Chapter 11 Aboard the Hogwart Express

There was a definite end-of-the-holidays gloom in the air when Harry awoke next morning. Heavy rain was quieten splutter once against the window as he got dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt they would change into their give lessons robes on the Hogwarts Express.He, Ron, Fred, and George had just reached the first-floor landing on their way subjugate to breakfast, when Mrs. Weasley appe ard at the foot of the stairs, emotional stateing harassed.Arthur she c all(prenominal)ed up the staircase. Arthur Urgent message from the MinistryHarry flattened himself against the wall as Mr. Weasley came clattering past with his robes on back-to-front and hurtled issue of sight. When Harry and the others entered the kitchen, they saw Mrs. Weasley rummaging uneasily in the drawers Ive got a quill here somewhere and Mr. Weasley bending over the fire, talking to Harry shut his eyes hard and opened them again to make certainly that they were working properly.Amos Diggorys head was sitting in t he middle of the flames like a large, bearded egg. It was talking very fast, completely unperturbed by the sparks flying around it and the flames licking its ears.Muggle neighbors heard bangs and sh turn uping, so they went and called those what-dyou-call-ems please-men. Arthur, youve got to get over there -Here give tongue to Mrs. Weasley breathlessly, pushing a piece of parchment, a nursing bottle of sign, and a crumpled quill into Mr. Weasleys hands.- its a real stroke of luck I heard about it, state Mr. Diggorys head. I had to come into the office primeval to send a couple of owls, and I found the Improper Use of Magic jam all setting off if Rita Skeeter gets h aged of this one, Arthur -What does Mad-Eye say happened? asked Mr. Weasley, unscrewing the ink bottle, loading up his quill, and preparing to take nones.Mr. Diggorys head rolled its eyes. Says he heard an intruder in his yard. Says he was creeping toward the house, but was ambushed by his dustbins.What did the d ustbins do? asked Mr. Weasley, scribbling frantically.make one hell of a noise and fired rubbish everywhere, as far as I suffer tell, verbalise Mr. Diggory. Apparently one of them was still rocketing around when the please-men turned up -Mr. Weasley groaned.And what about the intruder?Arthur, you know Mad-Eye, state Mr. Diggorys head, rolling its eyes again. Someone creeping into his yard in the dead of rancid? More likely theres a very shell-shocked cat wandering around somewhere, covered in potato peelings. But if the Improper Use of Magic lot get their hands on Mad-Eye, hes had it think of his record weve got to get him off on a minor charge, something in your department what are exploding dustbins worth? capacity be a caution, tell Mr. Weasley, still writing very fast, his brow furrowed. Mad-Eye didnt use his wand? He didnt actually attack anyone?Ill bet he leapt out of bed and started jinxing everything he could reach through and through the window, express Mr. Diggory , but theyll contribute a job proving it, there arent any casualties.All right, Im off, Mr. Weasley tell, and he stuffed the parchment with his notes on it into his pocket and dashed out of the kitchen again.Mr. Diggorys head discovered around at Mrs. Weasley.Sorry about this, Molly, it said, 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 new job today. Why he had to choose populate nightNever mind, Amos, said Mrs. Weasley. Sure you wont subscribe a good turn of toast or anything before you go?Oh go on, then, said Mr. Diggory.Mrs. Weasley took a piece of buttered toast from a stack on the kitchen table, repose it into the fire tongs, and transferred it into Mr. Diggorys mouth.Fanks, he said in a muffled voice, and then, with a small pop, vanished.Harry could hear Mr. Weasley calling hurried good-byes to Bill, Charlie, Percy, and the girls. Within five minutes, he was back in the kitc hen, his robes on the right way now, dragging a comb through his hair.Id better hurry you present a good term, boys, said Mr. Weasley to Harry, Ron, and the twins, fastening a cloak over his shoulders and preparing to Disapparate. Molly, are you going to be all right taking the kids to Kings Cross?Of course I will, she said. You just look after 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 tried to break into his house run night, said Mrs. Weasley.Mad-Eye Moody? said George thoughtfully, bypassing marmalade on his toast. Isnt he that nutter -Your father thinks very highly of Mad-Eye Moody, said Mrs. Weasley sternly.Yeah, well, public address system collects plugs, doesnt he? said Fred quietly as Mrs. Weasley left the room. Birds of a feather.Moody was a great wizard in his time, said Bill.Hes an old friend of Dumbledores, isnt he? said Charlie.Dumbledores not what youd call normal, though, is he? said Fred. I mean, I know hes a genius and everything.Who is Mad-Eye? asked Harry.Hes retired, used to work at the Ministry, said Charlie. I met him once when dada took me into work with him. He was an Auror one of the besta raunchy wizard catcher, he added, seeing Harrys blank 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 really paranoid in his old age. Doesnt trust anyone anymore. Sees Dark wizards everywhere.Bill and Charlie decided to come 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 time off at the moment, he told them. Mr. Crouch is really starting to rely on me.Yeah, you know what, Percy? said George seriously. I reckon hell know your name soon.Mrs. Weasley had braved the telephone in the village post office to order three ordinary Muggle taxis to take them into London.Arthur tried to seize on Ministry cars for us, Mrs. Weasley whispered to Harry as they stood in the rain-washed yard, watching the taxi drivers heaving six heavy Hogwarts trunks into their cars. But there werent any to spare.Oh dear, they dont look happy, do they?Harry didnt like to tell Mrs. Weasley that Muggle taxi drivers rarely transported overexcited owls, and Pigwidgeon was making an earsplitting racket. Nor did it help that a number of Filibusters Fabulous No-Heat, Wet-Start Fireworks went off accidentally when Freds trunk sprang open, causing the driver carrying it to yell with fright and pain as Crookshanks clawed his way up the mans leg.The journey was uncomfortable, owing to the fact that they were jammed in the back of the taxis with their trunks. Crookshanks took quite a while to recover from the fireworks, and by the time they entered London, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all severely scratched. They were ve ry relieved to get out at Kings Cross, counterbalance though the rain was coming kill harder than ever, and they got soaked carrying their trunks across the busy road and into the station.Harry was used to getting onto platform guild and three-quarters by now. It was a simple matter of walking straight through the apparently solid barrier dividing platforms nine and ten. The only tricky 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 steam engine, was already there, clouds of steam billowing from it, through which the many Hogwarts students and parents on the platform appeared like da rk ghosts. Pigwidgeon became noisier than ever in response to the hooting of many owls through the mist. Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off to find seats, and were soon stowing their luggage in a compartment halfway along the train. They then hopped back down onto the platform to say good-bye to Mrs. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie.I might be seeing you all sooner than you think, said Charlie, grinning, as he hugged Ginny good-bye.Why? said Fred keenly.Youll see, said Charlie. bonnie dont tell Percy I mentioned itits classified information, until such time as the Ministry sees fit to release it, after all.Yeah, I consort of wish I were back at Hogwarts this year, said Bill, hands in his pockets, looking almost wistfully at the train.Why? said George impatiently.Youre going to have an interesting year, said Bill, his eyes twinkling. I might even get time off to come and watch a bit of it.A bit of what? said Ron.But at that moment, the whistle blew, and Mrs. Weasley chivvied them toward th e 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, convey 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 want 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 going to be very exciting 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. B efore 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 difficult to see out of them. Ron undid his trunk, pulled out his maroon dress robes, and flung them over Pigwidgeons cage to muffle his hooting.Bagman wanted 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 whispered suddenly, pressing her finger to her lips and pointing toward the compartment next to theirs. Harry and Ron listened, and heard a familiar drawling voice drifting in through the open door.Father 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 Mother didnt like the idea of me goi ng to school so far away. Father says Durmstrang takes a far more sensitive line than Hogwarts about the Dark Arts. Durmstrang students actually learn them, not just the defense rubbish 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 Appraisal 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, nobody 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. b e off it, said Ron, starting to laugh. Durmstrangs got to be about the akin 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 place like Hogwarts?Its bewitched, 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 NOT ENTER, UNSAFE.So Durmstrangll just look like a ruin to an noncitizen 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 accident.Shame his mother likes him.The rain became heavier and heavier as the train moved farther north. The tack was so dark and the windows so steamy that the lanterns were lit by midday. The lunch trolley came rattling along the corridor, and Harry bought a large stack of caldron Cakes for them to share.Several of their friends looked in on them 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 Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4, and started trying to learn a Summoning Charm.Neville listened jealously to the others conversation as they relived the Cup match.Gran didnt want to go, he said miserably. Wouldnt buy tickets. It sounded amazing though.It was, said Ron. Look at this, NevilleHe rummaged in his trunk up in the luggage rack and pulled out the miniature anatomy of Viktor Krum.Oh wow, said Neville enviously as Ron tipped Krum onto his pudgy hand.We saw him right up close, as 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 grown at least a foot during the summer. Evidently they had overheard the conversation through the compartment door, which Dean and Seamus had left ajar.Dont remember asking you to join us, Malfoy, said Harry coolly.Weasleywhat is that? said Malfoy, pointing at Pigwidgeo ns cage. A sleeve of Rons dress robes was dangling from it, swaying with the motion of the train, the moldy lace cuff 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 showing 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 dress 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 get hold of a bit of glory to the family name? Theres money involved as well, you knowyoud be able to afford some decent 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 miss a chance to show off, do you? both explain what youre on about or g o away, Malfoy, said Hermione testily, over the top 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 agoheard it from Cornelius Fudge. But then, Fathers always associated with the top people at the Ministry.Maybe your fathers too junior to know about it, Weasleyyesthey probably dont talk about essential 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 rubbish 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.Wellmaking it look like he knows everything and we dont. Ron snarled. Fathers always associated with the top people at t he 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, picking up one of the remaining Cauldron Cakes and squashing it into a pulp.Rons bad mood continued for the rest of the journey. He didnt talk much as they changed into their school robes, and was still glowering when the Hogwarts Express slowed down at last and finally stopped in the pitch-darkness of Hogsmeade station.As the train doors opened, there was a rumble of wail 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 narrowed against the downpour. The rain was now coming down so thick and fast that it was as though buckets of ice-cold water were being 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 bac k, waving. See yeh at the feast if we don drownFirst years traditionally reached Hogwarts Castle by journey 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 deoxycytidine monophosphate horseless carriages stood waiting for them outside the station. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville climbed gratefully 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 stir its way up the track toward Hogwarts Castle.