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There was some scattered； rather unenthusiastic applause。 Only those who had been in the partment on the train with Professor Lupin clapped hard； Harry among them。 Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes。
〃Look at Snape！〃 Ron hissed in Harry's ear。
Professor Snape； the Potions master； was staring along the staff table at Professor Lupin。 It was mon knowledge that Snape ；anted the Defense Against the Dark Arts job； but even Harry； who hated Snape； was startled at the expression twisting his thin； sallow face。 it was beyond anger： it was loathing。 Harry knew that expression only too well； it was the look Snape wore every time he set eyes on Harry。
〃As to our second new appointment；〃 Dumbledore continued as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away。 〃Well； I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn； our Care of Magical Creatures teacher； retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs。 However； I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid； who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties。〃
Harry； Ron； and Hermione stared at one another； stunned。 Then they joined in with the applause； which was tumultuous at the Gryffindor table in particular。 Harry leaned forward to see Hagrid； who was ruby…red in the face and staring down at his enormous hands； his wide grin hidden in the tangle of his black beard。
〃We should've known！〃 Ron roared； pounding the table。 〃Who else would have assigned us a biting book？〃
Harry； Ron； and Hermione were the last to stop clapping； and as Professor Dumbledore started speaking again； they saw that Hagrid was wiping his eyes on the tablecloth。
〃Well； I think that's everything of importance；〃 said Dumbledore。 〃Let the feast begin！〃
The golden plates and goblets before them filled suddenly with food and drink。 Harry； suddenly ravenous； helped himself to everything he could reach and began to eat。
It was a delicious feast； the hall echoed with talk； laughter； and the clatter of knives and forks。 Harry； Ron； and Hermione； however； were eager for it to finish so that they could talk to Hagrid。 They knew how much being made a teacher would mean to him。 Hagrid wasn't a fully qualified wizard； he had been expelled from Hogwarts in his third year for a crime he had not mitted。 It had been Harry； Ron； and Hermione who had cleared Hagrid's name last year。
At long last； when the last morsels of pumpkin tart had melted from the golden platters； Dumbledore gave the word that it was time for them all to go to bed； and they got their chance。
〃Congratulations； Hagrid！〃 Hermione squealed as they reached the teachers' table。
〃All down ter you three；〃 said Hagrid； wiping his shining face on his napkin as he looked up at them。； 〃Can' believe it。。。 great man； Dumbledore。。。 came straight down to me hut after Professor Kettleburn said he'd had enough。。。。 It's what I always wanted。 〃
Overe with emotion； he buried his face in his napkin； and Professor McGonagall shooed them away。
Harry； Ron； and Hermione joined the Gryffindors streaming up the marble staircase and； very tired now； along more corridors； UP more and more stairs； to the hidden entrance to Gryffindor Tower's large portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress asked them； 〃Password？〃
〃ing through； ing through！〃 Percy called from behind the crowd。 〃The new password's 'Fortuna Major'！〃
〃Oh no；〃 said Neville Longbottom sadly。 He always had trouble remembering the passwords。
Through the portrait hole and across the mon room； the girls and boys divided toward their separate staircases。 Harry climbed the spiral stair with no thought in his head except how glad he was to be back。 They reached their familiar； circular dormitory with its five four…poster beds； and Harry； looking around； felt he was home at last。
CHAPTER SIX
TALONS AND TEA LEAVES
When Harry； Ron； and Hermione entered the Great Hall for breakfast the next day； the first thing they saw was Draco Malfoy； who seemed to be entertaining a large group of Slytherins with a very funny story。 As they passed； Malfoy did a ridiculous impression of a swooning fit and there was a roar of laughter。
〃Ignore him；〃 said Hermione； who was right behind Harry。 〃Just ignore him； it's not worth it。。。。〃
〃Hey； Potter！〃 shrieked Pansy Parkinson； a Slytherin girl with a face like a pug。 〃Potter！ The dementors are ing； Potter！ Woooooooooo！〃
Harry dropped into a seat at the Gryffindor table； next to George Weasley。
〃New third…year course schedules；〃 said George； passing then； over。 〃What's up with you； Harry？〃
〃Malfoy；〃 said Ron； sitting down on George's other side and glaring over at the Slytherin table。
George looked up in time to see Malfoy pretending to faint with terror again。
〃That little git；〃 he said calmly。 〃He wasn't so cocky last night when the dementors were down at our end of the train。 Came runing into our partment； didn't he； Fred？〃
〃Nearly wet himself；〃 said Fred； with a contemptuous glance at Malfoy。
〃I wasn't too happy myself；〃 said George。 〃They're horrible things； those dementors。。。。〃
〃Sort of freeze your insides； don't they？〃 said Fred。
〃You didn't pass out； though； did you？〃 said Harry in a low voice。
〃Forget it； Harry；〃 said George bracingly。 〃Dad had to go out to Azkaban one time； remember； Fred？ And he said it was the worst place he'd ever been； he came back all weak and shaking。。。。 They suck the happiness out of a place； dementors。 Most of the prisoners go mad in there。〃
〃Anyway； we'll see how happy Malfoy looks after our first Quidditch match；〃 said Fred。 〃Gryffindor versus Slytherin； first game of the season； remember？〃
The only time Harry and Malfoy had faced each other in a Quidditch match； Malfoy had definitely e off worse。 Feeling slightly more cheerful； Harry helped himself to sausages and fried tomatoes。
Hermione was examining her new schedule。
〃 Ooh； good； we're starting some new subjects today；〃 she said happily。 villains are these； that trespass upon my private lands！ e I。 scorn at my fall； perchance？ Draw； you knaves； you dogs！〃
They watched in astonishment as the little knight tugged his sword out of its scabbard and began brandishing it violently； hopping up and down in rage。 But the sword was too long for him； a particularly wild swing made him overbalance； and he landed facedown in the grass。
〃Are you all right？〃 said Harry； moving closer to the picture。
〃Get back； you scurvy braggart！ Back； you rogue！〃
The knight seized his sword again and used it to push himself back up； but the blade sank deeply into the grass and； though he pulled with all his might； he couldn't get it out again。 Finally； he had to flop back down onto the grass and push up his visor to mop his sweating face。
〃Listen；〃 said Harry； taking advantage of the knight's exhaustion； 〃we're looking for the North Tower。 You don't know the way； do you？〃
〃A quest！〃 The knight's rage seemed to vanish instantly。 He clanked to his feet and shouted； 〃e follow me； dear fri