APEX TOURNAMENT
Harry had never met a vampire, but he had seen pictures of them in his Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, and Black, with his waxy white skin, looked just like one. Scary-lookin fing, inee. said Stan, who had been watching Harry read. He murdered thirteen people, said Harry, handing the page back to Stan, with one curse. Yep, said Stan, in front of witnesses an all. Broad daylight. Big trouble it caused, dinnit, Ern. Ar, said Ern darkly. Stan swiveled in his armchair, his hands on the back, the better to look at Harry. Black woz a big supporter of You-Know-Oo, he said. What, Voldemort. said Harry, without thinking. Even Stans pimples went white; Ern jerked the steering wheel so hard that a whole farmhouse had to jump aside to avoid the bus. You outta your tree. yelped Stan. Choo say is name for. Sorry, said Harry hastily. Sorry, I - I forgot - Forgot. said Stan weakly. Blimey, my earts goin that fast. So - so Black was a supporter of You-Know-Who. Harry prompted apologetically. Yeah, said Stan, still rubbing his chest. Yeah, thats right. Very close to You-Know-Oo, they say. Anyway, when little Arry Potter got the better of You-Know-Oo - Harry nervously flattened his bangs down again. - all You-Know-Oos supporters was tracked down, wasnt they, Ern. Most of em knew it was all over, wiv You-Know-Oo gone, and they came quiet. But not Sirius Black. I eard he thought ed be second-in-command once You-Know-Oo ad taken over. Anyway, they cornered Black in the middle of a street full of Muggles an Black took out is wand and e blasted alf the street apart, an a wizard got it, an so did a dozen Muggles what got in the way. Orrible, eh. An you know what Black did then. Stan continued in a dramatic whisper. What. said Harry. Laughed, said Stan. Jus stood there an laughed. An when reinforcements from the Ministry of Magic got there, e went wiv em quiet as anyfink, still laughing is ead off. Cos es mad, inee, Ern. Inee mad. If he werent when he went to Azkaban, he will be now, said Ern in his slow voice. Id blow meself up before I set foot in that place. Serves him right, mind you. after what he did. They ad a job coverin it up, din they, Ern. Stan said. Ole street blown up an all them Muggles dead. What was it they said ad appened, Ern. Gas explosion, grunted Ernie. An now es out, said Stan, examining the newspaper picture of Blacks gaunt face again. Never been a breakout from Azkaban before, as there, Ern. Beats me ow e did it. Frightenin, eh. Mind, I dont fancy is chances against them Azkaban guards, eh, Ern. Ernie suddenly shivered. Talk about summat else, Stan, theres a good lad. Them Azkaban guards give me the collywobbles. Stan put the paper away reluctantly, and Harry leaned against the window of the Knight Bus, feeling worse than ever. He couldnt help imagining what Stan might be telling his passengers in a few nights time. Ear about that Arry Potter. Blew up is aunt. We ad im ere on the Knight Bus, dint we, Ern. E was tryin to run for it. He, Harry, had broken Wizard law just like Sirius Black. Was inflating Aunt Marge bad enough to land him in Azkaban. Harry didnt know anything about the wizard click to see more, though everyone hed ever heard speak of it did so in the same fearful tone. Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper, had spent two months there only last year. Harry wouldnt soon forget the look price steam oman deck terror on Hagrids face when he had been told where he was going, and Hagrid was one of the bravest people Harry knew. The Knight Diablo 3 wings of terror rolled through the darkness, scattering bushes and wastebaskets, telephone booths and trees, and Harry lay, restless and miserable, on his feather bed. After a while, Stan remembered that Harry had paid for hot chocolate, but poured it all over Harrys pillow when the bus moved abruptly from Anglesea to Aberdeen. One by one, wizards and witches in dressing gowns and slippers descended from the upper floors to leave the bus. They all looked very pleased to go. Finally, Harry was the only passenger left. Right then, Neville, said Stan, clapping his hands, whereabouts in London. Diagon Alley, said Harry. Righto, said Stan. Old tight, then. BANG. They were thundering along Charing Cross Road. Harry sat up and watched buildings and benches squeezing themselves out of the Knight Buss way. The sky was getting a little lighter. He would lie low for a couple of hours, go to Gringotts the moment it opened, then set off - where, he didnt know. Ern slammed on the brakes and the Pubg battleground zero Bus skidded to a halt in front of a small and shabby-looking pub, the Leaky Cauldron, behind which lay the magical entrance to Diagon Alley. Thanks, Harry said to Ern. He jumped down the steps and helped Stan lower his trunk and Hedwigs cage onto the pavement. Well, said Harry. Bye then. But Stan wasnt paying attention. Still standing in the doorway to the bus, he was goggling at the shadowy entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. There you are, Harry, said a voice. Before Harry could turn, he felt a hand on his shoulder. At the same time, Stan shouted, Blimey. Ern, come ere. Come ere. Harry looked up at the owner of the hand on his shoulder and felt a bucketful of ice cascade into his stomach - he had walked right into Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic himself. Stan leapt onto the pavement beside them. What didja call Neville, Minister. he said excitedly. Fudge, a portly little man in a long, pinstriped cloak, looked cold and exhausted. Neville. he repeated, frowning. This is Harry Potter. I knew it. Stan shouted gleefully. Ern. Ern. Guess oo Neville is, Ern. Es Arry Potter. I can see is scar. Yes, said Fudge testily, well, Im very glad the Knight Bus picked Harry up, but he and I need to step inside the Leaky Cauldron now. Fudge increased the pressure on Harrys shoulder, and Harry found himself being steered inside the pub. A stooping figure bearing a lantern appeared through the door behind the bar. It was Tom, the wizened, toothless landlord. Youve got him, Minister. said Tom. Will you be wanting anything. Beer. Brandy. Perhaps a pot of tea, said Fudge, who still hadnt let go of Harry. There was a loud scraping and puffing from behind them, and Stan and Ern appeared, carrying Harrys trunk and Hedwigs cage and looking around excitedly. Ow come you dint tell us oo you are, eh, Neville. said Stan, beaming at Harry, while Ernies owlish face peered interestedly over Stans shoulder. And a private parlor, please, Tom, said Fudge pointedly. Bye, Harry said miserably to Stan and Ern as Tom beckoned Fudge toward the passage that led from the bar. Bye, Neville. called Stan. Fudge marched Harry along the narrow passage after Toms lantern, and then into a small parlor. Tom clicked his fingers, a fire burst into life in the grate, and he bowed himself out of the room. Sit down, Harry, said Fudge, indicating a chair by the fire. Harry sat down, feeling goose bumps rising up his arms despite the glow of the fire. Fudge took off his pinstriped cloak and tossed it aside, then hitched up the trousers of his bottle-green suit and sat down opposite Harry. I am Cornelius Fudge, Harry. The Minister of Magic. Harry already knew this, of course; he had seen Fudge once before, but as he had been wearing his fathers Invisibility Just click for source at the time, Fudge wasnt to know that. Tom the innkeeper reappeared, wearing an apron over his nightshirt and bearing a tray of tea and crumpets. He placed the tray on a table between Fudge and Harry and left the parlor, closing the door behind him. Well, Harry, said Fudge, pouring out tea, youve had us all in a right flap, I dont mind telling you. Running away from your aunt and uncles house like that. Id started to think. but youre safe, and thats what matters. Fudge buttered himself a crumpet and pushed the plate toward Harry. Eat, Harry, you look dead on your feet. Now then. You will be pleased to hear that we have dealt with the unfortunate blowing-up of Miss Marjorie Dursley. Pubg tencent gaming buddy key mapping problem fix members of the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad were dispatched to Privet Drive a few hours ago. Miss Dursley has been punctured and her memory has been modified. She has no recollection of the incident at all. So thats that, and no harm done. Fudge smiled at Harry over the rim of his teacup, rather like an uncle surveying a favorite nephew. Harry, who couldnt believe his ears, opened his mouth to speak, couldnt think of anything to say, and closed it again. Ah, youre worrying about the reaction of your aunt and uncle. said Fudge. Well, I wont deny that they are extremely angry, Harry, but they are prepared to take you back next summer as long as you stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas and Steam deck game settings holidays. Harry unstuck his throat. I always stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas and Easter holidays, he said, and I dont ever want to go back to Privet Drive. Now, now, Im sure youll feel differently once youve calmed down, said Fudge in a worried tone. They are your family, after all, and Im sure you are fond of each other - er - very deep down. It didnt occur to Harry to put Fudge right. He was still waiting to hear what was going to happen to him now. So all that remains, said Fudge, now buttering himself a second crumpet, is to decide where youre going to spend the last three weeks of your vacation. I suggest you take a room here at the Https://strategygamespc.cloud/pubg/pubg-emulator-matching-problem-keys.php Cauldron and - Hang on, blurted Harry. What about my punishment. Fudge blinked. Punishment. I broke the law. Harry said. The Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry. Oh, my dear boy, were not going to punish you for a little thing like that. cried Fudge, waving his crumpet impatiently. It was an accident. We dont send people to Azkaban just for blowing up their aunts. But this didnt tally at all with Harrys past dealings with the Ministry of Magic. Last year, I got an official warning just because a house-elf smashed a pudding in my uncles house. he told Fudge, frowning. The Ministry of Magic said Id be expelled from Hogwarts if there was any more magic there. Unless Harrys eyes were deceiving him, Fudge was suddenly looking awkward. Circumstances change, Harry. We have to take into account. in the present climate. Surely you dont want to be expelled. Of course I dont, said Harry. Well then, whats all the fuss about. laughed Fudge. Now, have a crumpet, Harry, while I go and see if Toms got a room for you. Fudge strode out of the parlor and Harry stared after him. There was something extremely odd going on. Why had Fudge been waiting for him at the Leaky Cauldron, if not to punish him for what hed done. And read article Harry came to think of it, surely it wasnt usual for the Minister of Magic himself to get involved in matters of underage magic. Fudge came back, accompanied by Tom the innkeeper. Room elevens free, Harry, said Fudge. I think youll be very comfortable. Just one thing, and Im sure youll understand. I dont want you wandering off into Muggle London, all right. Keep to Diagon Alley. And youre to be back here before dark each night. Sure youll understand. Tom will be keeping an eye on you for me. Okay, said Harry slowly, but why -. Dont want to lose you again, do we. said Fudge with a hearty laugh. No, no. best we https://strategygamespc.cloud/xbox/baldurs-gate-xbox-pc.php where Pubg tencent gaming buddy key mapping problem fix are. I mean. Fudge cleared his throat loudly and picked up his pinstriped cloak. Well, Ill be off, plenty to do, you know. Have you had any luck with Black yet. Harry asked. Fudges finger slipped on the silver fastenings of his cloak. Whats that. Oh, youve heard - well, no, not yet, but its only a matter of time. The Azkaban guards have never yet failed. and they are angrier than Ive ever seen them. Fudge shuddered slightly. So, Ill say good-bye. He held out his hand and Harry, shaking it, had a sudden idea. Er - Minister. Can I ask you something. Certainly, said Fudge with visit web page smile. Well, third years at Hogwarts are allowed to visit Hogsmeade, but my aunt and uncle didnt sign the permission form. Dyou think you could -. Fudge was looking uncomfortable. Ah, he said. No, no, Im very sorry, Harry, but as Im not your parent or guardian - But youre the Minister of Magic, said Harry eagerly. If you gave me permission - No, Im sorry, Harry, but rules are rules, said Fudge flatly. Perhaps youll be able to visit Hogsmeade next year. In fact, I think its best if you dont. yes. well, Ill be off. Enjoy your stay, Harry. And with a last smile and Pubg tencent gaming buddy key mapping problem fix of Harrys hand, Fudge left the room. Tom now moved forward, beaming at Harry. If youll follow me, Mr. Potter, he said, Ive already taken your things up. Harry followed Tom up a handsome wooden staircase to a door with a brass number eleven on it, which Tom unlocked and opened for him. Inside was a very comfortable-looking bed, some highly polished oak furniture, a cheerfully crackling fire and, perched on top of the wardrobe - Hedwig. Harry gasped. The snowy owl clicked her beak and fluttered down onto Harrys arm. Very smart owl youve got there, chuckled Tom. Arrived about five minutes after you did. If theres anything you need, Mr. Potter, dont hesitate to ask. He gave another bow and left. Harry sat on his bed for a long time, absentmindedly stroking Hedwig. The sky outside the window was changing rapidly from deep, velvety link to cold, steely gray and then, slowly, to pink shot with gold. Harry could hardly believe that hed left Privet Drive only a few hours ago, that he wasnt expelled, and that he was now facing three completely Dursley-free weeks. Its been a very weird night, Hedwig, he yawned. And without even removing his glasses, he slumped back onto his pillows and fell asleep. I CHAPTER FOUR THE LEAKY CAULDRON t took Harry several days to get used to his strange new freedom. Never before had he been able to get up whenever he wanted or eat whatever he fancied. He could even go wherever he pleased, as long as it was in Diagon Alley, and as this long cobbled street was packed with the most fascinating Wizarding shops in the world, Harry felt no desire to break his word to Fudge and stray back into the Muggle world. Harry ate breakfast each morning in the Leaky Cauldron, where he liked watching the other guests: funny little witches from the country, up for a days shopping; venerable-looking wizards arguing over the latest article in Transfiguration Today; wild-looking warlocks; raucous dwarfs; and once, what looked suspiciously like a hag, who ordered a plate of raw liver from behind a thick woollen balaclava. After breakfast Harry would go out into the backyard, take out his wand, tap the third brick from Pubg tencent gaming buddy key mapping problem fix left above the trash bin, and stand back as the archway into Diagon Alley opened in the wall. Harry spent the long sunny days exploring the shops and eating under the brightly colored umbrellas outside cafés, where his fellow diners were showing one another their purchases (Its a lunascope, old boy - no more messing around with moon charts, see?) or else discussing the case of Sirius Black (Personally, I wont let any of the children out alone until hes back in Azkaban). Harry didnt have to do his homework under the blankets by flashlight anymore; now he could sit in the bright sunshine outside Florean Fortescues Ice Cream Parlor, finishing all his essays with occasional help from Florean Fortescue himself, who, apart from knowing a great deal about medieval witch burnings, gave Harry free sundaes every half an hour. Once Harry had refilled his money bag with gold Galleons, silver Sickles, and bronze Knuts from his vault at Gringotts, he had to exercise a lot of selfcontrol not to spend the whole lot at once. He had to keep reminding himself that he had five years to go at Hogwarts, and how it would feel to ask the Dursleys for money for spellbooks, to stop himself from buying a handsome set of solid gold Gobstones (a Wizarding game rather like marbles, in which the stones squirt a nasty-smelling liquid into the other players face when they lose a point). He was sorely tempted, too, by the this web page, moving model of the galaxy in a large glass ball, which would have meant he never had to take another Astronomy lesson. But the thing that tested Harrys resolution most appeared in his favorite shop, Quality Quidditch Supplies, a week after hed arrived at the Leaky Cauldron. Curious to know what the crowd in the shop was staring at, Harry edged his way inside and squeezed in among the excited witches and wizards until he glimpsed a newly erected podium, on which was mounted the most magnificent broom he had ever seen in his life. Just come out - prototype - a square-jawed wizard was telling his companion. Its the fastest broom in the world, isnt it, Dad. squeaked a boy younger than Harry, who was swinging off his fathers arm. Irish International Sides just put in an order for seven of these beauties. the proprietor of the shop told the crowd. And theyre favorites for this web page World Cup. A large witch in front of Harry moved, and he was able to read the sign next to the broom: THE FIREBOLT This state-of-the-art racing broom sports a streamlined, superfine handle of ash, treated with a diamond-hard polish and hand-numbered with its own registration number. Each individually selected birch twig in the broomtail has been honed to aerodynamic perfection, giving the Firebolt unsurpassable balance and pinpoint precision. The Firebolt has an acceleration of 150 miles an hour in ten seconds and incorporates an unbreakable Braking Charm. Price on request. Price on request. Harry didnt like to think how much gold the Firebolt would cost.
Dont mention anything about Abroad while youre here unless you want the pants bored off you. See you soon - Calm down. Harry said as the small owl flew low over his head, twittering madly with what Harry could only assume was pride at having delivered the letter to the steam deck battery health check person. Come here, I need you to take my answer back. The owl fluttered down on top of Hedwigs cage. Hedwig looked coldly up at it, as though daring it to try and come any closer. Harry seized his eagle-feather quill once legedns, grabbed a fresh piece of parchment, and fantady Ron, its all okay, the Muggles say I can come. See you five oclock tomorrow. Cant wait. He folded this note up very small, and with immense difficulty, tied it to the tiny owls leg as it hopped on the spot with excitement. The moment the note was secure, the owl was off again; it zoomed out of the window and out of sight. Harry turned to Hedwig. Feeling up to a long journey. he asked her. Hedwig hooted in a dignified sort of a way. Can you take this to Sirius for me. he Alex, picking up his Apex legends final fantasy twitch drops. Hang on. I just want to finish it. He unfolded the parchment and hastily added a postscript. If you want to contact me, Ill be at my friend Ron Weasleys for the rest of the summer. His dads got us tickets for the Quidditch World Cup. The letter rinal, he tied it to Hedwigs leg; she kept unusually still, as though determined to show him how a real post owl should behave. Ill be at Rons when you get back, all right. Harry told her. She nipped his finger affectionately, then, with a soft swooshing noise, spread her enormous wings and soared out of the open window. Harry watched her out of sight, then crawled under his bed, wrenched up the loose twithc, and pulled out a large chunk of birthday cake. He sat there on the floor eating it, savoring the happiness that was flooding through him. He had cake, and Dudley had nothing but grapefruit; it was a bright summers day, he would be leaving Privet Drive tomorrow, his scar felt perfectly normal again, and he was going to watch the Quidditch World Cup. It was hard, Apex legends final fantasy twitch drops now, to feel worried about anything - even Lord Voldemort. B CHAPTER FOUR BACK TO THE BURROW y twelve vinal the next day, Harrys school trunk was packed with his school things and all his most prized possessions - the Invisibility Cloak he had inherited from his father, the broomstick he had gotten from Sirius, the enchanted map of Hogwarts he had been given by Fred and George Weasley last year. He had emptied his hiding place under the loose floorboard of all food, double-checked family missing steam games sharing nook and cranny of his bedroom for forgotten spellbooks or quills, and taken down the chart on the wall counting down the days to September the first, on which he liked to cross off the days remaining until his return to Hogwarts. The atmosphere inside number four, Privet Drive was extremely tense. The imminent arrival finao their house of an assortment of wizards was making the Dursleys uptight and irritable. Uncle Vernon had looked downright alarmed when Harry informed him that the Weasleys would be arriving at five oclock the very next day. I hope you told them to dress properly, these people, he snarled at once. Ive seen the sort of stuff your lot wear. Theyd better have the decency to put on normal clothes, thats all. Harry felt a slight sense of foreboding. He had rarely seen Mr. or Mrs. Weasley wearing anything that the Dursleys would call normal. Their children might don Muggle clothing during the holidays, but Mr. and Mrs. Weasley usually wore long robes in varying states of shabbiness. Harry wasnt bothered about what the neighbors would think, but he was anxious about how rude the Dursleys might be to the Weasleys if they turned up looking like their worst idea of wizards. Uncle Fantaxy had put on his Apex legends final fantasy twitch drops suit. To some people, this might have looked like a gesture of welcome, but Harry knew it was because Uncle Vernon wanted to look impressive and intimidating. Dudley, on the other hand, looked somehow diminished. This was not because the diet was at last taking effect, but due to fright. Dudley had emerged from his last encounter with a game download loop xiaomi pubg game wizard with a curly pigs tail poking out of the seat of his trousers, and Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon fantssy had to pay for its removal at a private hospital in London. It wasnt altogether surprising, therefore, that Dudley kept running his hand nervously over his backside, and walking sideways from room Apex legends final fantasy twitch drops room, so legenes not to present the same target to the enemy. Lunch was an almost silent meal. Dudley didnt even protest at the food (cottage cheese and grated celery). Aunt Petunia wasnt eating gwitch at all. Her arms were folded, her lips were pursed, and she seemed to be chewing her tongue, as though biting back the furious diatribe she longed to throw at Harry. Theyll be driving, of course. Uncle Vernon barked across twitcy table. Er, said Harry. He hadnt thought of that. How were the Weasleys going to pick him up. They didnt have a car anymore; the old Ford Anglia they had once owned was currently running wild in the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts. But Mr. Weasley had borrowed a Ministry of Magic car last year; Apex legends final fantasy twitch drops he would do the same today. I think so, said Harry. Uncle Vernon snorted into his mustache. Normally, Uncle Vernon would have asked what car Mr. Weasley drove; he tended to judge other men by how big and expensive their cars were. But Harry doubted whether Uncle Vernon would have taken to Mr. Weasley even if he drove a Ferrari. Harry spent most of the afternoon in his bedroom; he couldnt stand watching Aunt Petunia peer out through the net curtains every few seconds, as though there had been a warning about an pubg mobile launcher rhinoceros. Finally, at a quarter to five, Harry went back downstairs and into the living room. Aunt Petunia was compulsively straightening cushions. Uncle Vernon was pretending to read the paper, but his tiny eyes were not moving, and Harry was sure he was really listening with all his might for the sound of an approaching car. Dudley was crammed into an armchair, his porky hands beneath him, clamped firmly around his bottom. Harry couldnt take the tension; he left the room and went and sat on the stairs in the hall, his eyes on his watch and his heart pumping fast from excitement and nerves. But five oclock came and then went. Uncle Vernon, perspiring slightly in his suit, opened the front door, peered up and down the street, then withdrew his head quickly. Theyre late. he snarled at Harry. I know, said Harry. Maybe - er - the traffics bad, or something. Ten past five. then a apex legends data mining past five. Harry was starting to feel anxious himself now. At half past, he heard Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia conversing in terse mutters in the living room. No consideration at all. We mightve had an engagement. Maybe they think theyll get invited to dinner if theyre late. Well, they most certainly wont be, said Uncle Vernon, and Harry heard him stand up and start pacing the living room. Theyll take the boy and go, therell be no hanging around. Thats if theyre coming at all. Probably mistaken the day. I daresay their kind dont set much store by punctuality. Either that or they drive some tin-pot car thats broken d - AAAAAAAARRRRRGH. Harry jumped up. From the other lefends of the living room door came the sounds of the three Dursleys scrambling, panic-stricken, across the room. Next moment Dudley came flying into the hall, looking terrified. What happened. said Harry.
I think, that you have deceived.