章节_45

d.

”what about you, neville?” said ron.

”well, my gran brought me up and shes a witch,” said neville,

”but the family thought i was all- muggle fes. my great uncle

algie kept trying to y guard and foragic out

of me -- he pushed me off the end of blackpool pier onearly

drow nothiil i was eight. great uncle algie

d for dinner, and he was ha of an upstairs

window by the ankles wheie enid offered him a meringue

aally let go. but i bounced -- all the way down the

garden and ihey were all really pleased, gran was

g, she y. and you should have seen their fa

i got ihey thought i might not be magiough to e,

you see. great uncle algie leased he bought me my toad.”

on harrys other side, percy weasley and hermi

about lessons (”i do hope they start right away, theres so much

to learn, im partiterested in transfiguration, you know,

turo something else, of course, its supposed to

be very difficult-”; ”youll be starting small, just matto

hat sort of thing -- ”).

harry, wh to feel y, looked up at

the high table again. hagrid was drinking deeply from

his goblet. prall was talking to professor

dumbledore. professor quirrell, in his absurd turban, was talking

to a teacher with greasy black hair, a hooked nose, and sallow skin.

it happened very suddenly. the hook-eacher looked past

quirrells turban straight into harrys eyes -- and a sharp, hot

pain shot across the s harrys forehead.

”ouch!” harry clapped a hand to his head.

”what is it?” asked percy.

”n-nothing.”

the pain had gone as quickly as it had e. harder to shake

off was the feeling harry had gotteeachers look --

a feeling that he didnt like harry at all.

”whos that teacher talking to professor quirrell?” he asked

percy.

”oh, you know quirrell already, do you? no wonder hes looking so

hats professor seaches potions, but he doesnt

want to -- everyone knows hes after quirrells job. knows an awful

lot about the dark arts, snape.”

harry watape for a while, but snape didnt look at

him again.

at last, the desserts too disappeared, and professor dumbledore

got to his feet again. the hall fell silent.

”ahern -- just a fe that we are all fed and

watered. i have a few start-of-term o give you.

”first years should he forest on the grounds is

forbidden to all pupils. and a few of our older students would do

well to remember that as well.”

dumbledores twinkling eyes flashed iion of the

weasley twins.

”i have also been asked by mr. filch, the caretaker, to

remind you all that no magic should be used between

the corridors.

”quidditch trials will be held in the sed week of the

term. aed in playing for their house teams should

adam hooch.

”and finally, i must tell you that this year, the third-floor

corridor ht-ha of bounds to everyone who

does not wish to die a very paih.”

harry laughed, but he was ohe few who did.

”hes not serious?” he muttered to percy.

”must be,” said pering at dumbledore. ”its odd,

because he usually gives us a reason why were o go

somewhere -- the forests full of das, everyone knows

that. i do thi have told us prefects, at least.”

”and no to bed, let us sing the school

song!” cried dumbledore. harry he other teachers

smiles had bee rather fixed.

dumbledave his wand a little flick, as if he was trying to

get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbo of it, which

rose high above the tables aself, so words.

”everyoheir favorite tune,” said dumbledore, ”and off

we go!” and the school bellowed:

”hogwart