eryone thought he was so wonderful； you know … he trod on an awful lot of important toes。 But old Dodgy Doge can get off his high hippogriff； because I've had access to a source most journalists would s their wands for； one who has never spoken in public before and who was close to Dumbledore during the most turbulent and disturbing phase of his youth。〃
The advance publicity for Skeeter's biography has certainly suggested that there will be shocks in store for those who believe Dumbledore to have led a blameless life。 What were the biggest surprises she uncovered； I ask？
〃Now； e off it。 Betty； I'm not giving away all the highlights before anybody's bought the book！〃 laughs Skeeter。 〃But I can promise that anybody who still thinks Dumbledore was white as his beard is in for a rude awakening！ Let's just say that nobody hearing him rage against You…Know…Who would have dreamed that he dabbled in the Dark Arts himself in his youth！ And for a wizard who spent his later years pleading for tolerance； he wasn't exactly broad…minded when he was younger！ Yes； Albus Dumbledore had an extremely murky past； not to mention that very fishy family； which he worked so hard to keep hushed up。〃
I ask whether Skeeter is referring to Dumbledore's brother； Aberforth； whose conviction by the Wizengamot for misuse of magic caused a minor scandal fifteen years ago。
〃Oh； Aberforth is just the tip of the dung heap；〃 laughs Skeeter。 〃No； no； I'm talking about much worse than a brother with a fondness for fiddling about with goats； worse even than the Muggle…maiming father … Dumbledore couldn't keep either of them quiet anyway； they were both charged by the Wizengamot。 No； it's the mother and the sister that intrigued me； and a little digging uncovered a
positive nest of nastiness … but； as I say； you'll have to wait for chapters nine to twelve for full details。 All I can say now is； it's no wonder Dumbledore never talked about how his nose got broken。〃
Family skeletons notwithstanding； does Skeeter deny the brilliance that led to Dumbledore's many magical discoveries？
〃He had brains；〃 she concedes； 〃although many now question whether he could really take full credit for all of his supposed achievements。 As I reveal in chapter sixteen； Ivor Dillonsby claims he had already discovered eight uses of dragon's blood when Dumbledore 'borrowed' his papers。〃
But the importance of some of Dumbledore's achievements cannot； I venture； be denied。 What of his famous defeat of Grindelwald？
〃Oh； now； I'm glad you mentioned Grindelwald；〃 says Skeeter with such a tantalizing smile。 〃I'm afraid those who go dewy…eyed over Dumbledore's spectacular victory must brace themselves for a bombshell … or perhaps a Dungbomb。 Very dirty business indeed。 All I'll say is； don't be so sure that there really was a spectacular duel of legend。 After they've read my book； people may be forced to conclude that Grindelwald simply conjured a white handkerchief from the end of his wand and came quietly！〃
Skeeter refuses to give any more away on this intriguing subject； so we turn instead to the relationship that will undoubtedly fascinate her readers more than any other。
〃Oh yes；〃 says Skeeter； nodding briskly； 〃I devote an entire chapter to the whole Potter…Dumbledore relationship。 It's been called unhealthy； even sinister。 Again； your readers will have to buy my book for the whole story； but there is no question that Dumbledore took an unnatural interest in Potter from the word go。 Whether that was really in the boy's best interests … well； we'll see。 It's certainly an open secret that Potter has had a most troubled adolescence。〃
I ask whether Skeeter is still in touch with Harry Potter； whom she so famously interviewed last year： a breakthrough piece in which Potter spoke exclusively of his conviction that You…Know…Who had returned。
〃Oh； yes； we've developed a closer bond；〃 says Skeeter。 〃Poor Potter has few real friends； and we met at one of the most testing moments of his life … the Triwizard Tournament。 I am probably one of the only people alive who can say that they know the real Harry Potter。〃
Which leads us neatly to the many rumors still circulating about Dumbledore's final hours。 Does Skeeter believe that Potter was there when Dumbledore died？
〃Well； I don't want to say too much … it's all in the book … but eyewitnesses inside Hogwarts castle saw Potter running away from the scene moments after Dumbledore fell； jumped； or was pushed。 Potter later gave evidence against Severus Snape； a man against whom he has a notorious grudge。 Is everything as it seems？ That is for the Wizarding munity to decide … once they've read my book。〃
On that intriguing note； I take my leave。 There can be no doubt that Skeeter has quilled an instant bestseller。 Dumbledore's legion of admirers； meanwhile； may well be trembling at what is soon to emerge about their hero。
Harry reached the bottom of the article； but continued to stare blankly at the page。 Revulsion and fury rose in him like vomit； he balled up the newspaper and threw it； with all his force； at the wall； where it joined the rest of the rubbish heaped around his overflowing bin。
He began to stride blindly around the room； opening empty drawers and picking up books only to replace them on the same piles； barely conscious of what he was doing； as random phrases from Rita's article echoed in his head： iAn entire chapter to the whole Potter…Dumbledore relationship 。。。 It's been called unhealthy； even sinister 。。。 He dabbled in the Dark Arts himself in his youth 。。。 I've had access to a source most journalists would s their wands for。。。i
〃Lies！〃 Harry bellowed； and through the window he saw the next…door neighbor； who had paused to restart his lawn mower； look up nervously。
Harry sat down hard on the bed。 The broken bit of mirror danced away from him； he picked it up and turned it over in his fingers； thinking； thinking of Dumbledore and the lies with which Rita Skeeter was defaming him 。。。
A flash of brightest blue。 Harry froze； his cut finger slipping on the jagged edge of the mirror again。 He had imagined it； he must have done。 He glanced over his shoulder； but the wall was a sickly peach color of Aunt Petunia's choosing： There was nothing blue there for the mirror to reflect。 He peered into the mirror fragment again； and saw nothing but his own bright green eye looking back at him。
He had imagined it； there was no other explanation； imagined it； because he had been thinking of his dead headmaster。 If anything was certain； it was that the bright blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore would never pierce him again。
pC0=〃Chapter Three： The Dursleys Departing〃
bChapter Three
iThe Dursleys Departingib
The sound of the front door slamming echoed up the stairs and a voice roared； 〃Oh！ You！〃
Sixteen years of being addressed thus left Harry in no doubt when his uncle was calling； nevertheless； he did not immediately respond。 He was still at the narrow fragment in which； for a split second； he had thought he saw Dumbledore's eye。 It was not until his uncle bellowed； 〃BOY！〃 that Harry got slowly out of bed and headed for the bedroom door； pausing to add the piece of broken mirror to the rucksack filled with things he would be taking wit