3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第24章

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　　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　collapsed　every　time　they　went　near　one。　No　one　else　heard　echoes　in　their　head　of　their　dying　parents。
　　Because　Harry　knew　who　that　screaming　voice　belonged　to　now。　He　had　heard　her　words；　heard　them　over　and　over　again　during　the　night　hours　in　the　hospital　wing　while　he　lay　awake；　staring　at　the　strips　of　moonlight　on　the　ceiling。　When　the　dementors　approached　him；　he　heard　the　last　moments　of　his　mother's　life；　her　attempts　to　protect　him；　Harry；　from　Lord　Voldemort；　and　Voldemort's　laughter　before　he　murdered　her。。。。　Harry　dozed　fitfully；　sinking　into　dreams　full　of　clammy；　rotted　hands　and　petrified　pleading；　jerking　awake　to　dwell　again　on　his　mother's　voice。
　　It　was　a　relief　to　return　to　the　noise　and　bustle　of　the　main　school　on　Monday；　where　he　was　forced　to　think　about　other　things；　eve'；　if　he　had　to　endure　Draco　Malfoys　taunting。　Malfoy　was　almost　beside　himself　with　glee　at　Gryffindor's　defeat。　He　had　finally　taken　off　his　bandages；　and　celebrated　having　the　full　use　of　both　arms　again　by　doing　spirited　imitations　of　Harry　falling　off　his　broom。　Malfoy　spent　much　of　their　next　Potions　class　doing　dementor　imitations　across　the　dungeon；　Ron　finally　cracked　and　flung　a　large；　slippery　crocodile　heart　at　Malfoy；　which　hit　him　in　the　face　and　caused　Snape　to　take　fifty　points　from　Gryffindor。
　　〃If　Snape's　teaching　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts　again；　I'm　skiving　off；〃　said　Ron　as　they　headed　toward　Lupin's　classroom　after　lunch。　〃Check　who's　in　there；　Hermione。〃
　　Hermione　peered　around　the　classroom　door。
　　〃It's　okay！〃
　　Professor　Lupin　was　back　at　work。　It　certainly　looked　as　though　he　had　been　ill。　His　old　robes　were　hanging　more　loosely　on　him　and　there　were　dark　shadows　beneath　his　eyes；　nevertheless；　he　smiled　at　the　class　as　they　took　their　seats；　and　they　burst　at　once　into　an　explosion　of　plaints　about　Snape's　behavior　while　Lupin　had　been　ill。
　　〃It's　not　fair；　he　was　only　filling　in；　why　should　he　give　us　homework？〃
　　〃We　don't　know　anything　about　werewolves　two　rolls　of　parchment！〃
　　〃Did　you　tell　Professor　Snape　we　haven't　covered　them　yet？〃　Lupin　asked；　frowning　slightly。
　　The　babble　broke　out　again。
　　〃Yes；　but　he　said　we　were　really　behind　he　wouldn't　listen　〃
　　〃　two　rolls　of　parchment！〃
　　Professor　Lupin　smiled　at　the　look　of　indignation　on　every　face。
　　〃Don't　worry。　I'll　speak　to　Professor　Snape。　You　don't　have　to　do　the　essay。〃
　　〃Oh　no；〃　said　Hermione；　looking　very　disappointed。　〃I've　already　finished　it！〃
　　They　had　a　very　enjoyable　lesson。　Professor　Lupin　had　brought　along　a　glass　box　containing　a　hinkypunk；　a　little　one…legged　creature　who　looked　as　though　he　were　made　of　wisps　of　smoke；　rather　frail　and　harmless　looking。
　　〃Lures　travelers　into　bogs；〃　said　Professor　Lupin　as　they　took　notes。　〃You　notice　the　lantern　dangling　from　his　hand？　Hops　ahead　…people　follow　the　light　　then　〃
　　The　hinkypunk　made　a　horrible　squelching　noise　against　the　glass。
　　When　the　bell　rang；　everyone　gathered　up　their　things　and　headed　for　the　door；　Harry　among　them；　but　
　　〃Wait　a　moment；　Harry；〃　Lupin　called。　〃I'd　like　a　word。〃
　　Harry　doubled　back　and　watched　Professor　Lupin　covering　the　hinkypunk's　box　with　a　cloth。
　　〃I　heard　about　the　match；〃　said　Lupin；　turning　back　to　his　desk　and　starting　to　pile　books　into　his　briefcase；　〃and　I'm　sorry　about　your　broomstick。　Is　there　any　chance　of　fixing　it？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Harry。　〃The　tree　smashed　it　to　bits。〃
　　Lupin　sighed。
　　〃They　planted　the　Whomping　Willow　the　same　year　that　I　arrived　at　Hogwarts。　People　used　to　play　a　game；　trying　to　get　near　enough　to　touch　the　trunk。　In　the　end；　a　boy　called　Davey　Gudgeon　nearly　lost　an　eye；　and　we　were　forbidden　to　go　near　it。　No　broomstick　would　have　a　chance。〃
　　〃Did　you　hear　about　the　dementors　too？〃　said　Harry　with　difficulty。
　　Lupin　looked　at　him　quickly。
　　〃Yes；　I　did。　I　don't　think　any　of　us　have　seen　Professor　Dumbledore　that　angry。　They　have　been　growing　restless　for　some　time　　furious　at　his　refusal　to　let　them　inside　the　grounds。。。。　I　suppose　they　were　the　reason　you　fell？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Harry。　He　hesitated；　and　then　the　question　he　had　to　ask　burst　from　him　before　he　could　stop　himself。〃　Why？　Why　do　they　affect　me　like　that？　Am　I　just　？〃
　　〃It　has　nothing　to　do　with　weakness；〃　said　Professor　Lupin　sharply；　as　though　he　had　read　Harry's　mind。　〃The　dementors　affect　you　worse　than　the　others　because　there　are　horrors　in　your　past　that　the　others　don't　have。〃
　　A　ray　of　wintery　sunlight　fell　across　the　classroom；　illuminating　Lupin's　gray　hairs　and　the　lines　on　his　young　face。
　　〃Dementors　are　among　the　foulest　creatures　that　walk　this　earth。　They　infest　the　darkest；　filthiest　places；　they　glory　in　decay　and　despair；　they　drain　peace；　hope；　and　happiness　out　of　the　air　around　them。　Even　Muggles　feel　their　presence；　though　they　can't　see　them。　Get　too　near　a　dementor　and　every　good　feeling；　every　happy　memory　will　be　sucked　out　of　you。　If　it　can；　the　dementor　will　feed　on　you　long　enough　to　reduce　you　to　something　like　itself。。。　soul…less　and　evil。　You'll　be　left　with　nothing　but　the　worst　experiences　of　your　life。　And　the　worst　that　happened　to　you；　Harry；　is　enough　to　make　anyone　fall　off　their　broom。　You　have　nothing　to　feel　ashamed　of。〃
　　〃When　they　get　near　me　〃　Harry　stared　at　Lupin's　desk；　his　throat　tight。　〃I　can　hear　Voldemort　murdering　my　mum。〃
　　Lupin　made　a　sudden　motion　with　his　arm　as　though　to　grip　Harry's　shoulder；　but　thought　better　of　it。　There　was　a　moment's　Silence；　then　
　　〃Why　did　they　have　to　e　to　the　match？〃　said　Harry　bitterly。
　　〃They're　getting　hungry；〃　said　Lupin　coolly；　shutting　his　briefcase　with　a　snap。　〃Dumbledore　won't　let　them　into　the　school；　so　their　supply　of　human　prey　has　dried　up。。。。　I　don't　think　they　could　resist　the　large　crowd　around　the　Quidditch　field。　All　that　excitement　。。。　emotions　running　high。。。　it　was　their　idea　of　a　feast。〃
　　〃Azkaban　must　be　terrible；〃　Harry　muttered。　Lupin　nodded　grimly。
　　〃The　fortress　is　set　on　a　tiny　island；　way　out　to　sea；　but　they　don't　need　walls　and　water　to　keep　the　prisoners　in；　not　when　they're　all　trapped　inside　their　own　heads；　incapable　of　a　single　cheery　thought。　Most　of　them　go　mad　within　weeks。〃
　　〃But　Sirius　Black　escaped　from　them；〃　Harry　said　slowly。　〃He　got　away。。。〃
　　Lupin's　briefcase　slipped　from　the　desk；　he　had　to　stoop　quickly　to　catch　it。
　　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　straightening　up；　〃Black　must　have　found　a　way　to　fight　them。　I　wouldn't　have　believed　it　possible。。。。　Dementors　are　supposed　to　drain　a　wizard　of　his　powers　if　he　is　left　with　them　too　long。。。。〃
　　〃You　made　that　dementor　on　the　train　back　off；〃　said　Harry　suddenly。
　　〃There　are　　certain　defenses　one　can　use；〃　said　Lupin。　〃But　there　was　only　one　dementor　on　the　train。　The　more　there　are；　the　more　difficult　it　bees　to　resist。〃
　　〃What　defenses？〃　said　Harry　at　once。　〃Can　you　teach　me？〃
　　〃I　don't　pretend　to　be　an　expert　at　fighting　dementors；　Harry；　quite　the　contrary。。。〃
　　〃But　if　the　dementors　e　to　another　Quidditch　match；　I　need　to　be　able　to　fight　them　〃
　　Lupin　looked　into　Harry's　determined　face；　hesitated；　then　said；　〃Well。。。　all　right。　I'll　try　and　help。　But　it'll　have　to　wait　until　next　term；　I'm　afraid。　I　have　a　lot　to　do　before　the　holidays。　I　chose　a　very　inconvenient　time　to　fall　ill。〃
　　What　with　the　promise　of　anti…dementor　lessons　from　Lupin；　the　thought　that　he　might　never　have　to　hear　his　mother's　death　again；　and　the　fact　that　Ravenclaw　flattened　Hufflepuff　in　their　Quidditch　match　at　the　end　of　November；　Harry's　mood　took　a　definite　upturn。　Gryffindor　were　not　out　of　the　running　after　all；　although　they　could　not　afford　to　lose　another　match。　Wood　became　repossessed　of　his　manic　energy；　and　worked　his　team　as　hard　as　ever　in　the　chilly　haze　of　rain　that　persisted　into　December。　Harry　saw　no　hint　of　a　dementor　within　the　grounds。　Dumbledore's　anger　seemed　to　be　keeping　them　at　their　stations　at　the　entrances。
　　Two　weeks　before　the　end　of　the　term；　the　sky　lightened　suddenly　to　a　dazzling；　opaline　white　and　the　muddy　grounds　were　revealed　one　morning　covered　in　glittering　frost。　Inside　the　castle；　there　was　a　buzz　of　Christmas　in　the　air。　Professor　Flitwick；　the　Charms　teacher；　had　already　decorated　his　classroom　with　shimmering　lights　that　turned　out　to　be　real；　fluttering　fairies。　The　students　were　all　happily　discussing　their　plans　for　the　holidays。　Both　Ron　and　Hermione　had　decided　to　remain　at　Hogwarts；　and　though　Ron　said　it　was　because　he　couldn't　stand　two　weeks　with　Percy；　and　Hermione　insisted　she　needed　to　use　the　library；　Harry　wasn't　fooled；　they　were　doing　it　to　keep　him　pany；　and　he　was　very　grateful。
　　To　everyone's　delight　except　Harry's；　there　was　to　be　another　Hogsmeade　trip　on　the　very　last　weekend　of　the　term。
　　〃We　can　do　all　our　Christmas　shopping　there！〃　said　Hermione。　〃Mum　and　Dad　would　really　love　those　Toothflossing　Stringmints　from　Honeydukes！〃
　　Resigned　to　the　fact　that　he　would　be　the　only　third　year　staying　behind　again；　Harry　borrowed　a　copy　of　Which　Broomstick　from　Wood；　and　decided　to　spend　the　day　reading　up　on　the　different　makes。　He　had　been　riding　one　of　the　school　brooms　at　team　practice；　an　ancient　Shooting　Star；　which　was　very　slow　and　jerky；　he　definitely　needed　a　new　broom　of　his　own。
　　On　the　Saturday　morning　of　the　Hogsmeade　trip；　Harry　bid　good…bye　to　Ron　and　Hermione；　who　were　wrapped　in　cloaks　and　scarves；　then　turned　up　the　marble　staircase　alone；　and　headed　back　toward　Gryffindor　Tower。　Snow　had　started　to　fall　outside　the　windows；　and　the　castle　was　very　still　and　quiet。
　　〃Psst　　Harry！〃
　　He　turned；　halfway　along　the　third…floor　corridor；　to　see　Fred　and　George　peering　out　at　him　from　behind　a　statue　of　a　humpbacked；　one…eyed　witch。
　　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　said　Harry　curiously。　〃How　e　you're　not　going　to　Hogsmeade？〃
　　〃We've　e　to　give　you　a　bit　of　festive　cheer　before　we　go；〃　said　Fred；　with　a　mysterious　wink。　〃e　in　here。。。。〃
　　He　nodded　toward　an　empty　classroom　to　the　left　of　the　one…eyed　statue。　Harry　followed　Fred　and　George　inside。　George　closed　the　door　quietly　and　then　turned；　beaming；　to　look　at　Harry。
　　〃Early　Christmas　present　for　you；　Harry；〃　he　said。
　　Fred　pulled　something　from　inside　his　cloak　with　a　flourish　and　laid　it　on　one　of　the　desks。　It　was　a　large；　square；　very　worn　piece　of　parchment　with　nothing　written　on　it。　Harry；　suspecting　one　of　Fred　and　George's　jokes；　stared　at　it。
　　〃What's　that　supposed　to　be？〃
　　〃This；　Harry；　is　the　secret　of　our　success；〃　said　George；　patting　the　parchment　fondly。
　　〃It's　a　wrench；　giving　it　to　you；〃　said　Fred；　〃but　we　decided　last　night；　your　need's　greater　than　ours。〃
　　〃Anyway；　we　know　it　by　heart；〃　said　George。　〃We　bequeath　it　to　you。　We　don't　really　need　it　anymore。〃
　　〃And　what　do　I　need　with　a　bit　of　old　parchment？〃　said　Harry。
　　〃A　bit　of　old　parchment！〃　said　Fred；　closing　his　eyes　with　a　grimace　as　though　Harry　had　mortally　offended　him。　〃Explain；　George。〃
　　〃Well。。。　when　we　were　in　our　first　year；　Harr