THE POTIONS MASTER
Harry and Ron were delighted to hear Hagrid call Filch “that old
git’’
“An’ as fer that cat, Mrs. Norris, I’d like ter introduce her to
Fang sometime. D’yeh know, every time I go up ter the school, she
follows me everywhere? Can’t get rid of her — Filch puts her up
to it.”
Harry told Hagrid about Snape’s lesson. Hagrid, like Ron, told
Harry not to worry about it, that Snape liked hardly any of the stu-
dents.
“But he seemed to really hate me.”
“Rubbish!” said Hagrid. “Why should he?”
Yet Harry couldn’t help thinking that Hagrid didn’t quite meet
his eyes when he said that.
“How’s yer brother Charlie?” Hagrid asked Ron. “I liked him a
lot — great with animals.”
Harry wondered if Hagrid had changed the subject on purpose.
While Ron told Hagrid all about Charlie’s work with dragons,
Harry picked up a piece of paper that was lying on the table under
the tea cozy. It was a cutting from the Daily Prophet:
GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST
Investigations continue into the break-in at
Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the
work of Dark wizards or witches unknown.
Gringotts goblins today insisted that nothing
had been taken. The vault that was searched had in
fact been emptied the same day.
“But we’re not telling you what was in there, so
keep your noses out if you know what’s good
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