What Is American Federalism Essay Example for Free

What Is American Federalism Essay According to Dye (2011), nations are not truly federal unless both national and subnational governments exercise separate and autonomous authority, both elect their own officials, and both tax their own citizens for the provision of public services (p. 263). American Federalism is just that. In the United States each state has their own government with elected officials, to go even further each town within these states also have their own elected officials. These officials govern these areas the way they see fit, however they each fall under the national government. Dye (2011) goes on to say that federalism requires the powers of the national and subnational governments to be guaranteed by a constitution that cannot be changed without the consent of both national and subnational populations (p. 263), this also is apparent in the United States as well. The founding fathers brought forth this federalist way in order to prevent one entity from having too much power, which in turn would allow the elites to rule over those less privileged and in turn them never having a voice. W/C: 176 When should we use Military Force? A President has a hard decision when it comes to deciding whether or not to use military force. When sending the military into any combat area lives are placed immediately at risk, those soldiers are ready and willing to defend their country however the President must be able to explain why the military is needed and justify why we have suffered wounded and lost lives. (Dye, 2011, p. 289) When deciding whether or not to use military force the president must consider several things. Is the use of military force going to protect vital interests? Does the President have the support of the American people and those in Congress? Is this force in support of important political objectives and lastly is this force in support of the war on terrorism? The commitment of US military force should be a last resort, after political, economic, and diplomatic efforts have been proven ineffective (Dye, 2011, p. 289). W/C: 153 What went wrong in Iraq? According to Dye (2011), The war in Iraq was a preemptive strike against terrorism, consistent with the declarations of the Bush administration about the necessity of fighting terrorists on their own ground rather than on American soil (p. 297). One of the biggest things that went wrong in Iraq was the limited number of troops originally sent in. The reason behind this was due in part to the vision of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to have a lean military force. (Dye, 2011, p. 97) Although the initial wave was able to take over and capture Baghdad, it was not enough to keep the are safe and free from insurgents. With the insurgents on the move the American military force was spread thin and they were not able to hold the cities they had once taken over. supply lines could not be defended and the insurgents quickly learned to plant IEDs-improvised explosive devices-along routes commonly used by the US troops. More casualties were inflicted by these devices than by any other means; the US did not have enough troops to guard supply routes (Dye, 2011, p. 99). Overall it seemed as though poor planning and lack of a vision from Donald Rumsfeld is what led to what went wrong in Iraq. W/C: 207 How do you fight Terrorism with Intelligence? In order to effectively and efficiently fight Terrorism with Intelligence is to have a strong Intelligence Community (IC) in place. According to Dye (2011), a proactive war on terrorism requires the collection, analysis, and dissemination of relevant foreign and domestic information to federal, state, and local government agencies, and to the American people (p. 13). It is up to the several components that make up the Intelligence Community to do just that, they must work together in order to form a cohesive unit and ensure that any information obtained is utilized in a way that will benefit the American people and US soil. In the world today the President relies on the Director of National Intelligence to coordinate and oversee all the functions within the IC, it is the DNI who reports directly to the president and is a member of the National Security Council, the presidents inner cabinet (Dye, 2011, p. 17). W/C: 151 What does it mean when we say the we are using American Troops for Nation Building? This statement comes along with the planning for postwar Iraq. One of the goals of the war was to uncover weapons of mass destruction, unfortunately these items were never found. During the planning phase for postwar Iraq the US had promised to help restore many things such as water, electricity and roads. Due to the US administrator for Iraq Paul Bremmer these things seemed to be out of reach as he began dismissing the entire Iraqi Army and pursued a policy of dismissing virtually all Iraqi managers and technicians (Dye, 2011, p. 299). Due to all of this the US had no choice to both recruit and train a new Army and police force that would serve Iraq, as well they were obliged to bring in contract workers, managers and technicians from the US to help restore all those things that were promised to the Iraqi people. Although the troops came in to fight a war in the end they were there it seemed to help rebuild the Nation.

Philosophy on Teaching and Education of Orhan Seyfi Ari Essay -- Educa

ORHAN SEYFI ARI (1918 - 1992) His Philosophy on Teaching and Education Philosophies and Philosophers The late Orhan Seyfi Ari was a philosopher and educator, a teacher who was dubbed Teacher of Teachers and who a street was named after, as a teacher and headmaster hailed for social and cultural educational reform, a columnist and poet, some of his philosophy on philosophers and educational thinkers, philosophies of education and teaching, are deducible as below ~he saw himself as a humble teacher: "I am neither a scholar nor a philosopher" he wrote in his unfinished treatise -he has been hailed also as a scholar, a thinker, a philosopher. Dogrusoz (on educators & O S Ari) -Kibris, 5 Feb. 99 "Sometimes a great school is a man, sometimes a man is himself a great school" Fedai -Halkin Sesi, 27 Dec. 92 "Seeking of you insight the wonders of the universe into I knew, at last, this, that the universe was you" Metiner -Birlik, 29 Jan 93 "Well known and versed, none was he... Than the pilgrim -the teacher: Orhan Ari" Orhan Seyfi Ari rhymed thus the philosophies of philosophers, the efforts of educators, teachers, failing to wake man to his difference from mere animals he was behaving as:- " 'I was an ape' you say -or amphibian? And now?! Are you not, now.. 'man'!? " Failings were of.. philosophers, eastern and western thinkers, educational philosophy, teachers, teaching -in teaching values. Were affecting educational philosophies and educational philosophers, educators and education, teachers and teaching, philosophy and science, knowledge and wisdom, the biases of those who thrived on ignorance and sought to unpopularize each other's kind to the masses with many concerns or under pain of ridicule... ...le of quantum physics as regards the mere act of observing affecting the observed, of personal development theories being adaptations from philosophy and philosophers, was bad for teaching, education, educators, teachers. Man had potential, always learned -his appearance of being more capable of learning when young had to do with many concerns of adult life affecting as non-use did a car battery ~love aided in education and teaching but left much to be desired if rapport or response was without conscious understanding. Educators and teachers in teaching, philosophers in philosophy, did owe care in teaching and education not to couple biases affecting teaching and education contrary to man's aspirations with such innocence -that did begin by exercising thought in education, and teaching to think. "Never the thinker expires Who in others thinking inspires"

Back to the Future and Idioms Sabrina Ramos

Clean up the air- To get rid of doubts or hard feelings. All right, let's discuss this frankly. It'll be better if we clear the air. 2. Keep at arm's length- To keep at a distance; not to allow to come into close contact. 3. Have ones back on the wall- to have very serious problems which limit the ways in which you can act. With rising labor costs, industry has its back to the wall. 4. Bend over backwards- To betray someone.I wish you would not gossip about me. There is no need to stab me in the back. 5. Kill two birds with one stone- To solve two problems at one time with a single action. John was killing two birds with one stone while he learned the words to his part in the play while peeling potatoes. 6. Bite the hands that feed you- to treat someone badly who has helped you in some way. Leaving the company atter they've spent three years training you up – i biting the hand that feeds you. 7. Once in a blue mood- very rarely.My sister lives in Alaska, so I only get to see h er once in a blue moon 8. Break the ice- To attempt to become friends with someone. He tried to break the ice, but she was a little cold. . Out on a limb- If you go out on a limb, you state an opinion or you do something which is very different to most other people. I dont think we're going out on a limb in claiming that global warming is a problem that must be addressed. 10. My lips are sealed- I will tell no one this secret or this gossip. I promise I won't tell anyone, my lips are sealed. 1 . Read between the lines- to infer something; to try to understand what is meant by something that is not written explicitly or openly. After listening to what she said, if you read between the lines, you can begin to see what she really means. 12. Have two left feet- to be very awkward with one's feet. (Often refers to awkwardness at dancing. ) I'm sorry, I can't dance better. I have two left feet. 13. With no strings attached- Unconditionally; with no obligations or conditions attached.My pa rents gave me use of their car without any strings attached. 14. A drop in the ocean- a very small amount in comparison to the amount that is needed. A hundred thousand may seem a lot but it's a drop in the ocean compared to the millions that need to be spent. 15. Turn the tables- To change a situation so that someone's position is the opposite of what it was She urned the tables by playing a better game and recently has won most of her matches. 16 Hold ones tongue- To refrain from speaking; to refrain from saying something unpleasant.I felt like scolding her, but I held my tongue 17. Steal (someone's) thunder- To do something that takes attention away from what someone else has done I kept quiet about my pregnancy because Cathy was getting married, and I didn't want to steal her thunder. 18. Know the ropes- knowledge of how to do something; how to work something I'll be able to do my Job very well when I know the ropes. 19. Call the shots- To decide on the course of action; to be i n charge. Sally always wants to call the shots, and Mary doesn't like to be bossed around. 20.

The Scarlet Letter the Movie Essay example - 783 Words

The Scarlet Letter the Movie The Scarlet Letter is a highly sexual movie remake of Nathaniel Hawthornes classic novel. Starring Demi Moore as Hester Prynne, Gary Oldman as Arthur Dimmesdale and Robert Duvall as Roger Chillingworth. The movie is in a league of its own and thats not really a compliment. Literary purists should be aghast at some of the liberties taken with the original text, but the complaints have more to do with cinematic misjudgments and drastic change in plot than those in the book-to-screen translation. First and foremost the movie opens considerably in advance of the novels first scene, and the script by Douglas Day Stewart delves deeply into early events only hinted in Hawthornes tale.†¦show more content†¦This is around where Hawthorne starts his novel, when Hester is about to leave the prison to receive her punishment. When the young woman#8212; the mother of this child#8212; stood fully revealed before the crowd, it seemed to be her first impulse to clasp the infant closely to her bosom(50). This introduction leaves you wondering unlike the movie. You know that adultery has been committed but the father of the child is still unknown. The narrator manages to weave many verbal ironies around the identity of Dimmesdale. But you soon realize that the truth is tainted with infernal spite. The movie lacks this uncertainty. In both the novel and the movie you are introduced to the character of Roger Chillingworth, whos way of revenge is different and not as powerful in the movie. In the movie Roger Chillingworth goes to town portraying a man who was kidnapped by the Indians, and took to their ways with alarming enthusiasm. In fact, he becomes a little too spiritual for the Tribes taste, and when Roger starts dancing around the fire with a dead deer on his back, his captors hastily send him back to his own people. At this point, Roger has flipped out and is totally insane that the Indians are scared of hi m. Upon his release, Roger heads for the New England colony and finds Hester with her illegitimate child andShow MoreRelatedMovie Review : The Scarlet Letter 1794 Words   |  8 PagesSequel to The Scarlet Letter Once the recent mutiny came to a close, all the townspeople hoped that their quiet little Puritan town would return to the normality that they held so dearly. Now, of course, they missed their beloved reverend, Arthur Dimmesdale, but many believed that the sacrificing if his life was a fair payment to end the madness. His dramatic demise would never be forgotten in the town and he, even being the sinner that he is, would be gravely missed and hold a special place in theirRead More The Scarlet Letter: The Book vs. the Movie Essay1442 Words   |  6 PagesThe Scarlet Letter:   The Book vs. the Movie  Ã‚  Ã‚   Demi Moores portrayal of Hester in the movie The Scarlet Letter proved her worth as a feminist actress, which led her to other, more modern female empowerment roles ranging from Striptease to GI Jane.   But in the moviemakers attempt to give the story what they might think is a little modern flavor, they barbarously misconstrued the theme, and thus the importance, of a timeless story.   In the novel, there can be little doubt that Hester is aRead More Comparing and Contrasting the Novel and Movie Version of The Scarlet Letter3029 Words   |  13 PagesFilm of The Scarlet Letter nbsp; Films of this era are criticized for substituting violence and special effects for substance. Many believe that creating a movie script is a juvenile form of writing, a shrub to the oak of a novel. Upon reading both the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and viewing the film produced by Roland Joffe, one notices the tremendous effort put into both. This essay will explore the many differences and similarities between the book and movie. nbsp;Read MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Hugues Merle1580 Words   |  7 PagesThe Scarlet Letter (Figure 1) painted by Hugues Merle in 1861 depicts the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne. Hester Prynne, an adulteress forced to wear the letter â€Å"A† upon her bosom forever, becomes an outcast from the community with her daughter, Pearl. Merle was often known for painting scenes of mothers and children. He illustrates the scene of Hester and Pearl sitting in the town square as part of her punishment. The townspeople walk by, pointing fingers and making shrewd remarksRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter Vs. Easy1473 Words   |  6 PagesThe Scarlet Letter vs. Easy A To begin with this essay, I will be focusing on two pieces of media. I had recently read a book named The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and watched a movie called Easy A. People say that Easy A is a good portrayal of The Scarlet Letter. Don t get me wrong, the movie shares some of the same themes and the movie is influenced by the book, but in reality, Easy A is not a good portrayal of The Scarlet Letter. With my opinion aside, there are someRead MoreAn Analysis Of The Scarlet Letter 1022 Words   |  5 Pages Adultery in Easy A Based of a Novel â€Å"The Scarlet Letter† Saul Ibarra English IV South Texas Business Education Technology Academy In the movie Easy A a cinematic film directed by Will Gluck is a comedy about a girl in high school whose social life completely changes because of a small lie that dominates her image. This rumor connects to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s the scarlet letter due to the fact that themes are drawn such as sin and redemption. Emma stone plays the protagonistRead More Hawthornes Scarlet Letter vs Scralet Letter the Film Essay611 Words   |  3 PagesHawthornes Scarlet Letter vs Scralet Letter the Film Published in 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne‘s The Scarlet Letter describes many details of the life of a woman in a Puritan community and her conflict with their beliefs. Immoral events committed were harshly treated in those times; today these situations are dealt with up-to-date solutions. A Hollywood version of the novel was created in 1995 to visually illustrate the story but left room for comparison. Both the book and movie contain similaritiesRead MoreLiterature Has Functioned Throughout History As A Means1266 Words   |  6 Pagesa means of social criticism that is accessible to the lay public. Classics like Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe leverage their plots to reveal alarming realities and comment on social issues. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the earliest examples of literary social criticism. Hawthorne uses the plight of the main character, Hester Prynne, a convicted adulterer in a soci ety that severely punishes sinners, to take a stand against PuritanismRead MoreSummary Of The Scarlet Letter 935 Words   |  4 PagesThe Scarlet Letter is about a woman, Hester Prynne, who has had an affair with a man who she would not name. During the affair Hester became pregnant, so the affair became known to the town. She had the child but would still not reveal who the father was she was then forced to wear a red A representing adulterer on her chest for the rest of her life. The movie Easy A is about Olive Pendergast is an average high school student who is not one of the super-popular girls, but not a loser eitherRead MoreThe Real Travesty Of The Scarlet Letter1301 Words   |  6 PagesThe Real Travesty of The Scarlet Letter â€Å"The real sin of this ‘Scarlet Letter’ [film] is that it doesn’t respect the concept of sin† (Ansen). Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter delves deeper into the explicitness of sin, shame, and guilt. Set in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during Puritan colonization, the characters have strong relationships with God and a sturdy foundation in their beliefs and church. Puritans rely on the concept of predestination, the belief that God has decided whether

History of the Supercontinent Pangea

Pangea (alternative spelling: Pangaea) was a supercontinent that existed on the Earth millions of years ago, covering about one-third of its surface. A supercontinent is a large landmass comprised of multiple continents. In the case of Pangea, nearly all of the Earths continents were connected into a single landform. Most people believe that Pangea began developing over 300 million years ago, was fully formed 270 million years ago, and separated around 200 million years ago. The name Pangea comes from an ancient Greek word meaning all lands. This term was first used in the early 20th century when Alfred Wegener noticed that the Earths continents seemed to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. He later developed the theory of continental drift to explain the shapes and positions of continents and coined the title Pangea at a symposium in 1927 on the topic. This theory evolved over time into the modern study of plate tectonics. Formation of Pangea Pangea was formed through years and years of landmass formation and movement. Mantle convection within the Earths surface millions of years ago caused new material to constantly come to the surface between the Earths tectonic plates at rift zones. These masses or continents then moved away from the rift as new material surfaced. Continents eventually migrated toward one another to combine into one supercontinent and it was in this way that Pangea was born. But how exactly did these landmasses join? The answer is through a lot of migration and collision. Around 300 million years ago, the northwestern part of the ancient continent of Gondwana (near the South Pole) collided with the southern part of the Euramerican continent to form one massive continent. After a while, the Angaran continent (near the North Pole) began to move south and merged with the northern part of the growing Euramerican continent, forming the supercontinent that came to be known as Pangea. This process concluded about 270 million years ago. There was only one landmass separate from Pangea remaining, Cathaysia, and it was made up of north and south China. It never became part of the supercontinent. Once completely formed, Pangea covered around one-third of the Earths surface and the rest was ocean (and Cathaysia). This ocean was collectively called Panthalassa. Division of Pangea Pangea began to break up about 200 million years ago in the same way that it was formed: through tectonic plate movement caused by mantle convection. Just as Pangea was formed through the movement of new material away from rift zones, new material also caused the supercontinent to separate. Scientists believe that the rift that would ultimately divide Pangea began due to a point of weakness in the Earths crust. At that weak area, magma surfaced and created a volcanic rift zone. Eventually, this rift zone grew so large that it formed a basin and Pangea started to dissociate. Ocean Formation Distinct oceans were formed as Panthalassa occupied newly-opened areas of the landmass. The first ocean to form was the Atlantic. About 180 million years ago, a portion of the Atlantic Ocean opened up between North America and northwestern Africa. Around 140 million years ago, the South Atlantic Ocean formed when todays South America separated from the west coast of southern Africa. The Indian Ocean emerged when India separated from Antarctica and Australia. About 80 million years ago, North America and Europe, Australia and Antarctica, and India and Madagascar followed suit and separated. Over millions more years, the continents moved to their approximate current positions. For a diagram of Pangea and its path of separation, visit the United States Geological Surveys Historical Perspective page within This Dynamic Earth. Evidence for Pangea Not everyone is convinced that Pangea ever existed, but there is plenty of evidence that experts use to prove that it did. The strongest support has to do with how the continents fit together. Other evidence for Pangea includes fossil distribution, distinctive patterns in rock strata spread out all around the world, and the global placement of coal. Continents Fitting Together As Alfred Wegener—creator of the continental drift theory—noticed in the early 20th century, the Earths continents seemed to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. This is the most significant evidence for Pangeas existence. The most prominent place where this is visible is along the northwestern coast of Africa and the eastern coast of South America. In these locations, the two continents look like they could have been connected at one point, and many believe that they were in the time of Pangea. Fossil Distribution Archaeologists have found matching fossil remains of ancient terrestrial and freshwater species in continents now separated by thousands of miles of ocean. For example, matching freshwater reptile fossils have been found in Africa and South America. Because crossing the Atlantic Ocean would have been impossible for these saltwater-averse creatures, their fossils indicate that the two continents must have once been connected. Rock Patterns Patterns in rock strata are another indicator of the existence of Pangea. Geologists have discovered distinctive patterns in rocks on continents nowhere near each other. Coastal configurations were the first marker to point to a jigsaw puzzle-like continent layout years ago, then geologists were further convinced of Pangeas existence when they discovered that even rock layers on the continents that appear to have once fit together match each other exactly. This indicates that continents must have grown apart as identical rock stratification couldnt have been a coincidence. Coal Placement Finally, the worlds coal distribution is evidence for Pangea in much the same way that fossil distribution is. Coal normally forms in warm, wet climates. However, scientists have found coal under Antarcticas frigid, dry ice caps. For this to be possible, it is believed that the icy continent was previously in another location on the Earth and had a very different climate—which had to have been supportive of coal formation—from today. More Supercontinents Based on evidence that has emerged through the study of plate tectonics, it is likely that Pangea was not the only supercontinent to have existed. In fact, archaeological data found through matching rock types and searching for fossils shows that the formation and destruction of supercontinents like Pangea probably happened again and again throughout history. Gondwana and Rodinia are two supercontinents that scientists support the existence of that were probably around prior to Pangea. Scientists predict that supercontinents will continue to appear. Today, the worlds continents are slowly moving away from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge toward the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is believed that they will eventually collide with one another in about 80 million years. Sources Kious, W. Jacquelyne, and Robert I. Tilling. â€Å"The Story of Plate Tectonics.†Ã‚  This Dynamic Earth, United States Geological Survey, 30 Nov. 2016.Lovett, Richard A. â€Å"Texas and Antarctica Were Attached, Rocks Hint.†Ã‚  National Geographic News, National Geographic, 16 Aug. 2011.

The Bible Passage Judges Chapter Fourteen - 2687 Words

I have selected the Bible passage Judges Chapter Fourteen verses One-Twenty and have analyzed and interpreted this specific passage by using the King James Version Study Bible. I have also read the article, A Black Feminist Approach to Biblical Studies by Wilda Gafney, which also interprets and analyzes this specific Bible passage. After interpreting this passage myself and then reading Gafney’s work, I can see that we had both seen the story pretty similarly except for that she noticed some specific details in the passage that failed to catch my attention. Her points are strong and compelling but is she looking too deeply into the story? The Book of Judges is thought to be possibly written by Samuel and the purpose of this book is stated to be, â€Å"to show that God’s judgement against sin is certain, and his forgiveness of sin and restoration to relationship are just as certain for those who repent† (KJV Study Bible). Judges Chapter Fourteen verses One-Twenty is specifically the story of Samson’s Feast and Riddle. The author of this passage (thought to be Samuel) is saying that you should not use God’s blessings for selfish purposes. It is a special gift for God to give you these strengths and abilities and to use them selfishly is robbing God, the church, and his fellow believers (KJV Study Bible). As you use the gifts God has given you, you should be sure that you are helping others as God would want you too, not just yourself. This specific Bible passage tells the storyShow MoreRelatedExegesis : Joshua 6 : 15-213605 Words   |  15 Pagesthese stories seem to encourage not only the s laughtering of enemy armies, but also the murder of innocent civilians including the elderly, women, children and livestock. The book of Joshua has a multiple of narratives that tell of such events. In chapters six through eleven, God instructs Joshua and his fellow Israelites to annihilate dozens of enemy armies, and subsequently orders them to lay their cities and towns to waste. Joshua and the Israelites put to death men, women, children, and livestockRead MoreAnalysis of The Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan Essay1132 Words   |  5 Pagesbroken the Ten Commandment, You shall not kill, he is now being chased by death and if caught, he will kill Faithful; this death characterizes the death of eternal life and therefore not being able to enter heaven (Deuteronomy 5:17). In the bible there is a passage that talks about the avenger of blood and who is he. This is the provision for the manslayer, who by fleeing there may save his life. If anyone kills his neighbor unintentionally without having been at enmity with him in time past#8230;heRead MoreAn Exposition of Psalm 50 Essay2900 Words   |  12 Pagesthat God is speaking. In one sense the whole Bible is a book of prophecy even though it is full of history. Because it generates from the person of God, it is prophetic even though only a limited number of chapters actually refer to future events. In Psalm 50, Asaph declares the very words of the Lord but first he declares the very presence of the Lord. God is coming to speak and he speaks with authority. The Radiance and Glory of the Judge (50:1-3) These opening verses begin with aRead MoreEssay about American Jezebel: the Uncommon Life of Anne Hutchinson2208 Words   |  9 PagesWoman Who Defied the Puritans. New York: Harper Collins, 2004. Anne Hutchinson was a remarkable colonial woman who first came to Massachusetts in the fall of 1634. She is less remembered for her contributions in the new world as a wife, mother of fourteen, and midwife to many than for her eventual trial and banishment from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. I was interested in writing a paper on a colonial woman and chose Anne Hutchinson after a Google search turned up a very good review on a recentRead MoreA Christian Approach to Homosexuality7265 Words   |  30 PagesAPPROACH TO HOMOSEXUALITY 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION I. BIBLE AND HOMOSEXUALITY 1. Biblical View of Sexuality 2. Old Testament on Homosexuality 2a. Stories of Sodom and Gibeah 2b. Levitical Texts 3. New Testament on Homosexuality 3a. Paul’s Statements in Romans 3bRead MoreMary Magdalene: a Character Study (a Disciple of Jesus) Essay3783 Words   |  16 Pagesyou have hear about her. I can assure you that doing this study has taught me many things about Mary Magdalene and you will be surprised. So, who was Mary Magdalene? Well one of the first things that I learned is that she is only mentioned in fourteen verses in the New Testament.[1] She came from a small prosperous town on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, which in the canonical gospels is called by its Aramaic name, Magdala. In Greek it is known as Tarichaeae.[2] In ancient times, the townRead MoreSt.Jerome Essay4572 Words   |  19 Pagesillnesses (about the winter of 373–374), he had a vision that led him to lay aside his  secular  studies and devote himself to God. He seems to have abstained for a considerable time from the study of the classics and to have plunged deeply into that of the  Bible, under the impulse of  Apollinaris of Laodicea, then teaching in  Antioch  and not yet suspected of  heresy. St. Jerome reading in the countryside, byGiovanni Bellini Seized with a desire for a life of  ascetic  penance, he went for a time to the desertRead MorePaul, the Imposter?8234 Words   |  33 Pagesto when he called the Law an unbearable yoke. As the story continues, Paul and Barnabas tell of the many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. Then James begins to speak, and after a short speech says: Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has had throughout many generationsRead MoreThe Case Of Spousal Murder10772 Words   |  44 Pagesversus â€Å"masculine† crimes, but rather in the gender constructs prevalent during the time period under consideration; spousal murder, discussed in this chapter, works to illustrate gender disparity in sentencing. However, the majority of women’s prosecution with courts was for some category of theft which receives the majority of attention this chapter. Theft and theft-related offenses (such as the receiving of stolen goods) constituted the vast majority of criminal cases for both men and women inRead MoreViolation Of The Maxims Of Cooperative Principle7912 Words   |  32 Pages Chapter –I For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in English (Ph. D.) Research Topic Violation of the Maxims of Cooperative Principle in Samuel Beckett’s Selected Plays. Research Student Mr. Mundhe Ganesh Balavantrao Research Guide Dr. B. A. Jarange Place of Research Institute of Advanced Studies in English, Pune CONTENTS 1) Introduction 2) Rationale of the Study 3) Hypothesis 4) Review of the Research Work 5) Aims and Objectives of the Research Project 6) Data, Methodology and Techniques

Chapter 21 Hermione’s Secret Free Essays

â€Å"Shocking business†¦ shocking†¦ miracle none of them died†¦ never heard the like†¦ by thunder, it was lucky you were there, Snape†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Thank you, Minister.† â€Å"Order of Merlin, Second Class, I’d say. First Class, if I can wangle it!† â€Å"Thank you very much indeed, Minister. We will write a custom essay sample on Chapter 21 Hermione’s Secret or any similar topic only for you Order Now † â€Å"Nasty cut you’ve got there†¦ Black’s work, I suppose?† â€Å"As a matter of fact, it was Potter, Weasley, and Granger, Minister†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No!† â€Å"Black had bewitched them, I saw it immediately. A Confundus Charm, to judge by their behavior. They seemed to think there was a possibility he was innocent. They weren’t responsible for their actions. On the other hand, their interference might have permitted Black to escape†¦ They obviously thought they were going to catch Black single-handed. They’ve got away with a great deal before now†¦ I’m afraid it’s given them a rather high opinion of themselves†¦ and of course Potter has always been allowed an extraordinary amount of license by the headmaster –â€Å" â€Å"Ah, well, Snape†¦ Harry Potter, you know†¦ we’ve all got a bit of a blind spot where he’s concerned.† â€Å"And yet — is it good for him to be given so much special treatment? Personally, I try and treat him like any other student. And any other student would be suspended — at the very least — for leading his friends into such danger. Consider, Minister — against all school rules — after all the precautions put in place for his protection — out-of-bounds, at night, consorting with a werewolf and a murderer — and I have reason to believe he has been visiting Hogsmeade illegally too –â€Å" â€Å"Well, well†¦ we shall see, Snape, we shall see†¦ The boy has undoubtedly been foolish†¦.† Harry lay listening with his eyes tight shut. He felt very groggy. The words he was hearing seemed to be traveling very slowly from his ears to his brain, so that it was difficult to understand†¦. His limbs felt like lead; his eyelids too heavy to lift†¦. He wanted to lie here, on this comfortable bed, forever†¦. â€Å"What amazes me most is the behavior of the Dementors†¦ you’ve really no idea what made them retreat, Snape?† â€Å"No, Minister†¦ by the time I had come ’round they were heading back to their positions at the entrances†¦.† â€Å"Extraordinary. And yet Black, and Harry, and the girl –â€Å" â€Å"All unconscious by the time I reached them. I bound and gagged Black, naturally, conjured stretchers, and brought them all straight back to the castle.† There was a pause. Harry’s brain seemed to be moving a little faster, and as it did, a gnawing sensation grew in the pit of his stomach†¦. He opened his eyes. Everything was slightly blurred. Somebody had removed his glasses. He was lying in the dark hospital wing. At the very end of the ward, he could make out Madam Pomfrey with her back to him, bending over a bed. Harry squinted. Ron’s red hair was visible beneath Madam Pomfrey’s arm. Harry moved his head over on the pillow. In the bed to his right lay Hermione. Moonlight was falling across her bed. Her eyes were open too. She looked petrified, and when she saw that Harry was awake, pressed a finger to her lips, then pointed to the hospital wing door. It was ajar, and the voices of Cornelius Fudge and Snape were coming through it from the corridor outside. Madam Pomfrey now came walking briskly up the dark ward to Harry’s bed. He turned to took at her. She was carrying the largest block of chocolate he had ever seen in his life. It looked like a small boulder. â€Å"Ah, you’re awake!† she said briskly. She placed the chocolate on Harry’s bedside table and began breaking it apart with a small hammer. â€Å"How’s Ron?† said Harry and Hermione together. â€Å"He’ll live,† said Madam Pomfrey grimly. â€Å"As for you two, you’ll be staying here until I’m satisfied you’re — Potter, what do you think you’re doing?† Harry was sitting up, putting his glasses back on, and picking up his wand. â€Å"I need to see the headmaster,† he said. â€Å"Potter,† said Madam Pomfrey soothingly, â€Å"it’s all right. They’ve got Black. He’s locked away upstairs. The Dementors will be performing the kiss any moment now –â€Å" â€Å"WHAT?† Harry jumped up out of bed; Hermione had done the same. But his shout had been heard in the corridor outside; next second, Cornelius Fudge and Snape had entered the ward. â€Å"Harry, Harry, what’s this?† said Fudge, looking agitated. â€Å"You should be in bed — has he had any chocolate?† he asked Madam Pomfrey anxiously. â€Å"Minister, listen!† Harry said. â€Å"Sirius Black’s innocent! Peter Pettigrew faked his own death! We saw him tonight! You can’t let the Dementors do that thing to Sirius, he’s –â€Å" But Fudge was shaking his head with a small smile on his face. â€Å"Harry, Harry, you’re very confused, you’ve been through a dreadful ordeal, lie back down, now, we’ve got everything under control†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"YOU HAVEN’T!† Harry yelled. â€Å"YOU’VE GOT THE WRONG MAN!† â€Å"Minister, listen, please,† Hermione said; she had hurried to Harry’s side and was gazing imploringly into Fudge’s face. â€Å"I saw him too. It was Ron’s rat, he’s an Animagus, Pettigrew, I mean, and –â€Å" â€Å"You see, Minister?† said Snape. â€Å"Confunded, both of them†¦ Black’s done a very good job on them†¦.† â€Å"WE’RE NOT CONFUNDED!† Harry roared. â€Å"Minister! Professor!† said Madam Pomfrey angrily. â€Å"I must insist that you leave. Potter is my patient, and he should not be distressed!† â€Å"I’m not distressed, I’m trying to tell them what happened!† Harry said furiously. â€Å"If they’d just listen –â€Å" But Madam Pomfrey suddenly stuffed a large chunk of chocolate into Harry†s mouth; he choked, and she seized the opportunity to force him back onto the bed. â€Å"Now, please, Minister, these children need care. Please leave.† The door opened again. It was Dumbledore. Harry swallowed his mouthful of chocolate with great difficulty and got up again. â€Å"Professor Dumbledore, Sirius Black –â€Å" â€Å"For heaven’s sake!† said Madam Pomfrey hysterically. â€Å"Is this a hospital wing or not? Headmaster, I must insist –â€Å" â€Å"My apologies, Poppy, but I need a word with Mr. Potter and Miss Granger,† said Dumbledore calmly. â€Å"I have just been talking to Sirius Black –â€Å" â€Å"I suppose he’s told you the same fairy tale he’s planted in Potter’s mind?† spat Snape. â€Å"Something about a rat, and Pettigrew being alive –â€Å" â€Å"That, indeed, is Black’s story,† said Dumbledore, surveying Snape closely through his half-moon spectacles. â€Å"And does my evidence count for nothing?† snarled Snape. â€Å"Peter Pettigrew was not in the Shrieking Shack, nor did I see any sign of him on the grounds.† â€Å"That was because you were knocked out, Professor!† said Hermione earnestly. â€Å"You didn’t arrive in time to hear.† â€Å"Miss Granger, HOLD YOUR TONGUE!† â€Å"Now, Snape,† said Fudge, startled, â€Å"the young lady is disturbed in her mind, we must make allowances –â€Å" â€Å"I would like to speak to Harry and Hermione alone,† said Dumbledore abruptly. â€Å"Cornelius, Severus, Poppy — please leave us.† â€Å"Headmaster!† sputtered Madam Pomfrey. â€Å"They need treatment, they need rest –â€Å" â€Å"This cannot wait,† said Dumbledore. â€Å"I must insist.† Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips and strode away into her office at the end of the ward, slamming the door behind her. Fudge consulted the large gold pocket watch dangling from his waistcoat. â€Å"The Dementors should have arrived by now,† he said. â€Å"I’ll go and meet them. Dumbledore, I’ll see you upstairs.† He crossed to the door and held it open for Snape, but Snape hadn’t moved. â€Å"You surely don’t believe a word of Black’s story?† Snape whispered, his eyes fixed on Dumbledore’s face. â€Å"I wish to speak to Harry and Hermione alone,† Dumbledore repeated. Snape took a step toward Dumbledore. â€Å"Sirius Black showed he was capable of murder at the age of sixteen,† he breathed. â€Å"You haven’t forgotten that, Headmaster? You haven’t forgotten that he once tried to kill me?† â€Å"My memory is as good as it ever was, Severus,† said Dumbledore quietly. Snape turned on his heel and marched through the door Fudge was still holding. It closed behind them, and Dumbledore turned to Harry and Hermione. They both burst into speech at the same time. â€Å"Professor, Black’s telling the truth — we saw Pettigrew — he escaped when Professor Lupin turned into a werewolf –â€Å" â€Å"– he’s a rat –â€Å" â€Å"– Pettigrew’s front paw, I mean, finger, he cut it off –â€Å" â€Å"– Pettigrew attacked Ron, it wasn’t Sirius –â€Å" But Dumbledore held up his hand to stem the flood of explanations. â€Å"It is your turn to listen, and I beg you will not interrupt me, because there is very little time,† he said quietly. â€Å"There is not a shred of proof to support Black’s story, except your word — and the word of two thirteen-year-old wizards will not convince anybody. A street full of eyewitnesses swore they saw Sirius murder Pettigrew. I myself gave evidence to the Ministry that Sirius had been the Potters’ Secret-Keeper.† â€Å"Professor Lupin can tell you –† Harry said, unable to stop himself â€Å"Professor Lupin is currently deep in the forest, unable to tell anyone anything. By the time he is human again, it will be too late, Sirius will be worse than dead. I might add that werewolves are so mistrusted by most of our kind that his support will count for very little and the fact that he and Sirius are old friends –â€Å" â€Å"But –â€Å" â€Å"Listen to me, Harry. It is too late, you understand me? You must see that Professor Snape’s version of events is far more convincing than yours.† â€Å"He hates Sirius,† Hermione said desperately. â€Å"All because of some stupid trick Sirius played on him –â€Å" â€Å"Sirius has not acted like an innocent man. The attack on the Fat Lady — entering Gryffindor Tower with a knife — without Pettigrew, alive or dead, we have no chance of overturning Sirius’s sentence.† â€Å"But you believe us.† â€Å"Yes, I do,† said Dumbledore quietly. â€Å"But I have no power to make other men see the truth, or to overrule the Minister of Magic†¦.† Harry stared up into the grave face and felt as though the ground beneath him were falling sharply away. He had grown used to the idea that Dumbledore could solve anything. He had expected Dumbledore to pull some amazing solution out of the air. But no †¦ their last hope was gone. â€Å"What we need,† said Dumbledore slowly, and his light blue eyes moved from Harry to Hermione, â€Å"is more time.† â€Å"But –† Hermione began. And then her eyes became very round. â€Å"OH!† â€Å"Now, pay attention,† said Dumbledore, speaking very low, and very clearly. â€Å"Sirius is locked in Professor Flitwick’s office on the seventh floor. Thirteenth window from the right of the West Tower. If all goes well, you will be able to save more than one innocent life tonight. But remember this, both of you: you must not be seen. Miss Granger, you know the law — you know what is at stake†¦You — must — not — be –seen.† Harry didn’t have a clue what was going on. Dumbledore had turned on his heel and looked back as he reached the door. â€Å"I am going to lock you in. It is –† he consulted his watch, â€Å"five minutes to midnight. Miss Granger, three turns should do it. Good luck.† â€Å"Good luck?† Harry repeated as the door closed behind Dumbledore. â€Å"Three turns? What’s he talking about? What are we supposed to do?† But Hermione was fumbling with the neck of her robes, pulling from beneath them a very long, very fine gold chain. â€Å"Harry, come here,† she said urgently. â€Å"Quick!† Harry moved toward her, completely bewildered. She was holding the chain out. He saw a tiny, sparkling hourglass hanging from it. â€Å"Here –â€Å" She had thrown the chain around his neck too. â€Å"Ready?† she said breathlessly. â€Å"What are we doing?† Harry said, completely lost. Hermione turned the hourglass over three times. The dark ward dissolved. Harry had the sensation that he was flying very fast, backward. A blur of colors and shapes rushed past him, his ears were pounding, he tried to yell but couldn’t hear his own voice — And then he felt solid ground beneath his feet, and everything came into focus again — He was standing next to Hermione in the deserted entrance hall and a stream of golden sunlight was falling across the paved floor from the open front doors. He looked wildly around at Hermione, the chain of the hourglass cutting into his neck. â€Å"Hermione, what –?† â€Å"In here!† Hermione seized Harry’s arm and dragged him across the hall to the door of a broom closet; she opened it, pushed him inside among the buckets and mops, then slammed the door behind them. â€Å"What — how — Hermione, what happened?† â€Å"We’ve gone back in time,† Hermione whispered, lifting the chain off Harry’s neck in the darkness. â€Å"Three hours back†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Harry found his own leg and gave it a very hard pinch. It hurt a lot, which seemed to rule out the possibility that he was having a very bizarre dream. â€Å"But –â€Å" â€Å"Shh! Listen! Someone’s coming! I think — I think it might be us!’ Hermione had her ear pressed against the cupboard door. â€Å"Footsteps across the hall†¦ yes, I think it’s us going down to Hagrid’s!† â€Å"Are you telling me,† Harry whispered, â€Å"that we’re here in this cupboard and we’re out there too?† â€Å"Yes,† said Hermione, her ear still glued to the cupboard door. â€Å"I’m sure it’s us. It doesn’t sound like more than three people†¦ and we’re walking slowly because we’re under the Invisibility Cloak — â€Å" She broke off, still listening intently. â€Å"We’ve gone down the front steps†¦.† Hermione sat down on an upturned bucket, looking desperately anxious, but Harry wanted a few questions answered. â€Å"Where did you get that hourglass thing?† â€Å"It’s called a Time-Turner,† Hermione whispered, â€Å"and I got it from Professor McGonagall on our first day back. I’ve been using it all year to get to all my lessons. Professor McGonagall made me swear I wouldn’t tell anyone. She had to write all sorts of letters to the Ministry of Magic so I could have one. She had to tell them that I was a model student, and that I’d never, ever use it for anything except my studies†¦ I’ve been turning it back so I could do hours over again, that’s how I’ve been doing several lessons at once, see? But†¦ â€Å"Harry, I don’t understand what Dumbledore wants us to do. Why did he tell us to go back three hours? How’s that going to help Sirius?† Harry stared at her shadowy face. â€Å"There must be something that happened around now he wants us to change,† he said slowly. â€Å"What happened? We were walking down to Hagrid’s three hours ago†¦.† â€Å"This is three hours ago, and we are walking down to Hagrid’s,† said Hermione. â€Å"We just heard ourselves leaving†¦.† Harry frowned; he felt as though he were screwing up his whole brain in concentration. â€Å"Dumbledore just said — just said we could save more than one innocent life†¦Ã¢â‚¬  And then it hit him. â€Å"Hermione, we’re going to save Buckbeak!† â€Å"But — how will that help Sirius?† â€Å"Dumbledore said — he just told us where the window is — the window of Flitwick’s office! Where they’ve got Sirius locked up! We’ve got to fly Buckbeak up to the window and rescue Sirius! Sirius can escape on Buckbeak — they can escape together!† From what Harry could see of Hermione’s face, she looked terrified. â€Å"If we manage that without being seen, it’ll be a miracle!† â€Å"Well, we’ve got to try, haven’t we?† said Harry. He stood up andvpressed his ear against the door. â€Å"Doesn’t sound like anyone’s there†¦ Come on, let’s go.† Harry pushed open the closet door. The entrance hall was deserted. As quietly and quickly as they could, they darted out of the closet and down the stone steps. The shadows were already lengthening, the tops of the trees in the Forbidden Forest gilded once more with gold. â€Å"If anyone’s looking out of the window –† Hermione squeaked, looking up at the castle behind them. â€Å"We’ll run for it,† said Harry determinedly. â€Å"Straight into the forest, all right? We’ll have to hide behind a tree or something and keep a lookout –â€Å" â€Å"Okay, but we’ll go around by the greenhouses!’ said Hermione breathlessly. â€Å"We need to keep out of sight of Hagrid’s front door, or we’ll see us! We must be nearly at Hagrid’s by now!† Still working out what she meant, Harry set off at a sprint, Hermione behind him. They tore across the vegetable gardens to the greenhouses, paused for a moment behind them, then set off again, fast as they could, skirting around the Whomping Willow, tearing toward the shelter of the forest†¦. Safe in the shadows of the trees, Harry turned around; seconds later, Hermione arrived beside him, panting. â€Å"Right,† she gasped. â€Å"We need to sneak over to Hagrid’s†¦. Keep out of sight, Harry†¦.† They made their way silently through the trees, keeping to the very edge of the forest. Then, as they glimpsed the front of Hagrid’s house, they heard a knock upon his door. They moved quickly behind a wide oak trunk and peered out from either side. Hagrid had appeared in his doorway, shaking and white, looking around to see who had knocked. And Harry heard his own voice. â€Å"It’s us. We’re wearing the Invisibility Cloak. Let us in and we can take it off.† â€Å"Yeh shouldn’ve come!† Hagrid whispered. He stood back, then shut the door quickly. â€Å"This is the weirdest thing we’ve ever done,† Harry said fervently. â€Å"Let’s move along a bit,† Hermione whispered. â€Å"We need to get nearer to Buckbeak!† They crept through the trees until they saw the nervous Hippogriff, tethered to the fence around Hagrid’s pumpkin patch. â€Å"Now?† Harry whispered. â€Å"No!† said Hermione. â€Å"If we steal him now, those Committee people will think Hagrid set him free! We’ve got to wait until they’ve seen he’s tied outside!† â€Å"That’s going to give us about sixty seconds,† said Harry. This was starting to seem impossible. At that moment, there was a crash of breaking china from inside Hagrid’s cabin. â€Å"That’s Hagrid breaking the milk jug,† Hermione whispered. â€Å"I’m going to find Scabbers in a moment –â€Å" Sure enough, a few minutes later, they heard Hermione’s shriek of surprise. â€Å"Hermione,† said Harry suddenly, â€Å"what if we — we just run in there and grab Pettigrew –â€Å" â€Å"No!† said Hermione in a terrified whisper. â€Å"Don’t you understand? We’re breaking one of the most important wizarding laws! Nobody’s supposed to change time, nobody! You heard Dumbledore, if we’re seen –â€Å" â€Å"We’d only be seen by ourselves and Hagrid!† â€Å"Harry, what do you think you’d do if you saw yourself bursting into Hagrid’s house?† said Hermione. â€Å"I’d — I’d think I’d gone mad,† said Harry, â€Å"or I’d think there was some Dark Magic going on –â€Å" â€Å"Exactly! You wouldn’t understand, you might even attack yourself! Don’t you see? Professor McGonagall told me what awful things have happened when wizards have meddled with time†¦ Loads of them ended up killing their past or future selves by mistake!† â€Å"Okay!† said Harry. â€Å"It was just an idea, I just thought –â€Å" But Hermione nudged him and pointed toward the castle. Harry moved his head a few inches to get a clear view of the distant front doors. Dumbledore, Fudge, the old Committee member, and Macnair the executioner were coming down the steps. â€Å"We’re about to come out!† Hermione breathed. And sure enough, moments later, Hagrid’s back door opened, and Harry saw himself, Ron, and Hermione walking out of it with Hagrid. It was, without a doubt, the strangest sensation of his life, standing behind the tree, and watching himself in the pumpkin patch. â€Å"It’s Okay, Beaky, it’s okay†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Hagrid said to Buckbeak. Then he turned to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. â€Å"Go on. Get goin’.† â€Å"Hagrid, we can’t –â€Å" â€Å"We’ll tell them what really happened –â€Å" â€Å"They can’t kill him –â€Å" â€Å"Go! It’s bad enough without you lot in trouble an’ all!† Harry watched the Hermione in the pumpkin patch throw the Invisibility Cloak over him and Ron. â€Å"Go quick. Don’ listen†¦.† There was a knock on Hagrid’s front door. The execution party had arrived. Hagrid turned, around and headed back into his cabin, leaving the back door ajar. Harry watched the grass flatten in patches all around the cabin and heard three pairs of feet retreating. He, Ron, and Hermione had gone†¦ but the Harry and Hermione hidden in the trees could now hear what was happening inside the cabin through the back door. â€Å"Where is the beast?† came the cold voice of Macnair. â€Å"Out — outside,† Hagrid croaked. Harry pulled his head out of sight as Macnair’s face appeared at Hagrid’s window, staring out at Buckbeak. Then they heard Fudge. â€Å"We — er — have to read you the official notice of execution, Hagrid. I’ll make it quick. And then you and Macnair need to sign it. Macnair, You’re supposed to listen too, that’s procedure –â€Å" Macnair’s face vanished from the window. It was now or never. â€Å"Wait here,† Harry whispered to Hermione. â€Å"I’ll do it.† As Fudge’s voice started again, Harry darted out from behind his tree, vaulted the fence into the pumpkin patch, and approached Buckbeak. â€Å"It is the decision of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures that the Hippogriff Buckbeak, hereafter called the condemned, shall he executed on the sixth of June at sundown –â€Å" Careful not to blink, Harry stared up into Buckbeak’s fierce orange eyes once more and bowed. Buckbeak sank to his scaly knees and then stood up again. Harry began to fumble with the knot of rope tying Buckbeak to the fence. â€Å"†¦ sentenced to execution by beheading, to be carried out by the Committee’s appointed executioner, Walden Macnair†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Come on, Buckbeak,† Harry murmured, â€Å"come on, we’re going to help you. Quietly†¦ quietly†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"†¦ as witnessed below. Hagrid, you sign here†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Harry threw all his weight onto the rope, but Buckbeak had dug in his front feet. â€Å"Well, let’s get this over with,† said the reedy voice of the Committee member from inside Hagrid’s cabin. â€Å"Hagrid, perhaps it will be better if you stay inside –â€Å" â€Å"No, I — I wan’ ter be with him†¦. I don’ wan’ him ter be alone –â€Å" Footsteps echoed from within the cabin. â€Å"Buckbeak, move!† Harry hissed. Harry tugged harder on the rope around Buckbeak’s neck. The Hippogriff began to walk, rustling its wings irritably. They were still ten feet away from the forest, in plain view of Hagrid’s back door. â€Å"One moment, please, Macnair,† came Dumbledore’s voice. â€Å"You need to sign too.† The footsteps stopped. Harry heaved on the rope. Buckbeak snapped his beak and walked a little faster. Hermione’s white face was sticking out from behind a tree. â€Å"Harry, hurry!† she mouthed. Harry could still hear Dumbledore’s voice talking from within the cabin. He gave the rope another wrench. Buckbeak broke into a grudging trot. They had reached the trees†¦. â€Å"Quick! Quick!† Hermione moaned, darting out from behind her tree, seizing the rope too and adding her weight to make Buckbeak move faster. Harry looked over his shoulder; they were now blocked from sight; they couldn’t see Hagrid’s garden at all. â€Å"Stop!† he whispered to Hermione. â€Å"They might hear us.† Hagrid’s back door had opened with a bang. Harry, Hermione, and Buckbeak stood quite still; even the Hippogriff seemed to be listening intently. Silence†¦ then — â€Å"Where is it?† said the reedy voice of the Committee member. â€Å"Where is the beast?† â€Å"It was tied here!† said the executioner furiously. â€Å"I saw it! Just here!† â€Å"How extraordinary,† said Dumbledore. There was a note of amusement in his voice. â€Å"Beaky!† said Hagrid huskily. There was a swishing noise, and the thud of an axe. The executioner seemed to have swung it into the fence in anger. And then came the howling, and this time they could hear Hagrid’s words through his sobs. â€Å"Gone! Gone! Bless his little beak, he’s gone! Musta pulled himself free! Beaky, yeh clever boy!† Buckbeak started to strain against the rope, trying to get back to Hagrid. Harry and Hermione tightened their grip and dug their heels into the forest floor to stop him. â€Å"Someone untied him!† the executioner was snarling. â€Å"We should search the grounds, the forest.† â€Å"Macnair, if Buckbeak has indeed been stolen, do you really think the thief will have led him away on foot?† said Dumbledore, still sounding amused. â€Å"Search the skies, if you will†¦. Hagrid, I could do with a cup of tea. Or a large brandy.† â€Å"O’ — o’ course, Professor,† said Hagrid, who sounded weak with happiness. â€Å"Come in, come in†¦.† Harry and Hermione listened closely. They heard footsteps, the soft cursing of the executioner, the snap of the door, and then silence once more. â€Å"Now what?† whispered Harry, looking around. â€Å"We’ll have to hide in here,† said Hermione, who looked very shaken. â€Å"We need to wait until they’ve gone back to the castle. Then we wait until it’s safe to fly Buckbeak up to Sirius’s window. He won’t be there for another couple of hours†¦. Oh, this is going to be difficult†¦.† She looked nervously over her shoulder into the depths of the forest. The sun was setting now. â€Å"We’re going to have to move,† said Harry, thinking hard. â€Å"We’ve got to be able to see the Whomping Willow, or we won’t know what’s going on.† â€Å"Okay,† said Hermione, getting a firmer grip on Buckbeak’s rope. â€Å"But we’ve got to keep out of sight, Harry, remember†¦.† They moved around the edge of the forest, darkness falling thickly around them, until they were hidden behind a clump of trees through which they could make out the Willow. â€Å"There’s Ron!† said Harry suddenly. A dark figure was sprinting across the lawn and its shout echoed through the still night air. â€Å"Get away from him — get away — Scabbers, come here –â€Å" And then they saw two more figures materialize out of nowhere. Harry watched himself and Hermione chasing afte r Ron. Then he saw Ron dive. â€Å"Gotcha! Get off, you stinking cat –â€Å" â€Å"There’s Sirius!† said Harry. The great shape of the dog had bounded out from the roots of the Willow. They saw him bowl Harry over, then seize on†¦. â€Å"Looks even worse from here, doesn’t it?† said Harry, watching the dog pulling Ron into the roots. â€Å"Ouch — look, I just got walloped by the tree — and so did you — this is weird?C† The Whomping Willow was creaking and lashing out with its lower branches; they could see themselves darting here and there, trying to reach the trunk. And then the tree froze. â€Å"That was Crookshanks pressing the knot,† said Hermione. â€Å"And there we go†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Harry muttered. â€Å"We’re in.† The moment they disappeared, the tree began to move again. Seconds later, they heard footsteps quite close by. Dumbledore, Macnair, Fudge, and the old Committee member were making their way up to the castle. â€Å"Right after we’d gone down into the passage!† said Hermione. â€Å"If only Dumbledore had come with us†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Macnair and Fudge would’ve come too,† said Harry bitterly. â€Å"I bet you anything Fudge would’ve told Macnair to murder Sirius on the spot†¦.† They watched the four men climb the castle steps and disappear from view. For a few minutes the scene was deserted. Then — â€Å"Here comes Lupin!† said Harry as they saw another figure sprinting down the stone steps and halting toward the Willow. Harry looked up at the sky. Clouds were obscuring the moon completely. They watched Lupin seize a broken branch from the ground and prod the knot on the trunk. The tree stopped fighting, and Lupin, too, disappeared into the gap in its roots. â€Å"If he’d only grabbed the cloak,† said Harry. â€Å"It’s just lying there†¦.† He turned to Hermione. â€Å"If I just dashed out now and grabbed it, Snape’d never be able to get it and –â€Å" â€Å"Harry, we mustn’t be seen!† â€Å"How can you stand this?† he asked Hermione fiercely. â€Å"Just standing here and watching it happen?† He hesitated. â€Å"I’m going to grab the cloak!† â€Å"Harry, no!† Hermione seized the back of Harry’s robes not a moment too soon. Just then, they heard a burst of song. It was Hagrid, making his way up to the castle, singing at the top of his voice, and weaving slightly as he walked. A large bottle was swinging from his hands. â€Å"See?† Hermione whispered. â€Å"See what would have happened? We’ve got to keep out of sight! No, Buckbeak!† The Hippogriff was making frantic attempts to get to Hagrid again; Harry seized his rope too, straining to hold Buckbeak back. They watched Hagrid meander tipsily up to the castle. He was gone. Buckbeak stopped fighting to get away. His head drooped sadly. Barely two minutes later, the castle doors flew open yet again, and Snape came charging out of them, running toward the Willow. Harry’s fists clenched as they watched Snape skid to a halt next to the tree, looking around. He grabbed the cloak and held it up. â€Å"Get your filthy hands off it,† Harry snarled under his breath. â€Å"Shh!† Snape seized the branch Lupin had used to freeze the tree, prodded the knot, and vanished from view as he put on the cloak. â€Å"So that’s it,† said Hermione quietly. â€Å"We’re all down there†¦ and now we’ve just got to wait until we come back up again†¦.† She took the end of Buckbeak’s rope and tied it securely around the nearest tree, then sat down on the dry ground, arms around her knees. â€Å"Harry, there’s something I don’t understand†¦. Why didn’t the Dementors get Sirius? I remember them coming, and then I think I passed out†¦ there were so many of them†¦.† Harry sat down too. He explained what he’d seen; how, as the nearest Dementor had lowered its mouth to Harry’s, a large silver something had come galloping across the lake and forced the Dementors to retreat. Hermione’s mouth was slightly open by the time Harry had finished. â€Å"But what was it?† â€Å"There’s only one thing it could have been, to make the Dementors go,† said Harry. â€Å"A real Patronus. A powerful one.† â€Å"But who conjured it?† Harry didn’t say anything. He was thinking back to the person he’d seen on the other bank of the lake. He knew who he thought it had been†¦ but how could it have been? â€Å"Didn’t you see what they looked like?† said Hermione eagerly. â€Å"Was it one of the teachers?† â€Å"No,† said Harry. â€Å"He wasn’t a teacher.† â€Å"But it must have been a really powerful wizard, to drive all those Dementors away†¦ If the Patronus was shining so brightly, didn’t it light him up? Couldn’t you see –?† â€Å"Yeah, I saw him,† said Harry slowly. â€Å"But†¦ maybe I imagined it†¦ I wasn’t thinking straight†¦ I passed out right afterward†¦.† â€Å"Who did you think it was?† â€Å"I think –† Harry swallowed, knowing how strange this was going to sound. â€Å"I think it was my dad.† Harry glanced up at Hermione and saw that her mouth was fully open now. She was gazing at him with a mixture of alarm and pity. â€Å"Harry, your dad’s — well — dead,† she said quietly. â€Å"I know that,† said Harry quickly. â€Å"You think you saw his ghost?† â€Å"I don’t know†¦ no†¦ he looked solid†¦.† â€Å"But then –â€Å" â€Å"Maybe I was seeing things,† said Harry. â€Å"But†¦ from what I could see†¦ it looked like him†¦. I’ve got photos of him†¦.† Hermione was still looking at him as though worried about his sanity. â€Å"I know it sounds crazy,† said Harry flatly. He turned to took at Buckbeak, who was digging his beak into the ground, apparently searching for worms. But he wasn’t really watching Buckbeak. He was thinking about his father and about his father’s three oldest friends†¦ Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs†¦. Had all four of them been out on the grounds tonight? Wormtail had reappeared this evening when everyone had thought he was dead†¦ Was it so impossible his father had done the same? Had he been seeing things across the take? The figure had been too far away to see distinctly†¦ yet he had felt sure, for a moment, before he’d lost consciousness†¦. The leaves overhead rustled faintly in the breeze. The moon drifted in and out of sight behind the shifting clouds. Hermione sat with her face turned toward the Willow, waiting. And then, at last, after over an hour†¦ â€Å"Here we come!† Hermione whispered. She and Harry got to their feet. Buckbeak raised his head. They saw Lupin, Ron, and Pettigrew clambering awkwardly out of the hole in the roots. Then came Hermione†¦ then the unconscious Snape, drifting weirdly upward. Next came Harry and Black. They all began to walk toward the castle. Harry’s heart was starting to beat very fast. He glanced up at the sky. Any moment now, that cloud was going to move aside and show the moon†¦ â€Å"Harry,† Hermione muttered as though she knew exactly what he was thinking, â€Å"we’ve got to stay put. We mustn’t be seen. There’s nothing we can do†¦.† â€Å"So we’re just going to let Pettigrew escape all over again†¦Ã¢â‚¬  said Harry quietly. â€Å"How do you expect to find a rat in the dark?† snapped Hermione. â€Å"There’s nothing we can do! We came back to help Sirius; we’re not supposed to be doing anything else!† â€Å"All right!† The moon slid out from behind its cloud. They saw the tiny figures across the grounds stop. Then they saw movement — â€Å"There goes Lupin,† Hermione whispered. â€Å"He’s transforming.† â€Å"Hermione!† said Harry suddenly. â€Å"We’ve got to move!† â€Å"We mustn’t, I keep telling you –â€Å" â€Å"Not to interfere! Lupin’s going to run into the forest, right at us!† Hermione gasped. â€Å"Quick!† she moaned, dashing to untie Buckbeak. â€Å"Quick! Where are we going to go? Where are we going to hide? The Dementors will be coming any moment –â€Å" â€Å"Back to Hagrid’s!† Harry said. â€Å"It’s empty now — come on!† They ran as fast as they could, Buckbeak cantering along behind them. They could hear the werewolf howling behind them†¦. The cabin was in sight; Harry skidded to the door, wrenched it open, and Hermione and Buckbeak flashed past him; Harry threw himself in after them and bolted the door. Fang the boarhound barked loudly. â€Å"Shh, Fang, it’s us!† said Hermione, hurrying over and scratching his ears to quieten him. â€Å"That was really close!† she said to Harry. â€Å"Yeah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Harry was looking out of the window. It was much harder to see what was going on from here. Buckbeak seemed very happy to find himself back inside Hagrid’s house. He lay down in front of the fire, folded his wings contentedly, and seemed ready for a good nap. â€Å"I think I’d better go outside again, you know,† said Harry slowly. â€Å"I can’t see what’s going on — we won’t know when it’s time –â€Å" Hermione looked up. Her expression was suspicious. â€Å"I’m not going to try and interfere,† said Harry quickly. â€Å"But if we don’t see what’s going on, how’re we going to know when it’s time to rescue Sirius?† â€Å"Well†¦ okay, then†¦ I’ll wait here with Buckbeak†¦ but Harry, be careful — there’s a werewolf out there — and the Dementors.† Harry stepped outside again and edged around the cabin. He could hear yelping in the distance. That meant the Dementors were closing in on Sirius†¦. He and Hermione would be running to him any moment†¦. Harry stared out toward the lake, his heart doing a kind of drumroll in his chest†¦. Whoever had sent that Patronus would be appearing at any moment†¦. For a fraction of a second he stood, irresolute, in front of Hagrid’s door. You must not be seen. But he didn’t want to be seen. He wanted to do the seeing†¦. He had to know†¦ And there were the Dementors. They were emerging out of the darkness from every direction, gliding around the edges of the lake†¦. They were moving away from where Harry stood, to the opposite bank†¦. He wouldn’t have to get near them†¦. Harry began to run. He had no thought in his head except his father†¦ If it was him†¦ if it really was him†¦ he had to know, had to find out†¦. The lake was coming nearer and nearer, but there was no sign of anybody. On the opposite bank, he could see tiny glimmers of silver — his own attempts at a Patronus — There was a bush at the very edge of the water. Harry threw himself behind it, peering desperately through the leaves. On the opposite bank, the glimmers of silver were suddenly extinguished. A terrified excitement shot through him — any moment now — â€Å"Come on!† he muttered, staring about. â€Å"Where are you? Dad, come on –â€Å" But no one came. Harry raised his head to look at the circle of Dementors across the lake. One of them was lowering its hood. It was time for the rescuer to appear — but no one was coming to help this time — And then it hit him — he understood. He hadn’t seen his father he had seen himself — Harry flung himself out from behind the bush and pulled out his wand. â€Å"EXPECTO PATRONUM! † he yelled. And out of the end of his wand burst, not a shapeless cloud of mist, but a blinding, dazzling, silver animal. He screwed up his eyes, trying to see what it was. It looked like a horse. It was galloping silently away from him, across the black surface of the lake. He saw it lower its head and charge at the swarming Dementors†¦. Now it was galloping around and around the black shapes on the ground, and the Dementors were falling back, scattering, retreating into the darkness†¦. They were gone. The Patronus turned. It was cantering back toward Harry across the still surface of the water. It wasn’t a horse. It wasn’t a unicorn, either. It was a stag. It was shining brightly as the moon above †¦ it was coming back to him†¦. It stopped on the bank. Its hooves made no mark on the soft ground as it stared at Harry with its large, silver eyes. Slowly, it bowed its antlered head. And Harry realized†¦ â€Å"Prongs,† he whispered. But as his trembling fingertips stretched toward the creature, it vanished. Harry stood there, hand still outstretched. Then, with a great leap of his heart, he heard hooves behind him. He whirled around and saw Hermione dashing toward him, dragging Buckbeak behind her. â€Å"What did you do?† she said fiercely. â€Å"You said you were only going to keep a lookout!† â€Å"I just saved all our lives†¦Ã¢â‚¬  said Harry. â€Å"Get behind here behind this bush — I’ll explain.† Hermione listened to what had just happened with her mouth open yet again. â€Å"Did anyone see you?† â€Å"Yes, haven’t you been listening? I saw me but I thought I was my dad! It’s okay!† â€Å"Harry, I can’t believe it†¦ You conjured up a Patronus that drove away all those Dementors! That’s very, very advanced magic.† â€Å"I knew I could do it this time,† said Harry, â€Å"because I’d already done it†¦ Does that make sense?† â€Å"I don’t know — Harry, look at Snape!† Together they peered around the bush at the other bank. Snape had regained consciousness. He was conjuring stretchers and lifting the limp forms of Harry, Hermione, and Black onto them. A fourth stretcher, no doubt bearing Ron, was already floating at his side. Then, wand held out in front of him, he moved them away toward the castle. â€Å"Right, it’s nearly time,† said Hermione tensely, looking at her watch. â€Å"We’ve got about forty-five minutes until Dumbledore locks the door to the hospital wing. We’ve got to rescue Sirius and get back into the ward before anybody realizes we’re missing†¦.† They waited, watching the moving clouds reflected in the lake, while the bush next to them whispered in the breeze. Buckbeak, bored, was ferreting for worms again. â€Å"Do you reckon he’s up there yet?† said Harry, checking his watch. He looked up at the castle and began counting the windows to the right of the West Tower. â€Å"Look!† Hermione whispered. â€Å"Who’s that? Someone’s coming back out of the castle!† Harry stared through the darkness. The man was hurrying across the grounds, toward one of the entrances. Something shiny glinted in his belt. â€Å"Macnair!† said Harry. â€Å"The executioner! He’s gone to get the Dementors! This is it, Hermione –â€Å" Hermione put her hands on Buckbeak’s back and Harry gave her a leg up. Then he placed his foot on one of the lower branches of the bush and climbed up in front of her. He pulled Buckbeak’s rope back over his neck and tied it to the other side of his collar like reins. â€Å"Ready?† he whispered to Hermione. â€Å"You’d better hold on to me –â€Å" He nudged Buckbeak’s sides with his heels. Buckbeak soared straight into the dark air. Harry gripped his flanks with his knees, feeling the great wings rising powerfully beneath them. Hermione was holding Harry very tight around the waist; he could hear her muttering, â€Å"Oh, no — I don’t like this oh, I really don’t like this –â€Å" Harry urged Buckbeak forward. They were gliding quietly toward the upper floors of the castle†¦. Harry pulled hard on the left-hand side of the rope, and Buckbeak turned. Harry was trying to count the windows flashing past — â€Å"Whoa!† he said, pulling backward as hard as he could. Buckbeak slowed down and they found themselves at a stop, unless you counted the fact that they kept rising up and down several feet as the Hippogriff beat his wings to remain airborne. â€Å"He’s there!† Harry said, spotting Sirius as they rose up beside the window. He reached out, and as Buckbeak’s wings fell, was able to tap sharply on the glass. Black looked up. Harry saw his jaw drop. He leapt from his chair, hurried to the window and tried to open it, but it was locked. â€Å"Stand back!† Hermione called to him, and she took out her wand, still gripping the back of Harry’s robes with her left hand. â€Å"Alohomora!† The window sprang open. â€Å"How — how –?† said Black weakly, staring at the Hippogriff. â€Å"Get on — there’s not much time,† said Harry, gripping Buckbeak firmly on either side of his sleek neck to hold him steady. â€Å"You’ve got to get out of here -the Dementors are coming — Macnair’s gone to get them.† Black placed a hand on either side of the window frame and heaved his head and shoulders out of it. It was very lucky he was so thin. In seconds, he had managed to fling one leg over Buckbeak’s back and pull himself onto the Hippogriff behind Hermione. â€Å"Okay, Buckbeak, up!† said Harry, shaking the rope. â€Å"Up to the tower — come on.† The Hippogriff gave one sweep of its mighty wings and they were soaring upward again, high as the top of the West Tower. Buckbeak landed with a clatter on the battlements, and Harry and Hermione slid off him at once. â€Å"Sirius, you’d better go, quick,† Harry panted. â€Å"They’ll reach Flitwick’s office any moment, they’ll find out you’re gone.† Buckbeak pawed the ground, tossing his sharp head. â€Å"What happened to the other boy? Ron?† croaked Sirius. â€Å"He’s going to be okay. He’s still out of it, but Madam Pomfrey says she’ll be able to make him better. Quick — go –â€Å" But Black was still staring down at Harry. â€Å"How can I ever thank –â€Å" â€Å"GO!† Harry and Hermione shouted together. Black wheeled Buckbeak around, facing the open sky. â€Å"We’ll see each other again,† he said. â€Å"You are — truly your father’s son, Harry†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He squeezed Buckbeak’s sides with his heels. Harry and Hermione jumped back as the enormous wings rose once more†¦ The Hippogriff took off into the air†¦ He and his rider became smaller and smaller as Harry gazed after them†¦ then a cloud drifted across the moon†¦. They were gone. How to cite Chapter 21 Hermione’s Secret, Essay examples