Harry Potter and the half-blood prince part 6 AUDIOBOOK

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#harrypotter  #audiobook #harrypotterfan  Narrator: James Dobinson

Transcript

00:00:00Chapter 15 THE UNBREAKABLE VOW

00:00:04Snow was swirling against the icy windows once more.

00:00:07Christmas was approaching fast.

00:00:09Hagrid had already single-handedly delivered the usual twelve Christmas trees for the Great

00:00:13Hall.

00:00:14Garlands of holly and tinsel had been twisted around the banisters of the stairs.

00:00:17Everlasting candles glowed from inside the helmets of suits of armour, and great bunches

00:00:21of mistletoe had been hung at intervals along the corridors.

00:00:25Large groups of girls tended to converge underneath the mistletoe-brought bunches every time Harry

00:00:29went past, which caused blockages in the corridors.

00:00:33Fortunately, however, Harry's frequent night-time wanderings had given him an unusually good

00:00:37knowledge of the castle's secret passageways, so that he was able, without too much difficulty,

00:00:42to navigate mistletoe-free routes between classes.

00:00:45Ron, who might once have found the necessity of these detours a cause for jealousy rather

00:00:50than hilarity, simply roared with laughter about it all, although Harry much preferred

00:00:55this new laughing, joking Ron to the moody, aggressive model he had been enduring for

00:00:59the last few weeks.

00:01:00The improved Ron came at a heavy price.

00:01:03Firstly, Harry had had to put up with the frequent presence of Lavender Brown, who seemed

00:01:07to regard any moment that she was not kissing Ron as a moment wasted, and secondly, Harry

00:01:12found himself once more the best friend of two people who seemed unlikely ever to speak

00:01:17to each other again.

00:01:18Ron, whose hands and forearms still bore scratches and cuts from Hermione's bird attack, was

00:01:23taking a defensive and resentful tone.

00:01:26She can't complain, he told Harry.

00:01:28She snogged Crumb, so she's found out someone wants to snog me, too.

00:01:31Well, it's a free country, haven't done anything wrong.

00:01:34Harry did not answer, but pretended to be absorbed in the book they were supposed to

00:01:38have read before charms the following morning.

00:01:41Quintessence, a quest.

00:01:43Determined as he was to remain friends with both Ron and Hermione, he was spending a lot

00:01:47of time with his mouth shut tight.

00:01:49I never promised Hermione anything, Ron mumbled.

00:01:52I mean, all right, I was going to go to Slughorn's Christmas party with her, but she never said.

00:01:57Just as friends.

00:01:58I'm a free agent.

00:02:00Harry turned a page of Quintessence, aware that Ron was watching him.

00:02:04Ron's voice tailed away in mutters, barely audible over the loud cackling and crackling

00:02:08of the fire.

00:02:09Though Harry fought, he caught the words Crumb and can't complain again.

00:02:14Hermione's timetable was so full that Harry could only talk to her properly in the evenings.

00:02:19And Ron was, in any case, so tightly wrapped around Lavender that he did not notice what

00:02:23Harry was doing.

00:02:24Hermione refused to sit in the common room while Ron was there, so Harry generally joined

00:02:28her in the library, which meant that their conversations were held in whispers.

00:02:33He's at liberty to kiss whomever he likes, said Hermione, while the librarian, Madame

00:02:38Pince, prowled the shelves behind them.

00:02:40I really couldn't care less.

00:02:42She raised her quill and dotted an I so ferociously that she punctured a hole in her parchment.

00:02:48Harry said nothing.

00:02:49He thought his voice might soon vanish from lack of use.

00:02:52He bent a little lower over advanced potion-making and continued to make notes on everlasting

00:02:56elixirs, occasionally pausing to decipher the Prince's useful additions to labacious

00:03:02Borage's text.

00:03:04And incidentally, said Hermione, after a few moments, you need to be careful.

00:03:09For the last time, said Harry, speaking in a slightly hoarse whisper after three quarters

00:03:13of an hour of silence, I'm not giving back this book.

00:03:16I've learned more from the Half-Blood Prince than Snape or Slughorn have taught me in...

00:03:21I'm not talking about your stupid so-called Prince, said Hermione, giving his book a nasty

00:03:26look as though it had been rude to her.

00:03:28I'm talking about earlier.

00:03:29I went into the girls' bathroom just before I came in here, and there were about a dozen

00:03:33girls in there, including that Remilda Vane, trying to decide how to slip you a love potion.

00:03:38They're all hoping they're going to get you to take them to Slughorn's party, and they

00:03:41all seem to have bought Fred and George's love potions, which I'm afraid to say probably

00:03:46work.

00:03:47Why didn't you confiscate them then?

00:03:48Had demanded Harry.

00:03:50It seemed extraordinary that Hermione's mania for upholding rules could have abandoned her

00:03:54at this crucial juncture.

00:03:56They didn't have the potions with them in the bathroom, said Hermione scornfully.

00:03:59They were just discussing tactics, as I doubt whether even the Half-Blood Prince, she gave

00:04:04the book another nasty look, could dream up an antidote for a dozen different love potions

00:04:08at once.

00:04:09I just invite someone to go with you.

00:04:11That'll stop all the others thinking they've still got a chance.

00:04:14It's tomorrow night.

00:04:15They're getting desperate.

00:04:16There isn't anyone I want to invite, mumbled Harry, who was still trying not to think about

00:04:21Ginny any more than he could help, despite the fact that she kept cropping up in his

00:04:25dreams in ways that made him devoutly thankful that Ron could not perform legitimacy.

00:04:30Well, just be careful what you think, because Remilda Vane looked like she meant business,

00:04:35said Hermione grimly.

00:04:37She hitched up the long roll of parchment on which she was writing her legitimacy essay,

00:04:41and continued to scratch away with her quill.

00:04:43Harry watched her with his mind a long way away.

00:04:45Hang on a moment, he said slowly.

00:04:47I thought Filch had banned anything bought at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.

00:04:51And when has anyone ever paid attention to what Filch has banned? asked Hermione, still

00:04:56concentrating on her essay.

00:04:58But I thought all the owls were being searched.

00:05:00So how come these girls are able to bring love potions into school?

00:05:04Fred and George send them disguised as perfumes and cough potions, said Hermione, as part

00:05:09of their owl order service.

00:05:11You know a lot about it.

00:05:13Hermione gave him the kind of nasty look she had just given his copy of Advanced Potion

00:05:16Making.

00:05:17It was all on the back of the bottles they showed Ginny and me in the summer, she said

00:05:21coldly.

00:05:22I don't go around putting potions in people's drinks, or pretending to, either, which is

00:05:26just as bad.

00:05:27Yeah, well, never mind that, said Harry quickly.

00:05:29The point is, Filch is being fooled, isn't he?

00:05:32These girls are getting stuff into the school disguised as something else.

00:05:35So why couldn't Malfoy have brought the necklace into the school?

00:05:39Oh, Harry, not that again.

00:05:42Come on, why not? demanded Harry.

00:05:44Look, sighed Hermione, secrecy sensors detect jinxes, curses and concealment charms, don't

00:05:49they?

00:05:50They're used to find dark magic and dark objects.

00:05:53They'd have picked up a powerful curse, like the one on that necklace, within seconds.

00:05:57But something that's just been put in the wrong bottle wouldn't register, and anyway,

00:06:01love potions aren't dark or dangerous.

00:06:05Easy for you to say, muttered Harry, thinking of Remilda Vane.

00:06:08So it would be down to Filch to realise it wasn't a cough potion, and he's not a very

00:06:13good wizard.

00:06:14I doubt he can tell one potion from Hermione Stopped Dead.

00:06:17Harry had heard it too.

00:06:19Somebody had moved close behind them among the dark bookshelves.

00:06:22They waited for a moment, later the vulture-like countenance of Madame Pince appeared around

00:06:27the corner, her sunken cheeks, her skin like parchment, and her long hooked nose illuminated

00:06:32unflatteringly by the lamp she was carrying.

00:06:35The library is now closed, she said.

00:06:38Mind you return anything you have borrowed to the correct.

00:06:40What have you been doing to that book, you depraved boy?

00:06:44It isn't the library's, it's mine, said Harry hastily, snatching his copy of Advanced Potion-Making

00:06:49off the table as she lunged at it with a claw-like hand.

00:06:53Despoiled, she hissed, desecrated, befouled.

00:06:57It's just a book that's been written in, said Harry, tugging it out of her grip.

00:07:01She looked as though she might have a seizure.

00:07:02Hermione, who had hastily packed her things, grabbed Harry by the arm and frog-marched

00:07:07him away.

00:07:08She'll ban you from the library if you're not careful.

00:07:10Why did you have to bring that stupid book?

00:07:12It's not my fault she's barking mad, Hermione.

00:07:14Or do you think she overheard you being rude about Filch?

00:07:17I've always thought there might be something going on between them.

00:07:20Oh, ha ha!

00:07:21Enjoying the fact that they could speak normally again, they made their way along the deserted,

00:07:26lamp-lit corridors back to the common room, arguing about whether or not Filch and Madame

00:07:30Pince were secretly in love with each other.

00:07:33Baubles, said Harry to the Fat Lady, this being the new, festive password.

00:07:38Same to you, said the Fat Lady, with a roguish grin, and she swung forwards to admit them.

00:07:42Hi, Harry, said Remilda Vane, the moment he had climbed through the portrait hole.

00:07:47Fancy a gilly-water?

00:07:49Hermione gave him a, what did I tell you, look over her shoulder.

00:07:52No, thanks, said Harry quickly.

00:07:54I don't like it much.

00:07:56Well, take these anyway, said Remilda, thrusting a box into his hands.

00:08:00Chocolate cauldrons.

00:08:01They've got fire-whiskey in them.

00:08:02My grands grandson sent them to me.

00:08:04But I don't like them.

00:08:05Oh, right.

00:08:06Thanks a lot, said Harry, who could not think what else to say.

00:08:10Er, I'm just going over here with...

00:08:13He hurried off behind Hermione, his voice trailing away feebly.

00:08:17Told you, said Hermione succinctly.

00:08:19Sooner you ask someone, sooner they'll all leave you alone, and you can...

00:08:24But her face suddenly turned blank.

00:08:26She had just spotted Ron and Lavender, who were entwined in the same armchair.

00:08:29Well, good night, Harry, said Hermione, though it was only seven o'clock in the evening,

00:08:34and she left for the girls' dormitory without another word.

00:08:38Harry went to bed, comforting himself that there was only one more day of lessons to

00:08:41struggle through, plus Slughorn's party, after which he and Ron would depart together for

00:08:46the burrow.

00:08:47It now seemed impossible that Ron and Hermione would make up with each other before the holidays

00:08:51began, but perhaps somehow the break would give them time to calm down, think better

00:08:55of their behaviour.

00:08:56But his hopes were not high, and they sank still lower after enduring a transfiguration

00:09:00lesson with them both next day.

00:09:03They had just embarked upon the immensely difficult topic of human transfiguration.

00:09:07Working in front of mirrors, they were supposed to be changing the colour of their own eyebrows.

00:09:11Hermione laughed unkindly at Ron's disastrous first attempt, during which he somehow managed

00:09:15to give himself a spectacular handlebar moustache.

00:09:19Ron retaliated by doing a cruel but accurate impression of Hermione jumping up and down

00:09:24in her seat every time Professor McGonagall asked a question, which Lavender and Pavarti

00:09:28found deeply amusing, and which reduced Hermione to the verge of tears again.

00:09:32She raced out of the classroom on the bell, leaving half her things behind, Harry deciding

00:09:36that her need was greater than Ron's just then, scooped up her remaining possessions

00:09:40and followed her.

00:09:42He finally tracked her down as she emerged from a girls' bathroom on the floor below.

00:09:46She was accompanied by Luna Lovegood, who was patting her vaguely on the back.

00:09:50Oh, hello Harry, said Luna.

00:09:52Did you know one of your eyebrows is bright yellow?

00:09:55Hi Luna, Hermione.

00:09:57You left your stuff.

00:09:58He held out her books.

00:09:59Oh, yes, said Hermione in a choked voice, taking her things and turning away quickly

00:10:04to hide the fact that she was wiping her eyes on her pencil case.

00:10:08Thank you, Harry.

00:10:09Well, I'd better get going.

00:10:11And she hurried off without giving Harry any time to offer words of comfort, though admittedly

00:10:16he could not think of any.

00:10:17She's a bit upset, said Luna.

00:10:20I thought at first it was mourning Myrtle in there, but it turned out to be Hermione.

00:10:24She said something about that Ron Weasley.

00:10:26Yeah.

00:10:27They've had a row, said Harry.

00:10:29He says very funny things sometimes, doesn't he? said Luna, as they set off down the corridor

00:10:34together.

00:10:35But he can be a bit unkind.

00:10:36I noticed that last year.

00:10:38I suppose, said Harry.

00:10:40Luna was demonstrating her usual knack of speaking uncomfortable truths.

00:10:43He had never met anyone quite like her.

00:10:46So have you had a good term?

00:10:48Oh, it's been all right, said Luna, a bit lonely without the D.A.

00:10:52Ginny's been nice, though.

00:10:53She's stopped two boys in our transfiguration class calling me Loony the other day.

00:10:58How would you like to come to Slughorn's party with me tonight?

00:11:01The words were out of Harry's mouth before he could stop them.

00:11:04He heard himself say them as though it was a stranger speaking.

00:11:08Luna turned her protuberant eyes upon him in surprise.

00:11:12Slughorn's party?

00:11:13With you?

00:11:14Yeah, said Harry.

00:11:15We're supposed to be bringing guests, so I thought you might like, I mean, I mean, he

00:11:20was keen to make his intentions perfectly clear.

00:11:22I mean, just as friends, you know, but if you don't want to, he was already half hoping

00:11:26that she didn't want to.

00:11:28Oh, no, I'd love to go with you as friends, said Luna, beaming as he had never seen her

00:11:33beam before.

00:11:34Nobody's ever asked me to a party before as a friend.

00:11:37Is that why you dyed your eyebrow for that party?

00:11:40Should I do mine, too?

00:11:42No, said Harry firmly.

00:11:44That was a mistake.

00:11:45I'll get Hermione to put it right for me.

00:11:46So I'll meet you in the entrance hall at eight o'clock then.

00:11:50Aha, screamed a voice from overhead, and both of them jumped unnoticed by either of them.

00:11:55They had just passed right underneath Peeves, who was hanging upside down from a chandelier

00:12:00and grinning maliciously at them.

00:12:02Potty asked Loony to go to the party.

00:12:04Potty loves Loony.

00:12:06Potty loves Loony.

00:12:10And he zoomed away, cackling and shrieking.

00:12:13Potty loves Loony.

00:12:16Nice to keep things private, said Harry, and sure enough, in no time at all, the whole

00:12:20school seemed to know that Harry Potter was taking Luna Lovegood to Slughorn's party.

00:12:26You could have taken anyone, said Ron in disbelief over dinner, anyone, and you chose Loony Lovegood.

00:12:31Don't call her that, Ron, snapped Ginny, pausing behind Harry on her way to join friends.

00:12:36I'm really glad you're taking her, Harry.

00:12:38She's so excited.

00:12:40As she moved on down the table to sit with Dean, Harry tried to feel pleased that Ginny

00:12:44was glad he was taking Luna to the party, but could not quite manage it.

00:12:48A long way along the table, Hermione was sitting alone, playing with her stew.

00:12:52Harry noticed Ron looking at her furtively.

00:12:55You could say sorry, suggested Harry bluntly.

00:12:57What?

00:12:58And get attacked by another flock of canaries, muttered Ron.

00:13:02What did you have to imitate her for?

00:13:04She laughed at my moustache.

00:13:06So did I.

00:13:07It was the stupidest thing I've ever seen.

00:13:09But Ron did not seem to have heard.

00:13:11Lavender had just arrived with Pavarti.

00:13:13Squeezing herself in between Harry and Ron, Lavender flung her arms around Ron's neck.

00:13:18Hi, Harry, said Pavarti, who, like him, looked faintly embarrassed and bored by the behaviour

00:13:22of their two friends.

00:13:23Hi, said Harry.

00:13:24How are you?

00:13:25You staying at Hogwarts, then?

00:13:26I heard your parents wanted you to leave.

00:13:30I managed to talk them out of it for the time being, said Pavarti.

00:13:34That Katie thing really freaked them out, but as there hasn't been anything since…

00:13:38Oh, hi, Hermione.

00:13:40Pavarti positively beamed.

00:13:42Harry could tell that she was feeling guilty for having laughed at Hermione in Transfiguration.

00:13:46He looked around and saw that Hermione was beaming back, if possible, even more brightly.

00:13:51Girls were very strange sometimes.

00:13:52Hi, Pavarti, said Hermione, ignoring Ron and Lavender completely.

00:13:56Are you going to Slughorn's party tonight?

00:13:59No invite, said Pavarti gloomily.

00:14:01I'd love to go, though.

00:14:02It sounds like it's going to be really good.

00:14:04You're going, aren't you?

00:14:05Yes.

00:14:06I'm meeting Cormac at eight, and we're…

00:14:09There was a noise like a plunger being withdrawn from a blocked sink, and Ron surfaced.

00:14:13Hermione acted as though she had not seen or heard anything.

00:14:16We're going to the party together.

00:14:18Cormac?

00:14:19said Pavarti.

00:14:20Cormac McLagan, you mean?

00:14:21That's right, said Hermione sweetly, the one who almost – she put a great deal of

00:14:25emphasis on the word – became Gryffindor Keeper.

00:14:28Are you going out with him, then? asked Pavarti, wide-eyed.

00:14:31Oh, yes.

00:14:32Didn't you know, said Hermione, with a most un-Hermione-ish giggle?

00:14:37No, said Pavarti, looking positively agog at the piece of gossip.

00:14:41Wow, you like your Quidditch players, don't you?

00:14:44First Crumb, then McLagan.

00:14:45I like really good Quidditch players, Hermione corrected her, still smiling.

00:14:50Well, see you.

00:14:52Got to go and get ready for the party.

00:14:54She left.

00:14:55At once, Lavender and Pavarti put their heads together to discuss the new development and

00:14:59everything they had ever heard about McLagan, and all they had ever guessed about Hermione.

00:15:05One looked strangely blank and said nothing.

00:15:08Harry was left to ponder in silence the depths to which girls would sink to get revenge.

00:15:13When he arrived in the entrance hall at eight o'clock that night, he found an unusually

00:15:16large number of girls lurking there, all of whom seemed to be staring at him resentfully

00:15:20as he approached Luna.

00:15:22She was wearing a set of spangled silver robes that was attracting a certain amount of giggling

00:15:26from the onlookers, but otherwise she looked quite nice.

00:15:29Harry was glad in any case that she had left off her radish earrings, butterbeer cork necklace

00:15:36and her spectre-specs.

00:15:37Hi, she said.

00:15:39Shall we get going then?

00:15:40Oh, yes, she said happily.

00:15:43Where is the party?

00:15:45Slughorn's office, said Harry, leading her up the marble staircase away from the staring

00:15:49and muttering.

00:15:50Did you hear?

00:15:51There's supposed to be a vampire coming.

00:15:52Rufus Scrimgeour, asked Luna.

00:15:55What?

00:15:56said Harry, disconcerted.

00:15:57You mean the Minister for Magic?

00:15:59Yes.

00:16:00He's a vampire, said Luna matter-of-factly.

00:16:02Fava wrote a very long article about it when Scrimgeour first took over from Cornelius Fudge,

00:16:07but he was forced not to publish by somebody from the Ministry.

00:16:10Obviously, they didn't want the truth to get out.

00:16:13Harry, who thought it most unlikely that Rufus Scrimgeour was a vampire, but who was used

00:16:18to Luna repeating her father's bizarre views as though they were fact, did not reply.

00:16:23They were already approaching Slughorn's office, and the sounds of laughter, music and loud

00:16:26conversation were growing louder with every step they took.

00:16:30Whether it had been built that way, or because he had used magical trickery to make it so,

00:16:34Slughorn's office was much larger than the usual teacher's study.

00:16:37The ceiling and walls had been draped with emerald, crimson and gold hangings, so that

00:16:42it looked as though they were all inside a vast tent.

00:16:44The room was crowded and stuffy, and bathed in the red light cast by an ornate golden

00:16:49lamp dangling from the centre of the ceiling, in which real fairies were fluttering, each

00:16:53a brilliant speck of light.

00:16:55Loud singing accompanied by what sounded like mandolins issued from a distant corner,

00:16:59a haze of piped smoke hung over several elderly warlocks deep in conversation, and a number

00:17:04of house elves were negotiating their way squeakily through the forest of knees, obscured

00:17:09by the heavy silver platters of food they were bearing, so that they looked like little

00:17:12roving tables.

00:17:13Harry, my boy, boomed Slughorn almost as soon as Harry and Luna had squeezed in through

00:17:19the door.

00:17:20Come in, come in, so many people I'd like you to meet.

00:17:23Slughorn was wearing a tasseled velvet hat to match his smoking jacket, gripping Harry's

00:17:27arm so tightly he might have been hoping to disapparate with him.

00:17:31Slughorn led him purposefully into the party.

00:17:34Harry seized Luna's hand and dragged her along with him.

00:17:37Harry, I'd like you to meet Eldred Warple, an old student of mine, author of Blood Brothers

00:17:42My Life Amongst the Vampires, and of course, his friend Sanguine.

00:17:46Warple, who was a small, bespectacled man, grabbed Harry's hand and shook it enthusiastically.

00:17:52The vampire Sanguine, who was tall and emaciated, with dark shadows under his eyes, merely nodded.

00:17:59He looked rather bored.

00:18:00A gaggle of girls was standing close to him, looking curious and excited.

00:18:04Harry Potter, I am simply delighted, said Warple, peering short-sightedly up into Harry's

00:18:09face.

00:18:10I was saying to Professor Slughorn only the other day, where is the biography of Harry

00:18:14Potter for which we have all been waiting?

00:18:16Uh, said Harry, were you?

00:18:19Just as modest as Horace described, said Warple, but, seriously, his manner changed.

00:18:25It became suddenly business-like.

00:18:27I would be delighted to write it myself.

00:18:29People are craving to know more about you, dear boy, craving.

00:18:33If you were prepared to grant me a few interviews, say in four or five-hour sessions, why, we

00:18:38could have the book finished within months, and all with very little effort on your part,

00:18:43I assure you, ask Sanguine here if it isn't quiet.

00:18:47Sanguine, stay here, added Warple, suddenly stern, for the vampire had been edging towards

00:18:51the nearby group of girls, a rather hungry look in his eye.

00:18:55Here, have a pasty, said Warple, seizing one from a passing elf, and stuffing it into Sanguine's

00:19:00hand before turning his attention back to Harry.

00:19:04My dear boy, the gold you could make, you have no idea.

00:19:07I'm definitely not interested, said Harry firmly, and I've just seen a friend of mine,

00:19:12sorry.

00:19:13As he followed Luna after him into the crowd, he had indeed just seen a long mane of brown

00:19:16hair disappear between what looked like two members of the Weird Sisters.

00:19:21Hermione!

00:19:22Hermione!

00:19:23Harry!

00:19:24There you are, thank goodness.

00:19:25Hi, Luna.

00:19:26What's happened to you?

00:19:27Asked Harry, for Hermione looked distinctly disheveled, rather as though she had just

00:19:31fought her way out of a thicket of devil's snare.

00:19:34Oh, I've just escaped, I mean, I've just left Cormac, she said, under the mistletoe,

00:19:39She added in explanation, as Harry continued to look questioningly at her.

00:19:43Serves you right for coming with him, he told her severely.

00:19:46I thought it he'd annoy Ron most, said Hermione dispassionately.

00:19:49I debated for a while about Zacharias Smith, but I thought on the whole.

00:19:54You considered Smith, said Harry revolted.

00:19:56Yes, I did, and I'm starting to wish I'd chosen him.

00:20:00MacLagan makes Grawp look like a gentleman.

00:20:02Let's go this way, we'll be able to see him coming, he's so tall.

00:20:06The three of them made their way over to the other side of the room, scooping up goblets

00:20:10of mead on the way, realising too late that Professor Trelawney was standing there alone.

00:20:15Hello, said Luna politely to Professor Trelawney.

00:20:19Good evening, my dear, said Professor Trelawney, focusing upon Luna with some difficulty.

00:20:24Harry could smell cooking sherry again.

00:20:27Haven't seen you in my classes lately?

00:20:29No, I've got forens this year, said Luna.

00:20:32No, of course, said Professor Trelawney with an angry, drunken titter.

00:20:36Or Dobbin, as I prefer to think of him.

00:20:40You would have thought, would you not, that now I am returning to the school, Professor

00:20:44Dumbledore might have got rid of the horse.

00:20:46But no, we share classes.

00:20:49It's an insult, frankly, an insult.

00:20:51Do you know?

00:20:53Professor Trelawney seemed too tipsy to have recognised Harry.

00:20:56Undercover of her furious criticisms of forens, Harry drew closer to Hermione and said, let's

00:21:01get something straight.

00:21:02Are you planning to tell Ron that you interfered at Keeper tryouts?

00:21:06Hermione raised her eyebrows.

00:21:07Do you really think I'd stoop that low?

00:21:10Harry looked at her shrewdly.

00:21:11Hermione, if you can ask out MacLagan, there's a difference, said Hermione with dignity.

00:21:16I've got no plans to tell Ron anything about what might or might not have happened at Keeper

00:21:20tryouts.

00:21:21Good, said Harry fervently, because he'll just fall apart again and we'll lose the next

00:21:26match.

00:21:27Quidditch, said Hermione angrily, is that all boys care about?

00:21:30Mac hasn't asked me one single question about myself.

00:21:33No, I've just been treated to a hundred great saves made by Cormac MacLagan, non-stop, ever

00:21:39since.

00:21:40Oh no, here he comes.

00:21:42She moved so fast it was as though she had disapparated.

00:21:45One moment she was there, the next she had squeezed between two guffawing witches and

00:21:48vanished.

00:21:49Seen Hermione?

00:21:51Asked MacLagan, forcing his way through the frong a minute later.

00:21:54No, sorry, said Harry, and he turned quickly to join in Luna's conversation, forgetting

00:21:59for a split second to whom she was talking.

00:22:01Harry Potter, said Professor Trelawney in deep, vibrant tones, noticing him for the

00:22:06first time.

00:22:07Oh, hello, said Harry unenthusiastically.

00:22:10My dear boy, she said in a very carrying whisper.

00:22:13The rumours, the stories, the Chosen One!

00:22:16Of course, I have known for a very long time the omens were never good, Harry.

00:22:20But why have you not returned to divination?

00:22:23For you, of all people, the subject is of the utmost importance.

00:22:27Ah, Sybil!

00:22:29We all think our subjects most important, said a loud voice, and Slughorn appeared at

00:22:33Professor Trelawney's other side.

00:22:36His face very red, his velvet hat a little askew, a glass of mead in one hand and an

00:22:41enormous mince pie in the other.

00:22:42But I don't think I have ever known such a natural at potions, said Slughorn, regarding

00:22:47Harry with a fond, if bloodshot, eye.

00:22:49Instinctive, you know, like his mother.

00:22:51I have only ever taught a few with this kind of ability, I can tell you that, Sybil.

00:22:55Why, even Severus!

00:22:57And to Harry's horror, Slughorn threw out an arm and seemed to scoop Snape out of thin

00:23:01air towards him.

00:23:02Stop skulking and come join us, Severus, hiccuped Slughorn happily.

00:23:06I was just talking about Harry's exceptional potion-making.

00:23:10Some credit must go to you, of course.

00:23:12You taught him for five years.

00:23:14Trapped with Slughorn's arm around his shoulders, Snape looked down his hooked nose at Harry,

00:23:19his black eyes narrowed.

00:23:21Funny.

00:23:22I never had the impression that I managed to teach Potter anything at all.

00:23:26Well, then, it's natural ability, shouted Slughorn.

00:23:29You should have seen what he gave me first lesson, the draft of living death.

00:23:33Never had a student produce finer on a first attempt.

00:23:36I don't think even you, Severus.

00:23:38Really, said Snape quietly, his eyes still boring into Harry, who felt a certain disquiet.

00:23:44The last thing he wanted was for Snape to start investigating the source of his new-found

00:23:48brilliance at potions.

00:23:50Remind me what other subjects you're taking, Harry, asked Slughorn.

00:23:54Defence against the dark arts, charms, transfiguration and herbology.

00:24:01All the subjects required, in short, for an aura, said Snape with a faintest sneer.

00:24:06Yeah, well, that's what I'd like to be, said Harry defiantly.

00:24:10And a great one you'll make too, boomed Slughorn.

00:24:14I don't think you should be an aura, Harry, said Luna unexpectedly.

00:24:18Everybody looked at her.

00:24:19An aura is a part of the Rotfang conspiracy.

00:24:21I thought everyone knew that.

00:24:23They're working from within to bring down the Ministry of Magic, using a combination

00:24:27of dark magic and gum disease.

00:24:30Harry inhaled half his mead up his nose as he started to laugh.

00:24:33Really, it'd have been worth bringing Luna just for this.

00:24:36Emerging from his goblet, coughing, sopping wet, but still grinning, he saw something

00:24:40calculated to raise his spirits even higher.

00:24:43Draco Malfoy being dragged by the ear towards them by Argus Filch.

00:24:47Professor Slughorn, wheezed Filch, his jowls a-quiver and the maniacal light of mischief

00:24:52detection in his bulging eyes.

00:24:54I discover this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor.

00:24:58He claims to have been invited to your party and to have been delayed in setting out.

00:25:02Do you issue him with an invitation?

00:25:05Malfoy pulled himself free of Filch's grip, looking furious.

00:25:07All right, I wasn't invited, he said angrily.

00:25:10I was trying to gate-crash.

00:25:11Happy?

00:25:12No, I'm not, said Filch, a statement at complete odds, with a glee on his face.

00:25:18You're in trouble.

00:25:19You are.

00:25:20Didn't the headmaster say that night-time prowling's out, unless you've got permission,

00:25:23didn't he, eh?

00:25:24That's all right, Argus, that's all right, said Slughorn, waving a hand.

00:25:29It's Christmas, and it's not a crime to want to come to a party.

00:25:32Just this once, we'll forget any punishment.

00:25:35You may stay, Draco.

00:25:36Filch's expression of outraged disappointment was perfectly predictable.

00:25:40But why, Harry wondered, watching him, did Malfoy look almost equally unhappy?

00:25:44And why was Snape looking at Malfoy as though both angry, and was it possible, a little

00:25:48afraid?

00:25:49But almost before Harry had registered what he had seen, Filch had turned and shuffled

00:25:53away, muttering under his breath.

00:25:55Malfoy had composed his face into a smile, and was thanking Slughorn for his generosity,

00:26:01and Snape's face was smoothly inscrutable again.

00:26:03It's nothing, nothing, said Slughorn, waving away Malfoy's thanks.

00:26:07I did know your grandfather, after all.

00:26:10He always spoke very highly of you, sir, said Malfoy quickly.

00:26:14He said you were the best potion-maker he'd ever known.

00:26:17Harry stared at Malfoy.

00:26:19It was not the sucking up that intrigued him.

00:26:21He had watched Malfoy do that to Snape for a long time.

00:26:23It was the fact that Malfoy did, after all, look a little ill.

00:26:26It was that this was the first time he had seen Malfoy close up for ages.

00:26:30He now saw that Malfoy had dark shadows under his eyes, and a distinctly greyish tinge to

00:26:34his skin.

00:26:35I'd like a word with you, Draco, said Snape suddenly.

00:26:40Oh, now, Severus, said Slughorn, hiccuping again.

00:26:44It's Christmas.

00:26:45Don't be too hard.

00:26:46I'm his head of house, and I shall decide how hard or otherwise to be, said Snape curtly.

00:26:52Follow me, Draco.

00:26:54They left, Snape leading the way, Malfoy looking resentful.

00:26:57Harry stood there for a moment, irresolute, and then said, I'll be back in a bit.

00:27:02Luna, erm, bathroom.

00:27:04All right, she said cheerfully, and he thought he heard her, as he hurried off into the crowd,

00:27:09resuming the subject of the Rot Gang conspiracy with Professor Trelawney, who seemed sincerely

00:27:14interested.

00:27:15It was easy, once out of the party, to pull his invisibility cloak out of his pocket and

00:27:19throw it over himself, for the corridor was quite deserted.

00:27:23What was more difficult was finding Snape and Malfoy.

00:27:26Harry ran down the corridor, the noise of his feet masked by the music and loud talk

00:27:30still issuing from Slughorn's office behind him.

00:27:33Perhaps Snape had taken Malfoy to his office in the dungeons, or perhaps he was escorting

00:27:37him back to the Slytherin common room, but Harry pressed his ear against door after

00:27:41door as he dashed down the corridor, until, with a great jolt of excitement, he crouched

00:27:46down to the keyhole of the last classroom in the corridor and heard voices.

00:27:50Cannot afford mistakes, Draco, because if you are expelled…

00:27:53I didn't have anything to do with it, all right?

00:27:56I hope you are telling the truth, because it was both clumsy and foolish.

00:28:01Already you are suspected of having a hand in it.

00:28:04Who suspects me?

00:28:05said Malfoy angrily.

00:28:06For the last time, I didn't do it, okay?

00:28:08That bell girl must have had an enemy no one knows about.

00:28:12Don't look at me like that.

00:28:13I know what you're doing.

00:28:14I'm not stupid.

00:28:15But it won't work.

00:28:16I can stop you.

00:28:17There was a pause, and then Snape said quietly,

00:28:20Ah, Aunt Bellatrix has been teaching you Occulancy, I see.

00:28:25What thoughts are you trying to conceal from your master, Draco?

00:28:29I am not trying to conceal anything from him.

00:28:32I just don't want you butting in.

00:28:35Harry pressed his ear still more closely against the keyhole.

00:28:38What had happened to make Malfoy speak to Snape like this?

00:28:41Snape, towards whom he had always shown respect, even liking?

00:28:45So that is why you have been avoiding me this term.

00:28:48You have feared my interference.

00:28:51You realise that, had anybody else failed to come to my office when I had told them

00:28:54repeatedly to be there, Draco?

00:28:56So put me into detention.

00:28:58Report me to Dumbledore, jeered Malfoy.

00:29:01There was another pause, then Snape said, You know perfectly well that I do not wish

00:29:06to do either of those things.

00:29:09You better stop telling me to come to your office, then.

00:29:11Listen to me, said Snape, his voice so low now that Harry had to push his ear very hard

00:29:16against the keyhole to hear.

00:29:18I am trying to help you.

00:29:19I swore to your mother I would protect you.

00:29:22I made the unbreakable vow, Draco.

00:29:25Looks like you'll have to break it, then, because I don't need your protection.

00:29:28It's my job.

00:29:29You gave it to me, and I'm doing it.

00:29:31I've got a plan, and it's going to work.

00:29:33It's just taking a bit longer than I thought it would.

00:29:36What is your plan?

00:29:37It's none of your business.

00:29:39If you tell me what you're trying to do, I can assist you.

00:29:43I've got all the assistance I need, thanks.

00:29:45I'm not alone.

00:29:46You were certainly alone tonight, which was foolish in the extreme, wandering the corridors

00:29:52without lookouts or backup.

00:29:54These are elementary mistakes.

00:29:56I would have had Crabbe and Goyle with me if you hadn't put them in detention.

00:30:00Keep your voice down, spat Snape, for Malfoy's voice had risen excitedly.

00:30:05If your friends Crabbe and Goyle intend to pass their Defence Against the Dark Arts Owl

00:30:10this time around, they will need to work a little harder than they are doing at present.

00:30:14What does it matter, said Malfoy?

00:30:16Defence Against the Dark Arts?

00:30:17It's all just a joke, isn't it?

00:30:19An act, like any of us need protecting against the Dark Arts.

00:30:23It is an act that is crucial to success, Draco, said Snape.

00:30:28Where do you think I would have been all these years if I had not known how to act?

00:30:32Now listen to me.

00:30:33You are being incautious, wandering around at night, getting yourself caught, and if

00:30:38you are placing your reliance on assistants like Crabbe and Goyle, they're not the only

00:30:43ones.

00:30:44I've got other people on my side, better people.

00:30:46Then why not confide in me?

00:30:47I can.

00:30:48I know what you're up to.

00:30:49You want to steal my glory.

00:30:52There was another pause.

00:30:53Then Snape said coldly,

00:30:54You are speaking like a child.

00:30:56I quite understand that your father's capture and imprisonment has upset you, but…

00:31:01Harry had barely a second's warning.

00:31:03He heard Malfoy's footsteps on the other side of the door and flung himself out of

00:31:07the way just as it burst open.

00:31:09Malfoy was striding away down the corridor, past the open door of Slughorn's office,

00:31:14round the distant corner and out of sight.

00:31:17Hardly daring to breathe, Harry remained crouched down as Snape emerged slowly from the classroom.

00:31:22His expression unfathomable.

00:31:24He returned to the party.

00:31:26Harry remained on the door, hidden beneath the cloak, his mind racing.

00:31:34Chapter 16 A Very Frosty Christmas

00:31:38Sir Snape was offering to help him.

00:31:39He was definitely offering to help him.

00:31:41If you ask that once more, said Harry, I'm going to stick this sprout.

00:31:45Am I checking, said Ron.

00:31:47They were standing alone at the borough's kitchen sink, peeling a mountain of sprouts

00:31:50for Mrs Weasley.

00:31:51Snow was drifting past the window in front of them.

00:31:54Yes, Snape was offering to help him, said Harry.

00:31:57He said he'd promised Malfoy's mother to protect him, that he'd made an unbreakable

00:32:00oath or something.

00:32:02An unbreakable oath, or vow, said Ron, looking stunned.

00:32:05No, he can't have.

00:32:07Are you sure?

00:32:08Yes, I'm sure, said Harry.

00:32:09Why?

00:32:10What does that mean?

00:32:11Well, you can't break an unbreakable vow.

00:32:13I'd worked that much out for myself, funnily enough.

00:32:17What happens if you break it then?

00:32:18You die, said Ron simply.

00:32:20Fred and George tried to get me to make one when I was about five.

00:32:23I nearly did, too.

00:32:24I was holding hands with Fred and everything when Dad found us.

00:32:27He went mental, said Ron, with a reminiscent gleam in his eyes.

00:32:31Only time I've ever seen Dad as angry as Mum.

00:32:34Fred reckons his left buttock has never been the same since.

00:32:37Yeah, well, passing over Fred's left buttock.

00:32:39I beg your pardon, said Fred's voice as the twins entered the kitchen.

00:32:43Ah, George, look at this.

00:32:45They're using knives and everything.

00:32:47Bless them.

00:32:48I'll be 17 in two and a bit months' time, said Ron grumpily, and then I'll be able to

00:32:52do it by magic.

00:32:53But meanwhile, said George, sitting down at the kitchen table and putting his feet up

00:32:57on it, we can enjoy watching you demonstrate the correct use of a whoopsie-daisy.

00:33:02You made me do that, said Ron angrily, sucking his cut thumb.

00:33:06You wait.

00:33:07When I'm 17.

00:33:08I'm sure you'll dazzle us all with hitherto unsuspected magical skills, yawned Fred.

00:33:13And speaking of hitherto unsuspected skills, Ronald, said George, what is this we hear

00:33:18from Ginny about you and a young lady called, unless our information is faulty, Lavender

00:33:23Brown?

00:33:24Ron turned a little pink, but did not look displeased as he turned back to the sprouts.

00:33:28Mind your own business.

00:33:29What a snappy retort, said Fred.

00:33:31I really don't know how you think of them.

00:33:34No, what we wanted to know was, how did it happen?

00:33:37What do you mean?

00:33:38Did she have an accident or something?

00:33:40What?

00:33:41How does she sustain such extensive brain damage?

00:33:44Careful now.

00:33:45Mrs. Weasley entered the room just in time to see Ron throw the sprouts knife at Fred,

00:33:49who turned it into a paper aeroplane with one lazy flick of his wand.

00:33:52Ron, she said furiously, don't you ever let me see you throwing knives again.

00:33:57I won't, said Ron.

00:33:58Let you see, he added under his breath, as he turned back to the sprout mountain.

00:34:02Fred, George, I'm sorry dears, but Remus is arriving tonight, so Bill will have to

00:34:07squeeze in with you two.

00:34:08No problem, said George.

00:34:10Then, as Charlie isn't coming home, that just leaves Harry and Ron in the attic, and

00:34:14if Fleur shares with Ginny.

00:34:15That'll make Ginny's Christmas, muttered Fred.

00:34:18Everyone should be comfortable.

00:34:19Well, they'll have a bed anyway, said Mrs. Weasley, sounding slightly harassed.

00:34:24Percy definitely not showing his ugly face then, asked Fred.

00:34:27Mrs. Weasley turned away before she answered, no, he's busy, I expect, at the ministry.

00:34:33Or he's the world's biggest prat, said Fred, as Mrs. Weasley left the kitchen.

00:34:37One of the two.

00:34:38Well, let's get going then, George.

00:34:40What are you two up to?

00:34:42Asked Ron.

00:34:43Can't you help us with these sprouts?

00:34:44You could just use your wand and then we'll be free too.

00:34:47No, I don't think we can do that, said Fred, seriously.

00:34:50It's very character building stuff, learning to peel sprouts without magic.

00:34:54Makes you appreciate how difficult it is for muggles and squibs.

00:34:57And if you want people to help you, Ron, added George, throwing the paper aeroplane at him,

00:35:02I wouldn't chuck knives at them.

00:35:04Just a little hint.

00:35:05We're off to the village.

00:35:06There's a very pretty girl working in the paper shop who thinks my card tricks are something

00:35:09marvellous, almost like real magic.

00:35:12Gits, said Ron darkly, watching Fred and George setting off across the snowy yard, would have

00:35:17only taken them ten seconds and then we could have gone too.

00:35:20I couldn't, said Harry.

00:35:21I promised Dumbledore I wouldn't wander off while I'm staying here.

00:35:24Oh, yeah, said Ron.

00:35:26He peeled a few more sprouts and then said, are you going to tell Dumbledore what you

00:35:30heard Snape and Malfoy saying to each other?

00:35:33Yup, said Harry.

00:35:34I'm going to tell anyone who can put a stop to it and Dumbledore's top of the list.

00:35:38I might have another word with your dad, too.

00:35:41Pity you didn't hear what Malfoy's actually doing, though.

00:35:43I couldn't have done, could I?

00:35:45That was the whole point.

00:35:46He was refusing to tell Snape.

00:35:47There was a silence for a moment or two, and then Ron said, course, you know what they'll

00:35:52all say.

00:35:53Dad and Dumbledore and all of them.

00:35:54They'll say Snape isn't really trying to help Malfoy.

00:35:56He was just trying to find out what Malfoy's up to.

00:35:59They didn't hear him, said Harry flatly.

00:36:02No one's that good an actor, not even Snape.

00:36:04Yeah, I'm just saying, though, said Ron.

00:36:06Harry turned to face him, frowning.

00:36:08You think I'm right, though?

00:36:09Yeah, I do, said Ron hastily.

00:36:11Seriously, I do.

00:36:12But they're all convinced Snape's in the order, aren't they?

00:36:15Harry said nothing.

00:36:16It had already occurred to him that this would be the most likely objection to his new evidence.

00:36:20He could hear Hermione now.

00:36:22Obviously, Harry, he was pretending to offer help so he could trick Malfoy into telling

00:36:26him what he's doing.

00:36:28This was pure imagination, however, as he had no opportunity to tell Hermione what he'd

00:36:32overheard.

00:36:33She had disappeared from Slughorn's party before he returned to it, or so he'd been

00:36:37informed by an irate MacLaggen, and she'd already gone to bed by the time he returned

00:36:41to the common room.

00:36:42As he and Ron had left for the borough early the next day, he had barely had time to wish

00:36:46her a happy Christmas and to tell her that he had some very important news when they

00:36:51got back from the holidays.

00:36:52He was not entirely sure that she had heard him, though.

00:36:55Ron and Lavender had been saying a thoroughly non-verbal goodbye just behind him at the

00:36:59time.

00:37:00Still, even Hermione could not be able to deny one thing.

00:37:04Malfoy was definitely up to something, and Snape knew it, so Harry felt fully justified

00:37:08in saying, I told you so, which he had done several times to Ron already.

00:37:12Harry did not get the chance to speak to Mr Weasley, who was working very long hours at

00:37:16the ministry, until Christmas Eve night.

00:37:19The Weasleys and their guests were sitting in the living room, which Ginny had decorated

00:37:22so lavishly that it was rather like sitting in a paper chain explosion.

00:37:26Fred, George, Harry and Ron were the only ones who knew that the angel on top of the

00:37:30tree was actually a garden gnome that had bitten Fred on the ankle as he pulled up carrots

00:37:36for Christmas dinner.

00:37:37Stupefied, painted gold, stuffed into a miniature tutu and with small wings glued to its back,

00:37:43it glowered down at them all, the ugliest angel Harry had ever seen, with a large bald

00:37:47head like a potato and rather hairy feet.

00:37:50They were all supposed to be listening to a Christmas broadcast by Mrs Weasley's favourite

00:37:54singer, Celestina Warbeck, whose voice was warbling out of the large wooden wireless.

00:37:59Fleur, who seemed to find Celestina very dull, was talking so loudly in the corner that a

00:38:04scowling Mrs Weasley kept pointing her wand at the volume control, so that Celestina grew

00:38:09louder and louder.

00:38:11Under cover of a particularly jazzy number called A Cauldron Full of Hot Strong Love,

00:38:16Fred and George started a game of exploding snap with Ginny.

00:38:19Tom kept shooting Bill and Fleur covert looks, as though hoping to pick up tips.

00:38:24Meanwhile, Remus Lupin, who was thinner and more ragged-looking than ever, was sitting

00:38:28beside the fire, staring into its depths, as though he could not hear Celestina's voice.

00:38:33I'll come and stir my cauldron, and if you do it right, I'll boil you up some hot strong

00:38:38love to keep you warm to-night.

00:38:41We danced to this when we were eighteen, said Mrs Weasley, wiping her eyes on her knitting.

00:38:45Do you remember, Arthur?

00:38:48Grrrr, said Mr Weasley, whose head had been nodding over the satsuma he was peeling.

00:38:53Oh, yes, a marvellous time.

00:38:56With an effort he sat up a little straighter, and looked around at Harry, who was sitting

00:39:00next to him.

00:39:01Sorry about this, he said, jerking his head towards the wireless as Celestina broke into

00:39:05the chorus.

00:39:06Be over soon.

00:39:07No problem, said Harry, grinning.

00:39:10Has it been busy at the ministry?

00:39:11Very, said Mr Weasley.

00:39:12I wouldn't mind if we were getting anywhere, but of the free arrests we've made in the

00:39:16last couple of months, I doubt that one of them is a genuine deaf eater.

00:39:20Only, don't repeat that, Harry, he added quickly, looking much more awake all of a sudden.

00:39:24They're not still holding Stan Shunpike, are they?

00:39:27Asked Harry.

00:39:28I'm afraid so, said Mr Weasley.

00:39:29I know Dumbledore's tried appealing directly to Scrimgeour about Stan.

00:39:33I mean, anybody who has actually interviewed him agrees that he's about as much a deaf

00:39:37eater as that satsuma.

00:39:39But the two levels want to look as though they're making some progress, and the free

00:39:45arrests sound better than free mistaken arrests and releases, but again, this is all top secret.

00:39:51I won't say anything, said Harry.

00:39:52He hesitated for a moment, wondering how best to embark on what he wanted to say as he marshalled

00:39:57his thoughts.

00:39:58Celestina Warbeck began a ballad called You Charmed the Heart Right Out of Me.

00:40:03Mr Weasley, you know what I told you at the station when we were setting off for school?

00:40:08I checked, Harry, said Mr Weasley at once.

00:40:10I went and searched the Malfoy's house.

00:40:12There was nothing, either broken or whole.

00:40:14What shouldn't have been there?

00:40:16Yeah, I know, I saw in the prophet that you'd looked, but this is something different, well,

00:40:21something more.

00:40:22And he told Mr Weasley everything he'd overheard between Malfoy and Snape.

00:40:26As Harry spoke, he saw Lupin's head turn into a little towards him, taking in every word.

00:40:31When he'd finished, there was a silence except for Celestina's crooning.

00:40:35Oh, my poor heart, where has it gone?

00:40:39It's left me for a spell.

00:40:42Has it occurred to you, Harry, said Mr Weasley, that Snape was simply pretending?

00:40:46Pretending to offer help, so that he could find out what Malfoy's up to, said Harry quickly.

00:40:50Yeah, I thought you'd say that.

00:40:52But how do we know?

00:40:53It isn't our business to know, said Lupin unexpectedly.

00:40:57He had turned his back on the fire now, and faced Harry across, Mr Weasley.

00:41:00It's Dumbledore's business.

00:41:02Dumbledore trusts Severus, and that ought to be good enough for all of us.

00:41:05But, said Harry, just say, just say Dumbledore's wrong about Snape.

00:41:10People have said it many times.

00:41:11It comes down to whether or not you trust Dumbledore's judgment.

00:41:14I do, therefore I trust Severus.

00:41:16But Dumbledore can make mistakes, argued Harry.

00:41:20He says it himself.

00:41:21And you, he looked Lupin straight in the eye, do you honestly like Snape?

00:41:25I never, I neither like or dislike Severus, said Lupin.

00:41:29No, Harry, I am speaking the truth, he added, as Harry pulled a sceptical expression.

00:41:34We shall never be bosom friends.

00:41:36Perhaps after all that happened between James and Sirius and Severus, there is too much

00:41:40bitterness there.

00:41:41But I do not forget that during the year I taught at Hogwarts, Severus made the Wolfsbane

00:41:46Potion for me every month, made it perfectly, so that I did not have to suffer as I usually

00:41:51do at full moon.

00:41:52But he accidentally let it slip that you're a werewolf, so you had to leave, said Harry

00:41:56angrily.

00:41:57Lupin shrugged.

00:41:59The news would have leaked out anyway.

00:42:01We both know he wanted my job, but he could have wreaked much worse damage on me by tampering

00:42:07with the potion.

00:42:08He kept me healthy.

00:42:09I must be grateful.

00:42:11Maybe he didn't dare mess with the potion with Dumbledore watching him, said Harry.

00:42:14You are determined to hate him, Harry, said Lupin with a faint smile, and I understand.

00:42:19With James as your father, with Sirius as your godfather, you have inherited an old

00:42:23prejudice.

00:42:24By all means tell Dumbledore what you have told Arthur and me, but do not expect him

00:42:27to share your view of the matter.

00:42:29Do not even expect him to be surprised by what you tell him.

00:42:32It might have been on Dumbledore's orders that Severus questioned Draco.

00:42:35And now you've torn it quite apart, I thank you to give back my heart, Celestina ended

00:42:44her song on a very long, high-pitched note, and loud applause issued out of the wireless,

00:42:49which Mrs Weasley joined in with enthusiastically.

00:42:52Is it over? said Fleur loudly.

00:42:54Thank goodness.

00:42:55What an horrible...

00:42:56Shall we have a nightcap then? asked Mr Weasley loudly, leaping to his feet.

00:43:00Who wants eggnog?

00:43:02What have you been up to lately?

00:43:04Harry asked Lupin, as Mr Weasley bustled off to fetch the eggnog and everybody else

00:43:08stretched and broke into conversation.

00:43:10Oh, I've been underground, said Lupin, almost literally, that's why I haven't been able

00:43:14to write.

00:43:15Harry, sending letters to you would have been something of a giveaway.

00:43:18What do you mean?

00:43:19I've been living among my fellows, my equals, said Lupin, werewolves, he added, as Harry's

00:43:24look of incomprehension.

00:43:27Nearly all of them are on Voldemort's side.

00:43:29Dumbledore wanted a spy, and here I was, ready-made.

00:43:33He sounded a little bitter, and perhaps realized it, for he smiled more warmly as he went on.

00:43:38I'm not complaining.

00:43:39It is necessary work, and who can do it better than I?

00:43:42However, it has been difficult gaining their trust.

00:43:45I bear the unmistakable signs of having tried to live among wizards, you see, whereas they

00:43:49have shunned normal society and live on the margins, stealing and sometimes killing to

00:43:53eat.

00:43:54How come they like Voldemort?

00:43:56They think that under his rule they will have a better life, said Lupin.

00:44:00It's hard to argue with Greyback out there.

00:44:02Who's Greyback?

00:44:03You haven't heard of him?

00:44:05Lupin's hands closed convulsively in his lap.

00:44:08Fenrir Greyback is perhaps the most savage werewolf alive today.

00:44:13He regards it as his mission in life to bite and to contaminate as many people as possible.

00:44:18He wants to create enough werewolves to overcome the wizards.

00:44:21Voldemort has promised him prey in return for his services.

00:44:25Greyback specializes in children.

00:44:26Bite them young, he says, and raise them away from their parents.

00:44:30Raise them to hate normal wizards.

00:44:32Voldemort has threatened to unleash him upon people's sons and daughters.

00:44:35It is a threat that usually produces good results.

00:44:38Lupin paused and then said, it was Greyback who bit me.

00:44:41What?

00:44:42said Harry, astonished.

00:44:43When?

00:44:44When you were a kid, you mean?

00:44:45Yes.

00:44:46My father had offended him.

00:44:48I did not know for a very long time the identity of the werewolf who had attacked me.

00:44:52I even felt pity for him, thinking that he had no control, knowing by then how it felt

00:44:57to transform.

00:44:58But Greyback is not like that.

00:45:00At the full moon, he positions himself close to victims, ensuring that he is near enough

00:45:04to strike.

00:45:05He plans it all.

00:45:06And this is the man Voldemort is using to marshal the werewolves.

00:45:10I cannot pretend that my particular brand of reasoned argument is making much headway

00:45:14against Greyback's insistence that we werewolves deserve blood, that we ought to revenge ourselves

00:45:19on normal people.

00:45:21But you are normal, said Harry fiercely.

00:45:23You've just got a… a problem, Lupin burst out laughing.

00:45:29Problems?

00:45:30You remind me a lot of James.

00:45:31He called it my furry little problem in company.

00:45:34Many people were under the impression that I owned a badly behaved rabbit.

00:45:37He accepted a glass of eggnog from Mr Weasley with a word of thanks, looking slightly more

00:45:42cheerful.

00:45:43Harry, meanwhile, felt a rush of excitement.

00:45:45This last mention of his father had reminded him that there was something he had been looking

00:45:48forward to asking Lupin.

00:45:50Have you ever heard of someone called the Half-Blood Prince?

00:45:53The Half-Blood what?

00:45:54Prince, said Harry, watching him closely for signs of recognition.

00:45:58There are no wizarding princes, said Lupin, now smiling.

00:46:01Is this a title you're thinking of adopting?

00:46:03I should have thought being the Chosen One would be enough.

00:46:06It's nothing to do with me, said Harry indignantly.

00:46:08The Half-Blood Prince is someone who used to go to Hogwarts.

00:46:11I've got his old potions book.

00:46:13He wrote spells all over it.

00:46:15Spells he invented.

00:46:16One of them was Leather Corpus.

00:46:18Oh, that one had a great vogue during my time at Hogwarts, said Lupin reminiscently.

00:46:23There were a few months in my fifth year when you couldn't move for being hoisted into

00:46:26the air by your ankle.

00:46:28My dad used it, said Harry.

00:46:29I saw him in the Pensieve.

00:46:30He used it on Snape.

00:46:32He tried to sound casual, as though this was a throwaway comment of no real importance,

00:46:36but he was not sure he had achieved the right effect.

00:46:39Lupin's smile was a little too understanding.

00:46:41Yes, he said, but he wasn't the only one.

00:46:44As I say, it was a very popular, you know, how these spells come and go.

00:46:49But it sounds like it was invented while you were at school, Harry persisted.

00:46:52Not necessarily, said Lupin.

00:46:54Jinxes go in and out of fashion like everything else.

00:46:57He looked into Harry's face and then said quietly, James was a pureblood, Harry.

00:47:01And I promise you, he never asked us to call him Prince.

00:47:04Abandoning pretense, Harry said, and it wasn't Sirius or you?

00:47:09Definitely not.

00:47:10Oh, Harry stared into the fire.

00:47:12I just thought, well, he's helped me a lot in potions classes.

00:47:16The Prince has.

00:47:17How old is this book, Harry?

00:47:19I don't know.

00:47:20I've never checked.

00:47:21Well, perhaps that will give you some clue as to when the Prince was at Hogwarts, said

00:47:25Lupin.

00:47:27Shortly after this, Fleur decided to imitate Celestina singing, a cauldron full of hot

00:47:31strong love, which was taken by everyone once they had glimpsed Mrs. Weasley expression

00:47:36to be the cue to go to bed.

00:47:38Harry and Ron climbed all the way up to Ron's attic bedroom where a camp bed had been added

00:47:42for Harry.

00:47:43Ron fell asleep almost immediately, but Harry delved into his trunk and pulled out his copy

00:47:48of advanced potion making before getting into bed.

00:47:51There he turned its pages, searching until he finally found at the front of the book

00:47:55the date that it had been published.

00:47:57It was nearly 50 years old.

00:47:59Neither his father nor his father's friends had been at Hogwarts 50 years ago.

00:48:03Feeling disappointed, Harry threw the book back into his trunk, turned off the lamp and

00:48:07rolled over, thinking of werewolves and Snape, Stan Shumpike and the Half-Blood Prince and

00:48:12finally falling into an uneasy sleep full of creeping shadows and the cries of bitten

00:48:17children.

00:48:19She's got to be joking.

00:48:21Harry woke with a start to find a bulging stocking lying, stocking lying over the end

00:48:25of his bed.

00:48:26He put on his glasses and looked around.

00:48:28The tiny window was almost completely obscured with snow, and in front of it Ron was sitting

00:48:32bolt upright in bed and examining what appeared to be a thick gold chain.

00:48:36What's that?

00:48:37Asked Harry.

00:48:38It's from lavender, said Ron, sounding revolted.

00:48:41She can't honestly think I'd wear...

00:48:43Harry looked more closely and let out a shout of laughter, dangling from the chain in large

00:48:48gold letters were the words, My Sweetheart.

00:48:50Nice, he said.

00:48:52Classy.

00:48:53You should definitely wear it in front of Fred and George.

00:48:56If you tell them, said Ron, shoving the necklace out of sight under his pillow, I...

00:49:01I'll...

00:49:02Stutter at me, said Harry, grinning.

00:49:04Come on.

00:49:05Would I?

00:49:06How could she think I'd like something like that, though?

00:49:08Ron demanded a thin air, looking rather shocked.

00:49:11Well, think back, said Harry.

00:49:13Have you ever let it slip that you'd like to go out in public with the words My Sweetheart

00:49:17around your neck?

00:49:18Well, we don't really talk much, said Ron.

00:49:20It's mainly...

00:49:21Snogging, said Harry.

00:49:23Well, yeah, said Ron.

00:49:24He hesitated a moment and then said, So am I really going out with McLaggen?

00:49:28I don't know, said Harry.

00:49:30They were at Slughorn's party together, but I don't think it went that well.

00:49:34Ron looked slightly more cheerful as he delved deeper into his stocking.

00:49:37Harry's presence included a sweater of a large golden snitch worked onto the front, hand

00:49:42knitted by Mrs. Weasley, a large box of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes products from the Twins, and

00:49:47a slightly damp, mouldy-smelling package which came with a label reading, To Master.

00:49:52On Creature.

00:49:53Harry stared at it.

00:49:54Do you reckon this is safe to open, he asked.

00:49:56Can't be anything dangerous.

00:49:58All our mail's still being searched at the Ministry, replied Ron, though he was eyeing

00:50:02the parcel suspiciously.

00:50:03I didn't think of giving Creature anything.

00:50:06Do people really usually give their house elves Christmas presents?

00:50:09Asked Harry, prodding the parcel cautiously.

00:50:12Hermione would, said Ron, but let's wait and see what it is before you start feeling guilty.

00:50:17Moment later, Harry had given a loud yell and leapt out of his camp bed.

00:50:21The package contained a large number of maggots.

00:50:23Nice, said Ron, roaring with laughter.

00:50:26Very thoughtful.

00:50:27I'd rather have them than the necklace, said Harry, which sobered Ron up at once.

00:50:33Everybody was wearing new sweaters when they sat down for Christmas lunch, everyone except

00:50:37Fleur, on whom it appeared Mrs. Weasley had not wanted to waste one, and Mrs. Weasley

00:50:41herself, who was sporting a brand new midnight blue witch's hat, glittering with what looked

00:50:45like tiny star-like diamonds, and a spectacular golden necklace.

00:50:50Ron and George gave them to me.

00:50:51Aren't they beautiful?

00:50:53Well, we find we appreciate you more and more, Mum.

00:50:56Now we're washing our own socks, said George, waving an airy hand.

00:51:00Pass nips, Remus.

00:51:01Harry, you've got a maggot in your hair, said Ginny cheerfully, leaning across the

00:51:05table to pick it out.

00:51:07Harry felt goosebumps erupt in his neck that had nothing to do with the maggot.

00:51:11How audible, said Fleur, with an effective little shudder.

00:51:14Yes, isn't it, said Ron.

00:51:17Gravy, Fleur.

00:51:18In his eagerness to help her, he knocked the gravy-boat flying.

00:51:21Bill waved his wand, and the gravy soared up in the air and returned meekly to the boat.

00:51:25You are as bad as Zat Tonks, said Fleur to Ron, when she had finished kissing Bill in

00:51:31thanks.

00:51:32She is always knocking.

00:51:33I invited dear Tonks to come along to-day, said Mrs. Weasley, setting down the carrots

00:51:37with unnecessary force, and glaring at Fleur.

00:51:40But she wouldn't come.

00:51:41Have you spoken to her lately, Remus?

00:51:43No, I haven't been in contact with anybody very much, said Lupin.

00:51:47But Tonks has got her own family to go to, hasn't she?

00:51:50Hmm, said Mrs. Weasley.

00:51:51Maybe.

00:51:52I got the impression she was planning to spend Christmas alone, actually.

00:51:56She gave Lupin an annoyed look, as though it was all his fault she was getting Fleur

00:52:00for a daughter-in-law, instead of Tonks.

00:52:03But Harry glanced across at Fleur, who was now feeding Bill bits of turkey off her own

00:52:07fork, thought that Mrs. Weasley was fighting a long-lost battle.

00:52:10He was, however, reminded of a question he had with regard to Tonks, and who better to

00:52:14ask than Lupin, the man who knew all about Patronuses.

00:52:18Tonks' Patronus has changed its form, he told him.

00:52:21Snape said so.

00:52:22Anyway, I didn't know that could happen.

00:52:25Why would your Patronus change?

00:52:27Lupin took his time chewing his turkey, and swallowing before saying slowly,

00:52:31Sometimes.

00:52:32A great shock.

00:52:34An emotional upheaval.

00:52:36It looked big.

00:52:37It had four legs, said Harry, struck by a sudden thought and lowering his voice.

00:52:41Hey!

00:52:42It couldn't be!

00:52:43Arthur, said Mrs. Weasley suddenly.

00:52:45She had risen from her chair, her hand was pressed over her heart, and she was staring

00:52:49out of the kitchen window.

00:52:50Arthur!

00:52:51It's Percy!

00:52:52What?

00:52:53Mr. Weasley looked around.

00:52:55Everybody looked quickly at the window.

00:52:57Ginny stood up for a better view.

00:52:58There, sure enough, was Percy Weasley, striding across the snowy yard, his horn-rimmed glasses

00:53:04glinting in the sunlight.

00:53:05He was not, however, alone.

00:53:07Arthur!

00:53:08He's with the minister!

00:53:10And sure enough, the man Harry had seen in the Daily Prophet was following along in Percy's

00:53:14wake, limping slightly, his mane of greying hair and his black cloak flecked with snow.

00:53:19Before any of them could say anything, before Mr. and Mrs. Weasley could do more than exchange

00:53:23stunned looks, the back door opened, and there stood Percy.

00:53:28There was a moment's painful silence.

00:53:30Then Percy said rather stiffly,

00:53:32Uh, Merry Christmas, Mother.

00:53:34Oh, Percy, said Mrs. Weasley, and she threw herself into his arms.

00:53:38Rufus Scrimgeour paused in the doorway, leaning on his walking stick and smiling as he observed

00:53:43this affecting scene.

00:53:45You must forgive this intrusion, he said, when Mrs. Weasley looked around at him, beaming

00:53:49and wiping her eyes.

00:53:51Percy and I were in the vicinity, working, you know, and he couldn't resist dropping

00:53:55in and seeing you all.

00:53:56But Percy showed no sign of wanting to greet any of the rest of the family.

00:54:00He stood, poker-straight and awkward-looking, and stared over everybody else's heads.

00:54:05Mr. Weasley, Fred, and George were all observing him, stony-faced.

00:54:08Please, come in.

00:54:10Sit down, Minister, fluttered Mrs. Weasley, straightening her hat.

00:54:13Have a little turkey, or some tooting, I mean, no, no, my dear Molly, said Scrimgeour.

00:54:20Harry guessed that he had checked on her name with Percy before they entered the house.

00:54:24I don't want to intrude, wouldn't be here at all if Percy hadn't wanted to see you all

00:54:28so badly.

00:54:29Oh, purse, said Mrs. Weasley tearfully, reaching up to kiss him.

00:54:34We've only looked in for five minutes, so I'll have a stroll around the yard while you

00:54:37catch up with Percy.

00:54:38No, no, I assure you, I don't want to butt in.

00:54:40Well, if anybody cared to show me your charming garden.

00:54:43Ah, that young man's finished, why doesn't he take a stroll with me?

00:54:47The atmosphere around the table changed perceptibly.

00:54:51Everybody looked from Scrimgeour to Harry.

00:54:53Nobody seemed to find Scrimgeour's pretense that he did not know Harry's name convincing,

00:54:57or find it natural that he should be chosen to accompany the Minister around the garden

00:55:00with Ginny, Fleur and George, when they also had clean plates.

00:55:05Yeah, all right, said Harry into the silence.

00:55:08He was not fooled.

00:55:09For all Scrimgeour's talk that they had just been in the area, that Percy wanted to look

00:55:13up his family, this must be the real reason that they had come, so that Scrimgeour could

00:55:17speak to Harry alone.

00:55:19It's fine, he said quietly, as he passed Lupin, who had half-risen from his chair.

00:55:24Fine, he added, as Mr. Weasley opened his mouth to speak.

00:55:27Wonderful, said Scrimgeour, standing back to let Harry pass through the door ahead of

00:55:32them.

00:55:33We'll just take a turn around the garden and then Percy and I'll be off.

00:55:36Carry on, everyone.

00:55:37Harry walked across the yard towards the Weasley's overgrown, snow-covered garden, Scrimgeour

00:55:42limping slightly at his side.

00:55:44He had, Harry knew, been head of the Aura office.

00:55:47He looked tough and battle-scarred, very different from portly fudge in his bowler hat.

00:55:52Charming, said Scrimgeour, stopping at the garden fence and looking out over the snowy

00:55:56lawn and the indistinguishable plants.

00:55:59Charming!

00:56:00Harry said nothing.

00:56:01He could tell that Scrimgeour was watching him.

00:56:03I've wanted to meet you for a very long time, said Scrimgeour, after a few moments.

00:56:08Did you know that?

00:56:09No, said Harry truthfully.

00:56:10Oh, yes, for a very long time.

00:56:12But Dumbledore has been very protective of you, said Scrimgeour.

00:56:17Natural, of course, natural, after what you've been through, especially what happened at

00:56:21the Ministry.

00:56:22He waited for Harry to say something, but Harry did not oblige.

00:56:26So he went on.

00:56:27I have been hoping for an occasion to talk to you ever since I gained office, but Dumbledore

00:56:31has most understandably, as I say, prevented this.

00:56:35Still, Harry said nothing, waiting.

00:56:37The rumours that have flown around, said Scrimgeour.

00:56:39Well, of course, we both know how these stories get distorted.

00:56:43All these whispers of a prophecy, of you being the Chosen One.

00:56:47They were getting near it now, Harry thought, the reason Scrimgeour was here.

00:56:51I assume that Dumbledore has discussed these matters with you.

00:56:54Harry deliberated, wondering whether he ought to lie or not.

00:56:57He looked at the little gnome prints all around the flower beds and the scuffed up patch that

00:57:01marked the spot where Fred had caught the gnome, now wearing the tutu at the top of

00:57:05the Christmas tree.

00:57:06Finally, he decided on the truth, or a bit of it.

00:57:10Yeah, we've discussed it.

00:57:12Have you?

00:57:13Have you?

00:57:14said Scrimgeour.

00:57:15Harry could see out of the corner of his eyes, Scrimgeour squinting at him, so pretended to

00:57:18be very interested in a gnome that had just poked its head out from underneath a frozen

00:57:22rhododendron.

00:57:23And what has Dumbledore told you, Harry?

00:57:26Sorry, but that's between us, said Harry.

00:57:29He kept his voice as pleasant as he could, and Scrimgeour's tone, too, was light and

00:57:33friendly as he said, Oh, of course, if it's a question of confidences, I wouldn't want

00:57:38you to divulge, no, no, and in any case, does it really matter whether you are the Chosen

00:57:42One or not?

00:57:44Harry had to mull that one over for a few seconds before responding.

00:57:47I don't really know what you mean, Minister.

00:57:49Well, of course, to you it will matter enormously, said Scrimgeour with a laugh, but to the wizarding

00:57:54community at large, it's all perception, isn't it?

00:57:57It's what people believe that's important.

00:57:59Harry said nothing.

00:58:00He thought he saw dimly where they were heading, but he was not going to help Scrimgeour get

00:58:05that.

00:58:06The gnome under the rhododendron was now digging for worms at its roots, and Harry kept his

00:58:11eyes fixed upon it.

00:58:13People believe you are the Chosen One, you see, said Scrimgeour.

00:58:16They think you quite the hero, which, of course, you are, Harry, chosen or not.

00:58:21How many times have you faced He Who Must Not Be Named now?

00:58:24Well, anyway, he pressed on without waiting for a reply.

00:58:27The point is, you are a symbol of hope for many, Harry.

00:58:30The idea that there is somebody out there who might be able to, who might even be destined

00:58:35to destroy He Who Must Not Be Named, well, naturally, it gives people a lift, and I can't

00:58:40help but feel that once you realise this, you might consider it, well, almost a duty

00:58:45to stand alongside the Ministry and give everyone a boost.

00:58:49The gnome had just managed to get hold of a worm.

00:58:51It was now tugging very hard on it, trying to get it out of the frozen ground.

00:58:55Harry was silent so long that Scrimgeour said, looking from Harry to the gnome,

00:58:59Funny little chaps, aren't they?

00:59:01But what say you, Harry?

00:59:03I don't exactly understand what you want, said Harry slowly.

00:59:06Stand alongside the Ministry.

00:59:07What does that mean?

00:59:08Oh, well, nothing at all, onerous, I assure you, said Scrimgeour.

00:59:13If you were to be seen popping in and out of the Ministry from time to time, for instance,

00:59:17that would give the right impression.

00:59:18And of course, while you were there, you would have ample opportunity to speak to Gawain

00:59:23Robards, my successor as head of the Aura Office.

00:59:26Dolores Umbridge has told me that you cherish an ambition to become an Aura.

00:59:30Well, that could be arranged very easily.

00:59:33Harry felt anger bubbling in the pit of his stomach.

00:59:35So Dolores Umbridge was still at the Ministry, was she?

00:59:39So basically, he said, as though he just wanted to clarify a few points.

00:59:42He'd like to give the impression that I'm working for the Ministry.

00:59:46It would give everyone a lift to think you were more involved, Harry, said Scrimgeour,

00:59:51sounding relieved that Harry had cottoned on so quickly.

00:59:53The Chosen One, you know, it's all about giving people hope, the feeling that exciting things

00:59:58are happening.

00:59:59But if I keep running in and out of the Ministry, said Harry, still endeavouring to keep his

01:00:03voice friendly, won't that seem as though I approve of what the Ministry's up to?

01:00:08Well, said Scrimgeour, frowning slightly, well, yes, that's partly why we'd like...

01:00:12No, I don't think that'll work, said Harry, pleasantly.

01:00:15You see, I don't like some of the things the Ministry's doing, locking up Stan Shunpike,

01:00:19for instance.

01:00:20Scrimgeour did not speak for a moment, but his expression hardened instantly.

01:00:24I would not expect you to understand, he said, as he was not as successful at keeping anger

01:00:30out of his voice as Harry had been.

01:00:32These are dangerous times, and certain measures need to be taken.

01:00:35You are sixteen years old.

01:00:37Dumbledore's a lot older than sixteen, and he doesn't think Stan should be in Azkaban

01:00:40either, said Harry.

01:00:42You're making Stan a scapegoat, just like you want to make me a mascot.

01:00:46They looked at each other, long and hard.

01:00:48Finally, Scrimgeour said, with no pretense at warmth, I see.

01:00:53You prefer, like your hero Dumbledore, to disassociate yourself from the Ministry.

01:00:57I don't want to be used, said Harry.

01:01:00Some would say it's your duty to be used by the Ministry, yeah, and others might say it's

01:01:04your duty to check people really are deatheaters before you chuck them in prison, said Harry,

01:01:09his temper rising now.

01:01:10You're doing what Barty Crouch did.

01:01:12You never got it right.

01:01:14You people, do you?

01:01:15Either we've got Fudge pretending everything's lovely while people get murdered right under

01:01:19his nose, or we've got you chucking the wrong people into jail and trying to pretend you've

01:01:23got the Chosen One working for you.

01:01:25So you're not the Chosen One, said Scrimgeour.

01:01:28I thought you said it didn't matter either way, said Harry, with a bitter laugh.

01:01:32Not to you, anyway.

01:01:33I shouldn't have said that, said Scrimgeour quickly.

01:01:37It was tactless.

01:01:38No, it was honest, said Harry.

01:01:39One of the only honest things you've said to me.

01:01:41You don't care whether I live or die, but you do care that I help you convince everyone

01:01:46you're winning the war against Voldemort.

01:01:48Haven't forgotten, Minister.

01:01:50He raised his right fist, there shining white on the back of his cold hand, were the scars

01:01:54which Dolores Umbridge had forced him to carve into his own flesh.

01:01:58I must not tell lies.

01:02:00I don't remember you rushing to my defence when I was trying to tell everyone Voldemort

01:02:03was back.

01:02:04The Ministry wasn't so keen to be pals last year.

01:02:07They stood in silence, as icy as the ground beneath their feet.

01:02:10The gnome had finally managed to extricate its worm, and was now sucking on it happily,

01:02:17leaning against the bottom-most branches of the rhododendron bush.

01:02:20What is Dumbledore up to, said Scrimgeour brusquely.

01:02:24Where does he go?

01:02:25When is he absent from Hogwarts?

01:02:28No idea, said Harry.

01:02:30And you wouldn't tell me if you knew, said Scrimgeour, would you?

01:02:32No, I wouldn't, said Harry.

01:02:34Well then, I shall have to see whether I can't find out by other means.

01:02:38You can try, said Harry indifferently, but you seem cleverer than fudge, so I'd have

01:02:42thought you'd have learned from his mistakes.

01:02:44He tried interfering at Hogwarts.

01:02:46You might have noticed he's not Minister any more, but Dumbledore's still Headmaster.

01:02:50I'd leave Dumbledore alone if I were you.

01:02:53There was a long pause.

01:02:54Well, it is clear to me that he has done a very good job on you, said Scrimgeour, his

01:02:59eyes cold and hard behind his wire-rimmed glasses.

01:03:02Dumbledore's man through and through, aren't you, Potter?

01:03:05Yeah, I am, said Harry.

01:03:06Glad we straightened that out.

01:03:08And turning his back on the Minister for Magic, he strode back towards the house.

01:03:14Chapter 17 A Sluggish Memory

01:03:17Late in the afternoon, a few days after New Year, Harry, Ron and Ginny lined up beside

01:03:21the kitchen fire to return to Hogwarts.

01:03:23The Ministry had arranged this one-off connection to the Flu Network to return students quickly

01:03:27and safely to the school.

01:03:29Only Mrs. Weasley was there to say goodbye, as Mr. Weasley, Fred, George, Bill and Fleur

01:03:33were all at work.

01:03:34Mrs. Weasley dissolved into tears at the moment of parting.

01:03:37Admittedly, it took very little to set her off lately.

01:03:40She had been crying on and off ever since Percy had stormed from the house on Christmas

01:03:43Day with his glasses splattered and mashed with mashed parsnip, for which Fred, George

01:03:48and Ginny all claimed credit.

01:03:50Don't cry, Mum, said Ginny, patting her on the back as Mrs. Weasley sobbed into her shoulder.

01:03:55It's OK.

01:03:56Yeah.

01:03:57Don't worry about us, said Ron, permitting his mother to plant a very wet kiss on his

01:04:00cheek.

01:04:01Or about Percy.

01:04:02He's such a prat.

01:04:03It's not really a loss, is it?

01:04:04Mrs. Weasley sobbed harder than ever as she enfolded Harry in her arms.

01:04:08Promise me you'll look after yourself.

01:04:10Stay out of trouble.

01:04:11I always do, Mrs. Weasley said Harry.

01:04:13I like a quiet life, you know.

01:04:15She gave a watery chuckle and stood back.

01:04:18Be good then, all of you.

01:04:19Harry stepped into the emerald fire and shouted, Hogwarts.

01:04:23He had one last fleeting view of the Weasley's kitchen and Mrs. Weasley's tearful face before

01:04:27the flames engulfed him.

01:04:28Spinning very fast, he caught blurred glimpses of other wizarding rooms which were whipped

01:04:32out of sight before he could get a proper look.

01:04:35Then he was slowing down, finally stopping squarely in the fireplace in Professor McGonagall's

01:04:39office.

01:04:40She barely glanced up from her work as he clambered out over the grate.

01:04:44Evening, Potter.

01:04:45Try not to get too much ash on the carpet.

01:04:47Er, no, Professor.

01:04:50Harry straightened his glasses and flattened his hair as Ron came spinning into view.

01:04:54When Ginny had arrived, all three of them trooped out of McGonagall's office and off

01:04:57towards Gryffindor Tower.

01:04:59Harry glanced out of the corridor windows as they passed.

01:05:02The sun was already sinking over grounds carpeted in deeper snow than had lain over the Burrow

01:05:07Garden.

01:05:08In the distance he could see Hagrid feeding Buckbeak in front of his cabin.

01:05:12Baubles, said Ron confidently when they reached the fat lady, who was looking rather paler

01:05:16than usual, and winced at his loud voice.

01:05:19No, she said.

01:05:20What do you mean, no?

01:05:22There is a new password, she said, and please don't shout.

01:05:25But we've been away.

01:05:26How are we supposed to-

01:05:27Harry.

01:05:28Ginny.

01:05:29Hermione was hurrying towards them, very pinked face and wearing a cloak, hat and gloves.

01:05:33I got back a couple of hours ago.

01:05:35I've just been down to visit Hagrid and Buck-

01:05:37I mean Witherwings, she said breathlessly.

01:05:39Did you have a good Christmas?

01:05:41Yeah, said Ron at once.

01:05:42Pretty eventful.

01:05:43Rufus Scrim- Rufus Scrim-

01:05:44I've got something for you, Harry, said Hermione.

01:05:47Neither looking at Ron, nor giving any sign that she had heard him.

01:05:51Oh, hang on.

01:05:52Password.

01:05:53Abstinence.

01:05:54Precisely, said the fat lady in a feeble voice, and swung forwards to reveal the portrait

01:05:58hole.

01:05:59What's up with her?

01:06:00Asked Harry.

01:06:01Overindulged over Christmas, apparently, said Hermione, rolling her eyes as she led the

01:06:05way into the packed common room.

01:06:07She and her friend Violet drank their way through all the wine in the picture of drunk

01:06:10monks down by the charms corridor.

01:06:13Anyway, she rummaged in her pocket for a moment.

01:06:15She pulled out a scroll of parchment with Dumbledore's writing on it.

01:06:18Great, said Harry, unrolling it at once to discover that his next lesson with Dumbledore

01:06:23was scheduled for the following night.

01:06:25I've got loads to tell him.

01:06:27And you.

01:06:28Let's sit down.

01:06:29But that moment there was a loud squeal of,

01:06:31One!

01:06:32One!

01:06:33And Lavender Brown came hurtling out of nowhere and flung herself into Ron's arms.

01:06:37Several onlookers sniggered.

01:06:38Hermione gave a tinkling laugh and said,

01:06:40There's a table over here.

01:06:42Coming, Ginny?

01:06:43No, thanks.

01:06:44I said I'd meet Dean, said Ginny, though Harry could not help noticing that she had not sounded

01:06:48very enthusiastic.

01:06:49Leaving Ron and Lavender locked in the kind of vertical wrestling match, Harry led Hermione

01:06:54over to the spare table.

01:06:55So, how was your Christmas?

01:06:57Oh, fine, she shrugged.

01:06:59Nothing special.

01:07:00How was it at, er, One!

01:07:01One!s?

01:07:02Oh, well, I'll tell you in a minute, said Harry.

01:07:05Look, Hermione, can't you?

01:07:06No, I can't, she said flatly, so don't even ask.

01:07:09I thought maybe, you know, over Christmas.

01:07:12It was the fat lady who drank a vat of five-hundred-year-old wine, Harry, not me, so what was this important

01:07:17news you wanted to tell me?

01:07:20She looked too fierce to argue with at that moment, so Harry dropped the subject of Ron

01:07:23and recounted all that he had overheard between Malfoy and Snape.

01:07:27When he'd finished, Hermione sat in thought for a moment and then said,

01:07:30Don't you think?

01:07:31He was pretending to offer help so that he could trick Malfoy into telling him what he's

01:07:35doing.

01:07:36Well, yes, said Hermione, Ron's dad and Lupin think so, Harry said grudgingly, but this

01:07:41definitely proves Malfoy's planning something, you can't deny that.

01:07:44No, I can't, she answered slowly, and he's acting on Voldemort's orders, just like I

01:07:49said.

01:07:50Hmm, did either of them actually mention Voldemort's name?

01:07:53Harry frowned, trying to remember.

01:07:55I'm not sure, Snape definitely said your master, and who else would that be?

01:07:59I don't know, said Hermione, biting her lip, maybe his father?

01:08:03She stared across the room, apparently lost in thought, not even noticing Lavender tickling

01:08:07Ron.

01:08:08How's Lupin?

01:08:09Lupin's doing great, said Harry, and he told her all about Lupin's mission among the werewolves

01:08:13and the difficulties he was facing.

01:08:15Have you heard of this Fenrir Greyback?

01:08:17Yes, I have, said Hermione, sounding startled.

01:08:20And so have you, Harry.

01:08:22When?

01:08:23History of Magic?

01:08:24You know full well I never listened.

01:08:25No, no, not History of Magic.

01:08:27Malfoy threatened Borgin with him, said Hermione, back in Nocturne Alley, don't you remember?

01:08:33He told Borgin that Greyback was an old family friend and that he'd be checking up on Borgin's

01:08:37progress.

01:08:38Malfoy gaped at her.

01:08:39I forgot.

01:08:40But this proves Malfoy's a Death Eater.

01:08:43How else could he be in contact with Greyback and telling him what to do?

01:08:46It is pretty suspicious, breathed Hermione, unless...

01:08:49Oh, come on, said Harry in exasperation.

01:08:52You can't get around this one.

01:08:54Well, there is the possibility it was an empty threat.

01:08:56You're unbelievable you are, said Harry, shaking his head.

01:08:59We'll see who's right.

01:09:00You'll be eating your words, Hermione, just like the Ministry.

01:09:02Oh yeah, I had a row with Rufus Scrimgeour as well.

01:09:07And the rest of the evening passed amicably, with both of them abusing the Minister for

01:09:11Magic.

01:09:12For Hermione, like Ron, thought that after all the Ministry had put Harry through the

01:09:15previous year, they had a great nerve asking him for help now.

01:09:19The new term started next morning with a pleasant surprise for the sixth years.

01:09:23A large sign had been pinned to the common room notice boards overnight.

01:09:27Apparition lessons.

01:09:28If you are 17 years of age, or will turn 17 on or before the 31st of August, you are eligible

01:09:34for a 12-week course of Apparition Lessons from a Ministry of Magic Apparition Instructor.

01:09:39Please sign below if you would like to participate.

01:09:42Cost 12 galleons.

01:09:44Harry and Ron joined the crowd that was jostling around the notice and taking it in turns to

01:09:48write their names underneath.

01:09:50Ron was just taking out his quill to sign after Hermione when Lavender crept up behind

01:09:54him, slipped her hands over his eyes and trilled, Guess who, one-one?

01:09:59Harry turned to see Hermione stalking off.

01:10:01He caught up with her, having no wish to stay behind with Ron and Lavender.

01:10:04But to his surprise, Ron caught them up only a little way beyond the portrait hole.

01:10:09His ears bright red and his expression disgruntled.

01:10:12Without a word, Hermione sped up to walk with Neville.

01:10:15So, Apparition, said Ron, his tone making it perfectly plain that Harry was not to mention

01:10:20what had just happened.

01:10:21Should be a laugh, eh?

01:10:23I don't know, said Harry.

01:10:24Maybe it's better when you do it yourself.

01:10:26I didn't enjoy it much when Dumbledore took me along for the ride.

01:10:29I forgot you'd already done it.

01:10:31I better pass my test first time, said Ron, looking anxious.

01:10:35Fred and George did.

01:10:36Charlie failed though, didn't he?

01:10:38Yeah, but Charlie's bigger than me.

01:10:40Ron held his arms out from his body as though he were a gorilla, so Fred and George didn't

01:10:43go on about it much, not to his face anyway.

01:10:46When can we take the actual test?

01:10:48Soon as we're seventeen.

01:10:49That's only March for me.

01:10:51Yeah, but you wouldn't be able to apparate in here, not in the castle.

01:10:55Not the point, is it?

01:10:56Everyone would know I could apparate if I wanted.

01:10:59Ron was not the only one to be excited at the prospect of apparition.

01:11:02All that day there was much talk about the forthcoming lessons.

01:11:04A great deal of store was set by being able to vanish and reappear at will.

01:11:10How could, how cool would it be when we can just, Seamus clicked his fingers to indicate

01:11:15disappearance, my, my cousin Fergus does it just to annoy me.

01:11:19You wait till I can do it back, you'll never be, you'll never have another peaceful moment.

01:11:23Lost in visions of this happy prospect, he flicked his wand a little too enthusiastically

01:11:28so that instead of producing the fountain of pure water that was the object of that

01:11:31day's charms lesson, he let out a hose-like jet that ricocheted off the ceiling and knocked

01:11:36Professor Flitwick flat on his face.

01:11:38Harry's already apparated, Ron told a slightly abashed Seamus, after Professor Flitwick had

01:11:43dried himself off with a wave of his wand and set Seamus lines.

01:11:47I'm a wizard, not a baboon brandishing a stick.

01:11:50Dumb, er, someone took him, sighed along apparition, you know.

01:11:55Oh, whispered Seamus, and he, Devlin, Dean and Neville put their heads a little closer

01:11:59to hear what apparition felt like.

01:12:01For the rest of the day, Harry was besieged with requests from the other six years to

01:12:05describe the sensation of apparition, all of them seemed awed rather than put off.

01:12:10Then he told them how uncomfortable it was, and he was still answering detailed questions

01:12:14at ten to eight that evening, when he was forced to lie and say that he needed to return

01:12:18a book to the library so as to escape in time for his lesson with Dumbledore.

01:12:23The lamps in Dumbledore's office were lit, the portraits of previous headmasters were

01:12:27snoring gently in their frames, and the Pensieve was ready upon the desk once more.

01:12:32Dumbledore's hands lay either side of it, the right one as blackened and burned-looking

01:12:36as ever.

01:12:37It did not seem to have healed at all, and Harry wondered, for perhaps the hundredth

01:12:40time, what had caused such a distinctive injury, but did not ask.

01:12:44Dumbledore had said that he would know eventually, and there was, in any case, another subject

01:12:48he wanted to discuss.

01:12:50Before Harry could say anything about Snape and Malfoy, Dumbledore spoke.

01:12:53I hear that you met the Minister for Magic over Christmas?

01:12:58Yes, said Harry, he's not very happy with me.

01:13:01No, sighed Dumbledore, he is not very happy with me either.

01:13:05We must try not to sink beneath our anguish, Harry, but battle on.

01:13:09Harry grinned.

01:13:10He wanted me to tell the wizarding community that the Ministry is doing a wonderful job.

01:13:15Dumbledore smiled.

01:13:16It was Fudge's idea originally, you know, during his last days in office, when he was

01:13:21trying desperately to cling to his post.

01:13:24He sought a meeting with you, hoping that you would give him your support.

01:13:28After everything Fudge did last year, said Harry angrily, after Umbridge, I told Cornelius

01:13:33there was no chance of it, but the idea did not die when he left office.

01:13:37Within hours of Scrimgeour's appointment, we met, and he demanded that I arrange a meeting

01:13:41with you.

01:13:42So that's why you argued, Harry blurted out.

01:13:45It was in the Daily Prophet.

01:13:47The Prophet was bound to report the truth occasionally, said Dumbledore, if only accidentally.

01:13:52Yes, what was why, that was why we argued.

01:13:56Well, it appears that Rufus found a way to corner you at last.

01:14:00He accused me of being Dumbledore's man through and through.

01:14:03How very rude of him.

01:14:04I told him I was.

01:14:06Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again.

01:14:09Behind Harry, Fawkes the Phoenix let out a low, soft musical cry.

01:14:13To Harry's intense embarrassment, he suddenly realised that Dumbledore's bright blue eyes

01:14:17looked rather watery and stared hastily at his own knees.

01:14:20When Dumbledore spoke, however, his voice was quite steady.

01:14:23I am very touched, Harry.

01:14:25Scrimgeour wanted to know where you go when you're not at Hogwarts, said Harry, still

01:14:29looking fixedly at his knees.

01:14:31Yes, he is very nosy about that, said Dumbledore, now sounding cheerful, and Harry thought it

01:14:36safe to look up again.

01:14:38He has even attempted to have me followed.

01:14:40Amusing, really.

01:14:41He set Dawlish to tell me.

01:14:43It wasn't kind.

01:14:44I have already been forced to jinx Dawlish once.

01:14:47I did it again with the greatest regret.

01:14:49So?

01:14:50They still don't know where you go, asked Harry, hoping for more information on this

01:14:54intriguing subject, but Dumbledore merely smiled over the top of his half-moon spectacles.

01:14:59No, they don't.

01:15:00And the time is not quite right for you to know either.

01:15:03Now, I suggest we press on, unless there's something else.

01:15:06There is, actually, sir, said Harry.

01:15:08It's about Malfoy and Snape.

01:15:10Professor Snape, Harry?

01:15:11Yes, sir.

01:15:12I overheard them during Professor Slughorn's party.

01:15:15Well, I followed them, actually.

01:15:17Dumbledore listened to Harry's story with an impassive face.

01:15:20When Harry had finished, he did not speak for a few moments, and then said,

01:15:24Thank you for telling me this, Harry, but I suggest that you put it out of your mind.

01:15:28I do not think that it is of great importance.

01:15:31Not of great importance?

01:15:33repeated Harry incredulously.

01:15:34Professor, did you understand?

01:15:36Yes, Harry.

01:15:37Blessed as I am with extraordinary brain power, I understood everything you told me, said

01:15:41Dumbledore a little sharply.

01:15:43I think you might even consider the possibility that I understood more than you did.

01:15:48Again, I am glad that you have confided in me, but let me reassure you that you have

01:15:52not told me anything that causes me disquiet.

01:15:56Harry sat in seething silence, glaring at Dumbledore.

01:15:59What was going on?

01:16:00Did this mean that Dumbledore had indeed ordered Snape to find out what Malfoy was doing?

01:16:04In which case, he had already heard everything Harry had just told him from Snape.

01:16:08Or was he really worried by what he had heard, but pretending not to be?

01:16:12So, sir, said Harry, in what he hoped was a polite, calm voice.

01:16:16You definitely still trust?

01:16:18I have been tolerant enough to answer that question already, said Dumbledore, but he

01:16:22did not sound very tolerant any more.

01:16:25My answer has not changed.

01:16:26I should think not, said a snide voice.

01:16:30Phineas Nicholas was evidently only pretending to be asleep.

01:16:34Dumbledore ignored him.

01:16:35Now, Harry, I must insist that we press on.

01:16:37I have more important things to discuss with you this evening.

01:16:41Harry sat there feeling mutinous.

01:16:42How would it be if he refused to permit the change of subject, if he insisted upon arguing

01:16:47the case against Malfoy?

01:16:49As though he had read Harry's mind, Dumbledore shook his head.

01:16:52Ah, Harry, how often this happens, even between the best of friends.

01:16:56Each of us believes that what he has to say is much more important than anything the other

01:17:01might have to contribute.

01:17:04I don't think what you've got to say is unimportant, sir, said Harry stiffly.

01:17:07Well, you are quite right, because it is not, said Dumbledore briskly.

01:17:11I have two more memories to show you this evening, both obtained with enormous difficulty,

01:17:16and the second of them is, I think, the most important I have collected.

01:17:20Harry did not say anything to this, but he still felt angry at the reception his confidences

01:17:25had received, but could not see what was to be gained by arguing further.

01:17:30So, said Dumbledore in a ringing voice, we meet this evening to continue the tale of

01:17:35Tom Riddle, whom we left last lesson poised on the threshold of his years at Hogwarts.

01:17:40You will remember how excited he was to hear that he was a wizard, that he refused my company

01:17:45on a trip to Diagon Alley, and that I in turn warned him against continued thievery when

01:17:49he arrived at school.

01:17:50Well, the start of the school year arrived, and when it came, Tom Riddle, a quiet boy

01:17:55in his second-hand robes, who lined up with the other first-years to be sorted.

01:17:59He was placed in Slytherin House almost the moment that the sorting hat touched his head,

01:18:04continued Dumbledore, waving his blackened hand towards the shelf over his head, where

01:18:08the sorting hat sat, ancient and unmoving.

01:18:11How soon Riddle learned that the famous founder of the house could talk to snakes I do not

01:18:15know.

01:18:16Perhaps that very evening, the knowledge can only have excited him and increased his sense

01:18:20of self-importance.

01:18:21However, if he was frightening or impressing fellow Slytherins with displays of parcel

01:18:26tongue in their common room, no hint of it reached the staff.

01:18:30He showed no sign of outward arrogance or aggression at all.

01:18:34As an unusually talented and very good-looking orphan, he naturally drew attention and sympathy

01:18:39from the staff almost from the moment of his arrival.

01:18:41He seemed polite, quiet, and thirsty for knowledge.

01:18:45Nearly all were most favourably impressed by him.

01:18:48"'Didn't you tell them, sir, what he'd been like when you met him at the orphanage?'

01:18:52asked Harry.

01:18:53"'No, I did not.'

01:18:54Though he had shown no hint of remorse, it was possible that he felt sorry for how he

01:18:58had behaved before and was resolved to turn over a fresh leaf.

01:19:01I chose to give him that chance."

01:19:04Dumbledore paused and looked inquiringly at Harry, who had opened his mouth to speak.

01:19:08Here again was Dumbledore's tendency to trust people in spite of overwhelming evidence that

01:19:12they did not deserve it.

01:19:14But then Harry remembered something.

01:19:16"'But you didn't really trust him, sir, did you?'

01:19:19he told me.

01:19:20"'No.

01:19:21The riddle who came out of that diary said Dumbledore never seemed to like me as much

01:19:23as the other teachers did.'

01:19:24"'Let us say that I did not take it for granted that he was trustworthy,' said Dumbledore.

01:19:30"'I had, as I have already indicated, resolved to keep a close eye upon him.

01:19:34And so I did.

01:19:35I cannot pretend that I gleaned a great deal from my observations at first.

01:19:39He was very guarded with me.

01:19:41He felt, I am sure, that in the thrill of discovering his true identity he had told

01:19:45me a little too much.

01:19:46He was careful never to reveal as much again.

01:19:49But he could not take back what he had let slip in his excitement, nor what Mrs. Cole

01:19:53had confided in me.

01:19:55However, he had the sense never to try and charm me as he charmed so many of my colleagues.

01:20:01As he moved up the school he gathered about him a group of dedicated friends.

01:20:05I call them that for want of a better term, although, as I have already indicated, Riddle

01:20:10undoubtedly felt no affection for any of them.

01:20:13This group had a kind of dark glamour within the castle.

01:20:16They were a motley collection, a mixture of the weak seeking protection, the ambitious

01:20:20seeking some shared glory, and the thuggish gravitating towards a leader who could show

01:20:25them more refined forms of cruelty.

01:20:28In other words, they were the forerunners of the Death Eaters, and indeed some of them

01:20:32became the first Death Eaters after leaving Hogwarts.

01:20:36Rigidly controlled by Riddle, they were never detected in open wrongdoing, although their

01:20:40seven years at Hogwarts were marked by a number of nasty incidents, to which they were never

01:20:45satisfactorily linked, the most serious of which was, of course, the opening of the Chamber

01:20:49of Secrets, which resulted in the death of a girl.

01:20:53As you know, Hagrid was wrongly accused of that crime.

01:20:56I have not been able to find many memories of Riddle at Hogwarts," said Dumbledore, placing

01:21:01his withered hand on the pen-see.

01:21:03Few who knew him then are prepared to talk about him.

01:21:07They are too terrified.

01:21:08What I know I found out after he had left Hogwarts, after much painstaking effort, after

01:21:13tracing those few who could be tracked into speaking, after searching old records and

01:21:18questioning Muggle and Wizard, witnesses alike.

01:21:22Those whom I could persuade to talk told me that Riddle was obsessed with his parentage.

01:21:26This is understandable, of course.

01:21:28He had grown up in an orphanage, and naturally wished to know how he came to be there.

01:21:32It seems that he searched in vain for some trace of Tom Riddle Senior on the shields

01:21:37in the Trophy Room, on the lists of prefects in the old school records, even in the books

01:21:41of Wizarding History.

01:21:43Finally, he was forced to accept that his father had never set foot in Hogwarts.

01:21:47I believe that it was then that he dropped the name forever, assumed the identity of

01:21:52Lord Voldemort, and began his investigations into his previously despised mother's family,

01:21:59the woman whom, you will remember, he had thought could not be a witch if she had succumbed

01:22:03to the shameful human weakness of death.

01:22:06All he had to go upon was the single name Marvolo, which he knew from those who ran

01:22:11the orphanage, had been his mother's father's name.

01:22:14Finally, after painstaking research through old books of wizarding families, he discovered

01:22:19the existence of Slytherin's surviving line.

01:22:22In the summer of his sixteenth year, he left the orphanage, to which he returned annually,

01:22:27and set off to find his gaunt relatives.

01:22:30And now, Harry, if you will stand.

01:22:33Dumbledore rose, and Harry saw that he was again holding a small crystal bottle filled

01:22:37with swirling pearly memory.

01:22:40I was very lucky to collect this, he said, as he poured the gleaming mass into the pensive.

01:22:45As you will understand, when we have experienced it, shall we?

01:22:49Harry stepped up to the stone basin, and bowed obediently, until his face sank through the

01:22:53surface of the memory.

01:22:55He felt the familiar sensation of falling through nothingness, and then landed upon

01:22:59a dirty stone floor, into almost total darkness.

01:23:03It took him several seconds to recognise the place, by which time Dumbledore had landed

01:23:07beside him.

01:23:08The gaunt's house was now more indescribably filthy than anywhere Harry had ever seen.

01:23:13The ceiling was thick with cobwebs, the floor coated in grime, mouldy and rotting food lay

01:23:18upon the table amidst a mass of crusted pots.

01:23:21The only light came from a single, guttering candle, placed at the feet of a man, with

01:23:26hair and beard so overgrown, Harry could see neither eyes nor mouth.

01:23:30He was slumped in an armchair by the fire, and Harry wondered for a moment whether he

01:23:33was dead.

01:23:34But then there came a loud knock on the door, and the man jerked awake, raising a wand in

01:23:38his right hand, and a short knife in his left.

01:23:41The door creaked open.

01:23:43There on the threshold, holding an old-fashioned lamp, stood a boy Harry recognised at once,

01:23:47tall, pale, dark-haired and handsome, the teenage Voldemort.

01:23:52Voldemort's eyes moved slowly around the hovel, and then found the man in the armchair.

01:23:56For a few seconds they looked at each other, then the man staggered upright, the many empty

01:24:00bottles at his feet clattering and tinkling across the floor.

01:24:03"'You!' he bellowed.

01:24:05"'You!'

01:24:06And he hurtled drunkenly at Riddle, wand and knife held aloft.

01:24:10"'Stop!'

01:24:11Riddle spoke in parcel tongue.

01:24:13The man skidded into the table, sending mouldy pots crashing to the floor.

01:24:17He stared at Riddle.

01:24:18There was a long silence while they contemplated each other.

01:24:21The man broke it.

01:24:22"'You speak it!'

01:24:23"'Yes, I speak it,' said Riddle.

01:24:25He moved forwards into the room, allowing the door to swing shut behind him.

01:24:29Harry could not help but feel a resentful admiration for Voldemort's complete lack

01:24:33of fear.

01:24:34His face merely expressed disgust, and perhaps disappointment.

01:24:37"'Where is Marvolo?'

01:24:39he asked.

01:24:40"'Dead,' said the other.

01:24:41"'Died years ago, didn't he?'

01:24:43Riddle frowned.

01:24:44"'Who are you, then?'

01:24:46"'I'm Morfin, ain't I?'

01:24:49"'Marvolo's son.'

01:24:50"'Course I am, then.'

01:24:52Morfin pushed the hair out of his dirty face, the better to see Riddle, and Harry saw that

01:24:56he wore Marvolo's black-stoned ring on his right hand.

01:24:59"'I thought you was that muggle!'

01:25:02whispered Morfin.

01:25:03"'You look mighty like that muggle!'

01:25:05"'What muggle?'

01:25:06said Riddle sharply.

01:25:07"'That muggle what my sister took a fancy to.

01:25:09That muggle what lives in the big house over the way,' said Morfin, and he spat unexpectedly

01:25:14upon the floor between them.

01:25:15"'You look right like him, Riddle.

01:25:17But he's older now, innit?

01:25:19He's older than you, now I think on it!'

01:25:22Morfin looked slightly dazed and swayed a little, still clutching the edge of the table

01:25:26for support.

01:25:27"'He come back, see?'

01:25:29he added stupidly.

01:25:31Voldemort was gazing at Morfin, as though appraising his possibilities.

01:25:34Now he moved a little closer and said,

01:25:37"'Riddle came back.'

01:25:38"'Ah, he left her, and serve her right, marrying filth!' said Morfin, spitting on

01:25:43the floor again.

01:25:44"'Robbed us, mind, before she ran off.

01:25:47Where's the locket, eh?

01:25:48Where's Slytherin's locket?'

01:25:50Voldemort did not answer.

01:25:52Morfin was working himself into a rage again.

01:25:54He brandished his knife and shouted,

01:25:55"'Dishonored us, you did!

01:25:57That little slut!

01:25:58And who are you, coming here and asking questions about all that?

01:26:00It's over, innit?

01:26:01It's over!'

01:26:02He looked away, staggering slightly, and Voldemort moved forwards.

01:26:06As he did so, an unnatural darkness fell, extinguishing Voldemort's lamp and Morfin's

01:26:11candle, extinguishing everything.

01:26:13Dumbledore's fingers closed tightly around Harry's arm, and they were soaring back into

01:26:17the present again.

01:26:18The soft golden light in Dumbledore's office seemed to dazzle Harry's eyes after that impenetrable

01:26:23darkness.

01:26:24"'Is that all?' said Harry at once.

01:26:26"'Why did it go dark?

01:26:28What happened?'

01:26:29"'Because Morfin could not remember anything from that point onwards,' said Dumbledore,

01:26:34gesturing Harry back into his seat.

01:26:36When he awoke next morning, he was lying on the floor, quite alone.

01:26:39Marvolo's ring had gone.

01:26:41Meanwhile in the village of Little Hangleton, a maid was running along the high street,

01:26:46screaming that there were three bodies lying in the drawing-room of the big house.

01:26:50Some Riddle Senior, and his mother, and father.

01:26:53"'The Muggle authorities were perplexed.

01:26:56As far as I am aware, they do not know, to this day, how the Riddles died.

01:27:00For the Avada Kedavra curse does not usually leave any sign of damage.

01:27:04The exception sits before me,' Dumbledore added, with a nod to Harry's scar.

01:27:09"'The Ministry, on the other hand, knew at once that this was a wizard's murder.

01:27:13They also knew that a convicted Muggle hater lived across the valley from the Riddle house,

01:27:18a Muggle hater who had already been imprisoned once for attacking one of the murdered people.

01:27:22So the Ministry called upon Morfin.

01:27:24They did not need to question him to use Veritaserum or Legilimency.

01:27:28He admitted to the murder on the spot, giving details only the murderer could know.

01:27:32He was proud, he said, to have killed the Muggles, had been awaiting his chance all

01:27:36these years.

01:27:37He handed over his wand, which was proved at once to have been used to kill the Riddles,

01:27:42and he permitted himself to be led off to Azkaban without a fight.

01:27:45All that disturbed him was the fact that his father's ring had disappeared.

01:27:49"'He'll kill me for losing it,' he told his captors over and over again.

01:27:53"'He'll kill me for losing his ring.'

01:27:56And that, apparently, was all he ever said again.

01:27:59He lived out the remainder of his life in Azkaban, lamenting the loss of Marvolo's lost

01:28:03heirloom, and is buried beside the prison alongside the other poor souls who have expired

01:28:09within its walls.'

01:28:10"'So Voldemort stole Morfin's wand and used it,' said Harry, sitting up straight.

01:28:15"'That's right,' said Dumbledore, "'we have no memories to show up this, but I think we

01:28:19can be fairly sure what happened.

01:28:22Voldemort stupefied his uncle, took his wand, and proceeded across the valley to the big

01:28:26house over the way.

01:28:27There he murdered the Muggle man who had abandoned his witch-mother, and for good measure his

01:28:32Muggle grandparents, thus obliterating the last of the unworthy Riddle line, and revenging

01:28:37himself upon the father who never wanted him.

01:28:40Then he returned to the gaunt hovel, performed the complex bit of magic that would implant

01:28:45a false memory in his uncle's mind, laid Morfin's wand beside its unconscious owner, pocketed

01:28:50the ancient ring he wore, and departed.

01:28:53And Morfin never realized he hadn't done it.'

01:28:56"'Never,' said Dumbledore.

01:28:57"'He gave, as I say, a full and boastful confession.

01:29:01But he had this real memory in him all the time.'

01:29:04"'Yes, but it took a glove's unnormal people's legilimency to coax it out of him,' said Dumbledore.

01:29:09"'And why should anybody delve further into Morfin's mind when he had already confessed

01:29:13to the crime?

01:29:14However, I was able to secure a visit to Morfin in the last weeks of his life, by which time

01:29:18I was attempting to discover as much as I could about Voldemort's past.

01:29:22I extracted this memory with difficulty.

01:29:25When I saw what it contained, I attempted to use it to secure Morfin's release from

01:29:29Azkaban.

01:29:30Before the Ministry reached their decision, however, Morfin had died.'

01:29:33"'But how come the Ministry didn't realize that Voldemort had done all that to Morfin?'

01:29:38Harry asked angrily.

01:29:39"'He was underage at the time, wasn't he?

01:29:41I thought they could detect underage magic.'

01:29:43"'You are quite right.

01:29:45They can detect magic.

01:29:46But not the perpetrator.

01:29:48You will remember that you were blamed by the Ministry for the hover-charm that was

01:29:52in fact cast by Dobby,' growled Harry, the injustice still rankled.

01:29:56"'So if you are underage and you do magic inside an adult witch or wizard's house, the

01:30:01Ministry won't know.'

01:30:02"'They will certainly be unable to tell who performed the magic,' said Dumbledore, smiling

01:30:07slightly at the look of great indignation on Harry's face.

01:30:09"'They rely on witch and wizard parents to enforce their offspring's obedience, well,

01:30:15within their walls.'

01:30:16"'Well, that's rubbish,' snapped Harry.

01:30:17"'Look what happened here.

01:30:18Look what happened to Morfin.'

01:30:19"'I agree,' said Dumbledore.

01:30:21"'Whatever Morfin was, he did not deserve to die as he did, blamed for murders he had

01:30:25not committed.

01:30:26But it is getting late, and I want you to see this other memory before we part.'

01:30:32Dumbledore took from an inside pocket another crystal file, and Harry fell silent at once.

01:30:38Remembering that Dumbledore had said it was the most important one he had collected, Harry

01:30:41noticed that the contents proved difficult to empty into the pensieve, as though they

01:30:46had congealed slightly.

01:30:47Did memories go off?

01:30:48"'This will not take long,' said Dumbledore, when he had finally emptied the file.

01:30:53"'We shall be back before you know it.

01:30:55Once more into the pensieve, then.'

01:30:57And Harry fell again through the silver surface, landing this time right in front of a man

01:31:01he recognised at once.

01:31:02It was a much younger Horace Slughorn.

01:31:05Harry was so used to him, bold, that he found the sight of Slughorn with thick, shiny, straw-coloured

01:31:10hair quite disconcerting.

01:31:12It looked as though he had had his head thatched, though there was already a shiny, galleon-sized

01:31:17bald patch on his crown.

01:31:19His moustache, less massive than it was these days, was gingery-blonde.

01:31:24It was not quite as rotund as the Slughorn Harry knew, though the golden buttons on his

01:31:29richly-embroidered waistcoat were taking a fair amount of strain.

01:31:32His little feet resting upon a velvet poof, he was sitting well back in a comfortable

01:31:36winged armchair, one hand grasping a small glass of wine, the other searching for a box

01:31:42of crystallised pineapple.

01:31:44Harry looked around as Dumbledore appeared beside him, and saw that they were standing

01:31:47in Slughorn's office.

01:31:49Half a dozen boys were sitting around Slughorn, all on harder or lower seats than his, and

01:31:54all in their mid-teens.

01:31:56Harry recognised Riddle at once.

01:31:57He was the most handsome face, and he looked the most relaxed of all the boys.

01:32:01His right hand lay negligently upon the arm of his chair with a jolt.

01:32:06Harry saw that he was wearing Marvolo's gold and black ring.

01:32:09He had already killed his father.

01:32:11Sir, is it true that Professor Merrifort is retiring?

01:32:15Riddle asked.

01:32:16Tom!

01:32:17Tom!

01:32:18If I knew, I couldn't tell you, said Slughorn, wagging a reproving, sugar-covered finger

01:32:22at Riddle, though ruining the effect slightly by winking.

01:32:25I must say, I'd like to know where you get your information, boy, more knowledgeable

01:32:29than half the staff you are.

01:32:31Riddle smiled.

01:32:32The other boys laughed and cast him admiring looks.

01:32:35What with your uncanny ability to know things you shouldn't and your careful flattery of

01:32:39the people who matter – thank you for the pineapple, by the way, you're quite right,

01:32:44it is my favourite – as several of the boys tittered, something very odd happened.

01:32:48The whole room was suddenly filled with a thick white fog, so that Harry could see nothing

01:32:52but the face of Dumbledore, who was standing beside him.

01:32:55Then Slughorn's voice rang out through the mist, unnaturally loudly.

01:32:59You'll go wrong, boy!

01:33:01Mark my words!

01:33:02The fog cleared as suddenly as it appeared, and yet nobody made any allusion to it, nor

01:33:07did anybody look as though anything unusual had just happened.

01:33:10Bewildered, Harry looked around as a small golden clock standing upon Slughorn's desk

01:33:15chimed eleven o'clock.

01:33:16Good gracious, is that the time already? said Slughorn.

01:33:20You'd better get going, boys, or we'll be in trouble.

01:33:22Lestrange, I want your essay by tomorrow, or it's detention.

01:33:26Same goes for you, Avery.

01:33:28Slughorn pulled himself out of his armchair and carried his empty glass over to his desk

01:33:32as the boys filed out.

01:33:33Riddle, however, stayed behind.

01:33:35Harry could tell he had dawdled deliberately, wanting to be the last in the room with Slughorn.

01:33:40Look sharp, Tom, said Slughorn, turning around and finding him still present.

01:33:44You don't want to be caught out of bed out of hours, and you are prefect.

01:33:48Sir, I wanted to ask you something.

01:33:50Ask away, then, my boy, ask away.

01:33:52Sir, I wondered what you know about... about horcruxes.

01:33:57And it happened all over again.

01:33:58The dense fog filled the room so that Harry could not see Slughorn or Riddle at all, only

01:34:03Dumbledore smiling serenely beside him.

01:34:06Then Slughorn's voice boomed out again, just as it had done before.

01:34:09I don't know anything about horcruxes, and I wouldn't tell you if I did.

01:34:13Now get out of here at once, and don't let me catch you mentioning them again.

01:34:16Well, that's that, said Dumbledore placidly beside Harry.

01:34:20Time to go.

01:34:21And Harry's feet left the floor to fall, seconds later, back onto the rug in front of Dumbledore's

01:34:26desk.

01:34:27That's all there is, said Harry blankly.

01:34:29Dumbledore had said that this was the most important memory of all, but he could not

01:34:33see what was so significant about it.

01:34:34Admittedly the fog, and the fact that nobody seemed to have noticed it was odd, but other

01:34:38than that, nothing seemed to have happened except that Riddle had asked a question and

01:34:42failed to get an answer.

01:34:43As you might have noticed, said Dumbledore, reseating himself behind his desk, that memory

01:34:49has been tampered with.

01:34:50Tampered with, repeated Harry, sitting back down too.

01:34:54Certainly, said Dumbledore, Professor Slughorn has meddled with his own recollections.

01:34:59But why would he do that?

01:35:01Because I think he is ashamed of what he remembers, said Dumbledore.

01:35:04He has tried to rework the memory to show himself in a better light, obliterating those

01:35:08parts which he does not wish me to see.

01:35:11It is, as you will have noticed, very crudely done, and that is all to the good, for it

01:35:16shows that the true memory is still there, beneath the alterations.

01:35:21And so, for the first time, I am giving you homework, Harry.

01:35:25It will be your job to persuade Professor Slughorn to divulge the real memory, which

01:35:29will undoubtedly be our most crucial piece of information of all.

01:35:34Harry stared at him.

01:35:35But surely, sir, he said, keeping his voice as respectful as possible.

01:35:39You don't need me.

01:35:40You could use Legilimency, or Veritaserum.

01:35:43Professor Slughorn is an extremely able wizard, who will be expecting both, said Dumbledore.

01:35:48He is much more accomplished at Legilimency than poor Morfin Gaunt, and I would be astonished

01:35:53if he has not carried an antidote to Veritaserum with him ever since I cornered him into giving

01:35:57me this travesty of recollection.

01:36:00No, I think it would be foolish to attempt to wrest the truth from Professor Slughorn

01:36:04by force, and might do much more harm than good.

01:36:07I do not wish him to leave Hogwarts.

01:36:09However, he has his weaknesses like the rest of us, and I believe that you are the one

01:36:13person who might be able to penetrate his defences.

01:36:16It is most important that we secure the true memory, Harry.

01:36:19How important!

01:36:21We will only know when we have seen the real thing.

01:36:24So good luck, and good night."

01:36:26A little taken aback by the abrupt dismissal, Harry got to his feet quickly.

01:36:30Good night, sir.

01:36:32As he closed the study door behind him, he distinctly heard Phineas Niggolas say,

01:36:35I can't see why the boy should be able to do it better than you, Dumbledore.

01:36:39I wouldn't expect you to, Phineas, replied Dumbledore, and Fawkes gave another low musical

01:36:44cry.

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