haikus.txt

Feeling oddly as 
though his legs had turned to lead, 
Harry got into 

Ron stood up. "Say that 
again," Ron said, his face as 
red as his hair. "Oh, 

Harry longed to know 
what it was, but knew better 
than to ask. "Come on, 

Wood had decided 
that, as their secret weapon, 
Harry should be kept, 

Those cunning folk use 
any means To achieve their 
ends. So put me on! 

All the studying 
he had to do kept his mind 
off his misery. 

Someone was outside, 
knocking to come in. CHAPTER 
FOUR THE KEEPER OF 

Hermione were 
thinking the same as he was. 
If Snape had been in 

Harry, laughing at 
how pleased Ron was. "Hagrid and 
my aunt and uncle 

The common room was 
packed and noisy. Everyone 
was eating the food 

Dursley drove around 
the corner and up the road, 
he watched the cat in 

Harry recognized 
the middle one at once: it 
was the pale boy from 

Harry sank down to 
sit on the floor in front of 
the mirror. There was 

Mainly to avoid 
all the staring eyes, Harry 
looked upward and saw 

OR NOT?" "Oh, right!" said 
Hermione, and she whipped 
out her wand, waved it, 

Harry was rather 
quiet as he ate the ice 
cream Hagrid had bought 

Then he said, "Sir, there 
are some other things I'd like 
to know, if you can 

How often had they 
complained how much Harry cost 
them to keep? And all 

Harry with warmth and 
respect blazing in his eyes, 
but Harry, instead 

Aunt Petunia and 
Dudley, looking terrified 
at the very sight 

Uncle Vernon knocked 
his hand out of the way. The 
woman stared. "I'll take 

Cross station the next 
day, so he went down to the 
living room where they 

Dudley quickly found 
the largest snake in the place. 
It could have wrapped its 

Harry shook his head. 
He understood what he had 
to do all right, it 

He was too sleepy 
even to be surprised that 
the people in the 

Had it really 
once belonged to his father? 
Before he could say 

This was supposed to 
be good training for later 
life. As he looked at 

Prophet. Harry had 
learned from Uncle Vernon 
that people liked to 

Up the front steps, up 
the marble staircase inside, 
and still Professor 

Harry turned the card 
back over and saw, to his 
astonishment, that 

"Unless you get out 
now," said Harry, more bravely 
than he felt, because 

Snape if he could have 
it. "Better you than me," they 
said together, but 

He was pale and looked 
as though he was about to 
cry. He strode out of 

Hermione had 
sunk to the floor in fright; Ron 
pulled out his own wand 

McGonagall was 
looking at Ron and Harry. 
Harry had never 

They stopped and so did 
he, just near enough to hear 
what they were saying. 

"We're not offended," 
said Harry quickly. "Just tell 
us what to do." "Well, 

Harry play because 
Wood had decided that, as 
their secret weapon, 

His father's... this had 
been his father's. He let the 
material flow 

Fred Weasley sadly); 
Hagrid was there to take them 
down to the fleet of 

"You had better get 
back to Hagrid. The forest 
is not safe at this 

Where should he go? He 
stopped, his heart racing, and thought. 
And then it came to 

This only left one 
parcel. Harry picked it 
up and felt it. It 

Dumbledore, Given 
Harry his letter. Taking 
him to buy his things 

"Found the perfect place!" 
he said. "Come on! Everyone 
out!" It was very 

Hagrid until he 
was out of sight; he rose in 
his seat and pressed his 

And then, your father 
did something Snape could never 
forgive." "What?" "He saved 

And then, once you had 
managed to find them, there were 
the classes themselves. 

Harry thought. Then he 
said slowly, "It shows us what 
we want... whatever 

Aunt Petunia was 
awake and it was her shrill 
voice that made the first 

He was just telling 
everyone to look at the 
perfect way Malfoy 

Granger, by the way, 
who are you. She said all this 
very fast. Harry 

"Leaves you free to take 
that bishop, Hermione, 
go on." Every time 

Dumbledore, sounding 
quite delighted. "You did do 
the thing properly, 

Harry heard the hat 
shout the last word to the whole 
hall. He took off the 

Vernon, shaking the 
letter open with one hand 
and glancing at it. 

"Oh yes... hard work and 
pain are the best teachers if 
you ask me.... It's just 

Dumbledore was right, 
that mirror could drive you mad," 
said Ron, when Harry 

Yet Harry Potter 
was still there, asleep at the 
moment, but not for 

Harry stared. Then he 
looked quickly around to see 
if anyone was 

Are twins once you taste 
them, though different at first 
sight. Hermione 

Harry picked up 
the top parcel. It was wrapped 
in thick brown paper 

"Well, Harry, you take 
the place of that bishop, and 
Hermione, YOU 

Harry had only 
just raised his wand when they heard 
someone speak -and it 

"It's the best place for 
him," said Dumbledore firmly. 
"His aunt and uncle 

He lowered himself 
through the hole until he was 
hanging on by his 

"Oh, sorry," said the 
other,. not sounding sorry 
at all. "But they were 

Gordon were all big 
and stupid, but as Dudley 
was the biggest and 

Looking down at his 
legs, he saw only moonlight 
and shadows. It was 

Lady. Harry said 
nothing. He walked quickly down 
the corridor. Where 

"Think my name's funny, 
do you? No need to ask who 
you are. My father 

Against the Dark Arts. 
"What are you looking for, boy?" 
"Nothing," said Harry. 

Hermione moved 
closer together to block 
the fire from view; they 

McGonagall was 
running toward them. He got 
to his feet, trembling. 

Shaking, Harry moved 
three spaces to the left. The 
white king took off his 

Harry noticed, the 
hat shouted out the house at 
once, but at others 

"His aunt and uncle 
will be able to explain 
everything to him 

It seemed she had been 
wanting to say all this for 
years. "Then she met that 

Aunt Petunia went 
to answer it while Harry 
and Uncle Vernon 

Harry was being 
stupid on purpose. Getting 
desperate, Harry 

Nick delicately. 
When everyone had eaten 
as much as they could, 

Now he came to think 
about it... every odd thing 
that had ever made 

He wanted to say 
something to defend himself, 
but there seemed to be 

McGonagall had 
come bursting into the room, 
closely followed by 

Hermione left. 
Professor McGonagall 
turned to Harry and 

Dumbledore, slipping 
off the desk to sit on the 
floor with Harry, "you, 

When Aunt Petunia 
and Dudley had run out with 
their arms over their 

Hermione read 
the paper several times. 
Then she walked up and 

Vernon, who seemed to 
be trying to be nice to 
Harry, made Dudley 

OUT!" Uncle Vernon 
seized Harry around the waist 
and threw him into 

McGonagall had 
returned. One by one, the ghosts 
floated away through 

"Hagrid!" said Harry, 
shocked to see Hagrid shaking 
with grief and remorse, 

He realized he 
must be in the hospital 
wing. He was lying 

Albus Dumbledore. 
Harry must have walked straight past 
him, so desperate 

Harry kept looking 
around. Everything looked so 
strange, somehow. "You all 

Hall might well have thought 
some sort of explosion had 
taken place, so loud 

Harry let go. Cold, 
damp air rushed past him as he 
fell down, down, down and 

Malfoy just as Snape 
came up the stairs. "WEASLEY!" Ron 
let go of the front 

Dumbledore. Harry 
must have walked straight past him, so 
desperate to get 

Eve, Harry went to 
bed looking forward to the 
next day for the food 

Harry fell hard on 
the concrete floor. What came next 
happened so fast no 

Harry looked up at 
the giant. He meant to say 
thank you, but the words 

Charlie can take care 
of him and then put him back 
in the wild!" "Brilliant!" 

Snape was holding his 
robes above his knees. One of 
his legs was bloody 

Potter rolled over 
inside his blankets without 
waking up. One small 

No one, ever, in 
his whole life, had written to 
him. Who would? He had 

Cap!" The whole hall burst 
into applause as the hat 
finished its song. It 

It must have made sense 
to Dumbledore, though, because 
he put it back in 

When everyone had 
eaten as much as they could, 
the remains of the 

I'll be far away 
by the time he gets back...." All 
Harry could think of 

He was walking so 
fast he knew he was making 
more noise than was wise, 

Hermione was 
now refusing to speak to 
Harry and Ron, but 

Weasley," Ron muttered. 
"Harry Potter," said Harry. 
"Are you really?" 

"Just tell us what to 
do." "Well, Harry, you take the 
place of that bishop, 

And she let Ron and 
Hermione in. "Harry!" 
Hermione looked 

Hagrid?" And in the 
end, Hagrid agreed that they 
could send -an owl to 

It was now sitting 
on his garden wall. He was 
sure it was the same 

Hagrid was there to 
take them down to the fleet of 
boats that sailed across 

"My father's next door 
buying my books and mother's 
up the street looking 

Fat Lady to get 
back inside and found herself 
facing an empty 

The hut was full of 
sunlight, the storm was over, 
Hagrid himself was 

They can meet you there 
and take him away while it's 
still dark. Send me an 

Uncle Vernon made 
furious telephone calls 
to the post office 

Harry thought there must 
be thick trees there. Nobody 
spoke much. Neville, the 

Hermione. "What 
should we do?" "Leave it to me." 
Before Ron could say 

Hogwarts. You will have 
classes with the rest of your 
house, sleep in your house 

Hagrid up to?" said 
Hermione. When they knocked 
on the door of the 

Turn this stupid, fat 
rat yellow." He waved his wand, 
but nothing happened. 

Hermione had 
fought her way across to the 
stand where Snape stood, and 

He checked his Hogwarts 
list yet again to make sure 
he had everything 

Twice, Ron only just 
noticed in time that Harry 
and Hermione 

It had twelve hands but 
no numbers; instead, little 
planets were moving 

He supposed this was 
all part of entering the 
magical world, but 

He had been looking 
forward to learning to fly 
more than anything 

Harry swung at it 
with the bat to stop it from 
breaking his nose, and 

Ron exchanged looks with 
raised eyebrows. Hermione 
Granger was on the 

As Harry and Ron 
walked back to the castle for 
dinner, their pockets 

Harry felt as though 
the bottom had dropped out of 
his stomach. How could 

Thinking Cap!" The whole 
hall burst into applause as 
the hat finished its 

Harry, and they had 
set off. They reached King's Cross at 
half past ten. Uncle 

He felt so ashamed 
of himself that he went to 
Wood and offered to 

Fat Lady. Harry 
said nothing. He walked quickly 
down the corridor. 

Potter was still there, 
asleep at the moment, but 
not for long. His Aunt 

Harry moved nearer 
to the mirror, wanting to 
look at himself but 

"Yes," said Harry. He 
was looking at the other 
boys. Both of them were 

Hardly anyone 
had seen Harry play because 
Wood had decided 

Harry spent as much 
time as possible out of 
the house, wandering 

It was one of my 
more brilliant ideas, and 
between you and me, 

His whole head swung off 
his neck and fell onto his 
shoulder as if it 

Granger was shrinking 
against the wall opposite, 
looking as if she 

Uncle Vernon, who 
seemed to be trying to be 
nice to Harry, made 

At five to three they 
left the castle and made their 
way across the grounds. 

Fourth, the second left 
and the second on the right 
Are twins once you taste 

Harry, he has not. 
He is still out there somewhere, 
perhaps looking for 

"This is the Potter 
boy. The quicker he leaves this 
forest, the better." 

Ages. Neville was 
hanging on to her every 
word, desperate for 

Harry." He tapped the 
wall three times with the point of 
his umbrella. The 

Harry and Ron. They 
finally managed to find 
their way down to the 

The next morning in 
Defense Against the Dark Arts, 
while copying down 

Ron casually, 
getting started at last on 
his cold pie. Catching 

Harry only had 
one thought in his head, which was 
to get back in front 

Harry was relieved 
to see that he was smiling. 
"So," said Dumbledore, 

Everyone out!" It 
was very cold outside the 
car. Uncle Vernon 

Hermione gasped. 
Harry and Ron wheeled round. Snape 
was standing there. "Good 

Harry and Ron stood 
up. "Say that again," Ron said, 
his face as red as 

It was lucky that 
Harry had tea with Hagrid 
to look forward to, 

Harry looked into 
the fire. Now he came to think 
about it... every 

Dumbledore watching. 
All the other teachers thought 
Snape was trying to 

I'd known what that wand 
was going out into the 
world to do...." He shook 

Harry. "Want to come 
upstairs and practice?" "No, thanks," 
said Harry. "The poor 

He is still out there 
somewhere, perhaps looking for 
another body 

Harry wanted to 
watch Hagrid until he was 
out of sight; he rose 

"Dumbledore?" he said, 
dashing to the door to make 
sure. Fred was right. There 

Send me an answer 
as soon as possible. Love, 
Charlie They looked at 

"Library books are 
not to be taken outside 
the school," said Snape. "Give 

(or maybe hoped) that 
strangers in the street seemed to 
know him. Very strange 

He could just see the 
bundle of blankets on the 
step of number four. 

Potter?" The last thing 
Harry saw before the hat 
dropped over his eyes 

Uncle Vernon, who 
had gone very pale, whispered 
something that sounded 

He meant to say thank 
you, but the words got lost on 
the way to his mouth, 

Aunt Petunia and 
Dudley into the other 
room, he cast one last 

Harry really 
wanted, even if It made 
him sick. Harry piled 

Harry. "Professor 
McGonagall told me all 
about the special 

"Vault seven hundred 
and thirteen now, please, and can 
we go more slowly?" 

Harry nodded, but 
stopped quickly, because it made 
his head hurt. Then he 

He gasped. So did the 
people around him. About 
twenty ghosts had just 

And now they knew why 
it was forbidden. They were 
looking straight into 

Harry whispered as 
they stepped carefully over 
one of its massive 

Harry went to bed 
looking forward to the next 
day for the food and 

The answer to that 
was waiting at the foot of 
the stairs. As they stepped 

Hermione showed 
the slightest interest in 
what lay underneath 

Hermione had 
given Harry something else 
to think about as 

Harry Potter rolled 
over inside his blankets 
without waking up. 

Uncle Vernon was 
tearing the letters into 
pieces before his 

Second, different 
are those who stand at either 
end, But if you would 

It looked like hard work. 
Finally he said slowly, 
"So I'll have thirty 

Harry feared most was 
that he might not be able 
to find the mirror 

Hermione stood 
up, her hand stretching toward 
the dungeon ceiling. 

McGonagall, who 
could spot trouble quicker than 
any teacher in 

Walking back from the 
library on his own one 
afternoon, he heard 

Vernon knocked his hand 
out of the way. The woman 
stared. "I'll take them," said 

Dumbledore raised his 
hand. The room gradually 
fell silent. "There are 

Uncle Vernon and 
Dudley, then raised its eyes to 
the ceiling. It gave 

The late afternoon 
sun hung low in the sky as 
Harry and Hagrid 

Harry began to 
tell him and Hermione 
what had happened in 

"Good of her to get 
us out of trouble like that," 
Ron admitted. "Mind 

"Oh, very well," she 
said. "But five minutes only." 
And she let Ron and 

"Where?" "Next to the tall 
kid with the red hair." "Wearing 
the glasses?" "Did you 

("How will you learn?"), but 
by asking her to read it 
through, they got the right 

Ron wheeled round. Snape was 
standing there. "Good afternoon," 
he said smoothly. They 

And then it came to 
him. The Restricted Section 
in the library. 

It roared again and 
started toward Ron, who was 
nearest and had no 

Harry something else 
to think about as he climbed 
back into bed. The 

McGonagall told 
the first years, "and follow me." 
Feeling oddly as 

Malfoy," Harry called. 
The same thought seemed to have struck 
Malfoy. "Catch it if 

He paced up and down 
in front of the fire. He was 
still shaking. "Snape wants 

Uncle Vernon held 
it high out of his reach. Aunt 
Petunia took it 

The next morning dawned 
very bright and cold. The Great 
Hall was full of the 

"First years should note that 
the forest on the grounds is 
forbidden to all 

"How are you supposed 
to keep your eyes on all three 
heads at once?" Harry 

She was torn between 
horror at the idea 
of Harry being 

Snape can turn very 
nasty." As they climbed the steps 
out of the dungeon 

Harry saw his scared 
white face look down at the ground 
falling away, saw 

Ron warned Harry. "When 
they say every flavor, they 
mean every flavor 

And learn until our 
brains all rot. Everybody 
finished the song at 

The harder she tried 
to pull it over his head, 
the smaller it seemed 

Dudley, who never 
read anything, would have been 
wild to get his hands 

As for Harry and 
Ron, their legs had already 
been bound tightly in 

Petunia had rushed 
them out of the shop without 
buying anything. 

Not today. Not now. 
You will know, one day... put it 
from your mind for now, 

Curse put on him. "Which 
means, Dumbledore called over 
the storm of applause, 

He pointed at the 
three balls left inside the box. 
"I'll show you now," said 

He dashed back across 
the road, hurried up to his 
office, snapped at his 

Magic never taught 
at Hogwarts, and only read 
by older students 

When September came 
he would be going off to 
secondary school 

Defense Against the 
Dark Arts, while copying down 
different ways of 

Hermione had 
turned to the portrait of the 
Fat Lady to get 

Harry so he could 
buy their tickets. People stared 
more than ever on 

"Harry! Harry, are 
you all right?" Hermione 
was running toward 

He pulled open the 
next door, both of them hardly 
daring to look at 

Yes, Weasley, from my 
own house!" Harry and Ron went 
back to the common 

"we were on the team 
last year." "Shut up, you two," said 
Wood. "This is the best 

This was part of his 
and Wood's game plan. "Keep out of 
the way until you 

"Something you have to 
say is more important than 
the Ministry of 

Harry saw before 
the hat dropped over his eyes 
was the hall full of 

Magic. His school books 
were very interesting. 
He lay on his bed 

It sounded as though 
someone was threatening him. 
Harry moved closer. 

You, who have never 
known your family, see them 
standing around you. 

When he woke early 
in the morning, however, 
the first thing he saw 

"Tell me the truth! What 
did you just see?" The high voice 
spoke again. "Let me 

Which was all very 
well, thought Harry, but he had 
another reason 

Vernon that people 
liked to be left alone while 
they did this, but it 

"Hogwarts, too?" "Yes," said 
Harry. "My father's next door 
buying my books and 

Dumbledore turned and 
walked back down the street. On the 
corner he stopped and 

Hagrid called "Who is 
it?" before he let them in, 
and then shut the door 

Hagrid seemed to know 
where he was going, he was 
obviously not 

Harry watched the girl 
and her mother disappear 
as the train rounded 

"What did you talk to 
him about, Hagrid? Did you 
mention Hogwarts at 

Snape, however, was 
not pleased. "Sit down," he snapped at 
Hermione. "For 

Malfoy. "Catch it if 
you can, then!" he shouted, and 
he threw the glass ball 

Harry felt she'd had 
good reason, because Neville 
managed to have an 

Harry was sure, and 
he leaned forward eagerly, 
expecting to see 

Another time, Aunt 
Petunia had been trying 
to force him into 

Magic?" Harry asked, 
before he could stop himself. 
"'Course," said Hagrid. "They 

Petunia had talked 
Dudley into sitting next 
to Harry, and they 

Hermione, and 
she whipped out her wand, waved it, 
muttered something, and 

When Dudley had been 
put to bed, he went into 
the living room in 

Ron behind him, and 
they walked out of the chamber, 
back across the hall, 

Harry forced himself 
to keep looking straight into 
those cold eyes. He had 

Snape, who already 
suspected me, went straight to 
the third floor to head 

It was only then 
that Harry realized what 
was standing behind 

Harry. "Do you think 
this mirror shows the future?" 
"How can it? All my 

He was almost as 
tall as the twins already 
and his nose was still 

Hagrid now gave him; 
when Hagrid spoke, his every 
syllable trembled 

She was already 
wearing her new Hogwarts robes. 
"Has anyone seen 

Harry remembered 
Ron telling him on the train 
that someone had tried 

The white queen smashed him 
to the floor and dragged him off 
the board, where he lay 

He looked at Hagrid 
furiously, but then dropped 
his gaze. "Right then," said 

Petunia could get 
mixed up in anything that 
might be going on 

COME AND LOOK AT THIS 
SNAKE! YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT IT'S 
DOING!" Dudley came 

Not until he climbed 
into bed was he free to 
think about it: the 

Look down!" Harry looked 
down at his feet, but they were 
gone. He dashed to the 

"Could do with some of 
those letters now, eh?" he said 
cheerfully. He was 

Great Hall for breakfast 
without getting lost once. "What 
have we got today?" 

Like everything else 
he owned, it had once belonged 
to someone else in 

He could hear Neville 
sobbing into his pillow 
for what seemed like hours. 

Harry to himself. 
It took almost ten minutes 
to get away from 

"But there are hundreds 
of them!" Ron examined the 
lock on the door. "We're 

He could see the High 
Table properly now. At 
the end nearest him 

Half terrified, half 
furious, they acted as 
though any chair with 

It seemed as though life 
would be back to normal next 
year, or as normal 

"How exactly do 
they sort us into houses?" 
he asked Ron. "Some sort 

Where those of wit and 
learning, Will always find their 
kind; Or perhaps in 

He tried to lift it 
up the steps but could hardly 
raise one end and twice 

Uncle Vernon roared. 
Pulling Aunt Petunia and 
Dudley into the 

"We will be reaching 
Hogwarts in five minutes' time. 
Please leave your luggage 

Charlie left, but this 
year's team is going to be 
brilliant. You must be 

He was starting to 
feel that nothing would surprise 
him. "No," said Ron. "But 

Malfoy using it 
on Neville, and were ready 
to use it on Snape 

So what are they for?" 
He pointed at the three balls 
left inside the box. 

Although he could tell 
it was daylight, he kept his 
eyes shut tight. "It was 

Harry. He was so 
angry he could hardly speak. 
He managed to say, 

"Oh, come on, Hagrid, 
you might not want to tell us, 
but you do know, you 

Harry realized 
his mouth was open and closed 
it quickly. "Where was 

The Sea. He pulled out 
the letter and read: HOGWARTS 
SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and 

Hermione, go 
on." Every time one of their 
men was lost, the white 

Sometimes, when he strained 
his memory during long 
hours in his cupboard, 

And Harry let go. 
Cold, damp air rushed past him as 
he fell down, down, down 

He had leapt to his 
feet. In his anger he seemed 
to fill the whole hut. 

Ron. "You look odd." What 
Harry feared most was that he 
might not be able 

Dursley as he left 
the house. He got into his 
car and backed out of 

Something really 
extraordinary had to 
be inside this top 

Vernon seized Harry 
around the waist and threw him 
into the hall. When 

Seeing the open 
door somehow seemed to impress 
upon all three of 

He pulled the handle, 
but it was locked. The other 
two followed him. They 

Hagrid quietly 
as they walked up the white stone 
steps toward him. The 

The happiest man 
on earth would be able to 
use the Mirror of 

Aunt Petunia through 
the living room window. While 
Uncle Vernon made 

"Taking Dudley to 
the hospital," growled Uncle 
Vernon. "Got to have 

Harry noticed him 
glance at the fire. Harry looked 
at it, too. "Hagrid 

Hermione. "And 
send me an owl if you find 
anything." "And you 

Hermione rushed 
up to the hospital wing 
at the end of the 

Table was full of 
teachers, neither of them could 
do more than crack their 

"You can keep it," said 
Harry, laughing at how pleased 
Ron was. "Hagrid and 

Hermione stretched 
her hand as high into the 
air as it would go 

Hermione, and 
Hagrid took the left path while 
Malfoy, Neville, and 

He gasped. He stared at 
the back of the card. Then he 
looked up at Ron and 

"Let me explain. The 
happiest man on earth would 
be able to use 

Potter boy," he said. 
"You had better get back to 
Hagrid. The forest 

Harry wondered what 
their punishment was going 
to be. It must be 

"How did you get here?" 
Harry asked, looking around 
for another boat. 

Hermione, but 
she agreed to go and watch 
out for Snape. "And we'd 

Defense Against the 
Dark Arts. "What are you looking 
for, boy?" "Nothing," said 

Danger lies before 
you, while safety lies behind, 
Two of us will help 

Hermione shook 
hands with the others and thanked 
them very much. At 

But from that moment 
on, Hermione Granger 
became their friend. There 

Hagrid collected 
that package just in time? Where 
was it now? And did 

Flavor Beans. "You want 
to be careful with those," Ron 
warned Harry. "When they 

Granger had come in. 
"What has been going on?" she 
said, looking at the 

Hagrid. Had Hagrid 
collected that package just 
in time? Where was it 

Hagrid pulled out the 
pink umbrella again, tapped 
it twice on the side 

Harry, "we were on 
the team last year." "Shut up, you 
two," said Wood. "This is 

Great Hall might well have 
thought some sort of explosion 
had taken place, so 

Harry looked at Ron, 
and was relieved to see by 
his stunned face that he 

He was pale green by 
now. Harry crossed his fingers 
under the table 

Petunia went to 
answer it while Harry and 
Uncle Vernon watched 

Dudley were leaning 
right up close to the glass, the 
next, they had leapt back 

Snape was trying to 
steal? The trouble was, it was 
very hard to know 

"Harry Potter," said 
Harry. "Are you really?" 
said Hermione. 

Vernon, standing up 
quickly and following her 
from the dining room. 

Harry filled Ron in 
about the package that seemed 
to have been moved from 

He clapped his hands once, 
and the ropes binding Harry 
fell off. Harry got 

Drive. He was tall, thin, 
and very old, judging by 
the silver of his 

He had never seen 
so many things he liked to 
eat on one table: 

Ron sighed, as evening 
after evening they struggled 
through all the extra 

Hogwarts the next day, 
looking tired but perfectly 
cheerful. Indeed, by 

Given Harry his 
letter. Taking him to buy 
his things tomorrow. 

"It certainly seems 
so," said Dumbledore. "We have 
much to be thankful 

Not now. You will know, 
one day... put it from your mind 
for now, Harry. When 

They made their way through 
the trees in silence for so 
long that Harry thought 

No arguments!" He 
looked so dangerous with half 
his mustache missing 

Through the Ages back, 
to take his mind off his nerves 
about tomorrow. 

The white queen turned her 
blank face toward him. "Yes..." said 
Ron softly, "It's the 

Harry took out his 
wand in case Malfoy leapt in 
and started at once. 

This was so unfair 
that Harry opened his mouth 
to argue, but Ron 

Hermione told 
him to be quiet until 
she'd looked something up, 

"How to get onto 
the platform?" she said kindly, 
and Harry nodded. 

He hurried out from 
behind the bar, rushed toward 
Harry and seized his 

The dishes in front 
of him were now piled with food. 
He had never seen 

It was one of those 
rare occasions when the true 
story is even 

Five minutes later, 
Ron and Hermione joined 
him, shaking their heads. 

"Harry Potter... what 
an honor." He hurried out 
from behind the bar, 

Ron again. He was 
almost as tall as the twins 
already and his 

McGonagall bent 
forward over the bundle 
of blankets. Inside, 

Harry. "My father's 
next door buying my books and 
mother's up the street 

Harry would never 
quite remember how he had 
managed to get through 

Modern Magical 
History and The Rise and 
Fall of the Dark Arts 

Harry knew Ron and 
Hermione were thinking 
the same as he was. 

Seven bottles: three 
are poison; two are wine; one 
will get us safely 

Harry snapped it shut, 
but the shriek went on and on, 
one high, unbroken, 

Harry asked, looking 
around for another boat. 
"Flew," said Hagrid. "Flew?" 

He was tall, thin, and 
very old, judging by the 
silver of his hair 

Potter?" Harry forced 
himself to keep looking straight 
into those cold eyes. 

"Next to the tall kid 
with the red hair." "Wearing the 
glasses?" "Did you see 

Aunt Petunia was 
how he had gotten it. "In 
the car crash when your 

"What on earth were you 
thinking of?" said Professor 
McGonagall, with 

She would never let 
them copy ("How will you learn?"), 
but by asking her 

Uncle Vernon seized 
Harry around the waist and 
threw him into the 

Fat Lady on the 
seventh floor. "Where on earth have 
you all been?" she asked, 

He climbed carefully 
along one of the branches, 
holding tight to his 

My world. Yer parents' 
world." "What world?" Hagrid looked as 
if he was about 

Hagrid was about 
to answer when the color 
suddenly drained from 

"New students!" said the 
Fat Friar, smiling around 
at them. "About to 

"It must wake up the 
moment you stop playing," said 
Harry. "Well, here goes..." 

Ron spent most of their 
free time in the library 
with her, trying to 

The three of them put 
their heads together to read 
the note. Dear Ron, How 

Petunia knocking 
on the door, Harry thought, his 
heart sinking. But he 

Harry nodded. "Not 
to worry," she said. "All you 
have to do is walk 

"We're nearly there," he 
muttered suddenly. "Let me 
think let me think..." The 

Hagrid greeted them, 
looking flushed and excited. 
"It's nearly out." He 

Harry reminded 
him. They had reached the portrait 
of the Fat Lady. 

He was safe. There was 
simply no way that Snape would 
dare to try to hurt 

Any second now, 
Professor McGonagall 
would come back and lead 

His last, comforting 
thought before he fell asleep 
was that even if 

"You see, Dumbledore 
was right, that mirror could drive 
you mad," said Ron, when 

Ron. They finally 
managed to find their way down 
to the Great Hall for 

If you ever do 
run across it, you will now 
be prepared. It does 

Snape? Getting up, he 
told Ron and Hermione 
he was going to 

"It's on my ticket." 
"Barking," said Uncle Vernon, 
"howling mad, the lot 

Granger was almost 
as nervous about flying 
as Neville was. This 

"Be that as it may, 
fighting is against Hogwarts 
rules, Hagrid," said Snape 

He had the nasty 
feeling they were being watched. 
He was very glad 

The room held no sign 
at all that another boy 
lived in the house, too. 

Even Dudley, who 
never read anything, would 
have been wild to get 

Hagrid leaned across 
the table. Behind the wild 
beard and eyebrows he 

Dumbledore here, as 
though hoping he was going 
to tell her something, 

Snape was saying. "How 
are you supposed to keep your 
eyes on all three heads 

The quicker he leaves 
this forest, the better." "What 
have you been telling 

Wood was now looking 
as though all his dreams had come 
true at once. "Ever 

Keeper of Keys and 
Grounds at Hogwarts." He held out 
an enormous hand 

Yet sometimes he thought 
(or maybe hoped) that strangers 
in the street seemed to 

Fred told Harry, "we 
were on the team last year." "Shut 
up, you two," said Wood. 

(as he shouted at 
Uncle Vernon through the locked 
door of his cupboard) 

McGonagall was 
again different. Harry 
had been quite right to 

Dudley into the 
other room, he cast one last 
terrified look at 

Harry leaned over 
the side to try to see what 
was down at the dark 

The woman stared. "I'll 
take them," said Uncle Vernon, 
standing up quickly 

Malfoy, whom he seemed 
to like. He was just telling 
everyone to look 

Harry, feeling more 
stupid by the minute. "Well, 
no one really 

There, look." "Where?" "Next to 
the tall kid with the red hair." 
"Wearing the glasses?" 

Hermione in. 
"Harry!" Hermione looked 
ready to fling her 

To their great surprise, 
both he and Ron passed with good 
marks; Hermione, 

Come on, then." Harry 
followed Hagrid out onto 
the rock. The sky was 

Ron." The twins were back. 
"Listen, we're going down the 
middle of the train 

Harry Hunting. This 
was why Harry spent as much 
time as possible 

King's Cross station the 
next day, so he went down to 
the living room where 

It said Potter for 
President, and Dean, who was 
good at drawing, had 

Weasley, from my own 
house!" Harry and Ron went back 
to the common room, 

Potter, We are pleased 
to inform you that you have 
been accepted at 

Hunting. This was why 
Harry spent as much time as 
possible out of 

Snape had just left the 
room, and from what Harry had 
just heard, Snape would be 

Harry was glad she 
held herself in as his head 
was still very sore. 

I'd better go and 
took through my books, there might be 
something useful..." "But 

He led them to the 
very edge of the forest. 
Holding his lamp up 

He rolled onto his 
back and tried to remember 
the dream he had been 

You will know, one day... 
put it from your mind for now, 
Harry. When you are 

Use it well, the note 
had said. He had to try it, 
now. He slipped out of 

Ron was standing there 
with his wand still raised, staring 
at what he had done. 

Ron sighed happily, 
stretching out on the grass. "You 
could look more cheerful, 

He understood what 
he had to do all right, it 
was doing it that 

Hagrid was sitting 
in an armchair outside his 
house; his trousers and 

Harry and Ron wheeled 
round. Snape was standing there. "Good 
afternoon," he said 

Harry swallowed. "How 
exactly do they sort us 
into houses?" he 

"it's doing us so 
much good." Hermione marched 
away with her nose 

Know who he is?" "Who?" 
"Harry Potter!" Harry heard 
the little girl's voice. 

It was standing quite 
still, all six eyes staring at 
them, and Harry knew 

Harry, but he had 
another reason for not 
wanting Snape near him 

"Ready?" Harry asked 
the other two, his hand on 
the door handle. They 

Hagrid had let it 
slip, because how else were they 
going to find out 

Harry wished he had 
about eight more eyes. He turned 
his head in every 

McGonagall would 
accept for their being out 
of bed and creeping 

Vernon stayed at home 
again. After burning all 
the letters, he got 

"What about that tea 
then, eh?" he said, rubbing his 
hands together. "I'd 

And you were the one 
who told me to stand up to 
people!" "Yes, but not 

It grew steadily 
louder as they looked up and 
down the street for some 

"You may ask me one 
more thing, however." "What do 
you see when you look 

It's very hard to 
catch because it's so fast and 
difficult to see. 

"Oh, it was nothing, 
dear." "Ready, are you?" It was 
Uncle Vernon, still 

Hermione in 
the distance, jumping up and 
down, Ron cheering through 

But Harry only 
had one thought in his head, which 
was to get back in 

Harry. There was no 
point beating around the bush. 
"We were wondering 

How many people 
wander around with dragon 
eggs if it's against 

Dudley had been put 
to bed, he went into the 
living room in time 

Your world. My world. Yer 
parents' world." "What world?" Hagrid 
looked as if he was 

"No more studying," 
Ron sighed happily, stretching 
out on the grass. "You 

Their eyes slid from the 
big book shop on one side to 
the record shop on 

Harry in the lead, 
without any idea 
where they were or where 

Thousand and took off. 
Gliding silently over 
the castle he saw 

You look terrible." 
Speaking quietly so that 
no one else would hear, 

He closed his eyes, stepped 
in front of the mirror, and 
opened them again. 

Suddenly, people 
were pointing up at Harry 
all over the stands. 

Charms that he thought they 
were ready to start making 
objects fly, something 

Harry Potter an' 
Hermione Granger, by 
the way. Students up 

Hermione and 
Harry sitting alone in 
the common room, long 

Now the third brother 
was walking briskly toward 
the barrier he 

Snape would dare to try 
to hurt him if Dumbledore 
was watching. Perhaps 

Harry were almost 
nose to nose. Harry could see 
himself reflected 

He rolled over and 
fell asleep again, and when 
he woke next day, he 

"What should we do?" "Leave 
it to me." Before Ron could 
say another word, 

Snape interrupted 
him. "Have you found out how to 
get past that beast of 

"Right then," said Hagrid, 
"now, listen carefully, 'cause 
it's dangerous what 

Dursley came into 
the living room carrying 
two cups of tea. It 

Harry picked the 
shining, silvery cloth off 
the floor. It was strange 

She pointed at the 
last and youngest of her sons. 
He was tall, thin, and 

Section." Harry felt 
the blood drain out of his face. 
Wherever he was, 

Does that help?" Harry 
thought. Then he said slowly, "It 
shows us what we want... 

Ron instead, giving 
Harry time to run around 
it. "Come on, run, run!" 

Uncle Vernon. But 
he had finally gone too 
far. Hagrid seized his 

Hermione asked 
him, leading him over to 
sit with Harry and 

He walked quickly down 
the corridor. Where should he 
go? He stopped, his heart 

Hermione hung 
her head. Harry was speechless. 
Hermione was 

"It's no wonder no 
one can stand her," he said to 
Harry as they pushed 

Hogwarts?" "Of course not," 
said Harry, eager to see 
more magic. Hagrid 

They were standing with 
their backs to it, getting warm, 
when Snape crossed the yard. 

Ron. "Just come round my 
house this summer. Anyway, 
maybe it only 

By the time he was 
allowed out of his cupboard 
again, the summer 

"You are the Potter 
boy," he said. "You had better 
get back to Hagrid. 

It does not do to 
dwell on dreams and forget to 
live, remember that. 

But he did seem to 
realize he was being 
watched, because he looked 

More silence followed 
this little speech. Harry and 
Ron exchanged looks with 

Chocolate Frog, the 
very last one from the box 
Hermione had 

Potter at school and 
they left and got married and 
had you, and of course 

People stared more than 
ever on the train. Hagrid 
took up two seats and 

Granger will be most 
relieved you have come round, they 
have been extremely 

Hermione had 
got both her breath and her bad 
temper back again. 

Harry looked down at 
his feet, but they were gone. He 
dashed to the mirror. 

So the three of them 
followed Hagrid and his tree 
off to -the Great Hall, 

His Aunt Petunia 
was awake and it was her 
shrill voice that made the 

"Let me think let me 
think..." The white queen turned her blank 
face toward him. "Yes..." 

Hermione joined 
him, shaking their heads. They went 
off to lunch. "You will 

WITCH OR NOT?" "Oh, right!" 
said Hermione, and she 
whipped out her wand, waved 

Harry walked round and 
round his new room. Someone knew 
he had moved out of 

Harry could have laughed 
out loud with relief He was 
safe. There was simply 

Snape finished calling 
the names and looked up at the 
class. His eyes were black 

He found what he was 
looking for in his inside 
pocket. It seemed to 

Harry knew what it 
must have cost him to try and 
find them in the dark, 

Hagrid got out and 
had to lean against the wall 
to stop his knees from 

Harry found their way 
into the house, rolled up and 
hidden inside each