3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第12章

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　　〃It　was　a　dementor；　Poppy；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall。
　　They　exchanged　a　dark　look；　and　Madam　Pomfrey　clucked　disapprovingly。
　　〃Setting　dementors　around　a　school；　she　muttered；　pushing　back　Harry's　hair　and　feeling　his　forehead。　〃He　won't　be　the　last　one　who　collapses。　Yes；　he's　all　clammy。　Terrible　things；　they　are；　and　the　effect　they　have　on　people　who　are　already　delicate
　　〃I'm　not　delicate！〃　said　Harry　crossly。
　　〃Of　course　you're　not；〃　said　Madam　Pomfrey　absentmindedly；　now　taking　his　pulse。
　　〃What　does　he　need？〃　said　Professor　McGonagall　crisply。　〃Bed　rest？　Should　he　perhaps　spend　tonight　in　the　hospital　wing？〃
　　〃I'm　fine！〃　said　Harry；　jumping　up。　The　thought　of　what　Draco　Malfoy　would　say　if　he　had　to　go　to　the　hospital　wing　was　torture。
　　〃Well；　he　should　have　some　chocolate；　at　the　very　least；〃　said　Madam　Pomfrey；　who　was　now　trying　to　peer　into　Harry's　eyes。
　　〃I've　already　had　some；〃　said　Harry。　〃Professor　Lupin　gave　me　some。　He　gave　it　to　all　of　us。〃
　　〃Did　he；　now？〃　said　Madam　Pomfrey　approvingly。　〃So　we've　finally　got　a　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts　teacher　who　knows　his　remedies？〃
　　〃Are　you　sure　you　feel　all　right；　Potter？〃　Professor　McGonagall　said　sharply。
　　〃Yes；　〃said　Harry。
　　〃Very　well。　Kindly　wait　outside　while　I　have　a　quick　word　with　Miss　Granger　about　her　course　schedule；　then　we　can　go　down　to　the　feast　together。〃
　　Harry　went　back　into　the　corridor　with　Madam　Pomfrey；　who　left　for　the　hospital　wing；　muttering　to　herself　He　had　to　wait　only　a　few　minutes；　then　Hermione　emerged　looking　very　happy　about　something；　followed　by　Professor　McGonagall；　and　the　three　of　them　made　their　way　back　down　the　marble　staircase　to　the　Great　Hall。
　　It　was　a　sea　of　pointed　black　hats；　each　of　the　long　House　tables　was　lined　with　students；　their　faces　glimmering　by　the　light　of　thousands　of　candles；　which　were　floating　over　the　tables　in　midair。　Professor　Flitwick；　who　was　a　tiny　little　wizard　with　a　shock　of　white　hair；　was　carrying　an　ancient　hat　and　a　three…legged　stool　out　of　the　hall。
　　〃Oh；〃　said　Hermione　softly；　〃we've　missed　the　Sorting！〃
　　New　students　at　Hogwarts　were　sorted　into　Houses　by　trying　on　the　sorting　Hat；　which　shouted　out　the　House　they　were　best　suited　to　（Gryffindor；　Ravenclaw；　Hufflepuff；　or　Slytherin）。　Professor　McGonagall　strode　off　toward　her　empty　seat　at　the　staff　table；　and　Harry　and　Hermione　set　off　in　the　other　direction；　as　quietly　as　possible；　toward　the　Gryffindor　table。　People　looked　around　at　them　as　they　passed　along　the　back　of　the　hall；　and　a　few　of　them　pointed　at　Harry。　Had　the　story　of　his　collapsing　in　front　of　the　dementor　traveled　that　fast？
　　He　and　Hermione　sat　down　on　either　side　of　Ron；　who　had　saved　them　seats。
　　〃What　was　all　that　about？〃　he　muttered　to　Harry。
　　Harry　started　to　explain　in　a　whisper；　but　at　that　moment　the　headmaster　stood　up　to　speak；　and　he　broke　off。
　　Professor　Dumbledore；　though　very　old；　always　gave　an　impression　of　great　energy。　He　had　several　feet　of　long　silver　hair　and　beard；　half…moon　spectacles；　and　an　extremely　crooked　nose。　He　was　often　described　as　the　greatest　wizard　of　the　age；　but　that　wasn't　why　Harry　respected　him。　You　couldn't　help　trusting　Albus　Dumbledore；　and　as　Harry　watched　him　beaming　around　at　the　students；　he　felt　really　calm　for　the　first　time　since　the　dementor　had　entered　the　train　partment。
　　〃Wele！〃　said　Dumbledore；　the　candlelight　shimmering　on　his　beard。　〃Wele　to　another　year　at　Hogwarts！　I　have　a　few　things　to　say　to　you　all；　and　as　one　of　them　is　very　serious；　I　think　it　best　to　get　it　out　of　the　way　before　you　bee　befuddled　by　our　excellent　feast。。。。〃
　　Dumbledore　cleared　his　throat　and　continued；　〃As　you　will　all　be　aware　after　their　search　of　the　Hogwarts　Express；　our　school　is　presently　playing　host　to　some　of　the　dementors　of　Azkaban；　who　are　here　on　Ministry　of　Magic　business。〃
　　He　paused；　and　Harry　remembered　what　Mr。　Weasley　had　said　about　Dumbledore　not　being　happy　with　the　dementors　guarding　the　school。
　　〃They　are　stationed　at　every　entrance　to　the　grounds；〃　Dumbledore　continued；　〃and　while　they　are　with　us；　I　must　make　it　plain　that　nobody　is　to　leave　school　without　permission。　Dementors　are　not　to　be　fooled　by　tricks　or　disguises　　or　even　Invisibility　Cloaks；〃　he　added　blandly；　and　Harry　and　Ron　glanced　at　each　other。　〃It　is　not　in　the　nature　of　a　dementor　to　understand　pleading　or　excuses。　I　therefore　warn　each　and　every　one　of　you　to　give　them　no　reason　to　harm　you。　I　look　to　the　prefects；　and　our　new　Head　Boy　and　Girl；　to　make　sure　that　no　student　runs　afoul　of　the　dementors；〃　he　said。
　　Percy；　who　was　sitting　a　few　seats　down　from　Harry；　puffed　out　his　chest　again　and　stared　around　impressively。　Dumbledore　paused　again；　he　looked　very　seriously　around　the　hall；　and　nobody　moved　or　made　a　sound。
　　〃On　a　happier　note；〃　he　continued；　I　am　pleased　to　wele　two　new　teachers　to　our　ranks　this　year。
　　〃First；　Professor　Lupin；　who　has　kindly　consented　to　fill　the　post　of　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts　teacher。〃
　　There　was　some　scattered；　rather　unenthusiastic　applause。　Only　those　who　had　been　in　the　partment　on　the　train　with　Professor　Lupin　clapped　hard；　Harry　among　them。　Professor　Lupin　looked　particularly　shabby　next　to　all　the　other　teachers　in　their　best　robes。
　　〃Look　at　Snape！〃　Ron　hissed　in　Harry's　ear。
　　Professor　Snape；　the　Potions　master；　was　staring　along　the　staff　table　at　Professor　Lupin。　It　was　mon　knowledge　that　Snape　；anted　the　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts　job；　but　even　Harry；　who　hated　Snape；　was　startled　at　the　expression　twisting　his　thin；　sallow　face。　it　was　beyond　anger：　it　was　loathing。　Harry　knew　that　expression　only　too　well；　it　was　the　look　Snape　wore　every　time　he　set　eyes　on　Harry。
　　〃As　to　our　second　new　appointment；〃　Dumbledore　continued　as　the　lukewarm　applause　for　Professor　Lupin　died　away。　〃Well；　I　am　sorry　to　tell　you　that　Professor　Kettleburn；　our　Care　of　Magical　Creatures　teacher；　retired　at　the　end　of　last　year　in　order　to　enjoy　more　time　with　his　remaining　limbs。　However；　I　am　delighted　to　say　that　his　place　will　be　filled　by　none　other　than　Rubeus　Hagrid；　who　has　agreed　to　take　on　this　teaching　job　in　addition　to　his　gamekeeping　duties。〃
　　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　stared　at　one　another；　stunned。　Then　they　joined　in　with　the　applause；　which　was　tumultuous　at　the　Gryffindor　table　in　particular。　Harry　leaned　forward　to　see　Hagrid；　who　was　ruby…red　in　the　face　and　staring　down　at　his　enormous　hands；　his　wide　grin　hidden　in　the　tangle　of　his　black　beard。
　　〃We　should've　known！〃　Ron　roared；　pounding　the　table。　〃Who　else　would　have　assigned　us　a　biting　book？〃
　　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　were　the　last　to　stop　clapping；　and　as　Professor　Dumbledore　started　speaking　again；　they　saw　that　Hagrid　was　wiping　his　eyes　on　the　tablecloth。
　　〃Well；　I　think　that's　everything　of　importance；〃　said　Dumbledore。　〃Let　the　feast　begin！〃
　　The　golden　plates　and　goblets　before　them　filled　suddenly　with　food　and　drink。　Harry；　suddenly　ravenous；　helped　himself　to　everything　he　could　reach　and　began　to　eat。
　　It　was　a　delicious　feast；　the　hall　echoed　with　talk；　laughter；　and　the　clatter　of　knives　and　forks。　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione；　however；　were　eager　for　it　to　finish　so　that　they　could　talk　to　Hagrid。　They　knew　how　much　being　made　a　teacher　would　mean　to　him。　Hagrid　wasn't　a　fully　qualified　wizard；　he　had　been　expelled　from　Hogwarts　in　his　third　year　for　a　crime　he　had　not　mitted。　It　had　been　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　who　had　cleared　Hagrid's　name　last　year。
　　At　long　last；　when　the　last　morsels　of　pumpkin　tart　had　melted　from　the　golden　platters；　Dumbledore　gave　the　word　that　it　was　time　for　them　all　to　go　to　bed；　and　they　got　their　chance。
　　〃Congratulations；　Hagrid！〃　Hermione　squealed　as　they　reached　the　teachers'　table。
　　〃All　down　ter　you　three；〃　said　Hagrid；　wiping　his　shining　face　on　his　napkin　as　he　looked　up　at　them。；　〃Can'　believe　it。。。　great　man；　Dumbledore。。。　came　straight　down　to　me　hut　after　Professor　Kettleburn　said　he'd　had　enough。。。。　It's　what　I　always　wanted。　〃
　　Overe　with　emotion；　he　buried　his　face　in　his　napkin；　and　Professor　McGonagall　shooed　them　away。
　　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　joined　the　Gryffindors　streaming　up　the　marble　staircase　and；　very　tired　now；　along　more　corridors；　UP　more　and　more　stairs；　to　the　hidden　entrance　to　Gryffindor　Tower's　large　portrait　of　a　fat　lady　in　a　pink　dress　asked　them；　〃Password？〃
　　〃ing　through；　ing　through！〃　Percy　called　from　behind　the　crowd。　〃The　new　password's　'Fortuna　Major'！〃
　　〃Oh　no；〃　said　Neville　Longbottom　sadly。　He　always　had　trouble　remembering　the　passwords。
　　Through　the　portrait　hole　and　across　the　mon　room；　the　girls　and　boys　divided　toward　their　separate　staircases。　Harry　climbed　the　spiral　stair　with　no　thought　in　his　head　except　how　glad　he　was　to　be　back。　They　reached　their　familiar；　circular　dormitory　with　its　five　four…poster　beds；　and　Harry；　looking　around；　felt　he　was　home　at　last。
　　CHAPTER　SIX
　　TALONS　AND　TEA　LEAVES
　　When　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　entered　the　Great　Hall　for　breakfast　the　next　day；　the　first　thing　they　saw　was　Draco　Malfoy；　who　seemed　to　be　entertaining　a　large　group　of　Slytherins　with　a　very　funny　story。　As　they　passed；　Malfoy　did　a　ridiculous　impression　of　a　swooning　fit　and　there　was　a　roar　of　laughter。
　　〃Ignore　him；〃　said　Hermione；　who　was　right　behind　Harry。　〃Just　ignore　him；　it's　not　worth　it。。。。〃
　　〃Hey；　Potter！〃　shrieked　Pansy　Parkinson；　a　Slytherin　girl　with　a　face　like　a　pug。　〃Potter！　The　dementors　are　ing；　Potter！　Woooooooooo！〃
　　Harry　dropped　into　a　seat　at　the　Gryffindor　table；　next　to　George　Weasley。
　　〃New　third…year　course　schedules；〃　said　George；　passing　then；　over。　〃What's　up　with　you；　Harry？〃
　　〃Malfoy；〃　said　Ron；　sitting　down　on　George's　other　side　and　glaring　over　at　the　Slytherin　table。
　　George　looked　up　in　time　to　see　Malfoy　pretending　to　faint　with　terror　again。
　　〃That　little　git；〃　he　said　calmly。　〃He　wasn't　so　cocky　last　night　when　the　dementors　were　down　at　our　end　of　the　train。　Came　runing　into　our　partment；　didn't　he；　Fred？〃
　　〃Nearly　wet　himself；〃　said　Fred；　with　a　contemptuous　glance　at　Malfoy。
　　〃I　wasn't　too　happy　myself；〃　said　George。　〃They're　horrible　things；　those　dementors。。。。〃
　　〃Sort　of　freeze　your　insides；　don't　they？〃　said　Fred。
　　〃You　didn't　pass　out；　though；　did　you？〃　said　Harry　in　a　low　voice。
　　〃Forget　it；　Harry；〃　said　George　bracingly。　〃Dad　had　to　go　out　to　Azkaban　one　time；　remember；　Fred？　And　he　said　it　was　the　worst　place　he'd　ever　been；　he　came　back　all　weak　and　shaking。。。。　They　suck　the　happiness　out　of　a　place；　dementors。　Most　of　the　prisoners　go　mad　in　there。〃
　　〃Anyway；　we'll　see　how　happy　Malfoy　looks　after　our　first　Quidditch　match；〃　said　Fred。　〃Gryffindor　versus　Slytherin；　first　game　of　the　season；　remember？〃
　　The　only　time　Harry　and　Malfoy　had　faced　each　other　in　a　Quidditch　match；　Malfoy　had　definitely　e　off　worse。　Feeling　slightly　more　cheerful；　Harry　helped　himself　to　sausages　and　fried　tomatoes。
　　Hermione　was　examining　her　new　schedule。
　　〃　Ooh；　good；　we're　starting　some　new　subjects　today；〃　she　said　happily。　villains　are　these；　that　trespass　upon　my　pr