The secret riddle

           KatiewasremovedtoSt.Mungo’sHospitalforMagicalMaladiesandInjuriesthefollowingday,bywhichtimethenewsthatshehadbeencursedhadspreadallovertheschool,thoughthedetailswereconfusedandnobodyotherthanHarry,Ron,Hermione,andLeanneseemedtoknowthatKatieherselfhadnotbeentheintendedtarget.

           "Oh,andMalfoyknows,ofcourse,"saidHarrytoRonandHermione,whocontinuedtheirnewpolicyoffeigningdeafnesswheneverHarrymentionedhisMalfoy-Is-a-Death-Eatertheory.

           HarryhadwonderedwhetherDumbledorewouldreturnfromwhereverhehadbeenintimeforMondaynight’slesson,buthavinghadnowordtothecontrary,hepresentedhimselfoutsideDumbledore’sofficeateighto’clock,knocked,andwastoldtoenter.TheresatDumbledorelookingunusuallytired;hishandwasasblackandburnedasever,buthesmiledwhenhegesturedtoHarrytositdown.ThePensievewassittingonthedeskagain,castingsilveryspecksoflightovertheceiling.

           "YouhavehadabusytimewhileIhavebeenaway,"Dumbledoresaid."IbelieveyouwitnessedKatie’saccident."

           "Yes,sir.Howisshe?"

           "Stillveryunwell,althoughshewasrelativelylucky.Sheappearstohavebrushedthenecklacewiththesmallestpossibleamountofskin;therewasatinyholeinherglove.Hadsheputiton,hadsheevenhelditinherunglovedhand,shewouldhavedied,perhapsinstantly.LuckilyProfessorSnapewasabletodoenoughtopreventarapidspreadofthecurse—"

           "Whyhim?"askedHarryquickly.