became very ied in a bird out on the

  hich gave harry time to dry his eyes o. when

  he had found his voi, harry said, ”and the invisibility

  cloak - do you ko me?”

  ”ah - your father happe in my possession, and

  i thought you might like it.” dumbledores eyes twinkled. ”useful

  things... your father used it mainly f off to the kits

  to steal food when he was here.”

  ”and theres something else...”

  ”fire away.”

  ”quirrell said snape --”

  ”professor snape, harry.” ”yes, him -- quirrell said he hates

  me because he hated my father. is that true?”

  ”well, they did rather detest each other. not unlike yourself

  and mr. malfoy. and then, your father did something snape could

  never five.”

  ”what?”

  ”he saved his life.”

  ”what?”

  ”yes...” said dumbledore dreamily. ”funny, the les

  minds work, isnt it? professor snape t bear being in your

  fathers debt.... i do believe he worked so hard to protect you this

  year because he felt that would make him and your father even. then

  he could go back to hating your fathers memory in peace....”

  harry tried to uhis but it made his head pound,

  so he stopped.

  ”and sir, theres ...”

  ”just the one?”

  ”how did i get the stohe mirror?”

  ”ah, now, im glad you asked me that. it was one of my more

  brilliant ideas, aween you as sayihing. you

  see, oed to fione -- find it, but not use

  it -- would be able to get it, otherwise theyd just see themselves

  making g elixir of life. my brain surprises even

  me sometimes.... now, eions. i suggest you make a

  start os. ah! bettie botts every flavor beans! i was

  unfortunate enough in my youth to itflavored one,

  ahen im afraid ive rather lost my liking for them --

  but i think ill be safe with a offee, dont you?”

  he smiled ahe goldeo his mouth. then

  he d said, ”alas! ear wax!”

  madam pomfrey, the nurse, was a nia.

  ”just five minutes,” harry pleaded.

  ”absolutely not.”

  ”you let professor dumbledore in...”

  ”well, of course, that was the headmaster, quite different. you

  .”

  ”i am resting, look, lying dowhing. oh, go on,

  madam pomfrey...”

  ”oh, very well,” she said. ”but five minutes only.”

  a ron and hermione in.

  ”harry!”

  hermioo fling her arms around him again, but

  harry was glad she held herself in as his head was still very sore.

  ”oh, harry, we were sure y to -- dumbledore was

  so worried --”

  ”the whole schools talking about it,” said ron. ”what really

  happened?”

  it was ohose rare os wheory is even

  me ahan the wild rumors. harry told them

  everythihe mirror; the stone; a. ron and

  hermione were a very good audiehey gasped i

  plad when harry told them what was under quirrells turban,

  hermio loud.

  ”so the stones gone?” said ron finally. ”flamels just going

  to die?”

  ”thats what i said, but dumbledore thinks that -- what was

  it? -- to the well-anized mih is but the

  adventure.

  ”i always said he was off his rocker,” said ron, looking quite

  impressed at how crazy his hero was.

  ”so eo you two?” said harry.

  ”well, i got back all right,” said hermiht ron

  round -- that took a while -- and to the owlery

  to bledore whe him irance hall --

  he already k said, harrys goer him, hasnt

  he? ao the third floor.”

  ”dyou think he me