Harry Potter 04 - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

which began to erupt in large yellow boils.
    ‘Undiluted Bubotuber pus!’ said Ron, picking up the envelope gingerly and sniffing it.
    ‘Ow!’ said Hermione, tears starting in her eyes as she tried to rub it off her hands with a napkin, but her fingers were now so thickly covered in painful sores that it looked as though she was wearing a pair of thick, knobbly gloves.
    ‘You’d better get up to the hospital wing,’ said Harry, as the owls around Hermione took flight, ‘we’ll tell Professor Sprout where you’ve gone …’
    ‘I warned her!’ said Ron, as Hermione hurried out of the Great Hall, cradling her hands. ‘I warned her not to annoy Rita Skeeter! Look at this one …’ He read out one of the letters Hermione had left behind, ‘“I read in Witch Weekly about how you are playing Harry Potter false and that boy has had enough hardship and I will be sending you a curse by next post as soon as I can find a big enough envelope.” Blimey, she’d better watch out for herself.’
    Hermione didn’t turn up for Herbology. As Harry and Ron left the greenhouse for their Care of Magical Creatures class, they saw Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle descending the stone steps from the castle. Pansy Parkinson was whispering and giggling behind them with her gang of Slytherin girls. Catching sight of Harry, Pansy called, ‘Potter, have you split up with your girlfriend? Why was she so upset at breakfast?’
    Harry ignored her; he didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of knowing how much trouble the Witch Weekly article had caused.
    Hagrid, who had told them last lesson that they had finished with unicorns, was waiting for them outside his cabin with a fresh supply of open crates at his feet. Harry’s heart sank at the sight of the crates – surely not another Skrewt hatching? – but when he got near enough to see inside, he found himself looking at a number of fluffy black creatures with long snouts. Their front paws were curiously flat, like spades, and they were blinking up at the class, looking politely puzzled at all the attention.
    ‘These’re Nifflers,’ said Hagrid, when the class had gathered around. ‘Yeh find ’em down mines mostly. They like sparkly stuff … there yeh go, look.’
    One of the Nifflers had suddenly leapt up and attempted to bite Pansy Parkinson’s watch off her wrist. She shrieked and jumped backwards.
    ‘Useful little treasure detectors,’ said Hagrid happily. ‘Thought we’d have some fun with ’em today. See over there?’ He pointed at the large patch of freshly turned earth Harry had watched him digging from the Owlery window. ‘I’ve buried some gold coins. I’ve got a prize fer whoever picks the Niffler that digs up most. Jus’ take off all yer valuables, an’ choose a Niffler an’ get ready ter set ’em loose.’
    Harry took off his watch, which he was only wearing out of habit, as it didn’t work any more, and stuffed it in his pocket. Then he picked up a Niffler. It put its long snout in Harry’s ear and sniffed enthusiastically. It was really quite cuddly.
    ‘Hang on,’ said Hagrid, looking down into the crate, ‘there’s a spare Niffler here … who’s missin’? Where’s Hermione?’
    ‘She had to go to the hospital wing,’ said Ron.
    ‘We’ll explain later,’ Harry muttered; Pansy Parkinson was listening.
    It was easily the most fun they had ever had in Care of Magical Creatures. The Nifflers dived in and out of the patch of earth as though it was water, each scurrying back to the student who had released it and spitting gold into their hands. Ron’s was particularly efficient; it had soon filled his lap with coins.
    ‘Can you buy these as pets, Hagrid?’ he asked excitedly, as his Niffler dived back into the soil, splattering his robes.
    ‘Yer mum wouldn’ be happy, Ron,’ said Hagrid, grinning, ‘they wreck houses, Nifflers. I reckon they’ve nearly got the lot now,’ he added, pacing around the patch of earth, while the Nifflers continued to dive. ‘I on’y buried a hundred coins. Oh, there y’are, Hermione!’
    Hermione was walking towards them across the lawn. Her hands were very heavily bandaged and she looked miserable. Pansy Parkinson was watching her beadily.
    ‘Well, let’s check how yeh’ve done!’ said Hagrid. ‘Count yer coins! An’ there’s no point tryin’ ter steal any, Goyle,’ he added, his beetle-black eyes narrowed. ‘It’s leprechaun gold. Vanishes after a few hours.’
    Goyle emptied his