week,”mgonagallsaidfirmly,eyeinghimsuspiiously.“ihopeyouwillbeabetterprofessorthanyouwereastudent.”

“ihopeso,too,”harryhukleddarkly.

“well,lukilyforyou,youdon’thavetowriteanypapers.justreadthem,”mgonagallquipped.shegnedatthelokonthewandbaktohim.“yourroomsshouldbereadyinhalfanhour.itrustyouanbusyyourselfuntilthen?visithagrid,perhaps,beforeheomesafteryouwithasentdog?”

harrywalkedbakoutintothehall,wanderingthroughtheastleforabouttenminutesbeforefindinghimselfwalkingoutintotheyardtowardsafamiliarshak.

likehesuspeted,beingontheastlegroundsdidn’tfeelquiteasmuhlikeominghomeashewouldhavehoped.

hewasbak.

draohadseenhim,hadalmostrunintohim,inthehallinfrontoftheslytherindungeons.hestayedbak,lessthantwentyfeetaway,intheshadows,thoughdisillusioned,andwathedtheotherman.

potterranhishandoverthesthatmadeupthedoorwayforthedungeons,examiningit.hetookhiswandandtappedthewall,buttonoavail.

hepaused,lookingupanddownthehall,beforemurmuring“pure-blood.”

draowined.

“no,ofoursethey’vehangedthepasswordshen,”harrysaidtohimselfquietly.hesighed,pressinghisrighthandftagainstthestone.helenhedthehandtoafist,leaninghisforeheadagainstthewall.“stupid.stupid,stupid,stupid,”herepeated,anddraofelthishesttighten.