derelict
(adjective) in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect
example: "Once a fine-looking manor, and easily the largest and grandest building for miles around, the Riddle House was now damp, derelict, and unoccupied" (1).
protracted
(adjective) lasting for a long time or longer than expected or usual
example: "Another pause, more protracted, and then —" (4).
swotty
(noun) a person who studies hard, especially one regarded as spending too much time studying
example: "Aunt Petunia always insisted that Dudley was a very gifted boy whose teachers didn’t understand him, while Uncle Vernon maintained that 'he didn’t want some swotty little nancy boy for a son anyway'" (11).
imminent
(adjective) about to happen
example: "The imminent arrival at their house of an assortment of wizards was making the Dursleys uptight and irritable" (16).
diatribe
(noun) a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something
example: "Her arms were folded, her lips were pursed, and she seemed to be chewing her tongue, as though biting back the furious diatribe she longed to throw at Harry" (16).
eclectic
(adjective) deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources
example: "'Really?' said Mr. Weasley’s voice excitedly. 'Eclectic, you say? With a plug? Gracious, I must see that. . . . Let’s think . . . ouch, Ron!'" (17).
toffee
(noun) a kind of firm or hard candy that softens when sucked or chewed, made by boiling together sugar and butter, often with other ingredients or flavorings added
example: "It sounded as though Mr. Weasley had told Mrs. Weasley about the toffees" (22).
bottlebrush
(noun) an Australian shrub or small tree with spikes of scarlet or yellow flowers that resemble a cylindrical brush in shape.
example: "They had only gone a few paces when Hermione’s bandy-legged ginger cat, Crookshanks, came pelting out of the garden, bottlebrush tail held high in the air, chasing what looked like a muddy potato on legs" (24).
shunt
(verb) push or pull (a train or part of a train) from the main line to a siding or from one track to another; in extended usage, to direct (someone or something) in a certain direction
“I hear she’s been shunted from department to department for years, much more trouble than she’s worth . . . but all the same, Bagman ought to be trying to find her" (24-25).
confection
(noun) an elaborately constructed thing, especially a frivolous one
example: "Halfway up the field stood an extravagant confection of striped silk like a miniature palace, with several live peacocks tethered at the entrance" (31).
vociferous
(adjective) (especially of a person or speech) vehement or clamorous
example: "A huddle of teenagers in pajamas was arguing vociferously a little way along the path" (49).
bung
(verb) block (something), typically by overfilling it
example: "'Bung him some Owl Treats,' said Ron, throwing a packet across to Harry. 'It might shut him up'" (62).
gateau
(noun) a rich cake, typically one containing layers of cream or fruit
example: “Treacle tart, Hermione!” said Ron, deliberately wafting its smell toward her. “Spotted dick, look! Chocolate gateau!” (73-74)
vigilance
(noun) the action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties.
example: "That’s what you’re up against. That’s what I’ve got to teach you to fight. You need preparing. You need arming. But most of all, you need to practice constant, never-ceasing vigilance. Get out your quills . . . copy this down. . . .” (87).
vociferous
(adjective) vehement or clamorous (especially of a person or speech)
example: "Their Sickles had been wasted, however; if anything, they seemed to have made Hermione more vociferous" (96).
palomino
(noun) a pale golden or tan-colored horse or pony with a white mane and tail, originally bred in the southwestern US
example: "As the gigantic black shape skimmed over the treetops of the Forbidden Forest and the lights shining from the castle windows hit it, they saw a gigantic, powder-blue, horse-drawn carriage, the size of a large house, soaring toward them, pulled through the air by a dozen winged horses, all palominos, and each the size of an elephant" (98).
unctuous
(adjective) (of a person) excessively or ingratiatingly flattering; oily
example: "Karkaroff had a fruity, unctuous voice; when he stepped into the light pouring from the front doors of the castle they saw that he was tall and thin like Dumbledore, but his white hair was short, and his goatee (finishing in a small curl) did not entirely hide his rather weak chin" (99-100).
sycophantically
(adjective) behaving or done in an obsequious way in order to gain advantage.
example: "Crabbe and Goyle guffawed sycophantically, but Malfoy had to stop there, because Hagrid emerged from the back of his cabin balancing a teetering tower of crates, each containing a very large Blast-Ended Skrewt" (118).
askance
(adverb) with an attitude or look of suspicion or disappproval
example: "Madam Rosmerta, the pretty landlady, didn’t seem to think much of this; she was looking askance at Moody as she collected glasses from tables around them" (130).
tetchy
(adjective) bad-tempered and irritable
example: "People had been teasing her so much about being the thing that Viktor Krum would most miss that she was in a rather tetchy mood" (205).
