.Dad.s.reprinting!..she.told.Harry,.her.eyes.popping.excitedly...He.can.t.believe.it,
.he.says.people.seem.even.more.interested.in.this.than.the.Crumple‐Horned.Snorkacks!..
Harry.was.a.hero.in.the.Gryffindor.common.room.that.night..Daringly,.Fred.and.George.had.put.an.Enlargement.Charm.on.the.front.cover.of.The.Quibbler.and.hung.it.on.the.wall,.so.that.Harry.s.giant.head.gazed.down.upon.the.proceedings,.occasionally.saying.things.like.THE.MINISTRY.ARE.MORONS.
.and..EAT.DUNG,.UMBRIDGE..in.a.booming.voice..Hermione.did.not.find.this.very.amusing;.she.said.it.interfered.with.her.concentration,.and.she.ended.up.going.to.bed.early.out.of.irritation..Harry.had.to.admit.that.the.poster.was.not.quite.as.funny.after.an.hour.or.two,.especially.when.the.talking.spell.had.started.to.wear.off,.so.that.it.merely.shouted.disconnected.words.like..DUNG..and.
.UMBRIDGE..at.more.and.more.frequent.intervals.in.a.progressively.higher.voice..In.fact,.it.started.to.make.his.head.ache.and.his.scar.began.prickling.uncomfortably.again..To.disappointed.moans.from.the.many.people.who.were.sitting.around.him,.asking.him.to.relive.his.interview.for.the.umpteenth.time,.he.announced.that.he.too.needed.an.early.night..
The.dormitory.was.empty.when.he.reached.it..He.rested.his.forehead.for.a.moment.against.the.cool.glass.of.the.window.beside.his.bed;.it.felt.soothing.against.his.scar..Then.he.undressed.and.got.into.bed,.wishing.his.headache.
would.go.away..He.also.felt.slightly.sick..He.rolled.over.on.to.his.side,.closed.his.eyes,.and.fell.asleep.almost.at.once….
He.was.standing.in.a.dark,.curtained.room.lit.by.a.single.branch.of.candles..His.hands.were.clenched.on.the.back.of.a.chair.in.front.of.him..They.were.long‐
fingered.and.white.as.though.they.had.not.seen.sunlight.for.years.and.looked.like.large,.pale.spiders.against.the.dark.velvet.of.the.chair..
Beyond.the.chair,.in.a.pool.of.light.cast.upon.the.floor.by.the.candles,.knelt.a.man.in.black.robes..
.I.have.been.badly.advised,.it.seems,..said.Harry,.in.a.high,.cold.voice.that.pulsed.with.anger..
.Master,.I.crave.your.pardon,..croaked.the.man.kneeling.on.the.floor..The.back.of.his.head.glimmered.in.the.candlelight..He.seemed.to.be.trembling..
.I.do.not.blame.you,.Rookwood,..said.Harry.in.that.cold,.cruel.voice..
He.relinquished.his.grip.on.the.chair.and.walked.around.it,.closer.to.the.man.cowering.on.the.floor,.until.he.stood.directly.over.him.in.the.darkness,.looking.down.from.a.far.greater.height.than.usual..
.You.are.sure.of.your.facts,.Rookwood?..asked.Harry..
.Yes,.My.Lord,.yes….I.used.to.work.in.the.Department.after.‐after.all…..
.Avery.told.me.Bode.would.be.able.to.remove.it...
.Bode.could.never.have.taken.it,.Master….Bode.would.have.known.he.could.not….undoubtedly,.that.is.why.he.fought.so.hard.against.Malfoy.s.Imperius.Curse…..
.Stand.up,.Rookwood,..whispered.Harry..
The.kneeling.man.almost.fell.over.in.his.haste.to.obey..His.face.was.pockmarked;
.the.scars.were.thrown.into.relief.by.the.candlelight..He.remained.a.little.stooped.when.standing,.as.though.halfway.through.a.bow,.and.he.darted.terrified.looks.up.at.Harry.s.face..