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"Well, they did rather detest each other. Not unlike yourself and Mr. |
Malfoy. And then, your father did something Snape could never forgive." |
"What?" |
"He saved his life." |
"What?" |
"Yes..." said Dumbledore dreamily. "Funny, the way people's minds work, |
isn't it? Professor Snape couldn't bear being in your father's debt.... |
I do believe he worked so hard to protect you this year because he felt |
that would make him and your father even. Then he could go back to |
hating your father's memory in peace...." |
Harry tried to understand this but it made his head pound, so he |
stopped. |
"And sir, there's one more thing..." |
"Just the one?" |
"How did I get the Stone out of the mirror?" |
"Ah, now, I'm glad you asked me that. It was one of my more brilliant |
ideas, and between you and me, that's saying something. You see, only |
one who wanted to find the Stone -- find it, but not use it -- would be |
able to get it, otherwise they'd just see themselves making gold or |
drinking Elixir of Life. My brain surprises even me sometimes.... Now, |
enough questions. I suggest you make a start on these sweets. Ah! Bettie |
Bott's Every Flavor Beans! I was unfortunate enough in my youth to come |
across a vomitflavored one, and since then I'm afraid I've rather lost |
my liking for them -- but I think I'll be safe with a nice toffee, don't |
you?" |
He smiled and popped the golden-brown bean into his mouth. Then he |
choked and said, "Alas! Ear wax!" |
Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, was a nice woman, but very strict. |
"Just five minutes," Harry pleaded. |
"Absolutely not." |
"You let Professor Dumbledore in..." |
"Well, of course, that was the headmaster, quite different. You need |
rest." |
"I am resting, look, lying down and everything. Oh, go on, Madam |
Pomfrey..." |
"Oh, very well," she said. "But five minutes only." |
And she let Ron and Hermione in. |
"Harry!" |
Hermione looked ready to fling her arms around him again, but Harry was |
glad she held herself in as his head was still very sore. |
"Oh, Harry, we were sure you were going to -- Dumbledore was so worried |
--" |
"The whole school's talking about it," said Ron. "What really happened?" |
It was one of those rare occasions when the true story is even more |
strange and exciting than the wild rumors. Harry told them everything: |
Quirrell; the mirror; the Stone; and Voldemort. Ron and Hermione were a |
very good audience; they gasped in all the right places, and when Harry |
told them what was under Quirrell's turban, Hermione screamed out loud. |
"So the Stone's gone?" said Ron finally. "Flamel's just going to die?" |
"That's what I said, but Dumbledore thinks that -- what was it? -- 'to |
the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. |
"I always said he was off his rocker," said Ron, looking quite impressed |
at how crazy his hero was. |
"So what happened to you two?" said Harry. |
"Well, I got back all right," said Hermione. "I brought Ron round -- |
that took a while -- and we were dashing up to the owlery to contact |
Dumbledore when we met him in the entrance hall -- he already knew -- he |
just said, 'Harry's gone after him, hasn't he?' and hurtled off to the |
third floor." |
"D'you think he meant you to do it?" said Ron. "Sending you your |
father's cloak and everything?" |
"Well, " Hermione exploded, "if he did -- I mean to say that's terrible |
-- you could have been killed." |
"No, it isn't," said Harry thoughtfully. "He's a funny man, Dumbledore. |
I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance. I think he knows more or |
less everything that goes on here, you know. I reckon he had a pretty |
good idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he just |
taught us enough to help. I don't think it was an accident he let me |
find out how the mirror worked. It's almost like he thought I had the |
right to face Voldemort if I could...." |
"Yeah, Dumbledore's off his rocker, all right," said Ron proudly. |
"Listen, you've got to be up for the end-of-year feast tomorrow. The |
points are all in and Slytherin won, of course -- you missed the last |
Quidditch match, we were steamrollered by Ravenclaw without you -- but |
the food'll be good." |
At that moment, Madam Pomfrey bustled over. |
"You've had nearly fifteen minutes, now OUT" she said firmly. |
After a good night's sleep, Harry felt nearly back to normal. |
I want to go to the feast," he told Madam Pomfrey as she straightened |
his many candy boxes. I can, can't I?" |
"Professor Dumbledore says you are to be allowed to go," she said |
stiffily, as though in her opinion Professor Dumbledore didn't realize |
how risky feasts could be. "And you have another visitor." |
"Oh, good," said Harry. "Who is it?" |
Hagrid sidled through the door as he spoke. As usual when he was |
indoors, Hagrid looked too big to be allowed. He sat down next to Harry, |
took one look at him, and burst into tears. |
"It's -- all -- my -- ruddy -- fault!" he sobbed, his face in his hands. |
I told the evil git how ter get past Fluffy! I told him! It was the only |
thing he didn't know, an' I told him! Yeh could've died! All fer a |
dragon egg! I'll never drink again! I should be chucked out an' made ter |
live as a Muggle!" |
"Hagrid!" said Harry, shocked to see Hagrid shaking with grief and |
remorse, great tears leaking down into his beard. "Hagrid, he'd have |
found out somehow, this is Voldemort we're talking about, he'd have |
found out even if you hadn't told him." |
"Yeh could've died!" sobbed Hagrid. "An' don' say the name!" |
"VOLDEMORT!" Harry bellowed, and Hagrid was so shocked, he stopped |
crying. "I've met him and I'm calling him by his name. Please cheer up, |
Hagrid, we saved the Stone, it's gone, he can't use it. Have a Chocolate |