Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
fetch Harry from the Dursleys. Whispers swept the room; Dumbledore,
interpreting them correctly, merely smiled and shook his purple-and-gold
sleeve over his injury.
“Nothing to worry about,” he said airily. “Now... to our new students,
welcome, to our old students, welcome back! Another year full of magical
education awaits you...”
“His hand was like that when I saw him over the summer,” Harry whispered
to Hermione. “I thought he’d have cured it by now, though... or Madam
Pomfrey would’ve done.”
“It looks as if it’s died,” said Hermione, with a nauseated expression.
“But there are some injuries you can’t cure... old curses... and there are poisons
without antidotes “
“... and Mr. Filch, our caretaker, has asked me to say that there is a blanket
ban on any joke items bought at the shop called Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes.
“Those wishing to play for their House Quidditch teams should give their
names to their Heads of House as usual. We are also looking for new
Quidditch commentators, who should do likewise.
“We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year. Professor
Slughorn” — Slughorn stood up, his bald head gleaming in the candlelight,
his big waistcoated belly casting the table below into shadow — “is a former
colleague of mine who has agreed to resume his old post of Potions master.”
“Potions?”
“Potions?”
The word echoed all over the Hall as people wondered whether they had
heard right.
“Potions?” said Ron and Hermione together, turning to stare at Harry.
“But you said —”
“Professor Snape, meanwhile,” said Dumbledore, raising his voice so that
it carried over all the muttering, “will be taking over the position of Defense
Against the Dark Arts teacher.”
“No!” said Harry, so loudly that many heads turned in his direction. He
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