章节_5

;

prall shot a sharp look at dumbledore and said,

”the he rumors that are flying around. you

know what everyones saying? about why hes disappeared? about what

finally stopped him?”

it seemed that prall had reached the point she

was most anxious to discuss, the real reason she had been waiting on

a cold, hard wall all day, for her as a or as a woman had

she fixed dumbledore with such a pierg stare as she did now. it

lain that whatever ”everyone” was sayi going

to believe it until dumbledore told her it was true. dumbledore,

however, was g another lemon drop and did not answer.

”what theyre saying,” she pressed on, ”is that last night

voldemort turned up in godrics hollow. he went to find the

potters. the rumor is that lily aer are -- are --

that theyre -- dead. ”

dumbledore bowed his head. prall gasped.

”lily and james... i t believe it... i didnt want to

believe it... oh, albus...”

dumbledore reached out and patted her on the shoulder. ”i

know... i know...” he said heavily.

pralls voice trembled as she went on. ”thats

not all. theyre sayio kill the potters son, harry. but

-- he t. he t kill that little boy. no one knows why,

or how, but theyre saying that when he t kill harry potter,

voldemorts power somehow broke -- and thats why hes gone.

dumbledore nodded glumly.

”its -- its true?” faltered prall. ”after all

hes dohe people hes killed... he t kill a little

boy? its just astounding... of all the things to stop him... but

how in the name of heaven did harry survive?”

”we ly guess,” said dumbledore. ”we may never know.”

prall pulled out a ladkerd dabbed

at her eyes beacles. dumbledave a great sniff

as he took a golden wat his pod exami was a

very odd watch. it had twelve hands but ead, little

plas were moving arou must have made seo

dumbledh, because he put it ba his pod said,

”hagrids late. i suppose it was he who told you id be here,

by the way?”

”yes,” said prall. ”and i dont suppose youre

going to tell me why youre here, of all places?”

”ive e t harry to his aunt aheyre the

only family he has left now.”

”you dont mean -- you t mean the people who live

here?” agall, jumpi and pointing

at number four. ”dumbledore -- you t. ive been watg them

all day. you t find two people who are less like us. and

theyve got this son -- i saw him kig his mother all the

the street, sg for sotter e and live here!”

”its the best pla,” said dumbledore firmly. ”his

aunt and uncle will be able to explaio him when hes

older. ive writteer.”

”a letter?” repeated prall faintly, sitting back

down on the wall. ”really, dumbledore, you think you explain all

this ihese people will and him! hell be

famous -- a legend -- i wouldnt be surprised if today was known

as harry potter day iure -- there will be books written

about harry -- every our his name!”

”exactly,” said dumbledore, looking very seriously over the

top of his half-moo would be enough to turn any boys

head. famous before he walk and talk! famous for something he

wont even remember! cara you see how much better off hell be,

growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it?”

prall opeh, ged her mind,

swallowed, and then said, ”yes -- yes, yht, of course. but

how is the boy getting here, dumbledore?” she eyed his cloak suddenly

as though she thought he might be hiding harry u.

”hagrids bringing