to decide is

where we're going to meet...' This was rather more difficult; the whole group fell silent. 'Library?' suggested Katie Bell after a few moments. 'I can't see Madam Pince being too chuffed with us doing jinxes in the library,' said Harry. 'Maybe an unused classroom?' said Dean. 'Yeah,' said ALISTAIR, 'McGonagall might let us have hers, she did when Harry was practising for the Tri wizard.' But Harry was pretty certain that McGonagall would not be so accommodating this time. For all that Hermione had said about study and homework groups being allowed, he had the distinct feeling that this one might be considered a lot more rebellious. 'Right, well, we'll try to find somewhere,' said Hermione. 'We'll send a message round to everybody when we've got a time and a place for the first meeting.' She rummaged in her bag and produced parchment and a quill, then hesitated, rather as though she was steeling herself to say something. 'I - I think everybody should write their name down, just so we know who was here. But I also think,' she took a deep breath, 'that we all ought to agree not to shout about what we're doing. So if you sign, you're agreeing not to tell Umbridge or anybody else what we're up to.' Fred reached out for the parchment and cheerfully wrote his signature, but Harry noticed at once that several people looked less than happy at the prospect of putting their names on the list. 'Er...' said Zacharias slowly, not taking the parchment that George was trying to pass to him, 'well... I'm sure Ernie will tell me when the meeting is.' But Ernie was looking rather hesitant about signing, too. Hermione raised her eyebrows at him. 'I - well, we are prefects,' Ernie burst out. 'And if this list was found... well, I mean to say... you said yourself, if Umbridge finds out - ' 'You just said this group was the most important thing you'd do this year,' Harry

we're going to meet...' This was rather more difficult; the whole group fell silent. 'Library?' suggested Katie Bell after a few moments. 'I can't see Madam Pince being too chuffed with us doing jinxes in the library,' said Harry. 'Maybe an unused classroom?' said Dean. 'Yeah,' said ALISTAIR, 'McGonagall might let us have hers, she did when Harry was practising for the Tri wizard.' But Harry was pretty certain that McGonagall would not be so accommodating this time. For all that Hermione had said about study and homework groups being allowed, he had the distinct feeling that this one might be considered a lot more rebellious. 'Right, well, we'll try to find somewhere,' said Hermione. 'We'll send a message round to everybody when we've got a time and a place for the first meeting.' She rummaged in her bag and produced parchment and a quill, then hesitated, rather as though she was steeling herself to say something. 'I - I think everybody should write their name down, just so we know who was here. But I also think,' she took a deep breath, 'that we all ought to agree not to shout about what we're doing. So if you sign, you're agreeing not to tell Umbridge or anybody else what we're up to.' Fred reached out for the parchment and cheerfully wrote his signature, but Harry noticed at once that several people looked less than happy at the prospect of putting their names on the list. 'Er...' said Zacharias slowly, not taking the parchment that George was trying to pass to him, 'well... I'm sure Ernie will tell me when the meeting is.' But Ernie was looking rather hesitant about signing, too. Hermione raised her eyebrows at him. 'I - well, we are prefects,' Ernie burst out. 'And if this list was found... well, I mean to say... you said yourself, if Umbridge finds out - ' 'You just said this group was the most important thing you'd do this year,' Harry

reminded him. 'I - yes,' said Ernie, 'yes, I do believe that, it's just - ' 'Ernie, do you really think I'd leave that list lying around?' said Hermione testily. 'No. No, of course not,' said Ernie, looking slightly less anxious. 'I - yes, of course I'll sign.' Nobody raised objections after Ernie, though Harry saw Cho's friend give her a rather reproachful look before adding her own name. When the last person - Zacharias - had signed, Hermione took the parchment back and slipped it carefully into her bag. There was an odd feeling in the group now. It was as though they had just signed some kind of contract. 'Well, time's ticking on,' said Fred briskly, getting to his feet. 'George, Lee and I have got items of a sensitive nature to purchase, we'll be seeing you all later.' In twos and threes the rest of the group took their leave, too. Cho made rather a business of fastening the catch on her bag before leaving, her long dark curtain of hair swinging forwards to hide her face, but her friend stood beside her, arms folded, clicking her tongue, so that Cho had little choice but to leave with her. As her friend ushered her through the door, Cho looked back and waved at Harry. 'Well, I think that went quite well,' said Hermione happily, as she, Harry and SEAMUS walked out of the Hog's Head into the bright sunlight a few moments later. Harry and FINLAY were clutching their bottles of Butterbeer. 'That Zacharias bloke's a wart,' said TRISTAN, who was glowering after the figure of Smith, just discernible in the distance. 'I don't like him much, either,' admitted Hermione, 'but he overheard me talking to Ernie and Hannah at the Hufflepuff table and he seemed really interested in coming, so what could I say? But the more people the better really - I mean, Michael Corner and his friends wouldn't have come if he hadn't been going out with Ginny - ' EW

inded him. 'I - yes,' said Ernie, 'yes, I do believe that, it's just - ' 'Ernie, do you really think I'd leave that list lying around?' said Hermione testily. 'No. No, of course not,' said Ernie, looking slightly less anxious. 'I - yes, of course I'll sign.' Nobody raised objections after Ernie, though Harry saw Cho's friend give her a rather reproachful look before adding her own name. When the last person - Zacharias - had signed, Hermione took the parchment back and slipped it carefully into her bag. There was an odd feeling in the group now. It was as though they had just signed some kind of contract. 'Well, time's ticking on,' said Fred briskly, getting to his feet. 'George, Lee and I have got items of a sensitive nature to purchase, we'll be seeing you all later.' In twos and threes the rest of the group took their leave, too. Cho made rather a business of fastening the catch on her bag before leaving, her long dark curtain of hair swinging forwards to hide her face, but her friend stood beside her, arms folded, clicking her tongue, so that Cho had little choice but to leave with her. As her friend ushered her through the door, Cho looked back and waved at Harry. 'Well, I think that went quite well,' said Hermione happily, as she, Harry and SEAMUS walked out of the Hog's Head into the bright sunlight a few moments later. Harry and FINLAY were clutching their bottles of Butterbeer. 'That Zacharias bloke's a wart,' said TRISTAN, who was glowering after the figure of Smith, just discernible in the distance. 'I don't like him much, either,' admitted Hermione, 'but he overheard me talking to Ernie and Hannah at the Hufflepuff table and he seemed really interested in coming, so what could I say? But the more people the better really - I mean, Michael Corner and his friends wouldn't have come if he hadn't been going out with Ginny - ' EW

AN, who had been draining the last few drops from his Butterbeer bottle, gagged and sprayed Butterbeer down his front. 'He's WHAT?' spluttered EWAN, outraged, his ears now resembling curls of raw beef. 'She's going out with - my sister's going - what d'you mean, Michael Corner?' 'Well, that's why he and his friends came, I think - well, they're obviously interested in learning defence, but if Ginny hadn't told Michael what was going on - ' 'When did this - when did she -?' 'They met at the Yule Ball and got together at the end of last year,' said Hermione composedly. They had turned into the High Street and she paused outside Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop, where there was a handsome display of pheasant feather quills in the window. 'Hmm... I could do with a new quill.' She turned into the shop. Harry and FINLAY followed her. 'Which one was Michael Corner?' CALLUM demanded furiously. The dark one,' said Hermione. 'I didn't like him,' said EWAN at once. 'Big surprise,' said Hermione under her breath. 'But, said EWAN, following Hermione along a row of quills in copper pots, 'I thought Ginny fancied Harry!' Hermione looked at him rather pityingly and shook her head. 'Ginny used to fancy Harry, but she gave up on him months ago. Not that she doesn't like you, of course,' she added kindly to Harry while she examined a long black and gold quill. Harry, whose head was still full of Cho's parting wave, did not find this subject quite as interesting as KEIR, who was positively quivering with indignation, but it did bring something home to him that until now he had not really registered. 'So that's why she talks now?' he asked Hermione. 'She never used to talk in front of me.' 'Exactly,' said Hermione. 'Yes, I think I'll have this

, who had been draining the last few drops from his Butterbeer bottle, gagged and sprayed Butterbeer down his front. 'He's WHAT?' spluttered EWAN, outraged, his ears now resembling curls of raw beef. 'She's going out with - my sister's going - what d'you mean, Michael Corner?' 'Well, that's why he and his friends came, I think - well, they're obviously interested in learning defence, but if Ginny hadn't told Michael what was going on - ' 'When did this - when did she -?' 'They met at the Yule Ball and got together at the end of last year,' said Hermione composedly. They had turned into the High Street and she paused outside Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop, where there was a handsome display of pheasant feather quills in the window. 'Hmm... I could do with a new quill.' She turned into the shop. Harry and FINLAY followed her. 'Which one was Michael Corner?' CALLUM demanded furiously. The dark one,' said Hermione. 'I didn't like him,' said EWAN at once. 'Big surprise,' said Hermione under her breath. 'But, said EWAN, following Hermione along a row of quills in copper pots, 'I thought Ginny fancied Harry!' Hermione looked at him rather pityingly and shook her head. 'Ginny used to fancy Harry, but she gave up on him months ago. Not that she doesn't like you, of course,' she added kindly to Harry while she examined a long black and gold quill. Harry, whose head was still full of Cho's parting wave, did not find this subject quite as interesting as KEIR, who was positively quivering with indignation, but it did bring something home to him that until now he had not really registered. 'So that's why she talks now?' he asked Hermione. 'She never used to talk in front of me.' 'Exactly,' said Hermione. 'Yes, I think I'll have this

one...' She went up to the counter and handed over fifteen Sickles and two Knuts, with KEIR still breathing down her neck. 'WILLIAM,' she said severely as she turned and trod on his feet, 'this is exactly why Ginny hasn't told you she's seeing Michael, she knew you'd take it badly. So don't harp on about it, for heaven's sake.' 'What d'you mean? Who's taking anything badly? I'm not going to harp on about anything...' TRISTAN continued to chunter under his breath all the way down the street. Hermione rolled her eyes at Harry and then said in an undertone, while OWEN was still muttering imprecations about Michael Corner, 'And talking about Michael and Ginny... what about Cho and you?' 'What d'you mean?' said Harry quickly. It was as though boiling water was rising rapidly inside him; a burning sensation that was causing his face to smart in the cold - had he been that obvious? 'Well,' said Hermione, smiling slightly,'she just couldn't keep her eyes off you, could she?' Harry had never before appreciated just how beautiful the village of Hogsmeade was. - CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - Educational Decree Number Twenty-four Harry felt happier for the rest of the weekend than he had done all term. He and IAIN spent much of Sunday catching up with all their homework again, and although this could hardly be called fun, the last burst of autumn sunshine persisted, so rather than sitting hunched over tables in the common room they took their work outside and lounged in the shade of a large beech tree on the edge of the lake. Hermione, who of course was up to date with all her work, brought more wool outside with her and bewitched her knitting needles so that they flashed and clicked in midair beside her, producing more hats and scarves. Knowing they were doing something to resist Umbridge and the Ministry and that he was a key part of the rebellion, gave Harry a feeling of immense satisfaction. He kept

...' She went up to the counter and handed over fifteen Sickles and two Knuts, with KEIR still breathing down her neck. 'WILLIAM,' she said severely as she turned and trod on his feet, 'this is exactly why Ginny hasn't told you she's seeing Michael, she knew you'd take it badly. So don't harp on about it, for heaven's sake.' 'What d'you mean? Who's taking anything badly? I'm not going to harp on about anything...' TRISTAN continued to chunter under his breath all the way down the street. Hermione rolled her eyes at Harry and then said in an undertone, while OWEN was still muttering imprecations about Michael Corner, 'And talking about Michael and Ginny... what about Cho and you?' 'What d'you mean?' said Harry quickly. It was as though boiling water was rising rapidly inside him; a burning sensation that was causing his face to smart in the cold - had he been that obvious? 'Well,' said Hermione, smiling slightly,'she just couldn't keep her eyes off you, could she?' Harry had never before appreciated just how beautiful the village of Hogsmeade was. - CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - Educational Decree Number Twenty-four Harry felt happier for the rest of the weekend than he had done all term. He and IAIN spent much of Sunday catching up with all their homework again, and although this could hardly be called fun, the last burst of autumn sunshine persisted, so rather than sitting hunched over tables in the common room they took their work outside and lounged in the shade of a large beech tree on the edge of the lake. Hermione, who of course was up to date with all her work, brought more wool outside with her and bewitched her knitting needles so that they flashed and clicked in midair beside her, producing more hats and scarves. Knowing they were doing something to resist Umbridge and the Ministry and that he was a key part of the rebellion, gave Harry a feeling of immense satisfaction. He kept

reliving Saturdays meeting in his mind: all those people, coming to him to learn Defence Against the Dark Arts... and the looks on their faces as they had heard some of the things he had done... and Cho praising his performance in the Triwizard Tournament - knowing all those people did not think him a lying weirdo, but someone to be admired, buoyed him up so much that he was still cheerful on Monday morning, despite the imminent prospect of all his least favourite classes. He and OWEN headed downstairs from their dormitory, discussing Angelina's idea that they were to work on a new move called the Sloth Grip Roll during that nights Quidditch practice, and not until they were halfway across the sunlit common room did they notice the addition to the room that had already attracted the attention of a small group of people. A large sign had been affixed to the Grffindor noticeboard, so large it covered everything else on it - the lists of secondhand spellbooks for sale, the regular reminders of school rules from Argus Filch, the Quidditch team training timetable, the offers to barter certain Chocolate Frog Cards for others, the HALL' latest advertisement for testers, the dates of the Hogsmeade weekends and the lost and found notices. The new sign was printed in large black letters and there was a highly official-looking seal at the bottom beside a neat and curly signature. BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS All student organisations, societies, teams, groups and clubs are henceforth disbanded. An organisation, society, team, group or club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students. Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge). No student organisation, society, team, group or club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor. Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an organisation, society, team, group or club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled. The above is in accordance with Educational

iving Saturdays meeting in his mind: all those people, coming to him to learn Defence Against the Dark Arts... and the looks on their faces as they had heard some of the things he had done... and Cho praising his performance in the Triwizard Tournament - knowing all those people did not think him a lying weirdo, but someone to be admired, buoyed him up so much that he was still cheerful on Monday morning, despite the imminent prospect of all his least favourite classes. He and OWEN headed downstairs from their dormitory, discussing Angelina's idea that they were to work on a new move called the Sloth Grip Roll during that nights Quidditch practice, and not until they were halfway across the sunlit common room did they notice the addition to the room that had already attracted the attention of a small group of people. A large sign had been affixed to the Grffindor noticeboard, so large it covered everything else on it - the lists of secondhand spellbooks for sale, the regular reminders of school rules from Argus Filch, the Quidditch team training timetable, the offers to barter certain Chocolate Frog Cards for others, the HALL' latest advertisement for testers, the dates of the Hogsmeade weekends and the lost and found notices. The new sign was printed in large black letters and there was a highly official-looking seal at the bottom beside a neat and curly signature. BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS All student organisations, societies, teams, groups and clubs are henceforth disbanded. An organisation, society, team, group or club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students. Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge). No student organisation, society, team, group or club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor. Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an organisation, society, team, group or club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled. The above is in accordance with Educational

Decree Number Twenty-four. Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor Harry and ALISTAIR read the notice over the heads of some anxious-looking second-years. 'Does this mean they're going to shut down the Gobstones Club?' one of them asked his friend. 'I reckon you'll be OK with Gobstones,' WILLIAM said darkly, making the second-year jump. I don't think we're going to be as lucky, though, do you?' he asked Harry as the second-years hurried away. Harry was reading the notice through again. The happiness that had filled him since Saturday was gone. His insides were pulsing with rage. 'This isn't a coincidence,' he said, his hands forming fists. 'She knows.' 'She can't,' said NIALL at once. There were people listening in that pub. And let's face it, we don't know how many of the people who turned up we can trust... any of them could have run off and told Umbridge...' And he had thought they believed him, thought they even admired him... 'Zacharias Smith!' said NIALL at once, punching a fist into his hand. 'Or - I thought that Michael Corner had a really shifty look, too - ' 'I wonder if Hermione's seen this yet?' Harry said, looking round at the door to the girls' dormitories. 'Let's go and tell her,' said DECLAN. He bounded forwards, pulled open the door and set off up the spiral staircase. He was on the sixth stair when there was a loud, wailing, klaxon-like sound and the steps melted together to make a long, smooth stone slide like a helter-skelter. There was a brief moment when ALISTAIR tried to keep running, arms working madly like windmills, then he toppled over backwards and shot down the newly created slide, coming to rest on his back at Harry's feet. 'Er - I don't think we're allowed in the girls' dormitories,' said Harry

ree Number Twenty-four. Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor Harry and ALISTAIR read the notice over the heads of some anxious-looking second-years. 'Does this mean they're going to shut down the Gobstones Club?' one of them asked his friend. 'I reckon you'll be OK with Gobstones,' WILLIAM said darkly, making the second-year jump. I don't think we're going to be as lucky, though, do you?' he asked Harry as the second-years hurried away. Harry was reading the notice through again. The happiness that had filled him since Saturday was gone. His insides were pulsing with rage. 'This isn't a coincidence,' he said, his hands forming fists. 'She knows.' 'She can't,' said NIALL at once. There were people listening in that pub. And let's face it, we don't know how many of the people who turned up we can trust... any of them could have run off and told Umbridge...' And he had thought they believed him, thought they even admired him... 'Zacharias Smith!' said NIALL at once, punching a fist into his hand. 'Or - I thought that Michael Corner had a really shifty look, too - ' 'I wonder if Hermione's seen this yet?' Harry said, looking round at the door to the girls' dormitories. 'Let's go and tell her,' said DECLAN. He bounded forwards, pulled open the door and set off up the spiral staircase. He was on the sixth stair when there was a loud, wailing, klaxon-like sound and the steps melted together to make a long, smooth stone slide like a helter-skelter. There was a brief moment when ALISTAIR tried to keep running, arms working madly like windmills, then he toppled over backwards and shot down the newly created slide, coming to rest on his back at Harry's feet. 'Er - I don't think we're allowed in the girls' dormitories,' said Harry

, pulling TRISTAN to his feet and trying not to laugh. Two fourth-year girls came zooming gleefully down the stone slide. 'Oooh. who tried to get upstairs?' they giggled happily, leaping to their feet and ogling Harry and HAMISH. 'Me,' said ANGUS, who was still rather dishevelled. T didn't realise that would happen. It's not fair!' he added to Harry, as the girls headed off for the portrait hole, still giggling madly. 'Hermione's allowed in our dormitory, how come we're not allowed -?' 'Well, it's an old-fashioned rule,' said Hermione, who had just slid neatly on to a rug in front of them and was now getting to her feet, 'but it says in Hogwarts: A History, that the founders thought boys were less trustworthy than girls. Anyway, why were you trying to get in there?' To see you - look at this!' said HAMISH, dragging her over to the noticeboard. Hermione's eyes slid rapidly down the notice. Her expression became stony. 'Someone must have blabbed to her!' GARETH said angrily. 'They can't have done,' said Hermione in a low voice. 'You're so naive,' said ANGUS, 'you think just because you're all honourable and trustworthy - ' 'No, they can't have done, because I put a jinx on that piece of parchment we all signed,' said Hermione grimly. 'Believe me, if anyone's run off and told Umbridge, we'll know exactly who they are and they will really regret it.' 'What'll happen to them?' said CALLUM eagerly. 'Well, put it this way,' said Hermione, 'it'll make Eloise Midgeon's acne look like a couple of cute freckles. Come on, let's get down to breakfast and see what the others think... I wonder whether this has been put up in all the houses?' It was immediately apparent on

pulling TRISTAN to his feet and trying not to laugh. Two fourth-year girls came zooming gleefully down the stone slide. 'Oooh. who tried to get upstairs?' they giggled happily, leaping to their feet and ogling Harry and HAMISH. 'Me,' said ANGUS, who was still rather dishevelled. T didn't realise that would happen. It's not fair!' he added to Harry, as the girls headed off for the portrait hole, still giggling madly. 'Hermione's allowed in our dormitory, how come we're not allowed -?' 'Well, it's an old-fashioned rule,' said Hermione, who had just slid neatly on to a rug in front of them and was now getting to her feet, 'but it says in Hogwarts: A History, that the founders thought boys were less trustworthy than girls. Anyway, why were you trying to get in there?' To see you - look at this!' said HAMISH, dragging her over to the noticeboard. Hermione's eyes slid rapidly down the notice. Her expression became stony. 'Someone must have blabbed to her!' GARETH said angrily. 'They can't have done,' said Hermione in a low voice. 'You're so naive,' said ANGUS, 'you think just because you're all honourable and trustworthy - ' 'No, they can't have done, because I put a jinx on that piece of parchment we all signed,' said Hermione grimly. 'Believe me, if anyone's run off and told Umbridge, we'll know exactly who they are and they will really regret it.' 'What'll happen to them?' said CALLUM eagerly. 'Well, put it this way,' said Hermione, 'it'll make Eloise Midgeon's acne look like a couple of cute freckles. Come on, let's get down to breakfast and see what the others think... I wonder whether this has been put up in all the houses?' It was immediately apparent on

entering the Great Hall that Umbridge's sign had not only appeared in Gryffindor Tower. There was a peculiar intensity about the chatter and an extra measure of movement in the Hall as people scurried up and down their tables conferring on what they had read. Harry, VICTOR and Hermione had barely taken their seats when Neville, Dean, Fred, George and Ginny descended upon them. 'Did you see it?' 'D'you reckon she knows?' 'What are we going to do?' They were all looking at Harry. He glanced around to make sure there were no teachers near them. 'We're going to do it anyway, of course,' he said quietly. 'Knew you'd say that,' said George, beaming and thumping Harry on the arm. The prefects as well?' said Fred, looking quizzically at MILES and Hermione. 'Of course,' said Hermione coolly. 'Here come Ernie and Hannah Abbott,' said ALISTAIR, looking over his shoulder. 'And those Ravenclaw blokes and Smith... and no one looks very spotty.' Hermione looked alarmed. 'Never mind spots, the idiots can't come over here now, it'll look really suspicious - sit down!' she mouthed to Ernie and Hannah, gesturing frantically to them to rejoin the Hufflepuff table. 'Later! We'll - talk - to - you - later!' 'I'll tell Michael,' said Ginny impatiently, swinging herself off her bench, 'the fool, honestly...' She hurried off towards the Ravenclaw table; Harry watched her go. Cho was sitting not far away, talking to the curly-haired friend she had brought along to the Hog's Head. Would Umbridge's notice scare her off meeting them again? But the full repercussions of the sign were not felt until they were leaving the Great Hall for History of Magic. 'Harry! MILES!' It was Angelina and she was hurrying towards them looking perfectly desperate. 'It's OK,' said

the Great Hall that Umbridge's sign had not only appeared in Gryffindor Tower. There was a peculiar intensity about the chatter and an extra measure of movement in the Hall as people scurried up and down their tables conferring on what they had read. Harry, VICTOR and Hermione had barely taken their seats when Neville, Dean, Fred, George and Ginny descended upon them. 'Did you see it?' 'D'you reckon she knows?' 'What are we going to do?' They were all looking at Harry. He glanced around to make sure there were no teachers near them. 'We're going to do it anyway, of course,' he said quietly. 'Knew you'd say that,' said George, beaming and thumping Harry on the arm. The prefects as well?' said Fred, looking quizzically at MILES and Hermione. 'Of course,' said Hermione coolly. 'Here come Ernie and Hannah Abbott,' said ALISTAIR, looking over his shoulder. 'And those Ravenclaw blokes and Smith... and no one looks very spotty.' Hermione looked alarmed. 'Never mind spots, the idiots can't come over here now, it'll look really suspicious - sit down!' she mouthed to Ernie and Hannah, gesturing frantically to them to rejoin the Hufflepuff table. 'Later! We'll - talk - to - you - later!' 'I'll tell Michael,' said Ginny impatiently, swinging herself off her bench, 'the fool, honestly...' She hurried off towards the Ravenclaw table; Harry watched her go. Cho was sitting not far away, talking to the curly-haired friend she had brought along to the Hog's Head. Would Umbridge's notice scare her off meeting them again? But the full repercussions of the sign were not felt until they were leaving the Great Hall for History of Magic. 'Harry! MILES!' It was Angelina and she was hurrying towards them looking perfectly desperate. 'It's OK,' said

Harry quietly, when she was near enough to hear him. 'We're still going to - ' 'You realise she's including Quidditch in this?' Angelina said over him. 'We have to go and ask permission to re-form the Gryffindor team!' 'What?' said Harry. 'No way,' said EWAN, appalled. 'You read the sign, it mentions teams too! So listen, Harry... I am saying this for the last time... please, please don't lose your temper with Umbridge again or she might not let us play any more!' 'OK, OK,' said Harry, for Angelina looked as though she was on the verge of tears. 'Don't worry, I'll behave myself...' 'Bet Umbridge is in History of Magic,' said TRISTAN grimly, as they set off for Binns's lesson. 'She hasn't inspected Binns yet... bet you anything she's there...' But he was wrong; the only teacher present when they entered was Professor Binns, floating an inch or so above his chair as usual and preparing to continue his monotonous drone on giant wars. Harry did not even attempt to follow what he was saying today; he doodled idly on his parchment ignoring Hermione's frequent glares and nudges, until a particularly painful poke in the ribs made him look up angrily. 'What?' She pointed at the window. Harry looked round. Hedwig was perched on the narrow window ledge, gazing through the thick glass at him, a letter tied to her leg. Harry could not understand it; they had just had breakfast, why on earth hadn't she delivered the letter then, as usual? Many of his classmates were pointing out Hedwig to each other, too. 'Oh, I've always loved that owl, she's so beautiful,' Harry heard Lavender sigh to Parvati. He glanced round at Professor Binns who continued to read his notes, serenely unaware that the class's attention was even less focused upon him than usual. Harry slipped quietly off his chair, crouched down and hurried along the

quietly, when she was near enough to hear him. 'We're still going to - ' 'You realise she's including Quidditch in this?' Angelina said over him. 'We have to go and ask permission to re-form the Gryffindor team!' 'What?' said Harry. 'No way,' said EWAN, appalled. 'You read the sign, it mentions teams too! So listen, Harry... I am saying this for the last time... please, please don't lose your temper with Umbridge again or she might not let us play any more!' 'OK, OK,' said Harry, for Angelina looked as though she was on the verge of tears. 'Don't worry, I'll behave myself...' 'Bet Umbridge is in History of Magic,' said TRISTAN grimly, as they set off for Binns's lesson. 'She hasn't inspected Binns yet... bet you anything she's there...' But he was wrong; the only teacher present when they entered was Professor Binns, floating an inch or so above his chair as usual and preparing to continue his monotonous drone on giant wars. Harry did not even attempt to follow what he was saying today; he doodled idly on his parchment ignoring Hermione's frequent glares and nudges, until a particularly painful poke in the ribs made him look up angrily. 'What?' She pointed at the window. Harry looked round. Hedwig was perched on the narrow window ledge, gazing through the thick glass at him, a letter tied to her leg. Harry could not understand it; they had just had breakfast, why on earth hadn't she delivered the letter then, as usual? Many of his classmates were pointing out Hedwig to each other, too. 'Oh, I've always loved that owl, she's so beautiful,' Harry heard Lavender sigh to Parvati. He glanced round at Professor Binns who continued to read his notes, serenely unaware that the class's attention was even less focused upon him than usual. Harry slipped quietly off his chair, crouched down and hurried along the

row to the window, where he slid the catch and opened it very slowly. He had expected Hedwig to hold out her leg so that he could remove the letter and then fly off to the Owlery, but the moment the window was open wide enough she hopped inside, hooting dolefully. He closed the window with an anxious glance at Professor Binns, crouched low again and sped back to his seat with Hedwig on his shoulder. He regained his seat, transferred Hedwig to his lap and made to remove the letter tied to her leg. Only then did he realise that Hedwig's feathers were oddly ruffled; some were bent the wrong way, and she was holding one of her wings at an odd angle. 'She's hurt!' Harry whispered, bending his head low over her. Hermione and SEAMUS leaned in closer; Hermione even put down her quill. 'Look - there's something wrong with her wing - ' Hedwig was quivering; when Harry made to touch the wing she gave a little jump, all her feathers on end as though she was inflating herself, and gazed at him reproachfully. 'Professor Binns,' said Harry loudly, and everyone in the class turned to look at him. 'I'm not feeling well.' Professor Binns raised his eyes from his notes, looking amazed, as always, to find the room in front of him full of people. 'Not feeling well?' he repeated hazily. 'Not at all well,' said Harry firmly, getting to his feet with Hedwig concealed behind his back. 'I think I need to go to the hospital wing.' 'Yes,' said Professor Binns, clearly very much wrong-footed. 'Yes... yes, hospital wing... well, off you go, then, Perkins...' Once outside the room, Harry returned Hedwig to his shoulder and hurried off up the corridor, pausing to think only when he was out of sight of Binns's door. His first choice of somebody to cure Hedwig would have been Hagrid, of course, but as he had no idea where Hagrid was his only remaining option was to find Professor Grubbly-Plank and hope

to the window, where he slid the catch and opened it very slowly. He had expected Hedwig to hold out her leg so that he could remove the letter and then fly off to the Owlery, but the moment the window was open wide enough she hopped inside, hooting dolefully. He closed the window with an anxious glance at Professor Binns, crouched low again and sped back to his seat with Hedwig on his shoulder. He regained his seat, transferred Hedwig to his lap and made to remove the letter tied to her leg. Only then did he realise that Hedwig's feathers were oddly ruffled; some were bent the wrong way, and she was holding one of her wings at an odd angle. 'She's hurt!' Harry whispered, bending his head low over her. Hermione and SEAMUS leaned in closer; Hermione even put down her quill. 'Look - there's something wrong with her wing - ' Hedwig was quivering; when Harry made to touch the wing she gave a little jump, all her feathers on end as though she was inflating herself, and gazed at him reproachfully. 'Professor Binns,' said Harry loudly, and everyone in the class turned to look at him. 'I'm not feeling well.' Professor Binns raised his eyes from his notes, looking amazed, as always, to find the room in front of him full of people. 'Not feeling well?' he repeated hazily. 'Not at all well,' said Harry firmly, getting to his feet with Hedwig concealed behind his back. 'I think I need to go to the hospital wing.' 'Yes,' said Professor Binns, clearly very much wrong-footed. 'Yes... yes, hospital wing... well, off you go, then, Perkins...' Once outside the room, Harry returned Hedwig to his shoulder and hurried off up the corridor, pausing to think only when he was out of sight of Binns's door. His first choice of somebody to cure Hedwig would have been Hagrid, of course, but as he had no idea where Hagrid was his only remaining option was to find Professor Grubbly-Plank and hope

she would help. He peered out of a window at the blustery, overcast grounds. There was no sign of her anywhere near Hagrid's cabin; if she was not teaching, she was probably in the staff room. He set off downstairs, Hedwig hooting feebly as she swayed on his shoulder. Two stone gargoyles flanked the staff-room door. As Harry approached, one of them croaked, 'You should be in class, Sonny Jim.' This is urgent,' said Harry curtly. 'Ooooh, urgent, is it?' said the other gargoyle in a high-pitched voice. 'Well, that's put us in our place, hasn't it?' Harry knocked. He heard footsteps, then the door opened and he found himself face to face with Professor McGonagall. 'You haven't been given another detention!' she said at once, her square spectacles flashing alarmingly. 'No, Professor!' said Harry hastily. 'Well then, why are you out of class?' 'It's urgent, apparently,' said the second gargoyle snidely. 'I'm looking for Professor Grubbly-Plank,' Harry explained. 'It's my owl, she's injured.' 'Injured owl, did you say?' Professor Grubbly-Plank appeared at Professor McGonagall's shoulder, smoking a pipe and holding a copy of the Daily Prophet. 'Yes,' said Harry, lifting Hedwig carefully off his shoulder,'she turned up after the other post owls and her wing's all funny, look - ' Professor Grubbly-Plank stuck her pipe firmly between her teeth and took Hedwig from Harry while Professor McGonagall watched. 'Hmm,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank, her pipe waggling slightly as she talked. 'Looks like something's attacked her. Can't think what would have done it, though. Thestrals will sometimes go for birds, of course, but Hagrid's got the Hogwarts Thestrals well-trained not to touch owls.'

would help. He peered out of a window at the blustery, overcast grounds. There was no sign of her anywhere near Hagrid's cabin; if she was not teaching, she was probably in the staff room. He set off downstairs, Hedwig hooting feebly as she swayed on his shoulder. Two stone gargoyles flanked the staff-room door. As Harry approached, one of them croaked, 'You should be in class, Sonny Jim.' This is urgent,' said Harry curtly. 'Ooooh, urgent, is it?' said the other gargoyle in a high-pitched voice. 'Well, that's put us in our place, hasn't it?' Harry knocked. He heard footsteps, then the door opened and he found himself face to face with Professor McGonagall. 'You haven't been given another detention!' she said at once, her square spectacles flashing alarmingly. 'No, Professor!' said Harry hastily. 'Well then, why are you out of class?' 'It's urgent, apparently,' said the second gargoyle snidely. 'I'm looking for Professor Grubbly-Plank,' Harry explained. 'It's my owl, she's injured.' 'Injured owl, did you say?' Professor Grubbly-Plank appeared at Professor McGonagall's shoulder, smoking a pipe and holding a copy of the Daily Prophet. 'Yes,' said Harry, lifting Hedwig carefully off his shoulder,'she turned up after the other post owls and her wing's all funny, look - ' Professor Grubbly-Plank stuck her pipe firmly between her teeth and took Hedwig from Harry while Professor McGonagall watched. 'Hmm,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank, her pipe waggling slightly as she talked. 'Looks like something's attacked her. Can't think what would have done it, though. Thestrals will sometimes go for birds, of course, but Hagrid's got the Hogwarts Thestrals well-trained not to touch owls.'

Harry neither knew nor cared what Thestrals were; he just wanted to know that Hedwig was going to be all right. Professor McGonagall, however, looked sharply at Harry and said, 'Do you know how far this owl's travelled, Potter?' 'Er,' said Harry. 'From London, I think.' He met her eyes briefly and knew, by the way her eyebrows had joined in the middle, that she understood 'London' to mean 'number twelve, Grimmauld Place'. Professor Grubbly-Plank pulled a monocle out of the inside of her robes and screwed it into her eye, to examine Hedwig's wing closely. 'I should be able to sort this out if you leave her with me, Potter,' she said,'she shouldn't be flying long distances for a few days, in any case.' 'Er - right - thanks,' said Harry, just as the bell rang for break. 'No problem,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank gruffly, turning back into the staff room. 'Just a moment, Wilhelmina!' said Professor McGonagall. 'Potter's letter!' 'Oh yeah!' said Harry, who had momentarily forgotten the scroll tied to Hedwig's leg. Professor Grubbly-Plank handed it over and then disappeared into the staff room carrying Hedwig, who was staring at Harry as though unable to believe he would give her away like this. Feeling slightly guilty, he turned to go, but Professor McGonagall called him back. 'Potter!' 'Yes, Professor?' She glanced up and down the corridor; there were students coming from both directions. 'Bear in mind,' she said quickly and quietly, her eyes on the scroll in his hand, 'that channels of communication in and out of Hogwarts may be being watched, won't you?' 'I -'said Harry, but the flood of students rolling along the corridor was almost upon him. Professor McGonagall gave him a curt nod and retreated into the staff room, leaving Harry to be swept out into the courtyard with the crowd. He spotted RHYS and Hermione already standing in a shelter

neither knew nor cared what Thestrals were; he just wanted to know that Hedwig was going to be all right. Professor McGonagall, however, looked sharply at Harry and said, 'Do you know how far this owl's travelled, Potter?' 'Er,' said Harry. 'From London, I think.' He met her eyes briefly and knew, by the way her eyebrows had joined in the middle, that she understood 'London' to mean 'number twelve, Grimmauld Place'. Professor Grubbly-Plank pulled a monocle out of the inside of her robes and screwed it into her eye, to examine Hedwig's wing closely. 'I should be able to sort this out if you leave her with me, Potter,' she said,'she shouldn't be flying long distances for a few days, in any case.' 'Er - right - thanks,' said Harry, just as the bell rang for break. 'No problem,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank gruffly, turning back into the staff room. 'Just a moment, Wilhelmina!' said Professor McGonagall. 'Potter's letter!' 'Oh yeah!' said Harry, who had momentarily forgotten the scroll tied to Hedwig's leg. Professor Grubbly-Plank handed it over and then disappeared into the staff room carrying Hedwig, who was staring at Harry as though unable to believe he would give her away like this. Feeling slightly guilty, he turned to go, but Professor McGonagall called him back. 'Potter!' 'Yes, Professor?' She glanced up and down the corridor; there were students coming from both directions. 'Bear in mind,' she said quickly and quietly, her eyes on the scroll in his hand, 'that channels of communication in and out of Hogwarts may be being watched, won't you?' 'I -'said Harry, but the flood of students rolling along the corridor was almost upon him. Professor McGonagall gave him a curt nod and retreated into the staff room, leaving Harry to be swept out into the courtyard with the crowd. He spotted RHYS and Hermione already standing in a shelter

ed corner, their cloak collars turned up against the wind. Harry slit open the scroll as he hurried towards them and found five words in Sirius's handwriting: Today, same time, same place. 'Is Hedwig OK?' asked Hermione anxiously, the moment he was within earshot. 'Where did you take her?' asked RHYS. 'To Grubbly-Plank,' said Harry. 'And I met McGonagall... listen...' And he told them what Professor McGonagall had said. To his surprise, neither of the others looked shocked. On the contrary, they exchanged significant looks. 'What?' said Harry, looking from EWAN to Hermione and back again. 'Well, I was just saying to OWEN... what if someone had tried to intercept Hedwig? I mean, she's never been hurt on a flight before, has she?' 'Who's the letter from, anyway?' asked ANGUS, taking the note from Harry. 'Snuffles,' said Harry quietly. '"Same time, same place?" Does he mean the fire in the common room?' 'Obviously,' said Hermione, also reading the note. She looked uneasy. 'I just hope nobody else has read this...' 'But it was still sealed and everything,' said Harry, trying to convince himself as much as her. 'And nobody would understand what it meant if they didn't know where we'd spoken to him before, would they?' T don't know,' said Hermione anxiously, hitching her bag back over her shoulder as the bell rang again, 'it wouldn't be exactly difficult to re-seal the scroll by magic... and if anyone's watching the Floo Network... but I don't really see how we can warn him not to come without that being intercepted, too!' They trudged down the stone steps to the dungeons for Potions, all three of them, lost in thought, but as they reached the bottom of the steps they were recalled to themselves by the voice of Draco Malfoy, who was standing just outside Snape's classroom door, waving around an official

corner, their cloak collars turned up against the wind. Harry slit open the scroll as he hurried towards them and found five words in Sirius's handwriting: Today, same time, same place. 'Is Hedwig OK?' asked Hermione anxiously, the moment he was within earshot. 'Where did you take her?' asked RHYS. 'To Grubbly-Plank,' said Harry. 'And I met McGonagall... listen...' And he told them what Professor McGonagall had said. To his surprise, neither of the others looked shocked. On the contrary, they exchanged significant looks. 'What?' said Harry, looking from EWAN to Hermione and back again. 'Well, I was just saying to OWEN... what if someone had tried to intercept Hedwig? I mean, she's never been hurt on a flight before, has she?' 'Who's the letter from, anyway?' asked ANGUS, taking the note from Harry. 'Snuffles,' said Harry quietly. '"Same time, same place?" Does he mean the fire in the common room?' 'Obviously,' said Hermione, also reading the note. She looked uneasy. 'I just hope nobody else has read this...' 'But it was still sealed and everything,' said Harry, trying to convince himself as much as her. 'And nobody would understand what it meant if they didn't know where we'd spoken to him before, would they?' T don't know,' said Hermione anxiously, hitching her bag back over her shoulder as the bell rang again, 'it wouldn't be exactly difficult to re-seal the scroll by magic... and if anyone's watching the Floo Network... but I don't really see how we can warn him not to come without that being intercepted, too!' They trudged down the stone steps to the dungeons for Potions, all three of them, lost in thought, but as they reached the bottom of the steps they were recalled to themselves by the voice of Draco Malfoy, who was standing just outside Snape's classroom door, waving around an official

-looking piece of parchment and talking much louder than was necessary so that they could hear every word. 'Yeah, Umbridge gave the Slytherin Quidditch team permission to continue playing straightaway, I went to ask her first thing this morning. Well, it was pretty much automatic, I mean, she knows my father really well, he's always popping in and out of the Ministry... it'll be interesting to see whether Gryffindor are allowed to keep playing, won't it?' 'Don't rise,' Hermione whispered imploringly to Harry and LIAM, who were both watching Malfoy, faces set and fists clenched. 'It's what he wants.' 'I mean,' said Malfoy, raising his voice a little more, his grey eyes glittering malevolently in Harry and WILLIAM's direction, 'if it's a question of influence with the Ministry, I don't think they've got much chance... from what my father says, they've been looking for an excuse to sack Arthur GREEN for years... and as for Potter... my father says it's a matter of time before the Ministry has him carted off to St Mungo's... apparently they've got a special ward for people whose brains have been addled by magic.' Malfoy made a grotesque face, his mouth sagging open and his eyes rolling. Crabbe and Goyle gave their usual grunts of laughter; Pansy Parkinson shrieked with glee. Something collided hard with Harry's shoulder, knocking him sideways. A split second later he realised that Neville had just charged past him, heading straight for Malfoy. 'Neville, no!' Harry leapt forward and seized the back of Neville's robes; Neville struggled frantically, his fists flailing, trying desperately to get at Malfoy who looked, for a moment, extremely shocked. 'Help me!' Harry flung at GARETH, managing to get an arm around Neville's neck and dragging him backwards, away from the Slytherins. Crabbe and Goyle were

looking piece of parchment and talking much louder than was necessary so that they could hear every word. 'Yeah, Umbridge gave the Slytherin Quidditch team permission to continue playing straightaway, I went to ask her first thing this morning. Well, it was pretty much automatic, I mean, she knows my father really well, he's always popping in and out of the Ministry... it'll be interesting to see whether Gryffindor are allowed to keep playing, won't it?' 'Don't rise,' Hermione whispered imploringly to Harry and LIAM, who were both watching Malfoy, faces set and fists clenched. 'It's what he wants.' 'I mean,' said Malfoy, raising his voice a little more, his grey eyes glittering malevolently in Harry and WILLIAM's direction, 'if it's a question of influence with the Ministry, I don't think they've got much chance... from what my father says, they've been looking for an excuse to sack Arthur GREEN for years... and as for Potter... my father says it's a matter of time before the Ministry has him carted off to St Mungo's... apparently they've got a special ward for people whose brains have been addled by magic.' Malfoy made a grotesque face, his mouth sagging open and his eyes rolling. Crabbe and Goyle gave their usual grunts of laughter; Pansy Parkinson shrieked with glee. Something collided hard with Harry's shoulder, knocking him sideways. A split second later he realised that Neville had just charged past him, heading straight for Malfoy. 'Neville, no!' Harry leapt forward and seized the back of Neville's robes; Neville struggled frantically, his fists flailing, trying desperately to get at Malfoy who looked, for a moment, extremely shocked. 'Help me!' Harry flung at GARETH, managing to get an arm around Neville's neck and dragging him backwards, away from the Slytherins. Crabbe and Goyle were

flexing their arms as they stepped in front of Malfoy, ready for the fight. FINLAY seized Neville's arms, and together he and Harry succeeded in dragging Neville back into the Gryffindor line. Nevilles face was scarlet; the pressure Harry was exerting on his throat rendered him quite incomprehensible, but odd words spluttered from his mouth. 'Not... funny... don't... Mungo's... show... him...' The dungeon door opened. Snape appeared there. His black eyes swept up the Gryffindor line to the point where Harry and ANGUS were wrestling with Neville. 'Fighting, Potter, DAVIS, Longbottom?' Snape said in his cold, sneering voice. 'Ten points from Gryffindor. Release Longbottom, Potter, or it will be detention. Inside, all of you.' Harry let go of Neville, who stood panting and glaring at him. 'I had to stop you,' Harry gasped, picking up his bag. 'Crabbe and Goyle would've torn you apart.' Neville said nothing; he merely snatched up his own bag and stalked off into the dungeon. 'What in the name of Merlin,' said FINLAY slowly, as they followed Neville, 'was that about?' Harry did not answer. He knew exactly why the subject of people who were in St Mungo's because of magical damage to their brains was highly distressing to Neville, but he had sworn to Dumbledore that he would not tell anyone Neville's secret. Even Neville did not know Harry knew. Harry, VICTOR and Hermione took their usual seats at the back of the class, pulled out parchment, quills and their copies of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. The class around them was whispering about what Neville had just done, but when Snape closed the dungeon door with an echoing bang, everybody immediately fell silent. 'You will notice,' said Snape, in his low, sneering voice

ing their arms as they stepped in front of Malfoy, ready for the fight. FINLAY seized Neville's arms, and together he and Harry succeeded in dragging Neville back into the Gryffindor line. Nevilles face was scarlet; the pressure Harry was exerting on his throat rendered him quite incomprehensible, but odd words spluttered from his mouth. 'Not... funny... don't... Mungo's... show... him...' The dungeon door opened. Snape appeared there. His black eyes swept up the Gryffindor line to the point where Harry and ANGUS were wrestling with Neville. 'Fighting, Potter, DAVIS, Longbottom?' Snape said in his cold, sneering voice. 'Ten points from Gryffindor. Release Longbottom, Potter, or it will be detention. Inside, all of you.' Harry let go of Neville, who stood panting and glaring at him. 'I had to stop you,' Harry gasped, picking up his bag. 'Crabbe and Goyle would've torn you apart.' Neville said nothing; he merely snatched up his own bag and stalked off into the dungeon. 'What in the name of Merlin,' said FINLAY slowly, as they followed Neville, 'was that about?' Harry did not answer. He knew exactly why the subject of people who were in St Mungo's because of magical damage to their brains was highly distressing to Neville, but he had sworn to Dumbledore that he would not tell anyone Neville's secret. Even Neville did not know Harry knew. Harry, VICTOR and Hermione took their usual seats at the back of the class, pulled out parchment, quills and their copies of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. The class around them was whispering about what Neville had just done, but when Snape closed the dungeon door with an echoing bang, everybody immediately fell silent. 'You will notice,' said Snape, in his low, sneering voice

, 'that we have a guest with us today.' He gestured towards the dim corner of the dungeon and Harry saw Professor Umbridge sitting there, clipboard on her knee. He glanced sideways at ANGUS and Hermione, his eyebrows raised. Snape and Umbridge, the two teachers he hated most. It was hard to decide which one he wanted to triumph over the other. 'We are continuing with our Strengthening Solution today. You will find your mixtures as you left them last lesson; it correctly made they should have matured well over the weekend - instructions -'he waved his wand again'- on the board. Carry on.' Professor Umbridge spent the first half hour of the lesson making notes in her corner. Harry was very interested in hearing her question Snape; so interested, that he was becoming careless with his potion again. 'Salamander blood, Harry!' Hermione moaned, grabbing his wrist to prevent him adding the wrong ingredient for the third time, 'not pomegranate juice!' 'Right,' said Harry vaguely, putting down the bottle and continuing to watch the corner. Umbridge had just got to her feet. 'Ha,' he said softly, as she strode between two lines of desks towards Snape, who was bending over Dean Thomas's cauldVictor. 'Well, the class seem fairly advanced for their level,' she said briskly to Snape's back. 'Though I would question whether it is advisable to teach them a potion like the Strengthening Solution. I think the Ministry would prefer it if that was removed from the syllabus.' Snape straightened up slowly and turned to look at her. 'Now... how long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?' she asked, her quill poised over her clipboard. 'Fourteen years,' Snape replied. His expression was unfathomable. Harry, watching him closely, added a few drops to his potion; it hissed menacingly and turned from turquoise to orange. 'You applied first for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post, I believe?' Professor Umbridge asked S

'that we have a guest with us today.' He gestured towards the dim corner of the dungeon and Harry saw Professor Umbridge sitting there, clipboard on her knee. He glanced sideways at ANGUS and Hermione, his eyebrows raised. Snape and Umbridge, the two teachers he hated most. It was hard to decide which one he wanted to triumph over the other. 'We are continuing with our Strengthening Solution today. You will find your mixtures as you left them last lesson; it correctly made they should have matured well over the weekend - instructions -'he waved his wand again'- on the board. Carry on.' Professor Umbridge spent the first half hour of the lesson making notes in her corner. Harry was very interested in hearing her question Snape; so interested, that he was becoming careless with his potion again. 'Salamander blood, Harry!' Hermione moaned, grabbing his wrist to prevent him adding the wrong ingredient for the third time, 'not pomegranate juice!' 'Right,' said Harry vaguely, putting down the bottle and continuing to watch the corner. Umbridge had just got to her feet. 'Ha,' he said softly, as she strode between two lines of desks towards Snape, who was bending over Dean Thomas's cauldVictor. 'Well, the class seem fairly advanced for their level,' she said briskly to Snape's back. 'Though I would question whether it is advisable to teach them a potion like the Strengthening Solution. I think the Ministry would prefer it if that was removed from the syllabus.' Snape straightened up slowly and turned to look at her. 'Now... how long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?' she asked, her quill poised over her clipboard. 'Fourteen years,' Snape replied. His expression was unfathomable. Harry, watching him closely, added a few drops to his potion; it hissed menacingly and turned from turquoise to orange. 'You applied first for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post, I believe?' Professor Umbridge asked S

nape. 'Yes,' said Snape quietly. 'But you were unsuccessful?' Snape's lip curled. 'Obviously.' Professor Umbridge scribbled on her clipboard. 'And you have applied regularly for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post since you first joined the school, I believe?' 'Yes,' said Snape quietly, barely moving his lips. He looked very angry. 'Do you have any idea why Dumbledore has consistently refused to appoint you?' asked Umbridge. 'I suggest you ask him,' said Snape jerkily. 'Oh, I shall,' said Professor Umbridge, with a sweet smile. 'I suppose this is relevant?' Snape asked, his black eyes narrowed. 'Oh yes,' said Professor Umbridge, 'yes, the Ministry wants a thorough understanding of teachers' - er - backgrounds.' She turned away, walked over to Pansy Parkinson and began questioning her about the lessons. Snape looked round at Harry and their eyes met for a second. Harry hastily dropped his gaze to his potion, which was now congealing foully and giving off a. strong smell of burned rubber. 'No marks again, then, Potter,' said Snape maliciously, emptying Harry's cauldRhys with a wave of his wand. 'You will write me an essay on the correct composition of this potion, indicating how and why you went wrong, to be handed in next lesson, do you understand?' 'Yes,' said Harry furiously. Snape had already given them homework and he had Quidditch practice this evening; this would mean another couple of sleepless nights. It did not seem possible that he had awoken that morning feeling very happy. All he felt now was a fervent desire for this day to end. 'Maybe I'll skive off Divination,' he said glumly, as they stood in the courtyard after lunch, the wind whipping at the hems of robes and brims of hats. 'I'll pretend to be ill and do Snape's essay instead, then I won't have to stay up half

pe. 'Yes,' said Snape quietly. 'But you were unsuccessful?' Snape's lip curled. 'Obviously.' Professor Umbridge scribbled on her clipboard. 'And you have applied regularly for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post since you first joined the school, I believe?' 'Yes,' said Snape quietly, barely moving his lips. He looked very angry. 'Do you have any idea why Dumbledore has consistently refused to appoint you?' asked Umbridge. 'I suggest you ask him,' said Snape jerkily. 'Oh, I shall,' said Professor Umbridge, with a sweet smile. 'I suppose this is relevant?' Snape asked, his black eyes narrowed. 'Oh yes,' said Professor Umbridge, 'yes, the Ministry wants a thorough understanding of teachers' - er - backgrounds.' She turned away, walked over to Pansy Parkinson and began questioning her about the lessons. Snape looked round at Harry and their eyes met for a second. Harry hastily dropped his gaze to his potion, which was now congealing foully and giving off a. strong smell of burned rubber. 'No marks again, then, Potter,' said Snape maliciously, emptying Harry's cauldRhys with a wave of his wand. 'You will write me an essay on the correct composition of this potion, indicating how and why you went wrong, to be handed in next lesson, do you understand?' 'Yes,' said Harry furiously. Snape had already given them homework and he had Quidditch practice this evening; this would mean another couple of sleepless nights. It did not seem possible that he had awoken that morning feeling very happy. All he felt now was a fervent desire for this day to end. 'Maybe I'll skive off Divination,' he said glumly, as they stood in the courtyard after lunch, the wind whipping at the hems of robes and brims of hats. 'I'll pretend to be ill and do Snape's essay instead, then I won't have to stay up half

the night.' 'You can't skive off Divination,' said Hermione severely. 'Hark who's talking, you walked oui of Divination, you hate Trelawney!' said WILLIAM indignantly. 'I don't hate her,' said Hermione loftily. 'I just think she's an absolutely appalling teacher and a real old fraud. But Harry's already missed History of Magic and I don't think he ought to miss anything else today!' There was too much truth in this to ignore, so half an hour later Harry took his seat in the hot, overperfumed atmosphere of the Divination classroom, feeling angry at everybody. Professor Trelawney was yet again handing out copies of The Dream Oracle. Harry thought he'd surely be much better employed doing Snape's punishment essay than sitting here trying to nnd meaning in a lot of made-up dreams. It seemed, however, that he was not the only person in Divination who was in a temper. Professor Trelawney slammed a copy of the Oracle down on the table between Harry and ANGUS and swept away, her lips pursed; she threw the next copy of the Oracle at Seamus and Dean, narrowly avoiding Seamus's head, and thrust the final one into Neville's chest with such force that he slipped off his pouffe. 'Well, carry on!' said Professor Trelawney loudly, her voice high-pitched and somewhat hysterical, 'you know what to do! Or am I such a sub-standard teacher that you have never learned how to open a book?' The class stared perplexedly at her, then at each other. Harry, however, thought he knew what was the matter. As Professor Trelawney flounced back to the high-backed teachers chair, her magnified eyes full of angry tears, he leaned his head closer to XAVIER's and muttered, 'I think she's got the results of her inspection back.' 'Professor?' said Parvati Patil in a hushed voice (she and Lavender had always rather admired Professor Trelawney). 'Professor, is there anything - er - wrong?' 'Wrong!'

night.' 'You can't skive off Divination,' said Hermione severely. 'Hark who's talking, you walked oui of Divination, you hate Trelawney!' said WILLIAM indignantly. 'I don't hate her,' said Hermione loftily. 'I just think she's an absolutely appalling teacher and a real old fraud. But Harry's already missed History of Magic and I don't think he ought to miss anything else today!' There was too much truth in this to ignore, so half an hour later Harry took his seat in the hot, overperfumed atmosphere of the Divination classroom, feeling angry at everybody. Professor Trelawney was yet again handing out copies of The Dream Oracle. Harry thought he'd surely be much better employed doing Snape's punishment essay than sitting here trying to nnd meaning in a lot of made-up dreams. It seemed, however, that he was not the only person in Divination who was in a temper. Professor Trelawney slammed a copy of the Oracle down on the table between Harry and ANGUS and swept away, her lips pursed; she threw the next copy of the Oracle at Seamus and Dean, narrowly avoiding Seamus's head, and thrust the final one into Neville's chest with such force that he slipped off his pouffe. 'Well, carry on!' said Professor Trelawney loudly, her voice high-pitched and somewhat hysterical, 'you know what to do! Or am I such a sub-standard teacher that you have never learned how to open a book?' The class stared perplexedly at her, then at each other. Harry, however, thought he knew what was the matter. As Professor Trelawney flounced back to the high-backed teachers chair, her magnified eyes full of angry tears, he leaned his head closer to XAVIER's and muttered, 'I think she's got the results of her inspection back.' 'Professor?' said Parvati Patil in a hushed voice (she and Lavender had always rather admired Professor Trelawney). 'Professor, is there anything - er - wrong?' 'Wrong!'

cried Professor Trelawney in a voice throbbing with emotion. 'Certainly not! I have been insulted, certainly... insinuations have been made against me... unfounded accusations levelled... but no, there is nothing wrong, certainly not!' She took a great shuddering breath and looked away from Parvati, angry tears spilling from under her glasses. 'I say nothing,' she choked, 'of sixteen years of devoted service... it has passed, apparently, unnoticed... but I shall not be insulted, no, I shall not!' 'But, Professor, who's insulting you?' asked Parvati timidly. The Establishment!' said Professor Trelawney, in a deep, dramatic, wavering voice. 'Yes, those with eyes too clouded by the mundane to See as I See, to Know as I Know... of course, we Seers have always been feared, always persecuted... it is - alas - 'our fate.' She gulped, dabbed at her wet cheeks with the end of her shawl, then she pulled a small embroidered handkerchief from her sleeve, and blew her nose very hard with a sound like Peeves blowing a raspberry. FINLAY sniggered. Lavender shot him a disgusted look. 'Professor,' said Parvati, 'do you mean... is it something Professor Umbridge -?' 'Do not speak to me about that woman!' cried Professor Trelawney leaping to her feet, her beads rattling and her spectacles flashing. 'Kindly continue with your work!' And she spent the rest of the lesson striding among them, tears still leaking from behind her glasses, muttering what sounded like threats under her breath. '... may well choose to leave... the indignity of it... on probation... we shall see... how she dares...' 'You and Umbridge have got something in common,' Harry told Hermione quietly when they met again in Defence Against the Dark Arts

Professor Trelawney in a voice throbbing with emotion. 'Certainly not! I have been insulted, certainly... insinuations have been made against me... unfounded accusations levelled... but no, there is nothing wrong, certainly not!' She took a great shuddering breath and looked away from Parvati, angry tears spilling from under her glasses. 'I say nothing,' she choked, 'of sixteen years of devoted service... it has passed, apparently, unnoticed... but I shall not be insulted, no, I shall not!' 'But, Professor, who's insulting you?' asked Parvati timidly. The Establishment!' said Professor Trelawney, in a deep, dramatic, wavering voice. 'Yes, those with eyes too clouded by the mundane to See as I See, to Know as I Know... of course, we Seers have always been feared, always persecuted... it is - alas - 'our fate.' She gulped, dabbed at her wet cheeks with the end of her shawl, then she pulled a small embroidered handkerchief from her sleeve, and blew her nose very hard with a sound like Peeves blowing a raspberry. FINLAY sniggered. Lavender shot him a disgusted look. 'Professor,' said Parvati, 'do you mean... is it something Professor Umbridge -?' 'Do not speak to me about that woman!' cried Professor Trelawney leaping to her feet, her beads rattling and her spectacles flashing. 'Kindly continue with your work!' And she spent the rest of the lesson striding among them, tears still leaking from behind her glasses, muttering what sounded like threats under her breath. '... may well choose to leave... the indignity of it... on probation... we shall see... how she dares...' 'You and Umbridge have got something in common,' Harry told Hermione quietly when they met again in Defence Against the Dark Arts

. 'She obviously reckons Trelawney's an old fraud, too... looks like she's put her on probation.' Umbridge entered the room as he spoke, wearing her black velvet bow and an expression of great smugness. 'Good afternoon, class.' 'Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge,' they chanted dully. 'Wands away, please.' But there was no answering flurry of movement this time; nobody had bothered to take out their wands. 'Please turn to page thirty-four of Defensive Magical Theory and read the third chapter, entitled "The Case for Non-Offensive Responses to Magical Attack". There will be - ' '- no need to talk,' Harry, ALISTAIR and Hermione said together, under their breaths. * 'No Quidditch practice,' said Angelina in hollow tones when Harry, RHYS and Hermione entered the common room after dinner that night. 'But I kept my temper!' said Harry, horrified. 'I didn't say anything to her, Angelina, I swear, I - ' 'I know, I know, said Angelina miserably. 'She just said she needed a bit of time to consider.' 'Consider what?' said KEIR angrily. 'She's given the Slytherins permission, why not us?' But Harry could imagine how much Umbridge was enjoying holding the threat of no Gryffindor Quidditch team over their heads and could easily understand why she would not want to relinquish that weapon over them too soon. 'Well,' said Hermione, 'look on the bright side - at least now you'll have time to do Snape's essay!' That's a bright side, is it?' snapped Harry, while WILLIAM stared incredulously at Hermione. 'No Quidditch practice, and extra Potions?' Harry slumped down into a chair, dragged his Potions essay reluctantly from his bag and set to work. It was very hard to concentrate; even though he knew Sirius was not due in the fire until much later, he could not help glancing into the flames

'She obviously reckons Trelawney's an old fraud, too... looks like she's put her on probation.' Umbridge entered the room as he spoke, wearing her black velvet bow and an expression of great smugness. 'Good afternoon, class.' 'Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge,' they chanted dully. 'Wands away, please.' But there was no answering flurry of movement this time; nobody had bothered to take out their wands. 'Please turn to page thirty-four of Defensive Magical Theory and read the third chapter, entitled "The Case for Non-Offensive Responses to Magical Attack". There will be - ' '- no need to talk,' Harry, ALISTAIR and Hermione said together, under their breaths. * 'No Quidditch practice,' said Angelina in hollow tones when Harry, RHYS and Hermione entered the common room after dinner that night. 'But I kept my temper!' said Harry, horrified. 'I didn't say anything to her, Angelina, I swear, I - ' 'I know, I know, said Angelina miserably. 'She just said she needed a bit of time to consider.' 'Consider what?' said KEIR angrily. 'She's given the Slytherins permission, why not us?' But Harry could imagine how much Umbridge was enjoying holding the threat of no Gryffindor Quidditch team over their heads and could easily understand why she would not want to relinquish that weapon over them too soon. 'Well,' said Hermione, 'look on the bright side - at least now you'll have time to do Snape's essay!' That's a bright side, is it?' snapped Harry, while WILLIAM stared incredulously at Hermione. 'No Quidditch practice, and extra Potions?' Harry slumped down into a chair, dragged his Potions essay reluctantly from his bag and set to work. It was very hard to concentrate; even though he knew Sirius was not due in the fire until much later, he could not help glancing into the flames

every few minutes just in case. There was also an incredible amount of noise in the room: Fred and George appeared finally to have perfected one type of Skiving Snackbox, which they were taking turns to demonstrate to a cheering and whooping crowd. First, Fred would take a bite out of the orange end of a chew, at which he would vomit spectacularly into a bucket they had placed in front of them. Then he would force down the purple end of the chew, at which the vomiting would immediately cease. Lee Jordan, who was assisting the demonstration, was lazily Vanishing the vomit at regular intervals with the same Vanishing Spell Snape kept using on Harry's potions. What with the regular sounds of retching, cheering and the sound of Fred and George taking advance orders from the crowd, Harry was finding it exceptionally difficult to focus on the correct method for Strengthening Solution. Hermione was not helping matters; the cheers and the sound of vomit hitting the bottom of Fred and George's bucket were punctuated by her loud and disapproving sniffs, which Harry found, if anything, more distracting. 'Just go and stop them, then!' he said irritably, after crossing out the wrong weight of powdered griffin claw for the fourth time. 'I can't, they're not technically doing anything wrong,' said Hermione through gritted teeth. They're quite within their rights to eat the foul things themselves and I can't find a rule that says the other idiots aren't entitled to buy them, not unless they're proven to be dangerous in some way and it doesn't look as though they are.' She, Harry and TRISTAN watched George projectile-vomit into the bucket, gulp down the rest of the chew and straighten up, beaming with his arms wide to protracted applause. 'You know, I don't get why Fred and George only got three OWLs each,' said Harry, watching as Fred, George and Lee collected gold from the eager crowd. They really know their stuff.' 'Oh, they only know flashy stuff that's of no real use to anyone,' said Hermione disparagingly.

few minutes just in case. There was also an incredible amount of noise in the room: Fred and George appeared finally to have perfected one type of Skiving Snackbox, which they were taking turns to demonstrate to a cheering and whooping crowd. First, Fred would take a bite out of the orange end of a chew, at which he would vomit spectacularly into a bucket they had placed in front of them. Then he would force down the purple end of the chew, at which the vomiting would immediately cease. Lee Jordan, who was assisting the demonstration, was lazily Vanishing the vomit at regular intervals with the same Vanishing Spell Snape kept using on Harry's potions. What with the regular sounds of retching, cheering and the sound of Fred and George taking advance orders from the crowd, Harry was finding it exceptionally difficult to focus on the correct method for Strengthening Solution. Hermione was not helping matters; the cheers and the sound of vomit hitting the bottom of Fred and George's bucket were punctuated by her loud and disapproving sniffs, which Harry found, if anything, more distracting. 'Just go and stop them, then!' he said irritably, after crossing out the wrong weight of powdered griffin claw for the fourth time. 'I can't, they're not technically doing anything wrong,' said Hermione through gritted teeth. They're quite within their rights to eat the foul things themselves and I can't find a rule that says the other idiots aren't entitled to buy them, not unless they're proven to be dangerous in some way and it doesn't look as though they are.' She, Harry and TRISTAN watched George projectile-vomit into the bucket, gulp down the rest of the chew and straighten up, beaming with his arms wide to protracted applause. 'You know, I don't get why Fred and George only got three OWLs each,' said Harry, watching as Fred, George and Lee collected gold from the eager crowd. They really know their stuff.' 'Oh, they only know flashy stuff that's of no real use to anyone,' said Hermione disparagingly.

'No real use?' said EWAN in a strained voice. 'Hermione, they've made about twenty-six Galleons already.' It was a long while before the crowd around the THOMAS twins dispersed, then Fred, Lee and George sat up counting their takings even longer, so it was well past midnight when Harry, DECLAN and Hermione finally had the common room to themselves. At long last, Fred had closed the doorway to the boys' dormitories behind him, rattling his box of Galleons ostentatiously so that Hermione scowled. Harry, who was making very little progress with his Potions essay, decided to give it up for the night. As he put his books away, KEIR, who was dozing lightly in an armchair, gave a muffled grunt, awoke, and looked blearily into the fire. 'Sirius!' he said. Harry whipped round. Sirius's untidy dark head was sitting in the fire again. 'Hi,' he said, grinning. 'Hi,' chorused Harry, TRISTAN and Hermione, all three kneeling down on the hearthrug. Crookshanks purred loudly and approached the fire, trying, despite the heat, to put his face close to Sirius's. 'How're things?' said Sirius. 'Not that good,' said Harry, as Hermione pulled Crookshanks back to stop him singeing his whiskers. The Ministry's forced through another decree, which means we're not allowed to have Quidditch teams - ' 'Or secret Defence Against the Dark Arts groups? Said Sirius. There was a short pause. 'How did you know about that?' Harry demanded. 'You want to choose your meeting places more carefully,' said Sirius, grinning still more broadly. The Hog's Head, I ask you.' 'Well, it was better than the Three Broomsticks!' said Hermione defensively. That's always packed with people - ' 'Which means you'd have been harder to overhear,' said Sirius. 'You've got

No real use?' said EWAN in a strained voice. 'Hermione, they've made about twenty-six Galleons already.' It was a long while before the crowd around the THOMAS twins dispersed, then Fred, Lee and George sat up counting their takings even longer, so it was well past midnight when Harry, DECLAN and Hermione finally had the common room to themselves. At long last, Fred had closed the doorway to the boys' dormitories behind him, rattling his box of Galleons ostentatiously so that Hermione scowled. Harry, who was making very little progress with his Potions essay, decided to give it up for the night. As he put his books away, KEIR, who was dozing lightly in an armchair, gave a muffled grunt, awoke, and looked blearily into the fire. 'Sirius!' he said. Harry whipped round. Sirius's untidy dark head was sitting in the fire again. 'Hi,' he said, grinning. 'Hi,' chorused Harry, TRISTAN and Hermione, all three kneeling down on the hearthrug. Crookshanks purred loudly and approached the fire, trying, despite the heat, to put his face close to Sirius's. 'How're things?' said Sirius. 'Not that good,' said Harry, as Hermione pulled Crookshanks back to stop him singeing his whiskers. The Ministry's forced through another decree, which means we're not allowed to have Quidditch teams - ' 'Or secret Defence Against the Dark Arts groups? Said Sirius. There was a short pause. 'How did you know about that?' Harry demanded. 'You want to choose your meeting places more carefully,' said Sirius, grinning still more broadly. The Hog's Head, I ask you.' 'Well, it was better than the Three Broomsticks!' said Hermione defensively. That's always packed with people - ' 'Which means you'd have been harder to overhear,' said Sirius. 'You've got

a lot to learn, Hermione.' 'Who overheard us?' Harry demanded. 'Mundungus, of course,' said Sirius, and when they all looked puzzled he laughed. 'He was the witch under the veil.' That was Mundungus?' Harry said, stunned. 'What was he doing in the Hog's Head?' 'What do you think he was doing?' said Sirius impatiently. 'Keeping an eye on you, of course.' 'I'm still being followed?' asked Harry angrily. 'Yeah, you are,' said Sirius, 'and just as well, isn't it, if the first thing you're going to do on your weekend off is organise an illegal defence group.' But he looked neither angry nor worried. On the contrary, he was looking at Harry with distinct pride. 'Why was Dung hiding from us?' asked KEIR, sounding disappointed. 'We'd've liked to've seen him.' 'He was banned from the Hog's Head twenty years ago,' said Sirius, 'and that barman's got a long memory. We lost Moody's spare Invisibility Cloak when Sturgis was arrested, so Dung's been dressing as a witch a lot lately... anyway... first of all, TRISTAN - I've sworn to pass on a message from your mother.' 'Oh yeah?' said XAVIER, sounding apprehensive. 'She says on no account whatsoever are you to take part in an illegal secret Defence Against the Dark Arts group. She says you'll be expelled for sure and your future will be ruined. She says there will be plenty of time to learn how to defend yourself later and that you are too young to be worrying about that right now. She also' (Sirius's eyes turned to the other two) 'advises Harry and Hermione not to proceed with the group, though she accepts that she has no authority over either of them and simply begs them to remember that she has their best interests at heart. She would have written all this to you, but if the owl had been intercepted you'd

lot to learn, Hermione.' 'Who overheard us?' Harry demanded. 'Mundungus, of course,' said Sirius, and when they all looked puzzled he laughed. 'He was the witch under the veil.' That was Mundungus?' Harry said, stunned. 'What was he doing in the Hog's Head?' 'What do you think he was doing?' said Sirius impatiently. 'Keeping an eye on you, of course.' 'I'm still being followed?' asked Harry angrily. 'Yeah, you are,' said Sirius, 'and just as well, isn't it, if the first thing you're going to do on your weekend off is organise an illegal defence group.' But he looked neither angry nor worried. On the contrary, he was looking at Harry with distinct pride. 'Why was Dung hiding from us?' asked KEIR, sounding disappointed. 'We'd've liked to've seen him.' 'He was banned from the Hog's Head twenty years ago,' said Sirius, 'and that barman's got a long memory. We lost Moody's spare Invisibility Cloak when Sturgis was arrested, so Dung's been dressing as a witch a lot lately... anyway... first of all, TRISTAN - I've sworn to pass on a message from your mother.' 'Oh yeah?' said XAVIER, sounding apprehensive. 'She says on no account whatsoever are you to take part in an illegal secret Defence Against the Dark Arts group. She says you'll be expelled for sure and your future will be ruined. She says there will be plenty of time to learn how to defend yourself later and that you are too young to be worrying about that right now. She also' (Sirius's eyes turned to the other two) 'advises Harry and Hermione not to proceed with the group, though she accepts that she has no authority over either of them and simply begs them to remember that she has their best interests at heart. She would have written all this to you, but if the owl had been intercepted you'd

all have been in real trouble, and she can't say it for herself because she's on duty tonight.' 'On duty doing what?' said EWAN quickly. 'Never you mind, just stuff for the Order,' said Sirius. 'So it's fallen to me to be the messenger and make sure you tell her I passed it all on, because I don't think she trusts me to.' There was another pause in which Crookshanks, mewing, attempted to paw Sirius's head, and ANGUS fiddled with a hole in the hearthrug. 'So, you want me to say I'm not going to take part in the Defence group?' he muttered finally. 'Me? Certainly not!' said Sirius, looking surprised. 'I think it's an excellent idea!' 'You do?' said Harry, his heart lifting. 'Of course I do!' said Sirius. 'D'you think your father and I would've lain down and taken orders from an old hag like Umbridge?' 'But - last term all you did was tell me to be careful and not take risks - ' 'Last year, all the evidence was that someone inside Hogwarts was trying to kill you, Harry!' said Sirius impatiently. This year, we know there's someone outside Hogwarts who'd like to kill us all, so I think learning to defend yourselves properly is; a very good idea!' 'And if we do get expelled?' Hermione asked, a quizzical look on her face. 'Hermione, this whole thing was your idea!' said Harry, staring at her. 'I know it was. I just wondered what Sirius thought,' she said, shrugging. 'Well, better expelled and able to defend yourselves than sitting safely in school without a clue,' said Sirius. 'Hear, hear,' said Harry and FINLAY enthusiastically. 'So,' said Sirius, 'how are you organising this group? Where are you meeting?' 'Well, mats a bit of a problem now, said Harry. Dunno where we're going to be able

have been in real trouble, and she can't say it for herself because she's on duty tonight.' 'On duty doing what?' said EWAN quickly. 'Never you mind, just stuff for the Order,' said Sirius. 'So it's fallen to me to be the messenger and make sure you tell her I passed it all on, because I don't think she trusts me to.' There was another pause in which Crookshanks, mewing, attempted to paw Sirius's head, and ANGUS fiddled with a hole in the hearthrug. 'So, you want me to say I'm not going to take part in the Defence group?' he muttered finally. 'Me? Certainly not!' said Sirius, looking surprised. 'I think it's an excellent idea!' 'You do?' said Harry, his heart lifting. 'Of course I do!' said Sirius. 'D'you think your father and I would've lain down and taken orders from an old hag like Umbridge?' 'But - last term all you did was tell me to be careful and not take risks - ' 'Last year, all the evidence was that someone inside Hogwarts was trying to kill you, Harry!' said Sirius impatiently. This year, we know there's someone outside Hogwarts who'd like to kill us all, so I think learning to defend yourselves properly is; a very good idea!' 'And if we do get expelled?' Hermione asked, a quizzical look on her face. 'Hermione, this whole thing was your idea!' said Harry, staring at her. 'I know it was. I just wondered what Sirius thought,' she said, shrugging. 'Well, better expelled and able to defend yourselves than sitting safely in school without a clue,' said Sirius. 'Hear, hear,' said Harry and FINLAY enthusiastically. 'So,' said Sirius, 'how are you organising this group? Where are you meeting?' 'Well, mats a bit of a problem now, said Harry. Dunno where we're going to be able

to go.' 'How about the Shrieking Shack?' suggested Sirius. 'Hey, that's an idea!' said ANGUS excitedly, but Hermione made a sceptical noise and all three of them looked at her, Sirius's head turning in the flames. 'Well, Sirius, it's just that there were only four of you meeting in the Shrieking Shack when you were at school,' said Hermione, 'and all of you could transform into animals and I suppose you could all have squeezed under a single Invisibility Cloak if you'd wanted to. But there are twenty-eight of us and none of us is an Animagus, so we wouldn't need so much an Invisibility Cloak as an Invisibility Marquee - ' 'Fair point,' said Sirius, looking slightly crestfallen. 'Well, I'm sure you'll come up with somewhere. There used to be a pretty roomy secret passageway behind that big mirror on the fourth floor, you might have enough space to practise jinxes in there.' 'Fred and George told me it's blocked,' said Harry, shaking his head. 'Caved in or something.' 'Oh...' said Sirius, frowning. 'Well, I'll have a think and get back to - ' He broke off. His face was suddenly tense, alarmed. He turned sideways, apparently looking into the solid brick wall of the fireplace. 'Sirius?' said Harry anxiously. But he had vanished. Harry gaped at the flames for a moment, then turned to look at NIALL and Hermione. 'Why did he -?' Hermione gave a horrified gasp and leapt to her feet, still staring at the fire. A hand had appeared amongst the flames, groping as though to catch hold of something; a stubby, short-fingered hand covered in ugly old-fashioned rings. The three of them ran for it. At the door of the boys' dormitory Harry looked back. Umbridge's hand was still making snatching movements amongst the flames, as though she knew exactly

go.' 'How about the Shrieking Shack?' suggested Sirius. 'Hey, that's an idea!' said ANGUS excitedly, but Hermione made a sceptical noise and all three of them looked at her, Sirius's head turning in the flames. 'Well, Sirius, it's just that there were only four of you meeting in the Shrieking Shack when you were at school,' said Hermione, 'and all of you could transform into animals and I suppose you could all have squeezed under a single Invisibility Cloak if you'd wanted to. But there are twenty-eight of us and none of us is an Animagus, so we wouldn't need so much an Invisibility Cloak as an Invisibility Marquee - ' 'Fair point,' said Sirius, looking slightly crestfallen. 'Well, I'm sure you'll come up with somewhere. There used to be a pretty roomy secret passageway behind that big mirror on the fourth floor, you might have enough space to practise jinxes in there.' 'Fred and George told me it's blocked,' said Harry, shaking his head. 'Caved in or something.' 'Oh...' said Sirius, frowning. 'Well, I'll have a think and get back to - ' He broke off. His face was suddenly tense, alarmed. He turned sideways, apparently looking into the solid brick wall of the fireplace. 'Sirius?' said Harry anxiously. But he had vanished. Harry gaped at the flames for a moment, then turned to look at NIALL and Hermione. 'Why did he -?' Hermione gave a horrified gasp and leapt to her feet, still staring at the fire. A hand had appeared amongst the flames, groping as though to catch hold of something; a stubby, short-fingered hand covered in ugly old-fashioned rings. The three of them ran for it. At the door of the boys' dormitory Harry looked back. Umbridge's hand was still making snatching movements amongst the flames, as though she knew exactly

where Sirius's hair had been moments before and was determined to seize it. - CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - Dumbledore's Army 'Umbridge has been reading your mail, Harry. There's no other explanation.' 'You think Umbridge attacked Hedwig?' he said, outraged. 'I'm almost certain of it,' said Hermione grimly. 'Watch your frog, it's escaping.' Harry pointed his wand at the bullfrog that had been hopping hopefully towards the other side of the table - 'Accio!' - and it zoomed gloomily back into his hand. Charms was always one of the best lessons in which to enjoy a private chat; there was generally so much movement and activity that the danger of being overheard was very slight. Today, with the room full of croaking bullfrogs and cawing ravens, and with a heavy downpour of rain clattering and pounding against the classroom windows, Harry, LIAM and Hermione's whispered discussion about how Umbridge had nearly caught Sirius went quite unnoticed. 'I've been suspecting this ever since Filch accused you of ordering Dungbombs, because it seemed such a stupid lie,' Hermione whispered. 'I mean, once your letter had been read it would have been quite clear you weren't ordering them, so you wouldn't have been in trouble at all - it's a bit of a feeble joke, isn't it? But then I thought, what if somebody just wanted an excuse to read your mail? Well then, it would be a perfect way for Umbridge to manage it - tip off Filch, let him do the dirty work and confiscate the letter, then either find a way of stealing it from him or else demand to see it - I don't think Filch would object, when's he ever stuck up for a student's rights? Harry, you're squashing your frog.' Harry looked down; he was indeed squeezing his bullfrog so tightly its eyes were popping; he replaced it hastily upon the desk. 'It was a very, very close call last night,' said Hermione. 'I just wonder if Um

Sirius's hair had been moments before and was determined to seize it. - CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - Dumbledore's Army 'Umbridge has been reading your mail, Harry. There's no other explanation.' 'You think Umbridge attacked Hedwig?' he said, outraged. 'I'm almost certain of it,' said Hermione grimly. 'Watch your frog, it's escaping.' Harry pointed his wand at the bullfrog that had been hopping hopefully towards the other side of the table - 'Accio!' - and it zoomed gloomily back into his hand. Charms was always one of the best lessons in which to enjoy a private chat; there was generally so much movement and activity that the danger of being overheard was very slight. Today, with the room full of croaking bullfrogs and cawing ravens, and with a heavy downpour of rain clattering and pounding against the classroom windows, Harry, LIAM and Hermione's whispered discussion about how Umbridge had nearly caught Sirius went quite unnoticed. 'I've been suspecting this ever since Filch accused you of ordering Dungbombs, because it seemed such a stupid lie,' Hermione whispered. 'I mean, once your letter had been read it would have been quite clear you weren't ordering them, so you wouldn't have been in trouble at all - it's a bit of a feeble joke, isn't it? But then I thought, what if somebody just wanted an excuse to read your mail? Well then, it would be a perfect way for Umbridge to manage it - tip off Filch, let him do the dirty work and confiscate the letter, then either find a way of stealing it from him or else demand to see it - I don't think Filch would object, when's he ever stuck up for a student's rights? Harry, you're squashing your frog.' Harry looked down; he was indeed squeezing his bullfrog so tightly its eyes were popping; he replaced it hastily upon the desk. 'It was a very, very close call last night,' said Hermione. 'I just wonder if Um

bridge knows how close it was. Silendo.' The bullfrog on which she was practising her Silencing Charm was struck dumb mid-croak and glared at her reproachfully. 'If she'd caught Snuffles - ' Harry finished the sentence for her. '- He'd probably be back in Azkaban this morning.' He waved his wand without really concentrating; his bullfrog swelled like a green balloon and emitted a high-pitched whistle. 'Silencio!' said Hermione hastily, pointing her wand at Harry's frog, which deflated silently before them. 'Well, he mustn't do it again, that's all. I just don't know how we're going to let him know. We can't send him an owl.' 'I don't reckon he'll risk it again,' said LIAM. 'He's not stupid, he knows she nearly got him. Silencio.' The large and ugly raven in front of him let out a derisive caw. 'Silencio. SILENCIO!' The raven cawed more loudly. 'It's the way you're moving your wand,' said Hermione, watching SEAMUS critically, 'you don't want to wave it, it's more a sharp jab.' 'Ravens are harder than frogs,' said LIAM through clenched teeth. 'Fine, let's swap,' said Hermione, seizing WILLIAM's raven and replacing it with her own fat bullfrog. 'Silencio!' The raven continued to open and close its sharp beak, but no sound came out. 'Very good, Miss Granger!' said Professor Flitwick's squeaky little voice, making Harry, RHYS and Hermione all jump. 'Now, let me see you try, Mr BROWN' 'Wha-? Oh - oh, right,' said SEAMUS, very flustered. 'Er - silencio!' He jabbed at the bullfrog so hard he poked it in the eye: the frog gave

knows how close it was. Silendo.' The bullfrog on which she was practising her Silencing Charm was struck dumb mid-croak and glared at her reproachfully. 'If she'd caught Snuffles - ' Harry finished the sentence for her. '- He'd probably be back in Azkaban this morning.' He waved his wand without really concentrating; his bullfrog swelled like a green balloon and emitted a high-pitched whistle. 'Silencio!' said Hermione hastily, pointing her wand at Harry's frog, which deflated silently before them. 'Well, he mustn't do it again, that's all. I just don't know how we're going to let him know. We can't send him an owl.' 'I don't reckon he'll risk it again,' said LIAM. 'He's not stupid, he knows she nearly got him. Silencio.' The large and ugly raven in front of him let out a derisive caw. 'Silencio. SILENCIO!' The raven cawed more loudly. 'It's the way you're moving your wand,' said Hermione, watching SEAMUS critically, 'you don't want to wave it, it's more a sharp jab.' 'Ravens are harder than frogs,' said LIAM through clenched teeth. 'Fine, let's swap,' said Hermione, seizing WILLIAM's raven and replacing it with her own fat bullfrog. 'Silencio!' The raven continued to open and close its sharp beak, but no sound came out. 'Very good, Miss Granger!' said Professor Flitwick's squeaky little voice, making Harry, RHYS and Hermione all jump. 'Now, let me see you try, Mr BROWN' 'Wha-? Oh - oh, right,' said SEAMUS, very flustered. 'Er - silencio!' He jabbed at the bullfrog so hard he poked it in the eye: the frog gave

a deafening croak and leapt off the desk. It came as no surprise to any of them that Harry and LIAM were given additional practice of the Silencing Charm for homework. They were allowed to remain inside over break due to the downpour outside. They found seats in a noisy and overcrowded classroom on the first floor in which Peeves was floating dreamily up near the chandelier, occasionally blowing an ink pellet at the top of somebody's head. They had barely sat down when Angelina came struggling towards them through the groups of gossiping students. 'I've got permission!' she said. To re-form the Quidditch team!' 'Excellent!' said SEAMUS and Harry together. 'Yeah,' said Angelina, beaming. 'I went to McGonagall and I think she might have appealed to Dumbledore. Anyway, Umbridge had to give in. Ha! So I want you down at the pitch at seven o'clock tonight, all right, because we've got to make up time. You realise we're only three weeks away from our first match?' She squeezed away from them, narrowly dodged an ink pellet from Peeves, which hit a nearby first-year instead, and vanished from sight. HAMISH's smile slipped slightly as he looked out of the window, which was now opaque with hammering rain. 'Hope this clears up. What's up with you, Hermione?' She, too, was gazing at the window, but not as though she really saw it. Her eyes were unfocused and there was a frown on her face. 'Just thinking...' she said, still frowning at the rain-washed window. 'About Siri - Snuffles?' said Harry. 'No... not exactly..." said Hermione slowly. 'More... wondering... I suppose we're doing the right thing... I think... aren't Harry and DECLAN looked at each other. 'Well, that clears that up,' said HAMISH. 'It would'

deafening croak and leapt off the desk. It came as no surprise to any of them that Harry and LIAM were given additional practice of the Silencing Charm for homework. They were allowed to remain inside over break due to the downpour outside. They found seats in a noisy and overcrowded classroom on the first floor in which Peeves was floating dreamily up near the chandelier, occasionally blowing an ink pellet at the top of somebody's head. They had barely sat down when Angelina came struggling towards them through the groups of gossiping students. 'I've got permission!' she said. To re-form the Quidditch team!' 'Excellent!' said SEAMUS and Harry together. 'Yeah,' said Angelina, beaming. 'I went to McGonagall and I think she might have appealed to Dumbledore. Anyway, Umbridge had to give in. Ha! So I want you down at the pitch at seven o'clock tonight, all right, because we've got to make up time. You realise we're only three weeks away from our first match?' She squeezed away from them, narrowly dodged an ink pellet from Peeves, which hit a nearby first-year instead, and vanished from sight. HAMISH's smile slipped slightly as he looked out of the window, which was now opaque with hammering rain. 'Hope this clears up. What's up with you, Hermione?' She, too, was gazing at the window, but not as though she really saw it. Her eyes were unfocused and there was a frown on her face. 'Just thinking...' she said, still frowning at the rain-washed window. 'About Siri - Snuffles?' said Harry. 'No... not exactly..." said Hermione slowly. 'More... wondering... I suppose we're doing the right thing... I think... aren't Harry and DECLAN looked at each other. 'Well, that clears that up,' said HAMISH. 'It would'

ve been really annoying if you hadn't explained yourself properly.' Hermione looked at him as though she had only just realised he was there. 'I was just wondering,' she said, her voice stronger now, 'whether we're doing the right thing, starting this Defence Against the Dark Arts group.' 'What?' said Harry and DECLAN together. 'Hermione, it was your idea in the first place!' said CALLUM indignantly. 'I know,' said Hermione, twisting her fingers together. 'But after talking to Snuffles...' 'But he's all for it,' said Harry. 'Yes,' said Hermione, staring at the window again. 'Yes, that's what made me think maybe it wasn't a good idea after all...' Peeves floated over them on his stomach, peashooter at the ready; automatically all three of them lifted their bags to cover their heads until he had passed. 'Let's get this straight,' said Harry angrily, as they put their bags back on the floor, 'Sirius agrees with us, so you don't think we should do it any more?' Hermione looked tense and rather miserable. Now staring at her own hands, she said, 'Do you honestly trust his judgement?' 'Yes, I do!' said Harry at once. 'He's always given us great advice!' An ink pellet whizzed past them, striking Katie Bell squarely in the ear. Hermione watched Katie leap to her feet and start throwing things at Peeves; it was a few moments before Hermione spoke again and it sounded as though she was choosing her words very carefully. 'You don't think he has become... sort of... reckless... since he's been cooped up in Grimmauld Place? You don't think he's... kind of... living through us?' 'What d'you mean, "living through us"?' Harry retorted. 'I mean... well, I think he'd love to be forming secret Defence societies right under the nose of someone

been really annoying if you hadn't explained yourself properly.' Hermione looked at him as though she had only just realised he was there. 'I was just wondering,' she said, her voice stronger now, 'whether we're doing the right thing, starting this Defence Against the Dark Arts group.' 'What?' said Harry and DECLAN together. 'Hermione, it was your idea in the first place!' said CALLUM indignantly. 'I know,' said Hermione, twisting her fingers together. 'But after talking to Snuffles...' 'But he's all for it,' said Harry. 'Yes,' said Hermione, staring at the window again. 'Yes, that's what made me think maybe it wasn't a good idea after all...' Peeves floated over them on his stomach, peashooter at the ready; automatically all three of them lifted their bags to cover their heads until he had passed. 'Let's get this straight,' said Harry angrily, as they put their bags back on the floor, 'Sirius agrees with us, so you don't think we should do it any more?' Hermione looked tense and rather miserable. Now staring at her own hands, she said, 'Do you honestly trust his judgement?' 'Yes, I do!' said Harry at once. 'He's always given us great advice!' An ink pellet whizzed past them, striking Katie Bell squarely in the ear. Hermione watched Katie leap to her feet and start throwing things at Peeves; it was a few moments before Hermione spoke again and it sounded as though she was choosing her words very carefully. 'You don't think he has become... sort of... reckless... since he's been cooped up in Grimmauld Place? You don't think he's... kind of... living through us?' 'What d'you mean, "living through us"?' Harry retorted. 'I mean... well, I think he'd love to be forming secret Defence societies right under the nose of someone

from the Ministry... I think he's really frustrated at how little he can do where he is... so I think he's keen to kind of... egg us on.' CALLUM looked utterly perplexed. 'Sirius is right,' he said, 'you do sound just like my mother.' Hermione bit her lip and did not answer. The bell rang just as Peeves swooped down on Katie and emptied an entire ink bottle over her head. * The weather did not improve as the day wore on, so that at seven o'clock that evening, when Harry and VICTOR went down to the Quidditch pitch for practice, they were soaked through within minutes, their feet slipping and sliding on the sodden grass. The sky was a deep, thundery grey and it was a relief to gain the warmth and light of the changing rooms, even if they knew the respite was only temporary. They found Fred and George debating whether to use one of their own Skiving Snackboxes to get out of flying. '... but I bet she'd know what we'd done,' Fred said out of the corner of his mouth. 'If only I hadn't offered to sell her some Puking Pastilles yesterday.' 'We could try the Fever Fudge,' George muttered, 'no one's seen that yet - ' 'Does it work?' enquired WILLIAM hopefully, as the hammering of rain on the roof intensified and wind howled around the building. 'Well, yeah,' said Fred, 'your temperature'll go right up.' 'But you get these massive pus-filled boils, too,' said George, 'and we haven't worked out how to get rid of them yet.' 'I can't see any boils,' said WILLIAM, staring at the twins. 'No, well, you wouldn't,' said Fred darkly, 'they're not in a place we generally display to the public.' 'But they make sitting on a broom a right pain in the - ' 'All right, everyone, listen up,' said Angelina loudly, emerging from the Captain's office. 'I know it

the Ministry... I think he's really frustrated at how little he can do where he is... so I think he's keen to kind of... egg us on.' CALLUM looked utterly perplexed. 'Sirius is right,' he said, 'you do sound just like my mother.' Hermione bit her lip and did not answer. The bell rang just as Peeves swooped down on Katie and emptied an entire ink bottle over her head. * The weather did not improve as the day wore on, so that at seven o'clock that evening, when Harry and VICTOR went down to the Quidditch pitch for practice, they were soaked through within minutes, their feet slipping and sliding on the sodden grass. The sky was a deep, thundery grey and it was a relief to gain the warmth and light of the changing rooms, even if they knew the respite was only temporary. They found Fred and George debating whether to use one of their own Skiving Snackboxes to get out of flying. '... but I bet she'd know what we'd done,' Fred said out of the corner of his mouth. 'If only I hadn't offered to sell her some Puking Pastilles yesterday.' 'We could try the Fever Fudge,' George muttered, 'no one's seen that yet - ' 'Does it work?' enquired WILLIAM hopefully, as the hammering of rain on the roof intensified and wind howled around the building. 'Well, yeah,' said Fred, 'your temperature'll go right up.' 'But you get these massive pus-filled boils, too,' said George, 'and we haven't worked out how to get rid of them yet.' 'I can't see any boils,' said WILLIAM, staring at the twins. 'No, well, you wouldn't,' said Fred darkly, 'they're not in a place we generally display to the public.' 'But they make sitting on a broom a right pain in the - ' 'All right, everyone, listen up,' said Angelina loudly, emerging from the Captain's office. 'I know it

's not ideal weather, but there's a chance we'll be playing Slytherin in conditions like this so it's a good idea to work out how we're going to cope with them. Harry, didn't you do something to your glasses to stop the rain fogging them up when we played Hufflepuff in that storm?' 'Hermione did it,' said Harry. He pulled out his wand, tapped h s glasses and said, 'Impervius!' 'I think we all ought to try that,' said Angelina. 'If we could just keep the rain off our faces it would really help visibility - all together, come on - Imperviusl OK. Let's go.' They all stowed their wands back in the inside pockets of their robes, shouldered their brooms and followed Angelina out of the changing rooms. They squelched through the deepening mud to the middle of the pitch; visibility was still very poor even with the Impervius Charm; light was fading fast and curtains of rain were sweeping the grounds. 'All right, on my whistle,' shouted Angelina. Harry kicked off from the ground, spraying mud in all directions, and shot upwards, the wind pulling him slightly off course. He had no idea how he was going to see the Snitch in this weather; he was having enough difficulty seeing the one Bludger with which they were practising; a minute into the practice it almost unseated him and he had to use the Sloth Grip Roll to avoid it. Unfortunately, Angelina did not see this. In fact, she did not appear to be able to see anything; none of them had a clue what the others were doing. The wind was picking up; even at a distance Harry could hear the swishing, pounding sounds of the rain pummelling the surface of the lake. Angelina kept them at it for nearly an hour before conceding defeat. She led her sodden and disgruntled team back into the changing rooms, insisting that the practice had not been a waste of time, though without any real conviction in her voice. Fred and George were looking particularly annoyed; both were bandy-legged and winced with every movement. Harry could hear them complaining in low voices

s not ideal weather, but there's a chance we'll be playing Slytherin in conditions like this so it's a good idea to work out how we're going to cope with them. Harry, didn't you do something to your glasses to stop the rain fogging them up when we played Hufflepuff in that storm?' 'Hermione did it,' said Harry. He pulled out his wand, tapped h s glasses and said, 'Impervius!' 'I think we all ought to try that,' said Angelina. 'If we could just keep the rain off our faces it would really help visibility - all together, come on - Imperviusl OK. Let's go.' They all stowed their wands back in the inside pockets of their robes, shouldered their brooms and followed Angelina out of the changing rooms. They squelched through the deepening mud to the middle of the pitch; visibility was still very poor even with the Impervius Charm; light was fading fast and curtains of rain were sweeping the grounds. 'All right, on my whistle,' shouted Angelina. Harry kicked off from the ground, spraying mud in all directions, and shot upwards, the wind pulling him slightly off course. He had no idea how he was going to see the Snitch in this weather; he was having enough difficulty seeing the one Bludger with which they were practising; a minute into the practice it almost unseated him and he had to use the Sloth Grip Roll to avoid it. Unfortunately, Angelina did not see this. In fact, she did not appear to be able to see anything; none of them had a clue what the others were doing. The wind was picking up; even at a distance Harry could hear the swishing, pounding sounds of the rain pummelling the surface of the lake. Angelina kept them at it for nearly an hour before conceding defeat. She led her sodden and disgruntled team back into the changing rooms, insisting that the practice had not been a waste of time, though without any real conviction in her voice. Fred and George were looking particularly annoyed; both were bandy-legged and winced with every movement. Harry could hear them complaining in low voices

as he towelled his hair dry. 'I think a few of mine have ruptured,' said Fred in a hollow voice. 'Mine haven't,' said George, through clenched teeth, 'they're throbbing like mad... feel bigger if anything.' 'OUCH!' said Harry. He pressed the towel to his face, his eyes screwed tight with pain. The scar on his forehead had seared again, more painfully than it had in weeks. 'What's up?' said several voices. Harry emerged from behind his towel; the changing room was blurred because he was not wearing his glasses, but he could still tell that everyone's face was turned towards him. 'Nothing,' he muttered, 'I - poked myself in the eye, that's all.' But he gave EWAN a significant look and the two of them hung back as the rest of the team filed back outside, muffled in their cloaks, their hats pulled low over their ears. 'What happened?' said VICTOR, the moment Alicia had disappeared through the door. 'Was it your scar?' Harry nodded. 'But...' looking scared, KEIR strode across to the window and stared out into the rain, 'he - he can't be near us now, can he?' 'No,' Harry muttered, sinking on to a bench and rubbing his forehead. 'He's probably miles away. It hurt because... he's... angry.' Harry had not meant to say that at all, and heard the words as though a stranger had spoken them - yet knew at once that they were true. He did not know how he knew it, but he did; Voldemort, wherever he was, whatever he was doing, was in a towering temper. 'Did you see him?' said FINLAY, looking horrified. 'Did you... get a vision, or something?' Harry sat quite still, staring at his feet, allowing his mind and his memory to relax in the aftermath of the pain. A confused tangle of shapes, a howling rush of voices... '

he towelled his hair dry. 'I think a few of mine have ruptured,' said Fred in a hollow voice. 'Mine haven't,' said George, through clenched teeth, 'they're throbbing like mad... feel bigger if anything.' 'OUCH!' said Harry. He pressed the towel to his face, his eyes screwed tight with pain. The scar on his forehead had seared again, more painfully than it had in weeks. 'What's up?' said several voices. Harry emerged from behind his towel; the changing room was blurred because he was not wearing his glasses, but he could still tell that everyone's face was turned towards him. 'Nothing,' he muttered, 'I - poked myself in the eye, that's all.' But he gave EWAN a significant look and the two of them hung back as the rest of the team filed back outside, muffled in their cloaks, their hats pulled low over their ears. 'What happened?' said VICTOR, the moment Alicia had disappeared through the door. 'Was it your scar?' Harry nodded. 'But...' looking scared, KEIR strode across to the window and stared out into the rain, 'he - he can't be near us now, can he?' 'No,' Harry muttered, sinking on to a bench and rubbing his forehead. 'He's probably miles away. It hurt because... he's... angry.' Harry had not meant to say that at all, and heard the words as though a stranger had spoken them - yet knew at once that they were true. He did not know how he knew it, but he did; Voldemort, wherever he was, whatever he was doing, was in a towering temper. 'Did you see him?' said FINLAY, looking horrified. 'Did you... get a vision, or something?' Harry sat quite still, staring at his feet, allowing his mind and his memory to relax in the aftermath of the pain. A confused tangle of shapes, a howling rush of voices... '

He wants something done, and it's not happening fast enough,' he said. Again, he felt surprised to hear the words coming out of his mouth, and yet was quite certain they were true. 'But... how do you know?' said ALISTAIR. Harry shook his head and covered his eyes with his hands, pressing down upon them with his palms. Little stars erupted in them. He felt EWAN sit down on the bench beside him and knew IAIN was staring at him. 'Is this what it was about last time?' said MILES in a hushed voice. 'When your scar hurt in Umbridge's office? You-Know-Who was angry?' Harry shook his head. 'What is it, then?' Harry was thinking himself back. He had been looking into Umbridge's face... his scar had hurt... and he had had that odd feeling in his stomach... a strange, leaping feeling... a happy feeling... but of course, he had not recognised it for what it was, as he had been feeling so miserable himself... 'Last time, it was because he was pleased,' he said. 'Really pleased. He thought... something good was going to happen. And the night before we came back to Hogwarts...' he thought back to the moment when his scar had hurt so badly in his and OWEN's bedroom in Grimmauld Place... 'he was furious He looked round at ANGUS, who was gaping at him. 'You could take over from Trelawney, mate, he said in an awed voice. 'I'm not making prophecies,' said Harry. 'No, you know what you're doing?' TRISTAN said, sounding both scared and impressed. 'Harry, you're reading You-Know-Who's mind!' 'No,' said Harry, shaking his head. 'It's more like... his mood, I suppose. I'm just getting flashes of what mood he's in. Dumbledore said something like this was happening last year. He said that when Voldemort was near me

wants something done, and it's not happening fast enough,' he said. Again, he felt surprised to hear the words coming out of his mouth, and yet was quite certain they were true. 'But... how do you know?' said ALISTAIR. Harry shook his head and covered his eyes with his hands, pressing down upon them with his palms. Little stars erupted in them. He felt EWAN sit down on the bench beside him and knew IAIN was staring at him. 'Is this what it was about last time?' said MILES in a hushed voice. 'When your scar hurt in Umbridge's office? You-Know-Who was angry?' Harry shook his head. 'What is it, then?' Harry was thinking himself back. He had been looking into Umbridge's face... his scar had hurt... and he had had that odd feeling in his stomach... a strange, leaping feeling... a happy feeling... but of course, he had not recognised it for what it was, as he had been feeling so miserable himself... 'Last time, it was because he was pleased,' he said. 'Really pleased. He thought... something good was going to happen. And the night before we came back to Hogwarts...' he thought back to the moment when his scar had hurt so badly in his and OWEN's bedroom in Grimmauld Place... 'he was furious He looked round at ANGUS, who was gaping at him. 'You could take over from Trelawney, mate, he said in an awed voice. 'I'm not making prophecies,' said Harry. 'No, you know what you're doing?' TRISTAN said, sounding both scared and impressed. 'Harry, you're reading You-Know-Who's mind!' 'No,' said Harry, shaking his head. 'It's more like... his mood, I suppose. I'm just getting flashes of what mood he's in. Dumbledore said something like this was happening last year. He said that when Voldemort was near me

, or when he was feeling hatred, I could tell. Well, now I'm feeling it when he's pleased, too...' There was a pause. The wind and rain lashed at the building. 'You've got to tell someone,' said OWEN. 'I told Sirius last time.' 'Well, tell him about this time!' 'Can't, can I?' said Harry grimly. 'Umbridge is watching the owls and the fires, remember?' 'Well then, Dumbledore.' 'I've just told you, he already knows,' said Harry shortly, getting to his feet, taking his cloak off his peg and swinging it around him. There's no point telling him again.' NIALL did up the fastening of his own cloak, watching Harry thoughtfully. 'Dumbledore'd want to know,' he said. Harry shrugged. 'C'mon... we've still got Silencing Charms to practise.' They hurried back through the dark grounds, sliding and stumbling up the muddy lawns, not talking. Harry was thinking hard. What was it that Voldemort wanted done that was not happening quickly enough? '... he's got other plans... plans he can put into operation very quietly indeed... stuff he can only get by stealth... like a weapon. Something he didn't have last time.' Harry had not thought about those words in weeks; he had been too absorbed in what was going on at Hogwarts, too busy dwelling on the ongoing battles with Umbridge, the injustice of all the Ministry interference... but now they came back to him and made him wonder... Voldemort s anger would make sense if he was no nearer to laying hands on the weapon, whatever it was. Had the Order thwarted him, stopped him from seizing it? Where was it kept? Who had it now? 'Mimbulus mimbletonia,' said IAIN's voice and Harry came back to his senses just in time to clamber through the portrait hole into the common room. It appeared that Hermione had gone

or when he was feeling hatred, I could tell. Well, now I'm feeling it when he's pleased, too...' There was a pause. The wind and rain lashed at the building. 'You've got to tell someone,' said OWEN. 'I told Sirius last time.' 'Well, tell him about this time!' 'Can't, can I?' said Harry grimly. 'Umbridge is watching the owls and the fires, remember?' 'Well then, Dumbledore.' 'I've just told you, he already knows,' said Harry shortly, getting to his feet, taking his cloak off his peg and swinging it around him. There's no point telling him again.' NIALL did up the fastening of his own cloak, watching Harry thoughtfully. 'Dumbledore'd want to know,' he said. Harry shrugged. 'C'mon... we've still got Silencing Charms to practise.' They hurried back through the dark grounds, sliding and stumbling up the muddy lawns, not talking. Harry was thinking hard. What was it that Voldemort wanted done that was not happening quickly enough? '... he's got other plans... plans he can put into operation very quietly indeed... stuff he can only get by stealth... like a weapon. Something he didn't have last time.' Harry had not thought about those words in weeks; he had been too absorbed in what was going on at Hogwarts, too busy dwelling on the ongoing battles with Umbridge, the injustice of all the Ministry interference... but now they came back to him and made him wonder... Voldemort s anger would make sense if he was no nearer to laying hands on the weapon, whatever it was. Had the Order thwarted him, stopped him from seizing it? Where was it kept? Who had it now? 'Mimbulus mimbletonia,' said IAIN's voice and Harry came back to his senses just in time to clamber through the portrait hole into the common room. It appeared that Hermione had gone

to bed early, leaving Crookshanks curled in a nearby chair and an assortment of knobbly knitted elf hats lying on a table by the fire. Harry was rather grateful that she was not around, because he did not much want to discuss his scar hurting and have her urge him to go to Dumbledore, too. RHYS kept throwing him anxious glances, but Harry pulled out his Charms books and set to work on finishing his essay, though he was only pretending to concentrate and by the time RHYS said he was going up to bed, too, he had written hardly anything. Midnight came and went while Harry was reading and rereading a passage about the uses of scurvy-grass, lovage and sneezewort and not taking in a word of it. These plantes are moste efficacious in the inflaming of the braine, and are therefore much used in Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts, where the wizard is desirous of producing hot-headedness and recklessness... ... Hermione said Sirius was becoming reckless cooped up in Grimmauld Place... ... moste efficacious in the inflaming of the braine, and are therefore much used... ... the Daily Prophet would think his brain was inflamed if they found out that he knew what Voldemort was feeling... ... therefore much used in Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts... ... confusing was the word, all right; why did he know what Voldemort was feeling? What was this weird connection between them, which Dumbledore had never been able to explain satisfactorily? ... where the wizard is desirous... ... how Harry would like to sleep... ... of producing hot-headedness... ... it was warm and comfortable in his armchair before the fire, with the rain still beating heavily on the windowpanes, Crookshanks purring, and the crackling of the flames... The book slipped from Harry's slack grip and landed with a d

bed early, leaving Crookshanks curled in a nearby chair and an assortment of knobbly knitted elf hats lying on a table by the fire. Harry was rather grateful that she was not around, because he did not much want to discuss his scar hurting and have her urge him to go to Dumbledore, too. RHYS kept throwing him anxious glances, but Harry pulled out his Charms books and set to work on finishing his essay, though he was only pretending to concentrate and by the time RHYS said he was going up to bed, too, he had written hardly anything. Midnight came and went while Harry was reading and rereading a passage about the uses of scurvy-grass, lovage and sneezewort and not taking in a word of it. These plantes are moste efficacious in the inflaming of the braine, and are therefore much used in Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts, where the wizard is desirous of producing hot-headedness and recklessness... ... Hermione said Sirius was becoming reckless cooped up in Grimmauld Place... ... moste efficacious in the inflaming of the braine, and are therefore much used... ... the Daily Prophet would think his brain was inflamed if they found out that he knew what Voldemort was feeling... ... therefore much used in Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts... ... confusing was the word, all right; why did he know what Voldemort was feeling? What was this weird connection between them, which Dumbledore had never been able to explain satisfactorily? ... where the wizard is desirous... ... how Harry would like to sleep... ... of producing hot-headedness... ... it was warm and comfortable in his armchair before the fire, with the rain still beating heavily on the windowpanes, Crookshanks purring, and the crackling of the flames... The book slipped from Harry's slack grip and landed with a d

ull thud on the hearthrug. His head lolled sideways... He was walking once more along a windowless corridor, his footsteps echoing in the silence. As the door at the end of the passage loomed larger, his heart beat fast with excitement... if he could only open it... enter beyond... He stretched out his hand... his fingertips were inches from it ... 'Harry Potter, sir!' He awoke with a start. The candles had all been extinguished in the common room, but there was something moving close by. 'Whozair?' said Harry, sitting upright in his chair. The fire was almost out, the room very dark. 'Dobby has your owl, sir!' said a squeaky voice. 'Dobby?' said Harry thickly, peering through the gloom towards the source of the voice. Dobby the house-elf was standing beside the table on which Hermione had left half a dozen of her knitted hats. His large, pointed ears were now sticking out from beneath what looked like all the hats Hermione had ever knitted; he was wearing one on top of the other, so that his head seemed elongated by two or three feet, and on the very topmost bobble sat Hedwig, hooting serenely and obviously cured. 'Dobby volunteered to return Harry Potter's owl,' said the elf squeakily, with a look of positive adoration on his face, 'Professor Grubbly-Plank says she is all well now, sir.' He sank into a deep bow so that his pencil-like nose brushed the threadbare surface of the hearthrug and Hedwig gave an indignant hoot and fluttered on to the arm of Harry's chair. Thanks, Dobby!' said Harry, stroking Hedwig's head and blinking hard, trying to rid himself of the image of the door in his dream... it had been very vivid. Surveying Dobby more closely, he noticed that the elf was also wearing several scarves and innumerable socks, so that his feet looked far too

thud on the hearthrug. His head lolled sideways... He was walking once more along a windowless corridor, his footsteps echoing in the silence. As the door at the end of the passage loomed larger, his heart beat fast with excitement... if he could only open it... enter beyond... He stretched out his hand... his fingertips were inches from it ... 'Harry Potter, sir!' He awoke with a start. The candles had all been extinguished in the common room, but there was something moving close by. 'Whozair?' said Harry, sitting upright in his chair. The fire was almost out, the room very dark. 'Dobby has your owl, sir!' said a squeaky voice. 'Dobby?' said Harry thickly, peering through the gloom towards the source of the voice. Dobby the house-elf was standing beside the table on which Hermione had left half a dozen of her knitted hats. His large, pointed ears were now sticking out from beneath what looked like all the hats Hermione had ever knitted; he was wearing one on top of the other, so that his head seemed elongated by two or three feet, and on the very topmost bobble sat Hedwig, hooting serenely and obviously cured. 'Dobby volunteered to return Harry Potter's owl,' said the elf squeakily, with a look of positive adoration on his face, 'Professor Grubbly-Plank says she is all well now, sir.' He sank into a deep bow so that his pencil-like nose brushed the threadbare surface of the hearthrug and Hedwig gave an indignant hoot and fluttered on to the arm of Harry's chair. Thanks, Dobby!' said Harry, stroking Hedwig's head and blinking hard, trying to rid himself of the image of the door in his dream... it had been very vivid. Surveying Dobby more closely, he noticed that the elf was also wearing several scarves and innumerable socks, so that his feet looked far too

big for his body. 'Er... have you been taking all the clothes Hermione's been leaving out?' 'Oh, no, sir,' said Dobby happily. 'Dobby has been taking some for Winky, too, sir.' 'Yeah, how is Winky?' asked Harry. Bobby's ears drooped slightly. 'Winky is still drinking lots, sir,' he said sadly, his enormous round green eyes, large as tennis balls, downcast. 'She still does not care for clothes, Harry Potter. Nor do the other house-elves. None of them will clean Gryffindor Tower any more, not with the hats and socks hidden everywhere, they finds them insulting, sir. Dobby does it all himself, sir, but Dobby does not mind, sir, for he always hopes to meet Harry Potter and tonight, sir, he has got his wish!' Dobby sank into a deep bow again. 'But Harry Potter does not seem happy,' Dobby went on, straightening up again and kicking timidly at Harry. 'Dobby heard him muttering in his sleep. Was Harry Potter having bad dreams?' 'Not really bad,' said Harry, yawning and rubbing his eyes. 'I've had worse.' The elf surveyed Harry out of his vast, orb-like eyes. Then he said very seriously, his ears drooping, 'Dobby wishes he could help Harry Potter, for Harry Potter set Dobby free and Dobby is much, much happier now.' Harry smiled. 'You can't help me, Dobby, but thanks for the offer.' He bent and picked up his Potions book. He'd have to try to finish the essay tomorrow. He closed the book and as he did so the firelight illuminated the thin white scars on the back of his hand - the result of his detentions with Umbridge... Wait a moment - there is something you can do for me, Dobby,' said Harry slowly. The elf looked round, beaming. 'Name it, Harry Potter, sir!' 'I need to find a place where twenty-eight people can

for his body. 'Er... have you been taking all the clothes Hermione's been leaving out?' 'Oh, no, sir,' said Dobby happily. 'Dobby has been taking some for Winky, too, sir.' 'Yeah, how is Winky?' asked Harry. Bobby's ears drooped slightly. 'Winky is still drinking lots, sir,' he said sadly, his enormous round green eyes, large as tennis balls, downcast. 'She still does not care for clothes, Harry Potter. Nor do the other house-elves. None of them will clean Gryffindor Tower any more, not with the hats and socks hidden everywhere, they finds them insulting, sir. Dobby does it all himself, sir, but Dobby does not mind, sir, for he always hopes to meet Harry Potter and tonight, sir, he has got his wish!' Dobby sank into a deep bow again. 'But Harry Potter does not seem happy,' Dobby went on, straightening up again and kicking timidly at Harry. 'Dobby heard him muttering in his sleep. Was Harry Potter having bad dreams?' 'Not really bad,' said Harry, yawning and rubbing his eyes. 'I've had worse.' The elf surveyed Harry out of his vast, orb-like eyes. Then he said very seriously, his ears drooping, 'Dobby wishes he could help Harry Potter, for Harry Potter set Dobby free and Dobby is much, much happier now.' Harry smiled. 'You can't help me, Dobby, but thanks for the offer.' He bent and picked up his Potions book. He'd have to try to finish the essay tomorrow. He closed the book and as he did so the firelight illuminated the thin white scars on the back of his hand - the result of his detentions with Umbridge... Wait a moment - there is something you can do for me, Dobby,' said Harry slowly. The elf looked round, beaming. 'Name it, Harry Potter, sir!' 'I need to find a place where twenty-eight people can

practise Defence Against the Dark Arts without being discovered by any of the teachers. Especially,' Harry clenched his hand on the book, so that the scars shone pearly white, 'Professor Umbridge.' He expected the elf's smile to vanish, his ears to droop; he expected him to say it was impossible, or else that he would try to find somewhere, but his hopes were not high. What he had not expected was for Dobby to give a little skip, his ears waggling cheerfully, and clap his hands together. 'Dobby knows the perfect place, sir!' he said happily. 'Dobby heard tell of it from the other house-elves when he came to Hogwarts, sir. It is known by us as the Come and Go Room, sir, or else as the Room of Requirement!' 'Why?' said Harry curiously. 'Because it is a room that a person can only enter,' said Dobby seriously, 'when they have real need of it. Sometimes it is there, and sometimes it is not, but when it appears, it is always equipped for the seeker's needs. Dobby has used it, sir,' said the elf, dropping his voice and looking guilty, 'when Winky has been very drunk; he has hidden her in the Room of Requirement and he has found antidotes to Butterbeer there, and a nice elf-sized bed to settle her on while she sleeps it off, sir... and Dobby knows Mr Filch has found extra cleaning materials there when he has run short, sir, and - ' 'And if you really needed a bathroom,' said Harry, suddenly remembering something Dumbledore had said at the Yule Ball the previous Christmas, 'would it fill itself with chamber pots?' 'Dobby expects so, sir,' said Dobby, nodding earnestly. 'It is a most amazing room, sir.' 'How many people know about it?' said Harry, sitting up straight er in his chair. 'Very few, sir. Mostly people stumbles across it when they needs it, sir, but often they never finds it again, for they do not know that it is always there waiting to be called into

ise Defence Against the Dark Arts without being discovered by any of the teachers. Especially,' Harry clenched his hand on the book, so that the scars shone pearly white, 'Professor Umbridge.' He expected the elf's smile to vanish, his ears to droop; he expected him to say it was impossible, or else that he would try to find somewhere, but his hopes were not high. What he had not expected was for Dobby to give a little skip, his ears waggling cheerfully, and clap his hands together. 'Dobby knows the perfect place, sir!' he said happily. 'Dobby heard tell of it from the other house-elves when he came to Hogwarts, sir. It is known by us as the Come and Go Room, sir, or else as the Room of Requirement!' 'Why?' said Harry curiously. 'Because it is a room that a person can only enter,' said Dobby seriously, 'when they have real need of it. Sometimes it is there, and sometimes it is not, but when it appears, it is always equipped for the seeker's needs. Dobby has used it, sir,' said the elf, dropping his voice and looking guilty, 'when Winky has been very drunk; he has hidden her in the Room of Requirement and he has found antidotes to Butterbeer there, and a nice elf-sized bed to settle her on while she sleeps it off, sir... and Dobby knows Mr Filch has found extra cleaning materials there when he has run short, sir, and - ' 'And if you really needed a bathroom,' said Harry, suddenly remembering something Dumbledore had said at the Yule Ball the previous Christmas, 'would it fill itself with chamber pots?' 'Dobby expects so, sir,' said Dobby, nodding earnestly. 'It is a most amazing room, sir.' 'How many people know about it?' said Harry, sitting up straight er in his chair. 'Very few, sir. Mostly people stumbles across it when they needs it, sir, but often they never finds it again, for they do not know that it is always there waiting to be called into

service, sir.' 'It sounds brilliant,' said Harry, his heart racing. 'It sounds perfect, Dobby. When can you show me where it is?' 'Any time, Harry Potter, sir,' said Dobby, looking delighted at Harry's enthusiasm. 'We could go now, if you like!' For a moment Harry was tempted to go with Dobby. He was halfway out of his seat, intending to hurry upstairs for his Invisibility Cloak when, not for the first time, a voice very much like Hermione's whispered in his ear: reckless. It was, after all, very late, he was exhausted, and had Snape's essay to finish. 'Not tonight, Dobby,' said Harry reluctantly, sinking back into his chair. This is really important... I don't want to blow it, it'll need proper planning. Listen, can you just tell me exactly where this Room of Requirement is, and how to get in there?' * Their robes billowed and swirled around them as they splashed across the flooded vegetable patch to double Herbology where they could hardly hear what Professor Sprout was saying over the hammering of raindrops hard as hailstones on the greenhouse roof. The afternoon's Care of Magical Creatures lesson was to be relocated from the storm-swept grounds to a free classroom on the ground floor and, to their intense relief, Angelina had sought out her team at lunch to tell them that Quidditch practice was cancelled. 'Good,' said Harry quietly, when she. told him, 'because we've found somewhere to have our first Defence meeting. Tonight, eight o'clock, seventh floor opposite that tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy being clubbed by those trolls. Can you tell Katie and Alicia?' She looked slightly taken aback but promised to tell the others. Harry returned hungrily to his sausages and mash. When he looked up to take a drink of pumpkin juice, he found Hermione watching him. 'What?' he said thickly. Well... it's just that Dobby's plans aren't

, sir.' 'It sounds brilliant,' said Harry, his heart racing. 'It sounds perfect, Dobby. When can you show me where it is?' 'Any time, Harry Potter, sir,' said Dobby, looking delighted at Harry's enthusiasm. 'We could go now, if you like!' For a moment Harry was tempted to go with Dobby. He was halfway out of his seat, intending to hurry upstairs for his Invisibility Cloak when, not for the first time, a voice very much like Hermione's whispered in his ear: reckless. It was, after all, very late, he was exhausted, and had Snape's essay to finish. 'Not tonight, Dobby,' said Harry reluctantly, sinking back into his chair. This is really important... I don't want to blow it, it'll need proper planning. Listen, can you just tell me exactly where this Room of Requirement is, and how to get in there?' * Their robes billowed and swirled around them as they splashed across the flooded vegetable patch to double Herbology where they could hardly hear what Professor Sprout was saying over the hammering of raindrops hard as hailstones on the greenhouse roof. The afternoon's Care of Magical Creatures lesson was to be relocated from the storm-swept grounds to a free classroom on the ground floor and, to their intense relief, Angelina had sought out her team at lunch to tell them that Quidditch practice was cancelled. 'Good,' said Harry quietly, when she. told him, 'because we've found somewhere to have our first Defence meeting. Tonight, eight o'clock, seventh floor opposite that tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy being clubbed by those trolls. Can you tell Katie and Alicia?' She looked slightly taken aback but promised to tell the others. Harry returned hungrily to his sausages and mash. When he looked up to take a drink of pumpkin juice, he found Hermione watching him. 'What?' he said thickly. Well... it's just that Dobby's plans aren't

always that safe. Don't you remember when he lost you all the bones in your arm?' This room isn't just some mad idea of Dobby's; Dumbledore knows about it, too, he mentioned it to me at the Yule Ball.' Hermione's expression cleared. 'Dumbledore told you about it?' 'Just in passing,' said Harry, shrugging. 'Oh, well, that's all right then,' said Hermione briskly and raised no more objections. Together - 'with LIAM they had spent most of the day seeking out those people who had signed their names to the list in the Hog's Head and telling them where to meet that evening. Somewhat to Harry's disappointment, it was Ginny who managed to find Cho Chang and her friend first; however, by the end of dinner he was confident that the news had been passed to every one of the twenty-five people who had turned up in the Hog's Head. At half past seven Harry, SEAMUS and Hermione left the Gryffindor common room, Harry clutching a certain piece of aged parchment in his hand. Fifth-years were allowed to be out in the corridors until nine o'clock, but all three of them kept looking around nervously as they made their way along the seventh floor. 'Hold it,' Harry warned, unfolding the piece of parchment at the top of the last staircase, tapping it with his wand and muttering, 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." A map of Hogwarts appeared on the blank surface of the parchment. Tiny black moving dots, labelled with names, showed where various people were. 'Filch is on the second floor,' said Harry, holding the map close to his eyes, 'and Mrs Norris is on the fourth.' 'And Umbridge?' said Hermione anxiously. 'In her office,' said Harry, pointing. 'OK, let's go.' They hurried along the corridor to the place Dobby had described to Harry, a stretch of blank wall opposite an enormous tapestry depicting Barnabas the Barmy's foolish attempt to train trolls

that safe. Don't you remember when he lost you all the bones in your arm?' This room isn't just some mad idea of Dobby's; Dumbledore knows about it, too, he mentioned it to me at the Yule Ball.' Hermione's expression cleared. 'Dumbledore told you about it?' 'Just in passing,' said Harry, shrugging. 'Oh, well, that's all right then,' said Hermione briskly and raised no more objections. Together - 'with LIAM they had spent most of the day seeking out those people who had signed their names to the list in the Hog's Head and telling them where to meet that evening. Somewhat to Harry's disappointment, it was Ginny who managed to find Cho Chang and her friend first; however, by the end of dinner he was confident that the news had been passed to every one of the twenty-five people who had turned up in the Hog's Head. At half past seven Harry, SEAMUS and Hermione left the Gryffindor common room, Harry clutching a certain piece of aged parchment in his hand. Fifth-years were allowed to be out in the corridors until nine o'clock, but all three of them kept looking around nervously as they made their way along the seventh floor. 'Hold it,' Harry warned, unfolding the piece of parchment at the top of the last staircase, tapping it with his wand and muttering, 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." A map of Hogwarts appeared on the blank surface of the parchment. Tiny black moving dots, labelled with names, showed where various people were. 'Filch is on the second floor,' said Harry, holding the map close to his eyes, 'and Mrs Norris is on the fourth.' 'And Umbridge?' said Hermione anxiously. 'In her office,' said Harry, pointing. 'OK, let's go.' They hurried along the corridor to the place Dobby had described to Harry, a stretch of blank wall opposite an enormous tapestry depicting Barnabas the Barmy's foolish attempt to train trolls

for the ballet. 'OK,' said Harry quietly, while a moth-eaten troll paused in his relentless clubbing of the would-be ballet teacher to watch them. 'Dobby said to walk past this bit of wall three times, concentrating hard on what we need.' They did so, turning sharply at the window just beyond the blank stretch of wall, then at the man-sized vase on its other side. TRISTAN had screwed up his eyes in concentration; Hermione was whispering something under her breath; Harry's fists were clenched as he stared ahead of him. We need somewhere to learn to fight... he thought. Just give us a place to practise... somewhere they can't find us... 'Harry!' said Hermione sharply, as they wheeled around after their third walk past. A highly polished door had appeared in the wall. DECLAN was staring at it, looking slightly wary. Harry reached out, seized the brass handle, pulled open the door and led the way into a spacious room lit with flickering torches like those that illuminated the dungeons eight floors below. The walls were lined with wooden bookcases and instead of chairs the re were large silk cushions on the floor. A set of shelves at the far end of the room carried a range of instruments such as Sneakoscopes, Secrecy Sensors and a large, cracked Foe-Glass that Harry was sure had hung, the previous year, in the fake Moody's office. These will be good when we're practising Stunning,' said ALISTAIR enthusiastically, prodding one of the cushions with his foot. 'And just look at these books!' said Hermione excitedly, running a finger along the spines of the large leather-bound tomes. 'A Compendium of Common Curses and their Counter-Actions... The Dark Arts Outsmarted... Self-Defensive Spellwork... wow...' She looked around at Harry, her face glowing, and he saw that the presence of hundreds of books had finally convinced Hermione that what they were

the ballet. 'OK,' said Harry quietly, while a moth-eaten troll paused in his relentless clubbing of the would-be ballet teacher to watch them. 'Dobby said to walk past this bit of wall three times, concentrating hard on what we need.' They did so, turning sharply at the window just beyond the blank stretch of wall, then at the man-sized vase on its other side. TRISTAN had screwed up his eyes in concentration; Hermione was whispering something under her breath; Harry's fists were clenched as he stared ahead of him. We need somewhere to learn to fight... he thought. Just give us a place to practise... somewhere they can't find us... 'Harry!' said Hermione sharply, as they wheeled around after their third walk past. A highly polished door had appeared in the wall. DECLAN was staring at it, looking slightly wary. Harry reached out, seized the brass handle, pulled open the door and led the way into a spacious room lit with flickering torches like those that illuminated the dungeons eight floors below. The walls were lined with wooden bookcases and instead of chairs the re were large silk cushions on the floor. A set of shelves at the far end of the room carried a range of instruments such as Sneakoscopes, Secrecy Sensors and a large, cracked Foe-Glass that Harry was sure had hung, the previous year, in the fake Moody's office. These will be good when we're practising Stunning,' said ALISTAIR enthusiastically, prodding one of the cushions with his foot. 'And just look at these books!' said Hermione excitedly, running a finger along the spines of the large leather-bound tomes. 'A Compendium of Common Curses and their Counter-Actions... The Dark Arts Outsmarted... Self-Defensive Spellwork... wow...' She looked around at Harry, her face glowing, and he saw that the presence of hundreds of books had finally convinced Hermione that what they were

doing was right. 'Harry, this is wonderful, there's everything we need here!' And without further ado she slid Jinxes for the Jinxed from its shelf, sank on to the nearest cushion and began to read. There was a gentle knock on the door. Harry looked round. Ginny, Neville, Lavender, Parvati and Dean had arrived. 'Whoa,' said Dean, staring around, impressed. 'What is this place?' Harry began to explain, but before he had finished more people had arrived and he had to start all over again. By the time eight o'clock arrived, every cushion was occupied. Harry moved across to the door and turned the key protruding from the lock; it clicked in a satisfyingly loud way and everybody fell silent, looking at him. Hermione carefully marked her page of Jinxes for the Jinxed and set the book aside. 'Well,' said Harry, slightly nervously. This is the place we've found for practice sessions, and you've - er - obviously found it OK.' 'It's fantastic!' said Cho, and several people murmured their agreement. 'It's bizarre,' said Fred, frowning around at it. 'We once hid from Filch in here, remember, George? But it was just a broom cupboard then.' 'Hey, Harry, what's this stuff?' asked Dean from the rear of the room, indicating the Sneakoscopes and the Foe-Glass. 'Dark detectors,' said Harry, stepping between the cushions to reach them. 'Basically they all show when Dark wizards or enemies are around, but you don't want to rely on them too much, they can be fooled He gazed for a moment into the cracked Foe-Glass; shadowy figures were moving around inside it, though none was recognisable. He turned his back on it. 'Well, I've been thinking about the sort of stuff we ought to do first and - er -'He noticed a raised hand. 'What, Hermione?' 'I think we ought to elect a leader,' said Hermione. 'Harry's leader,' said Cho at once, looking

was right. 'Harry, this is wonderful, there's everything we need here!' And without further ado she slid Jinxes for the Jinxed from its shelf, sank on to the nearest cushion and began to read. There was a gentle knock on the door. Harry looked round. Ginny, Neville, Lavender, Parvati and Dean had arrived. 'Whoa,' said Dean, staring around, impressed. 'What is this place?' Harry began to explain, but before he had finished more people had arrived and he had to start all over again. By the time eight o'clock arrived, every cushion was occupied. Harry moved across to the door and turned the key protruding from the lock; it clicked in a satisfyingly loud way and everybody fell silent, looking at him. Hermione carefully marked her page of Jinxes for the Jinxed and set the book aside. 'Well,' said Harry, slightly nervously. This is the place we've found for practice sessions, and you've - er - obviously found it OK.' 'It's fantastic!' said Cho, and several people murmured their agreement. 'It's bizarre,' said Fred, frowning around at it. 'We once hid from Filch in here, remember, George? But it was just a broom cupboard then.' 'Hey, Harry, what's this stuff?' asked Dean from the rear of the room, indicating the Sneakoscopes and the Foe-Glass. 'Dark detectors,' said Harry, stepping between the cushions to reach them. 'Basically they all show when Dark wizards or enemies are around, but you don't want to rely on them too much, they can be fooled He gazed for a moment into the cracked Foe-Glass; shadowy figures were moving around inside it, though none was recognisable. He turned his back on it. 'Well, I've been thinking about the sort of stuff we ought to do first and - er -'He noticed a raised hand. 'What, Hermione?' 'I think we ought to elect a leader,' said Hermione. 'Harry's leader,' said Cho at once, looking

at Hermione as though she were mad. Harry's stomach did yet another back-flip. 'Yes, but I think we ought to vote on it properly,' said Hermione, unperturbed. 'It makes it formal and it gives him authority. So - 'everyone who thinks Harry ought to be our leader?' Everybody put up their hand, even Zacharias Smith, though he did it very half-heartedly. 'Er - right, thanks,' said Harry, who could feel his face burning. 'And - what, Hermione?' 'I also think we ought to have a name,' she said brightly, her hand still in the air. 'It would promote a feeling of team spirit and unity, don't you think?' 'Can we be the Anti-Umbridge League?' said Angelina hopefully. 'Or the Ministry of Magic are Morons Group?' suggested Fred. 'I was thinking,' said Hermione, frowning at Fred,'more of a name that didn't tell everyone what we were up to, so we can refer to it safely outside meetings.' The Defence Association?' said Cho. 'The DA for short, so nobody knows what we're talking about?' 'Yeah, the DA's good,' said Ginny. 'Only let's make it stand for Dumbledore's Army, because that's the Ministry's worst fear, isn't it?' There was a good deal of appreciative murmuring and laughter at this. 'All in favour of the DA?' said Hermione bossily, kneeling up on her cushion to count. That's a majority - motion passed!' She pinned the piece of parchment with all of their signatures on it on to the wall and wrote across the top in large letters: DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY 'Right,' said Harry, when she had sat down again,'shall we get practising then? I was thinking, the first thing we should do is Expelliarmus, you know, the Disarming Charm. I know it's pretty basic but I've found it really useful - ' 'Oh, please,' said Zacharias Smith, rolling his eyes and folding his arms. 'I don

Hermione as though she were mad. Harry's stomach did yet another back-flip. 'Yes, but I think we ought to vote on it properly,' said Hermione, unperturbed. 'It makes it formal and it gives him authority. So - 'everyone who thinks Harry ought to be our leader?' Everybody put up their hand, even Zacharias Smith, though he did it very half-heartedly. 'Er - right, thanks,' said Harry, who could feel his face burning. 'And - what, Hermione?' 'I also think we ought to have a name,' she said brightly, her hand still in the air. 'It would promote a feeling of team spirit and unity, don't you think?' 'Can we be the Anti-Umbridge League?' said Angelina hopefully. 'Or the Ministry of Magic are Morons Group?' suggested Fred. 'I was thinking,' said Hermione, frowning at Fred,'more of a name that didn't tell everyone what we were up to, so we can refer to it safely outside meetings.' The Defence Association?' said Cho. 'The DA for short, so nobody knows what we're talking about?' 'Yeah, the DA's good,' said Ginny. 'Only let's make it stand for Dumbledore's Army, because that's the Ministry's worst fear, isn't it?' There was a good deal of appreciative murmuring and laughter at this. 'All in favour of the DA?' said Hermione bossily, kneeling up on her cushion to count. That's a majority - motion passed!' She pinned the piece of parchment with all of their signatures on it on to the wall and wrote across the top in large letters: DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY 'Right,' said Harry, when she had sat down again,'shall we get practising then? I was thinking, the first thing we should do is Expelliarmus, you know, the Disarming Charm. I know it's pretty basic but I've found it really useful - ' 'Oh, please,' said Zacharias Smith, rolling his eyes and folding his arms. 'I don

't think Expelliarmus is exactly going to help us against You-Know-Who, do you?' 'I've used it against him,' said Harry quietly. 'It saved my life in June.' Smith opened his mouth stupidly. The rest of the room was very quiet. 'But if you think it's beneath you, you can leave,' Harry said. Smith did not move. Nor did anybody else. 'OK,' said Harry, his mouth slightly drier than usual with all these eyes upon him, 'I reckon we should all divide into pairs and practise.' It felt very odd to be issuing instructions, but not nearly as odd as seeing them followed. Everybody got to their feet at once and divided up. Predictably, Neville was left partnerless. You can practise with me,' Harry told him. 'Right - on the count of three, then - one, two, three - ' The room was suddenly full of shouts of Expelliarmus. Wands flew in all directions; missed spells hit books on shelves and sent them flying into the air. Harry was too quick for Neville, whose wand went spinning out of his hand, hit the ceiling in a shower of sparks and landed with a clatter on top of a bookshelf, from which Harry retrieved it with a Summoning Charm. Glancing around, he thought he had been right to suggest they practise the basics first; there was a lot of shoddy spellwork going on; many people were not succeeding in Disarming their opponents at all, but merely causing them to jump backwards a few paces or wince as their feeble spell whooshed over them. 'Expelliarmus! said Neville, and Harry, caught unawares, tell his wand fly out of his hand. 'I DID IT!' said Neville gleefully. 'I've never done it before - I DID IT!' 'Good one!' said Harry encouragingly, deciding not to point out that in a real duel Neville's opponent was unlikely to be staring in the opposite direction with his wand held loosely at his side. 'Listen, Neville, can you take it in turns to practise with HAMISH and

t think Expelliarmus is exactly going to help us against You-Know-Who, do you?' 'I've used it against him,' said Harry quietly. 'It saved my life in June.' Smith opened his mouth stupidly. The rest of the room was very quiet. 'But if you think it's beneath you, you can leave,' Harry said. Smith did not move. Nor did anybody else. 'OK,' said Harry, his mouth slightly drier than usual with all these eyes upon him, 'I reckon we should all divide into pairs and practise.' It felt very odd to be issuing instructions, but not nearly as odd as seeing them followed. Everybody got to their feet at once and divided up. Predictably, Neville was left partnerless. You can practise with me,' Harry told him. 'Right - on the count of three, then - one, two, three - ' The room was suddenly full of shouts of Expelliarmus. Wands flew in all directions; missed spells hit books on shelves and sent them flying into the air. Harry was too quick for Neville, whose wand went spinning out of his hand, hit the ceiling in a shower of sparks and landed with a clatter on top of a bookshelf, from which Harry retrieved it with a Summoning Charm. Glancing around, he thought he had been right to suggest they practise the basics first; there was a lot of shoddy spellwork going on; many people were not succeeding in Disarming their opponents at all, but merely causing them to jump backwards a few paces or wince as their feeble spell whooshed over them. 'Expelliarmus! said Neville, and Harry, caught unawares, tell his wand fly out of his hand. 'I DID IT!' said Neville gleefully. 'I've never done it before - I DID IT!' 'Good one!' said Harry encouragingly, deciding not to point out that in a real duel Neville's opponent was unlikely to be staring in the opposite direction with his wand held loosely at his side. 'Listen, Neville, can you take it in turns to practise with HAMISH and

Hermione for a couple of minutes so I can walk around and see how the rest are doing?' Harry moved off into the middle of the room. Something very odd was happening to Zacharias Smith. Every time he opened his mouth to disarm Anthony Goldstein, his own wand would fly out of his hand, yet Anthony did not seem to be making a sound. Harry did not have to look far to solve the mystery: Fred and George were several feet from Smith and taking it in turns to point their wands at his back. 'Sorry Harry,' said George hastily, when Harry caught his eye. 'Couldn't resist.' Harry walked around the other pairs, trying to correct those who were doing the spell wrong. Ginny was teamed with Michael Corner; she was doing very well, whereas Michael was either very bad or unwilling to jinx her. Ernie Macmillan was flourishing his wand unnecessarily, giving his partner time to get in under his guard; the Creevey brothers were enthusiastic but erratic and mainly responsible for all the books leaping off the shelves around them; Luna Lovegood was similarly patchy, occasionally sending Justin Finch-Fletchleys wand spinning out of his hand, at other times merely causing his hair to stand on end. 'OK, stop!' Harry shouted. 'Stop.' STOP!' I need a whistle, he thought, and immediately spotted one lying on top of the nearest row of books. He caught it up and blew hard. Everyone lowered their wands. That wasn't bad,' said Harry, 'but there's definite room for improvement.' Zacharias Smith glared at him. 'Let's try again.' He moved off around the room again, stopping here and there to make suggestions. Slowly, the general performance improved. He: avoided going near Cho and her friend for a while, but after walking twice around every other pair in the room felt he could not ignore them any longer. 'Oh no,' said Cho rather wildly as he approached. 'Expelliarmious! I mean, Expellimellius! I - oh, sorry, Marietta!' Her curly-haired friend's sleeve had caught fire; Marietta extinguished it with her own wand and gla

ione for a couple of minutes so I can walk around and see how the rest are doing?' Harry moved off into the middle of the room. Something very odd was happening to Zacharias Smith. Every time he opened his mouth to disarm Anthony Goldstein, his own wand would fly out of his hand, yet Anthony did not seem to be making a sound. Harry did not have to look far to solve the mystery: Fred and George were several feet from Smith and taking it in turns to point their wands at his back. 'Sorry Harry,' said George hastily, when Harry caught his eye. 'Couldn't resist.' Harry walked around the other pairs, trying to correct those who were doing the spell wrong. Ginny was teamed with Michael Corner; she was doing very well, whereas Michael was either very bad or unwilling to jinx her. Ernie Macmillan was flourishing his wand unnecessarily, giving his partner time to get in under his guard; the Creevey brothers were enthusiastic but erratic and mainly responsible for all the books leaping off the shelves around them; Luna Lovegood was similarly patchy, occasionally sending Justin Finch-Fletchleys wand spinning out of his hand, at other times merely causing his hair to stand on end. 'OK, stop!' Harry shouted. 'Stop.' STOP!' I need a whistle, he thought, and immediately spotted one lying on top of the nearest row of books. He caught it up and blew hard. Everyone lowered their wands. That wasn't bad,' said Harry, 'but there's definite room for improvement.' Zacharias Smith glared at him. 'Let's try again.' He moved off around the room again, stopping here and there to make suggestions. Slowly, the general performance improved. He: avoided going near Cho and her friend for a while, but after walking twice around every other pair in the room felt he could not ignore them any longer. 'Oh no,' said Cho rather wildly as he approached. 'Expelliarmious! I mean, Expellimellius! I - oh, sorry, Marietta!' Her curly-haired friend's sleeve had caught fire; Marietta extinguished it with her own wand and gla

red at Harry as though it was his fault. 'You made me nervous, I was doing all right before then!' Cho told Harry ruefully. That was quite good,' Harry lied, but when she raised her eyebrows he said, 'Well, no, it was lousy, but I know you can do it properly, I was watching from over there.' She laughed. Her friend Marietta looked at them rather sourly and turned away. 'Don't mind her,' Cho muttered. 'She doesn't really want to be here but I made her come with me. Her parents have forbidden her to do anything that might upset Umbridge. You see - her mum works for the Ministry.' What about your parents?' asked Harry. Well, they've forbidden me to get on the wrong side of Umbridge, too,' said Cho, drawing herself up proudly. 'But if they think I'm not going to fight You-Know-Who after what happened to Cedric - ' She broke off, looking rather confused, and an awkward silence fell between them; Terry Boot's wand went whizzing past Harry's ear and hit Alicia Spinnet hard on the nose. Well, my dad is very supportive of any anti-Ministry action!' said Luna Lovegood proudly from just behind Harry; evidently she had been eavesdropping on his conversation while Justin Finch - 'Fletchley attempted to disentangle himself from the robes that had flown up over his head. 'He's always saying he'd believe anything of Fudge; I mean, the number of goblins Fudge has had assassinated! And of course he uses the Department of Mysteries to develop terrible poisons, which he secretly feeds to anybody who disagrees with him. And then there's his Umgubular Slashkilter - ' 'Don't ask,' Harry muttered to Cho as she opened her mouth, looking puzzled. She giggled. 'Hey, Harry,' Hermione called from the other end of the room, 'have you checked the time?' He looked down at his watch and was shocked to see it was already ten past nine, which meant they needed to get back to their

at Harry as though it was his fault. 'You made me nervous, I was doing all right before then!' Cho told Harry ruefully. That was quite good,' Harry lied, but when she raised her eyebrows he said, 'Well, no, it was lousy, but I know you can do it properly, I was watching from over there.' She laughed. Her friend Marietta looked at them rather sourly and turned away. 'Don't mind her,' Cho muttered. 'She doesn't really want to be here but I made her come with me. Her parents have forbidden her to do anything that might upset Umbridge. You see - her mum works for the Ministry.' What about your parents?' asked Harry. Well, they've forbidden me to get on the wrong side of Umbridge, too,' said Cho, drawing herself up proudly. 'But if they think I'm not going to fight You-Know-Who after what happened to Cedric - ' She broke off, looking rather confused, and an awkward silence fell between them; Terry Boot's wand went whizzing past Harry's ear and hit Alicia Spinnet hard on the nose. Well, my dad is very supportive of any anti-Ministry action!' said Luna Lovegood proudly from just behind Harry; evidently she had been eavesdropping on his conversation while Justin Finch - 'Fletchley attempted to disentangle himself from the robes that had flown up over his head. 'He's always saying he'd believe anything of Fudge; I mean, the number of goblins Fudge has had assassinated! And of course he uses the Department of Mysteries to develop terrible poisons, which he secretly feeds to anybody who disagrees with him. And then there's his Umgubular Slashkilter - ' 'Don't ask,' Harry muttered to Cho as she opened her mouth, looking puzzled. She giggled. 'Hey, Harry,' Hermione called from the other end of the room, 'have you checked the time?' He looked down at his watch and was shocked to see it was already ten past nine, which meant they needed to get back to their

common rooms immediately or risk being caught and punished by Filch for being out of bounds. He blew his whistle; everybody stopped shouting 'Expelliarmus' and the last couple of wands clattered to the floor. 'Well, that was pretty good,' said Harry, 'but we've overrun, we'd better leave it here. Same time, same place next week?' 'Sooner!' said Dean Thomas eagerly and many people nodded in agreement. Angelina, however, said quickly, The Quidditch season's about to start, we need team practices too!' 'Let's say next Wednesday night, then,' said Harry, 'we can decide on additional meetings then. Come on, we'd better get going.' He pulled out the Marauder's Map again and checked it carefully for signs of teachers on the seventh floor. He let them all leave in threes and fours, watching their tiny dots anxiously to see that they returned safely to their dormitories: the Hufflepuffs to the basement corridor that also led to the kitchens; the Ravenclaws to a tower on the west side of the castle, and the Gryffindors along the corridor to the Fat Lady's portrait. That was really, really good, Harry,' said Hermione, when finally it was just her, Harry and TRISTAN who were left. 'Yeah, it was!' said CALLUM enthusiastically, as they slipped out of the door and watched it melt back into stone behind them. 'Did you see me disarm Hermione, Harry?' 'Only once,' said Hermione, stung. 'I got you loads more than you got me -' 'I did not only get you once, I got you at least three times - ' 'Well, if you're counting the one where you tripped over your own feet and knocked the wand out of my hand - ' They argued all the way back to the common room, but Harry was not listening to them. He had one eye on the Marauder's Map, but he was also thinking of Cho saying he made her nervous. - CHAPTER NINETEEN - The Lion and the Serpant

rooms immediately or risk being caught and punished by Filch for being out of bounds. He blew his whistle; everybody stopped shouting 'Expelliarmus' and the last couple of wands clattered to the floor. 'Well, that was pretty good,' said Harry, 'but we've overrun, we'd better leave it here. Same time, same place next week?' 'Sooner!' said Dean Thomas eagerly and many people nodded in agreement. Angelina, however, said quickly, The Quidditch season's about to start, we need team practices too!' 'Let's say next Wednesday night, then,' said Harry, 'we can decide on additional meetings then. Come on, we'd better get going.' He pulled out the Marauder's Map again and checked it carefully for signs of teachers on the seventh floor. He let them all leave in threes and fours, watching their tiny dots anxiously to see that they returned safely to their dormitories: the Hufflepuffs to the basement corridor that also led to the kitchens; the Ravenclaws to a tower on the west side of the castle, and the Gryffindors along the corridor to the Fat Lady's portrait. That was really, really good, Harry,' said Hermione, when finally it was just her, Harry and TRISTAN who were left. 'Yeah, it was!' said CALLUM enthusiastically, as they slipped out of the door and watched it melt back into stone behind them. 'Did you see me disarm Hermione, Harry?' 'Only once,' said Hermione, stung. 'I got you loads more than you got me -' 'I did not only get you once, I got you at least three times - ' 'Well, if you're counting the one where you tripped over your own feet and knocked the wand out of my hand - ' They argued all the way back to the common room, but Harry was not listening to them. He had one eye on the Marauder's Map, but he was also thinking of Cho saying he made her nervous. - CHAPTER NINETEEN - The Lion and the Serpant

Harry felt as though he were carrying some kind of talisman inside his chest over the following two weeks, a glowing secret that supported him through Umbridge's classes and even made it possible for him to smile blandly as he looked into her horrible bulging eyes. He and the DA were resisting her under her very nose, doing the very thing she and the Ministry most feared, and whenever he was supposed to be reading Wilbert Slinkhard's book during her lessons he dwelled instead on satisfying memories of their most recent meetings, remembering how Neville had successfully disarmed Hermione, how Colin Creevey had mastered the Impediment Jinx after three meetings' hard effort, how Parvati Patil had produced such a good Reductor Curse that she had reduced the table carrying all the Sneakoscopes to dust. He was finding it almost impossible to fix a regular night of the week for the DA meetings, as they had to accommodate three separate: team's Quidditch practices, which were often rearranged due to bad weather conditions; but Harry was not sorry about this; he had a feeling that it was probably better to keep the timing of their meetings unpredictable. If anyone was watching them, it would be hard to make out a pattern. Hermione soon devised a very clever method of communicating the time and date of the next meeting to all the members in case they needed to change it at short notice, because it would look suspicious if people from different Houses were seen crossing the Great Hall to talk to each other too often. She gave each of the members of the DA a fake Galleon (XAVIER became very excited when he first saw the basket and was convinced she was actually giving out gold). 'You see the numerals around the edge of the coins?' Hermione said, holding one up for examination at the end of their fourth meeting. The coin gleamed fat and yellow in the light from the torches. 'On real Galleons that's just a serial number referring to the goblin who cast the coin. On these fake coins, though, the numbers will change to reflect the time and date of the next meeting. The coins will grow hot when the date changes, so if you're carrying them in a pocket you'll be able to feel

Harry felt as though he were carrying some kind of talisman inside his chest over the following two weeks, a glowing secret that supported him through Umbridge's classes and even made it possible for him to smile blandly as he looked into her horrible bulging eyes. He and the DA were resisting her under her very nose, doing the very thing she and the Ministry most feared, and whenever he was supposed to be reading Wilbert Slinkhard's book during her lessons he dwelled instead on satisfying memories of their most recent meetings, remembering how Neville had successfully disarmed Hermione, how Colin Creevey had mastered the Impediment Jinx after three meetings' hard effort, how Parvati Patil had produced such a good Reductor Curse that she had reduced the table carrying all the Sneakoscopes to dust. He was finding it almost impossible to fix a regular night of the week for the DA meetings, as they had to accommodate three separate: team's Quidditch practices, which were often rearranged due to bad weather conditions; but Harry was not sorry about this; he had a feeling that it was probably better to keep the timing of their meetings unpredictable. If anyone was watching them, it would be hard to make out a pattern. Hermione soon devised a very clever method of communicating the time and date of the next meeting to all the members in case they needed to change it at short notice, because it would look suspicious if people from different Houses were seen crossing the Great Hall to talk to each other too often. She gave each of the members of the DA a fake Galleon (XAVIER became very excited when he first saw the basket and was convinced she was actually giving out gold). 'You see the numerals around the edge of the coins?' Hermione said, holding one up for examination at the end of their fourth meeting. The coin gleamed fat and yellow in the light from the torches. 'On real Galleons that's just a serial number referring to the goblin who cast the coin. On these fake coins, though, the numbers will change to reflect the time and date of the next meeting. The coins will grow hot when the date changes, so if you're carrying them in a pocket you'll be able to feel

them. We take one each, and when Harry sets the date of the next meeting he'll change the numbers on his coin, and because I've put a Protean Charm on them, they'll all change to mimic his.' A blank silence greeted Hermione's words. She looked around at all the faces upturned to her, rather disconcerted. 'Well - I thought it was a good idea,' she said uncertainly, 'I mean, even if Umbridge asked us to turn out our pockets, there's nothing fishy about carrying a Galleon, is there? But... well, if you don't want to use them - ' 'You can do a Protean Charm?' said Terry Boot 'Yes,' said Hermione. 'But that's... that's NEWT standard, that is,' he said weakly. 'Oh,' said Hermione, trying to look modest. 'Oh... well... yes, I suppose it is.' 'How come you're not in Ravenclaw?' he demanded, staring at Hermione with something close to wonder. 'With brains like yours?' Well, the Sorting Hat did seriously consider putting me in Ravenclaw during my Sorting,' said Hermione brightly, 'but it decided on Gryffindor in the end. So, does that mean we're using the Galleons?' There was a murmur of assent and everybody moved forwards to collect one from the basket. Harry looked sideways at Hermione. 'You know what these remind me of?' 'No, what's that?' The Death Eaters' scars. Voldemort touches one of them, and all their scars burn, and they know they've got to join him.' 'Well... yes,' said Hermione quietly, 'that is where I got the idea... but you'll notice I decided to engrave the date on bits of metal rather than on our members' skin.' 'Yeah... I prefer your way,' said Harry, grinning, as he slipped his; Galleon into his pocket. 'I suppose the only danger with these is that we might

. We take one each, and when Harry sets the date of the next meeting he'll change the numbers on his coin, and because I've put a Protean Charm on them, they'll all change to mimic his.' A blank silence greeted Hermione's words. She looked around at all the faces upturned to her, rather disconcerted. 'Well - I thought it was a good idea,' she said uncertainly, 'I mean, even if Umbridge asked us to turn out our pockets, there's nothing fishy about carrying a Galleon, is there? But... well, if you don't want to use them - ' 'You can do a Protean Charm?' said Terry Boot 'Yes,' said Hermione. 'But that's... that's NEWT standard, that is,' he said weakly. 'Oh,' said Hermione, trying to look modest. 'Oh... well... yes, I suppose it is.' 'How come you're not in Ravenclaw?' he demanded, staring at Hermione with something close to wonder. 'With brains like yours?' Well, the Sorting Hat did seriously consider putting me in Ravenclaw during my Sorting,' said Hermione brightly, 'but it decided on Gryffindor in the end. So, does that mean we're using the Galleons?' There was a murmur of assent and everybody moved forwards to collect one from the basket. Harry looked sideways at Hermione. 'You know what these remind me of?' 'No, what's that?' The Death Eaters' scars. Voldemort touches one of them, and all their scars burn, and they know they've got to join him.' 'Well... yes,' said Hermione quietly, 'that is where I got the idea... but you'll notice I decided to engrave the date on bits of metal rather than on our members' skin.' 'Yeah... I prefer your way,' said Harry, grinning, as he slipped his; Galleon into his pocket. 'I suppose the only danger with these is that we might

accidentally spend them.' 'Fat chance,' said RHYS, who was examining his own fake Galleon with a slightly mournful air, 'I haven't got any real Galleons to confuse it with.' As the first Quidditch match of the season, Gryffindor versus Slytherin, drew nearer, their DA meetings were put on hold because Angelina insisted on almost daily practices. The fact that the Quidditch Cup had not been held for so long added considerably to the interest and excitement surrounding the forthcoming game; the: Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were taking a lively interest in the outcome, for they, of course, would be playing both teams over the coming year; and the Heads of House of the competing teams, though they attempted to disguise it under a decent pretence of sportsmanship, were determined to see their own side victorious. Harry realised how much Professor McGonagall cared about beating Slytherin when she abstained from giving them homework in the week leading up to the match. I think you've got enough to be getting on with at the moment,' she; said loftily. Nobody could quite believe their ears until she looked directly at Harry and RHYS and said grimly, 'I've become accustomed to seeing the Quidditch Cup in my study, boys, and I really don't want to have to hand it over to Professor Snape, so use the extra time to practise, won't you?' Snape was no less obviously partisan; he had booked the Quidditch pitch for Slytherin practice so often that the Gryffindors had difficulty getting on it to play. He was also turning a deaf ear to the many reports of Slytherin attempts to hex Gryffindor players in the corridors. When Alicia Spinnet turned up in the hospital wing with her eyebrows growing so thick and fast they obscured her vision and obstructed her mouth, Snape insisted that she must have attempted a Hair-thickening Charm on herself and refused to listen to the fourteen eye-witnesses who insisted they had seen the Slytherin Keeper, Miles Bletch

ally spend them.' 'Fat chance,' said RHYS, who was examining his own fake Galleon with a slightly mournful air, 'I haven't got any real Galleons to confuse it with.' As the first Quidditch match of the season, Gryffindor versus Slytherin, drew nearer, their DA meetings were put on hold because Angelina insisted on almost daily practices. The fact that the Quidditch Cup had not been held for so long added considerably to the interest and excitement surrounding the forthcoming game; the: Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were taking a lively interest in the outcome, for they, of course, would be playing both teams over the coming year; and the Heads of House of the competing teams, though they attempted to disguise it under a decent pretence of sportsmanship, were determined to see their own side victorious. Harry realised how much Professor McGonagall cared about beating Slytherin when she abstained from giving them homework in the week leading up to the match. I think you've got enough to be getting on with at the moment,' she; said loftily. Nobody could quite believe their ears until she looked directly at Harry and RHYS and said grimly, 'I've become accustomed to seeing the Quidditch Cup in my study, boys, and I really don't want to have to hand it over to Professor Snape, so use the extra time to practise, won't you?' Snape was no less obviously partisan; he had booked the Quidditch pitch for Slytherin practice so often that the Gryffindors had difficulty getting on it to play. He was also turning a deaf ear to the many reports of Slytherin attempts to hex Gryffindor players in the corridors. When Alicia Spinnet turned up in the hospital wing with her eyebrows growing so thick and fast they obscured her vision and obstructed her mouth, Snape insisted that she must have attempted a Hair-thickening Charm on herself and refused to listen to the fourteen eye-witnesses who insisted they had seen the Slytherin Keeper, Miles Bletch

ley, hit her from behind with a jinx while she worked in the library. Harry felt optimistic about Gryffindors chances; they had, after all, never lost to Malfoy's team. Admittedly, OWEN was still not performing to Wood's standard, but he was working extremely hard to improve. His greatest weakness was a tendency to lose confidence after he'd made a blunder; if he let in one goal he became flustered and was therefore likely to miss more. On the other hand, Harry had seen OWEN make some truly spectacular saves when he was on form; during one memorable practice he had hung one-handed from his broom and kicked the Quaffle so hard away from the goalhoop that it soared the length of the pitch and through the centre hoop at the other end; the rest of the team felt this save compared favourably with one made recently by Barry Ryan, the Irish International Keeper, against Poland's top Chaser, Ladislaw Zamojski. Even Fred had said that ANGUS might yet make him and George proud, and that they were seriously considering admitting he was related to them, something they assured him they had been trying to deny for four years. The only thing really worrying Harry was how much NIALL was allowing the tactics of the Slytherin team to upset him before they even got on to the pitch. Harry, of course, had endured their snide comments for over four years, so whispers of, 'Hey, Potty, I heard Warrington's sworn to knock you off your broom on Saturday', far from chilling his blood, made him laugh. 'Warrington's aim's so pathetic I'd be more worried if he was aiming for the person next to me,' he retorted, which made OWEN and Hermione laugh and wiped the smirk off Pansy Parkinson's face. But WILLIAM had never endured a relentless campaign of insults, jeers and intimidation. When Slytherins, some of them seventh-years and considerably larger than he was, muttered as they passed in the corridors, 'Got your bed booked in the hospital wing, J

, hit her from behind with a jinx while she worked in the library. Harry felt optimistic about Gryffindors chances; they had, after all, never lost to Malfoy's team. Admittedly, OWEN was still not performing to Wood's standard, but he was working extremely hard to improve. His greatest weakness was a tendency to lose confidence after he'd made a blunder; if he let in one goal he became flustered and was therefore likely to miss more. On the other hand, Harry had seen OWEN make some truly spectacular saves when he was on form; during one memorable practice he had hung one-handed from his broom and kicked the Quaffle so hard away from the goalhoop that it soared the length of the pitch and through the centre hoop at the other end; the rest of the team felt this save compared favourably with one made recently by Barry Ryan, the Irish International Keeper, against Poland's top Chaser, Ladislaw Zamojski. Even Fred had said that ANGUS might yet make him and George proud, and that they were seriously considering admitting he was related to them, something they assured him they had been trying to deny for four years. The only thing really worrying Harry was how much NIALL was allowing the tactics of the Slytherin team to upset him before they even got on to the pitch. Harry, of course, had endured their snide comments for over four years, so whispers of, 'Hey, Potty, I heard Warrington's sworn to knock you off your broom on Saturday', far from chilling his blood, made him laugh. 'Warrington's aim's so pathetic I'd be more worried if he was aiming for the person next to me,' he retorted, which made OWEN and Hermione laugh and wiped the smirk off Pansy Parkinson's face. But WILLIAM had never endured a relentless campaign of insults, jeers and intimidation. When Slytherins, some of them seventh-years and considerably larger than he was, muttered as they passed in the corridors, 'Got your bed booked in the hospital wing, J

ONES?' he didn't laugh, but turned a delicate shade of green. When Draco Malfoy imitated GARETH dropping the Quaffle (which he did whenever they came within sight of each other), CALLUM's ears glowed red and his hands shook so badly that he was likely to drop whatever he was holding at the time, too. October extinguished itself in a rush of howling winds and driving rain and November arrived, cold as frozen iRhys, with hard frosts every morning and icy draughts that bit at exposed hands and faces. The skies and the ceiling of the Great Hall turned a pale, pearly grey, the mountains around Hogwarts were snowcapped, and the temperature in the castle dropped so low that many students wore their thick protective dragonskin gloves in the corridors between lessons. The morning of the match dawned bright and cold. When Harry awoke he looked round at OWEN's bed and saw him sitting bolt upright, his arms around his knees, staring fixedly into space. 'You all right?' said Harry. LIAM nodded but did not speak. Harry was reminded forcibly of the time RHYS had accidentally put a Slug-vomiting Charm on himself; he looked just as pale and sweaty as he had done then, not to mention as reluctant to open his mouth. 'You just need some breakfast,' Harry said bracingly. 'C'mon.' The Great Hall was filling up fast when they arrived, the talk louder and the mood more exuberant than usual. As they passed the Slytherin table there was an upsurge of noise. Harry looked round and saw that, in addition to the usual green and silver scarves and hats, every one of them was wearing a silver badge in the shape of what seemed to be a crown. For some reason many of them waved at NIALL, laughing uproariously. Harry tried to see what was written on the badges as he walked by, but he was too concerned to get VICTOR past their table quickly to linger long enough to read them. They received a rousing welcome at the Gry

ES?' he didn't laugh, but turned a delicate shade of green. When Draco Malfoy imitated GARETH dropping the Quaffle (which he did whenever they came within sight of each other), CALLUM's ears glowed red and his hands shook so badly that he was likely to drop whatever he was holding at the time, too. October extinguished itself in a rush of howling winds and driving rain and November arrived, cold as frozen iRhys, with hard frosts every morning and icy draughts that bit at exposed hands and faces. The skies and the ceiling of the Great Hall turned a pale, pearly grey, the mountains around Hogwarts were snowcapped, and the temperature in the castle dropped so low that many students wore their thick protective dragonskin gloves in the corridors between lessons. The morning of the match dawned bright and cold. When Harry awoke he looked round at OWEN's bed and saw him sitting bolt upright, his arms around his knees, staring fixedly into space. 'You all right?' said Harry. LIAM nodded but did not speak. Harry was reminded forcibly of the time RHYS had accidentally put a Slug-vomiting Charm on himself; he looked just as pale and sweaty as he had done then, not to mention as reluctant to open his mouth. 'You just need some breakfast,' Harry said bracingly. 'C'mon.' The Great Hall was filling up fast when they arrived, the talk louder and the mood more exuberant than usual. As they passed the Slytherin table there was an upsurge of noise. Harry looked round and saw that, in addition to the usual green and silver scarves and hats, every one of them was wearing a silver badge in the shape of what seemed to be a crown. For some reason many of them waved at NIALL, laughing uproariously. Harry tried to see what was written on the badges as he walked by, but he was too concerned to get VICTOR past their table quickly to linger long enough to read them. They received a rousing welcome at the Gry

ffindor table, where everyone was wearing red and gold, but far from raising FINLAY's spirits the cheers seemed to sap the last of his morale; he collapsed on to the nearest bench looking as though he were facing his final meal. 'I must've been mental to do this,' he said in a croaky whisper. 'Mental.' 'Don't be thick,' said Harry firmly, passing him a choice of cereals, 'you're going to be fine. It's normal to be nervous.' 'I'm rubbish,' croaked CALLUM. 'I'm lousy. I can't play to save my life. What was I thinking?' 'Get a grip,' said Harry sternly. 'Look at that save you made with your foot the other day, even Fred and George said it was brilliant.' WILLIAM turned a tortured face to Harry. 'That was an accident,' he whispered miserably. 'I didn't mean to do it - I slipped off my broom when none of you were looking and when I was trying to get back on I kicked the Quaffle by accident.' 'Well,' said Harry, recovering quickly from this unpleasant surprise, 'a few more accidents like that and the game's in the bag, isn't it?' Hermione and Ginny sat down opposite them wearing red and gold scarves, gloves and rosettes. 'How're you feeling?' Ginny asked RHYS, who was now staring into the dregs of milk at the bottom of his empty cereal bowl as though seriously considering attempting to drown himself in them. 'He's just nervous,' said Harry. 'Well, that's a good sign, I never feel you perform as well in exams if you're not a bit nervous,' said Hermione heartily. 'Hello,' said a vague and dreamy voice from behind them. Harry looked up: Luna Lovegood had drifted over from the Ravenclaw table. Many people were staring at her and a few were openly laughing and pointing; she had managed to procure a hat shaped like a life-size lion'

indor table, where everyone was wearing red and gold, but far from raising FINLAY's spirits the cheers seemed to sap the last of his morale; he collapsed on to the nearest bench looking as though he were facing his final meal. 'I must've been mental to do this,' he said in a croaky whisper. 'Mental.' 'Don't be thick,' said Harry firmly, passing him a choice of cereals, 'you're going to be fine. It's normal to be nervous.' 'I'm rubbish,' croaked CALLUM. 'I'm lousy. I can't play to save my life. What was I thinking?' 'Get a grip,' said Harry sternly. 'Look at that save you made with your foot the other day, even Fred and George said it was brilliant.' WILLIAM turned a tortured face to Harry. 'That was an accident,' he whispered miserably. 'I didn't mean to do it - I slipped off my broom when none of you were looking and when I was trying to get back on I kicked the Quaffle by accident.' 'Well,' said Harry, recovering quickly from this unpleasant surprise, 'a few more accidents like that and the game's in the bag, isn't it?' Hermione and Ginny sat down opposite them wearing red and gold scarves, gloves and rosettes. 'How're you feeling?' Ginny asked RHYS, who was now staring into the dregs of milk at the bottom of his empty cereal bowl as though seriously considering attempting to drown himself in them. 'He's just nervous,' said Harry. 'Well, that's a good sign, I never feel you perform as well in exams if you're not a bit nervous,' said Hermione heartily. 'Hello,' said a vague and dreamy voice from behind them. Harry looked up: Luna Lovegood had drifted over from the Ravenclaw table. Many people were staring at her and a few were openly laughing and pointing; she had managed to procure a hat shaped like a life-size lion'

s head, which was perched precariously on her head. 'I'm supporting Gryffindor,' said Luna, pointing unnecessarily at her hat. 'Look what it does...' She reached up and tapped the hat with her wand. It opened its mouth wide and gave an extremely realistic roar that made everyone in the vicinity jump. 'It's good, isn't it?' said Luna happily. 'I wanted to have it chewing up a serpent to represent Slytherin, you know, but there wasn't time. Anyway... good luck, Ronald!' She drifted away. They had not quite recovered from the shock of Luna's hat before Angelina came hurrying towards them, accompanied by Katie and Alicia, whose eyebrows had mercifully been returned to normal by Madam Pomfrey. 'When you're ready,' she said, 'we're going to go straight down to the pitch, check out conditions and change.' 'We'll be there in a bit,' Harry assured her. 'EWAN's just got to have some breakfast.' It became clear after ten minutes, however, that KEIR was not capable of eating anything more and Harry thought it best to get him down to the changing rooms. As they rose from the table, Hermione go; up, too, and taking Harry's arm she drew him to one side. 'Don't let GARETH see what's on those Slytherins' badges,' she whispered urgently. Harry looked questioningly at her, but she shook her head warningly; TRISTAN had just ambled over to them, looking lost and desperate. 'Good luck, GARETH,' said Hermione, standing on tiptoe and kissing him on the cheek. 'And you, Harry - ' MILES seemed to come to himself slightly as they walked back across the Great Hall. He touched the spot on his face where Hermione had kissed him, looking puzzled, as though he was not quite sure what had just happened. He seemed too distracted to notice much around him, but Harry cast a curious glance at the crown-shaped badges as they passed the S

head, which was perched precariously on her head. 'I'm supporting Gryffindor,' said Luna, pointing unnecessarily at her hat. 'Look what it does...' She reached up and tapped the hat with her wand. It opened its mouth wide and gave an extremely realistic roar that made everyone in the vicinity jump. 'It's good, isn't it?' said Luna happily. 'I wanted to have it chewing up a serpent to represent Slytherin, you know, but there wasn't time. Anyway... good luck, Ronald!' She drifted away. They had not quite recovered from the shock of Luna's hat before Angelina came hurrying towards them, accompanied by Katie and Alicia, whose eyebrows had mercifully been returned to normal by Madam Pomfrey. 'When you're ready,' she said, 'we're going to go straight down to the pitch, check out conditions and change.' 'We'll be there in a bit,' Harry assured her. 'EWAN's just got to have some breakfast.' It became clear after ten minutes, however, that KEIR was not capable of eating anything more and Harry thought it best to get him down to the changing rooms. As they rose from the table, Hermione go; up, too, and taking Harry's arm she drew him to one side. 'Don't let GARETH see what's on those Slytherins' badges,' she whispered urgently. Harry looked questioningly at her, but she shook her head warningly; TRISTAN had just ambled over to them, looking lost and desperate. 'Good luck, GARETH,' said Hermione, standing on tiptoe and kissing him on the cheek. 'And you, Harry - ' MILES seemed to come to himself slightly as they walked back across the Great Hall. He touched the spot on his face where Hermione had kissed him, looking puzzled, as though he was not quite sure what had just happened. He seemed too distracted to notice much around him, but Harry cast a curious glance at the crown-shaped badges as they passed the S

lytherin table, and this time he made out the words etched on to them: BROWN is our King With an unpleasant feeling that this could mean nothing good, he hurried TRISTAN across the Entrance Hall, clown the stone steps and out into the icy air. The frosty grass crunched under their feet as they hurried down the sloping lawns towards the stadium. There was no wind at all and the sky was a uniform pearly white, which meant that visibility would be good without the drawback of direct sunlight in the eyes. Harry pointed out these encouraging factors to NIALL as they walked, but he was not sure that XAVIER was listening. Angelina had changed already and was talking to the rest of the team when they entered. Harry and DECLAN pulled on their robes (KEIR attempted to do his up back-to-front for several minutes before Alicia took pity on him and went to help), then sat down to listen to the pre-match talk while the babble of voices outside grew steadily louder as the crowd came pouring out of the castle towards the pitch. 'OK, I've only just found out the final line-up for Slytherin,' said Angelina, consulting a piece of parchment. 'Last year's Beaters, Derrick and Bole, have left, but it looks as though Montague's replaced them with the usual gorillas, rather than anyone who c an fly particularly well. They're two blokes called Crabbe and Goyle, I don't know much about them - ' 'We do,' said Harry and CALLUM together. 'Well, they don't look bright enough to tell one end of a broom from the other,' said Angelina, pocketing her parchment, 'but then I was always surprised Derrick and Bole managed to find their way on to the pitch without signposts.' 'Crabbe and Goyle are in the same mould,' Harry assured her. They could hear hundreds of footsteps mounting the banked benches of the spectators' stands. Some people were singing, though Harry could not make out the words. He was starting to feel nervous, but he knew his butterflies were

therin table, and this time he made out the words etched on to them: BROWN is our King With an unpleasant feeling that this could mean nothing good, he hurried TRISTAN across the Entrance Hall, clown the stone steps and out into the icy air. The frosty grass crunched under their feet as they hurried down the sloping lawns towards the stadium. There was no wind at all and the sky was a uniform pearly white, which meant that visibility would be good without the drawback of direct sunlight in the eyes. Harry pointed out these encouraging factors to NIALL as they walked, but he was not sure that XAVIER was listening. Angelina had changed already and was talking to the rest of the team when they entered. Harry and DECLAN pulled on their robes (KEIR attempted to do his up back-to-front for several minutes before Alicia took pity on him and went to help), then sat down to listen to the pre-match talk while the babble of voices outside grew steadily louder as the crowd came pouring out of the castle towards the pitch. 'OK, I've only just found out the final line-up for Slytherin,' said Angelina, consulting a piece of parchment. 'Last year's Beaters, Derrick and Bole, have left, but it looks as though Montague's replaced them with the usual gorillas, rather than anyone who c an fly particularly well. They're two blokes called Crabbe and Goyle, I don't know much about them - ' 'We do,' said Harry and CALLUM together. 'Well, they don't look bright enough to tell one end of a broom from the other,' said Angelina, pocketing her parchment, 'but then I was always surprised Derrick and Bole managed to find their way on to the pitch without signposts.' 'Crabbe and Goyle are in the same mould,' Harry assured her. They could hear hundreds of footsteps mounting the banked benches of the spectators' stands. Some people were singing, though Harry could not make out the words. He was starting to feel nervous, but he knew his butterflies were

as nothing compared to IAIN's, who was clutching his stomach and staring straight ahead again, his jaw set and his complexion pale grey. 'It's time,' said Angelina in a hushed voice, looking at her watch. 'C'mon everyone... good luck.' The team rose, shouldered their brooms and marched in single file out of the changing room and into the dazzling sunlight, A roar of sound greeted them in which Harry could still hear singing, though it was muffled by the cheers and whistles. The Slytherin team was standing waiting for them. They, too, were wearing those silver crown-shaped badges. The new Captain, Montague, was built along the same lines as Dudley Dursley with massive forearms like hairy hams. Behind him lurked Crabbe and Goyle, almost as large, blinking stupidly in the sunlight, swinging their new Beaters' bats. Malfoy stood to one side, the sunlight gleaming on his white-blond head. He caught Harry's eye and smirked, tapping the crown-shaped badge on his chest. 'Captains, shake hands,' ordered the referee Madam Hooch, as Angelina and Montague reached each other. Harry could tell that Montague was trying to crush Angelina's fingers, though she did not wince. 'Mount your brooms...' Madam Hooch placed her whistle in her mouth and blew. The balls were released and the fourteen players shot upwards. Out of the corner of his eye Harry saw NIALL streak off towards the goalhoops. Harry zoomed higher, dodging a Bludger, and set off on a wide lap of the pitch, gazing around for a glint of gold; on the other side of the stadium, Draco Malfoy was doing exactly the same. 'And it's Johnson - 'Johnson with the Quaffle, what a player that girl is, I've been saying it for years but she still won't go out with me - ' JORDAN!' yelled Professor McGonagall. '- just a fun

nothing compared to IAIN's, who was clutching his stomach and staring straight ahead again, his jaw set and his complexion pale grey. 'It's time,' said Angelina in a hushed voice, looking at her watch. 'C'mon everyone... good luck.' The team rose, shouldered their brooms and marched in single file out of the changing room and into the dazzling sunlight, A roar of sound greeted them in which Harry could still hear singing, though it was muffled by the cheers and whistles. The Slytherin team was standing waiting for them. They, too, were wearing those silver crown-shaped badges. The new Captain, Montague, was built along the same lines as Dudley Dursley with massive forearms like hairy hams. Behind him lurked Crabbe and Goyle, almost as large, blinking stupidly in the sunlight, swinging their new Beaters' bats. Malfoy stood to one side, the sunlight gleaming on his white-blond head. He caught Harry's eye and smirked, tapping the crown-shaped badge on his chest. 'Captains, shake hands,' ordered the referee Madam Hooch, as Angelina and Montague reached each other. Harry could tell that Montague was trying to crush Angelina's fingers, though she did not wince. 'Mount your brooms...' Madam Hooch placed her whistle in her mouth and blew. The balls were released and the fourteen players shot upwards. Out of the corner of his eye Harry saw NIALL streak off towards the goalhoops. Harry zoomed higher, dodging a Bludger, and set off on a wide lap of the pitch, gazing around for a glint of gold; on the other side of the stadium, Draco Malfoy was doing exactly the same. 'And it's Johnson - 'Johnson with the Quaffle, what a player that girl is, I've been saying it for years but she still won't go out with me - ' JORDAN!' yelled Professor McGonagall. '- just a fun

fact, Professor, adds a bit of interest - and she's ducked Warrington, she's passed Montague, she's - ouch - been hit from behind by a Bludger from Crabbe... Montague catches the Quaffle, Montague heading back up the pitch and - nice Bludger there from George JONES, that's a Bludger to the head for Montague, he drops the Quaffle, caught by Katie Bell, Katie Bell of Gryffindor reverse-passes to Alicia Spinnet and Spinnet's away - ' Lee Jordan's commentary rang through the stadium and Harry listened as hard as he could through the wind whistling in his ears and the din of the crowd, all yelling and booing and singing. '- dodges Warrington, avoids a Bludger - close call, Alicia - and the crowd are loving this, just listen to them, what's that they're singing?' And as Lee paused to listen, the song rose loud and clear from the sea of green and silver in the Slytherin section of the stands: 'EDWARDS cannot save a thing, He cannot block a single ring, That's why Slytherins all sing: JONES is our King. 'BROWN was born in a bin He always lets the Quaffle in DAVIES will make sure we win WILSON is our King.' ' - and Alicia passes back to Angelina!' Lee shouted, and as Harry swerved, his insides boiling at what he had just heard, he knew Lee was trying to drown out the words of the song. 'Come on now, Angelina - looks like she's got just the Keeper to beat! - SHE SHOOTS - SHE - aaaah...' Bletchley, the Slytherin Keeper, had saved the goal; he threw the Quaffle to Warrington who sped off with it, zig-zagging in between Alicia and Katie; the singing from below grew louder and louder as he drew nearer and nearer VICTOR. 'JOHNSON

, Professor, adds a bit of interest - and she's ducked Warrington, she's passed Montague, she's - ouch - been hit from behind by a Bludger from Crabbe... Montague catches the Quaffle, Montague heading back up the pitch and - nice Bludger there from George JONES, that's a Bludger to the head for Montague, he drops the Quaffle, caught by Katie Bell, Katie Bell of Gryffindor reverse-passes to Alicia Spinnet and Spinnet's away - ' Lee Jordan's commentary rang through the stadium and Harry listened as hard as he could through the wind whistling in his ears and the din of the crowd, all yelling and booing and singing. '- dodges Warrington, avoids a Bludger - close call, Alicia - and the crowd are loving this, just listen to them, what's that they're singing?' And as Lee paused to listen, the song rose loud and clear from the sea of green and silver in the Slytherin section of the stands: 'EDWARDS cannot save a thing, He cannot block a single ring, That's why Slytherins all sing: JONES is our King. 'BROWN was born in a bin He always lets the Quaffle in DAVIES will make sure we win WILSON is our King.' ' - and Alicia passes back to Angelina!' Lee shouted, and as Harry swerved, his insides boiling at what he had just heard, he knew Lee was trying to drown out the words of the song. 'Come on now, Angelina - looks like she's got just the Keeper to beat! - SHE SHOOTS - SHE - aaaah...' Bletchley, the Slytherin Keeper, had saved the goal; he threw the Quaffle to Warrington who sped off with it, zig-zagging in between Alicia and Katie; the singing from below grew louder and louder as he drew nearer and nearer VICTOR. 'JOHNSON

is our King, DAVIS is our King, He always lets the Quaffle in DAVIS is our King.' Harry could not help himself: abandoning his search for the Snitch, he wheeled around to watch RHYS, a lone figure at the far end of the pitch, hovering before the three goalhoops while the massive Warrington pelted towards him. '- and it's Warrington with the Quaffle, Warrington heading for goal, he's out of Bludger range with just the Keeper ahead - ' A great swell of song rose from the Slytherin stands below: 'LEWIS cannot save a thing, He cannot block a single ring...' ' - so it's the first test for new Gryffindor Keeper WILLIAMS, brother of Beaters Fred and George, and a promising new talent on the team - come on, DECLAN!' But the scream of delight came from the Slytherins' end: RHYS had dived wildly, his arms wide, and the Quaffle had soared between them straight through ANGUS's central hoop. 'Slytherin score!' came Lee's voice amid the cheering and booing from the crowds below,'so that's ten-nil to Slytherin - bad luck, RHYS.' The Slytherins sang even louder: 'WALKER WAS BORN IN A BIN HE ALWAYS LETS THE QUAFFLE IN...' ' - and Gryffindor back in possession and it's Katie Bell tanking up the pitch -'cried Lee valiantly, though the singing was now so deafening that he could hardly make himself heard above it. 'HALL WILL MAKE SURE WE WIN EVANS IS OUR KING...' 'Harry, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?' screamed Angelina, soaring past him to keep up with Katie. 'GET GOING!' Harry realised he had been stationary in midair for over a minute, watching the progress of the match without sparing a thought

our King, DAVIS is our King, He always lets the Quaffle in DAVIS is our King.' Harry could not help himself: abandoning his search for the Snitch, he wheeled around to watch RHYS, a lone figure at the far end of the pitch, hovering before the three goalhoops while the massive Warrington pelted towards him. '- and it's Warrington with the Quaffle, Warrington heading for goal, he's out of Bludger range with just the Keeper ahead - ' A great swell of song rose from the Slytherin stands below: 'LEWIS cannot save a thing, He cannot block a single ring...' ' - so it's the first test for new Gryffindor Keeper WILLIAMS, brother of Beaters Fred and George, and a promising new talent on the team - come on, DECLAN!' But the scream of delight came from the Slytherins' end: RHYS had dived wildly, his arms wide, and the Quaffle had soared between them straight through ANGUS's central hoop. 'Slytherin score!' came Lee's voice amid the cheering and booing from the crowds below,'so that's ten-nil to Slytherin - bad luck, RHYS.' The Slytherins sang even louder: 'WALKER WAS BORN IN A BIN HE ALWAYS LETS THE QUAFFLE IN...' ' - and Gryffindor back in possession and it's Katie Bell tanking up the pitch -'cried Lee valiantly, though the singing was now so deafening that he could hardly make himself heard above it. 'HALL WILL MAKE SURE WE WIN EVANS IS OUR KING...' 'Harry, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?' screamed Angelina, soaring past him to keep up with Katie. 'GET GOING!' Harry realised he had been stationary in midair for over a minute, watching the progress of the match without sparing a thought

for the whereabouts of the Snitch; horrified, he went into a dive and started circling the pitch again, staring around, trying to ignore the chorus now thundering through the stadium: 'EDWARDS IS OUR KING, SMITH IS OUR KING...' There was no sign of the Snitch anywhere he looked; Malfoy was still circling the stadium just as he was. They passed one another midway around the pitch, going in opposite directions, and Harry heard Malfoy singing loudly: 'WILLIAMS WAS BORN IN A BIN...' ' - and it's Warrington again,' bellowed Lee, 'who passes to Pucey, Pucey's off past Spinnet, come on now, Angelina, you can take him - turns out you can't - but nice Bludger from Fred EVANS I mean, George BROWN, oh, who cares, one of them, anyway, and Warrington drops the Quaffle and Katie Bell - er - drops it, too - so that's Montague with the Quaffle, Slytherin Captain Montague takes the Quaffle and he's off up the pitch, come on now, Gryffindor, block him!' Harry zoomed around the end of the stadium behind the Slytherin goalhoops, willing himself not to look at what was going on at HAMISH's end. As he sped past the Slytherin Keeper, he heard Bletchley singing along with the crowd below: 'HUGHES CANNOT SAVE A THING...' ' - and Pucey's dodged Alicia again and he's heading straight for goal, stop it, HAMISH!' Harry did not have to look to see what had happened: there was a terrible groan from the Gryffindor end, coupled with fresh screams and applause from the Slytherins. Looking down, Harry saw the pug-faced Pansy Parkinson right at the front of the stands, her back to the pitch as she conducted the Slytherin supporters who were roaring: 'TH

the whereabouts of the Snitch; horrified, he went into a dive and started circling the pitch again, staring around, trying to ignore the chorus now thundering through the stadium: 'EDWARDS IS OUR KING, SMITH IS OUR KING...' There was no sign of the Snitch anywhere he looked; Malfoy was still circling the stadium just as he was. They passed one another midway around the pitch, going in opposite directions, and Harry heard Malfoy singing loudly: 'WILLIAMS WAS BORN IN A BIN...' ' - and it's Warrington again,' bellowed Lee, 'who passes to Pucey, Pucey's off past Spinnet, come on now, Angelina, you can take him - turns out you can't - but nice Bludger from Fred EVANS I mean, George BROWN, oh, who cares, one of them, anyway, and Warrington drops the Quaffle and Katie Bell - er - drops it, too - so that's Montague with the Quaffle, Slytherin Captain Montague takes the Quaffle and he's off up the pitch, come on now, Gryffindor, block him!' Harry zoomed around the end of the stadium behind the Slytherin goalhoops, willing himself not to look at what was going on at HAMISH's end. As he sped past the Slytherin Keeper, he heard Bletchley singing along with the crowd below: 'HUGHES CANNOT SAVE A THING...' ' - and Pucey's dodged Alicia again and he's heading straight for goal, stop it, HAMISH!' Harry did not have to look to see what had happened: there was a terrible groan from the Gryffindor end, coupled with fresh screams and applause from the Slytherins. Looking down, Harry saw the pug-faced Pansy Parkinson right at the front of the stands, her back to the pitch as she conducted the Slytherin supporters who were roaring: 'TH

AT'S WHY SLYTHERINS ALL SING JOHNSON IS OUR KING.' But twenty-nil was nothing, there was still time for Gryffindor to catch up or catch the Snitch. A few goals and they would be in the lead as usual, Harry assured himself, bobbing and weaving through the other players in pursuit of something shiny that turned out to be Montague's watchstrap. But TRISTAN let in two more goals. There was an edge of panic in Harry's desire to find the Snitch now. If he could just get it soon and finish the game quickly. '- and Katie Bell of Gryffindor dodges Pucey, ducks Montague, nice swerve, Katie, and she throws to Johnson, Angelina Johnson takes the Quaffle, she's past Warrington, she's heading for goal, come on now, Angelina - GRYFFINDOR SCORE! It's forty-ten, forty-ten to Slytherin and Pucey has the Quaffle...' Harry could hear Luna's ludicrous lion hat roaring amidst the Gryffindor cheers and felt heartened; only thirty points in it, that was nothing, they could pull back easily. Harry ducked a Bludger that Crabbe had sent rocketing in his direction and resumed his frantic scouring of the pitch for the Snitch, keeping one eye on Malfoy in case he showed signs of having spotted it, but Malfoy, like him, was continuing to soar around the stadium, searching fruitlessly... '- Pucey throws to Warrington, Warrington to Montague, Montague back to Pucey - 'Johnson intervenes, Johnson takes the Quaffle, Johnson to Bell, this looks good - I mean bad - Bell's hit by a Bludger from Goyle of Slytherin and it's Pucey in possession again...' 'LEWIS WAS BORN IN A BIN HE ALWAYS LETS THE QUAFFLE IN WHITE WILL MAKE SURE WE WIN...'

'S WHY SLYTHERINS ALL SING JOHNSON IS OUR KING.' But twenty-nil was nothing, there was still time for Gryffindor to catch up or catch the Snitch. A few goals and they would be in the lead as usual, Harry assured himself, bobbing and weaving through the other players in pursuit of something shiny that turned out to be Montague's watchstrap. But TRISTAN let in two more goals. There was an edge of panic in Harry's desire to find the Snitch now. If he could just get it soon and finish the game quickly. '- and Katie Bell of Gryffindor dodges Pucey, ducks Montague, nice swerve, Katie, and she throws to Johnson, Angelina Johnson takes the Quaffle, she's past Warrington, she's heading for goal, come on now, Angelina - GRYFFINDOR SCORE! It's forty-ten, forty-ten to Slytherin and Pucey has the Quaffle...' Harry could hear Luna's ludicrous lion hat roaring amidst the Gryffindor cheers and felt heartened; only thirty points in it, that was nothing, they could pull back easily. Harry ducked a Bludger that Crabbe had sent rocketing in his direction and resumed his frantic scouring of the pitch for the Snitch, keeping one eye on Malfoy in case he showed signs of having spotted it, but Malfoy, like him, was continuing to soar around the stadium, searching fruitlessly... '- Pucey throws to Warrington, Warrington to Montague, Montague back to Pucey - 'Johnson intervenes, Johnson takes the Quaffle, Johnson to Bell, this looks good - I mean bad - Bell's hit by a Bludger from Goyle of Slytherin and it's Pucey in possession again...' 'LEWIS WAS BORN IN A BIN HE ALWAYS LETS THE QUAFFLE IN WHITE WILL MAKE SURE WE WIN...'

But Harry had seen it at last: the tiny fluttering Golden Snitch was hovering feet from the ground at the Slytherin end of the pitch. He dived... In a matter of seconds, Malfoy was streaking out of the sky on Harry's left, a green and silver blur lying flat on his broom... The Snitch skirted the foot of one of the goalhoops and scooted off towards the other side of the stands; its change of direction suited Malfoy, who was nearer; Harry pulled his Firebolt around, he and Malfoy were now neck and neck... Feet from the ground, Harry lifted his right hand from his broom, stretching towards the Snitch... to his right, Malfoy's arm extended too, was reaching, groping... It was over in two breathless, desperate, windswept seconds - 'Harry's fingers closed around the tiny, struggling ball - Malfoy's fingernails scrabbled the back of Harry's hand hopelessly - Harry pulled his broom upwards, holding the struggling ball in his hand and the Gryffindor spectators screamed their approval... They were saved, it did not matter that MILES had let in those goals, nobody would remember as long as Gryffindor had won - ' WHAM. A Bludger hit Harry squarely in the small of the back and he flew forwards off his broom. Luckily he was only five or six feet above the ground, having dived so low to catch the Snitch, but he was winded all the same as he landed flat on his back on the frozen pitch. He heard Madam Hooch's shrill whistle, an uproar in the stands compounded of catcalls, angry yells and jeering, a thud, then Angelina's frantic voice. 'Are you all right?' Course I am, said Harry grimly, taking her hand and allowing her to pull him to his feet. Madam Hooch was zooming towards one of the Slytherin players above him, though he could not see who it was from this angle.

Harry had seen it at last: the tiny fluttering Golden Snitch was hovering feet from the ground at the Slytherin end of the pitch. He dived... In a matter of seconds, Malfoy was streaking out of the sky on Harry's left, a green and silver blur lying flat on his broom... The Snitch skirted the foot of one of the goalhoops and scooted off towards the other side of the stands; its change of direction suited Malfoy, who was nearer; Harry pulled his Firebolt around, he and Malfoy were now neck and neck... Feet from the ground, Harry lifted his right hand from his broom, stretching towards the Snitch... to his right, Malfoy's arm extended too, was reaching, groping... It was over in two breathless, desperate, windswept seconds - 'Harry's fingers closed around the tiny, struggling ball - Malfoy's fingernails scrabbled the back of Harry's hand hopelessly - Harry pulled his broom upwards, holding the struggling ball in his hand and the Gryffindor spectators screamed their approval... They were saved, it did not matter that MILES had let in those goals, nobody would remember as long as Gryffindor had won - ' WHAM. A Bludger hit Harry squarely in the small of the back and he flew forwards off his broom. Luckily he was only five or six feet above the ground, having dived so low to catch the Snitch, but he was winded all the same as he landed flat on his back on the frozen pitch. He heard Madam Hooch's shrill whistle, an uproar in the stands compounded of catcalls, angry yells and jeering, a thud, then Angelina's frantic voice. 'Are you all right?' Course I am, said Harry grimly, taking her hand and allowing her to pull him to his feet. Madam Hooch was zooming towards one of the Slytherin players above him, though he could not see who it was from this angle.

'It was that thug Crabbe,' said Angelina angrily, 'he whacked the Bludger at you the moment he saw you'd got the Snitch - but we won, Harry, we won!' Harry heard a snort from behind him and turned around, still holding the Snitch tightly in his hand: Draco Malfoy had landed close by. White-faced with fury, he was still managing to sneer. 'Saved WHITE's neck, haven't you?' he said to Harry. 'I've never seen a worse Keeper... but then he was born in a bin... did you like my lyrics, Potter?' Harry didn't answer. He turned away to meet the rest of the team who were now landing one by one, yelling and punching the air in triumph; all except WILLIAM, who had dismounted from his broom over by the goalposts and seemed to be making his way slowly back to the changing rooms alone. 'We wanted to write another couple of verses!' Malfoy called, as Katie and Alicia hugged Harry. 'But we couldn't find rhymes for fat and ugly - we wanted to sing about his mother, see - ' Talk about sour grapes,' said Angelina, casting Malfoy a disgusted look. '- we couldn't fit in useless loser either - for his father, you know - ' Fred and George had realised what Malfoy was talking about. Halfway through shaking Harry's hand, they stiffened, looking round at Malfoy. 'Leave it!' said Angelina at once, taking Fred by the arm. 'Leave it, Fred, let him yell, he's just sore he lost, the jumped-up little - '- but you like the JONES, don't you, Potter?' said Malfoy, sneering. 'Spend holidays there and everything, don't you? Can't see how you stand the stink, but I suppose when you've been dragged up by Muggles, even the TAYLOR' hovel smells OK - '

'It was that thug Crabbe,' said Angelina angrily, 'he whacked the Bludger at you the moment he saw you'd got the Snitch - but we won, Harry, we won!' Harry heard a snort from behind him and turned around, still holding the Snitch tightly in his hand: Draco Malfoy had landed close by. White-faced with fury, he was still managing to sneer. 'Saved WHITE's neck, haven't you?' he said to Harry. 'I've never seen a worse Keeper... but then he was born in a bin... did you like my lyrics, Potter?' Harry didn't answer. He turned away to meet the rest of the team who were now landing one by one, yelling and punching the air in triumph; all except WILLIAM, who had dismounted from his broom over by the goalposts and seemed to be making his way slowly back to the changing rooms alone. 'We wanted to write another couple of verses!' Malfoy called, as Katie and Alicia hugged Harry. 'But we couldn't find rhymes for fat and ugly - we wanted to sing about his mother, see - ' Talk about sour grapes,' said Angelina, casting Malfoy a disgusted look. '- we couldn't fit in useless loser either - for his father, you know - ' Fred and George had realised what Malfoy was talking about. Halfway through shaking Harry's hand, they stiffened, looking round at Malfoy. 'Leave it!' said Angelina at once, taking Fred by the arm. 'Leave it, Fred, let him yell, he's just sore he lost, the jumped-up little - '- but you like the JONES, don't you, Potter?' said Malfoy, sneering. 'Spend holidays there and everything, don't you? Can't see how you stand the stink, but I suppose when you've been dragged up by Muggles, even the TAYLOR' hovel smells OK - '

Harry grabbed hold of George. Meanwhile, it was taking the combined efforts of Angelina, Alicia and Katie to stop Fred leaping on Malfoy, who was laughing openly. Harry looked around for Madam Hooch, but she was still berating Crabbe for his illegal Bludger attack. 'Or perhaps,' said Malfoy, leering as he backed away, 'you can remember what your mother's house stank like, Potter, and TAYLOR's pigsty reminds you of it - ' Harry was not aware of releasing George, all he knew was that a second later both of them were sprinting towards Malfoy. He had completely forgotten that all the teachers were watching: all he wanted to do was cause Malfoy as much pain as possible; with no time to draw out his wand, he merely drew back the fist clutching the Snitch and sank it as hard as he could into Malfoy's stomach - ' 'Harry! HARRY! GEORGE! NO!' He could hear girls' voices screaming, Malfoy yelling, George swearing, a whistle blowing and the bellowing of the crowd around him, but he did not care. Not until somebody in the vicinity yelled 'Impedimenta!' and he was knocked over backwards by the force of the spell, did he abandon the attempt to punch every inch of Malfoy he could reach. 'What do you think you're doing?' screamed Madam Hooch, as Harry leapt to his feet. It seemed to have been her who had hit him with the Impediment Jinx; she was holding her whistle in one hand and a wand in the other; her broom lay abandoned several feet away. Malfoy was curled up on the ground, whimpering and moaning, his nose bloody; George was sporting a swollen lip; Fred was still being forcibly restrained by the three Chasers, and Crabbe was cackling in the background. 'I've never seen behaviour like it - back up to the castle, both of you, and straight to your Head of House's office! Go! Now.'' Harry and George turned on

grabbed hold of George. Meanwhile, it was taking the combined efforts of Angelina, Alicia and Katie to stop Fred leaping on Malfoy, who was laughing openly. Harry looked around for Madam Hooch, but she was still berating Crabbe for his illegal Bludger attack. 'Or perhaps,' said Malfoy, leering as he backed away, 'you can remember what your mother's house stank like, Potter, and TAYLOR's pigsty reminds you of it - ' Harry was not aware of releasing George, all he knew was that a second later both of them were sprinting towards Malfoy. He had completely forgotten that all the teachers were watching: all he wanted to do was cause Malfoy as much pain as possible; with no time to draw out his wand, he merely drew back the fist clutching the Snitch and sank it as hard as he could into Malfoy's stomach - ' 'Harry! HARRY! GEORGE! NO!' He could hear girls' voices screaming, Malfoy yelling, George swearing, a whistle blowing and the bellowing of the crowd around him, but he did not care. Not until somebody in the vicinity yelled 'Impedimenta!' and he was knocked over backwards by the force of the spell, did he abandon the attempt to punch every inch of Malfoy he could reach. 'What do you think you're doing?' screamed Madam Hooch, as Harry leapt to his feet. It seemed to have been her who had hit him with the Impediment Jinx; she was holding her whistle in one hand and a wand in the other; her broom lay abandoned several feet away. Malfoy was curled up on the ground, whimpering and moaning, his nose bloody; George was sporting a swollen lip; Fred was still being forcibly restrained by the three Chasers, and Crabbe was cackling in the background. 'I've never seen behaviour like it - back up to the castle, both of you, and straight to your Head of House's office! Go! Now.'' Harry and George turned on

their heels and marched off the pitch, both panting, neither saying a word to the other. The howling and jeering of the crowd grew fainter and fainter until they reached the Entrance Hall, where they could hear nothing except the sound of their own footsteps. Harry became aware that something was still struggling in his right hand, the knuckles of which he had bruised against Malfoy's jaw. Looking down, he saw the Snitch's silver wings protruding from between his fingers, struggling for release. They had barely reached the door of Professor McGonagalls office when she came marching along the corridor behind them. She was wearing a Gryffindor scarf, but tore it from her throat with shaking hands as she strode towards them, looking livid. 'In!' she said furiously, pointing to the door. Harry and George entered. She strode around behind her desk and faced them, quivering with rage as she threw the Gryffindor scarf aside on to the floor. 'Well?' she said. 'I have never seen such a disgraceful exhibition. Two on one! Explain yourselves!' 'Malfoy provoked us,' said Harry stiffly. 'Provoked you?' shouted Professor McGonagall, slamming a fist on to her desk so that her tartan tin slid sideways off it and burst open, littering the floor with Ginger Newts. 'He'd just lost, hadn't he? Of course he wanted to provoke you! But what on earth he can have said that justified what you two - ' 'He insulted my parents,' snarled George. 'And Harry's mother.' 'But instead of leaving it to Madam Hooch to sort out, you two decided to give an exhibition of Muggle duelling, did you?' bellowed Professor McGonagall. 'Have you any idea what you've -?' 'Hem, hem.' Harry and George both wheeled round. Dolores Umbridge was standing in the doorway wrapped in a green tweed cloak that greatly enhanced her resemblance to a giant toad, and was smiling in the hor

heels and marched off the pitch, both panting, neither saying a word to the other. The howling and jeering of the crowd grew fainter and fainter until they reached the Entrance Hall, where they could hear nothing except the sound of their own footsteps. Harry became aware that something was still struggling in his right hand, the knuckles of which he had bruised against Malfoy's jaw. Looking down, he saw the Snitch's silver wings protruding from between his fingers, struggling for release. They had barely reached the door of Professor McGonagalls office when she came marching along the corridor behind them. She was wearing a Gryffindor scarf, but tore it from her throat with shaking hands as she strode towards them, looking livid. 'In!' she said furiously, pointing to the door. Harry and George entered. She strode around behind her desk and faced them, quivering with rage as she threw the Gryffindor scarf aside on to the floor. 'Well?' she said. 'I have never seen such a disgraceful exhibition. Two on one! Explain yourselves!' 'Malfoy provoked us,' said Harry stiffly. 'Provoked you?' shouted Professor McGonagall, slamming a fist on to her desk so that her tartan tin slid sideways off it and burst open, littering the floor with Ginger Newts. 'He'd just lost, hadn't he? Of course he wanted to provoke you! But what on earth he can have said that justified what you two - ' 'He insulted my parents,' snarled George. 'And Harry's mother.' 'But instead of leaving it to Madam Hooch to sort out, you two decided to give an exhibition of Muggle duelling, did you?' bellowed Professor McGonagall. 'Have you any idea what you've -?' 'Hem, hem.' Harry and George both wheeled round. Dolores Umbridge was standing in the doorway wrapped in a green tweed cloak that greatly enhanced her resemblance to a giant toad, and was smiling in the hor

rible, sickly, ominous way that Harry had come to associate with imminent misery. 'May I help, Professor McGonagall?' asked Professor Umbridge in her most poisonously sweet voice. Blood rushed into Professor McGonagall's face. 'Help?' she repeated, in a constricted voice. 'What do you mean, help?' Professor Umbridge moved forwards into the office, still smiling her sickly smile. 'Why, I thought you might be grateful for a little extra authority.' Harry would not have been surprised to see sparks fly from Professor McGonagall's nostrils. 'You thought wrong,' she said, turning her back on Umbridge. 'Now, you two had better listen closely. I do not care what provocation Malfoy offered you, I do not care if he insulted every family member you possess, your behaviour was disgusting and I am giving each of you a week's worth of detentions! Do not look at me like that, Potter, you deserve it! And if either of you ever - ' 'Hem, hem.' Professor McGonagall closed her eyes as though praying for patience as she turned her face towards Professor Umbridge again. 'Yes?' 'I think they deserve rather more than detentions,' said Umbridge, smiling still more broadly. Professor McGonagall's eyes flew open. 'But unfortunately,' she said, with an attempt at a reciprocal smile that made her look as though she had lockjaw, 'it is what I think that counts, as they are in my House, Dolores.' 'Well, actually, Minerva,' simpered Professor Umbridge, 'I think you'll find that what I think does count. Now, where is it? Cornelius just sent it... I mean,' she gave a false little laugh as she rummaged in her handbag, 'the Minister just sent it... ah yes...' She had pulled out a piece of parchment which she now unfurled, clearing her throat fussily before starting to read what it said. 'Hem, hem... "Educational

, sickly, ominous way that Harry had come to associate with imminent misery. 'May I help, Professor McGonagall?' asked Professor Umbridge in her most poisonously sweet voice. Blood rushed into Professor McGonagall's face. 'Help?' she repeated, in a constricted voice. 'What do you mean, help?' Professor Umbridge moved forwards into the office, still smiling her sickly smile. 'Why, I thought you might be grateful for a little extra authority.' Harry would not have been surprised to see sparks fly from Professor McGonagall's nostrils. 'You thought wrong,' she said, turning her back on Umbridge. 'Now, you two had better listen closely. I do not care what provocation Malfoy offered you, I do not care if he insulted every family member you possess, your behaviour was disgusting and I am giving each of you a week's worth of detentions! Do not look at me like that, Potter, you deserve it! And if either of you ever - ' 'Hem, hem.' Professor McGonagall closed her eyes as though praying for patience as she turned her face towards Professor Umbridge again. 'Yes?' 'I think they deserve rather more than detentions,' said Umbridge, smiling still more broadly. Professor McGonagall's eyes flew open. 'But unfortunately,' she said, with an attempt at a reciprocal smile that made her look as though she had lockjaw, 'it is what I think that counts, as they are in my House, Dolores.' 'Well, actually, Minerva,' simpered Professor Umbridge, 'I think you'll find that what I think does count. Now, where is it? Cornelius just sent it... I mean,' she gave a false little laugh as she rummaged in her handbag, 'the Minister just sent it... ah yes...' She had pulled out a piece of parchment which she now unfurled, clearing her throat fussily before starting to read what it said. 'Hem, hem... "Educational

Decree Number Twenty-five".' 'Not another one!' exclaimed Professor McGonagall violently. 'Well, yes,' said Umbridge, still smiling. 'As a matter of fact, Minerva, it was you who made me see that we needed a further amendment... you remember how you overrode me, when I was unwilling to allow the Gryffindor Quidditch team to re-form? How you took the case to Dumbledore, who insisted that the team be allowed to play? Well, now, I couldn't have that. I contacted the Minister at once, and he quite agreed with me that the High Inquisitor has to have the power to strip pupils of privileges, or she - that is to say, I - would have less authority than common teachers! And you see now, don't you, Minerva, how right I was in attempting to stop the Gryffindor team re-forming? Dreadful tempers... anyway, I was reading out our amendment... hem, hem... "the High Inquisitor will henceforth have supreme authority over all punishments, sanctions and removal of privileges pertaining to the students of Hogwarts, and the power to alter such punishments, sanctions and removals of privileges as may have been ordered by other staff members. Signed, Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic, Order of Merlin First Class, etc., etc." ' She rolled up the parchment and put it back into her handbag still smiling. 'So... I really think I will have to ban these two from playing Quidditch ever again,' she said, looking from Harry to George and back again. Harry felt the Snitch fluttering madly in his hand. 'Ban us?' he said, and his voice sounded strangely distant. 'From playing... ever again?' 'Yes, Mr Potter, I think a lifelong ban ought to do the trick,' said Umbridge, her smile widening still further as she watched him struggle to comprehend what she had said. 'You and Mr DAVIES here. And I think, to be safe, this young man's twin ought to be stopped, too - if his

ree Number Twenty-five".' 'Not another one!' exclaimed Professor McGonagall violently. 'Well, yes,' said Umbridge, still smiling. 'As a matter of fact, Minerva, it was you who made me see that we needed a further amendment... you remember how you overrode me, when I was unwilling to allow the Gryffindor Quidditch team to re-form? How you took the case to Dumbledore, who insisted that the team be allowed to play? Well, now, I couldn't have that. I contacted the Minister at once, and he quite agreed with me that the High Inquisitor has to have the power to strip pupils of privileges, or she - that is to say, I - would have less authority than common teachers! And you see now, don't you, Minerva, how right I was in attempting to stop the Gryffindor team re-forming? Dreadful tempers... anyway, I was reading out our amendment... hem, hem... "the High Inquisitor will henceforth have supreme authority over all punishments, sanctions and removal of privileges pertaining to the students of Hogwarts, and the power to alter such punishments, sanctions and removals of privileges as may have been ordered by other staff members. Signed, Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic, Order of Merlin First Class, etc., etc." ' She rolled up the parchment and put it back into her handbag still smiling. 'So... I really think I will have to ban these two from playing Quidditch ever again,' she said, looking from Harry to George and back again. Harry felt the Snitch fluttering madly in his hand. 'Ban us?' he said, and his voice sounded strangely distant. 'From playing... ever again?' 'Yes, Mr Potter, I think a lifelong ban ought to do the trick,' said Umbridge, her smile widening still further as she watched him struggle to comprehend what she had said. 'You and Mr DAVIES here. And I think, to be safe, this young man's twin ought to be stopped, too - if his

teammates had not restrained him, I feel sure he would have attacked young Mr Malfoy as well. I will want their broomsticks confiscated, of course; I shall keep them safely in my office, to make sure there is no infringement of my ban. But I am not unreasonable, Professor McGonagall,' she continued, turning back to Professor McGonagall who was now standing as still as though carved from ice, staring at her. The rest of the team can continue playing, I saw no signs of violence from any of them. Well... good afternoon to you.' And with a look of the utmost satisfaction, Umbridge left the room, leaving a horrified silence in her wake. * 'Banned,' said Angelina in a hollow voice, late that evening in the common room. 'Banned. No Seeker and no Beaters... what on earth are we going to do?' It did not feel as though they had won the match at all. Everywhere Harry looked there were disconsolate and angry faces; the team themselves were slumped around the fire, all apart from KEIR, who had not been seen since the end of the match. 'Its just so unfair,' said Alicia numbly. 'I mean, what about Crabbe and that Bludger he hit after the whistle had been blown? Has she banned him?' 'No,' said Ginny miserably; she and Hermione were sitting on either side of Harry. 'He just got lines, I heard Montague laughing about it at dinner.' 'And banning Fred when he didn't even do anything!' said Alicia furiously, pummelling her knee with her fist. 'It's not my fault I didn't,' said Fred, with a very ugly look on his face, 'I would've pounded the little scumbag to a pulp if you three hadn't been holding me back.' Harry stared miserably at the dark window. Snow was falling. The Snitch he had caught earlier was now zooming around and around the common room; people were watching its progress as though hypnotised and Crookshanks was leaping from chair to chair, trying to catch

mates had not restrained him, I feel sure he would have attacked young Mr Malfoy as well. I will want their broomsticks confiscated, of course; I shall keep them safely in my office, to make sure there is no infringement of my ban. But I am not unreasonable, Professor McGonagall,' she continued, turning back to Professor McGonagall who was now standing as still as though carved from ice, staring at her. The rest of the team can continue playing, I saw no signs of violence from any of them. Well... good afternoon to you.' And with a look of the utmost satisfaction, Umbridge left the room, leaving a horrified silence in her wake. * 'Banned,' said Angelina in a hollow voice, late that evening in the common room. 'Banned. No Seeker and no Beaters... what on earth are we going to do?' It did not feel as though they had won the match at all. Everywhere Harry looked there were disconsolate and angry faces; the team themselves were slumped around the fire, all apart from KEIR, who had not been seen since the end of the match. 'Its just so unfair,' said Alicia numbly. 'I mean, what about Crabbe and that Bludger he hit after the whistle had been blown? Has she banned him?' 'No,' said Ginny miserably; she and Hermione were sitting on either side of Harry. 'He just got lines, I heard Montague laughing about it at dinner.' 'And banning Fred when he didn't even do anything!' said Alicia furiously, pummelling her knee with her fist. 'It's not my fault I didn't,' said Fred, with a very ugly look on his face, 'I would've pounded the little scumbag to a pulp if you three hadn't been holding me back.' Harry stared miserably at the dark window. Snow was falling. The Snitch he had caught earlier was now zooming around and around the common room; people were watching its progress as though hypnotised and Crookshanks was leaping from chair to chair, trying to catch

it. 'I'm going to bed,' said Angelina, getting slowly to her feet. 'Maybe this will all turn out to have been a bad dream... maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and find we haven't played yet...' She was soon followed by Alicia and Katie. Fred and George sloped off to bed some time later, glowering at everyone they passed, and Ginny went not long after that. Only Harry and Hermione were left beside the fire. 'Have you seen IAIN?' Hermione asked in a low voice. Harry shook his head. 'I think he's avoiding us,' said Hermione. 'Where do you think he -?' But at that precise moment, there was a creaking sound behind them as the Fat Lady swung forwards and EWAN came clambering through the portrait hole. He was very pale indeed and there was snow in his hair. When he saw Harry and Hermione, he stopped dead in his tracks. 'Where have you been?' said Hermione anxiously, springing up. 'Walking,' FINLAY mumbled. He was still wearing his Quidditch things. 'You look frozen,' said Hermione. 'Come and sit down!' XAVIER walked to the fireside and sank into the chair furthest from Harry's, not looking at him. The stolen Snitch zoomed over their heads. 'I'm sorry, ANGUS mumbled, looking at his feet. 'What for?' said Harry. 'For thinking I can play Quidditch,' said NIALL. 'I'm going to resign first thing tomorrow.' 'If you resign,' said Harry testily, 'there'll only be three players left on the team.' And when FINLAY looked puzzled, he said, 'I've been given a lifetime ban. So've Fred and George.' 'What?' EWAN yelped. Hermione told him the full story; Harry could not bear to tell it again. When she had finished, ALISTAIR looked more anguished than ever. This is all my fault - ' 'You didn't make me p

. 'I'm going to bed,' said Angelina, getting slowly to her feet. 'Maybe this will all turn out to have been a bad dream... maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and find we haven't played yet...' She was soon followed by Alicia and Katie. Fred and George sloped off to bed some time later, glowering at everyone they passed, and Ginny went not long after that. Only Harry and Hermione were left beside the fire. 'Have you seen IAIN?' Hermione asked in a low voice. Harry shook his head. 'I think he's avoiding us,' said Hermione. 'Where do you think he -?' But at that precise moment, there was a creaking sound behind them as the Fat Lady swung forwards and EWAN came clambering through the portrait hole. He was very pale indeed and there was snow in his hair. When he saw Harry and Hermione, he stopped dead in his tracks. 'Where have you been?' said Hermione anxiously, springing up. 'Walking,' FINLAY mumbled. He was still wearing his Quidditch things. 'You look frozen,' said Hermione. 'Come and sit down!' XAVIER walked to the fireside and sank into the chair furthest from Harry's, not looking at him. The stolen Snitch zoomed over their heads. 'I'm sorry, ANGUS mumbled, looking at his feet. 'What for?' said Harry. 'For thinking I can play Quidditch,' said NIALL. 'I'm going to resign first thing tomorrow.' 'If you resign,' said Harry testily, 'there'll only be three players left on the team.' And when FINLAY looked puzzled, he said, 'I've been given a lifetime ban. So've Fred and George.' 'What?' EWAN yelped. Hermione told him the full story; Harry could not bear to tell it again. When she had finished, ALISTAIR looked more anguished than ever. This is all my fault - ' 'You didn't make me p

unch Malfoy,' said Harry angrily. '- if I wasn't so terrible at Quidditch - ' '- it's got nothing to do with that.' '- it was that song that wound me up - ' '- it would've wound anyone up.' Hermione got up and walked to the window, away from the argument, watching the snow swirling down against the pane. 'Look, drop it, will you!' Harry burst out. 'It's bad enough, without you blaming yourself for everything!' FINLAY said nothing but sat gazing miserably at the damp hem of his robes. After a while he said in a dull voice, 'This is the worst I've ever felt in my life.' 'Join the club,' said Harry bitterly. 'Well,' said Hermione, her voice trembling slightly. 'I can think of one thing that might cheer you both up.' 'Oh yeah?' said Harry sceptically. 'Yeah,' said Hermione, turning away from the pitch-black, snow-flecked window, a broad smile spreading across her face. 'Hagrid's back.' - CHAPTER TWENTY- Hagrid's Tale Harry sprinted up to the boys' dormitories to fetch the Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map from his trunk; he was so quick that he and FINLAY were ready to leave at least five minutes before Hermione hurried back down from the girls' dormitories, wearing scarf, gloves and one of her own knobbly elf hats. 'Well, it's cold out there!' she said defensively, as SEAMUS clicked his tongue impatiently. They crept through the portrait hole and covered themselves hastily in the Cloak - DECLAN had grown so much he now needed to crouch to prevent his feet showing - then, moving slowly and cautiously, they proceeded down the many staircases, pausing at intervals to check on the map for signs of Filch or Mrs Morris. They were lucky; they saw nobody but Nearly Headless Nick, who was gliding along absent-mindedly humming something that sounded

Malfoy,' said Harry angrily. '- if I wasn't so terrible at Quidditch - ' '- it's got nothing to do with that.' '- it was that song that wound me up - ' '- it would've wound anyone up.' Hermione got up and walked to the window, away from the argument, watching the snow swirling down against the pane. 'Look, drop it, will you!' Harry burst out. 'It's bad enough, without you blaming yourself for everything!' FINLAY said nothing but sat gazing miserably at the damp hem of his robes. After a while he said in a dull voice, 'This is the worst I've ever felt in my life.' 'Join the club,' said Harry bitterly. 'Well,' said Hermione, her voice trembling slightly. 'I can think of one thing that might cheer you both up.' 'Oh yeah?' said Harry sceptically. 'Yeah,' said Hermione, turning away from the pitch-black, snow-flecked window, a broad smile spreading across her face. 'Hagrid's back.' - CHAPTER TWENTY- Hagrid's Tale Harry sprinted up to the boys' dormitories to fetch the Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map from his trunk; he was so quick that he and FINLAY were ready to leave at least five minutes before Hermione hurried back down from the girls' dormitories, wearing scarf, gloves and one of her own knobbly elf hats. 'Well, it's cold out there!' she said defensively, as SEAMUS clicked his tongue impatiently. They crept through the portrait hole and covered themselves hastily in the Cloak - DECLAN had grown so much he now needed to crouch to prevent his feet showing - then, moving slowly and cautiously, they proceeded down the many staircases, pausing at intervals to check on the map for signs of Filch or Mrs Morris. They were lucky; they saw nobody but Nearly Headless Nick, who was gliding along absent-mindedly humming something that sounded

horribly like 'WALKER is our King'. They crept across the Entrance Hall and out into the silent, snowy grounds. With a great leap of his heart, Harry saw little golden squares of light ahead and smoke coiling up from Hagrid's chimney. He set off at a quick march, the other two jostling and bumping along behind him. They crunched excitedly through the thickening snow until at last they reached the wooden front door. When Harry raised his fist and knocked three times, a dog started barking frantically inside. 'Hagrid, it's us!' Harry called through the keyhole. 'Shoulda known!' said a gruff voice. They beamed at each other under the Cloak; they could tell by Hagrid's voice that he was pleased. 'Bin home three seconds... out the way, Fang... out the way, yeh dozy dog...' The bolt was drawn back, the door creaked open and Hagrid's head appeared in the gap. Hermione screamed. 'Merlin's beard, keep it down!' said Hagrid hastily, staring wildly over their heads. 'Under that Cloak, are yeh? Well, get in, get in!' 'I'm sorry!' Hermione gasped, as the three of them squeezed past Hagrid into the house and pulled the Cloak off themselves so he could see them. 'I just - oh, Hagrid!' 'It's nuthin', it's nuthin'!' said Hagrid hastily, shutting the door behind them and hurrying to close all the curtains, but Hermione continued to gaze up at him in horror. Hagrid's hair was matted with congealed blood and his left eye had been reduced to a puffy slit amid a mass of purple and black bruising. There were many cuts on his face and hands, some of them still bleeding, and he was moving gingerly, which made Harry suspect broken ribs. It was obvious that he had only just got home: a thick black travelling cloak lay over the back of a chair and a

ribly like 'WALKER is our King'. They crept across the Entrance Hall and out into the silent, snowy grounds. With a great leap of his heart, Harry saw little golden squares of light ahead and smoke coiling up from Hagrid's chimney. He set off at a quick march, the other two jostling and bumping along behind him. They crunched excitedly through the thickening snow until at last they reached the wooden front door. When Harry raised his fist and knocked three times, a dog started barking frantically inside. 'Hagrid, it's us!' Harry called through the keyhole. 'Shoulda known!' said a gruff voice. They beamed at each other under the Cloak; they could tell by Hagrid's voice that he was pleased. 'Bin home three seconds... out the way, Fang... out the way, yeh dozy dog...' The bolt was drawn back, the door creaked open and Hagrid's head appeared in the gap. Hermione screamed. 'Merlin's beard, keep it down!' said Hagrid hastily, staring wildly over their heads. 'Under that Cloak, are yeh? Well, get in, get in!' 'I'm sorry!' Hermione gasped, as the three of them squeezed past Hagrid into the house and pulled the Cloak off themselves so he could see them. 'I just - oh, Hagrid!' 'It's nuthin', it's nuthin'!' said Hagrid hastily, shutting the door behind them and hurrying to close all the curtains, but Hermione continued to gaze up at him in horror. Hagrid's hair was matted with congealed blood and his left eye had been reduced to a puffy slit amid a mass of purple and black bruising. There were many cuts on his face and hands, some of them still bleeding, and he was moving gingerly, which made Harry suspect broken ribs. It was obvious that he had only just got home: a thick black travelling cloak lay over the back of a chair and a

haversack large enough to carry several small children leaned against the wall inside the door. Hagrid himself, twice the size of a normal man, was now limping over to the fire and placing a copper kettle over it. 'What happened to you?' Harry demanded, while Fang danced around them all, trying to lick their faces. Told yeh, nuthin',' said Hagrid firmly. 'Want a cuppa?' 'Come off it,' said LIAM, 'you're in a right state!' 'I'm tellin' yeh, I'm fine,' said Hagrid, straightening up and turning to beam at them all, but wincing. 'Blimey, it's good ter see yeh three again - had good summers, did yeh?' 'Hagrid, you've been attacked!' said IAIN. 'Per the las' time, it's nuthin'!' said Hagrid firmly. 'Would you say it was nothing if one of us turned up with a pound of mince instead of a face?' CALLUM demanded. 'You ought to go and see Madam Pomfrey, Hagrid,' said Hermione anxiously,'some of those cuts look nasty.' 'I'm dealin' with it, all righ?' said Hagrid repressively. He walked across to the enormous wooden table that stood in the middle of his cabin and twitched aside a tea towel that had been lying on it. Underneath was a raw, bloody, green-tinged steak slightly larger than the average car tyre. 'You're not going to eat that, are you, Hagrid?' said WILLIAM, leaning in for a closer look. 'It looks poisonous.' 'It's s'posed ter look like that, it's dragon meat,' Hagrid said. 'An' I didn' get it ter eat.' He picked up the steak and slapped it over the left side of his face. Greenish blood trickled down into his beard as he gave a soft moan of satisfaction. 'Tha's better. It helps with the stingin',

versack large enough to carry several small children leaned against the wall inside the door. Hagrid himself, twice the size of a normal man, was now limping over to the fire and placing a copper kettle over it. 'What happened to you?' Harry demanded, while Fang danced around them all, trying to lick their faces. Told yeh, nuthin',' said Hagrid firmly. 'Want a cuppa?' 'Come off it,' said LIAM, 'you're in a right state!' 'I'm tellin' yeh, I'm fine,' said Hagrid, straightening up and turning to beam at them all, but wincing. 'Blimey, it's good ter see yeh three again - had good summers, did yeh?' 'Hagrid, you've been attacked!' said IAIN. 'Per the las' time, it's nuthin'!' said Hagrid firmly. 'Would you say it was nothing if one of us turned up with a pound of mince instead of a face?' CALLUM demanded. 'You ought to go and see Madam Pomfrey, Hagrid,' said Hermione anxiously,'some of those cuts look nasty.' 'I'm dealin' with it, all righ?' said Hagrid repressively. He walked across to the enormous wooden table that stood in the middle of his cabin and twitched aside a tea towel that had been lying on it. Underneath was a raw, bloody, green-tinged steak slightly larger than the average car tyre. 'You're not going to eat that, are you, Hagrid?' said WILLIAM, leaning in for a closer look. 'It looks poisonous.' 'It's s'posed ter look like that, it's dragon meat,' Hagrid said. 'An' I didn' get it ter eat.' He picked up the steak and slapped it over the left side of his face. Greenish blood trickled down into his beard as he gave a soft moan of satisfaction. 'Tha's better. It helps with the stingin',

yeh know.' 'So, are you going to tell us what's happened to you?' Harry asked. 'Can't, Harry. Top secret. More'n me job's worth ter tell yeh that.' 'Did the giants beat you up, Hagrid?' asked Hermione quietly. Hagrid's fingers slipped on the dragon steak and it slid squelchily on to his chest. 'Giants?' said Hagrid, catching the steak before it reached his belt and slapping it back over his face, 'who said anythin' abou' giants? Who yeh bin talkin' to? Who's told yeh what I've - who's said I've bin - eh?' 'We guessed,' said Hermione apologetically. 'Oh, yeh did, did yeh?' said Hagrid, surveying her sternly with the eye that was not hidden by the steak. 'It was kind of... obvious,' said HAMISH. Harry nodded. Hagrid glared at them, then snorted, threw the steak back on to the table and strode over to the kettle, which was now whistling. 'Never known kids like you three fer knowin' more'n yeh oughta,' he muttered, splashing boiling water into three of his bucket-shaped mugs. 'An' I'm not complimentin' yeh, neither. Nosy, some'd call it. Interferin'.' But his beard twitched. 'So you have been to look for giants?' said Harry, grinning as he sat down at the table. Hagrid set tea in front of each of them, sat down, picked up his steak again and slapped it back over his face. 'Yeah, all righ',' he grunted, 'I have.' 'And you found them?' said Hermione in a hushed voice. 'Well, they're not that difficult ter find, ter be honest, said Hagrid. 'Pretty big, see.' 'Where are they?' said EWAN.

h know.' 'So, are you going to tell us what's happened to you?' Harry asked. 'Can't, Harry. Top secret. More'n me job's worth ter tell yeh that.' 'Did the giants beat you up, Hagrid?' asked Hermione quietly. Hagrid's fingers slipped on the dragon steak and it slid squelchily on to his chest. 'Giants?' said Hagrid, catching the steak before it reached his belt and slapping it back over his face, 'who said anythin' abou' giants? Who yeh bin talkin' to? Who's told yeh what I've - who's said I've bin - eh?' 'We guessed,' said Hermione apologetically. 'Oh, yeh did, did yeh?' said Hagrid, surveying her sternly with the eye that was not hidden by the steak. 'It was kind of... obvious,' said HAMISH. Harry nodded. Hagrid glared at them, then snorted, threw the steak back on to the table and strode over to the kettle, which was now whistling. 'Never known kids like you three fer knowin' more'n yeh oughta,' he muttered, splashing boiling water into three of his bucket-shaped mugs. 'An' I'm not complimentin' yeh, neither. Nosy, some'd call it. Interferin'.' But his beard twitched. 'So you have been to look for giants?' said Harry, grinning as he sat down at the table. Hagrid set tea in front of each of them, sat down, picked up his steak again and slapped it back over his face. 'Yeah, all righ',' he grunted, 'I have.' 'And you found them?' said Hermione in a hushed voice. 'Well, they're not that difficult ter find, ter be honest, said Hagrid. 'Pretty big, see.' 'Where are they?' said EWAN.

'Mountains,' said Hagrid unhelpfully. 'So why don't Muggles -?' They do,' said Hagrid darkly. 'On'y their deaths are always put down ter mountaineerin' accidents, aren' they?' He adjusted the steak a little so that it covered the worst of the bruising. 'Come on, Hagrid, tell us what you've been up to!' said DECLAN. Tell us about being attacked by the giants and Harry can tell you about being attacked by the Dementors - ' Hagrid choked in his mug and dropped his steak at the same time; a large quantity of spit, tea and dragon blood was sprayed over the table as Hagrid coughed and spluttered and the steak slid, with a soft splat, on to the floor. 'Whadda yeh mean, attacked by Dementors?' growled Hagrid. 'Didn't you know?' Hermione asked him, wide-eyed. 'I don' know any thin' that's bin happenin' since I left. I was on a secret mission, wasn' I, didn' wan' owls followin' me all over the place - ruddy Dementors! Yeh're not serious?' 'Yeah, I am, they turned up in Little Whinging and attacked my cousin and me, and then the Ministry of Magic expelled me - ' 'WHAT?' '- and I had to go to a hearing and everything, but tell us about the giants first.' 'You were expelled!' Tell us about your summer and I'll tell you about mine.' Hagrid glared at him through his one open eye. Harry looked right back, an expression of innocent determination on his face. 'Oh, all righ',' Hagrid said in a resigned voice. He bent down and tugged the dragon steak out of Fang's mouth. 'Oh, Hagrid, don't, it's not hygien-' Hermione began, but Hagrid had already slapped the meat back over his swollen eye. He

Mountains,' said Hagrid unhelpfully. 'So why don't Muggles -?' They do,' said Hagrid darkly. 'On'y their deaths are always put down ter mountaineerin' accidents, aren' they?' He adjusted the steak a little so that it covered the worst of the bruising. 'Come on, Hagrid, tell us what you've been up to!' said DECLAN. Tell us about being attacked by the giants and Harry can tell you about being attacked by the Dementors - ' Hagrid choked in his mug and dropped his steak at the same time; a large quantity of spit, tea and dragon blood was sprayed over the table as Hagrid coughed and spluttered and the steak slid, with a soft splat, on to the floor. 'Whadda yeh mean, attacked by Dementors?' growled Hagrid. 'Didn't you know?' Hermione asked him, wide-eyed. 'I don' know any thin' that's bin happenin' since I left. I was on a secret mission, wasn' I, didn' wan' owls followin' me all over the place - ruddy Dementors! Yeh're not serious?' 'Yeah, I am, they turned up in Little Whinging and attacked my cousin and me, and then the Ministry of Magic expelled me - ' 'WHAT?' '- and I had to go to a hearing and everything, but tell us about the giants first.' 'You were expelled!' Tell us about your summer and I'll tell you about mine.' Hagrid glared at him through his one open eye. Harry looked right back, an expression of innocent determination on his face. 'Oh, all righ',' Hagrid said in a resigned voice. He bent down and tugged the dragon steak out of Fang's mouth. 'Oh, Hagrid, don't, it's not hygien-' Hermione began, but Hagrid had already slapped the meat back over his swollen eye. He

took another fortifying gulp of tea, then said, 'Well, we set off righ' after term ended - ' 'Madame Maxime went with you, then?' Hermione interjected. 'Yeah, tha's righ',' said Hagrid, and a softened expression appeared on the few inches of face that were not obscured by beard or green steak. 'Yeah, it was jus' the pair of us. An' I'll tell yen this, she's not afraid of roughin' it, Olympe. Yeh know, she's a fine, well-dressed woman, an' knowin' where we was goin' I wondered 'ow she'd feel abou' clamberin' over boulders an' sleepin' in caves an' tha', bu' she never complained once.' 'You knew where you were going?' Harry repeated. 'You knew where the giants were?' 'Well, Durnbledore knew, an' he told us,' said Hagrid. 'Are they hidden?' asked FINLAY. 'Is it a secret, where they are?' 'Not really,' said Hagrid, shaking his shaggy head. 'It's jus' that mos' wizards aren' bothered where they are,'s'long as it's a good long way away. But where they are's very difficult ter get ter, fer humans anyway, so we needed Dumbledore's instructions. Took us abou' a month ter get there - ' 'A month?' said ANGUS, as though he had never heard of a journey lasting such a ridiculously long time. 'But - why couldn't you just grab a Portkey or something?' There was an odd expression in Hagrid's unobscured eye as he surveyed XAVIER; it was almost pitying. 'We're bein' watched, LIAM,' he said gruffly. 'What d'you mean?' 'Yeh don' understand,' said Hagrid. The Ministry's keepin' an eye on Dumbledore an' anyone they reckon's in league with 'im, an' - '

another fortifying gulp of tea, then said, 'Well, we set off righ' after term ended - ' 'Madame Maxime went with you, then?' Hermione interjected. 'Yeah, tha's righ',' said Hagrid, and a softened expression appeared on the few inches of face that were not obscured by beard or green steak. 'Yeah, it was jus' the pair of us. An' I'll tell yen this, she's not afraid of roughin' it, Olympe. Yeh know, she's a fine, well-dressed woman, an' knowin' where we was goin' I wondered 'ow she'd feel abou' clamberin' over boulders an' sleepin' in caves an' tha', bu' she never complained once.' 'You knew where you were going?' Harry repeated. 'You knew where the giants were?' 'Well, Durnbledore knew, an' he told us,' said Hagrid. 'Are they hidden?' asked FINLAY. 'Is it a secret, where they are?' 'Not really,' said Hagrid, shaking his shaggy head. 'It's jus' that mos' wizards aren' bothered where they are,'s'long as it's a good long way away. But where they are's very difficult ter get ter, fer humans anyway, so we needed Dumbledore's instructions. Took us abou' a month ter get there - ' 'A month?' said ANGUS, as though he had never heard of a journey lasting such a ridiculously long time. 'But - why couldn't you just grab a Portkey or something?' There was an odd expression in Hagrid's unobscured eye as he surveyed XAVIER; it was almost pitying. 'We're bein' watched, LIAM,' he said gruffly. 'What d'you mean?' 'Yeh don' understand,' said Hagrid. The Ministry's keepin' an eye on Dumbledore an' anyone they reckon's in league with 'im, an' - '

'We know about that,' said Harry quickly, keen to hear the rest of Hagrid's story, 'we know about the Ministry watching Dumbledore - ' 'So you couldn't use magic to get there?' asked DECLAN, looking thunderstruck, 'you had to act like Muggles all the way?' 'Well, not exactly all the way' said Hagrid cagily. 'We jus' had ter be careful, 'cause Olympe an' me, we stick out a bit - RHYS made a stifled noise somewhere between a snort and a sniff and hastily took a gulp of tea. '- so we're not hard ter follow. We was pretendin' we was goin' on holiday together, so we got inter France an' we made like we was headin' fer where Olympe's school is, 'cause we knew we was bein' tailed by someone from the Ministry. We had to go slow, 'cause I'm not really s'posed ter use magic an' we knew the Mimstry'd be lookin' fer a reason ter run us in. But we managed ter give the berk tailin' us the slip round abou' Dee-John - ' 'Ooooh, Dijon?' said Hermione excitedly. 'I've been there on holiday, did you see -?' She fell silent at the look on FINLAY's face. 'We chanced a bit o' magic after that an' it wasn' a bad journey. Ran inter a couple o' mad trolls on the Polish border an' I had a sligh' disagreement with a vampire in a pub in Minsk, bu' apart from tha' couldn't'a bin smoother. 'An' then we reached the place, an' we started trekkin' up through the mountains, lookin' fer signs of 'em... 'We had ter lay off the magic once we got near 'em. Partly 'cause they don' like wizards an' we didn' want ter put their backs up too soon, an' partly 'cause Dumbledore had warned us You-K

'We know about that,' said Harry quickly, keen to hear the rest of Hagrid's story, 'we know about the Ministry watching Dumbledore - ' 'So you couldn't use magic to get there?' asked DECLAN, looking thunderstruck, 'you had to act like Muggles all the way?' 'Well, not exactly all the way' said Hagrid cagily. 'We jus' had ter be careful, 'cause Olympe an' me, we stick out a bit - RHYS made a stifled noise somewhere between a snort and a sniff and hastily took a gulp of tea. '- so we're not hard ter follow. We was pretendin' we was goin' on holiday together, so we got inter France an' we made like we was headin' fer where Olympe's school is, 'cause we knew we was bein' tailed by someone from the Ministry. We had to go slow, 'cause I'm not really s'posed ter use magic an' we knew the Mimstry'd be lookin' fer a reason ter run us in. But we managed ter give the berk tailin' us the slip round abou' Dee-John - ' 'Ooooh, Dijon?' said Hermione excitedly. 'I've been there on holiday, did you see -?' She fell silent at the look on FINLAY's face. 'We chanced a bit o' magic after that an' it wasn' a bad journey. Ran inter a couple o' mad trolls on the Polish border an' I had a sligh' disagreement with a vampire in a pub in Minsk, bu' apart from tha' couldn't'a bin smoother. 'An' then we reached the place, an' we started trekkin' up through the mountains, lookin' fer signs of 'em... 'We had ter lay off the magic once we got near 'em. Partly 'cause they don' like wizards an' we didn' want ter put their backs up too soon, an' partly 'cause Dumbledore had warned us You-K

now-Who was bound ter be after the giants an' all. Said it was odds on he'd sent a messenger off ter them already. Told us ter be verv careful of drawin' attention ter ourselves as we got nearer in case there was Death Eaters around.' Hagrid paused for a long draught of tea. 'Go on!' said Harry urgently. 'Found 'em,' said Hagrid baldly. 'Went over a ridge one nigh' an' there they was, spread ou' underneath us. Little fires burnin' below an' huge shadows... it was like watchin' bits o' the mountain movin'.' 'How big are they?' asked TRISTAN in a hushed voice. "Bout twenty feet,' said Hagrid casually. 'Some o' the bigger ones mighta bin twenty-five.' 'And how many were there?' asked Harry. 'I reckon abou' seventy or eighty,' said Hagrid. 'Is that all?' said Hermione. 'Yep,' said Hagrid sadly, 'eighty left, an' there was loads once, musta bin a hundred diff'rent tribes from all over the world. Bu' they've bin dyin' out fer ages. Wizards killed a few, o' course, bu' mostly they killed each other, an' now they're dyin' out faster than ever. They're not made ter live bunched up together like tha'. Dumbledore says it's our fault, it was the wizards who forced 'em to go an' made 'em live a good long way from us an' they had no choice bu' ter stick together fer their own protection.' 'So,' said Harry, 'you saw them and then what?' 'Well, we waited till morning, didn' want ter go sneakin' up on 'em in the dark, fer our own safety' said Hagrid. "Bout three in the mornin' they fell asleep jus' where they was sittin'. We didn' dare sleep. Fer one thing, we wanted ter make sure none of 'em woke up an' came up where we were, an' fer another

-Who was bound ter be after the giants an' all. Said it was odds on he'd sent a messenger off ter them already. Told us ter be verv careful of drawin' attention ter ourselves as we got nearer in case there was Death Eaters around.' Hagrid paused for a long draught of tea. 'Go on!' said Harry urgently. 'Found 'em,' said Hagrid baldly. 'Went over a ridge one nigh' an' there they was, spread ou' underneath us. Little fires burnin' below an' huge shadows... it was like watchin' bits o' the mountain movin'.' 'How big are they?' asked TRISTAN in a hushed voice. "Bout twenty feet,' said Hagrid casually. 'Some o' the bigger ones mighta bin twenty-five.' 'And how many were there?' asked Harry. 'I reckon abou' seventy or eighty,' said Hagrid. 'Is that all?' said Hermione. 'Yep,' said Hagrid sadly, 'eighty left, an' there was loads once, musta bin a hundred diff'rent tribes from all over the world. Bu' they've bin dyin' out fer ages. Wizards killed a few, o' course, bu' mostly they killed each other, an' now they're dyin' out faster than ever. They're not made ter live bunched up together like tha'. Dumbledore says it's our fault, it was the wizards who forced 'em to go an' made 'em live a good long way from us an' they had no choice bu' ter stick together fer their own protection.' 'So,' said Harry, 'you saw them and then what?' 'Well, we waited till morning, didn' want ter go sneakin' up on 'em in the dark, fer our own safety' said Hagrid. "Bout three in the mornin' they fell asleep jus' where they was sittin'. We didn' dare sleep. Fer one thing, we wanted ter make sure none of 'em woke up an' came up where we were, an' fer another

, the snorin' was unbelievable. Caused an avalanche near mornin'. 'Anyway once it was light we wen' down ter see 'em.' 'Just like that?' said FINLAY, looking awestruck. 'You just walked right into a giant camp?' 'Well, Dumbledore'd told us how ter do it,' said Hagrid. 'Give the Gurg gifts, show some respect, yeh know.' 'Give the what gifts?' asked Harry. 'Oh, the Gurg - means the chief.' 'How could you tell which one was the Gurg?' asked WILLIAM. Hagrid grunted in amusement. 'No problem,' he said. 'He was the biggest, the ugliest an1 the laziest. Sittin' there waitin' ter be brought food by the others. Dead goats an' such like. Name o' Karkus. I'd put him at twenty-two, twenty-three feet an' the weight o' a couple o' bull elephants. Skin like rhino hide an' all.' 'And you just walked up to him?' said Hermione breathlessly. 'Well... down ter him, where he was lyin' in the valley. They was in this dip between four pretty high mountains, see, beside a mountain lake, an' Karkus was lyin' by the lake roarin' at the others ter feed him an' his wife. Olympe an' I went down the mountainside -' 'But didn't they try and kill you when they saw you?' asked ANGUS incredulously. 'It was def'nitely on some o' their minds,' said Hagrid, shrugging, 'but we did what Dumbledore told us ter do, which was ter hold our gift up high an' keep our eyes on the Gurg an' ignore the others. So tha's what we did. An' the rest of 'em went quiet an' watched us pass an' we got right up ter Karkuss leet an we bowed an' put our present down in front o' him.' 'What do you give a giant?' asked RHYS eager

the snorin' was unbelievable. Caused an avalanche near mornin'. 'Anyway once it was light we wen' down ter see 'em.' 'Just like that?' said FINLAY, looking awestruck. 'You just walked right into a giant camp?' 'Well, Dumbledore'd told us how ter do it,' said Hagrid. 'Give the Gurg gifts, show some respect, yeh know.' 'Give the what gifts?' asked Harry. 'Oh, the Gurg - means the chief.' 'How could you tell which one was the Gurg?' asked WILLIAM. Hagrid grunted in amusement. 'No problem,' he said. 'He was the biggest, the ugliest an1 the laziest. Sittin' there waitin' ter be brought food by the others. Dead goats an' such like. Name o' Karkus. I'd put him at twenty-two, twenty-three feet an' the weight o' a couple o' bull elephants. Skin like rhino hide an' all.' 'And you just walked up to him?' said Hermione breathlessly. 'Well... down ter him, where he was lyin' in the valley. They was in this dip between four pretty high mountains, see, beside a mountain lake, an' Karkus was lyin' by the lake roarin' at the others ter feed him an' his wife. Olympe an' I went down the mountainside -' 'But didn't they try and kill you when they saw you?' asked ANGUS incredulously. 'It was def'nitely on some o' their minds,' said Hagrid, shrugging, 'but we did what Dumbledore told us ter do, which was ter hold our gift up high an' keep our eyes on the Gurg an' ignore the others. So tha's what we did. An' the rest of 'em went quiet an' watched us pass an' we got right up ter Karkuss leet an we bowed an' put our present down in front o' him.' 'What do you give a giant?' asked RHYS eager

ly. 'Food?' 'Nah, he can get food all righ' fer himself,' said Hagrid. 'We took him magic. Giants like magic, jus' don' like us usin' it against 'em. Anyway, that firs' day we gave 'im a branch o' Gubraithian fire.' Hermione said, 'Wow!' softly, but Harry and LIAM both frowned in puzzlement. 'A branch of -?' 'Everlasting fire,' said Hermione irritably, 'you ought to know that by now. Professor Flitwick's mentioned it at least twice in class!' 'Well, anyway,' said Hagrid quickly, intervening before HAMISH could answer back, 'Dumbledore'd bewitched this branch to burn fer evermore, which isn' somethin' any wizard could do, an' so I lies it down in the snow by Karkuss feet and says, "A gift to the Gurg of the giants from Albus Dumbledore, who sends his respectful greetings."' 'And what did Karkus say?' asked Harry eagerly. 'Nothin',' said Hagrid. 'Didn' speak English.' 'You're kidding!' 'Didn' matter,' said Hagrid imperturbably, 'Dumbledore had warned us tha' migh' happen. Karkus knew enough to yell fer a couple o' giants who knew our lingo an' they translated fer us.' 'And did he like the present?' asked WILLIAM. 'Oh yeah, it went down a storm once they understood what it was,' said Hagrid, turning his dragon steak over to press the cooler side to his swollen eye. 'Very pleased. So then I said, "Albus Dumbledore asks the Gurg to speak with his messenger when he returns tomorrow with another gift." ' 'Why couldn't you speak to them that day?' asked Hermione. 'Dumbledore wanted us ter take it very slow,' said Hagrid. 'Let 'em see we kept our promises. We'll come back tomorrow with another present, an' then we

. 'Food?' 'Nah, he can get food all righ' fer himself,' said Hagrid. 'We took him magic. Giants like magic, jus' don' like us usin' it against 'em. Anyway, that firs' day we gave 'im a branch o' Gubraithian fire.' Hermione said, 'Wow!' softly, but Harry and LIAM both frowned in puzzlement. 'A branch of -?' 'Everlasting fire,' said Hermione irritably, 'you ought to know that by now. Professor Flitwick's mentioned it at least twice in class!' 'Well, anyway,' said Hagrid quickly, intervening before HAMISH could answer back, 'Dumbledore'd bewitched this branch to burn fer evermore, which isn' somethin' any wizard could do, an' so I lies it down in the snow by Karkuss feet and says, "A gift to the Gurg of the giants from Albus Dumbledore, who sends his respectful greetings."' 'And what did Karkus say?' asked Harry eagerly. 'Nothin',' said Hagrid. 'Didn' speak English.' 'You're kidding!' 'Didn' matter,' said Hagrid imperturbably, 'Dumbledore had warned us tha' migh' happen. Karkus knew enough to yell fer a couple o' giants who knew our lingo an' they translated fer us.' 'And did he like the present?' asked WILLIAM. 'Oh yeah, it went down a storm once they understood what it was,' said Hagrid, turning his dragon steak over to press the cooler side to his swollen eye. 'Very pleased. So then I said, "Albus Dumbledore asks the Gurg to speak with his messenger when he returns tomorrow with another gift." ' 'Why couldn't you speak to them that day?' asked Hermione. 'Dumbledore wanted us ter take it very slow,' said Hagrid. 'Let 'em see we kept our promises. We'll come back tomorrow with another present, an' then we