br/> 　　he rose up in the air ahere, squinting at them.

  ”should call filch, i should, if somethings a-g around

  unseen.”

  harry had a sudden idea.

  ”peeves,” he said, in a hoarse whisper, ”the bloody baron has

  his own reas invisible.”

  peeves almost fell out of the air in shock. he caught himself

  in time a a foot off the stairs.

  ”so sorry, your bloodiness, mr. baron, sir,” he said

  greasily. ”my mistake, my mistake -- i didnt see you -- of course

  i didnt, youre invisible -- five old peevsie his little joke,

  sir.”

  ”i have business here, peeves,” croaked harry. ”stay away from

  this plaight.”

  ”i will, sir, i most ly eeves, rising up

  in the air again. ”hope your business goes well, baron, ill not

  bother you.”

  aed off

  ”brilliant, harry!” whispered ron.

  a few seds later, they were there, outside the third-floor

  corridor -- and the door was already ajar.

  ”well, there you are,” harry said quietly, ”snapes already

  got past fluffy.”

  seeing the open door somehow seemed to impress upon all three

  of them what was fag them. uhe cloak, harry turned

  to the other two.

  ”if you want to go bat blame you,” he said. ”you

  take the cloak, i wo now.”

  ”doupid,” said ron.

  ”were ing,” said hermione.

  harry pushed the door open.

  as the door creaked, lrowls met their ears. all

  three of the dogs noses sniffed madly iion, even

  though it t see them.

  ”whats that at its feet?” hermione whispered.

  ”looks like a harp,” said ro have left it there.”

  ”it must the moment you stop playing,” said harry. ”well,

  here goes...”

  he put hagrids flute to his lips a wasnt really a

  tu from the first s eyes began to droop. harry

  hardly drew breath. slowly, the dogs growls ceased -- it tottered

  on its paws as k slumped to the ground,

  fast asleep.

  ”keep playing,” ron warned harry as they slipped out of the

  d crept toward the trapdoor. they could feel the dogs hot,

  smelly breath as they approached the giahink well

  be able to pull the door open,” said r s

  bat to go first, hermione?”

  ”no, i dont!”

  ”all right.” roeeth and stepped carefully over

  the dogs legs. he bent ahe rirapdoor, which

  sen.

  ”what you see?” hermione said anxiously.

  ”nothing -- just black -- theres no way of g down,

  well just have to drop.”

  harry, layie, waved at ro

  his attention a himself.

  ”you want to go first? are you sure?” said ron. ”i dont know

  how deep this thihe flute to hermione so she

  keep him asleep.”

  harry hae over. in the few seds silehe

  dog growled ahe man to play,

  it fell bato its deep sleep.

  harry climbed over it ahrough the trapdoor. there

  was no sigom.

  he lowered himself through the hole until he was hanging on by

  his fihe ron and said, ”if anything

  happens to me, dont follht to the owlery and send

  hedwig to dumbledht?”

  ”right,” said ron.

  ”see you in a minute, i hope...

  and harry let go. p air rushed past him as he fell

  don and -- flump. with a fun of thump

  he landed ohing soft. he sat up a around, his eyes

  he gloom. it felt as though he was sitting on some

  sort of plant.

  ”its okay!” he called up to the light the size of a postage

  stamp, en trapdoor, ”its a soft landing, you

  jump!”

  <br