3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第29章

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　　The　trip　to　Hagrid's；　though　far　from　fun；　had　nevertheless　had　the　effect　Ron　and　Hermione　had　hoped。　Though　Harry　had　by　no　means　forgotten　about　Black；　he　couldn't　brood　constantly　on　revenge　if　he　wanted　to　help　Hagrid　win　his　case　against　the　mittee　for　the　Disposal　of　Dangerous　Creatures。　He；　Ron；　and　Hermione　went　to　the　library　the　next　day　and　returned　to　the　empty　mon　room　laden　with　books　that　might　help　prepare　a　defense　for　Buckbeak。　The　three　of　them　sat　in　front　of　the　roaring　fire；　slowly　turning　the　pages　of　dusty　volumes　about　famous　cases　If　marauding　beasts；　speaking　occasionally　when　they　ran　across　something　relevant。
　　〃Here's　something。。。　there　was　a　case　in　1722。。。　but　the　hippogriff　was　convicted　　ugh；　look　what　they　did　to　it；　that's　disgusting　〃
　　〃This　might　help；　look　　a　manticore　savaged　someone　in　1296；　and　they　let　the　manticore　off　　oh　　no；　that　was　only　because　everyone　was　too　scared　to　go　near　it。〃
　　Meanwhile；　in　the　rest　of　the　castle；　the　usual　magnificent　Christmas　decorations　had　been　put　up；　despite　the　fact　that　hardly　any　of　the　students　remained　to　enjoy　them。　Thick　streamers　of　holly　and　mistletoe　were　strung　along　the　corridors；　mysterious　lights　shone　from　inside　every　suit　of　armor；　and　the　Great　Hall　was　filled　with　its　usual　twelve　Christmas　trees；　glittering　with　golden　stars。　A　powerful　and　delicious　smell　of　cooking　pervaded　the　corridors；　and　by　Christmas　Eve；　it　had　grown　so　strong　that　even　Scabbers　poked　his　nose　out　of　the　shelter　of　Ron's　pocket　to　sniff　hopefully　at　the　air。
　　On　Christmas　morning；　Harry　was　woken　by　Ron　throwing　his　pillow　at　him。
　　〃Oy！　Presents！〃
　　Harry　reached　for　his　glasses　and　put　them　on；　squinting　through　the　semi…darkness　to　the　foot　of　his　bed；　where　a　small　heap　of　parcels　had　appeared。　Ron　was　already　ripping　the　paper　off　his　own　presents。
　　'Another　sweater　from　Mum。。。　maroon　again。。。　see　if　you've　got　one。
　　Harry　had。　Mrs。　Weasley　had　sent　him　a　scarlet　sweater　with　the　Gryffindor　lion　knitted　on　the　front；　also　a　dozen　home…baked　mince　pies；　some　Christmas　cake；　and　a　box　of　nut　brittle。　As　he　moved　all　these　things　aside；　he　saw　a　long；　thin　package　lying　underneath。
　　〃What's　that？〃　said　Ron；　looking　over；　a　freshly　unwrapped　pair　of　maroon　socks　in　his　hand。
　　〃Dunno。。。〃
　　Harry　ripped　the　parcel　open　and　gasped　as　a　magnificent；　gleaming　broomstick　rolled　out　onto　his　bedspread。　Ron　dropped　his　socks　and　jumped　off　his　bed　for　a　closer　look。
　　〃I　don't　believe　it；〃　he　said　hoarsely。
　　It　was　a　Firebolt；　identical　to　the　dream　broom　Harry　had　gone　to　see　every　day　in　Diagon　Alley。　Its　handle　glittered　as　he　picked　it　up。　He　could　feel　it　vibrating　and　let　go；　it　hung　in　midair；　unsupported；　at　exactly　the　right　height　for　him　to　mount　it。　His　eyes　moved　from　the　golden　registration　number　at　the　top　of　the　handle；　right　down　to　the　perfectly　smooth；　streamlined　birch　twigs　that　made　up　the　tail。
　　〃Who　sent　it　to　you？〃　said　Ron　in　a　hushed　voice。
　　〃Look　and　see　if　there's　a　card；〃　said　Harry。
　　Ron　ripped　apart　the　Firebolt's　wrappings。
　　〃Nothing！　Blimey；　who'd　spend　that　much　on　you？〃
　　〃Well；〃　said　Harry；　feeling　stunned；　〃I'm　betting　it　wasn't　the　Dursleys。〃
　　I　bet　it　was　Dumbledore；〃　said　Ron；　now　walking　around　and　around　the　Firebolt；　taking　in　every　glorious　inch。　〃He　sent　you　the　Invisibility　Cloak　anonymously。。。。〃
　　〃That　was　my　dad's；　though；〃　said　Harry。　〃Dumbledore　was　just　Passing　it　on　to　me。　He　wouldn't　spend　hundreds　of　Galleons　on　me。　He　can't　go　giving　students　stuff　like　this　〃
　　〃That's　why　he　wouldn't　say　it　was　from　him！〃　said　Ron。　〃In　case　some　git　like　Malfoy　said　it　was　favoritism。　Hey；　Harry〃　　Ron　gave　a　great　whoop　of　laughter　　〃Malfoy！　Wait　till　he　sees　you　on　this！　He'll　be　sick　as　a　pig！　This　is　an　international　standard　broom；　this　is！〃
　　〃I　can't　believe　this；〃　Harry　muttered；　running　a　hand　along　the　Firebolt；　while　Ron　sank　onto　Harry's　bed；　laughing　his　head　off　at　the　thought　of　Malfoy。　〃Who　…？〃
　　〃I　know；〃　said　Ron；　controlling　himself；　〃I　know　who　it　could've　been　　Lupin！〃
　　〃What？〃　said　Harry；　now　starting　to　laugh　himself　〃Lupin？　Listen；　if　he　had　this　much　gold；　he'd　be　able　to　buy　himself　some　new　robes。〃
　　〃Yeah；　but　he　likes　you；〃　said　Ron。　〃And　he　was　away　when　your　Nimbus　got　smashed；　and　he　might've　heard　about　it　and　decided　to　visit　Diagon　Alley　and　get　this　for　you　〃
　　〃What　d'you　mean；　he　was　away？〃　said　Harry。　〃He　was　ill　when　I　was　playing　in　that　match。〃
　　〃Well；　he　wasn't　in　the　hospital　wing；〃　said　Ron。　〃I　was　there；　cleaning　out　the　bedpans　on　that　detention　from　Snape；　remember？〃
　　Harry　frowned　at　Ron。
　　〃I　can't　see　Lupin　affording　something　like　this。〃
　　〃What're　you　two　laughing　about？〃
　　Hermione　had　just　e　in；　wearing　her　dressing　gown　and　carrying　Crookshanks；　who　was　looking　very　grumpy；　with　a　string　of　tinsel　tied　around　his　neck。
　　〃Don't　bring　him　in　here！〃　said　Ron；　hurriedly　snatching　Scabbers　from　the　depths　of　his　bed　and　stowing　him　in　his　pajama　pocket。
　　But　Hermione　wasn't　listening。　She　dropped　Crookshanks　onto　Seamus's　empty　bed　and　stared；　open…mouthed；　at　the　Firebolt。
　　〃Oh；　Harry！　Who　sent　you　that？〃
　　〃No　idea；〃　said　Harry。　〃There　wasn't　a　card　or　anything　with　it。〃
　　To　his　great　surprise；　Hermione　did　not　appear　either　excited　or　intrigued　by　the　news。　On　the　contrary；　her　face　fell；　and　she　bit　her　lip。
　　〃What's　the　matter　with　you？〃　said　Ron。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Hermione　slowly；　〃but　it's　a　bit　odd；　isn't　it？　I　mean；　this　is　supposed　to　be　quite　a　good　broom；　isn't　it？〃
　　Ron　sighed　exasperatedly。
　　〃It's　the　best　broom　there　is；　Hermione；〃　he　said。
　　〃So　it　must've　been　really　expensive。。。。〃
　　〃Probably　cost　more　than　all　the　Slytherins'　brooms　put　together；〃　said　Ron　happily。
　　〃Well。。。　who'd　send　Harry　something　as　expensive　as　that；　and　not　even　tell　him　they'd　sent　it？〃　said　Hermione。
　　〃Who　cares？〃　said　Ron　impatiently。　〃Listen；　Harry；　can　I　have　a　go　on　it？　Can　I？〃
　　〃I　don't　think　anyone　should　ride　that　broom　just　yet！〃　said　Hermione　shrilly。
　　Harry　and　Ron　looked　at　her。
　　〃What　d'you　think　Harry's　going　to　do　with　it　　sweep　the　floor？〃　said　Ron。
　　But　before　Hermione　could　answer；　Crookshanks　sprang　from　Seamus's　bed；　right　at　Ron's　chest。
　　〃GET　　HIM　　OUT　　OF　　HERE！〃　Ron　bellowed　as　Crookshanks's　claws　ripped　his　pajamas　and　Scabbers　attempted　a　wild　escape　over　his　shoulder。　Ron　seized　Scabbers　by　the　tail　and　aimed　a　misjudged　kick　at　Crookshanks　that　hit　the　trunk　at　the　end　of　Harry's　bed；　knocking　it　over　and　causing　Ron　to　hop　up　and　down；　howling　with　pain。
　　Crookshanks's　fur　suddenly　stood　on　end。　A　shrill；　tint；；　whistling　was　filling　the　room。　The　Pocket　Sneakoscope　had　bee　dislodged　from　Uncle　Vernon's　old　socks　and　was　whirling　and　gleaming　on　the　floor。
　　I　forgot　about　that！〃　Harry　said；　bending　down　and　picking　up　the　Sneakoscope。　I　never　wear　those　socks　if　I　can　help　it。。。。
　　The　Sneakoscope　whirled　and　whistled　in　his　palm。　Crookshanks　was　hissing　and　spitting　at　it。
　　〃You'd　better　take　that　cat　out　of　here；　Hermione；〃　said　Ron　furiously；　sitting　on　Harry's　bed　nursing　his　toe。　〃Can't　you　shut　that　thing　up？〃　he　added　to　Harry　as　Hermione　strode　out　of　the　room；　Crookshanks's　yellow　eyes　still　fixed　maliciously　on　Ron。
　　Harry　stuffed　the　Sneakoscope　back　inside　the　socks　and　threw　it　back　into　his　trunk。　All　that　could　be　heard　now　were　Ron's　stifled　moans　of　pain　and　rage。　Scabbers　was　huddled　in　Ron's　hands。　It　had　been　a　while　since　Harry　had　seen　him　out　of　Ron's　pocket；　and　he　was　unpleasantly　surprised　to　see　that　Scabbers；　once　so　fat；　was　now　very　skinny；　patches　of　fur　seemed　to　have　fallen　out　too
　　〃He's　not　looking　too　good；　is　he？〃　Harry　said。
　　〃It's　stress！〃　said　Ron。　〃He'd　be　fine　if　that　big　stupid　furball　left　him　alone！〃
　　But　Harry；　remembering　what　the　woman　at　the　Magical　Menagerie　had　said　about　rats　living　only　three　years；　couldn't　help　feeling　that　unless　Scabbers　had　powers　he　had　never　revealed；　he　was　reaching　the　end　of　his　life。　And　despite　Ron's　frequent　conplaints　that　Scabbers　was　both　boring　and　useless；　he　was　sure　Ron　would　be　very　miserable　if　Scabbers　died。
　　Christmas　spirit　was　definitely　thin　on　the　ground　in　the　Gryffindor　mon　room　that　morning。　Hermione　had　shut　Crookshanks　in　her　dormitory；　but　was　furious　with　Ron　for　trying　to　kick　him；　Ron　was　still　fuming　about　Crookshanks's　fresh　attempt　to　eat　Scabbers。　Harry　gave　up　trying　to　make　them　talk　to　each　other　and　devoted　himself　to　examining　the　Firebolt；　which　he　had　brought　down　to　the　mon　room　with　him。　For　some　reason　this　seemed　to　annoy　Hermione　as　well；　she　didn't　say　anything；　but　she　kept　looking　darkly　at　the　broom　as　though　it　too　had　been　criticizing　her　cat。
　　At　lunchtime　they　went　down　to　the　Great　Hall；　to　find　that　the　House　tables　had　been　moved　against　the　walls　again；　and　that　a　single　table；　set　for　twelve；　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　room。　Professors　Dumbledore；　McGonagall；　Snape；　Sprout；　and　Flitwick　were　there；　along　with　Filch；　the　caretaker；　who　had　taken　off　his　usual　brown　coat　and　was　wearing　a　very　old　and　rather　moldy…　looking　tailcoat。　There　were　only　three　other　students；　two　extremely　nervous…looking　first　years　and　a　sullen…faced　Slytherin　fifth　year。
　　〃Merry　Christmas！〃　said　Dumbledore　as　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　approached　the　table。　〃As　there　are　so　few　of　us；　it　seemed　foolish　to　use　the　House　tables。。。。　Sit　down；　sit　down！〃
　　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　sat　down　side　by　side　at　the　end　of　the　table。
　　〃Crackers！〃　said　Dumbledore　enthusiastically；　offering　the　end　of　a　large　silver　noisemaker　to　Snape；　who　took　it　reluctantly　and　tugged。　With　a　bang　like　a　gunshot；　the　cracker　flew　apart　to　reveal　a　large；　pointed　witchs　hat　topped　with　a　stuffed　vulture。
　　Harry；　remembering　the　boggart；　caught　Ron's　eye　and　they　both　grinned；　Snape's　mouth　thinned　and　he　pushed　the　hat　toward　Dumbledore；　who　swapped　it　for　his　wizard's　hat　at　once。
　　〃Dig　in！〃　he　advised　the　table；　beaming　around。
　　As　Harry　was　helping　himself　to　roast　potatoes；　the　doors　of　the　Great　Hall　opened　again。　It　was　Professor　Trelawney；　gliding　toward　them　as　though　on　wheels。　She　had　put　on　a　green　sequined　dress　in　honor　of　the　occasion；　making　her　look　more　than　ever　like　a　glittering；　oversized　dragonfly。
　　〃Sibyll；　this　is　a　pleasant　surprise！〃　said　Dumbledore；　standing　up。
　　〃I　have　been　crystal　gazing；　Headmaster；〃　said　Professor　Trelawney　in　her　mistiest；　most　faraway　voice；　〃and　to　my　astonishment；　I　saw　myself　abandoning　my　solitary　luncheon　and　ing　to　join　you。　Who　am　I　to　refuse　the　promptings　of　fate？　I　at　once　hastened　from　my　tower；　and　I　do　beg　you　to　forgive　my　lateness。。。。〃
　　〃Certainly；　certainly；〃　said　Dumbledore；　his　eyes　twinkling。　〃Let　me　draw　you　up　a　chair　〃
　　And　he　did　indeed　draw　a　chair　in　midair　with　his　wand；　which　revolved　for　a　few　seconds　before　falling　with　a　thud　between　Professors　Snape　and　McGonagall。　Professor　Trelawney；　however；　did　not　sit　down；　her　enormous　eyes　had　been　roving　around　the　table；　and　she　suddenly　uttered　a　kind　of　soft　scream。
　　I　dare　not；　Headmaster！　If　I