H A R R Y P 0 T T E R . Unicorn b100d has strengthened me, these past weeks ... you saw faithful Quirrell drinking it for me ⅲ the Forest .. and once I have the Elixir of Life, I will be able to create a body of my own . Now ... why don't you give me that Stone ⅲ your pocket?' So he knew. The feeling suddenly surged back into Harry's legs. He stumbled backwards. 'Don't be a fool,' snarled the face. 'Better save your own life and join me .. or you'll meet the same end as your parents ... They died begging me for mercy . 'LIAR ! ' Harry shou ted suddenly. Quirrell was walking backwards at him, so that Voldemort could still see him. The evil face was no 、 smiling. 'HOW tou ching it hissed. 'I always value bravery ... Yes, bo メ your parents were brave I killed your father first and he put up a coura- geous fight ... but your mother needn't have died . she was trying tO protect you ... NOW give me the Stone, unless you want her tO have died in vam. 'NEVER! ' Harry sprang towards the flame door, but Voldemort screamed, 、 SEIZE HIM ! ' and, next sec- ond, Harry felt Quirrell's hand close on his wrist. At once, a needle-sharp pain seared across Harry's scar; his head felt as though it was about t0 split ⅲ two; he yelled, struggling with all his might, and t0 his surprise, Quirrell let go 0f him. The pain in his head lessened ー he looked around wildly t0 see where Quirrell had gone and saw him hunched ⅲ

228 HARRY POTTER There they were. His mother and father beamed at the sight of him. 'See?' Harry whispered. 'l can't see anything. 'Look! Look at them all them . 'I can only see you. there are loads of 'L00k ⅲ it properly, go on, stand where I am. Harry stepped aside, but with Ron ⅲ front of the mirror, he couldn't see his family any 1 れ ore , Just Ron ⅲ his paisley pyjamas. Ron, though, was staring transfixed at his image. 'Look at me!' he said. ℃ an you see all your family standing around you?' 'No ー l'm alone ー but l'm different ー I look older ー and l'm Head Boy!' 'I am ー l'm wearing the badge like Bill used to ー and l'm holding the House Cup and the Quidditch Cup ー l'm Quidditch captain, t00 ! ' Ron tore his eyes away from this splendid sight to 100k excitedly at Harry 'DO you think this mirror shows the future?' 'How can it? AII my family are dead ー let me have another 100k ー 'You had it to yourself all last night, give me a bit more time. 'You're only holding the Quidditch Cup, what's interesting about that? I want tO see my parents. 'Don't push me ー A sudden noise outside in the corridor put an end to their discussion. They hadn't realised how loudly they had been talking.

288 HARRY POTTER it was either Snape or Voldemort under that cloak ー it must've been easy, once he'd got Hagrid drunk. I just hope Dumbledore believes us. Firenze might back us up if Bane doesn't stop him. Where's Dumbledore's office?' They looked around, as if hoping to see a sign pointing them ⅲ the right direction. They had never been told where DumbIedore lived, nor did they know anyone whO had been sent to see him. 'We'll just have to ー ' Harry began, but a voice sud- denly rang across the hall. 。、 Mhat are you three doing inside?' Ⅱ was Professor McGonagall, carrying a large pile of books. 'We want to see Professor Dumbledore,' said Hermione, rather bravely, Harry and Ron thought. Professor DumbIedore?' 'See Professor McGonagall repeated, as though this was a very fishy thing to want to do. 、 why?' Harry swallowed ー now what? 'lt's sort Of secret,' he said, but he wished at once he hadn't, because Professor McGonagall's nostrils flared. 'Professor DumbIedore left ten minutes ago,' she said coldly. 'He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off for London at once. ' 'He's go れ 6 ? ' said Harry frantically. 'Now ~ 'Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, POtter, he has many demands on his time ー 'But this is important. 'Something you have tO say is more important than the Ministry of Magic, Potter?' 、 L00k,' said Harry, throwmg caution to the winds,

54 HARRY POTTER started near midnight. The lighted dial of Dudley's wa tch , which was dangling over the edge 0 f the sofa on his fat wrist, told Harry he'd be eleven in ten minutes' time. He lay and watched his birthday tick nearer, wondering if the Dursleys would remember at all, wondering where the letter-writer Five minutes tO go. Harry heard something creak outside. He hoped the roof wasn't going to fall ⅲ , although he might be warmer if it did. Four min- utes t0 go. Maybe the house in Privet Drive would be so full of letters when they got back that he'd be able tO steal one somehow.. Three minutes to go. 、 Mas that the sea, slapping hard on the rock like that? And (two minutes t0 (o) what was that funny crunching noise? Was the rock crumbling intO the sea? One minute to go and he'd be eleven. Thirty sec- onds ... twenty ... ten ー nine ー maybe he'd wake Dudley up, just to annoy him ー three ー two ー one ー BOOM. The whole shack shivered and Harry sat bolt upright, staring at the door. Someone was outside, knocking tO come in.

249 N O R B E R T T H E N 0 RW E G I A N R I D G E B A C K He looked suddenly suspicious. 'Yer not still lookin' fer Nicolas FlameI, are yeh?' 、 Oh, we found out who he is ages ago,' said Ron impressively. 、 And we know what that dog's guard- ing, it's a Philosopher's St—' 'Shhhh!' Hagrid looked around quickly to see if anyone was listening. Don' go shoutin' about it, what's the matter 、 vith yeh?' 'There are a few things we wanted tO ask you, as a matter 0f fact,' said Harry, 'about what's guarding the Stone apart from Fluffy ー 'SHHHH ! ' said Hagrid again. 'Listen ー come an see me later, l'm not promisin' l'll tell yeh anythin', mind, but don' go rabbitin' about it in here, stu- dents aren' s'pposed ter know. They'll think l've told yeh ー 'See you later, then,' said Harry. Hagrid shuffled off. 'What was he hiding behind his back?' said Hermione thoughtfully. 'DO you think it had anything to d0 with the Stone?' 'l'm going tO see what section he was in,' said Ron, who'd had enough of working. He came back a minute later with a pile Of bOOks in his arms and slammed them down on the table. 'Dragons ! ' he whispered. 'Hagrid was looking up stuff about dragons! Look at these: Dragon Species 可 G 尾 Britai れれ d lreland; From Egg [ 0 1 可 6m0 , A Dragon Ke e パ G ⅲ靃 . 'Hagrid's always wanted a dragon, he told me so the first time I ever met him,' said Harry. 'But it's against our laws,' said Ron. 'Dragon-

T H E M I R R 0 R O F E R I S E D 231 'Let me explain. The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would lOOk intO it and see himself exactly as he is. Does that help?' Harry thought. Then he said slowly, 'lt shows us 、 vhat ℃ want ... whatever ℃ want . 'Yes and no,' said Dumbledore quietly. 'lt shows us nothing 1 れ ore or less than the deepest, most des- perate desire Of our hearts. You, , hO have never known your family, see them standing around you. Ronald Weasley, who has always been overshad- owed by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best of all of them. However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wast- ed away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it ShOWS iS real or even possible. 'The Mirror will be moved tO a new home tomor- row, Harry, and I ask you not to go looking for it again. If you ever dO run across it, you will now be prepared. lt does not d0 t0 dwell on dreams and forget t0 live, remember that. NOW, why don't you put that admirable Cloak back on and get 0ff t0 bed?' Harry stood up. 'Sir ー professor DumbIedore? Can I ask you something?' 'Obviously, you've just done so,' Dumbledore smiled. 'You may ask me one more thing, however. ' 。嶬市 a [ do you see when you 100k ⅲ the Mirror?' 'I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woollen socks. ' Harry stared.

204 HARRY POTTER 'Slytherin ⅲ possession,' Lee Jordan was saylng. ℃ haser Pucey ducks two Bludgers, two WeasIeys and Chaser BeII and speeds towards the ー wait a moment ー was that the Snitch?' A murmur ran through the crowd as Adrian Pucey dropped the Quaffle, t00 busy looking over his shoulder atthe flash of gold that had passed his left ear. Harry saw it. ln a great rush Of excitement he dived downwards after the streak of gold. Slytherin Seeker Terence Higgs had seen it, t00. Neck and neck they hurtled towards the Snitch ー all the Chasers seemed tO have forgotten what they were supposed t0 be doing as they hung ⅲ mid-air t0 watch. Harry was faster than Higgs ー he could see the little round ball, wings fluttering, darting up ahead ー he put on an extra spurt Of speed ー Ⅵ・ IAM ! A roar of rage echoed from the Gryffindors below ー Marcus Flint had blocked Harry on purpose and Harry's broom span off course, Harry holding on for dear life. 'Foul ! ' screamed the Gryffindors. Madam Hooch spoke angrily to FIint and then ordered a free shot at the goalposts for Gryffindor. But ⅲ all the confusion, of course, the Golden Snitch had disapp eared from sight again. Down in the stands, Dean Thomas was yelling, 'Send him off, ref! Red card ! ' 、 This isn't football, Dean,' Ron reminded him. 'You can't send people off ⅲ Quidditch ー and what's a red card?' But Hagrid was on Dean's side.

THE JOURNEY FROM PLATFORM NINE AND THREE-QUARTERS 109 'Don't, Ginny, we'll send you loads of owls. ' 'We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat. ' ℃ 60 e! ' 'Only joking, Mum. ' The train began to move. Harry saw the boys' mother waving and their sister, half laughing, half crymg, running tO keep up with the train until it gathered t00 much speed; then she fell back and 、 vaved. Harry watched the girl and her mother disappear as the train rounded the corner. Houses flashed past the window. Harry felt a great leap of excite- ment. He didn't know what he was going tO ー but it had to be better than what he was leaving behind. The door of the compartment slid open and the youngest redheaded boy came ⅲ . 'Anyone sitting there?' he asked, pointing at the seat opposite Harry. 'Everywhere else is full. ' Harry shook his head and the boy sat down. He glanced at Harry and then looked quickly out of the window, pretending he hadn't looked. Harry saw he still had a black mark on his nose. 'Hey, Ron. ' The twins were back. 'Listen, we're going down the middle of the train ー Lee Jordan's got a giant tarantula dO 、 vn there. ' 'Right,' mumbled Ron. 'Harry,' said the other twin, 'did we introduce ourselves? Fred and George 、 MeasIey And this is Ron, our brother. See you later, then. 'Bye,' said Harry and Ron. The twins slid the compartment door shut behind them. 'Are you really Harry P0tter?' Ron blurted 0 .

DIAGON ALLEY 73 Vernon last night ー he won't pay for me to go and learn magic. 、 Don't worry about that,' said Hagrid, standing up and scratching his head. 'D'yeh think yer par- ents didn'tleave yeh anything?' 'But if their house was destroyed ー 'They didn' keep their gold ⅲ the house, boy! Nah, first stop fer us is Gringotts. 、 Mizards' bank. Have a sausage, they're not bad cold ー an' I wouldn' say no teh a bit 0 ' yer birthday cake, neither. 'Wizards have わ ? ' 'Just the one. Gringotts. Run by goblins. Harry dropped the bit of sausage he was holding. ℃ 0 ⅲ ' 'Yeah ー so yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it, l'll tell yeh tha t. N ever mess with goblins , Harry. Gringo tts is the safest place ⅲ the world fer anything yeh want ter keep safe cept maybe Hogwarts. As a matter 0 ' fact, I gotta visit Gringotts anyway. Fer DumbIedore. Hogwarts business. ' Hagrid drew himself up proudly. 'He usually gets me ter do important stuff fer him. Fetchin' you ge ttin things from Gnngotts ー knows he can trust me, see. 'GOt everythin'? Come on, then. Harry followed Hagrid out on to the rock. The sky was quite clear now and the sea gleamed in the sunlight. The boat Uncle Vernon had hired was still there,with a lOt Of water in the bottom after the storm. 'How did you get here?' Harry asked, looking around for another boat. 'Flew,' said Hagrid.

300 HARRY POTTER The passageway sloped downwards and Harry was reminded of Gringotts. With an unpleasant jolt of the heart, he remembered the dragons said to be guarding vaults ⅲ the wizards' bank. If they met a dragon, a fully grown dragon ー Norbert had been bad enough . ℃ an you hear something?' Ron whispered. Harry listened. A soft rustling and clinking seemed to be coming from up ahead. 、 DO you think it's a ghost?' 'I don't know ... sounds like wings to me. 'There's light ahead I can see something movmg. They reached the end of the passageway and saw before them a brilliantly lit chamber, its ceiling arch- ing high above them. lt was full 0f small, jewel- bright birds, fluttering and tumbling all around the room. On the opposite side Of the chamber was a heavy, wooden door. 'Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?' said Ron. 'Probably,' said Harry. 'They don't 100k very vicious, but I suppose if they all swooped down at once … WeII, there's nothing for it . .. l'll run. He took a deep breath, covered his face with his arms and sprinted across the r00 Ⅱ 1. He expected tO feel sharp beaks and claws tearing at him any sec- ond, but nothing happened. He reached the door untouched. He pulled the handle, but it was locked. The other two followed him. They tugged and heaved at the door, but it wouldn't budge, not even when Hermione tried her Alohomora Charm. 'NOW what?' said Ron.