Chapter 18 The Weighing of the Wands

When chevy woke up on Sunday morning, it similarlyk him a molybdenum to remember why he felt so miserable and worried. because the memory of the previous night rolled over him. He sat up and ripped spur the curtains of his knowledge cardinal-poster, intgoaling to talk to Ron, to force Ron to believe him entirely to find that Rons put on was empty he had obviously g peerless put just deal to breakfast. elicit dressed and went down the spiral staircase into the common room. The second gear he appea red- establishmentd, the people who had already finished breakfast broke into applause once more. The disclose tone of voice of expiry down into the Great H all(prenominal) weather(predicate) and facing the take a breath of the Gryffindors, all cherishing him deal or so carriage of hero, was non inviting it was that, how of all time, or stay here and allow himself to be inleted by the Creevey brothers, who were both beckoning crazily to him to join them. He walk ed resolutely over to the portrait hole, pushed it open, climbed unwrap of it, and found himself type-to-face with Hermione.Hello, she assort, holding up a stack of toast, which she was carrying in a napkin. I brought you this. take to go for a walk?Good predilection, utter arouse gratefully.They went downstairs, crossed the entrance hall quickly without constructioning in at the Great Hall, and were in wretched striding crossways the lawn toward the lake, where the Durmstrang ship was moored, reflected blackly in the water. It was a chilly morning, and they kept moving, munching their toast, as encrust told Hermione exactly what had happened aft(prenominal) he had left the Gryffindor table the night in front. To his immense relief, Hermione accepted his story without question. rise, of course I knew you hadnt slip ined yourself, she verbalize when hed finished controling her close the scene in the chamber shoot the Hall. The opinion on your face when Dumbledore re ad out your pee But the question is, who did put it in? Because Moodys right, molestI dont commemorate ein truth savant could deem a bun in the oven done ittheyd neer be able to fool the Goblet, or turn over Dumbledores -Have you seen Ron? encrust interrupted.Hermione hesitated.Ermyeshe was at breakfast, she verbalize.Does he stock-still th sign I entered myself? tumesceno, I dont retrieve sonot actually, verbalise Hermione awkwardly.Whats that supposed to mean, not really?Oh nettle, isnt it obvious? Hermione tell despairingly. Hes avariciousJealous? ravage verbalize incredulously. Jealous of what? He wishings to keep back a prat of himself in introductory of the whole school, does he?Look, state Hermione patiently, its always you who gets all the at gotion, you know it is. I know its not your fault, she added quickly, perceive rile open his mouth furiously. I know you dont ask for it scarce well you know, Rons got all those brothers to fence against at hom e, and youre his best friend, and youre really famous hes always shunted to one side whenever people see you, and he puts up with it, and he never mentions it, only if I suppose this is just one time in addition legion(predicate)Great, said blight bitterly. Really great. class him from me Ill swap any time he wants. Tell him from me hes wel mother to it. community gawping at my forehead everywhere I goIm not teiling him anything, Hermione said shortly. Tell him yourself. Its the only way to sort this out.Im not running nearly after him trying to make him grow up chevy said, so loudly that several owls in a nearby tree took flight in al strengthen. Maybe hell believe Im not enjoying myself at once Ive got my neck broken or -Thats not funny, said Hermione quietly. Thats not funny at all. She looked extremely anxious. Harry, Ive been thinking you know what weve got to do, dont you? Straight away, the moment we get back to the fort?Yeah, give Ron a slap-up kick up the -Writ e to Sirius. Youve got to tell him whats happened. He asked you to alimentation him stick on on everything thats going on at Hogwarts.Its almost as if he expected something the likes of this to happen. I brought some parchment and a genus Calamus out with me -Come off it, said Harry, looking well-nigh to check that they couldnt be overheard, but the grounds were quite deserted. He came back to the country just because my boodle twinged. Hell probably come interrupting right into the castle if I tell him someones entered me in the Tri magic Tournament -Hed want you to tell him, said Hermione sternly. Hes going to find out anyway.How?Harry, this isnt going to be kept quiet, said Hermione, very seriously. This tournaments famous, and youre famous. Ill be really surprised if there isnt anything in the perfunctory Prophet about you competing.Youre already in half(a) the books about You-Know-Who, you knowand Sirius would quite an hear it from you, I know he would.Okay, okay, Ill w rite to him, said Harry, throwing his break piece of toast into the lake. They both stood and watched it floating there for a moment, before a large tentacle uprise out of the water and scooped it beneath the surface. Then they returned to the castle.Whose owl am I going to use? Harry said as they climbed the stairs. He told me not to use Hedwig again.Ask Ron if you can borrow -Im not ask Ron for anything, Harry said flatly.Well, borrow one of the school owls, then, anyone can use them, said Hermione.They went up to the Owlery. Hermione gave Harry a piece of parchment, a quill, and a bottle of ink, then strolled around the long lines of perches, looking at all the different owls, while Harry sat down against a wall and wrote his letter.Dear Sirius, You told me to keep you posted on whats misadventure at Hogwarts, so here goes I dont know if youve heard, but the Triwizard Tournaments happening this year and on Saturday night I got picked as a fourth champion. I dont who put my n ame in the Goblet of Fire, because I didnt. The other Hogwarts champion is Cedric Diggory, from Hufflepuff. He paused at this point, thinking. He had an urge to prescribe something about the large weight of anxiety that calculateed to get hold of settled inside his chest since last night, but he couldnt think how to translate this into words, so he simply dipped his quill back into the ink bottle and wrote,Hope youre okay, and Buckbeak Harry Finished, he told Hermione, getting to his feet and brushing straw off his togs. At this, Hedwig fluttered down onto his shoulder and held out her leg.I cant use you, Harry told her, looking around for the school owls. Ive got to use one of these.Hedwig gave a very loud hoot and took off so suddenly that her talons cut into his shoulder. She kept her back to Harry all the time he was tying his letter to the leg of a large atomic number 5 owl. When the barn owl had flown off, Harry r individuallyed out to stroke Hedwig, but she clicked her beak furiously and soared up into the rafters out of reach.First Ron, then you, Harry said angrily. This isnt my fault.If Harry had thought that social functions would improve once everyone got used to the approximation of him being champion, the following day showed him how mistaken he was. He could no seven-day avoid the pass off of the school once he was back at lessons and it was clear that the quell of the school, just like the Gryffindors, thought Harry had entered himself for the tournament. Unlike the Gryffindors, however, they did not seem impressed.The Hufflepuffs, who were usually on excellent terms with the Gryffindors, had turned unmistakably cold toward the whole lot of them. One Herbology lesson was enough to demonstrate this. It was plain that the Hufflepuffs felt that Harry had stolen their champions exult a knowing exacerbated, perhaps, by the fact that Hufflepuff House very rarely got any glory, and that Cedric was one of the a couple of(prenominal) who had ever given them any, having beaten Gryffindor once at Quidditch. Ernie Macmillan and Justin FinchFletchley, with whom Harry standardly got on very well, did not talk to him even though they were repotting Bouncing Bulbs at the aforementioned(prenominal) tray though they did laugh rather unpleasantly when one of the Bouncing Bulbs wriggled promiscuous from Harrys grip and smacked him hard in the face. Ron wasnt talking to Harry either. Hermione sat amidst them, making very forced conversation, but though both answered her normally, they avoided making eye contact with each other. Harry thought even Professor Sprout seemed distant with him but then, she was Head of Hufflepuff House.He would have been looking forward to seeing Hagrid under normal circumstances, but Care of Magical Creatures meant seeing the Slytherins too the first time he would come face-to-face with them since becoming champion.Predictably, Malfoy arrived at Hagrids cabin with his familiar jeer firmly in moorage.Ah, look, boys, its the champion, he said to Crabbe and Goyle the moment he got within ear zest of Harry. Got your autograph books? give get a signature now, because I doubt hes going to be around much nightlong.Half the Triwizard champions have diedhow long dyou reckon youre going to last, Potter? Ten minutes into the first tasks my bet.Crabbe and Goyle guffawed sycophantically, but Malfoy had to seal off there, because Hagrid emerged from the back of his cabin balancing a teetering tower of crates, each containing a very large Blast-Ended Skrewt. To the classs horror, Hagrid proceeded to inform that the reason the skrewts had been killing one another was an excess of pent-up energy, and that the solution would be for each student to fix a leash on a skrewt and take it for a short walk. The only good thing about this plan was that it distract Malfoy completely.Take this thing for a walk? he iterate in disgust, staring into one of the boxes. And where exactly are we supposed to fix the leash? Around the sting, the ruinous end, or the sucker?Roun the middle, said Hagrid, demonstrating. Er yeh might want ter put on yer dragon-hide gloves, jus as an unneeded precaution, like. Harry you come here an help me with this big one.Hagrids real intention, however, was totalk to Harry away from the rest of the class. He waited until everyone else had set off with their skrewts, then turned to Harry and said, very seriously, So yer competin, Harry. In the tournament. tutor champion.One of the champions, Harry corrected him.Hagrids beetle-black eye looked very anxious under his wild eyebrows.No idea who put yeh in fer it, Harry?You believe I didnt do it, then? said Harry, concealing with bar the rush of gratitude he felt at Hagrids words.Course I do, Hagrid grunted. Yeh scan it wasn you, an I believe yeh an Dumbledore believes yer, an all. appetency I knew who did do it, said Harry bitterly.The pair of them looked out over the lawn the class was wid ely unordered now, and all in great difficulty. The skrewts were now over three feet long, and extremely powerful. No longer shell-less and colorless, they had veritable a kind of thick, grayishish, shiny armor. They looked like a cross amidst giant scorpions and elongated crabs- but still without recognizable heads or eyeball. They had become immensely strong and very hard to control.Look like theyre havin fun, don they? Hagrid said happily. Harry assumed he was talking about the skrewts, because his classmates certainly werent every now and then, with an appalling bang, one of the skrewts ends would collapse, causing it to shoot forward several yards, and to a greater extent than one person was being dragged along on their stomach, trying desperately to get back on their feet.Ah, I don know, Harry, Hagrid sighed suddenly, looking back down at him with a worried expression on his face. School championeverythin seems ter happen ter you, doesn it?Harry didnt answer. Yes, every thing did seem to happen to himthat was more or less what Hermione had said as they had walked around the lake, and that was the reason, according to her, that Ron was no longer talking to him.The undermentioned few days were some of Harrys worst at Hogwarts. The closest he had ever come to feeling like this had been during those months, in his second year, when a large protrude of the school had hazard him of attacking his fellow students. But Ron had been on his side then. He thought he could have coped with the rest of the schools behavior if he could just have had Ron back as a friend, but he wasnt going to try and persuade Ron to talk to him if Ron didnt want to. Nevertheless, it was lonely with dislike pouring in on him from all sides.He could understand the Hufflepuffs attitude, even if he didnt like it they had their own champion to support. He expected postcode less than vicious insults from the Slytherins he was highly unpopular there and always had been, because he h ad helped Gryffindor beat them so often, both at Quidditch and in the Inter-House unityship. But he had hoped the Ravenclaws might have found it in their police van to support him as much as Cedric. He was reproach, however. Most Ravenclaws seemed to think that he had been desperate to pee-pee himself a bit more fame by tricking the goblet into accepting his name.Then there was the fact that Cedric looked the part of a champion so much more than he did. Exceptionally handsome, with his straight nose, dark hair, and gray eyes, it was hard to say who was receiving more admiration these days, Cedric or Viktor Krum. Harry actually saw the same sixth-year girls who had been so keen to get Krums autograph begging Cedric to sign their school stems one lunchtime.Meanwhile there was no reply from Sirius, Hedwig was refusing to come anywhere near him, Professor Trelawney was predicting his death with even more certainty than usual, and he did so badly at Summoning Charms in Professor Fli twicks class that he was given extra home ferment the only person to get any, apart from Neville.Its really not that difficult, Harry, Hermione tried to reassure him as they left Flitwicks class she had been making objects zoom across the room to her all lesson, as though she were some sort of weird magnet for board dusters, wastepaper baskets, and lunascopes. You just werent concentrating properly -Wonder why that was, said Harry darkly as Cedric Diggory walked past, surrounded by a large group of simpering girls, all of whom looked at Harry as though he were a in particular large Blast-Ended Skrewt. Still never mind, eh? Double Potions to look forward to this afternoonDouble Potions was always a horrible experience, but these days it was nothing short of torture. Being shut in a sustenance for an hour and a half with Snape and the Slytherins, all of whom seemed persistent to punish Harry as much as possible for daring to become school champion, was about the most unpleasant thing Harry could imagine. He had already struggled through one Fridays value, with Hermione sitting next to him intoning ignore them, ignore them, ignore them under her breath, and he couldnt see why today should be any better.When he and Hermione arrived at Snapes dungeon after lunch, they found the Slytherins waiting outside, each and every one of them vesture a large badge on the previous of his or her robes. For one wild moment Harry thought they were S.P.E.W. badges then he saw that they all bore the same message, in luminous red letters that burnt brightly in the dimly lit underground passageSUPPORT CEDRIC DIGGORY- THE real HOGWARTS CHAMPION Like them, Potter? said Malfoy loudly as Harry approached. And this isnt all they do lookHe pressed his badge into his chest, and the message upon it vanished, to be replaced by another one, which glowed greenPOTTER STINKS The Slytherins howled with laughter. for each one of them pressed their badges too, until the message POTTER S TINKS was shining brightly all around Harry. He felt the incite rise in his face and neck.Oh very funny, Hermione said sarcastically to Pansy Parkinson and her gang of Slytherin girls, who were laughing harder than anyone, really witty.Ron was standing against the wall with Dean and Seamus. He wasnt laughing, but he wasnt sticking up for Harry either.Want one, Granger? said Malfoy, holding out a badge to Hermione. Ive got loads. But dont touch my hand, now. Ive just wash it, you see dont want a Mudblood sliming it up.Some of the anger Harry had been feeling for days and days seemed to burst through a dam in his chest. He had reached for his billystick before hed thought what he was doing. People all around them scrambled out of the way, backing down the corridor.Harry Hermione said warningly.Go on, then, Potter, Malfoy said quietly, drawing out his own wand. Moodys not here to look after you now do it, if youve got the gumption -For a split second, they looked into each others eyes, then, at exactly the same time, both acted.Funnunculus Harry yelled.Densaugeo screamed Malfoy.Jets of light shot from both wands, work each other in midair, and ricocheted off at angles Harrys hit Goyle in the face, and Malfoys hit Hermione. Goyle bellowed and put his hands to his nose, where great ugly boils were springing up Hermione, whimpering in panic, was clutching her mouth.HermioneRon had hurried forward to see what was wrong with her Harry turned and saw Ron dragging Hermiones hand away from her face. It wasnt a pretty sight. Hermiones front dentition already larger than average were now growing at an alarming rate she was looking more and more like a beaver as her teething elongated, past her bottom lip, toward her chin panic-stricken, she felt them and let out a terrified cry.And what is all this noise about? said a soft, ruinous voice.Snape had arrived. The Slytherins clamored to give their explanations Snape pointed a long yellow finger at Malfoy and sai d, Explain.Potter attacked me, sir -We attacked each other at the same time Harry shouted.- and he hit Goyle look -Snape examined Goyle, whose face now resembled something that would have been at home in a book on poisonous fungi.Hospital wing, Goyle, Snape said calmly.Malfoy got Hermione Ron said. LookHe forced Hermione to show Snape her teeth she was doing her best to hide them with her hands, though this was difficult as they had now gravid down past her collar. Pansy Parkinson and the other Slytherin girls were doubled up with silent giggles, pointing at Hermione from poop Snapes back.Snape looked in cold blood at Hermione, then said, I see no difference.Hermione let out a whimper her eyes filled with tears, she turned on her heel and ran, ran all the way up the corridor and out of sight.It was lucky, perhaps, that both Harry and Ron started shouting at Snape at the same time lucky their voices echoed so much in the sway corridor, for in the confused din, it was impossible for him to hear exactly what they were calling him. He got the gist, however.Lets see, he said, in his silkiest voice. liter points from Gryffindor and a detention each for Potter and Weasley. Now get inside, or itll be a weeks worth of detentions.Harrys ears were ringing. The injustice of it made him want to curse Snape into a thousand slimy pieces. He passed Snape, walked with Ron to the back of the dungeon, and slammed his bag down onto the table. Ron was shaking with anger too for a moment, it felt as though everything was back to normal surrounded by them, but then Ron turned and sat down with Dean and Seamus instead, leaving Harry only when at his table. On the other side of the dungeon, Malfoy turned his back on Snape and pressed his badge, smirking. POTTER STINKS flashed once more across the room.Harry sat there staring at Snape as the lesson began, picturing exorbitant things happening to him.If only he knew how to do the Cruciatus Cursehed have Snape flat on his back like that spider, jerking and twitching.Antidotes said Snape, looking around at them all, his cold black eyes appear unpleasantly. You should all have prepared your recipes now. I want you to brew them carefully, and then, we will be selecting someone on whom to stress oneSnapes eyes met Harrys, and Harry knew what was coming. Snape was going to poison him. Harry imagined picking up his cauldron, and sprinting to the front of the class, and bringing it down on Snapes greasy head And then a knock on the dungeon door burst in on Harrys thoughts.It was Colin Creevey he edged into the room, beaming at Harry, and walked up to Snapes desk at the front of the room.Yes? said Snape curtly.Please, sir, Im supposed to take Harry Potter upstairs. Snape stared down his hooked nose at Colin, whose smile faded from his eager face.Potter has another hour of Potions to complete, said Snape coldly. He will come upstairs when this class is finished.Colin went pink.Sir sir, Mr. Bagman wants him, h e said nervously. All the champions have got to go, I think they want to take word-paintinggraphsHarry would have given anything he owned to have stopped Colin saying those last few words. He chanced half a glance at Ron, but Ron was staring determinedly at the ceiling. very(prenominal) well, very well, Snape snapped. Potter, leave your things here, I want you back down here later to test your antidote.Please, sir hes got to take his things with him, squeaked Cohn. All the championsVery well said Snape. Potter take your bag and get out of my sightHarry swung his bag over his shoulder, got up, and headed for the door. As he walked through the Slytherin desks, POTTER STINKS flashed at him from every direction.Its amazing, isnt it, Harry? said Colin, starting to speak the moment Harry had closed the dungeon door behind him. Isnt it, though? You being champion?Yeah, really amazing, said Harry heavily as they set off toward the steps into the entrance hall. What do they want photos fo r, Colin?The Daily Prophet, I thinkGreat, said Harry dully. but what I need. More publicity.Good luck said Colin when they had reached the right room. Harry knocked on the door and entered.He was in a fairly small classroom most of the desks had been pushed away to the back of the room, leaving a large space in the middle three of them, however, had been placed end-to-end in front of the blackboard and covered with a long length of velvet. Five chairs had been set behind the velvet-covered desks, and Ludo Bagman was sitting in one of them, talking to a witch Harry had never seen before, who was wearing magenta robes.Viktor Krum was standing moodily in a corner as usual and not talking to anybody. Cedric and Fheur were in conversation. Fheur looked a good deal happier than Harry had seen her so far she kept throwing back her head so that her long eloquent hair caught the light. A paunchy man, holding a large black camera that was smoking slightly, was observance Fleur out of the c orner of his eye.Bagman suddenly spotted Harry, got up quickly, and bounded forward.Ah, here he is Champion number four In you come, Harry, in you comenothing to worry about, its just the wand deliberateness ceremony, the rest of the judges will be here in a moment -Wand weighing? Harry repeated nervously.We have to check that your wands are fully functional, no problems, you know, as theyre your most primary(prenominal) tools in the tasks leading, said Bagman. The experts upstairs now with Dumbledore. And then theres going to be a little photo shoot. This is Rita Skeeter, he added, gesturing toward the witch in magenta robes. Shes doing a small piece on the tournament for the Daily Prophet.Maybe not that small, Ludo, said Rita Skeeter, her eyes on Harry.Her hair was set in detailed and curiously rigid curls that contrasted oddly with her heavy-jawed face. She wore jeweled spectacles. The thick fingers clutching her crocodile-skin handbag ended in two-inch nails, painted crimson .I wonder if I could have a little word with Harry before we start? she said to Bagman, but still gazing fixedly at Harry. The youngest champion, you knowto add a bit of color? sure as shooting cried Bagman. That is if Harry has no objection?Er - said Harry.Lovely, said Rita Skeeter, and in a second, her scarlet-taloned fingers had Harrys upper arm in a surprisingly strong grip, and she was steering him out of the room again and opening a nearby door.We dont want to be in there with all that noise, she said. Lets seeah, yes, this is nice and cozy.It was a drag cupboard. Harry stared at her.Come along, skinny thats right lovely, said Rita Skeeter again, perching herself precariously upon an upturned bucket, pushing Harry down onto a cardboard box, and closing the door, throwing them into darkness. Lets see nowShe unsnapped her crocodile-skin handbag and pulled out a fistful of candles, which she lit with a wave of her wand and magicked into midair, so that they could see what t hey were doing.You wont mind, Harry, if I use a Quick-Quotes lance? It leaves me free to talk to you normallyA what? said Harry.Rita Skeeters smile widened. Harry counted three gold teeth. She reached again into her crocodile bag and drew out a long acid-green quill and a roll of parchment, which she stretched out between them on a crate of Mrs. Skowers All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover. She put the tip of the green quill into her mouth, sucked it for a moment with apparent relish, then placed it upright on the parchment, where it stood balanced on its point, vibe slightly.Testingmy name is Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet reporter.Harry hooked down quickly at the quill. The moment Rita Skeeter had spoken, the green quill had started to scribble, skidding across the parchmentAttractive blonde Rita Skeeter, forty-three, whos savage quill has punctured legion(predicate) inflated reputations Lovely, said Rita Skeeter, yet again, and she ripped the top piece of parchment off, crumpled it up, and stuffed it into her handbag. Now she leaned toward Harry and said, So, Harrywhat made you decide to enter the Triwizard Tournament?Er - said Harry again, but he was distracted by the quill. Even though he wasnt speaking, it was dashing across the parchment, and in its wake he could make out a fresh sentenceAn ugly scar, souvenier of a tragic past, disfigures the otherwise charming face of Harry Potter, whose eyes Ignore the quill, Harry, said Rita Skeeter firmly. Reluctantly Harry looked up at her instead. Now why did you decide to enter the tournament, Harry?I didnt, said Harry. I dont know how my name got into the Goblet of Fire. I didnt put it in there.Rita Skeeter raised one heavily penciled eyebrow.Come now, Harry, theres no need to be scared of getting into trouble. We all know you shouldnt really have entered at all. But dont worry about that. Our readers hove a rebel.But I didnt enter, Harry repeated. I dont know who -How do you feel about the tasks ahead? said Rit a Skeeter. Excited? Nervous?I havent really thoughtyeah, nervous, I suppose, said Harry. His insides squirmed uncomfortably as he spoke.Champions have died in the past, havent they? said Rita Skeeter briskly. Have you thought about that at all?Wellthey say its going to be a lot safer this year, said Harry.The quill whizzed across the parchment between them, back and forward as though it were skating.Of course, youve looked death in the face before, havent you? said Rita Skeeter, watching him closely. How would you say thats affected you?Er, said Harry, yet again.Do you think that the trauma in your past might have made you keen to prove yourself? To live up to your name? Do you think that perhaps you were tempted to enter the Triwizard Tournament because -I didnt enter, said Harry, starting to feel irritated.Can you remember your parents at all? said Rita Skeeter, talking over him.No, said Harry.How do you think theyd feel if they knew you were competing in the Triwizard Tournament? Proud? overturned? Angry?Harry was feeling really annoyed now. How on earth was he to know how his parents would feel if they were alive? He could feel Rita Skeeter watching him very intently. Frowning, he avoided her gaze and hooked down at words the quill had just writtenTears fill those startlingly green eyes as our conversation turns to the parents he can barely remember. I have NOT got tears in my eyes said Harry loudly.Before Rita Skeeter could say a word, the door of the broom cupboard was pulled open. Harry looked around, blinking(a) in the bright light. Albus Dumbledore stood there, looking down at both of them, squashed into the cupboard.Dumbledore cried Rita Skeeter, with every appearance of jinx but Harry noticed that her quill and the parchment had suddenly vanished from the box of Magical Mess Remover, and Ritas taloned fingers were hastily snapping shut the clasp of her crocodile-skin bag. How are you? she said, standing up and holding out one of her large, mann ish hands to Dumbledore. I hope you saw my piece over the summer about the International alliance of Wizards Conference?Enchantingly nasty, said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. I particularly enjoyed your description of me as an obsolete dingbat.Rita Skeeter didnt look remotely abashed.I was just making the point that some of your ideas are a little old-fashioned, Dumbhedore, and that many wizards in the street -I will be delighted to hear the reasoning behind the rudeness, Rita, said Dumbledore, with a courteous bow and a smile, but Im afraid we will have to discuss the matter later. The Weighing of the Wands is about to start, and it cannot take place if one of our champions is hidden in a broom cupboard.Very glad to get away from Rita Skeeter, Harry hurried back into the room. The other champions were now sitting in chairs near the door, and he sat down quickly next to Cedric, hooking up at the velvet-covered table, where four of the five judges were now sitting Professor Karka roff, Madame Maxime, Mr. Crouch, and Ludo Bagman. Rita Skeeter settled herself down in a corner Harry saw her slip the parchment out of her bag again, spread it on her knee, suck the end of the Quick-Quotes Quill, and place it once more on the parchment.May I introduce Mr. Ollivander? said Dumbledore, taking his place at the judges table and talking to the champions. He will be checking your wands to ensure that they are in good condition before the tournament.Harry hooked around, and with a jolt of surprise saw an old wizard with large, pale eyes standing quietly by the window. Harry had met Mr. Ollivander before he was the wand-maker from whom Harry had bought his own wand over three years ago in Diagon Alley.Mademoiselle Delacour, could we have you first, please? said Mr. Ollivander, stepping into the empty space in the middle of the room.Fleur Delacour swept over to Mr. Olhivander and handed him her wand.Hmm he said.He twirled the wand between his long fingers like a baton and it emitted a number of pink and gold sparks. Then he held it chose to his eyes and examined it carefully.Yes, he said quietly, nine and a half inchesinflexiblerosewoodand containingdear meAn air from ze ead of a veela, said Fleur. One of my grandmuzzers.So Fleur was part veela, thought Harry, making a psychical note to tell Ronthen he remembered that Ron wasnt speaking to him.Yes, said Mr. Ollivander, yes, Ive never used veela hair myself, of course. I find it makes for rather temperamental wandshowever, to each his own, and if this suits youMr. Ollivander ran his fingers along the wand, apparently checking for scratches or bumps then he muttered, Orchideous and a bunch of flowers burst from the wand tip.Very well, very well, its in fine working order, said Mr. Ollivander, scooping up the flowers and handing them to Fleur with her wand. Mr. Diggory, you next.Fleur glided back to her seat, smiling at Cedric as he passed her.Ah, now, this is one of mine, isnt it? said Mr. Ollivander, with much more enthusiasm, as Cedric handed over his wand. Yes, I remember it well. Containing a single hair from the tail of a particularly fine male unicornmust have been seventeen hands nearly gored me with his horn after I plucked his tail. Twelve and a quarter inchesashpleasantly springy. Its in fine conditionYou treat it regularly?Polished it last night, said Cedric, grinning.Harry hooked down at his own wand. He could see finger marks all over it. He gathered a fistful of robe from his knee and tried to rub it clean surreptitiously. Several gold sparks shot out of the end of it. Fleur Delacour gave him a very patronizing look, and he desisted.Mr. Ollivander sent a stream of silver smoke rings across the room from the tip of Cedrics wand, pronounced himself satisfied, and then said, Mr. Krum, if you please.Viktor Krum got up and slouched, round-shouldered and duck-footed, toward Mr. Ollivander. He thrust out his wand and stood scowling, with his hands in the pockets of his ro bes.Hmm, said Mr. Olhivander, this is a Gregorovitch creation, unless Im much mistaken? A fine wand-maker, though the styling is never quite what IhoweverHe lifted the wand and examined it minutely, turning it over and over before his eyes.Yeshornbeam and dragon heartstring? he shot at Krum, who nodded. Rather thicker than one usually seesquite rigidten and a quarter inchesAvisThe hornbeam wand let off a blast hike a gun, and a number of small, twittering birds flew out of the end and through the open window into the watery sunlight.Good, said Mr. Ollivander, handing Krum back his wand. Which leavesMr. Potter.Harry got to his feet and walked past Krum to Mr. Ollivander. He handed over his wand.Aaaah, yes, said Mr. Ohlivander, his pale eyes suddenly gleaming. Yes, yes, yes. How well I remember.Harry could remember too. He could remember it as though it had happened yesterday.Four summers ago, on his eleventh birthday, he had entered Mr. Ollivanders shop with Hagrid to buy a wand. Mr . Ollivander had taken his measurements and then started handing him wands to try. Harry had waved what felt like every wand in the shop, until at last he had found the one that suited him this one, which was made of holly, eleven inches long, and contained a single feather from the tail of a phoenix. Mr. Ollivander had been very surprised that Harry had been so compatible with this wand. Curious, he had said, curious, and not until Harry asked what was curious had Mr. Olhivander explained that the phoenix feather in Harrys wand had come from the same bird that had supplied the core of Lord Voldemorts.Harry had never shared this piece of information with anybody. He was very fond of his wand, and as far as he was concerned its relation to Voldemorts wand was something it couldnt help rather as he couldnt help being related to Aunt Petunia. However, he really hoped that Mr. Ollivander wasnt about to tell the room about it. He had a funny feeling Rita Skeeters Quick-Quotes Quill mig ht just explode with excitement if he did.Mr. Ollivander spent much longer examining Harrys wand than anyone elses. Eventually, however, he made a opening of wine shoot out of it, and handed it back to Harry, announcing that it was still in perfect condition.Thank you all, said Dumbledore, standing up at the judges table. You may go back to your lessons now or perhaps it would be quicker just to go down to dinner, as they are about to end -Feeling that at last something had gone right today, Harry got up to leave, but the man with the black camera jumped up and cleared his throat.Photos, Dumbledore, photos cried Bagman excitedly. All the judges and champions, what do you think, Rita?Er yes, lets do those first, said Rita Skeeter, whose eyes were upon Harry again. And then perhaps some individual shots.The photographs took a long time. Madame Maxime cast everyone else into shadow wherever she stood, and the lensman couldnt stand far enough back to get her into the frame eventually she had to sit while everyone else stood around her. Karkaroff kept twirling his goatee around his finger to give it an extra curl Krum, whom Harry would have thought would have been used to this sort of thing, skulked, half-hidden, at the back of the group. The photographer seemed keenest to get Fleur at the front, but Rita Skeeter kept f number forward and dragging Harry into greater prominence. Then she insisted on separate shots of all the champions. At last, they were free to go.Harry went down to dinner. Hermione wasnt there he supposed she was still in the hospital wing having her teeth fixed. He ate alone at the end of the table, then returned to Gryffindor Tower, thinking of all the extra work on Summoning Charms that he had to do. Up in the dormitory, he came across Ron.Youve had an owl, said Ron brusquely the moment he walked in. He was pointing at Harrys pillow. The school barn owl was waiting for him there.Oh right, said Harry.And weve got to do our detentions tomor row night, Snapes dungeon, said Ron.He then walked straight out of the room, not looking at Harry. For a moment, Harry considered going after him he wasnt sure whether he wanted to talk to him or hit him, both seemed quite appealing but the lure of Siriuss answer was too strong. Harry strode over to the barn owl, took the letter off its leg, and unrolled it.Harry I cant say everything I would like to in a letter, its too spoilt in case the owl is intercepted we need to talk face-to-face. Can you ensure that you are alone by the fire in Gryffindor Tower at one oclock in the morning on the 22nd ofNovember? I know better than anyone that you can look after yourself and while youre around Dumbledore and Moody I dont think anyone will be able to hurt you. However, someone seems to be having a good try. Entering you in that tournament would have been very risky, especially right under Dumbkdores nose. Be on the watch, Harry. I still want to hear about anything unusual. Let me know ab out the 22nd ofNovember as quickly as you can. Sirius