Horcruxes

           HarrycouldfeeltheFelixFeliciswearingoffashecreepedbackintothecastle.Thefrontdoorhadremainedunlockedforhim,butonthethirdfloorhemetPeevesandonlynarrowlyavoideddetectionbydivingsidewaysthroughoneofhisshortcuts.BythetimehegotuptotheportraitoftheFatLadyandpulledoffhisInvisibilityCloak,hewasnotsurprisedtofindherinamostunhelpfulmood.

           "Whatsortoftimedoyoucallthis?"

           "I’mreallysorry—Ihadtogooutforsomethingimportant—"

           "Well,thepasswordchangedatmidnight,soyou’lljusthavetosleepinthecorridor,won’tyou?"

           "You’rejoking!"saidHarry."Whydidithavetochangeatmidnight?"

           "That’sthewayitis,"saidtheFatLady."Ifyou’reangry,goandtakeitupwiththeHeadmaster,he’stheonewho’stightenedsecurity."

           "Fantastic,"saidHarrybitterly,lookingaroundatthehardfloor."Reallybrilliant.Yeah,IwouldgoandtakeitupwithDumbledoreifhewashere,becausehe’stheonewhowantedmeto—"

           "Heishere,"saidavoicebehindHarry."ProfessorDumbledorereturnedtotheschoolanhourago."

           NearlyHeadlessNickwasglidingtowardHarry,hisheadwobblingasusualuponhisruff.

           "IhaditfromtheBloodyBaron,whosawhimarrive,"saidNick."Heappeared,accordingtotheBaron,tobeingoodspirits,thoughalittletired,ofcourse."

           "Whereishe?"saidHarry,hisheartleaping.

           "Oh,groaningandclankingupontheAstronomyTower,it’safavoritepastimeofhis—"

           "NottheBloodyBaron—Dumbledore!"

           "Oh—inhisoffice,"saidNick.