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〃What？〃 said Harry； now starting to laugh himself 〃Lupin？ Listen； if he had this much gold； he'd be able to buy himself some new robes。〃
〃Yeah； but he likes you；〃 said Ron。 〃And he was away when your Nimbus got smashed； and he might've heard about it and decided to visit Diagon Alley and get this for you 〃
〃What d'you mean； he was away？〃 said Harry。 〃He was ill when I was playing in that match。〃
〃Well； he wasn't in the hospital wing；〃 said Ron。 〃I was there； cleaning out the bedpans on that detention from Snape； remember？〃
Harry frowned at Ron。
〃I can't see Lupin affording something like this。〃
〃What're you two laughing about？〃
Hermione had just e in； wearing her dressing gown and carrying Crookshanks； who was looking very grumpy； with a string of tinsel tied around his neck。
〃Don't bring him in here！〃 said Ron； hurriedly snatching Scabbers from the depths of his bed and stowing him in his pajama pocket。
But Hermione wasn't listening。 She dropped Crookshanks onto Seamus's empty bed and stared； open…mouthed； at the Firebolt。
〃Oh； Harry！ Who sent you that？〃
〃No idea；〃 said Harry。 〃There wasn't a card or anything with it。〃
To his great surprise； Hermione did not appear either excited or intrigued by the news。 On the contrary； her face fell； and she bit her lip。
〃What's the matter with you？〃 said Ron。
〃I don't know；〃 said Hermione slowly； 〃but it's a bit odd； isn't it？ I mean； this is supposed to be quite a good broom； isn't it？〃
Ron sighed exasperatedly。
〃It's the best broom there is； Hermione；〃 he said。
〃So it must've been really expensive。。。。〃
〃Probably cost more than all the Slytherins' brooms put together；〃 said Ron happily。
〃Well。。。 who'd send Harry something as expensive as that； and not even tell him they'd sent it？〃 said Hermione。
〃Who cares？〃 said Ron impatiently。 〃Listen； Harry； can I have a go on it？ Can I？〃
〃I don't think anyone should ride that broom just yet！〃 said Hermione shrilly。
Harry and Ron looked at her。
〃What d'you think Harry's going to do with it sweep the floor？〃 said Ron。
But before Hermione could answer； Crookshanks sprang from Seamus's bed； right at Ron's chest。
〃GET HIM OUT OF HERE！〃 Ron bellowed as Crookshanks's claws ripped his pajamas and Scabbers attempted a wild escape over his shoulder。 Ron seized Scabbers by the tail and aimed a misjudged kick at Crookshanks that hit the trunk at the end of Harry's bed； knocking it over and causing Ron to hop up and down； howling with pain。
Crookshanks's fur suddenly stood on end。 A shrill； tint；； whistling was filling the room。 The Pocket Sneakoscope had bee dislodged from Uncle Vernon's old socks and was whirling and gleaming on the floor。
I forgot about that！〃 Harry said； bending down and picking up the Sneakoscope。 I never wear those socks if I can help it。。。。
The Sneakoscope whirled and whistled in his palm。 Crookshanks was hissing and spitting at it。
〃You'd better take that cat out of here； Hermione；〃 said Ron furiously； sitting on Harry's bed nursing his toe。 〃Can't you shut that thing up？〃 he added to Harry as Hermione strode out of the room； Crookshanks's yellow eyes still fixed maliciously on Ron。
Harry stuffed the Sneakoscope back inside the socks and threw it back into his trunk。 All that could be heard now were Ron's stifled moans of pain and rage。 Scabbers was huddled in Ron's hands。 It had been a while since Harry had seen him out of Ron's pocket； and he was unpleasantly surprised to see that Scabbers； once so fat； was now very skinny； patches of fur seemed to have fallen out too
〃He's not looking too good； is he？〃 Harry said。
〃It's stress！〃 said Ron。 〃He'd be fine if that big stupid furball left him alone！〃
But Harry； remembering what the woman at the Magical Menagerie had said about rats living only three years； couldn't help feeling that unless Scabbers had powers he had never revealed； he was reaching the end of his life。 And despite Ron's frequent conplaints that Scabbers was both boring and useless； he was sure Ron would be very miserable if Scabbers died。
Christmas spirit was definitely thin on the ground in the Gryffindor mon room that morning。 Hermione had shut Crookshanks in her dormitory； but was furious with Ron for trying to kick him； Ron was still fuming about Crookshanks's fresh attempt to eat Scabbers。 Harry gave up trying to make them talk to each other and devoted himself to examining the Firebolt； which he had brought down to the mon room with him。 For some reason this seemed to annoy Hermione as well； she didn't say anything； but she kept looking darkly at the broom as though it too had been criticizing her cat。
At lunchtime they went down to the Great Hall； to find that the House tables had been moved against the walls again； and that a single table； set for twelve； stood in the middle of the room。 Professors Dumbledore； McGonagall； Snape； Sprout； and Flitwick were there； along with Filch； the caretaker； who had taken off his usual brown coat and was wearing a very old and rather moldy… looking tailcoat。 There were only three other students； two extremely nervous…looking first years and a sullen…faced Slytherin fifth year。
〃Merry Christmas！〃 said Dumbledore as Harry； Ron； and Hermione approached the table。 〃As there are so few of us； it seemed foolish to use the House tables。。。。 Sit down； sit down！〃
Harry； Ron； and Hermione sat down side by side at the end of the table。
〃Crackers！〃 said Dumbledore enthusiastically； offering the end of a large silver noisemaker to Snape； who took it reluctantly and tugged。 With a bang like a gunshot； the cracker flew apart to reveal a large； pointed witchs hat topped with a stuffed vulture。
Harry； remembering the boggart； caught Ron's eye and they both grinned； Snape's mouth thinned and he pushed the hat toward Dumbledore； who swapped it for his wizard's hat at once。
〃Dig in！〃 he advised the table； beaming around。
As Harry was helping himself to roast potatoes； the doors of the Great Hall opened again。 It was Professor Trelawney； gliding toward them as though on wheels。 She had put on a green sequined dress in honor of the occasion； making her look more than ever like a glittering； oversized dragonfly。
〃Sibyll； this is a pleasant surprise！〃 said Dumbledore； standing up。
〃I have been crystal gazing； Headmaster；〃 said Professor Trelawney in her mistiest； most faraway voice； 〃and to my astonishment； I saw myself abandoning my solitary luncheon and ing to join you。 Who am I to refuse the promptings of fate？ I at once hastened from my tower； and I do beg you to forgive my lateness。。。。〃
〃Certainly； certainly；〃 said Dumbledore； his eyes twinkling。 〃Let me draw you up a chair 〃
And he did indeed draw a chair in midair with his wand； which revolved for a few seconds before falling with a thud between Professors Snape and McGonagall。 Professor Trelawney； however； did not sit down； her enormous eyes had been roving around the table； and she suddenly uttered a kind of soft scream。
I dare not； Headmaster！ If I join the table； we shall be thirteen！ Nothing could be more unlucky！ Never forget that when thirteen dine together； the first to rise will be the first to die！〃
〃We'll risk it； Sibyll；〃 said Professor McGonagall inpatiendy。 〃Do sit down； the turkey's getting stone cold。〃
Professor Trelawney hesitated； then lowered herself into the empty chair； eyes shut and mouth clenched tight； as though expecting a thunderbolt to hit the table。 Professor McGonagall poked a large spoon into the nearest tureen。
〃Tripe； Sibyll？〃
Professor Trelawney ignored her。 Eyes open again； she looked around once more and said； 〃But where is dear Professor Lupin？〃
〃I'm afraid the poor fellow is ill again；〃 said Dumbledore； indicating that everybody should start serving themselves。 〃Most unfortunate that it should happen on Christmas Day。〃
〃But surely you already knew that； Sibyll？〃 said Professor McGonagall； her eyebrows raised。
Professor Trelawney gave Professor McGonagall a very cold look。
〃Certainly I knew； Minerva； 11 she said quietly。 〃But one does not parade the fact that one is All… Knowing。 I frequently act as though I am not possessed of the Inner Eye； so as not to make others nervous。
〃That explains a great deal；〃 said Professor McGonagall tartly。
Professor Trelawney's voice suddenly became a good deal less misty。
〃If you must know； Minerva； I have seen that poor Professor Lupin will not be with us for very long。 He seems aware； himself； that his time is short。 He positively fled when I offered to crystal gaze for him 〃
〃Imagine that；〃 said Professor McGonagall dryly。
I doubt；〃 said Dumbledore； in a cheerful but slightly raised voice； which put an end to Professor McGonagall and Professor Trelawney's conversation； 〃that Professor Lupin is in any immediate danger。 Severus； you've made the potion for him again？〃
〃Yes； Headmaster；〃 said Snape。 〃W what？〃 said Harry； scrambling to his feet。 〃Why？〃
〃It will need to be checked for jinxes；〃 said Professor McGonagall。 〃Of course； I'm no expert； but I daresay Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick will strip it down 〃
〃Strip it down？〃 repeated Ron； as though Professor McGonagall was mad。
〃It shouldn't take more than a few weeks；〃 said Professor McGonagall。 〃You will have it back if we are sure it is jinx…free。〃
〃There's nothing wrong with it！〃 said Harry； his voice shaking slightly。 〃Honestly； Professor 〃
〃You can't know that； Potter；〃 said Professor McGonagall； quite kindly； 〃not until you've flown it； at any rate； and I'm afraid that is out of the question until we are certain that it has not been tampered with。 I shall keep you informed。〃
Professor McGonagall turned on her heel and carried the Firebolt out of the portrait hole； which closed behind her。 Harry stood staring after her； the tin of High…Finish Polish still clutched in his hands。 Ron； however； rounded on Hermione。
〃What did you go running to McGonagall for？
Hermione threw her book aside。 She was still pink in the face； but stood up and faced Ron defiantly。
〃Because I thought and Professor McGonagall agrees with me that that broom was probably sent to Harry by Sirius Black！〃
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE PATRONUS
Harry knew that Hermione had meant well； but that didn't stop him from being angry with her。 He had been the owner of the best broom in the world for a few short hours； and now； because of her interference； he didn't know whether he would ever see it again。 He was positive that there was nothing wrong with the Firebolt now； but what sort of state would it be in once it had been subjected to all sorts of anti…jinx tests？
Ron was furious with Hermione too。 As far as he was concerned； the stripping…down of a brand… new Firebolt was nothing less than criminal damage。 Hermione； who remained convinced that she had acted for the best； started avoiding the mon room。 Harry and Ron supposed she had taken refuge in the library and didn't try to persuade her to e back。 All in all； they were glad when the rest of the school returned shortly after New Year； and Gryffindor Tower became crowded and noisy again。 Wood sought Harry out on the night before term started。
〃Had a good Christmas？〃 he said； and then； without waiting for an answer； he sat down； lowered his voice； and said； 〃I've been； doing some thinking over Christmas； Harry。 After last match； you know。 If the dementors e to the next one。。。 I mean。。。 we can't afford you to well 〃
Wood broke off； looking awkward。
〃I'm working on it；〃 said Harry quickly。 〃Professor Lupin said he'd train me to ward off the dementors。 We should be starting this week。 He said he'd have time after Christmas。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Wood； his expression clearing。 〃Well； in that case I really didn't want to lose you as Seeker； Harry。 And have you ordered a new broom yet？〃
〃No；〃 said Harry。
〃What！ You'd better get a move on； you know you can't ride that Shooting Star against Ravenclaw！〃
〃He got a Firebolt for Christmas；〃 said Ron。
〃A Firebolt？ No！ Seriously？ A a real Firebolt？〃
〃Don't get excited； Oliver；〃 said Harry gloomily。 〃I haven't got it anymore。 It was confiscated。〃 And he explained all about how the Firebolt was now being checked for jinxes。
〃Jinxed？ How could it be jinxed？〃
〃Sirius Black〃 Harry said wearily。 〃He's supposed to be after me。 So McGonagall reckons he might have sent it。〃
Waving aside the information that a famous murderer was after his Seeker； Wood said； 〃But Black couldn't have bought a Firebolt！ He's on the run！ The whole country's on the lookout for him！ How could he just walk into Quality Quidditch Supplies and buy a broomstick？〃
〃I know；〃 said Harry； 〃but McGonagall still wants to strip it down 〃
Wood went pale。
〃I'll go and talk to her； Harry；〃 he promised。 〃I'll make her see reason。。。。 A Firebolt。。。 a real Firebolt； on our team。。。 She wants Gryffindor to win as much as we do。。。。 I'll make her see sense。 A Firebolt。。。〃
Classes started again the next day。 The last thing anyone felt like doing was spending two hours on the grounds on a raw January morning； but Hagrid