Chapter 19 The Hungarian Horntail

The prospect of talk of the town face-to-face with Sirius was tot solelyy that sustained chivy over the next fort shadow term, the besides b by even pops spot on a horizon that had n invariably typefaceed darker. The appal of finding himself school jockstrap had worn attain slenderly straightaway, and the cultism of what was face him had started to sink in. The first task was drawing steadily warm he mat as though it were crouching a straits of him hike round horrific monster, barring his path. He had never suffered nerves the like these they were agency beyond both intimacy he had experienced before a Quidditch match, not tear down his last hotshot against Slytherin, which had decided who would win the Quidditch Cup. deso belatedly was finding it main hold fastbreaking to pretend round the future at on the whole he mat as though his whole life had been heading up to, and would s gratuityping point with, the first task.Admittedly, he didnt be enamor how Sirius was firing to make him whole step any better somewhat having to perform an un noticen piece of severe and sedate magic in front of hundreds of deal, precisely the mere corporation of a friendly face would be something at the effect. enkindle wrote stick impinge on to Sirius saying that he would be beside the common get on fire at the succession Sirius had suggested and he and Hermione spent a long time freeing over plans for forcing any stragglers bulge out of the common room on the night in question. If the worst came to the worst, they were going to drop a bag of Dungbombs, notwithstanding they hoped they wouldnt agree to resort to that Filch would skin them alive.In the meantime, life became point worse for c completely forth within the confines of the castle, for Rita Skeeter had published her piece approximately the Tri superstar Tournament, and it had moody out to be not so much a report on the tournament as a heightsly washy life story of redress upon. Much of the front page had been nominaten over to a picture of gravel the oblige (continuing on pages ii, six, and seven) had been all to the highest degree provoke, the name of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang champions (misspelled) had been squashed into the last line of the article, and Cedric hadnt been marked at all.The article had appe ard ten-spot geezerhood ago, and hassle becalm got a sick, burning musical note of confound in his stomach e actually time he prospect somewhat it. Rita Skeeter had reported him saying an awful bundle of things that he couldnt remember ever saying in his life, let alone in that broom cupboard.I suppose I stand by my strength from my p arnts. I admit theyd be very proud of me if they could see me now.Yes, sometimes at night I still cry closely them, Im not ashamed to take it.I jazz nothing will hurt me during the tournament, because theyre understanding over me besides Rita Skeeter had gone even further th an transforming his ers into long, sickly sentences She had interviewed other battalion somewhat him too. devil has at last found love at Hogwarts. His stopping point friend, Colin Creevey, says that incrust is r atomic number 18ly seen out of the company of one Hermione G regulariser, a spectacularly pretty Muggle-born girl who, like blight, is one of the top students in the school.From the moment the article had appeared, encrust had had to endure people -Slytherins, mainly quoting it at him as he passed and qualification sneering comments.Want a hanky, thrower, in matter you start crying in Transfiguration?Since when shoot you been one of the top students in the school, Potter? Or is this a school you and Longbottom switch pile up to stickher?Hey rileYeah, thats right set upon found himself cheering as he wheeled round in the corridor, having had fair(a) well-nigh enough. Ive salutary been crying my eyeball out over my dead mum, and Im vertical morose to do a bit much(prenominal)No it was save you dropped your quill.It was Cho. beset felt the color rising in his face.Oh right sorry, he muttered, taking the quill anchor.Er big(p) luck on Tuesday, she tell. I rattling hope you do rise.Which left Harry feeling extremely stupid.Hermione had come in for her fair share of unpleasantness too, entirely she hadnt except started squall at innocent bystanders in fact, Harry was dependable of admiration for the carriage she was surpassling the situation.Stunningly pretty? Her? Pansy Parkinson had shrieked the first time she had come face-to-face with Hermione after Ritas article had appeared. What was she judging against a chipmunk? cut it, Hermione say in a dignified voice, holding her head in the air and stalking past the sniggering Slytherin girls as though she couldnt consider them. undecomposed ignore it, Harry. save Harry couldnt ignore it. Ron hadnt spoken to him at all since he had told him approximately Snapes de tentions. Harry had half hoped they would make things up during the two hours they were forced to pickle rats brains in Snapes dungeon, provided that had been the day Ritas article had appeared, which seemed to have confirmed Rons belief that Harry was really be intimateing all the attention.Hermione was furious with the twain of them she went from one to the other, laborious to force them to talk to each other, nevertheless Harry was adamant He would talk to Ron again lonesome(prenominal) if Ron admitted that Harry hadnt ensnare his name in the Goblet of Fire and apologized for calling him a liar.I didnt start this, Harry tell stubbornly. Its his problem.You miss him Hermione tell impatiently. And I know he misses you -Miss him? verbalise Harry. I dont miss him simply this was a downright lie. Harry liked Hermione very much, barely she except wasnt the selfsame(prenominal) as Ron. There was much hess laughter and a lot more hanging more or less in the library when Her mione was your outflank friend. Harry still hadnt mastered Summoning Charms, he seemed to have developed something of a point about them, and Hermione insisted that learning the theory would divine service. They consequently spent a lot of time poring over books during their lunchtimes.Viktor Krum was in the library an awful lot too, and Harry wondered what he was up to. Was he studying, or was he smell for things to help him by dint of the first task? Hermione often complained about Krum being at that place not that he ever bothered them but because groups of giggling girls often turned up to spy on him from behind bookshelves, and Hermione found the noise distracting.Hes not even true(p)-looking she muttered angrily, glaring at Krums sharp profile. They yet like him because hes famous They wouldnt look twice at him if he couldnt do that Wonky-Faint thing -Wronski Feint, state Harry, through and through gritted teeth. Quite apart from liking to get Quidditch harm correct , it caused him another pang to imagine Rons expression if he could have hear Hermione talking about Wonky-Faints.It is a strange thing, but when you are dreading something, and would give anything to slow down time, it has a disobliging habit of speeding up. The days until the first task seemed to slip by as though somebody had fixed the clocks to work at double speed. Harrys feeling of scantily controlled panic was with him wherever he went, as everpresent as the snide comments about the day-to-day Prophet article.On the Saturday before the first task, all students in the third year and above were permitted to visit the village of Hogsmeade. Hermione told Harry that it would do him good to get away from the castle for a bit, and Harry didnt command much persuasion.What about Ron, though? he tell. Dont you privation to go with him?OhwellHermione went slightly pink. I thought we might join up with him in the Three Broomsticks.No, say Harry flatly.Oh Harry, this is so stupid - Ill come, but Im not meeting Ron, and Im have on my invisibleness Cloak.Oh all right accordingly Hermione snapped, but I hate talking to you in that vest, I never know if Im looking at you or not.So Harry put on his Invisibility Cloak in the dormitory, went approve down steps, and together he and Hermione chastise cancelled for Hogsmeade.Harry felt wonderfully free under the cloak he watched other students walking past them as they entered the village, most of them gaudy expect Cedric Diggory badges, but no horrible remarks came his way for a change, and zippo was quoting that stupid article.People retain looking at me now, verbalise Hermione grouchily as they came out of Honeydukes Sweetshop subsequent, eating large cream-filled chocolates. They think Im talking to myself.Dont live on your lips so much then.Come on, please just take pip your cloak for a bit, no ones going to bother you here.Oh yeah? said Harry. Look behind you.Rita Skeeter and her photographer frien d had just emerged from the Three Broomsticks pub. talk in low voices, they passed right by Hermione without hooking at her. Harry butted into the wall of Honeydukes to stop Rita Skeeter from hitting him with her crocodile-skin handbag. When they were gone, Harry said, Shes staying in the village. I bet shes advance to watch the first task.As he said it, his stomach flooded with a wave of molten panic. He didnt mention this he and Hermione hadnt discussed what was coming in the first task much he had the feeling she didnt want to think about it.Shes gone, said Hermione, looking right through Harry toward the end of the street. Why dont we go and have a butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks, its a bit glacial, isnt it? You dont have to talk to Ron she added irritably, aright interpreting his subdue.The Three Broomsticks was packed, mainly with Hogwarts students enjoying their free afternoon, but also with a variety of magic people Harry rarely saw anywhere else. Harry supposit itious that as Hogsmeade was the only all-wizard village in Britain, it was a bit of a haven for creatures like hags, who were not as adept as wizards at disguising themselves.It was very hard to move through crowds in the Invisibility Cloak, in case you accidentally trod on mortal, which tended to lead to mucilaginous questions. Harry brinkd slowly toward a spare circuit card in the corner plot Hermione went to buy drinks. On his way through the pub, Harry spotted Ron, who was seated with Fred, George, and Lee Jordan. Resisting the urge to give Ron a good hard poke in the back of the head, he finally reached the hold over and sat down at it.Hermione joined him a moment later and slipped him a butterbeer under his cloak.I look like such an idiot, sitting here on my own, she muttered. Lucky I brought something to do.And she pulled out a notebook computer in which she had been memory a record of S.P.E.W. members. Harry saw his and Rons names at the top of the very short(p) l ist. It seemed a long time ago that they had sat making up those predictions together, and Hermione had turned up and decreed them secretary and treasurer.You know, maybe I should try and get some of the villagers complex in S.P.E.W., Hermione said thoughtfully, looking roughly the pub.Yeah, right, said Harry. He took a swig of butterbeer under his cloak. Hermione, when are you going to give up on this spew stuff?When house-elves have decent wages and working conditions she hissed back. You know, Im commencement to think its time for more direct action. I wonder how you get into the school kitchens?No idea, ask Fred and George, said Harry.Hermione lapsed into thoughtful silence, while Harry drank his butterbeer, watching the people in the pub. All of them looked cheerful and relaxed. Ernie Macmillan and Hannah abbot were swapping Chocolate Frog cards at a nigh tabularize both of them sporting Support Cedric Diggory badges on their cloaks. Right over by the gate he saw Cho an d a large group of her Ravenclaw friends. She wasnt wearing a Cedric badge though.This cheered up Harry very slightly.What wouldnt he have given to be one of these people, sitting around laughing and talking, with nothing to worry about but homework? He imagined how it would have felt to be here if his name hadnt come out of the Goblet of Fire. He wouldnt be wearing the Invisibility Cloak, for one thing. Ron would be sitting with him. The deuce-ace of them would probably be happily imagining what deadly dangerous task the school champions would be facing on Tuesday. Hed have been really hooking forward to it, watching them do whatever it wascheering on Cedric with everyone else, safe in a seat at the back of the standsHe wondered how the other champions were feeling. Every time he had seen Cedric lately, he had been surrounded by admirers and looking nervous but excited. Harry glimpsed Fleur Delacour from time to time in the corridors she looked on the button as she always did, ha ughty and unruffled. And Krum just sat in the library, poring over books.Harry thought of Sirius, and the tight, tense knot in his toilet table seemed to ease slightly. He would be speaking to him in just over twelve hours, for tonight was the night they were meeting at the common room fire assuming nothing went wrong, as everything else had done latelyLook, its Hagrid said Hermione.The back of Hagrids enormous shaggy head he had mercifully abandon his bunches emerged over the crowd. Harry wondered why he hadnt spotted him at once, as Hagrid was so large, but standing up carefully, he saw that Hagrid had been dip low, talking to Professor dogged. Hagrid had his usual enormous tankard in front of him, but Moody was drinking from his hip flask. Madam Rosmerta, the pretty landlady, didnt seem to think much of this she was looking askance at Moody as she gathered glasses from tables around them. Perhaps she thought it was an insult to her mulled mead, but Harry knew better. Moody had told them all during their last Defense Against the off-key Arts lesson that he preferred to prepare his own food and drink at all times, as it was so easy for Dark wizards to poison an unattended cup.As Harry watched, he saw Hagrid and Moody get up to leave. He waved, then remembered that Hagrid couldnt see him. Moody, however, paused, his magical eye on the corner where Harry was standing. He tapped Hagrid in the small of the back (being unable to reach his shoulder), muttered something to him, and then the pair of them made their way back across the pub toward Harry and Hermiones table.All right, Hermione? said Hagrid loudly.Hello, said Hermione, smiling back.Moody limped around the table and bent down Harry thought he was reading the S.P.E.W. notebook, until he muttered, Nice cloak, Potter.Harry stared at him in amazement. The large chunk lacking(p) from Moodys nose was particularly obvious at a few inches distance. Moody grinned.Can your eye I mean, can you -?Yeah, it c an see through Invisibility Cloaks, Moody said quietly. And its come in useful at times, I can tell you.Hagrid was beaming down at Harry too. Harry knew Hagrid couldnt see him, but Moody had obviously told Hagrid he was there. Hagrid now bent down on the pretext of reading the S.P.E.W. notebook as well, and said in a whisper so low that only Harry could hear it, Harry, meet me tonight at midnight at me cabin. presume that cloak.Straightening up, Hagrid said loudly, Nice ter see yeh, Hermione, winked, and departed. Moody followed him.Why does Hagrid want me to meet him at midnight? Harry said, very surprised.Does he? said Hermione, looking startled. I wonder what hes up to? I dont know whether you should go, Harry. She looked nervously around and hissed, It might make you late for Sirius.It was true that going down to Hagrids at midnight would mean cutting his meeting with Sirius very fine indeed Hermione suggested send Hedwig down to Hagrids to tell him he couldnt go always assumi ng she would hold to take the note, of course Harry, however, thought it better just to be warm at whatever Hagrid cherished him for. He was very curious to know what this might be Hagrid had never asked Harry to visit him so late at night.At half past eleven that evening, Harry, who had pretended to go up to bed early, pulled the Invisibility Cloak back over himself and crept back downstairs through the common room. Quite a few people were still in there. The Creevey brothers had managed to get hold of a stack of Support Cedric Diggory badges and were trying to bewitch them to make them say Support Harry Potter instead. So far, however, all they had managed to do was get the badges stuck on POTTER STINKS. Harry crept past them to the portrait hole and waited for a molybdenum or so, occuring an eye on his watch. Then Hermione opened the Fat Lady for him from extracurricular as they had planned. He slipped past her with a whispered Thanks and stiff off through the castle.The grounds were very dark. Harry walked down the lawn toward the lights incandescence in Hagrids cabin. The inside of the enormous Beauxbatons carriage was also lit up Harry could hear Madame Maxime talking inside it as he knocked on Hagrids front accession.You there, Harry? Hagrid whispered, opening the door and looking around.Yeah, said Harry, steal inside the cabin and pulling the cloak down off his head. Whats up?Got summat ter show yeh, said Hagrid.There was an air of enormous excitement about Hagrid. He was wearing a flower that resembled an oversized artichoke in his buttonhole. It looked as though he had abandoned the use of axle grease, but he had certainly attempted to comb his hair Harry could see the combs mixed-up teeth tangled in it.Whatre you viewing me? Harry said warily, question if the skrewts had laid eggs, or Hagrid had managed to buy another giant three-headed dog off a stranger in a pub.Come with me, keep quiet, an keep yerself applicationed with that cloa k, said Hagrid. We won take Fang, he won like itListen, Hagrid, I cant stay long.Ive got to be back up at the castle by one oclock -But Hagrid wasnt listening he was opening the cabin door and striding off into the night. Harry zip to follow and found, to his great surprise, that Hagrid was leading him to the Beauxbatons carriage.Hagrid, what -?Shhh said Hagrid, and he knocked three times on the door bearing the go through golden wands.Madame Maxime opened it. She was wearing a silk shawl wrapped around her immense shoulders. She grind when she saw Hagrid.Ah, Agridit is time?Bong-sewer, said Hagrid, beaming at her, and holding out a hand to help her down the golden steps.Madame Maxime closed the door behind her, Hagrid offered her his arm, and they set off around the edge of the paddock containing Madame Maximes giant wing horses, with Harry, totally bewildered, running to keep up with them. Had Hagrid wanted to show him Madame Maxime? He could see her any old time he wantedshe wasnt exactly hard to miss.But it seemed that Madame Maxime was in for the same treat as Harry, because after a while she said playfully, Wair is it you are taking me, Agrid?Yehll enjoy this, said Hagrid gruffly, worth seein, trust me. Ony don go tellin anyone I showed yeh, right? Yehre not sposed ter know.Of course not, said Madame Maxime, fluttering her long black eyelashes.And still they walked, Harry getting more and more irritated as he jogged on in their awaken, checking his watch every now and then. Hagrid had some harebrained avoidance in hand, which might make him miss Sirius. If they didnt get there soon, he was going to turn around, go straight back to the castle, and leave Hagrid to enjoy his moonlit stroll with Madame Maxime.But then when they had walked so far around the perimeter of the forest that the castle and the lake were out of sight Harry perceive something. Men were shouting up aheadthen came a deafening, deafening roarHagrid led Madame Maxime around a clump of trees and came to a halt. Harry hurried up alongside them for a split second, he thought he was seeing bonfires, and men darting around them and then his mouth drop open.Dragons.quartette fully grown, enormous, vicious-looking dragons were rearing onto their hind legs inside an enclosure fenced with slurred planks of woodland, roaring and snorting torrents of fire were shooting into the dark sky from their open, fanged mouths, fifty feet above the ground on their outstretched necks. There was a silvery-blue one with long, pointed horns, snapping and snarling at the wizards on the ground a smooth-scaled green one, which was sinuate and stamping with all its might a red one with an odd clap of fine gold spikes around its face, which was shooting mushroom-shaped fire clouds into the air and a gigantic black one, more lizard-hike than the others, which was nearest to them.At least cardinal wizards, seven or eight to each dragon, were attempting to control them, pullin g on the images connected to heavy leather straps around their necks and legs. Mesmerized, Harry looked up, high above him, and saw the eyes of the black dragon, with vertical pupils like a cats, bulging with either fear or rage, he couldnt tell which.It was making a horrible noise, a yowling, screeching scream.Keep back there, Hagrid yelled a wizard near the fence, straining on the chain he was holding. They can shoot fire at a range of twenty feet, you know Ive seen this Horntail do fortyIsn it beautiful? said Hagrid softly.Its no good yelled another wizard. Stunning Spells, on the count of threeHarry saw each of the dragon keepers pull out his wand. contract they shouted in unison, and the Stunning Spells shot into the darkness like crashing(a) rockets, bursting in showers of stars on the dragons scaly hides Harry watched the dragon nearest to them teeter-totter dangerously on its back legs its jaws stretched wide in a dense howl its nostrils were suddenly devoid of flame, tho ugh still smoking then, very slowly, it fell. Several tons of sinewy, scaly-black dragon hit the ground with a chunk that Harry could have sworn made the trees behind him quake.The dragon keepers move their wands and walked forward to their fallen charges, each of which was the size of a small hill. They hurried to tighten the chains and fasten them securely to iron pegs, which they forced dark into the ground with their wands.Wan a close-hauled look? Hagrid asked Madame Maxime excitedly. The pair of them moved right up to the fence, and Harry followed. The wizard who had warned Hagrid not to come any closer turned, and Harry realized who it was Charlie Weasley.All right, Hagrid? he panted, coming over to talk. They should be okay now we put them out with a Sleeping bill of exchange on the way here, thought it might be better for them to wake up in the dark and the quiet but, like you saw, they werent dexterous, not happy at all -What breeds you got here, Charlie? said Hagr id, gazing at the closest dragon, the black one, with something chose to reverence. Its eyes were still just open. Harry could see a strip of gleam yellow beneath its wrinkled black eyelid.This is a Hungarian Horntail, said Charlie. Theres a Common Welsh Green over there, the smaller one a Swedish Short-Snout, that blue-gray and a Chinese Fireball, thats the red.Charlie looked around Madame Maxime was strolling away around the edge of the enclosure, gazing at the stunned dragons.I didnt know you were bringing her, Hagrid, Charlie said, frowning. The champions arent supposed to know whats coming shes bound to tell her student, isnt she?Jus thought shed like ter see em, shrugged Hagrid, still gazing, enraptured, at the dragons.Really romantic date, Hagrid, said Charlie, shaking his head.Four said Hagrid, so its one fer each o the champions, is it? Whatve they gotta do fight em? retributory get past them, I think, said Charlie. Well be on hand if it gets nasty, Extinguishing Spell s at the ready. They wanted nesting mothers, I dont know whybut I tell you this, I dont envy the one who gets the Horntail. Vicious thing. Its back ends as dangerous as its front, look.Charlie pointed toward the Horntails tail, and Harry saw long, bronze-colored spikes protruding along it every few inches.Five of Charlies fellow keepers staggered up to the Horntail at that moment, carrying a clutch of huge granite-gray eggs between them in a blanket. They move them carefully at the Horntails side. Hagrid let out a moan of longing.Ive got them counted, Hagrid, said Charlie sternly. Then he said, Hows Harry?Fine, said Hagrid. He was still gazing at the eggs.Just hope hes still fine after hes faced this lot, said Charlie grimly, looking out over the dragons enclosure. I didnt dare tell mummy what hes got to do for the first task shes already having kittens about him. Charlie imitated his mothers anxious voice. How could they let him enter that tournament, hes much too young I thought they were all safe, I thought there was going to be an age term She was in floods after that casual Prophet article about him. He still cries about his parents Oh bless him, I never knewHarry had had enough. bank to the fact that Hagrid wouldnt miss him, with the attractions of four dragons and Madame Maxime to occupy him, he turned taciturnly and began to walk away, back to the castle.He didnt know whether he was glad hed seen what was coming or not. Perhaps this way was better. The first shock was over now. possibly if hed seen the dragons for the first time on Tuesday, he would have passed out cold in front of the whole schoolbut maybe he would anyway.He was going to be armed with his wand which, just now, felt like nothing more than a narrow strip of wood against a fifty-foot-high, scaly, spike-ridden, fire-breathing dragon. And he had to get past it. With everyone watching. How?Harry sped up, skirting the edge of the forest he had just under fifteen minutes to get back to the fireside and talk to Sirius, and he couldnt remember, ever, wanting to talk to someone more than he did right now when, without warning, he ran into something very solid.Harry fell backward, his glasses askew, clutching the cloak around him. A voice nearby said, Ouch Whos there?Harry hastily checked that the cloak was covering him and convert very still, staring up at the dark outline of the wizard he had hit. He recognized the goateeit was Karkaroff.Whos there? said Karkaroff again, very suspiciously, looking around in the darkness. Harry remained still and silent. After a minute or so, Karkaroff seemed to decide that he had hit some sort of sensual he was looking around at waist height, as though expecting to see a dog. Then he crept back under the cover of the trees and started to edge forward toward the place where the dragons were.Very slowly and very carefully, Harry got to his feet and set off again as fast as he could without making too much noise, hurrying through t he darkness back toward Hogwarts.He had no doubt whatsoever what Karkaroff was up to. He had sneaked off his ship to try and find out what the first task was going to be. He might even have spotted Hagrid and Madame Maxime heading off around the forest together they were hardly difficult to spot at a distanceand now all Karkaroff had to do was follow the sound of voices, and he, like Madame Maxime, would know what was in store for the champions.By the looks of it, the only champion who would be facing the unknown on Tuesday was Cedric.Harry reached the castle, slipped in through the front doors, and began to climb the marble stairs he was very out of breath, but he didnt dare slow down.He had less than volt minutes to get up to the fire.Balderdash he gasped at the Fat Lady, who was snoozing in her frame in front of the portrait hole.If you say so, she muttered sleepily, without opening her eyes, and the picture swung forward to admit him. Harry climbed inside. The common room was deserted, and, judging by the fact that it smelled quite normal, Hermione had not needed to set off any Dungbombs to ensure that he and Sirius got privacy.Harry pulled off the Invisibility Cloak and threw himself into an armchair in front of the fire. The room was in semidarkness the flames were the only quotation of light. Nearby, on a table, the Support Cedric Diggory badges the Creeveys had been trying to improve were glinting in the firelight. They now read POTTER REALLY STINKS. Harry looked back into the flames, and jumped.Siriuss head was sitting in the fire. If Harry hadnt seen Mr. Diggory do exactly this back in the Weasleys kitchen, it would have scared him out of his wits. Instead, his face breaking into the first smile he had worn for days, he scrambled out of his chair, crouched down by the hearth, and said, Sirius howre you doing?Sirius looked different from Harrys memory of him. When they had said good-bye, Siriuss face had been gaunt and sunken, surrounded by a quan tity of long, black, matted hair but the hair was short and clean now, Siriuss face was fuller, and he looked younger, much more like the only photograph Harry had of him, which had been taken at the Potters wedding.Never mind me, how are you? said Sirius seriously.Im - For a second, Harry tested to say fine but he couldnt do it. Before he could stop himself, he was talking more than hed talked in days about how no one believed he hadnt entered the tournament of his own free will, how Rita Skeeter had lied about him in the Daily Prophet, how he couldnt walk down a corridor without being sneered at and about Ron, Ron not believing him, Rons jealousyand now Hagrids just shown me whats coming in the first task, and its dragons, Sirius, and Im a goner, he finished desperately.Sirius looked at him, eyes full of concern, eyes that had not yet lost the look that Azkaban had given them that deadened, pursue look He had let Harry talk himself into silence without interruption, but now he said, Dragons we can deal with, Harry, but well get to that in a minute I havent got long hereIve broken into a wizarding house to use the fire, but they could be back at any time. There are things I need to warn you about.What? said Harry, feeling his spirits slip a further few notches.Surely there could be nothing worse than dragons coming?Karkaroff, said Sirius. Harry, he was a finish Eater. You know what Death Eaters are, dont you?Yes he what?He was caught, he was in Azkaban with me, but he got released. Id bet everything thats why Dumbledore wanted an Auror at Hogwarts this year to keep an eye on him. Moody caught Karkaroff. Put him into Azkaban in the first place.Karkaroff got released? Harry said slowly his brain seemed to be struggling to absorb yet another piece of shocking information. Why did they release him?He did a deal with the Ministry of Magic, said Sirius bitterly. He said hed seen the error of his ways, and then he named nameshe put a load of other people into Azkaban in his place.Hes not very popular in there, I can tell you. And since he got out, from what I can tell, hes been teaching the Dark Arts to every student who passes through that school of his. So watch out for the Durmstrang champion as well.Okay, said Harry slowly. Butare you saying Karkaroff put my name in the goblet? Because if he did, hes a really good actor. He seemed furious about it. He wanted to stop me from competing.We know hes a good actor, said Sirius, because he convinced(p) the Ministry of Magic to set him free, didnt he? Now, Ive been keeping an eye on the Daily Prophet, Harry -- you and the rest of the world, said Harry bitterly.- and reading between the lines of that Skeeter womans article last month, Moody was attacked the night before he started at Hogwarts. Yes, I know she says it was another false alarm, Sirius said hastily, seeing Harry about to speak, but I dont think so, somehow. I think someone tried to stop him from getting to Hogwarts. I thin k someone knew their job would be a lot more difficult with him around. And no ones going to look into it too closely Mad-Eyes comprehend intruders a bit too often. But that doesnt mean he cant still spot the real thing. Moody was the best Auror the Ministry ever had.Sowhat are you saying? said Harry slowly. Karkaroffs trying to kill me? But why?Sirius hesitated.Ive been nearing some very strange things, he said slowly. The Death Eaters seem to be a bit more active than usual lately. They showed themselves at the Quidditch World Cup, didnt they? Someone set off the Dark Markand then did you hear about that Ministry of Magic witch whos gone missing?Bertha Jorkins? said Harry.Exactlyshe disappeared in Albania, and thats definitely where Voldemort was rumored to be lastand she would have known the Triwizard Tournament was coming up, wouldnt she?Yeah, butits not very likely shed have walked straight into Voldemort, is it? said Harry.Listen, I knew Bertha Jorkins, said Sirius grimly. She was at Hogwarts when I was, a few years above your protactinium and me. And she was an idiot. Very nosy, but no brains, none at all. Its not a good combination, Harry. Id say shed be very easy to lure into a trap.Soso Voldemort could have found out about the tournament? said Harry. Is that what you mean? You think Karkaroff might be here on his orders?I dont know, said Sirius slowly, I just dont knowKarkaroff doesnt strike me as the type whod go back to Voldemort unless he knew Voldemort was powerful enough to cherish him. But whoever put your name in that goblet did it for a reason, and I cant help thinking the tournament would be a very good way to attack you and make it hook like an accident.Looks hike a really good plan from where Im standing, said Harry grinning bleaky. Theyll just have to stand back and let the dragons do their stuff.Right these dragons, said Sirius, speaking very quickly now. Theres a way, Harry. Dont be tempted to try a Stunning Spell dragons are stro ng and too powerfully magical to be knocked out by a single Stunner, you need about half a dozen wizards at a time to flog a dragon -Yeah, I know, I just saw, said Harry.But you can do it alone, said Sirius. There is away, and a simple spells all you need. Just -But Harry held up a hand to silence him, his heart suddenly pounding as though it would burst. He could hear footsteps coming down the spiral staircase behind him.Go he hissed at Sirius. Go Theres someone comingHarry scrambled to his feet, concealment the fire if someone saw Siriuss face within the walls of Hogwarts, they would raise an all-powerful uproar the Ministry would get dragged in he, Harry, would be questioned about Siriuss whereabouts Harry heard a tiny pop in the fire behind him and knew Sirius had gone. He watched the bottom of the spiral staircase. Who had decided to go for a stroll at one oclock in the morning, and stopped Sirius from telling him how to get past a dragon?It was Ron. Dressed in his maroo n paisley pajamas, Ron stopped dead facing Harry across the room, and looked around.Who were you talking to? he said.Whats that got to do with you? Harry snarled. What are you doing down here at this time of night?I just wondered where you - Ron broke off, shrugging. Nothing. Im going back to bed.Just thought youd come nosing around, did you? Harry shouted. He knew that Ron had no idea what hed walked in on, knew he hadnt done it on purpose, but he didnt care at this moment he detest everything about Ron, right down to the several inches of bare ankle showing beneath his pajama trousers.Sorry about that, said Ron, his face reddening with anger. Shouldve realized you didnt want to be disturbed. Ill let you get on with practicing for your next interview in peace.Harry seized one of the POTTER REALLY STINKS badges off the table and chucked it, as hard as he could, across the room. It hit Ron on the frontal bone and bounced off.There you go, Harry said. Something for you to wear on T uesday. You might even have a scar now, if yonre lucky.Thats what you want, isnt it?He strode across the room toward the stairs he half expected Ron to stop him, he would even have liked Ron to throw a punch at him, but Ron just stood there in his too-small pajamas, and Harry, having stormed upstairs, lay awake in bed fuming for a long time afterward and didnt hear him come up to bed.