3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第2章

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oving。　Harry　picked　up　the　clipping；　smoothed　it　out；　and　read：
　　MINISTRY　OF　MAGIC　EMPLOYEE　SCOOPS　GRAND　PRIZE
　　Arthur　Weasley；　Head　of　the　Misuse　of　Muggle　Artifacts　Office　at　the　Ministry　of　Magic；　has　won　the　annual　Daily　Prophet　Grand　Prize　Galleon　Draw。
　　A　delighted　Mr。　Weasley　told　the　Daily　Prophet；　〃We　will　be　spending　the　gold　on　a　summer　holiday　in　Egypt；　where　our　eldest　son；　Bill；　works　as　a　curse　breaker　for　Gringotts　Wizarding　Bank。〃
　　The　Weasley　family　will　be　spending　a　month　in　Egypt；　returning　for　the　start　of　the　new　school　year　at　Hogwarts；　which　five　of　the　Weasley　children　currently　attend。
　　Harry　scanned　the　moving　photograph；　and　a　grin　spread　across　his　face　as　he　saw　all　nine　of　the　Weasleys　waving　furiously　at　him；　standing　in　front　of　a　large　pyramid。　Plump　little　Mrs。　Weasley；　tail；　balding　Mr。　Weasley；　six　sons；　and　one　daughter；　all　（though　the　black…and…white　picture　didn't　show　it）　with　flaming…red　hair。　Right　in　the　middle　of　the　picture　was　Ron；　tall　and　gangling；　with　his　pet　rat；　Scabbers；　on　his　shoulder　and　his　arm　around　his　little　sister；　Ginny。
　　Harry　couldn't　think　of　anyone　who　deserved　to　win　a　large　pile　of　gold　more　than　the　Weasleys；　who　were　very　nice　and　extremely　poor。　He　picked　up　Ron's　letter　and　unfolded　it。
　　Dear　Harry；
　　Happy　birthday！
　　Look；　I'　really　sorry　about　that　telephone　call。　I　hope　the　Muggles　didn't　give　you　a　hard　time。　I　asked　Dad；　and　he　reckons　I　shouldn't　have　shouted。
　　It's　amazing　here　in　Egypt。　Bill's　taken　us　around　all　the　tombs　and　you　wouldn't　believe　the　curses　those　old　Egyptian　wizards　put　on　them。　Mum　wouldn't　let　Ginny　e　in　the　last　one。　There　were　all　these　mutant　skeletons　in　there；　of　Muggles　who'd　broken　in　and　grown　extra　heads　and　stuff。
　　I　couldn't　believe　it　when　Dad　won　the　Daily　Prophet　Draw。　Seven　hundred　galleons！　Most　of　it's　gone　on　this　trip；　but　they're　going　to　buy　me　a　new　wand　for　next　year。
　　Harry　remembered　only　too　well　the　occasion　when　Ron's　old　wand　had　snapped。　It　had　happened　when　the　car　the　two　of　them　had　been　flying　to　Hogwarts　had　crashed　into　a　tree　on　the　school　grounds。
　　We'll　be　back　about　a　week　before　term　starts　and　we'll　be　going　up　to　London　to　get　my　wand　and　our　new　books。　Any　chance　of　meeting　you　there？
　　Don't　let　the　Muggles　get　you　down！
　　Try　and　e　to　London；
　　Ron
　　P。S。　Percy's　Head　Boy。　He　got　the　letter　last　week。
　　Harry　glanced　back　at　the　photograph。　Percy；　who　was　in　his　seventh　and　final　year　at　Hogwarts；　was　looking　particularly　smug。　He　had　pinned　his　Head　Boy　badge　to　the　fez　perched　jauntily　on　top　of　his　neat　hair；　his　horn…rimmed　glasses　flashing　in　the　Egyptian　sun。
　　Harry　now　turned　to　his　present　and　unwrapped　it。　Inside　was　what　looked　like　a　miniature　glass　spinning　top。　There　was　another　note　from　Ron　beneath　it。
　　Harry　　this　is　a　Pocket　Sneakoscope。　If　there's　someone　untrustworthy　around；　it's　supposed　to　light　up　and　spin。　Bill　says　it's　rubbish　sold　for　wizard　tourists　and　isn't　reliable；　because　it　kept　lighting　up　at　dinner　last　night。　But　he　didn't　realize　Fred　and　George　had　put　beetles　in　his　soup。
　　Bye　
　　Ron
　　Harry　put　the　Pocket　Sneakoscope　on　his　bedside　table；　where　it　stood　quite　still；　balanced　on　its　point；　reflecting　the　luminous　hands　of　his　clock。　He　looked　at　it　happily　for　a　few　seconds；　then　picked　up　the　parcel　Hedwig　had　brought。
　　Inside　this；　too；　there　was　a　wrapped　present；　a　card；　and　a　letter；　this　time　from　Hermione。
　　Dear　Harry；
　　Ron　wrote　to　me　and　told　me　about　his　phone　call　to　your　Uncle　Vernon。　I　do　hope　you're　all　right。
　　I'm　on　holiday　in　France　at　the　moment　and　I　didn't　know　how　I　was　going　to　send　this　to　you　　what　if　they'd　opened　it　at　customs？　　but　then　Hedwig　turned　up！　I　think　she　wanted　to　make　sure　you　got　something　for　your　birthday　for　a　change。　I　bought　your　present　by　owl…order；　there　was　an　advertisement　in　the　Daily　Prophet　（I've　been　getting　it　delivered；　it's　so　good　to　keep　up　with　what's　going　on　in　the　wizarding　world）；　Did　you　see　that　picture　of　Ron　and　his　family　a　week　ago？　I　bet　he's　learning　loads。　I'm　really　jealous　　the　ancient　Egyptian　wizards　were　fascinating。
　　There's　some　interesting　local　history　of　witchcraft　here；　too。　I've　rewritten　my　whole　History　of　Magic　essay　to　include　some　of　the　things　I've　found　out；　I　hope　it's　not　too　long　　it's　two　rolls　of　parchment　more　than　Professor　Binns　asked　for。
　　Ron　says　he's　going　to　be　in　London　in　the　last　week　of　the　holidays。　Can　you　make　it？　Will　your　aunt　and　uncle　let　you　e？　I　really　hope　you　can。　If　not；　I'll　see　you　on　the　Hogwarts　Express　on　September　first！
　　Love　from　Hermione
　　P。S。　Ron　says　Percy's　Head　Boy。　I'll　bet　Percy's　really　pleased　Ron　doesn't　seem　too　happy　about　it
　　Harry　laughed　as　he　put　Herrmone's　letter　aside　and　picked　up　her　present。　It　was　very　heavy。　Knowing　Hermione；　he　was　sure　it　would　be　a　large　book　full　of　very　difficult　spells　　but　it　wasn't。　His　heart　gave　a　huge　bound　as　he　ripped　back　the　paper　and　saw　a　sleek　black　leather　case；　with　silver　words　stamped　across　it；　reading　Broomstick　Servicing　Kit。
　　〃Wow；　Hermione！〃　Harry　whispered；　unzipping　the　case　to　look　inside。
　　There　was　a　large　jar　of　Fleetwood's　High…Finish　Handle　Polish；　a　pair　of　gleaming　silver　Tall…Twig　Clippers；　a　tiny　brass　pass　to　clip　on　your　broom　for　long　journeys；　and　a　Handbook　of　Do…It…Yourself　Broomcare。
　　Apart　from　his　friends；　the　thing　that　Harry　missed　most　about　Hogwarts　was　Quidditch；　the　most　popular　sport　in　the　magical　world　　highly　dangerous；　very　exciting；　and　played　on　broomsticks。　Harry　happened　to　be　a　very　good　Quidditch　player；　he　had　been　the　youngest　person　in　a　century　to　be　picked　for　one　of　the　Hogwarts　House　teams。　One　of　Harry's　most　prized　possessions　was　his　Nimbus　Two　Thousand　racing　broom。
　　Harry　put　the　leather　case　aside　and　picked　up　his　last　parcel。　He　recognized　the　untidy　scrawl　on　the　brown　paper　at　once：　this　was　from　Hagrid；　the　Hogwarts　gamekeeper。　He　tore　off　the　top　layer　of　paper　and　glimpsed　something　green　and　leathery；　but　before　he　could　unwrap　it　properly；　the　parcel　gave　a　strange　quiver；　and　whatever　was　inside　it　snapped　loudly　　as　though　it　had　jaws。
　　Harry　froze。　He　knew　that　Hagrid　would　never　send　him　anything　dangerous　on　purpose；　but　then；　Hagrid　didn't　have　a　normal　person's　view　of　what　was　dangerous。　Hagrid　had　been　known　to　befriend　giant　spiders；　buy　vicious；　three…headed　dogs　from　men　in　pubs；　and　sneak　illegal　dragon　eggs　into　his　cabin。
　　Harry　poked　the　parcel　nervously。　It　snapped　loudly　again。　Harry　reached　for　the　lamp　on　his　bedside　table；　gripped　it　firmly　in　one　hand；　and　raised　it　over　his　head；　ready　to　strike。　Then　he　seized　the　rest　of　the　wrapping　paper　in　his　other　hand　and　pulled。
　　And　out　fell　　a　book。　Harry　just　had　time　to　register　its　handsome　green　cover；　emblazoned　with　the　golden　title　The　Monster　Book　of　Monsters；　before　it　flipped　onto　its　edge　and　scuttled　sideways　along　the　bed　like　some　weird　crab。
　　〃Uh…oh；〃　Harry　muttered。
　　The　book　toppled　off　the　bed　with　a　loud　clunk　and　shuffled　rapidly　across　the　room。　Harry　followed　it　stealthily。　The　book　was　hiding　in　the　dark　space　under　his　desk。　Praying　that　the　Dursleys　were　still　fast　asleep；　Harry　got　down　on　his　hands　and　knees　and　reached　toward　it。
　　〃Ouch！〃
　　The　book　snapped　shut　on　his　hand　and　then　flapped　past　him；　still　scuttling　on　its　covers。　Harry　scrambled　around；　threw　himself　forward；　and　managed　to　flatten　it。　Uncle　Vernon　gave　a　loud；　sleepy　grunt　in　the　room　next　door。
　　Hedwig　and　Errol　watched　interestedly　as　Harry　clamped　the　struggling　book　tightly　in　his　arms；　hurried　to　his　chest　of　drawers；　and　pulled　out　a　belt；　which　he　buckled　tightly　around　it。　The　Monster　Book　shuddered　angrily；　but　could　no　longer　flap　and　snap；　so　Harry　threw　it　down　on　the　bed　and　reached　for　Hagrid's　card。
　　Dear　Harry；
　　Happy　Birthday！
　　Think　you　might　find　this　useful　for　next　year。　Won't　say　no　more　here。　Tell　you　when　I　see　you。　Hope　the　Muggles　are　treating　you　right。
　　All　the　best；
　　Hagrid
　　It　struck　Harry　as　ominous　that　Hagrid　thought　a　biting　book　would　e　in　useful；　but　he　put　Hagrid's　card　up　next　to　Ron's　and　Hermione's；　grinning　more　broadly　than　ever。　Now　there　was　only　the　letter　from　Hogwarts　left。
　　Noticing　that　it　was　rather　thicker　than　usual；　Harry　slit　open　the　envelope；　pulled　out　the　first　page　of　parchment　within；　and　read：
　　Dear　Mr。　Potter；
　　Please　note　that　the　new　school　year　will　begin　on　September　the　first。　The　Hogwarts　Express　will　leave　ftom　King's　Cross　station；　platform　nine　and　three…quarters；　at　eleven　o'clock。
　　Third　years　are　permitted　to　visit　the　village　of　Hogsmeade　on　certain　weekends。　Please　give　the　enclosed　permission　form　to　your　parent　or　guardian　to　sign。
　　A　list　of　books　for　next　year　is　enclosed。　Yours　sincerely；
　　Professor　M。　McGonagall
　　Deputy　Headmistress
　　Harry　pulled　out　the　Hogsmeade　permission　form　and　looked　at　it；　no　longer　grinning。　It　would　be　wonderful　to　visit　Hogsmeade　on　weekends；　he　knew　it　was　an　entirely　wizarding　village；　and　he　had　never　set　foot　there。　But　how　on　earth　was　he　going　to　persuade　Uncle　Vernon　or　Aunt　Petunia　to　sign　the　form？
　　He　looked　over　at　the　alarm　clock。　It　was　now　two　o'clock　in　the　morning。
　　Deciding　that　he'd　worry　about　the　Hogsmeade　form　when　he　woke　up；　Harry　got　back　into　bed　and　reached　up　to　cross　off　another　day　on　the　chart　he'd　made　for　himself；　counting　down　the　days　left　until　his　return　to　Hogwarts。　Then　he　took　off　his　glasses　and　lay　down；　eyes　open；　facing　his　three　birthday　cards。
　　Extremely　unusual　though　he　was；　at　that　moment　Harry　Potter　felt　just　like　everyone　else　　glad；　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　that　it　was　his　birthday。
　　CHAPTER　TWO
　　AUNT　MARGE'S　BIG　MISTAKE
　　Harry　went　down　to　breakfast　the　next　morning　to　find　the　three　Dursleys　already　sitting　around　the　kitchen　table。　They　were　watching　a　brand…new　television；　a　wele…home…for…the…summer　present　for　Dudley；　who　had　been　plaining　loudly　about　the　long　walk　between　the　fridge　and　the　television　in　the　living　room。　Dudley　had　spent　most　of　the　summer　in　the　kitchen；　his　piggy　little　eyes　fixed　on　the　screen　and　his　five　chins　wobbling　as　he　ate　continually。
　　Harry　sat　down　between　Dudley　and　Uncle　Vernon；　a　large；　beefy　man　with　very　little　neck　and　a　lot　of　mustache。　Far　from　wishing　Harry　a　happy　birthday；　none　of　the　Dursleys　made　any　sign　that　they　had　noticed　Harry　enter　the　room；　but　Harry　was　far　too　used　to　this　to　care。　He　helped　himself　to　a　piece　of　toast　and　then　looked　up　at　the　reporter　on　the　television；　who　was　halfway　through　a　report　on　an　escaped　convict：
　　〃。。。　The　public　is　warned　that　Black　is　armed　and　extremely　dangerous。　A　special　hot　line　has　been　set　up；　and　any　sighting　of　Black　should　be　reported　immediately。〃
　　〃No　need　to　tell　us　he's　no　good；〃　snorted　Uncle　Vernon；　staring　over　the　top　of　his　newspaper　at　the　prisoner。　〃Look　at　the　state　of　him；　the　filthy　layabout！　Look　at　his　hair！〃
　　He　shot　a　nasty　look　sideways　at　Harry；　whose　untidy　hair　had　always　been　a　source　of　great　an