HARRY POTTER Book 4: Chapter 30
Chapter 30
THE PENSIEVE
The door of the office opens. “Hello, Potter,” says Moody. “Come in.” Harry walks inside. He has been in Professor Dumbledore’s office once before. It is a round room. The walls are covered with pictures of old headmasters and headmistresses. Many of them are sleeping in their frames.
Cornelius Fudge stands next to Dumbledore’s desk. He wears a striped cloak and holds his green hat. “Harry!” says Fudge happily. “How are you?” “Fine,” Harry lies. “We were just talking about the night when Mr. Crouch came to the school,” says Fudge. “You were the one who found him, yes?”
“Yes,” says Harry. Then he adds, “But I didn’t see Madame Maxime anywhere.” Dumbledore smiles quietly behind Fudge’s back. “Well,” says Fudge, looking uncomfortable, “we are going to walk around the grounds. Harry, perhaps you should go back to class.” “I wanted to talk to you, Professor,” Harry says quickly, looking at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore studies him for a moment. “Wait here for me, Harry,” he says. “We will not be long.” Fudge and Moody leave the room. Harry hears Moody’s wooden leg hitting the floor as they walk away. Harry looks around. “Hello, Fawkes,” he says. Fawkes the phoenix sits on a golden perch near the door. His red and gold feathers shine in the light. He moves his long tail in a beautiful way.
Harry sits in a chair in front of Dumbledore’s desk. For a few minutes he watches the sleeping paintings on the wall. He touches the scar on his forehead. It does not hurt anymore. Harry feels calmer here. Soon he will tell Dumbledore about the dream.
He looks at the objects behind the desk. The old Sorting Hat is on a shelf. Next to it is a glass case. Inside the case is a beautiful silver sword with red jewels. It is the sword of Godric Gryffindor. Harry remembers pulling the sword from the hat in his second year. Then he notices something strange.
There is a soft silver light inside a black cabinet behind him. The cabinet door is open a little. Harry stands up and walks over to the cabinet. Inside the cabinet is a stone bowl. It is a shallow stone bowl, not very deep. There are many strange symbols on the side of the bowl. The bowl is full of a shining silver substance.
Harry cannot tell if it is a liquid or a gas. It moves slowly, like clouds or water in the wind. Harry wants to touch it. But he knows it is dangerous to touch strange magical things. So he takes out his wand and carefully touches the surface. The silver substance begins to spin faster.
Harry leans closer. The surface of the bowl becomes clear, like glass. He looks inside. He expects to see the bottom of the bowl. Instead, he sees a large room far below him. It looks like he is watching through a window in the ceiling. The room is dark. Torches burn on the walls. Many witches and wizards sit on benches around the room.
