3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第23章

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hey　were　off
　　Harry　rose　fast；　but　his　Nimbus　was　swerving　slightly　with　the　wind。　He　held　it　as　steady　as　he　could　and　turned；　squinting　into　the　rain。
　　Within　five　minutes　Harry　was　soaked　to　his　skin　and　frozen；　hardly　able　to　see　his　teammates；　let　alone　the　tiny　Snitch。　He　flew　backward　and　forward　across　the　field　past　blurred　red　and　yellow　shapes；　with　no　idea　of　what　was　happening　in　the　rest　of　the　game。　He　couldn't　hear　the　mentary　over　the　wind。　The　crowd　was　hidden　beneath　a　sea　of　cloaks　and　battered　umbrellas。　Twice　Harry　came　very　close　to　being　unseated　by　a　Bludger；　his　vision　was　so　clouded　by　the　rain　on　his　glasses　he　hadn't　seen　them　ing。
　　He　lost　track　of　time。　It　was　getting　harder　and　harder　to　hold　his　broom　straight。　The　sky　was　getting　darker；　as　though　night　had　decided　to　e　early。　Twice　Harry　nearly　hit　another　player；　without　knowing　whether　it　was　a　teammate　or　opponent；　everyone　was　now　so　wet；　and　the　rain　so　thick；　he　could　hardly　tell　them　apart。。。。
　　With　the　first　flash　of　lightning　came　the　sound　of　Madam　Hooch's　whistle；　Harry　could　just　see　the　outline　of　Wood　through　the　thick　rain；　gesturing　him　to　the　ground。　The　whole　team　splashed　down　into　the　mud。
　　〃I　called　for　time…out！〃　Wood　roared　at　his　team。　〃e　on；　under　here　〃
　　They　huddled　at　the　edge　of　the　field　under　a　large　umbrella；　Harry　took　off　his　glasses　and　wiped　them　hurriedly　on　his　robes。
　　〃What's　the　score？〃
　　〃We're　fifty　points　up；〃　said　Wood；　〃but　unless　we　get　the　Snitch　soon；　we'll　be　playing　into　the　night。〃
　　〃I've　got　no　chance　with　these　on；〃　Harry　said　exasperatedly；　waving　his　glasses。
　　At　that　very　moment；　Hermione　appeared　at　his　shoulder；　she　was　holding　her　cloak　over　her　head　and　was；　inexplicably；　beaming。
　　〃I've　had　an　idea；　Harry！　Give　me　your　glasses；　quick！〃
　　He　handed　them　to　her；　and　as　the　team　watched　in　amazement；　Hermione　tapped　them　with　her　wand　and　said；　〃Impervius！〃
　　〃There！〃　she　said；　handing　them　back　to　Harry。　〃They'll　repel　water！〃
　　Wood　looked　as　though　he　could　have　kissed　her。
　　〃Brilliant！〃　he　called　hoarsely　after　her　as　she　disappeared　into　the　crowd。　〃Okay；　team；　let's　go　for　it！〃
　　Hermione's　spell　had　done　the　trick。　Harry　was　still　numb　with　cold；　still　wetter　than　he'd　ever　been　in　his　life；　but　he　could　see。　Full　of　fresh　determination；　he　urged　his　broom　through　the　turbulent　air；　staring　in　every　direction　for　the　Snitch；　avoiding　a　Bludger；　ducking　beneath　Diggory；　who　was　streaking　in　the　opposite　direction。。。。
　　There　was　another　clap　of　thunder；　followed　immediately　by　forked　lightning。　This　was　getting　more　and　more　dangerous。　Harry　needed　to　get　the　Snitch　quickly　…
　　He　turned；　intending　to　head　back　toward　the　middle　of　the　field；　but　at　that　moment；　another　flash　of　lightning　illuminated　the　stands；　and　Harry　saw　something　that　distracted　him　pletely　；　the　silhouette　of　an　enormous　shaggy　black　dog；　clearly　imprinted　against　the　sky；　motionless　in　the　topmost；　empty　row　of　seats。
　　Harry's　numb　hands　slipped　on　the　broom　handle　and　his　Nimbus　dropped　a　few　feet。　Shaking　his　sodden　bangs　out　of　his　eyes；　he　squinted　back　into　the　stands。　The　dog　had　vanished。
　　〃Harry！〃　came　Wood's　anguished　yell　from　the　Gryffindor　goal　posts。　〃Harry；　behind　you！〃
　　Harry　looked　wildly　around。　Cedric　Diggory　was　pelting　up　the　field；　and　a　tiny　speck　of　gold　was　shimmering　in　the　rain…filled　air　between　them　…
　　With　a　jolt　of　panic；　Harry　threw　himself　flat　to　the　broornhandle　and　zoomed　toward　the　Snitch。
　　〃e　on！〃　he　growled　at　his　Nimbus　as　the　rain　whipped　his　face。　'Taster！〃
　　But　something　odd　was　happening。　An　eerie　silence　was　falling　across　the　stadium。　The　wind；　though　as　strong　as　ever；　was　forgetting　to　roar。　It　was　as　though　someone　had　turned　off　the　sound；　as　though　Harry　had　gone　suddenly　deaf　　what　was　going　on？
　　And　then　a　horribly　familiar　wave　of　cold　swept　over　him；　inside　him；　just　as　he　became　aware　of　something　moving　on　the　field　below。。。
　　Before　he'd　had　time　to　think；　Harry　had　taken　his　eyes　off　the　Snitch　and　looked　down。
　　At　least　a　hundred　dementors；　their　hidden　faces　pointing　up　at　him；　were　standing　beneath　him。　It　was　as　though　freezing　water　were　rising　in　his　chest；　cutting　at　his　insides。　And　then　he　heard　it　again。。。。　Someone　was　screaming；　screaming　inside　his　head。。。　a　woman。。。
　　〃Not　Harry；　not　Harry；　please　not　Harry！〃
　　〃Stand　aside；　you　silly　girl。。。　stand　aside；　now。。。。〃
　　〃Not　Harry；　please　no；　take　me；　kill　me　instead　〃
　　Numbing；　swirling　white　mist　was　filling　Harry's　brain。。。。　What　was　he　doing？　Why　was　he　flying？　He　needed　to　help　her。。。　She　was　going　to　die。。。。　She　was　going　to　be　murdered。。。。
　　He　was　falling；　falling　through　the　icy　mist。
　　〃Not　Harry！　Please。。。　have　mercy。。。　have　mercy。。。。
　　A　shrill　voice　was　laughing；　the　woman　was　screaming；　and　Harry　knew　no　more。
　　〃Lucky　the　ground　was　so　soft。〃
　　〃I　thought　he　was　dead　for　sure。〃
　　〃But　he　didn't　even　break　his　glasses。〃
　　Harry　could　hear　the　voices　whispering；　but　they　made　no　sense　whatsoever。　He　didn't　have　a　clue　where　he　was；　or　how　he'd　got　there；　or　what　he'd　been　doing　before　he　got　there。　All　he　knew　was　that　every　inch　of　him　was　aching　as　though　it　had　been　beaten。
　　〃That　was　the　scariest　thing　I've　ever　seen　in　my　life。〃
　　Scariest。。。　the　scariest　thing。。。　hooded　black　figures。。。　cold　。。。　screaming。。。
　　Harry's　eyes　snapped　open。　He　was　lying　in　the　hospital　wing。　The　Gryffindor　Quidditch　team；　spattered　with　mud　from　head　to　foot；　was　gathered　around　his　bed。　Ron　and　Hermione　were　also　there；　looking　as　though　they'd　just　climbed　out　of　a　swimming　pool。
　　〃Harry！〃　said　Fred；　who　looked　extremely　white　underneath；　the　mud。　〃How're　you　feeling？〃
　　It　was　as　though　Harry's　memory　was　on　fast　forward。　The　lightning　　the　Grim　　the　Snitch　　and　the　dementors。。。
　　〃What　happened？〃　he　said；　sitting　up　so　suddenly　they　all　gasped。
　　〃You　fell　off；〃　said　Fred。　〃Must've　been　　what　　fifty　feet？〃
　　〃We　thought　you'd　died；〃　said　Alicia；　who　was　shaking。
　　Hermione　made　a　small；　squeaky　noise。　Her　eyes　were　extremely　bloodshot。
　　〃But　the　match；〃　said　Harry。　〃What　happened？　Are　we　doing　a　replay？〃
　　No　one　said　anything。　The　horrible　truth　sank　into　Harry　like　a　stone。
　　〃We　didn't　　lose？〃
　　〃Diggory　got　the　Snitch；〃　said　George。　〃Just　after　you　fell。　He　didn't　realize　what　had　happened。　When　he　looked　back　and　saw　you　on　the　ground；　he　tried　to　call　it　off。　Wanted　a　rematch。　But　they　won　fair　and　square。。。　even　Wood　admits　it。〃
　　〃Where　is　Wood？〃　said　Harry；　suddenly　realizing　he　wasn't　there。
　　〃Still　in　the　showers；〃　said　Fred。　〃We　think　he's　trying　to　drown　himself。〃
　　Harry　put　his　face　to　his　knees；　his　hands　gripping　his　hair。　Fred　grabbed　his　shoulder　and　shook　it　roughly。
　　〃C'mon；　Harry；　you've　never　missed　the　Snitch　before。〃
　　〃There　had　to　be　one　time　you　didn't　get　it；〃　said　George。
　　〃It's　not　over　yet；〃　said　Fred。　〃We　lost　by　a　hundred　points〃
　　〃Right？　So　if　Hufflepuff　loses　to　Ravenclaw　and　we　beat　Ravenclaw　and　Slytherin　。〃
　　〃Hufflepuff'll　have　to　lose　by　at　least　two　hundred　points；〃　said　George。
　　〃But　if　they　beat　Ravenclaw。。。〃
　　〃No　Way；　Ravenclaw　is　too　good。　But　if　Slytherin　loses　against　Hufflepuff。。。〃
　　〃It　all　depends　on　the　points　　a　margin　of　a　hundred　either　way。〃
　　Harry　lay　there；　not　saying　a　word。　They　had　lost。。。　for　the　first　time　ever；　he　had　lost　a　Quidditch　match。
　　After　ten　minutes　or　so；　Madam　Pomfrey　came　over　to　tell　the　team　to　leave　him　in　peace。
　　〃We'll　e　and　see　you　later；〃　Fred　told　him。　〃Don't　beat　yourself　up；　Harry；　you're　still　the　best　Seeker　we've　ever　had。〃
　　The　team　trooped　out；　trailing　mud　behind　them。　Madam　Pomfrey　shut　the　door　behind　them；　looking　disapproving。　Ron　and　Hermione　moved　nearer　to　Harry's　bed。
　　〃Dumbledore　was　really　angry；〃　Hermione　said　in　a　quaking　voice。　〃I've　never　seen　him　like　that　before。　He　ran　onto　the　field　as　You　fell；　waved　his　wand；　and　you　sort　of　slowed　down　before　you　hit　the　ground。　Then　he　whirled　his　wand　at　the　dementors。　Shot　silver　stuff　at　them。　They　left　the　stadium　right　away。。。　He　was　furious　they'd　e　onto　the　grounds。　We　heard　him　〃
　　〃Then　he　magicked　you　onto　a　stretcher；〃　said　Ron。　〃And　walked　up　to　school　with　you　floating　on　it。　Everyone　thought　you　were　〃
　　His　voice　faded；　but　Harry　hardly　noticed。　He　was　thinking　about　what　the　dementors　had　done　to　him。。。　about　the　screaming　voice。　He　looked　up　and　saw　Ron　and　Hermione　lookin；　at　him　so　anxiously　that　he　quickly　cast　around　for　something　matter…of…fact　to　say。
　　〃Did　someone　get　my　Nimbus？〃
　　Ron　and　Hermione　looked　quickly　at　each　other。
　　〃Er　〃
　　〃What？〃　said　Harry；　looking　from　one　to　the　other。
　　〃Well。。。　when　you　fell　off；　it　got　blown　away；〃　said　Hermione　hesitantly。
　　〃And？〃
　　〃And　it　hit　　it　hit　　oh；　Harry　　it　hit　the　Whomping　Willow。〃
　　Harry's　insides　lurched。　The　Whomping　Willow　was　a　very　violent　tree　that　stood　alone　in　the　middle　of　the　grounds。
　　〃And？〃　he　said；　dreading　the　answer。
　　〃Well；　you　know　the　Whomping　Willow；〃　said　Ron。　〃It　　it　doesn't　like　being　hit。〃
　　〃Professor　Flitwick　brought　it　back　just　before　you　came　around；　said　Hermione　in　a　very　small　voice。
　　Slowly；　she　reached　down　for　a　bag　at　her　feet；　turned　it　upside　down；　and　tipped　a　dozen　bits　of　splintered　wood　and　twig　onto　the　bed；　the　only　remains　of　Harry's　faithful；　finally　beaten　broomstick。
　　CHAPTER　TEN
　　THE　MARAUDER'S　MAP
　　Madam　Pomfrey　insisted　on　keeping　Harry　in　the　hospital　wing　for　the　rest　of　the　weekend。　He　didn't　argue　or　plain；　but　he　wouldn't　let　her　throw　away　the　shattered　remnants　of　his　Nimbus　Two　Thousand。　He　knew　he　was　being　stupid；　knew　that　the　Nimbus　was　beyond　repair；　but　Harry　couldn't　help　it；　he　felt　as　though　he'd　lost　one　of　his　best　friends。
　　He　had　a　stream　of　visitors；　all　intent　on　cheering　him　up。　Hagrid　sent　him　a　bunch　of　earwiggy　flowers　that　looked　like　yellow　cabbages；　and　Ginny　Weasley；　blushing　furiously；　turned　up　with　a　get…well　card　she　had　made　herself；　which　sang　shrilly　unless　Harry　kept　it　shut　under　his　bowl　of　fruit。　The　Gryffindor　team　visited　again　on　Sunday　morning；　this　time　acpanied　by　Wood；　who　told　Harry　（in　a　hollow；　dead　sort　of　voice）　that　he　didn't　blame
　　him　in　the　slightest。　Ron　and　Hermione　left　Harry's　bedside　only　at　night…　But　nothing　anyone　said　or　did　could　make　Harry　feel　any　better；　because　they　knew　only　half　of　what　was　troubling　him。
　　He　hadn't　told　anyone　about　the　Grim；　not　even　Ron　…and　Hermione；　because　he　knew　Ron　would　panic　and　Hermione　would　scoff。　The　fact　remained；　however；　that　it　had　now　appeared　twice；　and　both　appearances　had　been　followed　by　near…fatal　accidents；　the　first　time；　he　had　nearly　been　run　over　by　the　Knight　Bus；　the　second；　fallen　fifty　feet　from　his　broomstick。　Was　the　Grim　going　to　haunt　him　until　he　actually　died？　Was　he　going　to　spend　the　rest　of　his　life　looking　over　his　shoulder　for　the　beast？
　　And　then　there　were　the　dementors。　Harry　felt　sick　and　humiliated　every　time　he　thought　of　them。　Everyone　said　the　dementors　were　horrible；　but　no　one　else　colla