3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第26章

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wn　in　the　cellar；　so　unless　he　knew　it　was　there。。。〃
　　Harry　hesistated。　What　if　Black　did　know　the　passage　was　there？
　　Ron；　however；　cleared　his　throat　significantly；　and　pointed　to　a　notice　pasted　on　the　inside　of　the　sweetshop　door。
　　BY　ORDER　OF　　THE　MINISTRY　OF　MAGIC
　　Customers　are　reminded　that　until　further　notice；　dementors　will　be　patrolling　the　streets　of　Hogsmeade　every　night　after　sundown。　This　measure　has　been　put　in　place　for　the　safety　of　Hogsmeade　residents　and　will　be　lifted　upon　the　recapture　of　Sirius　Black。　It　is　therefore　advisable　that　you　plete　your　shopping　well　before　nightfall。
　　Merry　Christmas！
　　〃See？〃　said　Ron　quietly。　〃I'd　like　to　see　Black　try　and　break　into　Honeydukes　with　dementors　swarming　all　over　the　village。　Anyway；　Hermione；　the　Honeydukes　owners　would　hear　a　break…in；　wouldn't　they？　They　live　over　the　shop！〃
　　〃Yes；　but　but　〃　Hermoine　seemed　to　be　struggling　to　find　another　problem。　〃Look；　Harry　still　shouldn't　be　ing　into　Hogsmeade。　He　hasn't　got　a　signed　form！　If　anyone　finds　out；　he'll　be　in　so　much　trouble！　And　it's　not　nightfall　yet　　what　if　Sirius　Black　turns　up　today？　Now？〃
　　〃He'd　have　a　job　spotting　Harry　in　this；〃　said　Ron；　nodding　through　the　mullioned　windows　at　the　thick；　swirling　snow。　〃e　on；　Hermione；　it's　Christmas。　Harry　deserves　a　break。〃
　　Hermione　bit　her　lip；　looking　extremely　worried。
　　〃Are　you　going　to　report　me？〃　Harry　asked　her；　grinning。
　　〃Oh　　of　course　not　　but　honestly；　Harry　〃
　　〃Seen　the　Fizzing　Whizbees；　Harry？〃　said　Ron；　grabbing　him　and　leading　him　over　to　their　barrel。　〃And　the　Jelly　Slugs？　And　the　Acid　Pops？　Fred　gave　me　one　of　those　when　I　was　seven　　it　burnt　a　hole　right　through　my　tongue。　I　remember　Mum　walloping　him　with　her　broomstick。〃　Ron　stared　broodingly　into　the　Acid　Pop　box。　〃Reckon　Fred'd　take　a　bit　of　Cockroach　Cluster　if　I　told　him　they　were　peanuts？〃
　　When　Ron　and　Hermione　had　paid　for　all　their　sweets；　the　three　of　them　left　Honeydukes　for　the　blizzard　outside。
　　Hogsmeade　looked　like　a　Christmas　card；　the　little　thatched　cottages　and　shops　were　all　covered　in　a　layer　of　crisp　snow；　there　were　holly　wreaths　on　the　doors　and　strings　of　enchanted　candles　hanging　in　the　trees。
　　Harry　shivered；　unlike　the　other　two；　he　didn't　have　his　cloak。　They　headed　up　the　street；　heads　bowed　against　the　wind；　Ron　and　Hermione　shouting　through　their　scarves。
　　〃That's　the　post　office
　　〃Zonko's　is　up　there　〃
　　〃We　could　go　up　to　the　Shrieking　Shack
　　〃Tell　you　what；〃　said　Ron；　his　teeth　chattering；　〃shall　we　go　for　a　butterbeer　in　the　Three　Broomsticks？〃
　　Harry　was　more　than　willing；　the　wind　was　fierce　and　his　hands　were　freezing；　so　they　crossed　the　road；　and　in　a　few　minutes　were　entering　the　tiny　inn。
　　It　was　extremely　crowded；　noisy；　warm；　and　smoky。　A　curvy　sort　of　woman　with　a　pretty　face　was　serving　a　bunch　of　rowdy　warlock'　up　at　the　bar。
　　〃That's　Madam　Rosmerta；〃　said　Ron。　〃I'll　get　the　drinks；　shall　I？〃　he　added；　going　slightly　red。
　　Harry　and　Hermione　made　their　way　to　the　back　of　the　room；　；；her；　there　was　a　small；　vacant　table　between　the　window　and　a　handsome　Christmas　tree；　which　stood　next　to　the　fireplace。　Ron　came　back　five　minutes　later；　carrying　three　foaming　tankards　of　hot　butterbeer。
　　〃Merry　Christmas！〃　he　said　happily；　raising　his　tankard。
　　Harry　drank　deeply。　It　was　the　most　delicious　thing　he'd　ever　tasted　and　seemed　to　heat　every　bit　of　him　from　the　inside。
　　A　sudden　breeze　ruffled　his　hair。　The　door　of　the　Three　Broomsticks　had　opened　again。　Harry　looked　over　the　rim　of　his　tankard　and　choked。
　　Professors　McGonagall　and　Flitwick　had　just　entered　the　pub　with　a　flurry　of　snowflakes；　shortly　followed　by　Hagrid；　who　was　deep　in　conversation　with　a　portly　man　in　a　lime…green　bowler　hat　and　a　pinstriped　cloak　　Cornelius　Fudge；　Minister　of　Magic。
　　In　an　instant；　Ron　and　Hermione　had　both　placed　hands　on　the　top　of　Harry's　head　and　forced　him　off　his　stool　and　under　the　table。　Dripping　with　butterbeer　and　crouching　out　of　sight；　Harry　clutched　his　empty　tankard　and　watched　the　teachers'　and　Fudge's　feet　move　toward　the　bar；　pause；　then　turn　and　walk　right　toward　him。
　　Somewhere　above　him；　Hermione　whispered；　Mobiliarbus！〃
　　The　Christmas　tree　beside　their　table　rose　a　few　inches　off　the　ground；　drifted　sideways；　and　landed　with　a　soft　thump　right　in　front　of　their　table；　hiding　them　from　view。　Staring　through　the　dense　lower　branches；　Harry　saw　four　sets　of　chair　legs　move　back　from　the　table　right　beside　theirs；　then　heard　the　grunts　and　sighs　If　the　teachers　and　minister　as　they　sat　down。
　　Next　he　saw　another　pair　of　feet；　wearing　sparkly　turquoise　high　heels；　and　heard　a　woman's　voice。　〃A　small　gillywater　〃
　　〃Mine；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall's　voice。
　　〃Four　pints　of　mulled　mead　〃
　　〃Ta；　Rosmerta；〃　said　Hagrid。
　　〃A　cherry　syrup　and　soda　with　ice　and　umbrella　〃
　　〃Mmm！〃　said　Professor　Flitwick；　smacking　his　lips。
　　〃So　you'll　be　the　red　currant　rum；　Minister。〃
　　〃Thank　you；　Rosmerta；　m'dear；〃　said　Fudge's　voice。　〃Lovely　to　see　you　again；　I　must　say。　Have　one　yourself；　won't　you？　e　and　join　us。。。。〃
　　〃Well；　thank　you　very　much；　Minister。〃
　　Harry　watched　the　glittering　heels　march　away　and　back　again。　His　heart　was　pounding　unfortably　in　his　throat。　Why　hadn't　it　occurred　to　him　that　this　was　the　last　weekend　of　term　for　the　teachers　to&　And　how　long　were　they　going　to　sit　there？　He　needed　time　to　sneak　back　into　Honeydukes　if　he　wanted　to　return　to　school　tonight。。。。　Hermione's　leg　gave　a　nervous　twitch　next　to　him。
　　〃So；　what　brings　you　to　this　neck　of　the　woods；　Minister？〃　came　Madam　Rosmerta's　voice。
　　Harry　saw　the　lower　part　of　Fudge's　thick　body　twist　in　his　chair　as　though　he　were　checking　for　eavesdroppers。　Then　he　said　in　a　quiet　voice；　〃What　else；　m'dear；　but　Sirius　Black？　I　daresay　you　heard　what　happened　up　at　the　school　at　Halloween？〃
　　I　did　hear　a　rumor；〃　admitted　Madam　Rosmerta。
　　〃Did　you　tell　the　whole　pub；　Hagrid？〃　said　Professor　McGonagall　exasperatedly。
　　〃Do　you　think　Blacks　still　in　the　area；　Minister？〃　whispered　Madam　Rosmerta。
　　〃I'm　sure　of　it；〃　said　Fudge　shortly。
　　〃You　know　that　the　dementors　have　searched　the　whole　village　twjce？〃　said　Madam　Rosmerta；　a　slight　edge　to　her　voice。　〃Scared　all　my　customers　away。。。　It's　very　bad　for　business；　Minister。〃
　　〃Rosmerta；　dear；　I　don't　like　them　any　more　than　you　do；〃　said　Fudge　unfortably。　〃Necessary　precaution。。。　unfortunate；　but　there　YOU　are。。。。　I've　just　met　some　of　them。　They're　in　a　fury　against　Dumbledore　　he　won't　let　them　inside　the　castle　grounds。〃
　　〃I　should　think　not；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall　sharply。　〃How　are　we　supposed　to　teach　with　those　horrors　floating　around？〃
　　〃Hear；　hear！〃　squeaked　tiny　Professor　Flitwick；　whose　feet　were　dangling　a　foot　from　the　ground。
　　〃All　the　same；〃　demurred　Fudge；　〃they　are　here　to　protect　you　all　from　something　much　worse。。。。　We　all　know　what　Black's　capable　of。。。〃
　　〃Do　you　know；　I　still　have　trouble　believing　it；〃　said　Madam　Rosmerta　thoughtfully。　〃Of　all　the　people　to　go　over　to　the　Dark　Side；　Sirius　Black　was　the　last　I'd　have　thought。。。　I　mean；　I　remember　him　when　he　was　a　boy　at　Hogwarts。　If　you'd　told　me　then　what　he　was　going　to　bee；　I'd　have　said　you'd　had　too　much　mead。〃
　　〃You　don't　know　the　half　of　it；　Rosmerta；〃　said　Fudge　gruffly。　〃The　worst　he　did　isn't　widely　known。〃
　　〃The　worst？〃　said　Madam　Rosmerta；　her　voice　alive　with　curiosity；　〃Worse　than　murdering　all　those　poor　people；　you　mean？〃
　　〃I　certainly　do；〃　said　Fudge。
　　〃I　ca'A　believe　that。　What　could　possibly　be　worse？〃　〃You　say　you　remember　him　at　Hogwarts；　Rosmerta；〃　mur…　mured　Professor　McGonagall。　〃Do　you　remember　who　his…best　friend　was？〃
　　〃Naturally；〃　said　Madam　Rosmerta；　with　a　small　laugh。　〃Never　saw　one　without　the　other；　did　you？　The　number　of　times　I　had　them　in　here　　ooh；　they　used　to　make　me　laugh。　Quite　the　double　act；　Sirius　Black　and　James　Potter！〃
　　Harry　dropped　his　tankard　with　a　loud　clunk。　Ron　kicked　him。
　　〃Precisely；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall。　〃Black　and　Potter。　Ringleaders　of　their　little　gang。　Both　very　bright；　of　course　　exceptionally　bright；　in　fact　　but　I　don't　think　we've　ever　had　such　a　pair　of　troublemakers　〃
　　〃I　dunno；〃　chuckled　Hagrid。　〃Fred　and　George　Weasley　could　give　'em　a　run　fer　their　money。〃
　　〃You'd　have　thought　Black　and　Potter　were　brothers！〃　chimed　in　Professor　Flitwick。　〃Inseparable！〃
　　〃Of　course　they　were；〃　said　Fudge。　〃Potter　trusted　Black　beyond　all　his　other　friends。　Nothing　changed　when　they　left　school。　Black　was　best　man　when　James　married　Lily。　Then　they　named　him　godfather　to　Harry。　Harry　has　no　idea；　of　course。　You　can　imagine　how　the　idea　would　torment　him。〃
　　〃Because　Black　turned　out　to　be　in　league　with　You…Know…Who？〃　whispered　Madam　Rosmerta。
　　〃Worse　even　than　that；　rn'dear。。。。〃　Fudge　dropped　his　voice　and　proceeded　in　a　sort　of　low　rumble。　〃Not　many　people　are　aware　that　the　Potters　knew　You…Know…Who　was　after　them。　Dumbledore；　who　was　of　course　working　tirelessly　against　You…Know…Who；　had　a　number　of　useful　spies。　One　of　them　tipped　him　off；　and　he　alerted　James　and　Lily　at　once。　He　advised　them　to　go　into　hiding。　Well；　of　course；　You…Know…Who　wasn't　an　easy　person　to　hide　from。　Dumbledore　told　them　that　their　best　chance　was　the　Fidelius　Charm。〃
　　〃How　does　that　work？〃　said　Madam　Rosmerta；　breathless　with　interest。　Professor　Flitwick　cleared　his　throat。
　　〃An　immensely　plex　spell；〃　he　said　squeakily；　〃involving　the　magical　concealment　of　a　secret　inside　a　single；　living　soul。　The　information　is　hidden　inside　the　chosen　person；　or　Secret…Keeper；　and　is　henceforth　impossible　to　find　　unless；　of　course；　the　Secret…Keeper　chooses　to　divulge　it。　As　long　as　the　Secret…Keeper　refused　to　speak；　You…Know…Who　could　search　the　village　where　Lily　and　James　were　staying　for　years　and　never　find　them；　not　even　if　he　had　his　nose　pressed　against　their　sitting　room　window！〃
　　〃So　Black　was　the　Potters'　Secret…Keeper？〃　whispered　Madam　Rosmerta。
　　〃Naturally；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall。　〃James　Potter　told　Dumbledore　that　Black　would　die　rather　than　tell　where　they　were；　that　Black　was　planning　to　go　into　hiding　himself。。。　and　yet；　Dumbledore　remained　worried。　I　remember　him　offering　to　be　the　Potters'　Secret…Keeper　himself。〃
　　〃He　suspected　Black？〃　gasped　Madam　Rosmerta。
　　〃He　was　sure　that　somebody　close　to　the　Potters　had　been　keeping　You…Know…Who　informed　of　their　movements；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall　darkly。　〃Indeed；　he　had　suspected　for　some　time　that　someone　on　our　side　had　turned　traitor　and　was　passing　a　lot　of　information　to　You…Know…Who。〃
　　〃But　James　Potter　insisted　on　using　Black？〃
　　〃He　did；〃　said　Fudge　heavily。　〃And　then；　barely　a　week　after　the　Fidelius　Charm　had　been　performed　〃　〃Black　betrayed　them？〃　breathed　Madam　Rosmerta。
　　〃He　did　indeed。　Black　was　tired　of　his　double…agent　role；　he　was　ready　to　declare　his　support　openly　for　You…Know…Who；　and　he　seems　to　have　planned　this　for　the　moment　of　the　Potters'　death。　But；　as　we　all　know；　You…Know…Who　met　his　downfall　in　little　Harry　Potter。　Powers　gone；　horribly　weakened；　he　fled。　And　this　left　Black　in　a　very　nas