jkrowling.hp&theorderofphenix-第132章

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。　I　was：　prouder　of　you　than　I　can　say。
　　　'Yet　there　was　a　flaw　in　this　wonderful　plan　of　mine；'　said　Dumbledore。　'An　obvious　flaw　that　I　knew；　even　then；　might　be　the　undoing　of　it　all。　And　yet；　knowing　how　important　it　was　that　my　plan　should　succeed；　I　told　myself　that　I　would　not　permit　this　flaw　to　ruin　it。　I　alone　could　prevent　this；　so　I　alone　must　be　strong。　And　here　was　my　first　test；　as　you　lay　in　the　hospital　wing；　weak　from　your　struggle　with　Voldemort。'
　　　
　　　'I　don't　understand　what　you're　saying；'　said　Harry。
　　　
　　　'Don't　you　remember　asking　me；　as　you　lay　in　the　hospital　wing；　why　Voldemort　had　tried　to　kill　you　when　you　were　a　baby？'
　　　
　　　Harry　nodded。
　　　'Ought　I　to　have　told　you　then？'
　　　
　　　Harry　stared　into　the　blue　eyes　and　said　nothing；　but　his　heart　was　racing　again。
　　　'You　do　not　see　the　flaw　in　the　plan　yet？　No：　perhaps　not。　Well；　as　you　know；　I　decided　not　to　answer　you。　Eleven；　I　told　myself；　was　much　too　young　to　know。　I　had　never　intended　to　tell　you　when　you　were　eleven。　The　knowledge　would　be　too　much　at　such　a　young　age。
　　　'I　should　have　recognised　the　danger　signs　then。　I　should　have　asked　myself　why　I　did　not　feel　more　disturbed　that　you　had　already　asked　me　the　question　to　which　I　knew；　one　day；　I　must　give　a　terrible　answer。　I　should　have　recognised　that　I　was　too　happy　to　think　that　I　did　not　have　to　do　it　on　that　particular　day：　YOU　were　too　young；　much　too　young。
　　　'And　so　we　entered　your　second　year　at　Hogwarts。　And　once　again　you　met　challenges　even　grown　wizards　have　never　faced：　once　again　you　acquitted　yourself　beyond　my　wildest　dreams。　You　did　not　ask　me　again；　however；　why　Voldemort　had　left　that　marl；　on　you。　We　discussed　your　scar；　oh　yes：　we　came　very；　very　close　to　the　subject。　Why　did　I　not　tell　you　everything？'
　　　
　　　'Well；　it　seemed　to　me　that　twelve　was；　after　all；　hardly　better　than　eleven　to　receive　such　information。　I　allowed　you　to　leave　my　presence；　bloodstained；　exhausted　but　exhilarated；　and　if　I　felt　a　twinge　of　unease　that　I　ought；　perhaps；　to　have　told　you　then；　it　was　swiftly　silenced。　You　were　still　so　young；　you　see；　and　I　could　not　find　it　in　myself　to　spoil　that　night　of　triumph：
　　　
　　　'Do　you　see；　Harry？　Do　you　see　the　flaw　in　my　brilliant　plan　now？　I　had　fallen　into　the　trap　I　had　foreseen；　that　I　had　told　myself　I　could　avoid；　that　I　must　avoid。'
　　　
　　　'I　don't　…
　　　
　　　'I　cared　about　you　too　much；'　said　Dumbledore　simply。　'I　cared　more　for　your　happiness　than　your　knowing　the　truth；　more　for　your　peace　of　mind　than　my　plan；　more　for　your　life　than　the　lives　that　might　be　lost　if　the　plan　failed。　In　other　words；　I　acted　exactly　as　Voldemort　expects　we　fools　who　love　to　act。
　　　'Is　there　a　defence？　I　defy　anyone　who　has　watched　you　as　I　have　…　and　I　have　watched　you　more　closely　than　you　can　have　imagined　…　not　to　want　to　save　you　more　pain　than　you　had　already　suffered。　What　did　I　care　if　numbers　of　nameless　and　faceless　people　and　creatures　were　slaughtered　in　the　vague　future；　if　in　the　here　and　now　you　were　alive；　and　well；　and　happy？　I　never　dreamed　that　I　would　have　such　a　person　on　my　hands。
　　　'We　entered　your　third　year。　I　watched　from　afar　as　you　struggled　to　repel　Dementors；　as　you　found　Sirius；　learned　what　he　was　and　rescued　him。　Was　I　to　tell　you　then；　at　the　moment　when　you　had　triumphantly　snatched　your　godfather　from　the　jaws　of　the　Ministry？　But　now；　at　the　age　of　thirteen；　my　excuses　were　running　out。　Young　you　might　be；　but　you　had　proved　you　were　exceptional。　My　conscience　was　uneasy；　Harry。　I　knew　the　time　must　e　soon：
　　　
　　　'But　you　came　out　of　the　maze　last　year；　having　watched　Cedric　Diggory　die；　having　escaped　death　so　narrowly　yourself：　and　I　did　not　tell　you；　though　I　knew；　now　Voldemort　had　returned；　I　must　do　it　soon。　And　now；　tonight；　I　know　you　have　long　been　ready　for　the　knowledge　I　have　kept　from　you　for　so　long；　because　you　have　proved　that　I　should　have　placed　the　burden　upon　you　
　　　before　this。　My　only　defence　is　this：　I　have　watched　you　struggling　under　more　burdens　than　any　student　who　has　ever　passed　through　this　school　and　I　could　not　bring　myself　to　add　another　…　the　greatest　one　of　all。'
　　　
　　　Harry　waited；　but　Dumbledore　did　not　speak。
　　　'I　still　don't　understand。'
　　　
　　　'Voldemort　tried　to　kill　you　when　you　were　a　child　because　of　a　prophecy　made　shortly　before　your　birth。　He　knew　the　prophecy　had　been　made；　though　he　did　not　know　its　full　contents。　He　set　out　to　kill　you　when　you　were　still　a　baby；　believing　he　was　fulfilling　the　terms　of　the　prophecy。　He　discovered；　to　his　cost；　that　he　was　mistaken；　when　the　curse　intended　to　kill　you　backfired。　And　so；　since　his　return　to　his　body；　and　particularly　since　your　extraordinary　escape　from　him　last　year；　he　has　been　determined　to　hear　that　prophecy　in　its　entirety。　This　is　the　weapon　he　has　been　seeking　so　assiduously　since　his　return：　the　knowledge　of　how　to　destroy　you。'
　　　
　　　The　sun　had　risen　fully　now：　Dumbledore's　office　was　bathed　in　it。　The　glass　case　in　which　the　sword　of　Godric　Gryffindor　resided　gleamed　white　and　opaque；　the　fragments　of　the　instruments　Harry　had　thrown　to　the　floor　glistened　like　raindrops；　and　behind　him；　the　baby　Fawkes　made　soft　chirruping　noises　in　his　nest　of　ashes。
　　　'The　prophecy's　smashed；'　Harry　said　blankly。　'I　was　pulling　Neville　up　those　benches　in　the　…　the　room　where　the　archway　was；　and　I　ripped　his　robes　and　it　fell：'
　　　
　　　'The　thing　that　smashed　was　merely　the　record　of　the　prophecy　kept　by　the　Department　of　Mysteries。　But　the　prophecy　was　made　to　somebody；　and　that　person　has　the　means　of　recalling　it　perfectly'
　　　
　　　'Who　heard　it？'　asked　Harry；　though　he　thought　he　knew　the　answer　already
　　　
　　　'I　did；'　said　Dumbledore。　'On　a　cold；　wet　night　sixteen　years　ago；　in　a　room　above　the　bar　at　the　Hog's　Head　inn。　I　had　gone　there　to　see　an　applicant　for　the　post　of　Divination　teacher；　though　it　was　against　my　inclination　to　allow　the　subject　of　Divination　to　continue　at　all。　The　applicant；　however；　was　the　great…great…granddaughter　of　a　very　famous；　very　gifted　Seer　and　I　thought　it　mon　politeness　to　meet　her。　I　was　disappointed。　It　seemed　to　me　that　she　had　not　a　trace　of　the　gift　herself。　I　told　her；　courteously　I　hope；　that　I　did　not　think　she　would　be　suitable　for　the　post。　I　turned　to　leave。'
　　　
　　　Dumbledore　got　to　his　feet　and　walked　past　Harry　to　the　black　cabinet　that　stood　beside　Fawkes's　perch。　He　bent　down；　slid　back　a　catch　and　took　from　inside　it　the　shallow　stone　basin；　carved　with　runes　around　the　edges；　in　which　Harry　had　seen　his　father　tormenting　Snape。　Dumbledore　walked　back　to　the　desk；　placed　the　Pensieve　upon　it；　and　raised　his　wand　to　his　own　temple。　From　it；　he　withdrew　silvery；　gossamer…fine　strands　of　thought　clinging　to　the　wand　and　deposited　them　into　the　basin。　He　sat　back　down　behind　his　desk　and　watched　his　thoughts　swirl　and　drift　inside　the　Pensieve　for　a　moment。　Then；　with　a　sigh；　he　raised　his　wand　and　prodded　the　silvery　substance　with　its　tip。
　　　A　figure　rose　out　of　it；　draped　in　shawls；　her　eyes　magnified　to　enormous　size　behind　her　glasses；　and　she　revolved　slowly；　her　feet　in　the　basin。　But　when　Sybill　Trelawney　spoke；　it　was　not　in　her　usual　ethereal；　mystic　voice；　but　in　the　harsh；　hoarse　tones　Harry　had　heard　her　use　once　before：
　　　
　　　'The　one　with　the　power　to　vanquish　the…　Dark　Lord　approaches：　born　to　those　who　have　thrice　defied　him；　born　as　the　seventh　month　dies：　and　the　Dark　Lord　will　mark　him　as　his　equal；　but　he　will　have　power　the　Dark　Lord　knows　not：　and　either　must　die　at　the　hand　of　the　other　for　neither　can　live　while　the　other　survives：　the　one　with　the　power　to　vanquish　the　Dark　Lord　will　be　born　as　the　seventh　month　dies：'
　　　
　　　The　slowly　revolving　Professor　Trelawney　sank　back　into　the　silver　mass　below　and　vanished。
　　　The　silence　within　the　office　was　absolute。　Neither　Dumbledore　nor　Harry　nor　any　of　the　portraits　made　a　sound。　Even　Fawkes　had　fallen　silent。
　　　'Professor　Dumbledore？'　Harry　said　very　quietly；　for　Dumbledore；　still　staring　at　the　Pensieve；　seemed　pletely　lost　in　thought。　It　。。　did　that　mean：　what　did　that　mean？'
　　　
　　　'It　meant；'　said　Dumbledore；　'that　the　person　who　has　the　only　chance　of　conquering　Lord　Voldemort　for　good　was　born　at　the　end　of　July；　nearly　sixteen　years　ago。　This　boy　would　be　born　to　parents　who　had　already　defied　Voldemort　three　times。'
　　　
　　　Harry　felt　as　though　something　was　closing　in　on　him。　His　breathing　seemed　difficult　again。
　　　'It　means　…　me？'
　　　Dumbledore　surveyed　him　for　a　moment　through　his　glasses。
　　　
　　　'The　odd　thing；　Harry；'　he　said　softly；　'is　that　it　may　not　have　meant　you　at　all。　Sybill's　prophecy　could　have　applied　to　two　wizard　boys；　both　born　at　the　end　of　July　that　year；　both　of　whom　had　parents　in　the　Order　of　the　Phoenix；　both　sets　of　parents　having　narrowly　escaped　Voldemort　three　times。　One；　of　course；　was　you。　The　other　was　Neville　Longbottom。'
　　　
　　　'But　then：　but　then；　why　was　it　my　name　on　the　prophecy　and　not　Neville's？'
　　　
　　　'The　official　record　was　re…labelled　after　Voldemort's　attack　on　you　as　a　child；'　said　Dumbledore。　'It　seemed　plain　to　the　keeper　of　the　Hall　of　Prophecy　that　Voldemort　could　only　have　tried　to　kill　you　because　he　knew　you　to　be　the　one　to　whom　Sybill　was　referring。'
　　　
　　　'Then　…　it　might　not　be　me？'　said　Harry
　　　
　　　'I　am　afraid；'　said　Dumbledore　slowly；　looking　as　though　every　word　cost　him　a　great　effort；　'that　there　is　no　doubt　that　it　is　you。
　　　'But　you　said　…　Neville　was　born　at　the　end　of　July；　too　…　and　his　mum　and　dad　…　'
　　　
　　　'You　are　forgetting　the　next　part　of　the　prophecy；　the　final　identifying　feature　of　the　boy　who　could　vanquish　Voldemort：　Voldemort　himself　would　mark　him　as　his　equal。　And　so　he　did；　Harry　He　chose　you；　not　Neville。　He　gave　you　the　scar　that　has　proved　both　blessing　and　curse。'
　　　
　　　'But　he　might　have　chosen　wrong！'　said　Harry。　'He　might　have　marked　the　wrong　person！'
　　　
　　　'He　chose　the　boy　he　thought　most　likely　to　be　a　danger　to　him；'　said　Dumbledore。　'And　notice　this；　Harry：　he　chose；　not　the　pureblood　（which；　according　to　his　creed；　is　the　only　kind　of　wizard　worth　being　or　knowing）　but　the　half…blood；　like　himself。　He　saw　himself　in　you　before　he　had　ever　seen　you；　and　in　marking　you　with　that　scar；　he　did　not　kill　you；　as　he　intended；　but　gave　you　powers；　and　a　future；　which　have　fitted　you　to　escape　him　not　once；　but　four　times　so　far　…　something　that　neither　your　parents；　nor　Neville's　parents；　ever　achieved。'
　　　
　　　'Why　did　he　do　it；　then？'　said　Harry；　who　felt　numb　and　cold。　'Why　did　he　try　and　kill　me　as　a　baby？　He　should　have　waited　to　see　whether　Neville　or　I　looked　more　dangerous　when　we　were　older　and　tried　to　kill　whoever　it　was　then　…　'
　　　
　　　'That　might；　indeed；　have　been　the　more　practical　course；'　said　Dumbledore；　'except　that　Voldemort's　information　about　the　prophecy　was　inplete。　The　Hog's　Head　inn；　which　Sybill　chose　for　its　cheapness；　has　long　attracted；　shall　we　say；　a　more　interesting　clientele　than　the　Three　Broomsticks。　As　you　and　your　friends　found　out　to　your　cost；　and　I　to　mine　that　night；　it　is　a　place　where　it　is　never　safe　to　assure　you　are　not　being　overheard。　Of　course；　I　had　not　dreamed；　when　I　set