3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第17章

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lking　when　he　finally　entered　the　room。　Lupin　smiled　vaguely　and　placed　his　tatty　old　briefcase　on　the　teacher's　desk。　He　was　as　shabby　as　ever　but　looked　healthier　than　he　had　on　the　train；　as　though　he　had　had　a　few　square　meals。
　　〃Good　afternoon；〃　he　said。　〃Would　you　please　put　all　your　books　back　in　your　bags。　Today's　will　be　a　practical　lesson。　You　will　need　only　your　wands。〃
　　A　few　curious　looks　were　exchanged　as　the　class　put　away　their　books。　They　had　never　had　a　practical　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts　before；　unless　you　counted　the　memorable　class　last　year　when　their　old　teacher　had　brought　a　cageful　of　pixies　…to　class　and　set　them　loose。
　　〃Right　then；〃　said　Professor　Lupin；　when　everyone　was　ready。　〃If　you'd　follow　me。〃
　　Puzzled　but　interested；　the　class　got　to　its　feet　and　followed　Professor　Lupin　out　of　the　classroom。　He　led　them　along　the　deserted　corridor　and　around　a　corner；　where　the　first　thing　they　saw　was　Peeves　the　Poltergeist；　who　was　floating　upside　down　in　midair　and　stuffing　the　nearest　keyhole　with　chewing　gum。
　　Peeves　didn't　look　up　until　Professor　Lupin　was　two　feet　away；　；hen　he　wiggled　his　curly…toed　feet　and　broke　into　song。
　　〃Loony；　loopy　Lupin；〃　Peeves　sang。　〃Loony；　loopy　Lupin；　loony；　loopy　Lupin　〃
　　Rude　and　unmanageable　as　he　almost　always　was；　Peeves　usually　showed　some　respect　toward　the　teachers。　Everyone　looked　quickly　at　Professor　Lupin　to　see　how　he　would　take　this；　to　their　surprise；　he　was　still　smiling。
　　〃I'd　take　that　gum　out　of　the　keyhole　if　I　were　you；　Peeves；〃　he　said　pleasantly。　〃Mr。　Filch　won't　be　able　to　get　in　to　his　brooms。〃
　　Filch　was　the　Hogwarts　caretaker；　a　bad…tempered；　failed　wizard　who　waged　a　constant　war　against　the　students　and；　indeed；　Peeves。　However；　Peeves　paid　no　attention　to　Professor　Lupin's　words；　except　to　blow　a　loud　wet　raspberry。
　　Professor　Lupin　gave　a　small　sigh　and　took　out　his　wand。
　　〃This　is　a　useful　little　spell；　he　told　the　class　over　his　shoulder。　〃Please　watch　closely。〃
　　He　raised　the　wand　to　shoulder　height；　said；　〃Waddiwasi！　〃and　pointed　it　at　Peeves。
　　With　the　force　of　a　bullet；　the　wad　of　chewing　gum　shot　out　of　the　keyhole　and　straight　down　Peeves's　left　nostril；　he　whirled　upright　and　zoomed　away；　cursing。
　　〃Cool；　sit！〃　said　Dean　Thomas　in　amazement。
　　〃Thank　you；　Dean；〃　said　Professor　Lupin；　putting　his　wand　away　again。　〃Shall　we　proceed？〃
　　They　set　off　again；　the　class　looking　at　shabby　Professor　Lupin　with　increased　respect。　He　led　them　down　a　second　corridor　and　stopped；　right　outside　the　staffroom　door。
　　〃Inside；　please；〃　said　Professor　Lupin；　opening　it　and　standing　back。
　　The　staffroom；　a　long；　paneled　room　full　of　old；　mismatched　chairs；　was　empty　except　for　one　teacher。　Professor　Snape　was　sitting　in　a　low　armchair；　and　he　looked　around　as　the　class　filed　in。　His　eyes　were　glittering　and　there　was　a　nasty　sneer　playing　around　his　mouth。　As　Professor　Lupin　came　in　and　made　to　close　the　door　behind　him；　Snape　said；　〃Leave　it　open；　Lupin。　I'd　rather　not　witness　this。〃
　　He　got　to　his　feet　and　strode　past　the　class；　his　black　robes　billowing　behind　him。　At　the　doorway　he　turned　on　his　heel　and　said；　〃Possibly　no　one's　warned　you；　Lupin；　but　this　class　contains　Neville　Longbottom。　I　would　advise　you　not　to　entrust　him　with　anything　difficult。　Not　unless　Miss　Granger　is　hissing　instructions　in　his　ear。〃
　　Neville　went　scarlet。　Harry　glared　at　Snape；　it　was　bad　enough　that　he　bullied　Neville　in　his　own　classes；　let　alone　doing　it　in　front　of　other　teachers。
　　Professor　Lupin　had　raised　his　eyebrows。
　　〃I　was　hoping　that　Neville　would　assist　me　with　the　first　stage　of　the　operation；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　am　sure　he　will　perform　it　admirably。〃
　　Neville's　face　went；　if　possible；　even　redder。　Snape's　lip　curled；　but　he　left；　shutting　the　door　with　a　snap。
　　〃Now；　then；〃　said　Professor　Lupin；　beckoning　the　class　toward　the　end　of　the　room；　where　there　was　nothing　but　an　old　wardrobe　where　the　teachers　kept　their　spare　robes。　As　Professor　Lupin　went　to　stand　next　to　it；　the　wardrobe　gave　a　sudden　wobble；　banging　off　the　wall。
　　〃Nothing　to　worry　about；〃　said　Professor　Lupin　calmly　because　a　few　people　had　jumped　backward　in　alarm。　〃There's　a　boggart　in　there。〃
　　Most　people　seemed　to　feel　that　this　was　something　to　worry　about。　Neville　gave　Professor　Lupin　a　look　of　pure　terror；　and　Seamus　Finnigan　eyed　the　now　rattling　doorknob　apprehensively。
　　〃Boggarts　like　dark；　enclosed　spaces；〃　said　Professor　Lupin。　〃Wardrobes；　the　gap　beneath　beds；　the　cupboards　under　sinks　　I've　even　met　one　that　had　lodged　itself　in　a　grandfather　clock。　This　one　moved　in　yesterday　afternoon；　and　I　asked　the　headmaster　if　the　staff　would　leave　it　to　give　my　third　years　some　practice。
　　〃So；　the　first　question　we　must　ask　ourselves　is；　what　is　a　boggart？〃
　　Hermione　put　up　her　hand。
　　〃It's　a　shape…shifter；〃　she　said。　〃It　can　take　the　shape　of　whatever　it　thinks　will　frighten　us　most。〃
　　〃Couldn't　have　put　it　better　myself；〃　said　Professor　Lupin；　and　Hermione　glowed。　〃So　the　boggart　sitting　in　the　darkness　within　has　not　yet　assumed　a　form。　He　does　not　yet　know　what　will　frighten　the　person　on　the　other　side　of　the　door。　Nobody　knows　what　a　boggart　looks　like　when　he　is　alone；　but　when　I　let　him　out；　he　will　immediately　bee　whatever　each　of　us　most　fears。
　　〃This　means；〃　said　Professor　Lupin；　choosing　to　ignore　Neville's　'mall　sputter　of　terror；　〃that　we　have　a　huge　advantage　over　the　boggart　before　we　begin。　Have　you　spotted　it；　Harry？〃
　　Trying　to　answer　a　question　with　Hermione　next　to　him；　bobbing　up　and　down　on　the　balls　of　her　feet　with　her　hand　in　the　air；　was　very　off…putting；　but　Harry　had　a　go。
　　〃Er　　because　there　are　so　many　of　us；　it　won't　know　what　shape　it　should　be？〃
　　〃Precisely；〃　said　Professor　Lupin；　and　Hermione　put　her　hand　down；　looking　a　little　disappointed。　〃It's　always　best　to　have　　pany　when　you're　dealing　with　a　boggart。　He　bees　confused。　Which　should　he　bee；　a　headless　corpse　or　a　flesh…eating　slug？　I　once　saw　a　boggart　make　that　very　mistake　　tried　to　frighten　two　people　at　once　and　turned　himself　into　half　a　slug。　Not　remotely　frightening。
　　〃The　charm　that　repels　a　boggart　is　simple；　yet　it　requires　force　of　mind。　You　see；　the　thing　that　really　finishes　a　boggart　is　laughter。　What　you　need　to　do　is　force　it　to　assume　a　shape　that　you　find　amusing。
　　〃We　will　practice　the　charm　without　wands　first。　After　me；　please　。。。　Riddikulus！〃
　　〃Riddikulus！〃　said　the　class　together。
　　〃Good；〃　said　Professor　Lupin。　〃Very　good。　But　that　was　the　easy　part；　I'm　afraid。　You　see；　the　word　alone　is　not　enough。　And　this　is　where　you　e　in；　Neville。〃
　　The　wardrobe　shook　again；　though　not　as　much　as　Neville；　who　walked　forward　as　though　he　were　heading　for　the　gallows。
　　〃Right；　Neville；〃　said　Professor　Lupin。　〃First　things　first：　what　would　you　say　is　the　thing　that　frightens　you　most　in　the　world？〃
　　Neville's　lips　moved；　but　no　noise　came　out。
　　〃didn't　catch　that；　Neville；　sorry；〃　said　Professor　Lupin　cheerfully。
　　Neville　looked　around　rather　wildly；　as　though　begging　someone　to　help　him；　then　said；　in　barely　more　than　a　whisper；　〃Professor　Snape。〃
　　Nearly　everyone　laughed。　Even　Neville　grinned　apologetically。　Professor　Lupin；　however；　looked　thoughtful。
　　〃Professor　Snape。。。　hmmm。。。　Neville；　I　believe　you　live　with　your　grandmother？〃
　　〃Er　　yes；〃　said　Neville　nervously。　〃But　　I　don't　want　the　boggart　to　turn　into　her　either。〃
　　〃No；　no；　you　misunderstand　me；〃　said　Professor　Lupin；　now　smiling。　〃I　wonder；　could　you　tell　us　what　sort　of　clothes　your　grandmother　usually　wears？〃
　　Neville　looked　startled；　but　said；　〃Well。。。　always　the　same　hat。　A　tall　one　with　a　stuffed　vulture　on　top。　And　a　long　dress。。。　green；　normally。。。　and　sometimes　a　fox…fur　scarf。〃
　　〃And　a　handbag？〃　prompted　Professor　Lupin。
　　〃A　big　red　one；〃　said　Neville。
　　〃Right　then；〃　said　Professor　Lupin。　〃Can　you　picture　those　clothes　very　clearly；　Neville？　Can　you　see　them　in　your　mind's　eye？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Neville　uncertainty；　plainly　wondering　what　was　ing　next。
　　〃When　the　boggart　bursts　out　of　this　wardrobe；　Neville；　and　sees　You；　it　will　assume　the　form　of　Professor　Snape；〃　said　Lupin。　〃And　You　will　raise　your　wand　　thus　　and　cry　'Riddikulus'　　and　concentrate　hard　on　your　grandmother's　clothes。　If　all　goes　well；　Professor　Boggart　Snape　will　be　forced　into　that　vulture…topped　hat；　and　that　green　dress；　with　that　big　red　handbag。〃
　　There　was　a　great　shout　of　laughter。　The　wardrobe　wobbled　more　violently。
　　〃If　Neville　is　successful；　the　boggart　is　likely　to　shift　his　attention　to　each　of　us　in　turn；〃　said　Professor　Lupin。　〃I　would　like　all　of　you　to　take　a　moment　now　to　think　of　the　thing　that　scares　you　most；　and　imagine　how　you　might　force　it　to　look　ical。。。。〃
　　The　room　went　quiet。　Harry　thought。。。　'What　scared　him　most　in　the　world？
　　His　first　thought　was　Lord　Voldemort　　a　Voldemort　returned　to　full　strength。　But　before　he　had　even　started　to　plan　a　possible　counterattack　on　a　boggart…Voldemort；　a　horrible　image　came　floating　to　the　surface　of　his　mind。。。。
　　A　rotting；　glistening　hand；　slithering　back　beneath　a　black　cloak　。。。　a　long；　rattling　breath　from　an　unseen　mouth。。。　then　a　cold　so　penetrating　it　felt　like　drowning。。。。
　　Harry　shivered；　then　looked　around；　hoping　no　one　had　noticed。　Many　people　had　their　eyes　shut　tight。　Ron　was　muttering　to　himself；　〃Take　its　legs　off　〃　Harry　was　sure　he　knew　what　that　was　about。　Ron's　greatest　fear　was　spiders。
　　〃Everyone　ready？〃　said　Professor　Lupin。
　　Harry　felt　a　lurch　of　fear。　He　wasn't　ready。　How　could　you　make　a　dementor　less　frightening？　But　he　didn't　want　to　ask　for　more　time；　everyone　else　was　nodding　and　rolling　up　their　sleeves。
　　〃Neville；　we're　going　to　back　away；〃　said　Professor　Lupin。　〃Let　you　have　a　clear　field；　all　right？　I'll　call　the　next　person　forward。。。。　Everyone　back；　now；　so　Neville　can　get　a　clear　shot　〃
　　They　all　retreated；　backed　against　the　walls；　leaving　Neville　alone　beside　the　wardrobe。　He　looked　pale　and　frightened；　but　he　had　pushed　up　the　sleeves　of　his　robes　and　was　holding　his　wand　ready。
　　〃On　the　count　of　three；　Neville；〃　said　Professor　Lupin；　who　was
　　pointing　his　own　wand　at　the　handle　of　the　wardrobe。　〃One　two　　three　　now！〃
　　A　jet　of　sparks　shot　from　the　end　of　Professor　Lupin's　wand　and　hit　the　doorknob。　The　wardrobe　burst　open。　Hook…nosed　and　menacing；　Professor　Snape　stepped　out；　his　eyes　flashing　at　Neville。
　　Neville　backed　away；　his　wand　up；　mouthing　wordlessly。　Snape　was　bearing　down　upon　him；　reaching　inside　his　robes。
　　〃R　　r　　riddikulus！　〃squeaked　Neville。
　　There　was　a　noise　like　a　whip　crack。　Snape　stumbled；　he　was　wearing　a　long；　lace…trimmed　dress　and　a　towering　hat　topped　with　a　moth…eaten　vulture；　and　he　was　swinging　a　huge　crimson　handbag。
　　There　was　a　roar　of　laughter；　the　boggart　paused；　confused；　and　Professor　Lupin　shouted；　〃Parvati！　Forward！〃
　　Parvati　walked　forward；　her　face　set。　Snape　rounded　on　her。　There　was　another　crack；　and　where　he　had　stood　was　a　bloodstained；　bandaged　mummy；　its　sightless　face　was　turned　to　Parvati　and　it　began　to　walk　toward　her　very　slo