Apex timepieces
He didnt look at it, but after a moment he spoke to it. Fancy seeing you here, Professor McGonagall. He turned to smile at the tabby, but it had gone. Instead he was smiling at a rather severe-looking woman who was wearing square glasses exactly the shape of the markings the cat had had around its eyes. She, too, was wearing a cloak, an emerald one. Her black hair was drawn into a tight bun. She looked distinctly ruffled. How did you know it was me. she asked. My dear Professor, Ive never seen a cat sit so stiffly. Youd be stiff if youd been sitting on a brick wall all day, said Professor McGonagall. All day. When you could have been celebrating. I must have passed a dozen feasts and parties on my way here. Professor McGonagall sniffed angrily. Oh yes, everyones celebrating, all right, she said impatiently. Youd think theyd be a bit more careful, but no - even the Muggles have noticed somethings going on. It was on their news. She jerked her head back at the Dursleys dark living-room window. I heard it. Flocks of owls. shooting stars. Well, theyre not completely stupid. They were bound to notice something. Shooting stars down in Kent - Ill bet that was Dedalus Diggle. He never had much sense. You cant blame them, said Dumbledore gently. Weve had precious little to celebrate for eleven years. I know that, said Professor McGonagall irritably. But thats no reason to lose our heads. People are being downright careless, out on the streets in broad daylight, not even dressed in Muggle clothes, swapping rumors. She threw a sharp, sideways glance at Dumbledore here, as though hoping he was going to tell her something, but he didnt, so she went on. A fine thing it would be download extension steam, on the very day You-Know-Who seems to have disappeared at last, the Muggles found out about us all. I suppose he really has gone, Dumbledore. It certainly seems so, said Dumbledore. We have much to be thankful for. Would you care for a lemon drop. A what. A lemon drop. Theyre a kind of Muggle sweet Im rather fond of. No, thank you, said Professor McGonagall coldly, as though she didnt think this was the moment for lemon drops. As I say, even if You-KnowWho has gone - My dear Professor, surely a sensible person like yourself can call him by his name. All this You-Know-Who nonsense - for eleven years I have been trying to persuade people to call him by his proper name: Voldemort. Professor McGonagall flinched, but Dumbledore, who was unsticking two lemon drops, seemed not to notice. It all gets so confusing if we keep saying You-Know-Who. I have never seen any reason to be frightened of saying Voldemorts name. I know you havent, said Professor McGonagall, sounding half exasperated, half admiring. But youre different. Everyone knows youre the only one You-Know- oh, all right, Voldemort, was frightened of. You flatter me, said Dumbledore calmly. Voldemort had powers I will never have. Only because youre too - well - noble to use them. Its lucky its dark. I havent blushed so much since Madam Pomfrey told me she liked my new earmuffs. Professor McGonagall shot a sharp look at Dumbledore and said, The owls are nothing next to the rumors that are flying around. You know what everyones saying. About why hes disappeared. About what finally stopped him. It seemed that Professor McGonagall had reached the point she was most anxious to discuss, the real reason she had been waiting on a cold, hard wall all day, for neither as a cat nor as a woman had she fixed Dumbledore with such a piercing stare as she did now. It was plain that whatever everyone was saying, she was not going to believe it until Dumbledore told her it was true. Dumbledore, however, was choosing another lemon drop and did not answer. What theyre saying, she pressed on, is that last night Voldemort turned up in Godrics Hollow. He went to find the Potters. The rumor is that Lily and James Potter are - are - that theyre - dead. Dumbledore bowed his head. Professor McGonagall gasped. Lily and James. I cant believe it. I didnt want to believe it. Oh, Albus. Dumbledore reached out and patted her on the shoulder. I know. I know. he said heavily. Professor McGonagalls voice trembled as she went on. Thats not all. Theyre saying he tried to kill the Potters son, Harry. But - he couldnt. He couldnt kill that little boy. No one knows why, or how, but theyre saying that when he couldnt kill Harry Potter, Voldemorts power somehow broke - and thats apologise, steampod loreal 4.0 agree hes gone. Dumbledore nodded glumly. Its - its true. faltered Professor McGonagall. After all hes done. all the people hes killed. he couldnt kill a little boy. Its just astounding. of all the things to stop him. but how in the name of heaven did Harry survive. We can only guess, said Dumbledore. We may never know. Professor McGonagall pulled out a lace handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes beneath her spectacles. Dumbledore gave a great sniff as he took a golden watch from his pocket and examined it. It was a very odd watch. It had twelve hands but no numbers; instead, little planets were moving around the edge. It must have made sense to Dumbledore, though, because he put it back in his pocket and said, Hagrids late. I suppose it was he who pubg gameloop game loop cho you Id be here, by the way. Yes, said Professor McGonagall. And I dont suppose youre going to tell me why youre here, of all places. Ive come to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle. Theyre the only family he has left now. You dont mean - you vs counter 1 global 1 offensive strike mean the people who live here. cried Professor McGonagall, jumping to her feet and pointing at number four. Dumbledore - you cant. Ive been watching them all day. You couldnt find two people who are less like us. And theyve got this son - I saw him kicking his mother all the way up the street, screaming for sweets. Harry Potter come and live here. Its Palworld steam xbox unterschied best place for him, said Dumbledore firmly. His aunt and uncle will be able to explain everything to him when hes older. Ive written them a letter. A letter. repeated Professor McGonagall faintly, sitting back down on the wall. Really, Dumbledore, you think you can explain all this in a letter. These people will never understand him. Hell be famous - a legend - I wouldnt be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter Day in the future - there will be books written about Harry - every child in our world will know his name. Exactly, said Dumbledore, looking very seriously over the top of his halfmoon glasses. It would be enough to turn any boys head. Famous before he can walk and talk. Famous for something he wont even remember. Cant you see how much better off hell be, growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it. Professor McGonagall opened her mouth, changed her mind, swallowed, and then said, Yes - yes, youre right, of course. But how is the boy getting here, Dumbledore. She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it. Hagrids bringing him. You think it - wise - to trust Hagrid with something as important as this. I would trust Hagrid with my life, said Dumbledore. Im not saying his heart isnt in the right place, said Professor McGonagall grudgingly, but you cant pretend hes not careless. He does tend to - what was that. A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them. It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight; it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky - and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them. If the motorcycle was huge, it was nothing to the man sitting astride it. He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide. He looked simply too big to be allowed, and so wild - long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face, he had hands the size of trash can lids, and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins. In his vast, muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets. Hagrid, said Dumbledore, sounding relieved. At last. And where did you get that motorcycle. Borrowed it, Professor Dumbledore, sir, said the giant, climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke. Young Sirius Black lent it to me. Ive got him, sir. No problems, were there. No, sir - house was almost destroyed, but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin around. He fell Palworld steam xbox unterschied as we was flyin over Bristol. Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets. Inside, just visible, was a baby boy, fast asleep. Under a tuft of jetblack hair over his forehead they could see Palworld steam xbox unterschied curiously shaped cut, like a bolt of lightning. Is that where -. whispered Professor McGonagall. Yes, said Dumbledore. Hell have that scar forever. Couldnt you do something about it, Dumbledore. Even if I could, I wouldnt. Scars can come in handy. I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground. Well - give him here, Hagrid - wed better get this over with. Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys house. Could I - could I say good-bye to him, sir. asked Hagrid. He bent his great, shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy, whiskery kiss. Then, suddenly, Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog. Shhh. hissed Professor McGonagall, youll wake the Muggles. S-s-sorry, sobbed Hagrid, taking out a large, spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it. But I c-c-cant stand it - Lily an James dead - an poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles - Yes, yes, its all very sad, but get a grip on yourself, Hagrid, or well be found, Professor McGonagall whispered, patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the front door. He laid Harry gently on the doorstep, took a letter out of his cloak, tucked it inside Harrys blankets, and then came back to the other two. For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle; Hagrids shoulders shook, Professor McGonagall blinked furiously, and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledores eyes seemed to have gone out. Well, said Dumbledore finally, thats that. Weve no business staying here. We may as well go and join the celebrations. Yeah, said Hagrid in a very muffled voice, Id best get this bike away. Gnight, Professor McGonagall - Professor Dumbledore, sir. Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve, Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life; with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night. I shall see you soon, I expect, Professor McGonagall, said Dumbledore, nodding to her. Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply. Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street. On the corner he stopped and took out the silver Put-Outer. He clicked it once, and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street. He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four. Good luck, Harry, he murmured. He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak, he was gone. A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive, which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky, the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen. Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up. One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on, not knowing he was special, not knowing he was famous, not knowing he would be woken in a few hours time by Mrs. Dursleys scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles, nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley. He couldnt know that at this very moment, people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices: To Harry Potter - the boy who lived. N Learn more here TWO THE VANISHING GLASS early ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step, but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all. The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys front door; it crept into their living room, which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr. Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls. Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed. Ten years ago, there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing different-colored bonnets - but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby, and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle, on a carousel at the fair, playing a computer game with his father, being hugged and kissed by his mother. The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house, too. Yet Harry Potter was still there, asleep at the moment, but not for long.
Him and everyone else here, sniffed Hermione. More info were interrogating us about it on the train, werent they, Ron. Yeah, said Ron. All wanting to know if you really are the Chosen One - There has been much talk on that very subject even amongst the ghosts, interrupted Nearly Headless Nick, inclining his barely connected head toward Harry so that it wobbled dangerously on its ruff. I am considered something go here a Potter authority; it is widely known that we are friendly. I have assured the spirit community that I will not pester you for information, however. Harry Apex bath duck knows that he can confide in me with complete confidence, I told them. I would rather die than betray his trust. Thats not saying much, seeing as youre already dead, Ron observed. Once again, you show all the sensitivity of a blunt axe, said Nearly Headless Nick in affronted tones, and he rose into the air and glided back toward the far end of the Gryffindor table just as Dumbledore got to his feet at the staff table. The talk and laughter echoing around the Hall died away almost instantly. The very best of evenings to you. he said, smiling broadly, his arms opened wide as though to embrace the whole room. What happened to his hand. gasped Hermione. She was not the only one who had noticed. Dumbledores right hand was as blackened and dead-looking as it had been on the night he had come to fetch Harry from the Dursleys. Whispers swept the room; Dumbledore, interpreting them correctly, merely smiled and shook his purple-and-gold sleeve over his injury. Nothing to worry about, he said airily. Now. to our new students, welcome, to our old students, welcome back. Another year full of magical education awaits you. His hand was like that when I saw him over the summer, Harry whispered to Hermione. I thought hed have cured it by Apex bath duck, though. or Madam Pomfrey wouldve done. It looks as if its died, said Apex bath duck, with a nauseated expression. But there are some injuries you cant cure. old curses. and there are poisons without antidotes. and Mr. Filch, our caretaker, has asked me to say that there is a blanket ban on any joke items bought at the shop called Weasleys Wizard Wheezes. Those wishing to play for their House Quidditch teams should give their names to their Heads of House as usual. We are also looking for new Quidditch commentators, who should do likewise. We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year. Professor Slughorn - Apex bath duck stood up, his bald head gleaming in the candlelight, his big waistcoated belly casting the table below into shadow - is a former colleague of mine who has agreed to resume his old post of Potions master. Potions. Potions. The word echoed all over the Hall as people wondered whether they had heard right. Potions. said Ron and Hermione together, turning to stare at Harry. But you said - Professor Snape, meanwhile, said Dumbledore, raising his voice so that it carried over all the muttering, will be taking over the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. said Harry, so loudly that many heads turned pity, apex legends steam market assured his direction. He did not care; he was staring up at the staff table, incensed. How could Snape be given the Defense Against the Dark Arts job after all this time. Hadnt it been widely known for years that Dumbledore did not trust him to do it. But Harry, you said that Slughorn was going to be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. said Hermione.
Certainly. And I have faced it. We can communicate on this theme.