He rummaged in his trunk up in the luggage rack and pulled out the miniature figure of Viktor Krum。
〃Oh wow；〃 said Neville enviously as Ron tipped Krum onto his pudgy hand。
〃We saw him right up close； as well；〃 said Ron。 〃We were in the Top Box …〃
〃For the first and last time in your life； Weasley。〃
Draco Malfoy had appeared in the doorway。 Behind him stood Crabbe and Goyle； his enormous； thuggish cronies； both of whom appeared to have grown at least a foot during the summer。 Evidently they had overheard the conversation through the partment door； which Dean and Seamus had left ajar。
〃Don't remember asking you to join us； Malfoy；〃 said Harry coolly。
〃Weasley。 。 。 what is that？〃 said Malfoy； pointing at Pigwidgeon's cage。 A sleeve of Ron's dress robes was dangling from it； swaying with the motion of the train； the moldy lace cuff very obvious。
Ron made to stuff the robes out of sight； but Malfoy was too quick for him； he seized the sleeve and pulled。
〃Look at this！〃 said Malfoy in ecstasy； holding up Ron's robes and showing Crabbe and Goyle； 〃Weasley； you weren't thinking of wearing these； were you？ I mean … they were very fashionable in about eighteen ninety。 。 。
〃Eat dung； Malfoy！〃 said Ron； the same color as the dress robes as he snatched them back out of Malfoy's grip。 Malfoy howled with derisive laughter； Crabbe and Goyle guffawed stupidly。
〃So。 。 。 going to enter； Weasley？ Going to try and bring a bit of glory to the family name？ There's money involved as well； you know。 。 。 you'd be able to afford some decent robes if you won。 。 。 。〃
〃What are you talking about？〃 snapped Ron。
'Are you going to enter？' Malfoy repeated。 〃I suppose you will； Potter？ You never miss a chance to show off； do you？〃
〃Either explain what you're on about or go away； Malfoy；〃 said Hermione testily； over the top of The Standard Book of Spells； Grade 4。
A gleeful smile spread across Malfoy's pale face 〃Don't tell me you don't know？〃 he said delightedly。 〃You've got a father and brother at the Ministry and you don't even know？ My God； my father told me about it ages ago。 。 。
heard it from Cornelius Fudge。 But then； Father's always associated with the top people at the Ministry。 。 。 。 Maybe your father's too junior to know about it； Weasley。 。 。 yes。
。 。 they probably don't talk about important stuff in front of him。 。 。 。〃
Laughing once more； Malfoy beckoned to Crabbe and Goyle； and the three of them disappeared。
Ron got to his feet and slammed the sliding partment door so hard behind them that the glass shattered。
〃Ron！〃 said Hermione reproachfully； and she pulled out her wand； muttered 〃Reparo！〃 and the glass shards flew back into a single pane and back into the door。
〃Well。。 。 making it look like he knows everything and we don't。。 。 。〃 Ron snarled。
〃Father's always associated with the top peopie at the Ministry。'。 。 。 Dad could've got a promotion any time。。。 he just likes it where he is。 。 。 。〃
〃Of course he does；〃 said Hermione quietly。 〃Don't let Malfoy get to you； Ron …〃
〃Him！ Get to me！？ As if！〃 said Ron； picking up one of the remaining Cauldron Cakes and squashing it into a pulp。
Ron's bad mood continued for the rest of the journey。 He didn't talk much as they changed into their school robes； and was still glowering when the Hogwarts Express slowed down at last and finally stopped in the pitch…darkness of Hogsmeade station。
As the train doors opened； there was a rumble of thunder overhead。 Hermione bundled up Crookshanks in her cloak and Ron left his dress robes over Pigwidgeon as they left the train； heads bent and eyes narrowed against the downpour。 The rain was now ing down so thick and fast that it was as though buckets of ice…cold water were being emptied repeatedly over their heads。
〃Hi； Hagrid！〃 Harry yelled； seeing a gigantic silhouette at the far end of the platform。
〃All righ'； Harry？〃 Hagrid bellowed back； waving。 〃See yeh at the feast if we don' drown！〃
First years traditionally reached Hogwarts Castle by sailing across the lake with Hagrid。
〃Oooh； I wouldn't fancy crossing the lake in this weather；〃 said Hermione fervently； shivering as they inched slowly along the dark platform with the rest of the crowd。 A hundred horseless carriages stood waiting for them outside the station。 Harry； Ron； Hermione； and Neville climbed gratefully into one of them； the door shut with a snap； and a few moments later； with a great lurch； the long procession of carriages was rumbling and splashing its way up the track toward Hogwarts Castle。
CHAPTER TWELVE … THE TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT
Through the gates； flanked with statues of winged boars； and up the sweeping drive the carriages trundled； swaying dangerously in what was fast being a gale。 Leaning against the window； Harry could see Hogwarts ing nearer； its many lighted windows blurred and shimmering behind the thick curtain of rain。 Lightning flashed across the sky as their carriage came to a halt before the great oak front doors； which stood at the top of a flight of stone steps。 People who had occupied the carriages in front were already hurrying up the stone steps into the castle。 Harry； Ron； Hermione； and Neville jumped down from their carriage and dashed up the steps too； looking up only when they were safely inside the cavernous； torch…lit entrance hall； with its magnificent marble staircase。
〃Blimey；〃 said Ron； shaking his head and sending water everywhere； 〃if that keeps up the lake's going to overflow。 I'm soak … ARRGH！〃
A large； red； water…filled balloon had dropped from out of the ceiling onto Ron's head and exploded。 Drenched and sputtering； Ron staggered sideways into Harry； just as a second water bomb dropped … narrowly missing Hermione； it burst at Harry's feet； sending a wave of cold water over his sneakers into his socks。 People all around them shrieked and started pushing one another in their efforts to get out of the line of fire。 Harry looked up and saw； floating twenty feet above them； Peeves the Poltergeist； a little man in a bell…covered hat and orange bow tie； his wide； malicious face contorted with concentration as he took aim again。
〃PEEVES！〃 yelled an angry voice。 〃Peeves； e down here at ONCE！〃
Professor McGonagall； Deputy Headmistress and head of Gryffindor House； had e dashing out of the Great Hall； she skidded on the wet floor and grabbed Hermione around the neck to stop herself from falling。
〃Ouch … sorry； Miss Granger …〃
〃That's all right； Professor！〃 Hermione gasped； massaging her throat。
〃Peeves； get down here NOW！〃 barked Professor McGonagall； straightening her pointed hat
and glaring upward through her square…rimmed spectacles。
〃Not doing nothing！〃 cackled Peeves； lobbing a water bomb at several fifth…year girls； who screamed and dived into the Great Hall。 〃Already wet； aren't they？ Little squirts！
Wheeeeeeeeee！〃 And he aimed another bomb at a group of second years who had just arrived。
〃I shall call the headmaster！〃 shouted Professor McGonagall。 〃I'm warning you； Peeves …〃
Peeves stuck out his tongue； threw the last of his water bombs into the air； and z