“Bill! Thank God, thank God – ”
Mrs. Weasley ran forward, but the hug Bill bestowed upon her was perfunctory. Looking directly at his father, he said, “Mad-Eye’s dead.”
Nobody spoke, nobody moved. Harry felt as though something inside him was falling, falling through the earth, leaving him forever.
“We saw it,” said Bill; Fleur nodded, tear tracks glittering on her cheeks in the light from the kitchen window. “It happened just after we broke out of the circle:
Mad-Eye and Dung were close by us, they were heading north too. Voldemort – he can fly – went straight for them. Dung panicked, I heard him cry out, Mad-Eye tried to stop him, but he Disapparated. Voldemort’s curse hit Mad-Eye full in the face, he fell backward off his broom and – there was nothing we could do, nothing, we had half a dozen of them on our own tail – ”
Bill’s voice broke.
“Of course you couldn’t have done anything,” said Lupin.
They all stood looking at each other. Harry could not quite comprehend it. Mad-Eye dead; it could not be…. Mad-Eye, so tough, so brave, the consummate survivor…
At last it seemed to dawn on everyone, though nobody said it, that there was no point of waiting in the yard anymore, and in silence they followed Mr. And Mrs. Weasley back into the Burrow, and into the living room, where Fred and George were laughing together.
“What’s wrong?” said Fred, scanning their faces as they entered, “What’s happened? Who’s –?”
“Mad-Eye,” said Mr. Weasley, “Dead.”
The twins’ grins turned to grimaces of shock. Nobody seemed to know what to do. Tonks was crying silently into a handkerchief: She had been close to Mad-Eye, Harry knew, his favorite and his protégée at the Ministry of Magic. Hagrid, who had sat down on the floor in the corner where he had most space, was dabbing at his eyes with his tablecloth-sized handkerchief.
Bill walked over to the sideboard and pulled out a bottle of fire-whisky and some glasses.
“Here,” he said, and with a wave of his wand, eh sent twelve full glasses soaring through the room to each of them, holding the thirteenth aloft. “Mad-Eye.”
“Mad-Eye,” they all said, and drank.
“Mad-Eye,” echoed Hagrid, a little late, with a hiccup. The firewhisky seared Harry’s throat. It seemed to burn feeling back into him, dispelling the numbness and sense of unreality firing him with something that was like courage.
“So Mundungus disappeared?” said Lupin, who had drained his own glass in one.
The atmosphere changed at once. Everybody looked tense, watching Lupin, both wanting him to go on, it seemed to Harry, and slightly afraid of what they might hear.
“I know what you’re thinking,” said Bill, “and I wondered that too, on the way back here, because they seemed to be expecting us, didn’t they? But Mundungus can’t have betrayed us. They didn’t know there would be seven Harrys, that confused them the moment we appeared, and in case you’ve forgotten, it was Mundungus who suggested that little bit of skullduggery. Why wouldn’t he have told them the essential point? I think Dung panicked, it’s as simple as that. He didn’t want to come in the first place, but Mad-Eye made him, and You-Know-Who went straight for them. It was enough to make anyone panic.”
“You-Know-Who acted exactly as Mad-Eye expected him to,” sniffed Tonks. “Mad-Eye said he’d expect the real Harry to be with the toughest, most skilled Aurors. He chased Mad-Eye first, and when Mundungus gave them away he switched to Kingsley…. ”
“Yes, and zat eez all very good,” snapped Fleur, “but still eet does not explain ‘ow zey know we were moving ‘Arry tonight, does eet? Somebody must ‘ave been careless. Somebody let slip ze date to an outsider. It is ze only explanation for zem knowing ze date but not ze ‘ole plan.”
She glared around at them all, tear tracks still etched on her beautiful face, silently daring any of them to contradict her. Nobody did. The only sound to break the silence was that of Hagrid hiccupping from behind his handkerchief. Harry glanced at Hagrid, who had just risked his own life to save Harry’s – Hagrid, whom he loved, whom he trusted, who had once been tricked into giving Voldemort crucial information in exchange for a dragon’s egg….
“No,” Harry said aloud, and they all looked at him, surprised: The firewhisky seemed to have amplified his voice. “I mean… if somebody made a mistake,” Harry went on, “and let something slip, I know they didn’t mean to do it. It’s not their fault,” he repeated, again a little louder than he would usually have spoken. “We’ve got to trust each other. I trust all of you, I don’t think anyone in this room would ever sell me to Voldemort.”
More silence followed his words. They were all looking at him; Harry felt a little hot again, and drank some more firewhisky for something to do. As he drank, he thought of Mad-Eye. Mad-Eye had always been scathing about Dumbledore’s willingness to trust people.
“Well said, Harry,” said Fred unexpectedly.
“Year, ‘ear, ‘ear,” said George, with half a glance at Fred, the corner of whose mouth twitched.
Lupin was wearing an odd expression as he looked at Harry. It was close to pitying.
“You think I’m a fool?” demanded Harry.
“No, I think you’re like James,” said Lupin, “who would have regarded it as the height of dishonor to mistrust his friends.”
Harry knew what Lupin was getting at: that his father had been betrayed by his friend Peter Pettigrew. He felt irrationally angry. He wanted to argue, but Lupin had turned away from him, set down his glass upon a side table, and addressed Bill, “There’s work to do. I can ask Kingsley whether – ”
“No,” said Bill at once, “I’ll do it, I’ll come.”
“Where are you going?” said Tonks and Fleur together.
“Mad-Eye’s body,” said Lupin. “We need to recover it.”
“Can’t it –?” began Mrs. Weasley with an appealing look at Bill.
“Wait?” said Bill, “Not unless you’d rather the Death Eaters took it?”
Nobody spoke. Lupin and Bill said good bye and left.
The rest of them now dropped into chairs, all except for Harry, who remained standing. The suddenness and completeness of death was with them like a presence.
“I’ve got to go too,” said Harry.
Ten pairs of startled eyes looked at him.
“Don’t be silly, Harry,” said Mrs. Weasley, “What are you talking about?”
“I can’t stay here.”
He rubbed his forehead; it was prickling again, he had not hurt like this for more than a year.
“You’re all in danger while I’m here. I don’t want – ”
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Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
But his hopes were not high, and they sank still
But his hopes were not high, and they sank still lower after enduring a Transfiguration lesson with them both next day. They had just embarked upon the immensely
difficult topic of human transfiguration; working in front of mirrors, they were supposed to be changing the color of their own eyebrows. Hermione laughed unkindly at
Ron's disastrous first attempt, during which he somehow managed to give himself a spectacular handlebar mustache; Ron retaliated by doing a cruel but accurate
impression of Hermione jumping up and down in her seat every time Professor McGonagall asked a question, which Lavender and Parvati found deeply amusing and which
reduced Hermione to the verge of tears again. She raced out of the classroom on the bell, leaving half her things behind; Harry, deciding that her need was greater than
Ron's just now, scooped up her remaining possessions and followed her.
He finally tracked her down as she emerged from a girl's bathroom on the floor below. She was accompanied by Luna Lovegood, who was patting her vaguely on the back.
“Oh, hello, Harry,” said Luna. “Did you know one of your eyebrows is bright yellow?”
“Hi, Luna. Hermione, you left your stuff...”
He held out her books.
“Oh, yes,” said Hermione in a choked voice, taking her things and turning away quickly to hide the fact she was wiping her eyes with her pencil case. “Thank you,
Harry. Well, I'd better get going...”
And she hurried off, without ever giving Harry any time to offer words of comfort, though admittedly he could not think of any.
“She's a bit upset,” said Luna. “I thought at first it was Moaning Myrtle in there, but it turned out to be Hermione. She said something about Ron Weasley...”
“Yeah, they've had a row,” said Harry.
“He says funny things sometimes, doesn't he?” said Luna as they set off down the corridor together. “But he can be a bit unkind. I noticed that last year.”
“I s'pose,” said Harry. Luna was demonstrating her usual knack of speaking uncomfortable truths; he had never met anyone quite like her. “So have you had a good
term?”
“Oh, it's been all right,” said Luna. “A bit lonely without the D.A. Ginny's been nice, though. She stopped two boys in our Transfiguration class calling me ‘Loony
’ the other day —”
“How would you like to come to Slughorn's party with me tonight?”
The words were out of Harry's mouth before he could stop them; he heard himself say them as though it were a stranger speaking.
Luna turned her protuberant eyes to him in surprise.
“Slughorn's party? With you?”
“Yeah,” said Harry, “We're supposed to bring guests, so I thought you might like.. I mean...” He was keen to make his intentions perfectly clear. “I mean, just as
friends, you know. But if you don't want to...”
He was already half-hoping that she didn't want to.
difficult topic of human transfiguration; working in front of mirrors, they were supposed to be changing the color of their own eyebrows. Hermione laughed unkindly at
Ron's disastrous first attempt, during which he somehow managed to give himself a spectacular handlebar mustache; Ron retaliated by doing a cruel but accurate
impression of Hermione jumping up and down in her seat every time Professor McGonagall asked a question, which Lavender and Parvati found deeply amusing and which
reduced Hermione to the verge of tears again. She raced out of the classroom on the bell, leaving half her things behind; Harry, deciding that her need was greater than
Ron's just now, scooped up her remaining possessions and followed her.
He finally tracked her down as she emerged from a girl's bathroom on the floor below. She was accompanied by Luna Lovegood, who was patting her vaguely on the back.
“Oh, hello, Harry,” said Luna. “Did you know one of your eyebrows is bright yellow?”
“Hi, Luna. Hermione, you left your stuff...”
He held out her books.
“Oh, yes,” said Hermione in a choked voice, taking her things and turning away quickly to hide the fact she was wiping her eyes with her pencil case. “Thank you,
Harry. Well, I'd better get going...”
And she hurried off, without ever giving Harry any time to offer words of comfort, though admittedly he could not think of any.
“She's a bit upset,” said Luna. “I thought at first it was Moaning Myrtle in there, but it turned out to be Hermione. She said something about Ron Weasley...”
“Yeah, they've had a row,” said Harry.
“He says funny things sometimes, doesn't he?” said Luna as they set off down the corridor together. “But he can be a bit unkind. I noticed that last year.”
“I s'pose,” said Harry. Luna was demonstrating her usual knack of speaking uncomfortable truths; he had never met anyone quite like her. “So have you had a good
term?”
“Oh, it's been all right,” said Luna. “A bit lonely without the D.A. Ginny's been nice, though. She stopped two boys in our Transfiguration class calling me ‘Loony
’ the other day —”
“How would you like to come to Slughorn's party with me tonight?”
The words were out of Harry's mouth before he could stop them; he heard himself say them as though it were a stranger speaking.
Luna turned her protuberant eyes to him in surprise.
“Slughorn's party? With you?”
“Yeah,” said Harry, “We're supposed to bring guests, so I thought you might like.. I mean...” He was keen to make his intentions perfectly clear. “I mean, just as
friends, you know. But if you don't want to...”
He was already half-hoping that she didn't want to.
Hermione gave him the kind of nasty look
Hermione gave him the kind of nasty look she had just given his copy of Advanced Potion-Making.
“It was all on the back of the bottles they showed Ginny and me in the summer,” she said coldly, “I don't go around putting potions in people's drinks... or
pretending too either, which is just as bad...”
“Yeah, well, never mind that,” said Harry quickly. “The point is, Filch is being fooled isn't he? These girls are getting stuff into the school disguised as
something else! So why couldn't Malfoy have brought the necklace into the school—?”
“Oh, Harry... not that again...”
“Come on, why not?” demanded Harry.
“Look,” sighed Hermione, “Secrecy Sensors detect jinxes, curses, and concealment charms, don't they? They're used to find dark magic and dark objects. They'd have
picked up a powerful curse, like the one in the necklace, within seconds. But something that's just been put in the wrong bottle wouldn't register—and anyway love
potions aren't dark or dangerous—”
“Easy for you to say,” muttered Harry, thinking of Romilda Vane.
“—so it would be down to Filch to realise it wasn't a cough potion, and he's not a very good wizard, I doubt he can tell one potion from—”
Hermione stopped dead; Harry had heard it too. Somebody had moved close behind them among the dark bookshelves. They waited, and a moment later the vulture-like
countenance of Madam Pince appeared around the corner, her sunken cheeks, her skin like parchment, and her long hooked nose illuminated unflatteringly by the lamp she
was carrying.
“The library is now closed,” she said, “Mind you return anything you have borrowed to the correct—what have you been doing to that book, you depraved boy?”
“It isn't the library's, it's mine!” said Harry hastily, snatching his copy of Advanced Potion-Making off the table as she lunged at it with a clawlike hand.
“Despoiled!” she hissed. “Desecrated, befouled!”
“It's just a book that's been written on!” said Harry, tugging it out of her grip.
She looked as though she might have a seizure; Hermione, who had hastily packed her things, grabbed Harry by the arm and frogmarched him away.
“She'll ban you from the library if you're not careful. Why did you have to bring that stupid book?”
“It's not my fault she's barking mad, Hermione. Or d'you think she overheard you being rude about Filch? I've always thought there might be something between them...”
“Oh, ha ha..”
Enjoying the fact that they could speak normally again, they made their way along the deserted lamp-lit corridors back to the common room, arguing whether or not Filch
and Madam Pince were secretly in love with each other.
“Baubles,” said Harry to the Fat Lady, this being the new, festive password.
“Same to you,” said the fat lady with a roguish grin, and she swung forward to admit them.
“Hi, Harry!” said Romilda Vane, the moment he had climbed through the portrait hole. “Fancy a Gillywater?”
Hermione gave him a “What-did-I-tell-you?” look over her shoulder.
“No thanks,” said Harry quickly. “I don't like it much.”
“Well, take these anyway,” said Romilda, thrusting a box into his hands. “Chocolate Cauldrons, they've got firewhiskey in them. My gran sent them to me, but I don't
like them.”
“Oh—right—thanks a lot.” said Harry, who could not think what else to say. “Er—I'm just going over here with ...”
He hurried off behind Hermione, his voice tailing away feebly.
“Told you,” said Hermione succinctly, “Sooner you ask someone, sooner they'll all leave you alone and you can—”
But her face suddnly turned blank; she had just spotted Ron and Lavender, who were intertwined in the same armchair.
“Well, goodnight, Harry,” said Hermione, though it was only seven o'clock in the evening, and she left for the girls’ dormitory without another word.
Harry went to bed comforting himself that there was only one more day of lessons to struggle through, plus Slughorn's party, after which he and Ron would depart
together for the Burrow. It now seemed impossible that Ron and Hermione would make up with each other before the holidays began, but perhaps, somehow, the break would
give them time to calm down, think better of their behavior...
“It was all on the back of the bottles they showed Ginny and me in the summer,” she said coldly, “I don't go around putting potions in people's drinks... or
pretending too either, which is just as bad...”
“Yeah, well, never mind that,” said Harry quickly. “The point is, Filch is being fooled isn't he? These girls are getting stuff into the school disguised as
something else! So why couldn't Malfoy have brought the necklace into the school—?”
“Oh, Harry... not that again...”
“Come on, why not?” demanded Harry.
“Look,” sighed Hermione, “Secrecy Sensors detect jinxes, curses, and concealment charms, don't they? They're used to find dark magic and dark objects. They'd have
picked up a powerful curse, like the one in the necklace, within seconds. But something that's just been put in the wrong bottle wouldn't register—and anyway love
potions aren't dark or dangerous—”
“Easy for you to say,” muttered Harry, thinking of Romilda Vane.
“—so it would be down to Filch to realise it wasn't a cough potion, and he's not a very good wizard, I doubt he can tell one potion from—”
Hermione stopped dead; Harry had heard it too. Somebody had moved close behind them among the dark bookshelves. They waited, and a moment later the vulture-like
countenance of Madam Pince appeared around the corner, her sunken cheeks, her skin like parchment, and her long hooked nose illuminated unflatteringly by the lamp she
was carrying.
“The library is now closed,” she said, “Mind you return anything you have borrowed to the correct—what have you been doing to that book, you depraved boy?”
“It isn't the library's, it's mine!” said Harry hastily, snatching his copy of Advanced Potion-Making off the table as she lunged at it with a clawlike hand.
“Despoiled!” she hissed. “Desecrated, befouled!”
“It's just a book that's been written on!” said Harry, tugging it out of her grip.
She looked as though she might have a seizure; Hermione, who had hastily packed her things, grabbed Harry by the arm and frogmarched him away.
“She'll ban you from the library if you're not careful. Why did you have to bring that stupid book?”
“It's not my fault she's barking mad, Hermione. Or d'you think she overheard you being rude about Filch? I've always thought there might be something between them...”
“Oh, ha ha..”
Enjoying the fact that they could speak normally again, they made their way along the deserted lamp-lit corridors back to the common room, arguing whether or not Filch
and Madam Pince were secretly in love with each other.
“Baubles,” said Harry to the Fat Lady, this being the new, festive password.
“Same to you,” said the fat lady with a roguish grin, and she swung forward to admit them.
“Hi, Harry!” said Romilda Vane, the moment he had climbed through the portrait hole. “Fancy a Gillywater?”
Hermione gave him a “What-did-I-tell-you?” look over her shoulder.
“No thanks,” said Harry quickly. “I don't like it much.”
“Well, take these anyway,” said Romilda, thrusting a box into his hands. “Chocolate Cauldrons, they've got firewhiskey in them. My gran sent them to me, but I don't
like them.”
“Oh—right—thanks a lot.” said Harry, who could not think what else to say. “Er—I'm just going over here with ...”
He hurried off behind Hermione, his voice tailing away feebly.
“Told you,” said Hermione succinctly, “Sooner you ask someone, sooner they'll all leave you alone and you can—”
But her face suddnly turned blank; she had just spotted Ron and Lavender, who were intertwined in the same armchair.
“Well, goodnight, Harry,” said Hermione, though it was only seven o'clock in the evening, and she left for the girls’ dormitory without another word.
Harry went to bed comforting himself that there was only one more day of lessons to struggle through, plus Slughorn's party, after which he and Ron would depart
together for the Burrow. It now seemed impossible that Ron and Hermione would make up with each other before the holidays began, but perhaps, somehow, the break would
give them time to calm down, think better of their behavior...
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
“We may as well be comfortable,” said Dumbledore pleasantly.
“We may as well be comfortable,” said Dumbledore pleasantly.
As he replaced his wand in his pocket, Harry saw that his hand was blackened and shriveled; it looked as though his flesh had been burned away.
“Sir—what happened to your—?”
“Later, Harry,” said Dumbledore. “Please sit down.”
Harry took the remaining armchair, choosing not to look at the Dursleys, who seemed stunned into silence.
“I would assume that you were going to offer me refreshment,” Dumbledore said to Uncle Vernon, “but the evidence so far suggests that that would be optimistic to the point of foolishness.”
A third twitch of the wand, and a dusty bottle and five glasses appeared in midair. The bottle tipped and poured a generous measure of honey-colored liquid into each of the glasses, which then floated to each person in the room.
“Madam Rosmerta's finest oak-matured mead,” said Dumbledore, raising his glass to Harry, who caught hold of his own and sipped. He had never tasted anything like it before, but enjoyed it immensely. The Dursleys, after quick, scared looks at one another, tried to ignore their glasses completely, a difficult feat, as they were nudging them gently on the sides of their heads. Harry could not suppress a suspicion that Dumbledore was rather enjoying himself.
“Well, Harry,” said Dumbledore, turning toward him, “a difficulty has arisen which I hope you will be able to solve for us. By us, I mean the Order of the Phoenix. But first of all I must tell you that Sirius's will was discovered a week ago and that he left you everything he owned.”
Over on the sofa, Uncle Vernons head turned, but Harry did not look at him, nor could he think of anything to say except, “Oh. Right.”
“This is, in the main, fairly straightforward,” Dumbledore went on. “You add a reasonable amount of gold to your account at Gringotts, and you inherit all of Sirius's personal possessions. The slightly problematic part of the legacy—”
“His godfather's dead?” said Uncle Vernon loudly from the sofa. Dumbledore and Harry both turned to look at him. The glass of mead was now knocking quite insistently on the side of Vernon's head; he attempted to beat it away. “He's dead? His godfather?”
“Yes,” said Dumbledore. He did not ask Harry why he had not confided in the Dursleys. “Our problem,” he continued to Harry, as if there had been no interruption, “is that Sirius also left you number twelve, Grimmauld Place.”
“He's been left a house?” said Uncle Vernon greedily, his small eyes narrowing, but nobody answered him.
“You can keep using it as headquarters,” said Harry. “I don't care. You can have it, I don't really want it.” Harry never wanted to set foot in number twelve, Grimmauld Place again if he could help it. He thought he would be haunted forever by the memory of Sirius prowling its dark musty rooms alone, imprisoned within the place he had wanted so desperately to leave.
“That is generous,” said Dumbledore. “We have, however, vacated the building temporarily.”
“Why?”
“Well,” said Dumbledore, ignoring the mutterings of Uncle Vernon, who was now being rapped smartly over the head by the persistent glass of mead, “Black family tradition decreed that the house was handed down the direct line, to the next male with the name of ‘Black.’ Sirius was the very last of the line as his younger brother, Regulus, predeceased him and both were childless. While his will makes it perfectly plain that he wants you to have the house, it is nevertheless possible that some spell or enchantment has been set upon the place to ensure that it cannot be owned by anyone other than a pure-blood.”
A vivid image of the shrieking, spitting portrait of Sirius's mother that hung in the hall of number twelve, Grimmauld Place flashed into Harry's mind. “I bet there has,” he said.
“Quite,” said Dumbledore. “And if such an enchantment exists, then the ownership of the house is most likely to pass to the eldest of Sirius's living relatives, which would mean his cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange.”
Without realizing what he was doing, Harry sprang to his feet; the telescope and trainers in his lap rolled across the floor. Bellatrix Lestrange, Sirius's killer, inherit his house?
“No,” he said.
“Well, obviously we would prefer that she didn't get it either,” said Dumbledore calmly. “The situation is fraught with complications. We do not know whether the enchantments we ourselves have placed upon it, for example, making it Unplottable, will hold now that ownership has passed from Sirius's hands. It might be that Bellatrix will arrive on the doorstep at any moment. Naturally we had to move out until such time as we have clarified the position,”
“But how are you going to find out if I'm allowed to own it?”
“Fortunately,” said Dumbledore, “there is a simple test.”
He placed his empty glass on a small table beside his chair, but before he could do anything else, Uncle Vernon shouted, “Will you get these ruddy things off us?”
Harry looked around; all three of the Dursleys were cowering with their arms over their heads as their glasses bounced up and down on their skulls, their contents flying everywhere.
“Oh, I'm so sorry,” said Dumbledore politely, and he raised his wand again. All three glasses vanished. “But it would have been better manners to drink it, you know.”
It looked as though Uncle Vernon was bursting with any number of unpleasant retorts, but he merely shrank back into the cushions with Aunt Petunia and Dudley and said nothing, keeping his small piggy eyes on Dumbledore's wand.
“You see,” Dumbledore said, turning back to Harry and again speaking as though Uncle Vernon had not uttered, “if you have indeed inherited the house, you have also inherited—”
He flicked his wand for a fifth time. There was a loud crack, and a house-elf appeared, with a snout for a nose, giant bat's ears, and enormous bloodshot eyes, crouching on the Dursleys’ shag carpet and covered in grimy rags. Aunt Petunia let out a hair-raising shriek; nothing this filthy had entered her house in living memory. Dudley drew his large, bare, pink feet off the floor and sat with them raised almost above his head, as though he thought the creature might run up his pajama trousers, and Uncle Vernon bellowed, “What the hell is that?”
“Kreacher,” finished Dumbledore.
“Kreacher won't, Kreacher won't, Kreacher won't!” croaked the house-elf, quite as loudly as Uncle Vernon, stamping his long, gnarled feet and pulling his ears. “Kreacher belongs to Miss Bellatrix, oh yes, Kreacher belongs to the Blacks, Kreacher wants his new mistress, Kreacher won't go to the Potter brat, Kreacher won't, won't, won't —”
“As you can see, Harry,” said Dumbledore loudly, over Kreacher's continued croaks of “wont, won't, won't,” “Kreacher is showing a certain reluctance to pass into your ownership.”
“I don't care,” said Harry again, looking with disgust at the writhing, stamping house-elf. “I don't want him.”
“Won't, won't, won't, won't—”
“You would prefer him to pass into the ownership of Bellatrix Lestrange? Bearing in mind that he has lived at the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix for the past year?”
“Won't, won't, won't, won't—”
Harry stared at Dumbledore. He knew that Kreacher could not be permitted to go and live with Bellatrix Lestrange, but the idea of owning him, of having responsibility for the creature that had betrayed Sirius, was repugnant.
“Give him an order,” said Dumbledore. “If he has passed into your ownership, he will have to obey. If not, then we shall have to think of some other means of keeping him from his rightful mistress.”
“Won't, won't, won't, WON'T!”
Kreacher's voice had risen to a scream. Harry could think of nothing to say, except, “Kreacher, shut up!”
It looked for a moment as though Kreacher was going to choke. He grabbed his throat, his mouth still working furiously, his eyes bulging. After a few seconds of frantic gulping, he threw himself face forward onto the carpet (Aunt Petunia whimpered) and beat the floor with his hands and feet, giving himself over to a violent, but entirely silent, tantrum.
“Well, that simplifies matters,” said Dumbledore cheerfully. “It means that Sirius knew what he was doing. You are the rightful owner of number twelve, Grimmauld Place and of Kreacher.”
“Do I—do I have to keep him with me?” Harry asked, aghast, as Kreacher thrashed around at his feet.
“Not if you don't want to,” said Dumbledore. “If I might make a suggestion, you could send him to Hogwarts to work in the kitchen there. In that way, the other house-elves could keep an eye on him.”
“Yeah,” said Harry in relief, “yeah, I'll do that. Er—Kreacher—I want you to go to Hogwarts and work in the kitchens there with the other house-elves.”
Kreacher, who was now lying flat on his back with his arms and legs in the air, gave Harry one upside-down look of deepest loathing and, with another loud crack, vanished.
“Good,” said Dumbledore. “There is also the matter of the hippogriff, Buckbeak. Hagrid has been looking after him since Sirius died, but Buckbeak is yours now, so if you would prefer to make different arrangements—”
“No,” said Harry at once, “he can stay with Hagrid. I think Buckbeak would prefer that.”
“Hagrid will be delighted,” said Dumbledore, smiling. “He was thrilled to see Buckbeak again. Incidentally, we have decided, in the interests of Buckbeak's safety, to rechristen him ‘Witherwings’ for the time being, though I doubt that the Ministry would ever guess he is the hippogriff they once sentenced to death. Now, Harry, is your trunk packed?”
“Erm...”
“Doubtful that I would turn up?” Dumbledore suggested shrewdly.
“I'll just go and—er—finish off,” said Harry hastily, hurrying to pick up his fallen telescope and trainers.
It took him a little over ten minutes to track down everything he needed; at last he had managed to extract his Invisibility Cloak from under the bed, screwed the top back on his jar of color-change ink, and forced the lid of his trunk shut on his cauldron. Then, heaving his trunk in one hand and holding Hedwig's cage in the other, he made his way back downstairs.
He was disappointed to discover that Dumbledore was not waiting in the hall, which meant that he had to return to the living room.
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As he replaced his wand in his pocket, Harry saw that his hand was blackened and shriveled; it looked as though his flesh had been burned away.
“Sir—what happened to your—?”
“Later, Harry,” said Dumbledore. “Please sit down.”
Harry took the remaining armchair, choosing not to look at the Dursleys, who seemed stunned into silence.
“I would assume that you were going to offer me refreshment,” Dumbledore said to Uncle Vernon, “but the evidence so far suggests that that would be optimistic to the point of foolishness.”
A third twitch of the wand, and a dusty bottle and five glasses appeared in midair. The bottle tipped and poured a generous measure of honey-colored liquid into each of the glasses, which then floated to each person in the room.
“Madam Rosmerta's finest oak-matured mead,” said Dumbledore, raising his glass to Harry, who caught hold of his own and sipped. He had never tasted anything like it before, but enjoyed it immensely. The Dursleys, after quick, scared looks at one another, tried to ignore their glasses completely, a difficult feat, as they were nudging them gently on the sides of their heads. Harry could not suppress a suspicion that Dumbledore was rather enjoying himself.
“Well, Harry,” said Dumbledore, turning toward him, “a difficulty has arisen which I hope you will be able to solve for us. By us, I mean the Order of the Phoenix. But first of all I must tell you that Sirius's will was discovered a week ago and that he left you everything he owned.”
Over on the sofa, Uncle Vernons head turned, but Harry did not look at him, nor could he think of anything to say except, “Oh. Right.”
“This is, in the main, fairly straightforward,” Dumbledore went on. “You add a reasonable amount of gold to your account at Gringotts, and you inherit all of Sirius's personal possessions. The slightly problematic part of the legacy—”
“His godfather's dead?” said Uncle Vernon loudly from the sofa. Dumbledore and Harry both turned to look at him. The glass of mead was now knocking quite insistently on the side of Vernon's head; he attempted to beat it away. “He's dead? His godfather?”
“Yes,” said Dumbledore. He did not ask Harry why he had not confided in the Dursleys. “Our problem,” he continued to Harry, as if there had been no interruption, “is that Sirius also left you number twelve, Grimmauld Place.”
“He's been left a house?” said Uncle Vernon greedily, his small eyes narrowing, but nobody answered him.
“You can keep using it as headquarters,” said Harry. “I don't care. You can have it, I don't really want it.” Harry never wanted to set foot in number twelve, Grimmauld Place again if he could help it. He thought he would be haunted forever by the memory of Sirius prowling its dark musty rooms alone, imprisoned within the place he had wanted so desperately to leave.
“That is generous,” said Dumbledore. “We have, however, vacated the building temporarily.”
“Why?”
“Well,” said Dumbledore, ignoring the mutterings of Uncle Vernon, who was now being rapped smartly over the head by the persistent glass of mead, “Black family tradition decreed that the house was handed down the direct line, to the next male with the name of ‘Black.’ Sirius was the very last of the line as his younger brother, Regulus, predeceased him and both were childless. While his will makes it perfectly plain that he wants you to have the house, it is nevertheless possible that some spell or enchantment has been set upon the place to ensure that it cannot be owned by anyone other than a pure-blood.”
A vivid image of the shrieking, spitting portrait of Sirius's mother that hung in the hall of number twelve, Grimmauld Place flashed into Harry's mind. “I bet there has,” he said.
“Quite,” said Dumbledore. “And if such an enchantment exists, then the ownership of the house is most likely to pass to the eldest of Sirius's living relatives, which would mean his cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange.”
Without realizing what he was doing, Harry sprang to his feet; the telescope and trainers in his lap rolled across the floor. Bellatrix Lestrange, Sirius's killer, inherit his house?
“No,” he said.
“Well, obviously we would prefer that she didn't get it either,” said Dumbledore calmly. “The situation is fraught with complications. We do not know whether the enchantments we ourselves have placed upon it, for example, making it Unplottable, will hold now that ownership has passed from Sirius's hands. It might be that Bellatrix will arrive on the doorstep at any moment. Naturally we had to move out until such time as we have clarified the position,”
“But how are you going to find out if I'm allowed to own it?”
“Fortunately,” said Dumbledore, “there is a simple test.”
He placed his empty glass on a small table beside his chair, but before he could do anything else, Uncle Vernon shouted, “Will you get these ruddy things off us?”
Harry looked around; all three of the Dursleys were cowering with their arms over their heads as their glasses bounced up and down on their skulls, their contents flying everywhere.
“Oh, I'm so sorry,” said Dumbledore politely, and he raised his wand again. All three glasses vanished. “But it would have been better manners to drink it, you know.”
It looked as though Uncle Vernon was bursting with any number of unpleasant retorts, but he merely shrank back into the cushions with Aunt Petunia and Dudley and said nothing, keeping his small piggy eyes on Dumbledore's wand.
“You see,” Dumbledore said, turning back to Harry and again speaking as though Uncle Vernon had not uttered, “if you have indeed inherited the house, you have also inherited—”
He flicked his wand for a fifth time. There was a loud crack, and a house-elf appeared, with a snout for a nose, giant bat's ears, and enormous bloodshot eyes, crouching on the Dursleys’ shag carpet and covered in grimy rags. Aunt Petunia let out a hair-raising shriek; nothing this filthy had entered her house in living memory. Dudley drew his large, bare, pink feet off the floor and sat with them raised almost above his head, as though he thought the creature might run up his pajama trousers, and Uncle Vernon bellowed, “What the hell is that?”
“Kreacher,” finished Dumbledore.
“Kreacher won't, Kreacher won't, Kreacher won't!” croaked the house-elf, quite as loudly as Uncle Vernon, stamping his long, gnarled feet and pulling his ears. “Kreacher belongs to Miss Bellatrix, oh yes, Kreacher belongs to the Blacks, Kreacher wants his new mistress, Kreacher won't go to the Potter brat, Kreacher won't, won't, won't —”
“As you can see, Harry,” said Dumbledore loudly, over Kreacher's continued croaks of “wont, won't, won't,” “Kreacher is showing a certain reluctance to pass into your ownership.”
“I don't care,” said Harry again, looking with disgust at the writhing, stamping house-elf. “I don't want him.”
“Won't, won't, won't, won't—”
“You would prefer him to pass into the ownership of Bellatrix Lestrange? Bearing in mind that he has lived at the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix for the past year?”
“Won't, won't, won't, won't—”
Harry stared at Dumbledore. He knew that Kreacher could not be permitted to go and live with Bellatrix Lestrange, but the idea of owning him, of having responsibility for the creature that had betrayed Sirius, was repugnant.
“Give him an order,” said Dumbledore. “If he has passed into your ownership, he will have to obey. If not, then we shall have to think of some other means of keeping him from his rightful mistress.”
“Won't, won't, won't, WON'T!”
Kreacher's voice had risen to a scream. Harry could think of nothing to say, except, “Kreacher, shut up!”
It looked for a moment as though Kreacher was going to choke. He grabbed his throat, his mouth still working furiously, his eyes bulging. After a few seconds of frantic gulping, he threw himself face forward onto the carpet (Aunt Petunia whimpered) and beat the floor with his hands and feet, giving himself over to a violent, but entirely silent, tantrum.
“Well, that simplifies matters,” said Dumbledore cheerfully. “It means that Sirius knew what he was doing. You are the rightful owner of number twelve, Grimmauld Place and of Kreacher.”
“Do I—do I have to keep him with me?” Harry asked, aghast, as Kreacher thrashed around at his feet.
“Not if you don't want to,” said Dumbledore. “If I might make a suggestion, you could send him to Hogwarts to work in the kitchen there. In that way, the other house-elves could keep an eye on him.”
“Yeah,” said Harry in relief, “yeah, I'll do that. Er—Kreacher—I want you to go to Hogwarts and work in the kitchens there with the other house-elves.”
Kreacher, who was now lying flat on his back with his arms and legs in the air, gave Harry one upside-down look of deepest loathing and, with another loud crack, vanished.
“Good,” said Dumbledore. “There is also the matter of the hippogriff, Buckbeak. Hagrid has been looking after him since Sirius died, but Buckbeak is yours now, so if you would prefer to make different arrangements—”
“No,” said Harry at once, “he can stay with Hagrid. I think Buckbeak would prefer that.”
“Hagrid will be delighted,” said Dumbledore, smiling. “He was thrilled to see Buckbeak again. Incidentally, we have decided, in the interests of Buckbeak's safety, to rechristen him ‘Witherwings’ for the time being, though I doubt that the Ministry would ever guess he is the hippogriff they once sentenced to death. Now, Harry, is your trunk packed?”
“Erm...”
“Doubtful that I would turn up?” Dumbledore suggested shrewdly.
“I'll just go and—er—finish off,” said Harry hastily, hurrying to pick up his fallen telescope and trainers.
It took him a little over ten minutes to track down everything he needed; at last he had managed to extract his Invisibility Cloak from under the bed, screwed the top back on his jar of color-change ink, and forced the lid of his trunk shut on his cauldron. Then, heaving his trunk in one hand and holding Hedwig's cage in the other, he made his way back downstairs.
He was disappointed to discover that Dumbledore was not waiting in the hall, which meant that he had to return to the living room.
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Monday, November 22, 2010
"Anna, is this you?
"Anna, is this you?" said Alexey Alexandrovitch, quietly making an effort over himself, and restraining the motion of his fingers.
"But what is it all about?" she said, with such genuine and droll wonder. "What do you want of me?"
Alexey Alexandrovitch paused, and rubbed his forehead and his eyes. He saw that instead of doing as he had intended--that is to say, warning his wife against a mistake in the eyes of the world--he had unconsciously become agitated over what was the affair of her conscience, and was struggling against the barrier he fancied between them.
"This is what I meant to say to you," he went on coldly and composedly, "and I beg you to listen to it. I consider jealousy, as you know, a humiliating and degrading feeling, and I shall never allow myself to be influenced by it; but there are certain rules of decorum which cannot be disregarded with impunity. This evening it was not I observed it, but judging by the impression made on the company, everyone observed that your conduct and deportment were not altogether what could be desired."
"I positively don't understand," said Anna, shrugging her shoulders--"He doesn't care," she thought. "But other people noticed it, and that's what upsets him."--"You're not well, Alexey Alexandrovitch," she added, and she got up, and would have gone towards the door; but he moved forward as though he would stop her.
His face was ugly and forbidding, as Anna had never seen him. She stopped, and bending her head back and on one side, began with her rapid hand taking out her hairpins.
"Well, I'm listening to what's to come," she said, calmly and ironically; "and indeed I listened with interest, for I should like to understand what's the matter."
She spoke, and marveled at the confident, calm, and natural tone in which she was speaking, and the choice of the words she used.
"To enter into all the details of your feelings I have no right, and besides, I regard that as useless and even harmful," began Alexey Alexandrovitch. "Ferreting in one's soul, one often ferrets out something that might have lain there unnoticed. Your feelings are an affair of your own conscience; but I am in duty bound to you, to myself, and to God, to point out to you your duties. Our life has been joined, not by man, but by God. That union can only be severed by a crime, and a crime of that nature brings its own chastisement."
"I don't understand a word. And, oh dear! how sleepy I am, unluckily," she said, rapidly passing her hand through her hair, feeling for the remaining hairpins.
"Anna, for God's sake don't speak like that!" he said gently. "Perhaps I am mistaken, but believe me, what I say, I say as much for myself as for you. I am your husband, and I love you."
For an instant her face fell, and the mocking gleam in her eyes died away; but the word love threw her into revolt again. She thought: "Love? Can he love? If he hadn't heard there was such a thing as love, he would never have used the word. He doesn't even know what love is."
"Alexey Alexandrovitch, really I don't understand," she said. Define what it is you find..."
"Pardon, let me say all I have to say. I love you. But I am not speaking of myself; the most important persons in this matter are our son and yourself. It may very well be, I repeat, that my words seem to you utterly unnecessary and out of place; it may be that they are called forth by my mistaken impression. In that case, I beg you to forgive me. But if you are conscious yourself of even the smallest foundation for them, then I beg you to think a little, and if your heart prompts you, to speak out to me..."
Alexey Alexandrovitch was unconsciously saying something utterly unlike what he had prepared.
"I have nothing to say. And besides," she said hurriedly, with difficulty repressing a smile, "it's really time to be in bed."
Alexey Alexandrovitch sighed, and, without saying more, went into the bedroom.
When she came into the bedroom, he was already in bed. His lips were sternly compressed, and his eyes looked away from her. Anna got into her bed, and lay expecting every minute that he would begin to speak to her again. She both feared his speaking and wished for it. But he was silent. She waited for a long while without moving, and had forgotten about him. She thought of that other; she pictured him, and felt how her heart was flooded with emotion and guilty delight at the thought of him. Suddenly she heard an even, tranquil snore. For the first instant Alexey Alexandrovitch seemed, as it were, appalled at his own snoring, and ceased; but after an interval of two breathings the snore sounded again, with a new tranquil rhythm.
"It's late, it's late," she whispered with a smile. A long while she lay, not moving, with open eyes, whose brilliance she almost fancied she could herself see in the darkness.
"But what is it all about?" she said, with such genuine and droll wonder. "What do you want of me?"
Alexey Alexandrovitch paused, and rubbed his forehead and his eyes. He saw that instead of doing as he had intended--that is to say, warning his wife against a mistake in the eyes of the world--he had unconsciously become agitated over what was the affair of her conscience, and was struggling against the barrier he fancied between them.
"This is what I meant to say to you," he went on coldly and composedly, "and I beg you to listen to it. I consider jealousy, as you know, a humiliating and degrading feeling, and I shall never allow myself to be influenced by it; but there are certain rules of decorum which cannot be disregarded with impunity. This evening it was not I observed it, but judging by the impression made on the company, everyone observed that your conduct and deportment were not altogether what could be desired."
"I positively don't understand," said Anna, shrugging her shoulders--"He doesn't care," she thought. "But other people noticed it, and that's what upsets him."--"You're not well, Alexey Alexandrovitch," she added, and she got up, and would have gone towards the door; but he moved forward as though he would stop her.
His face was ugly and forbidding, as Anna had never seen him. She stopped, and bending her head back and on one side, began with her rapid hand taking out her hairpins.
"Well, I'm listening to what's to come," she said, calmly and ironically; "and indeed I listened with interest, for I should like to understand what's the matter."
She spoke, and marveled at the confident, calm, and natural tone in which she was speaking, and the choice of the words she used.
"To enter into all the details of your feelings I have no right, and besides, I regard that as useless and even harmful," began Alexey Alexandrovitch. "Ferreting in one's soul, one often ferrets out something that might have lain there unnoticed. Your feelings are an affair of your own conscience; but I am in duty bound to you, to myself, and to God, to point out to you your duties. Our life has been joined, not by man, but by God. That union can only be severed by a crime, and a crime of that nature brings its own chastisement."
"I don't understand a word. And, oh dear! how sleepy I am, unluckily," she said, rapidly passing her hand through her hair, feeling for the remaining hairpins.
"Anna, for God's sake don't speak like that!" he said gently. "Perhaps I am mistaken, but believe me, what I say, I say as much for myself as for you. I am your husband, and I love you."
For an instant her face fell, and the mocking gleam in her eyes died away; but the word love threw her into revolt again. She thought: "Love? Can he love? If he hadn't heard there was such a thing as love, he would never have used the word. He doesn't even know what love is."
"Alexey Alexandrovitch, really I don't understand," she said. Define what it is you find..."
"Pardon, let me say all I have to say. I love you. But I am not speaking of myself; the most important persons in this matter are our son and yourself. It may very well be, I repeat, that my words seem to you utterly unnecessary and out of place; it may be that they are called forth by my mistaken impression. In that case, I beg you to forgive me. But if you are conscious yourself of even the smallest foundation for them, then I beg you to think a little, and if your heart prompts you, to speak out to me..."
Alexey Alexandrovitch was unconsciously saying something utterly unlike what he had prepared.
"I have nothing to say. And besides," she said hurriedly, with difficulty repressing a smile, "it's really time to be in bed."
Alexey Alexandrovitch sighed, and, without saying more, went into the bedroom.
When she came into the bedroom, he was already in bed. His lips were sternly compressed, and his eyes looked away from her. Anna got into her bed, and lay expecting every minute that he would begin to speak to her again. She both feared his speaking and wished for it. But he was silent. She waited for a long while without moving, and had forgotten about him. She thought of that other; she pictured him, and felt how her heart was flooded with emotion and guilty delight at the thought of him. Suddenly she heard an even, tranquil snore. For the first instant Alexey Alexandrovitch seemed, as it were, appalled at his own snoring, and ceased; but after an interval of two breathings the snore sounded again, with a new tranquil rhythm.
"It's late, it's late," she whispered with a smile. A long while she lay, not moving, with open eyes, whose brilliance she almost fancied she could herself see in the darkness.
Chapter 43
"You're not in bed? What a wonder!" she said, letting fall her hood, and without stopping, she went on into the dressing room. "It's late, Alexey Alexandrovitch," she said, when she had gone through the doorway.
"Anna, it's necessary for me to have a talk with you."
"With me?" she said, wonderingly. She came out from behind the door of the dressing room, and looked at him. "Why, what is it? What about?" she asked, sitting down. "Well, let's talk, if it's so necessary. But it would be better to get to sleep."
Anna said what came to her lips, and marveled, hearing herself, at her own capacity for lying. How simple and natural were her words, and how likely that she was simply sleepy! She felt herself clad in an impenetrable armor of falsehood. She felt that some unseen force had come to her aid and was supporting her.
"Anna, I must warn you," he began.
"Warn me?" she said. "Of what?"
She looked at him so simply, so brightly, that anyone who did not know her as her husband knew her could not have noticed anything unnatural, either in the sound or the sense of her words. But to him, knowing her, knowing that whenever he went to bed five minutes later than usual, she noticed it, and asked him the reason; to him, knowing that every joy, every pleasure and pain that she felt she communicated to him at once; to him, now to see that she did not care to notice his state of mind, that she did not care to say a word about herself, meant a great deal. He saw that the inmost recesses of her soul, that had always hitherto lain open before him, were closed against him. More than that, he saw from her tone that she was not even perturbed at that, but as it were said straight out to him: "Yes, it's shut up, and so it must be, and will be in future." Now he experienced a feeling such as a man might have, returning home and finding his own house locked up. "But perhaps the key may yet be found," thought Alexey Alexandrovitch.
"I want to warn you," he said in a low voice, "that through thoughtlessness and lack of caution you may cause yourself to be talked about in society. Your too animated conversation this evening with Count Vronsky" (he enunciated the name firmly and with deliberate emphasis) "attracted attention."
He talked and looked at her laughing eyes, which frightened him now with their impenetrable look, and, as he talked, he felt all the uselessness and idleness of his words.
"You're always like that," she answered as though completely misapprehending him, and of all he had said only taking in the last phrase. "One time you don't like my being dull, and another time you don't like my being lively. I wasn't dull. Does that offend you?"
Alexey Alexandrovitch shivered, and bent his hands to make the joints crack.
"Oh, please, don't do that, I do so dislike it," she said.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
"Not bad," he said, stripping the oysters
"Not bad," he said, stripping the oysters from the pearly shell with a silver fork, and swallowing them one after another. "Not bad," he repeated, turning his dewy, brilliant eyes from Levin to the Tatar.
Levin ate the oysters indeed, though white bread and cheese would have pleased him better. But he was admiring Oblonsky. Even the Tatar, uncorking the bottle and pouring the sparkling wine into the delicate glasses, glanced at Stepan Arkadyevitch, and settled his white cravat with a perceptible smile of satisfaction.
"You don't care much for oysters, do you?" said Stepan Arkadyevitch, emptying his wine glass, "or you're worried about something. Eh?"
He wanted Levin to be in good spirits. But it was not that Levin was not in good spirits; he was ill at ease. With what he had in his soul, he felt sore and uncomfortable in the restaurant, in the midst of private rooms where men were dining with ladies, in all this fuss and bustle; the surroundings of bronzes, looking glasses, gas, and waiters--all of it was offensive to him. He was afraid of sullying what his soul was brimful of.
"I? Yes, I am; but besides, all this bothers me," he said. "You can't conceive how queer it all seems to a country person like me, as queer as that gentleman's nails I saw at your place..."
"Yes, I saw how much interested you were in poor Grinevitch's nails," said Stepan Arkadyevitch, laughing.
"It's too much for me," responded Levin. "Do try, now, and put yourself in my place, take the point of view of a country person. We in the country try to bring our hands into such a state as will be most convenient for working with. So we cut our nails; sometimes we turn up our sleeves. And here people purposely let their nails grow as long as they will, and link on small saucers by way of studs, so that they can do nothing with their hands."
Stepan Arkadyevitch smiled gaily.
"Oh, yes, that's just a sign that he has no need to do coarse work. His work is with the mind..."
"Maybe. But still it's queer to me, just as at this moment it seems queer to me that we country folks try to get our meals over as soon as we can, so as to be ready for our work, while here are we trying to drag out our meal as long as possible, and with that object eating oysters..."
"Why, of course," objected Stepan Arkadyevitch. "But that's just the aim of civilization--to make everything a source of enjoyment."
"Well, if that's its aim, I'd rather be a savage."
"And so you are a savage. All you Levins are savages."
Levin sighed. He remembered his brother Nikolay, and felt ashamed and sore, and he scowled; but Oblonsky began speaking of a subject which at once drew his attention.
"Oh, I say, are you going tonight to our people, the Shtcherbatskys', I mean?" he said, his eyes sparkling significantly as he pushed away the empty rough shells, and drew the cheese towards him.
"Yes, I shall certainly go," replied Levin; "though I fancied the princess was not very warm in her invitation."
"What nonsense! That's her manner.... Come, boy, the soup!.... That's her manner--grande dame," said Stepan Arkadyevitch. "I'm coming, too, but I have to go to the Countess Bonina's rehearsal. Come, isn't it true that you're a savage? How do you explain the sudden way in which you vanished from Moscow? The Shtcherbatskys were continually asking me about you, as though I ought to know. The only thing I know is that you always do what no one else does."
Levin ate the oysters indeed, though white bread and cheese would have pleased him better. But he was admiring Oblonsky. Even the Tatar, uncorking the bottle and pouring the sparkling wine into the delicate glasses, glanced at Stepan Arkadyevitch, and settled his white cravat with a perceptible smile of satisfaction.
"You don't care much for oysters, do you?" said Stepan Arkadyevitch, emptying his wine glass, "or you're worried about something. Eh?"
He wanted Levin to be in good spirits. But it was not that Levin was not in good spirits; he was ill at ease. With what he had in his soul, he felt sore and uncomfortable in the restaurant, in the midst of private rooms where men were dining with ladies, in all this fuss and bustle; the surroundings of bronzes, looking glasses, gas, and waiters--all of it was offensive to him. He was afraid of sullying what his soul was brimful of.
"I? Yes, I am; but besides, all this bothers me," he said. "You can't conceive how queer it all seems to a country person like me, as queer as that gentleman's nails I saw at your place..."
"Yes, I saw how much interested you were in poor Grinevitch's nails," said Stepan Arkadyevitch, laughing.
"It's too much for me," responded Levin. "Do try, now, and put yourself in my place, take the point of view of a country person. We in the country try to bring our hands into such a state as will be most convenient for working with. So we cut our nails; sometimes we turn up our sleeves. And here people purposely let their nails grow as long as they will, and link on small saucers by way of studs, so that they can do nothing with their hands."
Stepan Arkadyevitch smiled gaily.
"Oh, yes, that's just a sign that he has no need to do coarse work. His work is with the mind..."
"Maybe. But still it's queer to me, just as at this moment it seems queer to me that we country folks try to get our meals over as soon as we can, so as to be ready for our work, while here are we trying to drag out our meal as long as possible, and with that object eating oysters..."
"Why, of course," objected Stepan Arkadyevitch. "But that's just the aim of civilization--to make everything a source of enjoyment."
"Well, if that's its aim, I'd rather be a savage."
"And so you are a savage. All you Levins are savages."
Levin sighed. He remembered his brother Nikolay, and felt ashamed and sore, and he scowled; but Oblonsky began speaking of a subject which at once drew his attention.
"Oh, I say, are you going tonight to our people, the Shtcherbatskys', I mean?" he said, his eyes sparkling significantly as he pushed away the empty rough shells, and drew the cheese towards him.
"Yes, I shall certainly go," replied Levin; "though I fancied the princess was not very warm in her invitation."
"What nonsense! That's her manner.... Come, boy, the soup!.... That's her manner--grande dame," said Stepan Arkadyevitch. "I'm coming, too, but I have to go to the Countess Bonina's rehearsal. Come, isn't it true that you're a savage? How do you explain the sudden way in which you vanished from Moscow? The Shtcherbatskys were continually asking me about you, as though I ought to know. The only thing I know is that you always do what no one else does."
"How if we were to change our program, Levin?"
he said keeping his finger on the bill of fare. And his face expressed serious hesitation. "Are the oysters good? Mind now."
"They're Flensburg, your excellency. We've no Ostend."
"Flensburg will do, but are they fresh?"
"Only arrived yesterday."
"Well, then, how if we were to begin with oysters, and so change the whole program? Eh?"
"It's all the same to me. I should like cabbage soup and porridge better than anything; but of course there's nothing like that here."
"Porridge a la Russe, your honor would like?" said the Tatar, bending down to Levin, like a nurse speaking to a child.
"No, joking apart, whatever you choose is sure to be good. I've been skating, and I'm hungry. And don't imagine," he added, detecting a look of dissatisfaction on Oblonsky's face, "that I shan't appreciate your choice. I am fond of good things."
"I should hope so! After all, it's one of the pleasures of life," said Stepan Arkadyevitch. "Well, then, my friend, you give us two--or better say three--dozen oysters, clear soup with vegetables..."
"Printaniere," prompted the Tatar. But Stepan Arkadyevitch apparently did not care to allow him the satisfaction of giving the French names of the dishes.
"With vegetables in it, you know. Then turbot with thick sauce, then...roast beef; and mind it's good. Yes, and capons, perhaps, and then sweets."
The Tatar, recollecting that it was Stepan Arkadyevitch's way not to call the dishes by the names in the French bill of fare, did not repeat them after him, but could not resist rehearsing the whole menus to himself according to the bill:--"Soupe printaniere, turbot, sauce Beaumarchais, poulard a l'estragon, macedoine de fruits...etc.," and then instantly, as though worked by springs, laying down one bound bill of fare, he took up another, the list of wines, and submitted it to Stepan Arkadyevitch.
"What shall we drink?"
"What you like, only not too much. Champagne," said Levin.
"What! to start with? You're right though, I dare say. Do you like the white seal?"
"Cachet blanc," prompted the Tatar.
"Very well, then, give us that brand with the oysters, and then we'll see."
"Yes, sir. And what table wine?"
"You can give us Nuits. Oh, no, better the classic Chablis."
"Yes, sir. And YOUR cheese, your excellency?"
"Oh, yes, Parmesan. Or would you like another?"
"No, it's all the same to me," said Levin, unable to suppress a smile.
And the Tatar ran off with flying coattails, and in five minutes darted in with a dish of opened oysters on mother-of-pearl shells, and a bottle between his fingers.
Stepan Arkadyevitch crushed the starchy napkin, tucked it into his waistcoat, and settling his arms comfortably, started on the oysters.
"They're Flensburg, your excellency. We've no Ostend."
"Flensburg will do, but are they fresh?"
"Only arrived yesterday."
"Well, then, how if we were to begin with oysters, and so change the whole program? Eh?"
"It's all the same to me. I should like cabbage soup and porridge better than anything; but of course there's nothing like that here."
"Porridge a la Russe, your honor would like?" said the Tatar, bending down to Levin, like a nurse speaking to a child.
"No, joking apart, whatever you choose is sure to be good. I've been skating, and I'm hungry. And don't imagine," he added, detecting a look of dissatisfaction on Oblonsky's face, "that I shan't appreciate your choice. I am fond of good things."
"I should hope so! After all, it's one of the pleasures of life," said Stepan Arkadyevitch. "Well, then, my friend, you give us two--or better say three--dozen oysters, clear soup with vegetables..."
"Printaniere," prompted the Tatar. But Stepan Arkadyevitch apparently did not care to allow him the satisfaction of giving the French names of the dishes.
"With vegetables in it, you know. Then turbot with thick sauce, then...roast beef; and mind it's good. Yes, and capons, perhaps, and then sweets."
The Tatar, recollecting that it was Stepan Arkadyevitch's way not to call the dishes by the names in the French bill of fare, did not repeat them after him, but could not resist rehearsing the whole menus to himself according to the bill:--"Soupe printaniere, turbot, sauce Beaumarchais, poulard a l'estragon, macedoine de fruits...etc.," and then instantly, as though worked by springs, laying down one bound bill of fare, he took up another, the list of wines, and submitted it to Stepan Arkadyevitch.
"What shall we drink?"
"What you like, only not too much. Champagne," said Levin.
"What! to start with? You're right though, I dare say. Do you like the white seal?"
"Cachet blanc," prompted the Tatar.
"Very well, then, give us that brand with the oysters, and then we'll see."
"Yes, sir. And what table wine?"
"You can give us Nuits. Oh, no, better the classic Chablis."
"Yes, sir. And YOUR cheese, your excellency?"
"Oh, yes, Parmesan. Or would you like another?"
"No, it's all the same to me," said Levin, unable to suppress a smile.
And the Tatar ran off with flying coattails, and in five minutes darted in with a dish of opened oysters on mother-of-pearl shells, and a bottle between his fingers.
Stepan Arkadyevitch crushed the starchy napkin, tucked it into his waistcoat, and settling his arms comfortably, started on the oysters.
Chapter 10
Chapter 10
When Levin went into the restaurant with Oblonsky, he could not help noticing a certain peculiarity of expression, as it were, a restrained radiance, about the face and whole figure of Stepan Arkadyevitch. Oblonsky took off his overcoat, and with his hat over one ear walked into the dining room, giving directions to the Tatar waiters, who were clustered about him in evening coats, bearing napkins. Bowing to right and left to the people he met, and here as everywhere joyously greeting acquaintances, he went up to the sideboard for a preliminary appetizer of fish and vodka, and said to the painted Frenchwoman decked in ribbons, lace, and ringlets, behind the counter, something so amusing that even that Frenchwoman was moved to genuine laughter. Levin for his part refrained from taking any vodka simply because he felt such a loathing of that Frenchwoman, all made up, it seemed, of false hair, poudre de riz, and vinaigre de toilette. He made haste to move away from her, as from a dirty place. His whole soul was filled with memories of Kitty, and there was a smile of triumph and happiness shining in his eyes.
"This way, your excellency, please. Your excellency won't be disturbed here," said a particularly pertinacious, white-headed old Tatar with immense hips and coattails gaping widely behind. "Walk in, your excellency," he said to Levin; by way of showing his respect to Stepan Arkadyevitch, being attentive to his guest as well.
Instantly flinging a fresh cloth over the round table under the bronze chandelier, though it already had a table cloth on it, he pushed up velvet chairs, and came to a standstill before Stepan Arkadyevitch with a napkin and a bill of fare in his hands, awaiting his commands.
"If you prefer it, your excellency, a private room will be free directly; Prince Golistin with a lady. Fresh oysters have come in."
"Ah! oysters."
Stepan Arkadyevitch became thoughtful.
When Levin went into the restaurant with Oblonsky, he could not help noticing a certain peculiarity of expression, as it were, a restrained radiance, about the face and whole figure of Stepan Arkadyevitch. Oblonsky took off his overcoat, and with his hat over one ear walked into the dining room, giving directions to the Tatar waiters, who were clustered about him in evening coats, bearing napkins. Bowing to right and left to the people he met, and here as everywhere joyously greeting acquaintances, he went up to the sideboard for a preliminary appetizer of fish and vodka, and said to the painted Frenchwoman decked in ribbons, lace, and ringlets, behind the counter, something so amusing that even that Frenchwoman was moved to genuine laughter. Levin for his part refrained from taking any vodka simply because he felt such a loathing of that Frenchwoman, all made up, it seemed, of false hair, poudre de riz, and vinaigre de toilette. He made haste to move away from her, as from a dirty place. His whole soul was filled with memories of Kitty, and there was a smile of triumph and happiness shining in his eyes.
"This way, your excellency, please. Your excellency won't be disturbed here," said a particularly pertinacious, white-headed old Tatar with immense hips and coattails gaping widely behind. "Walk in, your excellency," he said to Levin; by way of showing his respect to Stepan Arkadyevitch, being attentive to his guest as well.
Instantly flinging a fresh cloth over the round table under the bronze chandelier, though it already had a table cloth on it, he pushed up velvet chairs, and came to a standstill before Stepan Arkadyevitch with a napkin and a bill of fare in his hands, awaiting his commands.
"If you prefer it, your excellency, a private room will be free directly; Prince Golistin with a lady. Fresh oysters have come in."
"Ah! oysters."
Stepan Arkadyevitch became thoughtful.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Ron gave a nervous laugh.
Ron gave a nervous laugh.
‘And Hagrid wants us to ... ?’
‘Teach him English, yeah,’ said Harry.
‘He's lost his mind,’ said Ron in an almost awed voice.
‘Yes,’ said Hermione irritably, turning a page of Intermediate Transfiguration and glaring at a series of diagrams showing an owl turning into a pair of opera glasses. ‘Yes, I'm starting to think he has. But, unfortunately, he made Harry and me promise.’
‘Well, you're just going to have to break your promise, that's all,’ said Ron firmly. ‘I mean, come on ... we've got exams and we're about that far—’ he held up his hand to show thumb and forefinger almost touching ‘—from being chucked out as it is. And anyway ... remember Norbert? Remember Aragog? Have we ever come off better for mixing with any of Hagrid's monster mates?’
‘I know, it's just that—we promised,’ said Hermione in a small voice.
Ron smoothed his hair flat again, looking preoccupied.
‘Well,’ he sighed, ‘Hagrid hasn't been sacked yet, has he? He's hung on this long, maybe he'll hang on till the end of term and we won't have to go near Grawp at all.’
The castle grounds were gleaming in the sunlight as though freshly painted; the cloudless sky smiled at itself in the smoothly sparkling lake; the satin green lawns rippled occasionally in a gentle breeze. June had arrived, but to the fifth-years this meant only one thing: their OWLs were upon them at last.
Their teachers were no longer setting them homework; lessons were devoted to revising those topics the teachers thought most likely to come up in the exams. The purposeful, feverish atmosphere drove nearly everything but the OWLs from Harry's mind, though he did wonder occasionally during Potions lessons whether Lupin had ever told Snape that he must continue giving Harry Ooclumency tuition. If he had, then Snape had ignored Lupin as thoroughly as he was now ignoring Harry. This suited Harry very well; he was quite busy and tense enough without extra classes with Snape, and to his relief Hermione was much too preoccupied these days to badger him about Occlumency; she was spending a lot of time muttering to herself, and had not laid out any elf clothes for days.
She was not the only person acting oddly as the OWLs drew steadily nearer. Ernie Macmillan had developed an irritating habit of interrogating people about their revision practices.
‘How many hours d'you think you're doing a day?’ he demanded of Harry and Ron as they queued outside Herbology, a manic gleam in his eyes.
‘I dunno,’ said Ron. ‘A few.’
‘More or less than eight?’
‘Less, I s'pose,’ said Ron, looking slightly alarmed.
‘I'm doing eight,’ said Ernie, puffing out his chest. ‘Eight or nine. I'm getting an hour in before breakfast every day. Eights my average. I can do ten on a good weekend day. I did nine and a half on Monday. Not so good on Tuesday—only seven and a quarter. Then on Wednesday—’
Harry was deeply thankful that Professor Sprout ushered them into greenhouse three at that point, forcing Ernie to abandon his recital.
Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy had found a different way to induce panic.
‘Of course, it's not what you know,’ he was heard to tell Crabbe and Goyle loudly outside Potions a few days before the exams were to start, ‘it's who you know. Now, Father's been friendly with the head of the Wizarding Examinations Authority for years—old Griselda Marchbanks—we've had her round for dinner and everthing ...’
‘Do you think that's true?’ Hermione whispered in alarm to Harry and Ron.
‘Nothing we can do about it if it is,’ said Ron gloomily.
‘I don't think it's true,’ said Neville quietly from behind them. ‘Because Griselda Marchbanks is a friend of my gran's, and she's never mentioned the Malfoy's.’
‘What's she like, Neville?’ asked Hermione at once. ‘Is she strict?’
‘Bit like Gran, really,’ said Neville in a subdued voice.
‘Knowing her won't hurt your chances, though, will it?’ Ron told him encouragingly.
‘Oh, I don't think it will make any difference,’ said Neville, still more miserably. ‘Gran's always telling Professor Marchbanks I'm not as good as my dad ... well ... you saw what she's like at St. Mungo's ...’
Neville looked fixedly at the floor. Harry, Ron and Hermione glanced at each other, but didn't know what to say. It was the first time Neville had acknowledged that they had met at the wizarding hospital.
‘And Hagrid wants us to ... ?’
‘Teach him English, yeah,’ said Harry.
‘He's lost his mind,’ said Ron in an almost awed voice.
‘Yes,’ said Hermione irritably, turning a page of Intermediate Transfiguration and glaring at a series of diagrams showing an owl turning into a pair of opera glasses. ‘Yes, I'm starting to think he has. But, unfortunately, he made Harry and me promise.’
‘Well, you're just going to have to break your promise, that's all,’ said Ron firmly. ‘I mean, come on ... we've got exams and we're about that far—’ he held up his hand to show thumb and forefinger almost touching ‘—from being chucked out as it is. And anyway ... remember Norbert? Remember Aragog? Have we ever come off better for mixing with any of Hagrid's monster mates?’
‘I know, it's just that—we promised,’ said Hermione in a small voice.
Ron smoothed his hair flat again, looking preoccupied.
‘Well,’ he sighed, ‘Hagrid hasn't been sacked yet, has he? He's hung on this long, maybe he'll hang on till the end of term and we won't have to go near Grawp at all.’
The castle grounds were gleaming in the sunlight as though freshly painted; the cloudless sky smiled at itself in the smoothly sparkling lake; the satin green lawns rippled occasionally in a gentle breeze. June had arrived, but to the fifth-years this meant only one thing: their OWLs were upon them at last.
Their teachers were no longer setting them homework; lessons were devoted to revising those topics the teachers thought most likely to come up in the exams. The purposeful, feverish atmosphere drove nearly everything but the OWLs from Harry's mind, though he did wonder occasionally during Potions lessons whether Lupin had ever told Snape that he must continue giving Harry Ooclumency tuition. If he had, then Snape had ignored Lupin as thoroughly as he was now ignoring Harry. This suited Harry very well; he was quite busy and tense enough without extra classes with Snape, and to his relief Hermione was much too preoccupied these days to badger him about Occlumency; she was spending a lot of time muttering to herself, and had not laid out any elf clothes for days.
She was not the only person acting oddly as the OWLs drew steadily nearer. Ernie Macmillan had developed an irritating habit of interrogating people about their revision practices.
‘How many hours d'you think you're doing a day?’ he demanded of Harry and Ron as they queued outside Herbology, a manic gleam in his eyes.
‘I dunno,’ said Ron. ‘A few.’
‘More or less than eight?’
‘Less, I s'pose,’ said Ron, looking slightly alarmed.
‘I'm doing eight,’ said Ernie, puffing out his chest. ‘Eight or nine. I'm getting an hour in before breakfast every day. Eights my average. I can do ten on a good weekend day. I did nine and a half on Monday. Not so good on Tuesday—only seven and a quarter. Then on Wednesday—’
Harry was deeply thankful that Professor Sprout ushered them into greenhouse three at that point, forcing Ernie to abandon his recital.
Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy had found a different way to induce panic.
‘Of course, it's not what you know,’ he was heard to tell Crabbe and Goyle loudly outside Potions a few days before the exams were to start, ‘it's who you know. Now, Father's been friendly with the head of the Wizarding Examinations Authority for years—old Griselda Marchbanks—we've had her round for dinner and everthing ...’
‘Do you think that's true?’ Hermione whispered in alarm to Harry and Ron.
‘Nothing we can do about it if it is,’ said Ron gloomily.
‘I don't think it's true,’ said Neville quietly from behind them. ‘Because Griselda Marchbanks is a friend of my gran's, and she's never mentioned the Malfoy's.’
‘What's she like, Neville?’ asked Hermione at once. ‘Is she strict?’
‘Bit like Gran, really,’ said Neville in a subdued voice.
‘Knowing her won't hurt your chances, though, will it?’ Ron told him encouragingly.
‘Oh, I don't think it will make any difference,’ said Neville, still more miserably. ‘Gran's always telling Professor Marchbanks I'm not as good as my dad ... well ... you saw what she's like at St. Mungo's ...’
Neville looked fixedly at the floor. Harry, Ron and Hermione glanced at each other, but didn't know what to say. It was the first time Neville had acknowledged that they had met at the wizarding hospital.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
It was Sirius's turn to flush. Snape's lip curled in triumph as he turned to Harry.
It was Sirius's turn to flush. Snape's lip curled in triumph as he turned to Harry.
‘The Headmaster has sent me to tell you, Potter, that it is his wish for you to study Occlumency this term.’
‘Study what?’ said Harry blankly.
Snape's sneer became more pronounced.
‘Occlumency, Potter. The magical defence of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one.’
Harry's heart began to pump very fast indeed. Defence against external penetration? But he was not being possessed, they had all agreed on that ...
‘Why do I have to study Occlu—thing?’ he blurted out.
‘Because the Headmaster thinks it a good idea,’ said Snape smoothly. ‘You will receive private lessons once a week, but you will not tell anybody what you are doing, least of all Dolores Umbridge. You understand?’
‘Yes,’ said Harry. ‘Who's going to be teaching me?’
Snape raised an eyebrow.
‘I am,’ he said.
Harry had the horrible sensation that his insides were melting.
Extra lessons with Snape—what on earth had he done to deserve this? He looked quickly round at Sirius for support.
‘Why can't Dumbledore teach Harry?’ asked Sirius aggressively. ‘Why you?’
‘I suppose because it is a headmaster's privilege to delegate less enjoyable tasks,’ said Snape silkily. ‘I assure you I did not beg for the job.’ He got to his feet. ‘I will expect you at six o'clock on Monday evening, Potter. My
office. If anybody asks, you are taking remedial Potions. Nobody who has seen you in my classes could deny you need them.’
He turned to leave, his black travelling cloak billowing behind him.
‘Wait a moment,’ said Sirius, sitting up straighter in his chair.
Snape turned back to face them, sneering.
‘I am in rather a hurry, Black. Unlike you, I do not have unlimited leisure time.’
‘I'll get to the point, then,’ said Sirius, standing up. He was rather taller than Snape who, Harry noticed, balled his fist in the pocket of his cloak over what Harry was sure was the handle of his wand. ‘If I hear you're using these
Occlumency lessons to give Harry a hard time, you'll have me to answer to.’
‘How touching,’ Snape sneered. ‘But surely you have noticed that Potter is very like his father?’
‘Yes, I have,’ said Sirius proudly.
‘Well then, you'll know he's so arrogant that criticism simply bounces off him,’ Snape said sleekly.
Sirius pushed his chair roughly aside and strode around the table towards Snape, pulling out his wand as he went. Snape whipped out his own. They were squaring up to each other, Sirius looking livid, Snape calculating, his
eyes darting from Sirius's wand-tip to his face.
‘Sirius!’ said Harry loudly, but Sirius appeared not to hear him.
‘I've warned you, Snivelus,’ said Sirius, his face barely a foot from Snape's, ‘I don't care if Dumbledore thinks you've reformed, I know better—’
‘Oh, but why don't you tell him so?’ whispered Snape. ‘Or are you afraid he might not take very seriously the advice of a man who has been hiding inside his mother's house for six months?’
‘Tell me, how is Lucius Malfoy these days? I expect he's delighted his lapdog's working at Hogwarts, isn't he?’
‘Speaking of dogs,’ said Snape softly, ‘did you know that Lucius Malfoy recognised you last time you risked a little jaunt outside? Clever idea, Black, getting yourself seen on a safe station platform ... gave you a cast-iron
excuse not to leave your hidey-hole in future, didn't it?’
Sirius raised his wand.
‘NO!’ Harry yelled, vaulting over the table and trying to get in between them. ‘Sirius, don't!’
‘Are you calling me a coward?’ roared Sirius, trying to push Harry out of the way, but Harry would not budge.
‘Why, yes, I suppose I am,’ said Snape.
‘Harry—get— out—of—it!’ snarled Sirius, pushing him aside with his free hand.
The kitchen door opened and the entire Weasley family, plus Hermione, came inside, all looking very happy, with Mr. Weasley walking proudly in their midst dressed in a pair of striped pyjamas covered by a mackintosh.
‘Cured!’ he announced brightly to the kitchen at large. ‘Completely cured!’
He and all the other Weasleys froze on the threshold, gazing at the scene in front of them, which was also suspended in mid-action, both Sirius and Snape looking towards the door with their wands pointing into each other's
faces and Harry immobile between them, a hand stretched out to each, trying to force them apart.
‘Merlin's beard,’ said Mr. Weasley, the smile sliding off his face, ‘what's going on here?’
Both Sirius and Snape lowered their wands. Harry looked from one to the other. Each wore an expression of utmost contempt, yet the unexpected entrance of so many witnesses seemed to have brought them to their senses.
Snape pocketed his wand, turned on his heel and swept back across the kitchen, passing the Weasleys without comment. At the door he looked back.
‘Six o'clock, Monday evening, Potter.’
And he was gone. Sirius glared after him, his wand at his side.
‘What's been going on?’ asked Mr. Weasley again.
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‘The Headmaster has sent me to tell you, Potter, that it is his wish for you to study Occlumency this term.’
‘Study what?’ said Harry blankly.
Snape's sneer became more pronounced.
‘Occlumency, Potter. The magical defence of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one.’
Harry's heart began to pump very fast indeed. Defence against external penetration? But he was not being possessed, they had all agreed on that ...
‘Why do I have to study Occlu—thing?’ he blurted out.
‘Because the Headmaster thinks it a good idea,’ said Snape smoothly. ‘You will receive private lessons once a week, but you will not tell anybody what you are doing, least of all Dolores Umbridge. You understand?’
‘Yes,’ said Harry. ‘Who's going to be teaching me?’
Snape raised an eyebrow.
‘I am,’ he said.
Harry had the horrible sensation that his insides were melting.
Extra lessons with Snape—what on earth had he done to deserve this? He looked quickly round at Sirius for support.
‘Why can't Dumbledore teach Harry?’ asked Sirius aggressively. ‘Why you?’
‘I suppose because it is a headmaster's privilege to delegate less enjoyable tasks,’ said Snape silkily. ‘I assure you I did not beg for the job.’ He got to his feet. ‘I will expect you at six o'clock on Monday evening, Potter. My
office. If anybody asks, you are taking remedial Potions. Nobody who has seen you in my classes could deny you need them.’
He turned to leave, his black travelling cloak billowing behind him.
‘Wait a moment,’ said Sirius, sitting up straighter in his chair.
Snape turned back to face them, sneering.
‘I am in rather a hurry, Black. Unlike you, I do not have unlimited leisure time.’
‘I'll get to the point, then,’ said Sirius, standing up. He was rather taller than Snape who, Harry noticed, balled his fist in the pocket of his cloak over what Harry was sure was the handle of his wand. ‘If I hear you're using these
Occlumency lessons to give Harry a hard time, you'll have me to answer to.’
‘How touching,’ Snape sneered. ‘But surely you have noticed that Potter is very like his father?’
‘Yes, I have,’ said Sirius proudly.
‘Well then, you'll know he's so arrogant that criticism simply bounces off him,’ Snape said sleekly.
Sirius pushed his chair roughly aside and strode around the table towards Snape, pulling out his wand as he went. Snape whipped out his own. They were squaring up to each other, Sirius looking livid, Snape calculating, his
eyes darting from Sirius's wand-tip to his face.
‘Sirius!’ said Harry loudly, but Sirius appeared not to hear him.
‘I've warned you, Snivelus,’ said Sirius, his face barely a foot from Snape's, ‘I don't care if Dumbledore thinks you've reformed, I know better—’
‘Oh, but why don't you tell him so?’ whispered Snape. ‘Or are you afraid he might not take very seriously the advice of a man who has been hiding inside his mother's house for six months?’
‘Tell me, how is Lucius Malfoy these days? I expect he's delighted his lapdog's working at Hogwarts, isn't he?’
‘Speaking of dogs,’ said Snape softly, ‘did you know that Lucius Malfoy recognised you last time you risked a little jaunt outside? Clever idea, Black, getting yourself seen on a safe station platform ... gave you a cast-iron
excuse not to leave your hidey-hole in future, didn't it?’
Sirius raised his wand.
‘NO!’ Harry yelled, vaulting over the table and trying to get in between them. ‘Sirius, don't!’
‘Are you calling me a coward?’ roared Sirius, trying to push Harry out of the way, but Harry would not budge.
‘Why, yes, I suppose I am,’ said Snape.
‘Harry—get— out—of—it!’ snarled Sirius, pushing him aside with his free hand.
The kitchen door opened and the entire Weasley family, plus Hermione, came inside, all looking very happy, with Mr. Weasley walking proudly in their midst dressed in a pair of striped pyjamas covered by a mackintosh.
‘Cured!’ he announced brightly to the kitchen at large. ‘Completely cured!’
He and all the other Weasleys froze on the threshold, gazing at the scene in front of them, which was also suspended in mid-action, both Sirius and Snape looking towards the door with their wands pointing into each other's
faces and Harry immobile between them, a hand stretched out to each, trying to force them apart.
‘Merlin's beard,’ said Mr. Weasley, the smile sliding off his face, ‘what's going on here?’
Both Sirius and Snape lowered their wands. Harry looked from one to the other. Each wore an expression of utmost contempt, yet the unexpected entrance of so many witnesses seemed to have brought them to their senses.
Snape pocketed his wand, turned on his heel and swept back across the kitchen, passing the Weasleys without comment. At the door he looked back.
‘Six o'clock, Monday evening, Potter.’
And he was gone. Sirius glared after him, his wand at his side.
‘What's been going on?’ asked Mr. Weasley again.
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Tuesday, November 16, 2010
‘You want to pass your Defence Against
‘You want to pass your Defence Against the Dark Arts OWL too, though, I bet?’ said Michael Corner, who was watching her closely.
‘Of course I do,’ said Hermione at once. ‘But more than that, I want to be properly trained in defence because ... because ...’ she took a great breath and finished, ‘because Lord Voldemort is back.’
The reaction was immediate and predictable. Cho's friend shrieked and slopped Butterbeer down herself; Terry Boot gave a kind of involuntary twitch; Padma Patil shuddered, and Neville gave an odd yelp that he managed to turn into a cough. All of them, however, looked fixedly, even eagerly, at Harry.
‘Well ... that's the plan, anyway,’ said Hermione. ‘If you want to join us, we need to decide how we're going to—’
‘Where's the proof You-Know-Who's back?’ said the blond Hufflepuff player in a rather aggressive voice.
‘Well, Dumbledore believes it—’ Hermione began.
‘You mean, Dumbledore believes him,’ said the blond boy, nodding at Harry.
‘Who are you?’ said Ron, rather rudely.
‘Zacharias Smith,’ said the boy, ‘and I think we've got the right to know exactly what makes him say You-Know-Who's back.’
‘Look,’ said Hermione, intervening swiftly, ‘that's really not what this meeting was supposed to be about—’
‘It's OK, Hermione,’ said Harry.
It had just dawned on him why there were so many people there. He thought Hermione should have seen this coming. Some of these people—maybe even most of them—had turned up in the hopes of hearing Harry's story firsthand.
‘What makes me say You-Know-Who's back?’ he repeated, looking Zacharias straight in the face. ‘I saw him. But Dumbledore told the whole school what happened last year, and if you didn't believe him, you won't believe me, and I'm not wasting an afternoon trying to convince anyone.’
The whole group seemed to have held its breath while Harry spoke. Harry had the impression that even the barman was listening. He was wiping the same glass with the filthy rag, making it steadily dirtier.
Zacharias said dismissively, ‘All Dumbledore told us last year was that Cedric Diggory got killed by You-Know-Who and that you brought Diggory's body back to Hogwarts. He didn't give us details, he didn't tell us exactly how Diggory got murdered, I think we'd all like to know—’
‘If you've come to hear exactly what it looks like when Voldemort murders someone I can't help you,’ Harry said. His temper, always so close to the surface these days, was rising again. He did not take his eyes from Zacharias Smith's aggressive face, and was determined not to look at Cho. ‘I don't want to talk about Cedric Diggory, all right? So if that's what you're here for, you might as well clear out.’
He cast an angry look in Hermione's direction. This was, he felt, all her fault; she had decided to display him like some sort of freak and of course they had all turned up to see just now wild his story was. But none of them left their seats, not even Zacharias Smith, though he continued to gaze intently at Harry.
‘So,’ said Hermione, her voice very high-pitched again. ‘So ... like I was saying ... if you want to learn some defence, then we need to work out how we're going to do it, how often we're going to meet and where we're going to—’
‘Is it true,’ interrupted the girl with the long plait down her back, looking at Harry, ‘that you can produce a Patronus?’
There was a murmur of interest around the group at this.
‘Of course I do,’ said Hermione at once. ‘But more than that, I want to be properly trained in defence because ... because ...’ she took a great breath and finished, ‘because Lord Voldemort is back.’
The reaction was immediate and predictable. Cho's friend shrieked and slopped Butterbeer down herself; Terry Boot gave a kind of involuntary twitch; Padma Patil shuddered, and Neville gave an odd yelp that he managed to turn into a cough. All of them, however, looked fixedly, even eagerly, at Harry.
‘Well ... that's the plan, anyway,’ said Hermione. ‘If you want to join us, we need to decide how we're going to—’
‘Where's the proof You-Know-Who's back?’ said the blond Hufflepuff player in a rather aggressive voice.
‘Well, Dumbledore believes it—’ Hermione began.
‘You mean, Dumbledore believes him,’ said the blond boy, nodding at Harry.
‘Who are you?’ said Ron, rather rudely.
‘Zacharias Smith,’ said the boy, ‘and I think we've got the right to know exactly what makes him say You-Know-Who's back.’
‘Look,’ said Hermione, intervening swiftly, ‘that's really not what this meeting was supposed to be about—’
‘It's OK, Hermione,’ said Harry.
It had just dawned on him why there were so many people there. He thought Hermione should have seen this coming. Some of these people—maybe even most of them—had turned up in the hopes of hearing Harry's story firsthand.
‘What makes me say You-Know-Who's back?’ he repeated, looking Zacharias straight in the face. ‘I saw him. But Dumbledore told the whole school what happened last year, and if you didn't believe him, you won't believe me, and I'm not wasting an afternoon trying to convince anyone.’
The whole group seemed to have held its breath while Harry spoke. Harry had the impression that even the barman was listening. He was wiping the same glass with the filthy rag, making it steadily dirtier.
Zacharias said dismissively, ‘All Dumbledore told us last year was that Cedric Diggory got killed by You-Know-Who and that you brought Diggory's body back to Hogwarts. He didn't give us details, he didn't tell us exactly how Diggory got murdered, I think we'd all like to know—’
‘If you've come to hear exactly what it looks like when Voldemort murders someone I can't help you,’ Harry said. His temper, always so close to the surface these days, was rising again. He did not take his eyes from Zacharias Smith's aggressive face, and was determined not to look at Cho. ‘I don't want to talk about Cedric Diggory, all right? So if that's what you're here for, you might as well clear out.’
He cast an angry look in Hermione's direction. This was, he felt, all her fault; she had decided to display him like some sort of freak and of course they had all turned up to see just now wild his story was. But none of them left their seats, not even Zacharias Smith, though he continued to gaze intently at Harry.
‘So,’ said Hermione, her voice very high-pitched again. ‘So ... like I was saying ... if you want to learn some defence, then we need to work out how we're going to do it, how often we're going to meet and where we're going to—’
‘Is it true,’ interrupted the girl with the long plait down her back, looking at Harry, ‘that you can produce a Patronus?’
There was a murmur of interest around the group at this.
Monday, November 15, 2010
A powerful emotion had risen in Harry's chest at the sight of Dumbledore
A powerful emotion had risen in Harry's chest at the sight of Dumbledore, a fortified, hopeful feeling rather like that which phoenix song gave him. He wanted to catch Dumbledore's eye, but Dumbledore was not looking his way; he was continuing to look up at the obviously flustered Fudge.
‘Ah,’ said Fudge, who looked thoroughly disconcerted. ‘Dumbledore. Yes. You—er—got our—er— message that the time and—er—place of the hearing had been changed, then?’
‘I must have missed it,’ said Dumbledore cheerfully. ‘However, due to a lucky mistake I arrived at the Ministry three hours early, so no harm done.’
‘Yes—well—I suppose we'll need another chair—I—Weasley, could you—?’
‘Not to worry, not to worry,’ said Dumbledore pleasantly; he took out his wand, gave it a little flick, and a squashy chintz armchair appeared out of nowhere next to Harry. Dumbledore sat down, put the tips of his long fingers together and surveyed Fudge over them with an expression of polite interest. The Wizengamot was still muttering and fidgeting restlessly; only when Fudge spoke again did they settle down.
‘Yes,’ said Fudge again, shuffling his notes. ‘Well, then. So. The charges. Yes.’
He extricated a piece of parchment from the pile before him, took a deep breath, and read out, ‘The charges against the accused are as follows: That he did knowingly, deliberately and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions, having received a previous written warning from the Ministry of Magic on a similar charge, produce a Patronus Charm in a Muggle-inhabited area, in the presence of a Muggle, on the second of August at twenty-three minutes past nine, which constitutes an offence under Paragraph C of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, and also under Section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks’ Statute of Secrecy.
‘You are Harry James Potter, of number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey?’ Fudge said, glaring at Harry over the top of his parchment.
‘Yes,’ Harry said.
‘You received an official warning from the Ministry for using illegal magic three years ago, did you not?’
‘Yes, but—’
‘And yet you conjured a Patronus on the night of the second of August?’ said Fudge.
‘Yes,’ said Harry, ‘but—’
‘Knowing that you are not permitted to use magic outside school while you are under the age of seventeen?’
‘Yes, but—’
‘Knowing that you were in an area full of Muggles?’
‘Yes, but—’
‘Fully aware that you were in close proximity to a Muggle at the time?’
‘Yes,’ said Harry angrily, ‘but I only used it because we were—’
The witch with the monocle cut across him in a booming voice.
‘You produced a fully-fledged Patronus?’
‘Yes,’ said Harry, ‘because—’
‘Ah,’ said Fudge, who looked thoroughly disconcerted. ‘Dumbledore. Yes. You—er—got our—er— message that the time and—er—place of the hearing had been changed, then?’
‘I must have missed it,’ said Dumbledore cheerfully. ‘However, due to a lucky mistake I arrived at the Ministry three hours early, so no harm done.’
‘Yes—well—I suppose we'll need another chair—I—Weasley, could you—?’
‘Not to worry, not to worry,’ said Dumbledore pleasantly; he took out his wand, gave it a little flick, and a squashy chintz armchair appeared out of nowhere next to Harry. Dumbledore sat down, put the tips of his long fingers together and surveyed Fudge over them with an expression of polite interest. The Wizengamot was still muttering and fidgeting restlessly; only when Fudge spoke again did they settle down.
‘Yes,’ said Fudge again, shuffling his notes. ‘Well, then. So. The charges. Yes.’
He extricated a piece of parchment from the pile before him, took a deep breath, and read out, ‘The charges against the accused are as follows: That he did knowingly, deliberately and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions, having received a previous written warning from the Ministry of Magic on a similar charge, produce a Patronus Charm in a Muggle-inhabited area, in the presence of a Muggle, on the second of August at twenty-three minutes past nine, which constitutes an offence under Paragraph C of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, and also under Section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks’ Statute of Secrecy.
‘You are Harry James Potter, of number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey?’ Fudge said, glaring at Harry over the top of his parchment.
‘Yes,’ Harry said.
‘You received an official warning from the Ministry for using illegal magic three years ago, did you not?’
‘Yes, but—’
‘And yet you conjured a Patronus on the night of the second of August?’ said Fudge.
‘Yes,’ said Harry, ‘but—’
‘Knowing that you are not permitted to use magic outside school while you are under the age of seventeen?’
‘Yes, but—’
‘Knowing that you were in an area full of Muggles?’
‘Yes, but—’
‘Fully aware that you were in close proximity to a Muggle at the time?’
‘Yes,’ said Harry angrily, ‘but I only used it because we were—’
The witch with the monocle cut across him in a booming voice.
‘You produced a fully-fledged Patronus?’
‘Yes,’ said Harry, ‘because—’
Chapter 8 The Hearing
Chapter 8 The Hearing
Harry gasped; he could not help himself. The large dungeon he had entered was horribly familiar. He had not only seen it before, he had been here before. This was the place he had visited inside Dumbledore's Pensieve, the place where he had watched the Lestranges sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban.
The walls were made of dark stone, dimly lit by torches. Empty benches rose on either side of him, but ahead, in the highest benches of all, were many shadowy figures. They had been talking in low voices, but as the heavy door swung closed behind Harry an ominous silence fell.
A cold male voice rang across the courtroom.
‘You're late.’
‘Sorry,’ said Harry nervously. ‘I—I didn't know the time had been changed.’
‘That is not the Wizengamot's fault,’ said the voice. ‘An owl was sent to you this morning. Take your seat.’
Harry dropped his gaze to the chair in the centre of the room, the arms of which were covered in chains. He had seen those chains spring to life and bind whoever sat between them. His footsteps echoed loudly as he walked across the stone floor. When he sat gingerly on the edge of the chair the chains clinked threateningly, but did not bind him. Feeling rather sick, he looked up at the people seated at the bench above.
There were about fifty of them, all, as far as he could see, wearing plum-coloured robes with an elaborately worked silver ‘W’ on the left-hand side of the chest and all staring down their noses at him, some with very austere expressions, others looks of frank curiosity.
In the very middle of the front row sat Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic. Fudge was a portly man who often sported a lime-green bowler hat, though today he had dispensed with it; he had dispensed too with the indulgent smile he had once worn when he spoke to Harry. A broad, square-jawed witch with very short grey hair sat on Fudges left; she wore a monocle and looked forbidding. On Fudges right was another witch, but she was sitting so far back on the bench that her face was in shadow.
‘Very well,’ said Fudge. ‘The accused being present—finally—let us begin. Are you ready?’ he called down the row.
‘Yes, sir,’ said an eager voice Harry knew. Ron's brother Percy was sitting at the very end of the front bench. Harry looked at Percy, expecting some sign of recognition from him, but none came. Percy's eyes, behind his horn-rimmed glasses, were fixed on his parchment, a quill poised in his hand.
‘Disciplinary hearing of the twelfth of August,’ said Fudge in a ringing voice, and Percy began taking notes at once, ‘into offences committed under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Statute of Secrecy by Harry James Potter, resident at number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey.
‘Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley—’
‘—Witness for the defence, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore,’ said a quiet voice from behind Harry, who turned his head so fast he cricked his neck.
Dumbledore was striding serenely across the room wearing long midnight-blue robes and a perfectly calm expression. His long silver beard and hair gleamed in the torchlight as he drew level with Harry and looked up at Fudge through the half-moon spectacles that rested halfway down his very crooked nose.
The members of the Wizengamot were muttering. All eyes were now on Dumbledore. Some looked annoyed, others slightly frightened; two elderly witches in the back row, however, raised their hands and waved in welcome.
Harry gasped; he could not help himself. The large dungeon he had entered was horribly familiar. He had not only seen it before, he had been here before. This was the place he had visited inside Dumbledore's Pensieve, the place where he had watched the Lestranges sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban.
The walls were made of dark stone, dimly lit by torches. Empty benches rose on either side of him, but ahead, in the highest benches of all, were many shadowy figures. They had been talking in low voices, but as the heavy door swung closed behind Harry an ominous silence fell.
A cold male voice rang across the courtroom.
‘You're late.’
‘Sorry,’ said Harry nervously. ‘I—I didn't know the time had been changed.’
‘That is not the Wizengamot's fault,’ said the voice. ‘An owl was sent to you this morning. Take your seat.’
Harry dropped his gaze to the chair in the centre of the room, the arms of which were covered in chains. He had seen those chains spring to life and bind whoever sat between them. His footsteps echoed loudly as he walked across the stone floor. When he sat gingerly on the edge of the chair the chains clinked threateningly, but did not bind him. Feeling rather sick, he looked up at the people seated at the bench above.
There were about fifty of them, all, as far as he could see, wearing plum-coloured robes with an elaborately worked silver ‘W’ on the left-hand side of the chest and all staring down their noses at him, some with very austere expressions, others looks of frank curiosity.
In the very middle of the front row sat Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic. Fudge was a portly man who often sported a lime-green bowler hat, though today he had dispensed with it; he had dispensed too with the indulgent smile he had once worn when he spoke to Harry. A broad, square-jawed witch with very short grey hair sat on Fudges left; she wore a monocle and looked forbidding. On Fudges right was another witch, but she was sitting so far back on the bench that her face was in shadow.
‘Very well,’ said Fudge. ‘The accused being present—finally—let us begin. Are you ready?’ he called down the row.
‘Yes, sir,’ said an eager voice Harry knew. Ron's brother Percy was sitting at the very end of the front bench. Harry looked at Percy, expecting some sign of recognition from him, but none came. Percy's eyes, behind his horn-rimmed glasses, were fixed on his parchment, a quill poised in his hand.
‘Disciplinary hearing of the twelfth of August,’ said Fudge in a ringing voice, and Percy began taking notes at once, ‘into offences committed under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Statute of Secrecy by Harry James Potter, resident at number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey.
‘Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley—’
‘—Witness for the defence, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore,’ said a quiet voice from behind Harry, who turned his head so fast he cricked his neck.
Dumbledore was striding serenely across the room wearing long midnight-blue robes and a perfectly calm expression. His long silver beard and hair gleamed in the torchlight as he drew level with Harry and looked up at Fudge through the half-moon spectacles that rested halfway down his very crooked nose.
The members of the Wizengamot were muttering. All eyes were now on Dumbledore. Some looked annoyed, others slightly frightened; two elderly witches in the back row, however, raised their hands and waved in welcome.
Anti-Muggle pranksters,’ said Mr. Weasley, frowning
Anti-Muggle pranksters,’ said Mr. Weasley, frowning. ‘We had two last week, one in Wimbledon, one in Elephant and Castle. Muggles are pulling the flush and instead of everything disappearing—well, you can imagine. The poor things keep calling in those—pumbles, I think they're called—you know, the ones who mend pipes and things.’
‘Plumbers?’
‘—exactly, yes, but of course they're flummoxed. I only hope we can catch whoever's doing it.’
‘Will it be Aurors who catch them?’
‘Oh no, this is too trivial for Aurors, it'll be the ordinary Magical Law Enforcement Patrol—ah, Harry, this is Perkins.’
A stooped, timid-looking old wizard with fluffy white hair had just entered the room, panting.
‘Oh, Arthur!’ he said desperately, without looking at Harry. ‘Thank goodness, I didn't know what to do for the best, whether to wait here for you or not. I've just sent an owl to your home but you've obviously missed it—an urgent message came ten minutes ago—’
‘I know about the regurgitating toilet,’ said Mr. Weasley.
‘No, no, it's not the toilet, it's the Potter boy's hearing—they've changed the time and venue—it starts at eight o'clock now and it's down in old Courtroom Ten—’
‘Down in old— but they told me—Merlin's beard—’
Mr. Weasley looked at his watch, let out a yelp and leapt from his chair.
‘Quick, Harry, we should have been there five minutes ago!’
Perkins flattened himself against the filing cabinets as Mr. Weasley left the office at a run, Harry close on his heels.
‘Why have they changed the time?’ Harry said breathlessly, as they hurtled past the Auror cubicles; people poked out their heads and stared as they streaked past. Harry felt as though he had left all his insides back at Perkins's desk.
‘I've no idea, but thank goodness we got here so early, if you'd missed it, it would have been catastrophic!’
Mr. Weasley skidded to a halt beside the lifts and jabbed impatiently at the ‘down’ button.
‘Come ON!’
The lift clattered into view and they hurried inside. Every time it stopped Mr. Weasley cursed furiously and pummelled the number nine button.
‘Those courtrooms haven't been used in years,’ said Mr. Weasley angrily. ‘I can't think why they're doing it down there—unless—but no...’
A plump witch carrying a smoking goblet entered the lift at that moment, and Mr. Weasley did not elaborate.
‘The Atrium,’ said the cool female voice and the golden grilles slid open, showing Harry a distant glimpse of the golden statues in the fountain. The plump witch got out and a sallow-skinned wizard with a very mournful face got in.
‘Morning, Arthur,’ he said in a sepulchral voice as the lift began to descend. ‘Don't often see you down here....’
‘Urgent business, Bode,’ said Mr. Weasley, who was bouncing on the balls of his feet and throwing anxious looks over at Harry.
‘Ah, yes,’ said Bode, surveying Harry unblinkingly. ‘Of course.’
Harry barely had emotion to spare for Bode, but his unfaltering gaze did not make him feel any more comfortable.
‘Department of Mysteries,’ said the cool female voice, and left it at that.
‘Quick, Harry,’ said Mr. Weasley as the lift doors rattled open, and they sped up a corridor that was quite different from those above. The walls were bare; there were no windows and no doors apart from a plain black one set at the very end of the corridor. Harry expected them to go through it, but instead Mr. Weasley seized him by the arm and dragged him to the left, where there was an opening leading to a flight of steps.
‘Down here, down here,’ panted Mr. Weasley, taking two steps at a time. ‘The lift doesn't even come down this far ... why they're doing it down there...’
They reached the bottom of the steps and ran along yet another corridor, which bore a great resemblance to the one that led to Snape's dungeon at Hogwarts, with rough stone walls and torches in brackets. The doors they passed here were heavy wooden ones with iron bolts and keyholes.
‘Courtroom ... ten ... I think ... we're nearly ... yes.’
Mr. Weasley stumbled to a halt outside a grimy dark door with an immense iron lock and slumped against the wall, clutching at a stitch in his chest.
‘Go on,’ he panted, pointing his thumb at the door. ‘Get in there.’
‘Aren't—aren't you coming with—?’
‘No, no, I'm not allowed. Good luck!’
Harry's heart was beating a violent tattoo against his Adam's apple. He swallowed hard, turned the heavy iron door handle and stepped inside the courtroom.
‘Plumbers?’
‘—exactly, yes, but of course they're flummoxed. I only hope we can catch whoever's doing it.’
‘Will it be Aurors who catch them?’
‘Oh no, this is too trivial for Aurors, it'll be the ordinary Magical Law Enforcement Patrol—ah, Harry, this is Perkins.’
A stooped, timid-looking old wizard with fluffy white hair had just entered the room, panting.
‘Oh, Arthur!’ he said desperately, without looking at Harry. ‘Thank goodness, I didn't know what to do for the best, whether to wait here for you or not. I've just sent an owl to your home but you've obviously missed it—an urgent message came ten minutes ago—’
‘I know about the regurgitating toilet,’ said Mr. Weasley.
‘No, no, it's not the toilet, it's the Potter boy's hearing—they've changed the time and venue—it starts at eight o'clock now and it's down in old Courtroom Ten—’
‘Down in old— but they told me—Merlin's beard—’
Mr. Weasley looked at his watch, let out a yelp and leapt from his chair.
‘Quick, Harry, we should have been there five minutes ago!’
Perkins flattened himself against the filing cabinets as Mr. Weasley left the office at a run, Harry close on his heels.
‘Why have they changed the time?’ Harry said breathlessly, as they hurtled past the Auror cubicles; people poked out their heads and stared as they streaked past. Harry felt as though he had left all his insides back at Perkins's desk.
‘I've no idea, but thank goodness we got here so early, if you'd missed it, it would have been catastrophic!’
Mr. Weasley skidded to a halt beside the lifts and jabbed impatiently at the ‘down’ button.
‘Come ON!’
The lift clattered into view and they hurried inside. Every time it stopped Mr. Weasley cursed furiously and pummelled the number nine button.
‘Those courtrooms haven't been used in years,’ said Mr. Weasley angrily. ‘I can't think why they're doing it down there—unless—but no...’
A plump witch carrying a smoking goblet entered the lift at that moment, and Mr. Weasley did not elaborate.
‘The Atrium,’ said the cool female voice and the golden grilles slid open, showing Harry a distant glimpse of the golden statues in the fountain. The plump witch got out and a sallow-skinned wizard with a very mournful face got in.
‘Morning, Arthur,’ he said in a sepulchral voice as the lift began to descend. ‘Don't often see you down here....’
‘Urgent business, Bode,’ said Mr. Weasley, who was bouncing on the balls of his feet and throwing anxious looks over at Harry.
‘Ah, yes,’ said Bode, surveying Harry unblinkingly. ‘Of course.’
Harry barely had emotion to spare for Bode, but his unfaltering gaze did not make him feel any more comfortable.
‘Department of Mysteries,’ said the cool female voice, and left it at that.
‘Quick, Harry,’ said Mr. Weasley as the lift doors rattled open, and they sped up a corridor that was quite different from those above. The walls were bare; there were no windows and no doors apart from a plain black one set at the very end of the corridor. Harry expected them to go through it, but instead Mr. Weasley seized him by the arm and dragged him to the left, where there was an opening leading to a flight of steps.
‘Down here, down here,’ panted Mr. Weasley, taking two steps at a time. ‘The lift doesn't even come down this far ... why they're doing it down there...’
They reached the bottom of the steps and ran along yet another corridor, which bore a great resemblance to the one that led to Snape's dungeon at Hogwarts, with rough stone walls and torches in brackets. The doors they passed here were heavy wooden ones with iron bolts and keyholes.
‘Courtroom ... ten ... I think ... we're nearly ... yes.’
Mr. Weasley stumbled to a halt outside a grimy dark door with an immense iron lock and slumped against the wall, clutching at a stitch in his chest.
‘Go on,’ he panted, pointing his thumb at the door. ‘Get in there.’
‘Aren't—aren't you coming with—?’
‘No, no, I'm not allowed. Good luck!’
Harry's heart was beating a violent tattoo against his Adam's apple. He swallowed hard, turned the heavy iron door handle and stepped inside the courtroom.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
‘You're not telling me you enjoyed it
?’ Ron said quietly, turning a glazed face towards Hermione. ‘That was about the dullest speech I've ever heard, and I grew up with Percy.’
‘I said illuminating, not enjoyable,’ said Hermione. ‘It explained a lot.’
‘Did it?’ said Harry in surprise. ‘Sounded like a load of waffle to me.’
There was some important stuff hidden in the waffle,’ said Hermione grimly.
‘Was there?’ said Ron blankly.
‘How about: “progress for progress's sake must be discouraged"? How about: “pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited"?’
‘Well, what does that mean?’ said Ron impatiently.
‘I'll tell you what it means,’ said Hermione through gritted teeth. ‘It means the Ministry's interfering at Hogwarts.’
There was a great clattering and banging all around them; Dumbledore had obviously just dismissed the school, because everyone was standing up ready to leave the Hall. Hermione jumped up, looking flustered.
‘Ron, we're supposed to show the first-years where to go!’
‘Oh yeah,’ said Ron, who had obviously forgotten. ‘Hey—hey, you lot! Midgets!’
‘Ron!’
‘Well, they are, they're titchy ...’
‘I know, but you can't call them midgets!—First-years!’ Hermione called commandingly along the table. ‘This way, please!’
A group of new students walked shyly up the gap between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables, all of them trying hard not to lead the group. They did indeed seem very small; Harry was sure he had not appeared that young
when he had arrived here. He grinned at them. A blond boy next to Euan Abercrombie looked petrified; he nudged Euan and whispered something in his ear. Euan Abercrombie looked equally frightened and stole a horrified
look at Harry, who felt the grin slide off his face like Stinksap.
‘See you later,’ he said dully to Ron and Hermione and he made his way out of the Great Hall alone, doing everything he could to ignore more whispering, staring and pointing as he passed. He kept his eyes fixed ahead as he
wove his way through the crowd in the Entrance Hall, then he hurried up the marble staircase, took a couple of concealed short cuts and had soon left most of the crowds behind.
He had been stupid not to expect this, he thought angrily as he walked through the much emptier upstairs corridors. Of course everyone was staring at him; he had emerged from the Triwizard maze two months previously
clutching the dead body of a fellow student and claiming to have seen Lord Voldemort return to power. There had not been time last term to explain himself before they'd all had to go home—even if he had felt up to giving the
whole school a detailed account of the terrible events in that graveyard.
Harry had reached the end of the corridor to the Gryffindor common room and come to a halt in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady before he realised that he did not know the new password.
‘Er ...’ he said glumly, staring up at the Fat Lady, who smoothed the folds of her pink satin dress and looked sternly back at him.
‘No password, no entrance,’ she said loftily.
‘Harry, I know it!’ Someone panted up behind him and he turned to see Neville jogging towards him. ‘Guess what it is? I'm actually going to be able to remember it for once— ’ He waved the stunted little cactus he had shown
them on the train. ‘Mimbuius mimbletonia!’
‘Correct,’ said the Fat Lady, and her portrait swung open towards them like a door, revealing a circular hole in the wall behind, through which Harry and Neville now climbed.
The Gryffindor common room looked as welcoming as ever, a cosy circular tower room full of dilapidated squashy armchairs and rickety old tables. A fire was crackling merrily in the grate and a few people were warming their
hands by it before going up to their dormitories; on the other side of the room Fred and George Weasley were pinning something up on the noticeboard. Harry waved goodnight to them and headed straight for the door to the
boys’ dormitories; he was not in much of a mood for talking at the moment. Neville followed him.
Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan had reached the dormitory first and were in the process of covering the walls beside their beds with posters and photographs. They had been talking as Harry pushed open the door but
stopped abruptly the moment they saw him. Harry wondered whether they had been talking about him, then whether he was being paranoid.
‘Hi,’ he said, moving across to his own trunk and opening it.
‘Hey, Harry,’ said Dean, who was putting on a pair of pyjamas in the West Ham colours. ‘Good holiday?’
‘Not bad,’ muttered Harry, as a true account of his holiday would have taken most of the night to relate and he could not face it. ‘You?’
‘Yeah, it was OK,’ chuckled Dean. ‘Better than Seamus's, anyway, he was just telling me.’
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‘I said illuminating, not enjoyable,’ said Hermione. ‘It explained a lot.’
‘Did it?’ said Harry in surprise. ‘Sounded like a load of waffle to me.’
There was some important stuff hidden in the waffle,’ said Hermione grimly.
‘Was there?’ said Ron blankly.
‘How about: “progress for progress's sake must be discouraged"? How about: “pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited"?’
‘Well, what does that mean?’ said Ron impatiently.
‘I'll tell you what it means,’ said Hermione through gritted teeth. ‘It means the Ministry's interfering at Hogwarts.’
There was a great clattering and banging all around them; Dumbledore had obviously just dismissed the school, because everyone was standing up ready to leave the Hall. Hermione jumped up, looking flustered.
‘Ron, we're supposed to show the first-years where to go!’
‘Oh yeah,’ said Ron, who had obviously forgotten. ‘Hey—hey, you lot! Midgets!’
‘Ron!’
‘Well, they are, they're titchy ...’
‘I know, but you can't call them midgets!—First-years!’ Hermione called commandingly along the table. ‘This way, please!’
A group of new students walked shyly up the gap between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables, all of them trying hard not to lead the group. They did indeed seem very small; Harry was sure he had not appeared that young
when he had arrived here. He grinned at them. A blond boy next to Euan Abercrombie looked petrified; he nudged Euan and whispered something in his ear. Euan Abercrombie looked equally frightened and stole a horrified
look at Harry, who felt the grin slide off his face like Stinksap.
‘See you later,’ he said dully to Ron and Hermione and he made his way out of the Great Hall alone, doing everything he could to ignore more whispering, staring and pointing as he passed. He kept his eyes fixed ahead as he
wove his way through the crowd in the Entrance Hall, then he hurried up the marble staircase, took a couple of concealed short cuts and had soon left most of the crowds behind.
He had been stupid not to expect this, he thought angrily as he walked through the much emptier upstairs corridors. Of course everyone was staring at him; he had emerged from the Triwizard maze two months previously
clutching the dead body of a fellow student and claiming to have seen Lord Voldemort return to power. There had not been time last term to explain himself before they'd all had to go home—even if he had felt up to giving the
whole school a detailed account of the terrible events in that graveyard.
Harry had reached the end of the corridor to the Gryffindor common room and come to a halt in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady before he realised that he did not know the new password.
‘Er ...’ he said glumly, staring up at the Fat Lady, who smoothed the folds of her pink satin dress and looked sternly back at him.
‘No password, no entrance,’ she said loftily.
‘Harry, I know it!’ Someone panted up behind him and he turned to see Neville jogging towards him. ‘Guess what it is? I'm actually going to be able to remember it for once— ’ He waved the stunted little cactus he had shown
them on the train. ‘Mimbuius mimbletonia!’
‘Correct,’ said the Fat Lady, and her portrait swung open towards them like a door, revealing a circular hole in the wall behind, through which Harry and Neville now climbed.
The Gryffindor common room looked as welcoming as ever, a cosy circular tower room full of dilapidated squashy armchairs and rickety old tables. A fire was crackling merrily in the grate and a few people were warming their
hands by it before going up to their dormitories; on the other side of the room Fred and George Weasley were pinning something up on the noticeboard. Harry waved goodnight to them and headed straight for the door to the
boys’ dormitories; he was not in much of a mood for talking at the moment. Neville followed him.
Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan had reached the dormitory first and were in the process of covering the walls beside their beds with posters and photographs. They had been talking as Harry pushed open the door but
stopped abruptly the moment they saw him. Harry wondered whether they had been talking about him, then whether he was being paranoid.
‘Hi,’ he said, moving across to his own trunk and opening it.
‘Hey, Harry,’ said Dean, who was putting on a pair of pyjamas in the West Ham colours. ‘Good holiday?’
‘Not bad,’ muttered Harry, as a true account of his holiday would have taken most of the night to relate and he could not face it. ‘You?’
‘Yeah, it was OK,’ chuckled Dean. ‘Better than Seamus's, anyway, he was just telling me.’
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Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Support the Employee Free Choice Act
Author：佚名 Source：none Hits：110 UpdateTime：2008-10-19 1:35:21
The Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800, S. 1041) would amend the National Labor Relations Act by allowing the certification of a union as the bargaining representative of a unit of employees if the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) finds that a majority of these employees signed authorization cards designating a particular union as their bargaining representative.
Under the current system, if 30% of potential members sign authorization cards designating a union as their bargaining representative, an NLRB supervised election would take place. Employers currently have the option of allowing their employees to choose a union based on the submission of authorization cards signed by a majority of employees. The Employee Free Choice Act would create a mandatory card check system.
In addition to establishing a card check system based on the submission of authorization cards by a majority of employees, the Employee Free Choice Act also establishes mediation and arbitration procedures in the event that there is a deadlock between the employer and the union in regard to the negotiation of a first contract.
It should be noted by labor union members and working people that the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act is one of the top priorities of organized labor. The adoption of this legislation will make it easier for working people to join labor unions by minimizing employer coercion and intimidation against employees who are involved in organizing drives or who simply want to join a union.
The current system is badly broken because it takes weeks or even months for the NLRB to organize elections. During that time, employers frequently use their power to lobby against unionization. It is not uncommon for employers to go beyond lobbying and resort to more coercive tactics i.e. predicting future plant closures should their employees unionize, or telling employees that they will be replaced should they unionize and go on strike. It has become increasingly common for employers to fire employees who are involved in organizing efforts. In fact, employees are fired in one quarter of private sector union organizing drives (source: AFL-CIO http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion).
Finally, the Employee Free Choice Act is necessary to reverse the decline in the standard of living of American workers. During the Bush years, wages have stagnated. Only 38% of Americans say that there families are getting ahead. Fewer than a quarter of American believe that the next generations standard of living will be better than todays standard of living. Six million fewer Americans have health insurance now than in in 1995 (source: Testimony of Nancy Schiffer, Associate General Counsel, AFL-CIO, before the Subcommittee of Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, U.S. House, February 8, 2007).
The value of collective bargaining can be clearly illustrated by the following statistics: union workers earn 30% more than non-union workers. Women who belong to unions earn 31% more than women who do not. African Americans who belong to unions earn 36% more than non-unionized African American workers. Finally, latinos who are unionized earn 46% more than those latino workers who do not belong to a union (source: Testimony of Nancy Schiffer, Associate General Counsel, AFL-CIO, before the Subcommittee of Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, U.S. House, February 8, 2007).
It is generally anticipated that the Democrats will gain seats in congress after this Novembers congressional elections. Hopefully, with solidly Democratic majorities in both houses of congress and the election of Barack Obama as president, the Employee Free Choice Act will be enacted into law after languishing in the Senate since it was filibustered by the Republicans on June 26, 2007 and the Democrats lacked the votes (60) to cut off debate.
Please vote for Barack Obama for president and for pro-Employee Free Choice Act Democratic candidates for congress. Once they take office, urge them to support the Employee Free Choice Act.
The Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800, S. 1041) would amend the National Labor Relations Act by allowing the certification of a union as the bargaining representative of a unit of employees if the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) finds that a majority of these employees signed authorization cards designating a particular union as their bargaining representative.
Under the current system, if 30% of potential members sign authorization cards designating a union as their bargaining representative, an NLRB supervised election would take place. Employers currently have the option of allowing their employees to choose a union based on the submission of authorization cards signed by a majority of employees. The Employee Free Choice Act would create a mandatory card check system.
In addition to establishing a card check system based on the submission of authorization cards by a majority of employees, the Employee Free Choice Act also establishes mediation and arbitration procedures in the event that there is a deadlock between the employer and the union in regard to the negotiation of a first contract.
It should be noted by labor union members and working people that the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act is one of the top priorities of organized labor. The adoption of this legislation will make it easier for working people to join labor unions by minimizing employer coercion and intimidation against employees who are involved in organizing drives or who simply want to join a union.
The current system is badly broken because it takes weeks or even months for the NLRB to organize elections. During that time, employers frequently use their power to lobby against unionization. It is not uncommon for employers to go beyond lobbying and resort to more coercive tactics i.e. predicting future plant closures should their employees unionize, or telling employees that they will be replaced should they unionize and go on strike. It has become increasingly common for employers to fire employees who are involved in organizing efforts. In fact, employees are fired in one quarter of private sector union organizing drives (source: AFL-CIO http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion).
Finally, the Employee Free Choice Act is necessary to reverse the decline in the standard of living of American workers. During the Bush years, wages have stagnated. Only 38% of Americans say that there families are getting ahead. Fewer than a quarter of American believe that the next generations standard of living will be better than todays standard of living. Six million fewer Americans have health insurance now than in in 1995 (source: Testimony of Nancy Schiffer, Associate General Counsel, AFL-CIO, before the Subcommittee of Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, U.S. House, February 8, 2007).
The value of collective bargaining can be clearly illustrated by the following statistics: union workers earn 30% more than non-union workers. Women who belong to unions earn 31% more than women who do not. African Americans who belong to unions earn 36% more than non-unionized African American workers. Finally, latinos who are unionized earn 46% more than those latino workers who do not belong to a union (source: Testimony of Nancy Schiffer, Associate General Counsel, AFL-CIO, before the Subcommittee of Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, U.S. House, February 8, 2007).
It is generally anticipated that the Democrats will gain seats in congress after this Novembers congressional elections. Hopefully, with solidly Democratic majorities in both houses of congress and the election of Barack Obama as president, the Employee Free Choice Act will be enacted into law after languishing in the Senate since it was filibustered by the Republicans on June 26, 2007 and the Democrats lacked the votes (60) to cut off debate.
Please vote for Barack Obama for president and for pro-Employee Free Choice Act Democratic candidates for congress. Once they take office, urge them to support the Employee Free Choice Act.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Some Bonsai Trees For Sale
Author：佚名 Source：none Hits：88 UpdateTime：2008-10-19 1:07:57
A Japanese art of growing miniature container-grown trees, bonsai actually originated from China and spread to Japan and Korea. Far from the common notion that the bonsai is a kind of genetically small tree, a bonsai tree
is actually a normal tree that is kept small by continued root pruning and regular repotting.
The art of Japanese Bonsai is centered on the principle that the tree must give a picture of "heaven and earth in one container." A good Bonsai should possess the three forces of truth, essence, and beauty. Therefore, the
goal is to make it look natural and must never show a touch of human intervention. It is because of this aesthetic sense found in bonsai that it became popular and very appealing. This is why it isn't surprising that growing
bonsai turned out to be a good business venture.
There are now more people buying and growing their bonsai trees. Aside from the fact it is a good hobby, it is also an interesting and unique piece of decoration for your family room, living room, and perhaps even for your
kitchen. Since there are a variety of bonsai plants available, you can choose the flowering type contained in an ornate ceramic pot. It will be a great looking home dcor or an office accent.
Bonsai can also be sold as gifts. People are now considering bonsai as a great gift idea. Because of the time and age aspect of bonsai, it is a sweet and romantic present especially for those celebrating their wedding
anniversaries or their birthdays. Finding a bonsai tree that equals the age of a marriage or any annually celebrated occasion is truly a unique and thoughtful way of commemorating an event.
Growing bonsai is a good hobby. According to some studies about horticultural therapy, it provides a therapeutic relief from known and idiosyncratic illnesses. Some people have testimonials saying that it helps their anxiety. It
is known to have a holistic medical effect of relieving pain and reducing stress. It is also found to relax the mood and sooth tense muscles while giving an overall sense of well-being, thereby improving self-esteem.
While others have their personal reasons for having a bonsai, a bonsai artist's primary fulfillment is to create a well-manicured and creatively molded bonsai tree. Some hobbyists are greatly interested in joining exhibits and
contests to showcase their best bonsai trees.
Obviously, there is a demand for these wonderful dwarfed trees. These are some of the reasons why growing and propagating bonsai trees to augment the thriving market of bonsai trees is a savvy endeavor.
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A Japanese art of growing miniature container-grown trees, bonsai actually originated from China and spread to Japan and Korea. Far from the common notion that the bonsai is a kind of genetically small tree, a bonsai tree
is actually a normal tree that is kept small by continued root pruning and regular repotting.
The art of Japanese Bonsai is centered on the principle that the tree must give a picture of "heaven and earth in one container." A good Bonsai should possess the three forces of truth, essence, and beauty. Therefore, the
goal is to make it look natural and must never show a touch of human intervention. It is because of this aesthetic sense found in bonsai that it became popular and very appealing. This is why it isn't surprising that growing
bonsai turned out to be a good business venture.
There are now more people buying and growing their bonsai trees. Aside from the fact it is a good hobby, it is also an interesting and unique piece of decoration for your family room, living room, and perhaps even for your
kitchen. Since there are a variety of bonsai plants available, you can choose the flowering type contained in an ornate ceramic pot. It will be a great looking home dcor or an office accent.
Bonsai can also be sold as gifts. People are now considering bonsai as a great gift idea. Because of the time and age aspect of bonsai, it is a sweet and romantic present especially for those celebrating their wedding
anniversaries or their birthdays. Finding a bonsai tree that equals the age of a marriage or any annually celebrated occasion is truly a unique and thoughtful way of commemorating an event.
Growing bonsai is a good hobby. According to some studies about horticultural therapy, it provides a therapeutic relief from known and idiosyncratic illnesses. Some people have testimonials saying that it helps their anxiety. It
is known to have a holistic medical effect of relieving pain and reducing stress. It is also found to relax the mood and sooth tense muscles while giving an overall sense of well-being, thereby improving self-esteem.
While others have their personal reasons for having a bonsai, a bonsai artist's primary fulfillment is to create a well-manicured and creatively molded bonsai tree. Some hobbyists are greatly interested in joining exhibits and
contests to showcase their best bonsai trees.
Obviously, there is a demand for these wonderful dwarfed trees. These are some of the reasons why growing and propagating bonsai trees to augment the thriving market of bonsai trees is a savvy endeavor.
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Monday, November 8, 2010
Parkinsons Disease Medicines - Drugs For Parkinsons Disease
Author：佚名 Source：none Hits：111 UpdateTime：2008-10-19 0:49:09
Drugs for Correcting Deficiency of Dopamine
Levodopa (Lardopa)
Levodopa is the drug of first preference in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. It is a precursor of dopamine, a neurochemical, which is deficient In the brain of patients of this disase. Levodopa travels easily to the brain and gets converted into dopamine. This drug provides 50% relief in more than half the patients. There is significant improvement in muscle rigidity and akinesia but not necessarily in tremors.
Dosage: The average oral dose of levodopa is 4 g per day. It is usually started in a smaller dose of 250 mg twice daily, which is increased by 250 to 500 mg every week. It has been found that relief sets in 4 to 8 weeks when the daily dose has reached 2 to 2.5 g. These increases in the dose are continued till the maximum benefit is achieved or adverse effects appear. Once the adequate dose is found, it can be taken for several years without losing its value.
Adverse Effects: During prolonged treatment with levodopa, a distressing complication of ' onoff phenomenon' may occur, in which a person who has been showing continued improvement by taking this drug, suddenly starts behaving as though no drug is being given to him. This period ranges from an hour to half a day. The adverse effects of levodopa are common and include nausea, vomiting, orthostatic hypotension (a fall in blood pressure on sudden standing from a lying-down position), choreoathetoid movements (lip smacking, grimacing, head turning or abnormal involuntary movements of the upper or lower limbs), and occasionally toxic delirium, confusion, depression, restlessness, agitation, and hallucinations.
It is thought that the appearance of choreoathetoid movements is an indication of the maximum does that can be tolerated by a patient, but when this happens, the chances of the occurrence of an 'on-off phenomenon' also increase. It is, therefore, quite important to keep the doses as low as possible to avoid the occurrence of the adverse effects of choreoathetoid movements.
Precautions
The drug should not be taken on an empty stomach.
Patients who show a pronounced decrease in blood pressure on standing up from a lying down position should be protected from the possibility of fainting. They should be made to wear tight long socks and occasionally given small amounts of ephedrine.
The does should be reduced as soon as there appearance of choreoathetoid movements.
These agents should be used cautiously in patients suffering from liver or kidney disease.
The dose should be reduced if psychological symptoms persist.
Vitamin B6 reverses the effects of levodopa. Avoid use of B complex preparations which invariably contain Vitamin B6.
Anti-psychotic drugs may make levodopa ineffective, if administered simultaneously.
Drugs for Correcting Deficiency of Dopamine
Levodopa (Lardopa)
Levodopa is the drug of first preference in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. It is a precursor of dopamine, a neurochemical, which is deficient In the brain of patients of this disase. Levodopa travels easily to the brain and gets converted into dopamine. This drug provides 50% relief in more than half the patients. There is significant improvement in muscle rigidity and akinesia but not necessarily in tremors.
Dosage: The average oral dose of levodopa is 4 g per day. It is usually started in a smaller dose of 250 mg twice daily, which is increased by 250 to 500 mg every week. It has been found that relief sets in 4 to 8 weeks when the daily dose has reached 2 to 2.5 g. These increases in the dose are continued till the maximum benefit is achieved or adverse effects appear. Once the adequate dose is found, it can be taken for several years without losing its value.
Adverse Effects: During prolonged treatment with levodopa, a distressing complication of ' onoff phenomenon' may occur, in which a person who has been showing continued improvement by taking this drug, suddenly starts behaving as though no drug is being given to him. This period ranges from an hour to half a day. The adverse effects of levodopa are common and include nausea, vomiting, orthostatic hypotension (a fall in blood pressure on sudden standing from a lying-down position), choreoathetoid movements (lip smacking, grimacing, head turning or abnormal involuntary movements of the upper or lower limbs), and occasionally toxic delirium, confusion, depression, restlessness, agitation, and hallucinations.
It is thought that the appearance of choreoathetoid movements is an indication of the maximum does that can be tolerated by a patient, but when this happens, the chances of the occurrence of an 'on-off phenomenon' also increase. It is, therefore, quite important to keep the doses as low as possible to avoid the occurrence of the adverse effects of choreoathetoid movements.
Precautions
The drug should not be taken on an empty stomach.
Patients who show a pronounced decrease in blood pressure on standing up from a lying down position should be protected from the possibility of fainting. They should be made to wear tight long socks and occasionally given small amounts of ephedrine.
The does should be reduced as soon as there appearance of choreoathetoid movements.
These agents should be used cautiously in patients suffering from liver or kidney disease.
The dose should be reduced if psychological symptoms persist.
Vitamin B6 reverses the effects of levodopa. Avoid use of B complex preparations which invariably contain Vitamin B6.
Anti-psychotic drugs may make levodopa ineffective, if administered simultaneously.
OxyContin Addiction Is Creating Heroin Addicts
Author：佚名 Source：none Hits：146 UpdateTime：2008-10-19 0:49:11
In the last year or two, Ohio has seen a significant increase in heroin addiction and the deaths, crime, illness and ruined lives that go with it. Why the sudden problem? Some experts feel its largely due to prescription drug addiction and abuse, especially OxyContin addiction and addiction to other opiate painkillers.
The OxyContin addiction problem started years ago in Ohio and other Appalachian areas as well as across America - when Purdue Pharma let loose with their new, safer painkiller. According to Purdue, it was less addictive, less likely to be abused, and less likely to cause withdrawal symptoms than other opiate drugs.
Doctors and patients alike, duped by the claims, made a beeline for OxyContin only to find out years later - after addiction and abuse had become rampant, after many people had died, after thousands who were unable to endure the pain of withdrawal found they couldnt get off the drug - that Purdue had lied. In 2007, Purdue pled guilty to felony charges and was fined $634 million.
Years after the carnage began, with Purdue still thriving after paying a fine that was less than the profit they made on the drug, OxyContin addiction continues to rage like an angry bull through America. But, now, its harder to get. Doctors, knowing the truth, are less inclined to prescribe it and the drug is being stolen by health care employees, pharmacies are being robbed, addicts (and dealers who intend to sell the drug to others) are going from doctor to doctor feigning illness so they can get multiple prescriptions, and the price of OxyContin on the street has skyrocketed.
Whats the alternative? Heroin. Its cheaper, its easier to get, and the horror stories are starting to fill the news. College students found dead in bathtubs, a 67-year-old woman dealing narcotics, a homeless woman dumping her stillborn baby in the trash for fear of prosecution when its found out she was using heroin while pregnant.
Our prison population has swelled with OxyContin and heroin-related crime, and thousands of lives have been ruined.
If we caught the 9/11 terrorists, would we accept $634 million as restitution? Would we fail to incarcerate them? Would we allow them to continue to operate as a cohesive group so they could go about their business? Would we allow them to continue selling and profiting from the same wares that ruined the lives of so many?
Not likely. But OxyContin addiction continues to rage, Purdue continues to profit, and now heroin addiction is added to the mix.
We spend billions fighting the war on terrorism but still support the continued operation of terrorists on our own soil. We accept their taxes, their bribes, their political contributions, and their votes, and treat them like upstanding Americans with our best interests at heart. Whats wrong with this picture?
If you or someone you care about already has a problem with OxyContin addiction or abuse, get them into a drug addiction treatment center for OxyContin rehab as soon as possible. OxyContin addiction is bad enough, but we now have even more proof that it can lead to heroin addiction. Which is uglier, still.
In the last year or two, Ohio has seen a significant increase in heroin addiction and the deaths, crime, illness and ruined lives that go with it. Why the sudden problem? Some experts feel its largely due to prescription drug addiction and abuse, especially OxyContin addiction and addiction to other opiate painkillers.
The OxyContin addiction problem started years ago in Ohio and other Appalachian areas as well as across America - when Purdue Pharma let loose with their new, safer painkiller. According to Purdue, it was less addictive, less likely to be abused, and less likely to cause withdrawal symptoms than other opiate drugs.
Doctors and patients alike, duped by the claims, made a beeline for OxyContin only to find out years later - after addiction and abuse had become rampant, after many people had died, after thousands who were unable to endure the pain of withdrawal found they couldnt get off the drug - that Purdue had lied. In 2007, Purdue pled guilty to felony charges and was fined $634 million.
Years after the carnage began, with Purdue still thriving after paying a fine that was less than the profit they made on the drug, OxyContin addiction continues to rage like an angry bull through America. But, now, its harder to get. Doctors, knowing the truth, are less inclined to prescribe it and the drug is being stolen by health care employees, pharmacies are being robbed, addicts (and dealers who intend to sell the drug to others) are going from doctor to doctor feigning illness so they can get multiple prescriptions, and the price of OxyContin on the street has skyrocketed.
Whats the alternative? Heroin. Its cheaper, its easier to get, and the horror stories are starting to fill the news. College students found dead in bathtubs, a 67-year-old woman dealing narcotics, a homeless woman dumping her stillborn baby in the trash for fear of prosecution when its found out she was using heroin while pregnant.
Our prison population has swelled with OxyContin and heroin-related crime, and thousands of lives have been ruined.
If we caught the 9/11 terrorists, would we accept $634 million as restitution? Would we fail to incarcerate them? Would we allow them to continue to operate as a cohesive group so they could go about their business? Would we allow them to continue selling and profiting from the same wares that ruined the lives of so many?
Not likely. But OxyContin addiction continues to rage, Purdue continues to profit, and now heroin addiction is added to the mix.
We spend billions fighting the war on terrorism but still support the continued operation of terrorists on our own soil. We accept their taxes, their bribes, their political contributions, and their votes, and treat them like upstanding Americans with our best interests at heart. Whats wrong with this picture?
If you or someone you care about already has a problem with OxyContin addiction or abuse, get them into a drug addiction treatment center for OxyContin rehab as soon as possible. OxyContin addiction is bad enough, but we now have even more proof that it can lead to heroin addiction. Which is uglier, still.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Online Home Mortgage Loan - Pros and Cons You Should Know
Author：佚名 Source：none Hits：47 UpdateTime：2008-10-18 23:50:21
Home mortgage loans can be obtained from brick and mortar lending companies. As long as such lenders are established and recognized in their field, there surely will be no problem getting a home mortgage loan from them.
Are you considering getting for yourself a home mortgage loan via the internet? Would you rather find a loan online than go to a brick and mortar mortgage loan company to do the loan application personally? Before you tap on those computer keys, here are some advantages and disadvantages of getting your home mortgage loan online.
Advantages of online home mortgage loan
First of all, if you are going to use the internet in your search and acquisition of home mortgage loan, you will be surprised to find the process not only easy but very convenient. The online process is much more simplified, unlike if you are going to meet personally with some lenders who are more likely to ask for so many information.
Online home mortgage loan companies are numerous, and so they tend to compete fiercely against one another just to get you as a client. Therefore, they offer a great variety of programs as well as numerous benefits such as flexible payment terms and low interest rates.
The corresponding cost and fees that go with the application of online mortgage loans is much cheaper than that of the mortgages taken offline.
Online mortgage loan companies are more likely to be lenient to those borrowers who have bad or even non-existent credit history. Mortgage loan companies on the internet tend to offer prospective borrowers more mortgage loan alternatives especially to those with bad credit rating and having difficulty getting loans elsewhere.
One great advantage of applying for home mortgage loan online is that you immediately know if your online application is approved. This only means that you get to enjoy your loan immediately if you earn approval. On the other hand, knowing quickly if your application is disapproved means you can immediately make a move and apply with other online lenders.
Disadvantage of online home mortgage loan
One complaint about online home mortgage loans is that there are some online lenders who ask for application and other fees even when the application has yet to become approved. This rarely happens, if at all, in the real world.
There is also the problem of accountability; as the borrower, you need to be on top of the situation which can be difficult especially of you dont have a clear idea of things. And if in case, things do go wrong, like your online loan lender does not come through, its difficult to find compensation for whatever damage or problem it might have cause you. Actually, there is no specific group that you can turn to and complain when having online loan problems.
Not all online loan lenders are represented in all the US states, and so before you apply for an online home mortgage loan, be sure the state that you are in have their representative.
Home mortgage loans can be obtained from brick and mortar lending companies. As long as such lenders are established and recognized in their field, there surely will be no problem getting a home mortgage loan from them.
Are you considering getting for yourself a home mortgage loan via the internet? Would you rather find a loan online than go to a brick and mortar mortgage loan company to do the loan application personally? Before you tap on those computer keys, here are some advantages and disadvantages of getting your home mortgage loan online.
Advantages of online home mortgage loan
First of all, if you are going to use the internet in your search and acquisition of home mortgage loan, you will be surprised to find the process not only easy but very convenient. The online process is much more simplified, unlike if you are going to meet personally with some lenders who are more likely to ask for so many information.
Online home mortgage loan companies are numerous, and so they tend to compete fiercely against one another just to get you as a client. Therefore, they offer a great variety of programs as well as numerous benefits such as flexible payment terms and low interest rates.
The corresponding cost and fees that go with the application of online mortgage loans is much cheaper than that of the mortgages taken offline.
Online mortgage loan companies are more likely to be lenient to those borrowers who have bad or even non-existent credit history. Mortgage loan companies on the internet tend to offer prospective borrowers more mortgage loan alternatives especially to those with bad credit rating and having difficulty getting loans elsewhere.
One great advantage of applying for home mortgage loan online is that you immediately know if your online application is approved. This only means that you get to enjoy your loan immediately if you earn approval. On the other hand, knowing quickly if your application is disapproved means you can immediately make a move and apply with other online lenders.
Disadvantage of online home mortgage loan
One complaint about online home mortgage loans is that there are some online lenders who ask for application and other fees even when the application has yet to become approved. This rarely happens, if at all, in the real world.
There is also the problem of accountability; as the borrower, you need to be on top of the situation which can be difficult especially of you dont have a clear idea of things. And if in case, things do go wrong, like your online loan lender does not come through, its difficult to find compensation for whatever damage or problem it might have cause you. Actually, there is no specific group that you can turn to and complain when having online loan problems.
Not all online loan lenders are represented in all the US states, and so before you apply for an online home mortgage loan, be sure the state that you are in have their representative.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
5 Easy and Sexy Makeover Ideas for New Moms
Author：佚名 Source：none Hits：47 UpdateTime：2008-10-18 23:32:11
With the arrival of your new baby, you probably feel like your world took on a different spin. Demanding feeding times and countless sleepless nights leave you tired and hardly interested in the way you look. But being a new mom doesnt have to leave you looking ugly and feeling low. With just a few tricks here and there, looking and feeling good can be within your reach.
Giving yourself a minor makeover is a lot easier than you think it is. The following are simple tips that produce visible results, all of which are guaranteed to make your loved ones notice you.
Makeover Tip 1. Put on your best smile. A well-dressed woman is never complete without a smile. A smile is your best fashion accessory and ultimate feel-good remedy. Smiling, as well as laughing, is said to aid in the improvement of health. While laughter reduces tension in the body, smiling releases endorphins that produce feelings of euphoria in your body. Whenever you feel a frown beginning to form on your face, hold that thought and tell yourself to smile instead.
Makeover Tip 2. Ditch the baggy and loose clothes. While you should be comfortable in what you wear, that doesnt mean putting on shapeless outfits that do nothing to flatter your womanly figure. Your loose maternity clothes were appropriate at the time you were pregnant. After childbirth, the maternity outfits should be stashed in your storage. Other instant styling tips include: a. The use of color. Feel bright and beautiful with a bold and eye-catching colored knit top that skims your upper body. If you are feeling less confident about your post-baby weight, then solid colors like black, navy or charcoal are safe bets. b. A v-neck line. Celebrities and fashion stylists swear by this simple design. A v-neck line works wonders by making you look ten pounds less. c. An a-line skirt. Skirts are feminine. One in an a-line cut hides thighs and creates the illusion of an hour-glass figure. d. Sexy lingerie. Wearing sexy underwear is a powerful way to make you feel sexy all over again.
Makeover Tip 3. Start a beauty routine. As your body restores its normal hormonal balance, you will notice a gradual improvement in your skin. Getting into a good skin care routine at this time will go a long way in producing noticeable results on your face. a. Cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize. A simple but highly effective routine involves three essential products for cleaning, exfoliating and re-hydrating your skin. Exfoliation is important for sloughing off dead skin cells to reveal younger looking skin. Products that are labeled as facial scrubs help exfoliate the skin. Moisturizers restore skins moisture that cleansing and exfoliating may have stripped away. b. Enhance your features with correct makeup. A rule of thumb in makeup application is "less is more." Use a skin concealer or light foundation only where needed to even out your skin tone. Bring out your beautiful eyes by dotting your upper and lower lids with dark brown eyeliner. If youre not a fan of makeup, at least put on some lipstick for instant color on your face. A light colored gloss is both sexy and refreshing. Use one in a shade that flatters your skin tone.
With the arrival of your new baby, you probably feel like your world took on a different spin. Demanding feeding times and countless sleepless nights leave you tired and hardly interested in the way you look. But being a new mom doesnt have to leave you looking ugly and feeling low. With just a few tricks here and there, looking and feeling good can be within your reach.
Giving yourself a minor makeover is a lot easier than you think it is. The following are simple tips that produce visible results, all of which are guaranteed to make your loved ones notice you.
Makeover Tip 1. Put on your best smile. A well-dressed woman is never complete without a smile. A smile is your best fashion accessory and ultimate feel-good remedy. Smiling, as well as laughing, is said to aid in the improvement of health. While laughter reduces tension in the body, smiling releases endorphins that produce feelings of euphoria in your body. Whenever you feel a frown beginning to form on your face, hold that thought and tell yourself to smile instead.
Makeover Tip 2. Ditch the baggy and loose clothes. While you should be comfortable in what you wear, that doesnt mean putting on shapeless outfits that do nothing to flatter your womanly figure. Your loose maternity clothes were appropriate at the time you were pregnant. After childbirth, the maternity outfits should be stashed in your storage. Other instant styling tips include: a. The use of color. Feel bright and beautiful with a bold and eye-catching colored knit top that skims your upper body. If you are feeling less confident about your post-baby weight, then solid colors like black, navy or charcoal are safe bets. b. A v-neck line. Celebrities and fashion stylists swear by this simple design. A v-neck line works wonders by making you look ten pounds less. c. An a-line skirt. Skirts are feminine. One in an a-line cut hides thighs and creates the illusion of an hour-glass figure. d. Sexy lingerie. Wearing sexy underwear is a powerful way to make you feel sexy all over again.
Makeover Tip 3. Start a beauty routine. As your body restores its normal hormonal balance, you will notice a gradual improvement in your skin. Getting into a good skin care routine at this time will go a long way in producing noticeable results on your face. a. Cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize. A simple but highly effective routine involves three essential products for cleaning, exfoliating and re-hydrating your skin. Exfoliation is important for sloughing off dead skin cells to reveal younger looking skin. Products that are labeled as facial scrubs help exfoliate the skin. Moisturizers restore skins moisture that cleansing and exfoliating may have stripped away. b. Enhance your features with correct makeup. A rule of thumb in makeup application is "less is more." Use a skin concealer or light foundation only where needed to even out your skin tone. Bring out your beautiful eyes by dotting your upper and lower lids with dark brown eyeliner. If youre not a fan of makeup, at least put on some lipstick for instant color on your face. A light colored gloss is both sexy and refreshing. Use one in a shade that flatters your skin tone.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Why Me? I Didnt Want This Divorce
Divorce is literally Death. It is. It is the death of a marriage. It may sound harsh, but it's true. When you are served with divorce papers, when you find out he cheated, when he says he doesn't love you anymore, it all starts
here. The dying begins. But it's okay, because on the other side of pain is joy, but to get to the joy you must go through a little pain. Well, okay, a lot. To really cleanse yourself of the pain you have to go through the grief, just
like when a loved one dies, and there are stages of grief. The good news is that everyone goes through these stages at a different rate. You could skip right along through one stage and then linger in the next. So here they
are.
STAGE 1: DENIAL This is where you start. "This can't be happening to me." "I thought I did everything right. Sure things weren't perfect, but what marriage is?" Sound familiar. Everyone goes through this stage. You may even
have had an inkling that your partner wasn't happy, but none the less, it still hits you like a freight train! They want out, and there is nothing you can do about it! So you deny the truth. You deny that it's real.
STAGE 2: ANGER There still isn't any acceptance. This might be happening to me, but I still don't think it's fair! I don't deserve this! You are furious! How could he? How could she? He said he would love you forever! But she
doesn't love you any more! How could God let this happen? You want to get even. You want to hurt him back.
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STAGE 3: BARGAINING You are willing to settle for something that you would never settle for before. The anger fades and the bargaining begins. "Please just stay another night." "Let's try one more time." "We can get
through this." But there isn't any getting through it this time.
STAGE 4: DEPRESSION The bargaining didn't work. She might not be staying and you really don't even want her to at this point, but you still don't really know what it is you do want. It's over and so is the life I thought I had.
Why even get up in the morning? The sadness feels overwhelming, but be strong. There is always hope.
STAGE 5: ACCEPTANCE Yes! You are here! The sun is still rising every morning! Your kids are okay. You are okay. You can look at yourself and say: "He left. He doesn't want me, and I AM OKAY!" It still hurts. It still makes
you mad, but you will make it. We're coming to the end of the pain. Here comes the joy!
These stages are briefly exemplified, but they give you a good overall glimpse at what you may be going through. Your divorce, the death of your marriage, isn't pretty but you will survive. Getting to acceptance is the goal and
you will make it! Your marriage is done. You thought you wouldn't survive it. You are surviving. You are thriving. The marriage between you might be dead, but you are not. You are living.
here. The dying begins. But it's okay, because on the other side of pain is joy, but to get to the joy you must go through a little pain. Well, okay, a lot. To really cleanse yourself of the pain you have to go through the grief, just
like when a loved one dies, and there are stages of grief. The good news is that everyone goes through these stages at a different rate. You could skip right along through one stage and then linger in the next. So here they
are.
STAGE 1: DENIAL This is where you start. "This can't be happening to me." "I thought I did everything right. Sure things weren't perfect, but what marriage is?" Sound familiar. Everyone goes through this stage. You may even
have had an inkling that your partner wasn't happy, but none the less, it still hits you like a freight train! They want out, and there is nothing you can do about it! So you deny the truth. You deny that it's real.
STAGE 2: ANGER There still isn't any acceptance. This might be happening to me, but I still don't think it's fair! I don't deserve this! You are furious! How could he? How could she? He said he would love you forever! But she
doesn't love you any more! How could God let this happen? You want to get even. You want to hurt him back.
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chanel 2.55
STAGE 3: BARGAINING You are willing to settle for something that you would never settle for before. The anger fades and the bargaining begins. "Please just stay another night." "Let's try one more time." "We can get
through this." But there isn't any getting through it this time.
STAGE 4: DEPRESSION The bargaining didn't work. She might not be staying and you really don't even want her to at this point, but you still don't really know what it is you do want. It's over and so is the life I thought I had.
Why even get up in the morning? The sadness feels overwhelming, but be strong. There is always hope.
STAGE 5: ACCEPTANCE Yes! You are here! The sun is still rising every morning! Your kids are okay. You are okay. You can look at yourself and say: "He left. He doesn't want me, and I AM OKAY!" It still hurts. It still makes
you mad, but you will make it. We're coming to the end of the pain. Here comes the joy!
These stages are briefly exemplified, but they give you a good overall glimpse at what you may be going through. Your divorce, the death of your marriage, isn't pretty but you will survive. Getting to acceptance is the goal and
you will make it! Your marriage is done. You thought you wouldn't survive it. You are surviving. You are thriving. The marriage between you might be dead, but you are not. You are living.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Cyber headaches made easy!
Most of us are not as literate as we would like to be when it comes to computers, running our systems smoothly without any handicaps of any sort is like a dream come true for us. The reality is that half the time we may have
to deal with one software problem or a hardware mishap, with the end result that we would be left gawking at our system with an oh my god look on our faces. Sure, we can hire a professional programmer to do the job for us
provided we are happy to pay the hundreds of Dollars he or she is sure to charge us for this simple makeover. And what about the regular maintenance work? Are we supposed to fork over the hundreds on a monthly basis? I
was left wondering about ways on how to fix the system without the high price tag, at least until the e-book Computer Secrets Unleashed by Rich Pryor hit the markets.
Remember books like computers for dummies, well this is more or less of the same, a very easy-to-follow guide on how to run your system smoothly. Maintaining your own system is not a joke as you will have to deal with
issues like registry problems to handling viruses not the kind that gives you a cold. So if you are not all that knowledgeable about computers, you will need a handy guide to help you point the way or a professional to do the
work for you, if you can afford the high price tag. The Computer Secrets Unleashed by Rich Pryor, sure provides all the help that you would ever require when it comes to maintaining your own system. From showing you how
to go about purchasing the right PC to helping you backup important files, it covers all the important topics in depth. Now, I have to say that most of the other self-help books on computers are a bit difficult to understand but
not this one. The Computer Secrets Unleashed shows you the way by which you can effectively protect your system from malicious programs like Trojans and viruses, in a language that is easy to understand.
The Computer Secrets Unleashed comes in two parts with the first one dealing with your system as a whole and how to go about setting it up. From auto- backups to firewalls, it has everything to do with how you can operate
your single system without a hitch. There is a second part to this e-book as well, this one deals more or less with networks and on how to share files in a network and internet access.
By and large, Computer Secrets Unleashed is a useful guide, which is sure to provide the many cyber-illiterates out there with some relief. Both the parts are attractively priced with each costing $12.95. If you are looking for
an easy guide to help you run your system, then this book should fit the bill to the T.
to deal with one software problem or a hardware mishap, with the end result that we would be left gawking at our system with an oh my god look on our faces. Sure, we can hire a professional programmer to do the job for us
provided we are happy to pay the hundreds of Dollars he or she is sure to charge us for this simple makeover. And what about the regular maintenance work? Are we supposed to fork over the hundreds on a monthly basis? I
was left wondering about ways on how to fix the system without the high price tag, at least until the e-book Computer Secrets Unleashed by Rich Pryor hit the markets.
Remember books like computers for dummies, well this is more or less of the same, a very easy-to-follow guide on how to run your system smoothly. Maintaining your own system is not a joke as you will have to deal with
issues like registry problems to handling viruses not the kind that gives you a cold. So if you are not all that knowledgeable about computers, you will need a handy guide to help you point the way or a professional to do the
work for you, if you can afford the high price tag. The Computer Secrets Unleashed by Rich Pryor, sure provides all the help that you would ever require when it comes to maintaining your own system. From showing you how
to go about purchasing the right PC to helping you backup important files, it covers all the important topics in depth. Now, I have to say that most of the other self-help books on computers are a bit difficult to understand but
not this one. The Computer Secrets Unleashed shows you the way by which you can effectively protect your system from malicious programs like Trojans and viruses, in a language that is easy to understand.
The Computer Secrets Unleashed comes in two parts with the first one dealing with your system as a whole and how to go about setting it up. From auto- backups to firewalls, it has everything to do with how you can operate
your single system without a hitch. There is a second part to this e-book as well, this one deals more or less with networks and on how to share files in a network and internet access.
By and large, Computer Secrets Unleashed is a useful guide, which is sure to provide the many cyber-illiterates out there with some relief. Both the parts are attractively priced with each costing $12.95. If you are looking for
an easy guide to help you run your system, then this book should fit the bill to the T.
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