3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第15章

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fence。
　　〃Hippogriffs！〃　Hagrid　roared　happily；　waving　a　hand　at　them。　〃Beau'iful；　aren'　they？〃
　　Harry　could　sort　of　see　what　Hagrid　meant。　Once　you　got　over　the　first　shock　of　seeing　something　that　was；　half　horse；　half　bird；　you　started　to　appreciate　the　hippogriffs'　gleaming　coats；　changing　smoothly　from　feather　to　hair；　each　of　them　a　different　color：　stormy　gray；　bronze；　pinkish　roan；　gleaming　chestnut；　and　inky　black。
　　〃So；〃　said　Hagrid；　rubbing　his　hands　together　and　beaming　around；　〃if　yeh　wan'　ter　e　a　bit　nearer　〃
　　No　one　seemed　to　want　to。　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione；　however；　approached　the　fence　cautiously。
　　〃Now；　firs'　thing　yeh　gotta　know　abou'　hippogriffs　is；　they're　proud；〃　said　Hagrid。　〃Easily　offended；　hippogriffs　are。　Don't　never　insult　one；　'cause　it　might　be　the　last　thing　yeh　do。〃
　　Malfoy；　Crabbe；　and　Goyle　weren't　listening；　they　were　talking　in　an　undertone　and　Harry　had　a　nasty　feeling　they　were　plotting　how　best　to　disrupt　the　lesson。
　　〃Yeh　always　wait　fer　the　hippogriff　ter　make　the　firs'　move；〃　Hagrid　continued。　〃It's　polite；　see？　Yeh　walk　toward　him；　and　yeh　bow；　an'　yeh　wait。　If　he　bows　back；　yeh're　allowed　ter　touch　him。　If　he　doesn'　bow；　then　get　away　from　him　sharpish；　'cause　those　talons　hurt。
　　〃Right　　who　wants　ter　go　first？〃
　　Most　of　the　class　backed　farther　away　in　answer。　Even　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　had　misgivings。　The　hippogriffs　were　tossing　their　fierce　heads　and　flexing　their　powerful　wings；　they　didn't　seem　to　like　being　tethered　like　this。
　　〃No　one？〃　said　Hagrid；　with　a　pleading　look。
　　〃I'll　do　it；〃　said　Harry。
　　There　was　an　intake　of　breath　from　behind　him；　and　both　Lavender　and　Parvati　whispered；　〃Oooh；　no；　Harry；　remember　your　tea　leaves！〃
　　Harry　ignored　them。　He　climbed　over　the　paddock　fence。
　　〃Good　man；　Harry！〃　roared　Hagrid。　〃Right　then　　let's　see　how　yeh　get　on　with　Buckbeak。〃
　　He　untied　one　of　the　chains；　pulled　the　gray　hippogriff　away　from　its　fellows；　and　slipped　off　its　leather　collar。　The　class　on　the　other　side　of　the　paddock　seemed　to　be　holding　its　breath。　Malfoy's　eyes　were　narrowed　maliciously。
　　〃Easy）　now；　Harry；〃　said　Hagrid　quietly。　〃Yeh've　got　eye　contact；　now　try　not　ter　blink。。。。　Hippogriffs　don'　trust　yeh　if　yeh　blink　too　much。。。。〃
　　Harry's　eyes　immediately　began　to　water；　but　he　didn't　shut　thern。　Buckbeak　had　turned　his　great；　sharp　head　and　was　staring　at　Harry　with　one　fierce　orange　eye。　〃Tha's　it；〃　said　Hagrid。　〃Tha's　it；　Harry。。。　now；　bow。〃
　　Harry　didn't　feel　much　like　exposing　the　back　of　his　neck　to　Buckbeak；　but　he　did　as　he　was　told。　He　gave　a　short　bow　and　then　looked　up。
　　The　hippogriff　was　still　staring　haughtily　at　him。　It　didn't　move。
　　〃Ah；〃　said　Hagrid；　sounding　worried。　〃Right　　back　away；　now；　Harry；　easy　does　it
　　But　then；　to　Harry's　enormous　surprise；　the　hippogriff　suddenly　bent　its　scaly　front　knees　and　sank　into　what　was　an　unmistakable　bow。
　　〃Well　done；　Harry！〃　said　Hagrid；　ecstatic。　〃Right　　yeh　can　touch　him！　Pat　his　beak；　go　on！〃
　　Feeling　that　a　better　reward　would　have　been　to　back　away；　Harry　moved　slowly　toward　the　hippogriff　and　reached　out　toward　it。　He　patted　the　beak　several　times　and　the　hippogriff　closed　its　eyes　lazily；　as　though　enjoying　it。
　　The　class　broke　into　applause；　all　except　for　Malfoy；　Crabbe；　and　Goyle；　who　were　looking　deeply　disappointed。
　　〃Righ'　then；　Harry；〃　said　Hagrid。　〃I　reckon　he　might'　let　yeh　ride　him！〃
　　This　was　more　than　Harry　had　bargained　for。　He　was　used　to　a　broomstick；　but　he　wasn't　sure　a　hippogriff　would　be　quite　the　same。
　　〃Yeh　climb　up　there；　jus'　behind　the　wing　joint；〃　said　Hagrid；　〃an'　mind　yeh　don'　pull　any　of　his　feathers　out；　he　won'　like　that。。。。〃
　　Harry　put　his　foot　on　the　top　of　Buckbeaks　wing　and　hoisted　himself　onto　its　back。　Buckbeak　stood　up。　Harry　wasn't　sure　where　to　hold　on；　everything　in　front　of　him　was　covered　with　feathers。
　　〃Go　on；　then'〃　roared　Hagrid；　slapping　the　hippogriffs　hindquarters。
　　Without　warning；　twelve…foot　wings　flapped　open　on　either　side　of　Harry；　he　just　had　time　to　seize　the　hippogriff　around　the　neck　before　he　was　soaring　upward。　It　was　nothing　like　a　broomstick；　and　Harry　knew　which　one　he　preferred；　the　hippogriff's　wings　beat　unfortably　on　either　side　of　him；　catching　him　under　his　legs　and　making　him　feel　he　was　about　to　be　thrown　off；　the　glossy　feathers　slipped　under　his　fingers　and　he　didn't　dare　get　a　stronger　grip；　instead　of　the　smooth　action　of　his　Nimbus　Two　Thousand；　he　now　felt　himself　rocking　backward　and　forward　as　the　hindquarters　of　the　hippogriff　rose　and　fell　with　its　wings。
　　Buckbeak　flew　him　once　around　the　paddock　and　then　headed　back　to　the　ground；　this　was　the　bit　Harry　had　been　dreading；　he　leaned　back　as　the　smooth　neck　lowered；　feeling　he　was　going　to　slip　off　over　the　beak；　then　felt　a　heavy　thud　as　the　four　ill…assorted　feet　hit　the　ground。　He　just　managed　to　hold　on　and　push　himself　straight　again。
　　〃Good　work；　Harry！〃　roared　Hagrid　as　everyone　except　Malfoy；　Crabbe；　and　Goyle　cheered。　〃Okay；　who　else　wants　a　go？〃
　　Emboldened　by　Harry's　success；　the　rest　of　the　class　climbed　cautiously　into　the　paddock。　Hagrid　untied　the　hippogriffs　one　by　one；　and　soon　people　were　bowing　nervously；　all　over　the　paddock。　Neville　ran　repeatedly　backward　from　his；　which　didn't　seem　to　want　to　bend　its　knees。　Ron　and　Hermione　practiced　on　the　chestnut；　while　Harry　watched。
　　Malfoy；　Crabbe；　and　Goyle　had　taken　over　Buckbeak。　He　had　bowed　to　Malfoy；　who　was　now　patting　his　beak；　looking　disdainful。
　　〃This　is　very　easy；〃　Malfoy　drawled；　loud　enough　for　Harry　to；　hear　him。　〃I　knew　it　must　have　been；　if　Potter　could　do　it。。。。　I　bet　you're　not　dangerous　at　all；　are　you？〃　he　said　to　the　hippogriff。　〃Are　you；　you　great　ugly　brute？〃
　　It　happened　in　a　flash　of　steely　talons；　Malfoy　let　out　a　highpitched　scream　and　next　moment；　Hagrid　was　wrestling　Buckbeak　back　into　his　collar　as　he　strained　to　get　at　Malfoy；　who　lay　curled　in　the　grass；　blood　blossoming　over　his　robes。
　　〃I'm　dying！〃　Malfoy　yelled　as　the　class　panicked。　〃I'm　dying；　look　at　me！　It's　killed　me！〃
　　〃Yer　not　dyin'！〃　said　Hagrid；　who　had　gone　very　white。　〃Someone　help　me　　gotta　get　him　outta　here　〃
　　Hermione　ran　to　hold　open　the　gate　as　Hagrid　lifted　Malfoy　easily。　As　they　passed；　Harry　saw　that　there　was　a　long；　deep　gash　on　Malfoy's　arm；　blood　splattered　the　grass　and　Hagrid　ran　with　him；　up　the　slope　toward　the　castle。
　　Very　shaken；　the　Care　of　Magical　Creatures　class　followed　at　a　walk。　The　Slytherins　were　all　shouting　about　Hagrid。
　　〃They　should　fire　him　straight　away！〃　said　Pansy　Parkinson；　who　was　in　tears。
　　〃It　was　Malfoy's　fault！〃　snapped　Dean　Thomas。　Crabbe　and　Goyle　flexed　their　muscles　threateningly。
　　They　all　climbed　the　stone　steps　into　the　deserted　entrance　hall。
　　〃I'm　going　to　see　if　he's　okay！〃　said　Pansy；　and　they　all　watched　her　run　up　the　marble　staircase。　The　Slytherins；　still　muttering　about　Hagrid；　headed　away　in　the　direction　of　their　dungeon　mon　room；　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　proceeded　upstairs　to　Gryffindor　Tower。
　　〃You　think　he'll　be　all　right？〃　said　Hermione　nervously。
　　〃Course　he　will。　Madam　Pomfrey　can　mend　cuts　in　about　a　second；〃　said　Harry；　who　had　had　far　worse　injuries　mended　magically　by　the　nurse。
　　〃That　was　a　really　bad　thing　to　happen　in　Hagrid's　first　class；　though；　wasn't　it？〃　said　Ron；　looking　worried。　〃Trust　Malfoy　to　mess　things　up　for　him。。。。〃
　　They　were　among　the　first　to　reach　the　Great　Hall　at　dinnertime；　hoping　to　see　Hagrid；　but　he　wasn't　there。
　　〃They　wouldn't　fire　him；　would　they？〃　said　Hermione　anxiously；　not　touching　her　steak…and…　kidney　pudding。
　　〃They'd　better　not；〃　said　Ron；　who　wasn't　eating　either。
　　Harry　was　watching　the　Slytherin　table。　A　large　group　including　Crabbe　and　Goyle　was　huddled　together；　deep　in　conversation。　Harry　was　sure　they　were　cooking　up　their　own　version　of　how　Malfoy　had　been　injured。
　　〃Well；　you　can't　say　it　wasn't　an　interesting　first　day　back；〃　said　Ron　gloomily。
　　They　went　up　to　the　crowded　Gryffindor　mon　room　after　dinner　and　tried　to　do　the　homework　Professor　McGonagall　had　given　them；　but　all　three　of　them　kept　breaking　off　and　glancing　Out　of　the　tower　window。
　　〃There's　a　light　on　in　Hagrid's　window；〃　Harry　said　suddenly。
　　Ron　looked　at　his　watch。
　　〃If　we　hurried；　we　could　go　down　and　see　him。　It's　still　quite　early。。。〃
　　I　don't　know；〃　Hermione　said　slowly；　and　Harry　saw　her　glance　at　him。
　　〃I'm　allowed　to　walk　across　the　grounds；　〃　he　said　Pointedly。　〃Sirius　Black　hasn't　got　past　the　dementors　yet；　has　he？〃
　　So　they　put　their　things　away　and　headed　out　of　the　portrait　hole；　glad　to　meet　nobody　on　their　way　to　the　front　doors；　as　they　weren't　entirely　sure　they　were　supposed　to　be　out。
　　The　grass　was　still　wet　and　looked　almost　black　in　the　twilight。　When　they　reached　Hagrid's　hut；　they　knocked；　and　a　voice　growled；　〃C'min。〃
　　Hagrid　was　sitting　in　his　shirtsleeves　at　his　scrubbed　wooden　table；　his　boarhound；　Fang；　had　his　head　in　Hagrid's　lap。　One　look　told　them　that　Hagrid　had　been　drinking　a　lot；　there　was　a　pewter　tankard　almost　as　big　as　a　bucket　in　front　of　him；　and　he　seemed　to　be　having　difficulty　getting　them　into　focus。
　　〃'Spect　it's　a　record；〃　he　said　thickly；　when　he　recognized　them。　〃Don'　reckon　they've　ever　had　a　teacher　who　lasted　on'y　a　day　before。〃
　　〃You　haven't　been　fired；　Hagrid！〃　gasped　Hermione。
　　〃Not　yet；〃　said　Hagrid　miserably；　taking　a　huge　gulp　of　whatever　was　in　the　tankard。　〃But's　only　a　matter　o'　time；　i'　n't　it；　after　Malfoy。。。〃
　　〃How　is　he？〃　said　Ron　as　they　all　sat　down。　〃It　wasn't　serious；　was　it？〃
　　〃Madam　Pomfrey　fixed　him　best　she　could；〃　said　Hagrid　dully；　〃but　he's　sayin'　it's　still　agony。。。　covered　in　bandages。。。　moanin'。。
　　〃He's　faking　it；　〃　said　Harry　at　once。　〃Madam　Pomfrey　can　mend　anything。　She　regrew　half　my　bones　last　year。　Trust　Malfoy　to　milk　it　for　all　it's　worth。〃
　　〃School　gov'nors　have　bin　told；　o'　course；〃　said　Hagrid　miseribly。　〃They　reckon　I　started　too　big。　Shoulda　left　hippogriffs　fer　later。。。　done　flobberworms　or　summat。。。。　Jus'　thought　itdmake　a　good　firs'　lessons　all　my　fault。。。。〃
　　〃It's　all　Malfoy's　fault；　Hagrid！〃　said　Hermione　earnestly。
　　〃We're　witnesses；〃　said　Harry。　〃You　said　hippogriffs　attack　if　you　insult　them。　It's　Malfoy's　problem　that　he　wasn't　listening。　We'll　tell　Dumbledore　what　really　happened。〃
　　〃Yeah；　don't　worry；　Hagrid；　we'll　back　you　up；〃　said　Ron。
　　Tears　leaked　out　of　the　crinkled　corners　of　Hagrid's　beetle…black　eyes。　He　grabbed　both　Harry　and　Ron　and　pulled　them　into　a　bone…breaking　hug。
　　〃I　think　you've　had　enough　to　drink；　Hagrid；〃　said　Hermione　firmly。　She　took　the　tankard　from　the　table　and　went　outside　to　empty　it。
　　〃At；　maybe　she's　right；〃　said　Hagrid；　letting　go　of　Harry　and　Ron；　who　both　staggered　away；　rubbing　their　ribs。　Hagrid　heaved　himself　out　of　his　chair　and　followed　Hermione　unsteadily　outside。　They　heard　a　loud　splash。
　　〃What's　he　done？〃　said　Harry　nervously　as　Hermione　came　back　in　with　the　empty　tankard。
　　〃Stuck　his　head　in　the　water　barrel；〃　said　Hermione；　putting　the　tankard　away。
　　Hagrid　came　back；　his　long　hair　and　beard