HARRY POTTER and the Chamber of Secrets Chapter Thirteen
Chapters 1-13
Chapter Thirteen
THE POLYJUICE POTION
Professor McGonagall and Harry step off the spiral staircase. There is a door there. McGonagall knocks on the door softly. The door opens silently. They enter the room. Professor McGonagall tells Harry to wait. Then she leaves Harry alone. Harry looks around. This is Dumbledore’s office and living quarters. Harry thinks it is the most interesting office he has seen.
It is a large circular room, and very beautiful. It is full of many interesting things. The walls are covered with portraits of former headmasters and headmistresses of Hogwarts. They all look like they are sleeping. There is also a very large wooden desk. On a shelf behind the desk is an old pointed hat - the Sorting Hat!
Harry wants to put the hat on. He wants to make sure he is in the correct house. He walks over to the hat and picks it up. He puts it on his head. It is much too big for him. It falls over his eyes, just like the first time he put it on. Harry waits. Then he hears a quiet voice in his ear.
“Welcome back, Harry Potter,” says the hat. “Ha ha ha, I know why you are here. You want to know if I placed you in the correct house, don’t you?” “I’m so sorry to bother you,” says Harry. “But, yes. Am I in the right house?” “Hmm,” continues the hat. “You were difficult to place. But what I said was true...” Harry feels very happy and satisfied. The hat placed him in Gryffindor.
The hat continues, “You would have been very successful at Slytherin…” Harry feels very sad now, and depressed. He takes the hat off quickly. “You’re wrong!” says Harry. He throws the hat back onto the shelf. The hat is silent now. Then suddenly, Harry hears a strange coughing and gagging noise behind him. He turns around quickly.
There, standing on a pole made of gold, is an ugly old bird that looks like a turkey without feathers. Harry thinks the bird looks very sick. The bird makes the strange noise again. A couple of feathers fall off the bird as Harry looks at it. Suddenly, the bird bursts into flames!
Harry yells in shock and surprise! He looks around for some water to throw on the poor creature. The bird is now a bright ball of fire! It gives a loud screech and then it explodes in a bright light of fire and smoke. The bird is gone. There is only a pile of ash on the floor. Then, Dumbledore enters the room. “Professor!” yells Harry. “Your bird… I couldn’t do anything! He just burst into flames!”
Dumbledore smiles at Harry. “It’s about time,” he says. “I was expecting him to do that.” Harry cannot believe what he is hearing. “You see, Harry, Fawkes is a phoenix. Phoenixes burst into flames when it is time for them to die. Then they are reborn from the ashes. Just look…”
