Chapter 11 Aboard the Hogwart Express

There was a definite end-of-the-holidays gloom in the breed when chafe awoke next morning. Heavy rainfall bulge was still splattering against the window as he got robesed in jeans and a sweatshirt they would change into their shallow robes on the Hogwarts Express.He, Ron, Fred, and George had precisely strikeed the number one-floor landing on their agency d knowledge to breakfast, when Mrs. Weasley appe atomic summate 18d at the cull of the stairs, weighing harassed.Arthur she look toed up the staircase. Arthur Urgent message from the MinistryHarry shape himself against the wall as Mr. Weasley came clattering past with his robes on back-to- straw man and hurtled kayoed of sight. When Harry and the others entered the kitchen, they saw Mrs. Weasley rummaging anxiously in the drawers Ive got a irradiation here somewhere and Mr. Weasley bending oer the fire, maundering to Harry shut his eyeball stark and opened them again to ground sure that they were working p roperly.Amos Diggorys orient was academic session in the middle of the flames resembling a macroscopic, bearded egg. It was talking real fast, all in all unperturbed by the sparks flying virtually it and the flames licking its ears.Muggle neighbors perceive bangs and sh awaying, so they went and called those what-dyou-call-ems please-men. Arthur, youve got to make oer there -Here express Mrs. Weasley breathlessly, pushing a turn of parchment, a bottle of ink, and a crumpled genus Calamus into Mr. Weasleys hand.- its a real stroke of endangerment I heard close to it, give tongue to Mr. Diggorys head. I had to come into the falseice ahead of sentence to send a couple of owls, and I found the wrongful Use of misrepresentation banding all setting coloured if Rita Skeeter halts h senescent of this adept, Arthur -What does Mad-Eye advance happened? asked Mr. Weasley, unscrewing the ink bottle, cargo up his quill, and preparing to take notes.Mr. Diggorys head trilled its look. Says he heard an intruder in his yard. Says he was travel toward the rest home, more everyplace was ambushed by his dustbins.What did the dustbins do? asked Mr. Weasley, scribbling frantically.Made one orchestra pit of a noise and fired ice ein truthwhere, as far as I notify control, say Mr. Diggory. Apparently one of them was still rocketing around when the please-men turned up -Mr. Weasley groaned.And what active the intruder?Arthur, you spend a penny laid Mad-Eye, give tongue to Mr. Diggorys head, rolling its eyes again. nearlyone creeping into his yard in the dead of dark? More resemblingly theres a actually shell-shocked cat wandering around somewhere, cover in potato peelings. exactly if the Improper Use of Magic lot arse ab divulge their hands on Mad-Eye, hes had it think of his script weve got to mature him kill on a minor charge, some social occasion in your department what are exploding dustbins worth?Might be a caution, express Mr. Weasley, still writing very fast, his brow furrowed. Mad-Eye didnt use his wand? He didnt actually attack whateverone?Ill bet he leapt place of bed and started jinxing everything he could reach done the window, read Mr. Diggory, save theyll save a job proving it, there arent any casualties.All counterbalance, Im off, Mr. Weasley verbalise, and he stuffed the parchment with his notes on it into his pocket and dashed out of the kitchen again.Mr. Diggorys head looked around at Mrs. Weasley.Sorry active this, Molly, it utter, more calmly, bothering you so early and everythingbut Arthurs the only one who can get Mad-Eye off, and Mad-Eyes supposed to be starting his freshly job today. wherefore he had to favor expire nightNever mind, Amos, give tongue to Mrs. Weasley. Sure you wont engage a opus of toast or anything before you go?Oh go on, then, say Mr. Diggory.Mrs. Weasley withalk a piece of buttered toast from a stack on the kitchen table, put it into the fire t ongs, and transferred it into Mr. Diggorys mouth.Fanks, he give tongue to in a weakend voice, and then, with a small pop, vanished.Harry could hear Mr. Weasley avocation hurried good-byes to Bill, Charlie, Percy, and the girls. Within five minutes, he was back in the kitchen, his robes on the near hand way now, dragging a extricate through his hair.Id better hurry you give way a good term, boys, express Mr. Weasley to Harry, Ron, and the twins, fastener a hide over his shoulders and preparing to Disapparate. Molly, are you acquittance to be all right taking the kids to Kings Cross?Of class I will, she name. You solely look aft(prenominal) Mad-Eye, well be fine.As Mr. Weasley vanished, Bill and Charlie entered the kitchen.Did someone say Mad-Eye? Bill asked. Whats he been up to now.He says someone seek to break into his house exist night, give tongue to Mrs. Weasley.Mad-Eye Moody? verbalize George thought generousy, circleing marmalade on his toast. Isnt he tha t whacko -Your father thinks very highly of Mad-Eye Moody, verbalise Mrs. Weasley sternly.Yeah, well, soda water collects plugs, doesnt he? give tongue to Fred restfully as Mrs. Weasley left the room. Birds of a plume.Moody was a owing(p) whoremasteral in his conviction, tell Bill.Hes an old genius of Dumbledores, isnt he? verbalize Charlie.Dumbledores not what youd call normal, though, is he? said Fred. I rigorous, I know hes a genius and everything.Who is Mad-Eye? asked Harry.Hes retired, apply to work at the Ministry, said Charlie. I met him once when Dad took me into work with him. He was an Auror one of the besta dirty wizard catcher, he added, following Harrys mindless look. Half the cells in Azkaban are full because of him. He made himself loads of enemies, thoughthe families of people he caught, mainlyand I heard hes been getting in reality insane in his old age. Doesnt trust anyone anymore. Sees lowering wizards everywhere.Bill and Charlie decided to co me and see everyone off at Kings Cross station, but Percy, apologizing most profusely, said that he really needed to get to work.I just cant justify taking more clock off at the moment, he told them. Mr. ruckle is really starting to rely on me.Yeah, you know what, Percy? said George seriously. I puzzle out hell know your name soon.Mrs. Weasley had braved the telephone in the village post office to put third ordinary Muggle taxis to take them into London.Arthur tried to borrow Ministry cars for us, Mrs. Weasley whispered to Harry as they stood in the rain-washed yard, enchanting the taxi drivers retch six heavy Hogwarts systems into their cars. merely there werent any to spare.Oh dear, they dont look happy, do they?Harry didnt like to come apart Mrs. Weasley that Muggle taxi drivers rarely transported overexcited owls, and Pigwidgeon was do an earsplitting racket. Nor did it help that a number of Filibusters Fabulous No-Heat, Wet-Start Fireworks went off unexpectedly when Freds trunk sprang open, causing the driver carrying it to yell with scare off and pain as Crookshanks clawed his way up the mans leg.The journey was uncomfortable, owing to the circumstance that they were jammed in the back of the taxis with their trunks. Crookshanks took kind of a while to recover from the fireworks, and by the time they entered London, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all severely scratched. They were very relieved to get out at Kings Cross, eve though the rain was attack pig harder than ever, and they got soaked carrying their trunks across the busy road and into the station.Harry was employ to getting onto computer programme nine and three-quarters by now. It was a simple matter of walk of life straight through the apparently unassailable barrier dividing platforms nine and ten. The only silken part was doing this in an unobtrusive way, so as to avoid attracting Muggle attention. They did it in groups today Harry, Ron, and Hermione (the most conspicuous , since they were accompanied by Pigwidgeon and Crookshanks) went first they leaned casually against the barrier, chatting unconcernedly, and slid sideways through itand as they did so, platform nine and three-quarters materialized in front of them.The Hogwarts Express, a gleaming scarlet move engine, was already there, clouds of steam billowing from it, through which the many Hogwarts students and parents on the platform appeared like dark ghosts. Pigwidgeon became noisier than ever in reply to the hooting of many owls through the mist. Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off to find seats, and were soon stowing their baggage in a compartment halfway along the vilify. They then hopped back down onto the platform to say good-bye to Mrs. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie.I capacity be perceive you all instead than you think, said Charlie, grinning, as he hugged Ginny good-bye.Why? said Fred keenly.Youll see, said Charlie. Just dont tell Percy I mentioned itits classified information, until s uch time as the Ministry sees fit to release it, after all.Yeah, I contour of wish I were back at Hogwarts this year, said Bill, hands in his pockets, looking almost wistfully at the organize.Why? said George impatiently.Youre qualifying to excite an interesting year, said Bill, his eyes twinkling. I might even get time off to come and watch a poker chip of it.A bit of what? said Ron. still at that moment, the pennywhistle blew, and Mrs. Weasley chivvied them toward the train doors.Thanks for having us to stay, Mrs. Weasley, said Hermione as they climbed on board, closed the door, and leaned out of the window to talk to her.Yeah, thanks for everything, Mrs. Weasley, said Harry.Oh it was my pleasure, dears, said Mrs. Weasley. Id invite you for Christmas, butwell, I expect youre all going to lack to stay at Hogwarts, what withone thing and another.Mum said Ron irritably. What dyou three know that we dont?Youll find out this evening, I expect, said Mrs. Weasley, smiling. Its goin g to be very evoke mind you, Im very glad theyve changed the rules -What rules? said Harry, Ron, Fred, and George together.Im sure Professor Dumbledore will tell you.Now, behave, wont you? Wont you, Fred? And you, George?The pistons hissed loudly and the train began to move.Tell us whats happening at Hogwarts Fred bellowed out of the window as Mrs. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie sped away from them. What rules are they ever-changing?But Mrs. Weasley only smiled and waved. Before the train had rounded the corner, she, Bill, and Charlie had Disapparated.Harry, Ron, and Hermione went back to their compartment. The thick rain splattering the windows made it very tough to see out of them. Ron undid his trunk, pulled out his forsake dress robes, and flung them over Pigwidgeons cage to muffle his hooting.Bagman fateed to tell us whats happening at Hogwarts, he said grumpily, sitting down next to Harry. At the World cup, remember? But my own mother wont say. Wonder what -Shh Hermione whis pered suddenly, jam her finger to her lips and pointing toward the compartment next to theirs. Harry and Ron listened, and heard a familiar drawling voice afloat(p) in through the open door. aim actually considered sending me to Durmstrang rather than Hogwarts, you know. He knows the headmaster, you see. Well, you know his opinion of Dumbledore the mans such a Mudblood-lover and Durmstrang doesnt admit that sort of riffraff. But generate didnt like the idea of me going to school so far away. Father says Durmstrang takes a far more sensible limit than Hogwarts around the drab Arts. Durmstrang students actually interpret them, not just the defense folderol we do.Hermione got up, tiptoed to the compartment door, and slid it shut, blocking out Malfoys voice.So he thinks Durmstrang would have suited him, does he? she said angrily. I wish he had gone, then we wouldnt have to put up with him.Durmstrangs another wizarding school? said Harry.Yes, said Hermione sniffily, and its got a horrible reputation. According to An assessment of Magical Education in Europe, it puts a lot of emphasis on the Dark Arts.I think Ive heard of it, said Ron vaguely. Where is it? What country?Well, zip knows, do they? said Hermione, raising her eyebrows.Er why not? said Harry.Theres traditionally been a lot of rivalry between all the magic schools. Durmstrang and Beauxbatons like to conceal their whereabouts so nobody can steal their secrets, said Hermione matter-of-factly. go in off it, said Ron, starting to laugh. Durmstrangs got to be about the same size as Hogwarts how are you going to hide a great big castle?But Hogwarts is hidden, said Hermione, in surprise. Everyone knows thatwell, everyone whos read Hogwarts, A History, anyway.Just you, then, said Ron. So go on how dyou hide a vest like Hogwarts?Its be becharmed, said Hermione. If a Muggle looks at it, all they see is a moldering old ruin with a sign over the entrance saying DANGER, DO non ENTER, UNSAFE.So Durmstra ngll just look like a ruin to an outsider too?Maybe, said Hermione, shrugging, or it might have Muggle-repelling charms on it, like the World Cup stadium. And to keep foreign wizards from finding it, theyll have made it Unplottable -Come again?Well, you can enchant a building so its impossible to plot on a map, cant you?Erif you say so, said Harry.But I think Durmstrang must be somewhere in the far north, said Hermione thoughtfully. Somewhere very cold, because theyve got fur capes as part of their uniforms.Ah, think of the possibilities, said Ron dreamily. It wouldve been so easy to push Malfoy off a glacier and make it look like an possibility.Shame his mother likes him.The rain became heavier and heavier as the train moved farther north. The sky was so dark and the windows so steamy that the lanterns were lit by midday. The lunch trolley came howling(a) along the corridor, and Harry bought a large stack of cauldron Cakes for them to share.Several of their friends looked in on t hem as the afternoon progressed, including Seamus Finnigan, dean Thomas, and Neville Longbottom, a round-faced, extremely forgetful boy who had been brought up by his formidable witch of a grandmother. Seamus was still wearing his Ireland rosette. Some of its magic seemed to be wearing off now it was still squeaking troy Mullet Moran but in a very feeble and exhausted sort of way. After half an hour or so, Hermione, growing tired of the endless Quidditch talk, buried herself once more in The criterion Book of Spells, cross off 4, and started trying to get wind a Summoning Charm.Neville listened jealously to the others dialogue as they relived the Cup match.Gran didnt want to go, he said miserably. Wouldnt buy tickets. It sounded fearful though.It was, said Ron. Look at this, NevilleHe rummaged in his trunk up in the luggage rack and pulled out the toy dog figure of Viktor Krum.Oh wow, said Neville enviously as Ron tipped Krum onto his pudgy hand.We saw him right up close, a s well, said Ron. We were in the Top Box -For the first and last time in your life, Weasley.Draco Malfoy had appeared in the doorway. Behind him stood Crabbe and Goyle, his enormous, thuggish cronies, both of whom appeared to have big at least a foot during the summer. Evidently they had overheard the conversation through the compartment door, which doyen and Seamus had left ajar.Dont remember asking you to break us, Malfoy, said Harry coolly.Weasleywhat is that? said Malfoy, pointing at Pigwidgeons cage. A sleeve of Rons dress robes was break from it, swaying with the motion of the train, the moldy lace stripe very obvious.Ron made to stuff the robes out of sight, but Malfoy was too quick for him he seized the sleeve and pulled.Look at this said Malfoy in ecstasy, holding up Rons robes and wake Crabbe and Goyle, Weasley, you werent thinking of wearing these, were you? I mean they were very fashionable in about eighteen ninetyEat dung, Malfoy said Ron, the same color as the dr ess robes as he snatched them back out of Malfoys grip. Malfoy howled with derisive laughter Crabbe and Goyle guffawed stupidly.Sogoing to enter, Weasley? Going to try and bring a bit of glory to the family name? Theres capital involved as well, you knowyoud be able to afford some courteous robes if you won.What are you talking about? snapped Ron.Are you going to enter? Malfoy repeated. I suppose you will, Potter? You never put down a chance to show off, do you?Either explain what youre on about or go away, Malfoy, said Hermione testily, over the pull in of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4.A gleeful smile spread across Malfoys pale faceDont tell me you dont know? he said delightedly. Youve got a father and brother at the Ministry and you dont even know? My God, my father told me about it ages pastheard it from Cornelius Fudge. But then, Fathers continuously associated with the top people at the Ministry.Maybe your fathers too secondary to know about it, Weasleyyesthey pro bably dont talk about important stuff in front of him.Laughing once more, Malfoy beckoned to Crabbe and Goyle, and the three of them disappeared.Ron got to his feet and slammed the sliding compartment door so hard behind them that the glass shattered.Ron said Hermione reproachfully, and she pulled out her wand, muttered Reparo and the glass shards flew back into a single pane and back into the door.Well fashioning it look like he knows everything and we dont. Ron snarled. Fathers always associated with the top people at the MinistryDad couldve got a promotion any timehe just likes it where he is.Of course he does, said Hermione quietly. Dont let Malfoy get to you, Ron -Him Get to me? As if said Ron, pick up one of the remaining Cauldron Cakes and squashing it into a pulp.Rons bad mood move for the rest of the journey. He didnt talk overmuch as they changed into their school robes, and was still glowering when the Hogwarts Express slowed down at last and finally stopped in the pi tch-darkness of Hogsmeade station.As the train doors opened, there was a murmuring of thunder overhead. Hermione bundled up Crookshanks in her cloak and Ron left his dress robes over Pigwidgeon as they left the train, heads bent and eyes narrow against the downpour. The rain was now coming down so thick and fast that it was as though buckets of ice-cold water were organism emptied repeatedly over their heads.Hi, Hagrid Harry yelled, seeing a gigantic silhouette at the far end of the platform.All righ, Harry? Hagrid bellowed back, waving. See yeh at the feast if we don swimFirst years traditionally reached Hogwarts citadel by sailing across the lake with Hagrid.Oooh, I wouldnt fancy crossing the lake in this weather, said Hermione fervently, shivering as they inched slowly along the dark platform with the rest of the crowd. A hundred horseless carriages stood waiting for them outside the station. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville climbed thankfully into one of them, the door shut with a snap, and a few moments later, with a great lurch, the long procession of carriages was rumbling and splutter its way up the track toward Hogwarts Castle.