bad a time as harry, because they werent as well-known, but nobody
would speak to them, either. hermio attention
to herself in class, keeping her head down and w in silence.
harry was almost glad that the exams werent far away. all the
studyio do kept his mind off his misery. he, ron, and
hermiohemselves, w late irying
tredients in plicated potions, learn charms
and spells by heart, memorize the dates of magical discoveries and
goblin rebellions....
then, about a week before the exams were due to start, harrys
ion not to ihing that didnt
ut to a. walking ba the library on his
owernoon, he heard somebody whimpering from a
up ahead. as he drew closer, he heard quirrells voice.
”no -- no -- not again, please --”
it souhough someohreatening him. harry moved
closer.
”all right -- all right --” he heard quirrell sob.
sed, quirrell came hurrying out of the
straightening his turban. he ale ahough he was
about to cry. he strode out of sight; harry didnt think quirrell
had even noticed him. he waited until quirrells footsteps had
disappeared, thehe . it ty, but
a door stood ajar at the other end. harry ard it
before he remembered what hed promised himself about not meddling.
all the same, hed have gambled twelve sorcerers sto
s left the room, and from what harry had just heard,
snape ith a new spring in his step -- quirrell
seemed to have given in at last.
harry went back to the library, where hermioing ron
on astronomy. harry told them what hed heard.
”snapes dohen!” said ron. ”if quirrells told him how
to break his anti-dark force spell --”
”theres still fluffy, though,” said hermione.
”maybe snapes found out how to get past him without asking
hagrid,” said ron, looking up at the thousands of