〃You'd better take that cat out of here； Hermione；〃 said Ron furiously； sitting on Harry's bed nursing his toe。 〃Can't you shut that thing up？〃 he added to Harry as Hermione strode out of the room； Crookshanks's yellow eyes still fixed maliciously on Ron。
Harry stuffed the Sneakoscope back inside the socks and threw it back into his trunk。 All that could be heard now were Ron's stifled moans of pain and rage。 Scabbers was huddled in Ron's hands。 It had been a while since Harry had seen him out of Ron's pocket； and he was unpleasantly surprised to see that Scabbers； once so fat； was now very skinny； patches of fur seemed to have fallen out too
〃He's not looking too good； is he？〃 Harry said。
〃It's stress！〃 said Ron。 〃He'd be fine if that big stupid furball left him alone！〃
But Harry； remembering what the woman at the Magical Menagerie had said about rats living only three years； couldn't help feeling that unless Scabbers had powers he had never revealed； he was reaching the end of his life。 And despite Ron's frequent conplaints that Scabbers was both boring and useless； he was sure Ron would be very miserable if Scabbers died。
Christmas spirit was definitely thin on the ground in the Gryffindor mon room that morning。 Hermione had shut Crookshanks in her dormitory； but was furious with Ron for trying to kick him； Ron was still fuming about Crookshanks's fresh attempt to eat Scabbers。 Harry gave up trying to make them talk to each other and devoted himself to examining the Firebolt； which he had brought down to the mon room with him。 For some reason this seemed to annoy Hermione as well； she didn't say anything； but she kept looking darkly at the broom as though it too had been criticizing her cat。
At lunchtime they went down to the Great Hall； to find that the House tables had been moved against the walls again； and that a single table； set for twelve； stood in the middle of the room。 Professors Dumbledore； McGonagall； Snape； Sprout； and Flitwick were there； along with Filch； the caretaker； who had taken off his usual brown coat and was wearing a very old and rather moldy… looking tailcoat。 There were only three other students； two extremely nervous…looking first years and a sullen…faced Slytherin fifth year。
〃Merry Christmas！〃 said Dumbledore as Harry； Ron； and Hermione approached the table。 〃As there are so few of us； it seemed foolish to use the House tables。。。。 Sit down； sit down！〃
Harry； Ron； and Hermione sat down side by side at the end of the table。
〃Crackers！〃 said Dumbledore enthusiastically； offering the end of a large silver noisemaker to Snape； who took it reluctantly and tugged。 With a bang like a gunshot； the cracker flew apart to reveal a large； pointed witchs hat topped with a stuffed vulture。
Harry； remembering the boggart； caught Ron's eye and they both grinned； Snape's mouth thinned and he pushed the hat toward Dumbledore； who swapped it for his wizard's hat at once。
〃Dig in！〃 he advised the table； beaming around。
As Harry was helping himself to roast potatoes； the doors of the Great Hall opened again。 It was Professor Trelawney； gliding toward them as though on wheels。 She had put on a green sequined dress in honor of the occasion； making her look more than ever like a glittering； oversized dragonfly。
〃Sibyll； this is a pleasant surprise！〃 said Dumbledore； standing up。
〃I have been crystal gazing； Headmaster；〃 said Professor Trelawney in her mistiest； most faraway voice； 〃and to my astonishment； I saw myself abandoning my solitary luncheon and ing to join you。 Who am I to refuse the promptings of fate？ I at once hastened from my tower； and I do beg you to forgive my lateness。。。。〃
〃Certainly； certainly；〃 said Dumbledore； his eyes twinkling。 〃Let me draw you up a chair 〃
And he did indeed draw a chair in midair with his wand； which revolved for a few seconds before falling with a thud between Professors Snape and McGonagall。 Professor Trelawney； however； did not sit down； her enormous eyes had been roving around the table； and she suddenly uttered a kind of soft scream。
I dare not； Headmaster！ If I join the table； we shall be thirteen！ Nothing could be more unlucky！ Never forget that when thirteen dine together； the first to rise will be the first to die！〃
〃We'll risk it； Sibyll；〃 said Professor McGonagall inpatiendy。 〃Do sit down； the turkey's getting stone cold。〃
Professor Trelawney hesitated； then lowered herself into the empty chair； eyes shut and mouth clenched tight； as though expecting a thunderbolt to hit the table。 Professor McGonagall poked a large spoon into the nearest tureen。
〃Tripe； Sibyll？〃
Professor Trelawney ignored her。 Eyes open again； she looked around once more and said； 〃But where is dear Professor Lupin？〃
〃I'm afraid the poor fellow is ill again；〃 said Dumbledore； indicating that everybody should start serving themselves。 〃Most unfortunate that it should happen on Christmas Day。〃
〃But surely you already knew that； Sibyll？〃 said Professor McGonagall； her eyebrows raised。
Professor Trelawney gave Professor McGonagall a very cold look。
〃Certainly I knew； Minerva； 11 she said quietly。 〃But one does not parade the fact that one is All… Knowing。 I frequently act as though I am not possessed of the Inner Eye； so as not to make others nervous。
〃That explains a great deal；〃 said Professor McGonagall tartly。
Professor Trelawney's voice suddenly became a good deal less misty。
〃If you must know； Minerva； I have seen that poor Professor Lupin will not be with us for very long。 He seems aware； himself； that his time is short。 He positively fled when I offered to crystal gaze for him 〃
〃Imagine that；〃 said Professor McGonagall dryly。
I doubt；〃 said Dumbledore； in a cheerful but slightly raised voice； which put an end to Professor McGonagall and Professor Trelawney's conversation； 〃that Professor Lupin is in any immediate danger。 Severus； you've made the potion for him again？〃
〃Yes； Headmaster；〃 said Snape。 〃W what？〃 said Harry； scrambling to his feet。 〃Why？〃
〃It will need to be checked for jinxes；〃 said Professor McGonagall。 〃Of course； I'm no expert； but I daresay Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick will strip it down 〃
〃Strip it down？〃 repeated Ron； as though Professor McGonagall was mad。
〃It shouldn't take more than a few weeks；〃 said Professor McGonagall。 〃You will have it back if we are sure it is jinx…free。〃
〃There's nothing wrong with it！〃 said Harry； his voice shaking slightly。 〃Honestly； Professor 〃
〃You can't know that； Potter；〃 said Professor McGonagall； quite kindly； 〃not until you've flown it； at any rate； and I'm afraid that is out of the question until we are certain that it has not been tampered with。 I shall keep you informed。〃
Professor McGonagall turned on her heel and carried the Firebolt out of the portrait hole； which closed behind her。 Harry stood staring after her； the tin of High…Finish Polish still clutched in his hands。 Ron； however； rounded on Hermione。
〃What did you go running to McGonagall for？
Hermione threw her book aside。 She was still pink in the face； but stood up and faced Ron