3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第30章

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　　I　dare　not；　Headmaster！　If　I　join　the　table；　we　shall　be　thirteen！　Nothing　could　be　more　unlucky！　Never　forget　that　when　thirteen　dine　together；　the　first　to　rise　will　be　the　first　to　die！〃
　　〃We'll　risk　it；　Sibyll；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall　inpatiendy。　〃Do　sit　down；　the　turkey's　getting　stone　cold。〃
　　Professor　Trelawney　hesitated；　then　lowered　herself　into　the　empty　chair；　eyes　shut　and　mouth　clenched　tight；　as　though　expecting　a　thunderbolt　to　hit　the　table。　Professor　McGonagall　poked　a　large　spoon　into　the　nearest　tureen。
　　〃Tripe；　Sibyll？〃
　　Professor　Trelawney　ignored　her。　Eyes　open　again；　she　looked　around　once　more　and　said；　〃But　where　is　dear　Professor　Lupin？〃
　　〃I'm　afraid　the　poor　fellow　is　ill　again；〃　said　Dumbledore；　indicating　that　everybody　should　start　serving　themselves。　〃Most　unfortunate　that　it　should　happen　on　Christmas　Day。〃
　　〃But　surely　you　already　knew　that；　Sibyll？〃　said　Professor　McGonagall；　her　eyebrows　raised。
　　Professor　Trelawney　gave　Professor　McGonagall　a　very　cold　look。
　　〃Certainly　I　knew；　Minerva；　11　she　said　quietly。　〃But　one　does　not　parade　the　fact　that　one　is　All…　Knowing。　I　frequently　act　as　though　I　am　not　possessed　of　the　Inner　Eye；　so　as　not　to　make　others　nervous。
　　〃That　explains　a　great　deal；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall　tartly。
　　Professor　Trelawney's　voice　suddenly　became　a　good　deal　less　misty。
　　〃If　you　must　know；　Minerva；　I　have　seen　that　poor　Professor　Lupin　will　not　be　with　us　for　very　long。　He　seems　aware；　himself；　that　his　time　is　short。　He　positively　fled　when　I　offered　to　crystal　gaze　for　him　〃
　　〃Imagine　that；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall　dryly。
　　I　doubt；〃　said　Dumbledore；　in　a　cheerful　but　slightly　raised　voice；　which　put　an　end　to　Professor　McGonagall　and　Professor　Trelawney's　conversation；　〃that　Professor　Lupin　is　in　any　immediate　danger。　Severus；　you've　made　the　potion　for　him　again？〃
　　〃Yes；　Headmaster；〃　said　Snape。　〃W　　what？〃　said　Harry；　scrambling　to　his　feet。　〃Why？〃
　　〃It　will　need　to　be　checked　for　jinxes；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall。　〃Of　course；　I'm　no　expert；　but　I　daresay　Madam　Hooch　and　Professor　Flitwick　will　strip　it　down　〃
　　〃Strip　it　down？〃　repeated　Ron；　as　though　Professor　McGonagall　was　mad。
　　〃It　shouldn't　take　more　than　a　few　weeks；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall。　〃You　will　have　it　back　if　we　are　sure　it　is　jinx…free。〃
　　〃There's　nothing　wrong　with　it！〃　said　Harry；　his　voice　shaking　slightly。　〃Honestly；　Professor　〃
　　〃You　can't　know　that；　Potter；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall；　quite　kindly；　〃not　until　you've　flown　it；　at　any　rate；　and　I'm　afraid　that　is　out　of　the　question　until　we　are　certain　that　it　has　not　been　tampered　with。　I　shall　keep　you　informed。〃
　　Professor　McGonagall　turned　on　her　heel　and　carried　the　Firebolt　out　of　the　portrait　hole；　which　closed　behind　her。　Harry　stood　staring　after　her；　the　tin　of　High…Finish　Polish　still　clutched　in　his　hands。　Ron；　however；　rounded　on　Hermione。
　　〃What　did　you　go　running　to　McGonagall　for？
　　Hermione　threw　her　book　aside。　She　was　still　pink　in　the　face；　but　stood　up　and　faced　Ron　defiantly。
　　〃Because　I　thought　　and　Professor　McGonagall　agrees　with　me　　that　that　broom　was　probably　sent　to　Harry　by　Sirius　Black！〃
　　CHAPTER　TWELVE
　　THE　PATRONUS
　　Harry　knew　that　Hermione　had　meant　well；　but　that　didn't　stop　him　from　being　angry　with　her。　He　had　been　the　owner　of　the　best　broom　in　the　world　for　a　few　short　hours；　and　now；　because　of　her　interference；　he　didn't　know　whether　he　would　ever　see　it　again。　He　was　positive　that　there　was　nothing　wrong　with　the　Firebolt　now；　but　what　sort　of　state　would　it　be　in　once　it　had　been　subjected　to　all　sorts　of　anti…jinx　tests？
　　Ron　was　furious　with　Hermione　too。　As　far　as　he　was　concerned；　the　stripping…down　of　a　brand…　new　Firebolt　was　nothing　less　than　criminal　damage。　Hermione；　who　remained　convinced　that　she　had　acted　for　the　best；　started　avoiding　the　mon　room。　Harry　and　Ron　supposed　she　had　taken　refuge　in　the　library　and　didn't　try　to　persuade　her　to　e　back。　All　in　all；　they　were　glad　when　the　rest　of　the　school　returned　shortly　after　New　Year；　and　Gryffindor　Tower　became　crowded　and　noisy　again。　Wood　sought　Harry　out　on　the　night　before　term　started。
　　〃Had　a　good　Christmas？〃　he　said；　and　then；　without　waiting　for　an　answer；　he　sat　down；　lowered　his　voice；　and　said；　〃I've　been；　doing　some　thinking　over　Christmas；　Harry。　After　last　match；　you　know。　If　the　dementors　e　to　the　next　one。。。　I　mean。。。　we　can't　afford　you　to　　well　〃
　　Wood　broke　off；　looking　awkward。
　　〃I'm　working　on　it；〃　said　Harry　quickly。　〃Professor　Lupin　said　he'd　train　me　to　ward　off　the　dementors。　We　should　be　starting　this　week。　He　said　he'd　have　time　after　Christmas。〃
　　〃Ah；〃　said　Wood；　his　expression　clearing。　〃Well；　in　that　case　　I　really　didn't　want　to　lose　you　as　Seeker；　Harry。　And　have　you　ordered　a　new　broom　yet？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Harry。
　　〃What！　You'd　better　get　a　move　on；　you　know　　you　can't　ride　that　Shooting　Star　against　Ravenclaw！〃
　　〃He　got　a　Firebolt　for　Christmas；〃　said　Ron。
　　〃A　Firebolt？　No！　Seriously？　A　　a　real　Firebolt？〃
　　〃Don't　get　excited；　Oliver；〃　said　Harry　gloomily。　〃I　haven't　got　it　anymore。　It　was　confiscated。〃　And　he　explained　all　about　how　the　Firebolt　was　now　being　checked　for　jinxes。
　　〃Jinxed？　How　could　it　be　jinxed？〃
　　〃Sirius　Black〃　Harry　said　wearily。　〃He's　supposed　to　be　after　me。　So　McGonagall　reckons　he　might　have　sent　it。〃
　　Waving　aside　the　information　that　a　famous　murderer　was　after　his　Seeker；　Wood　said；　〃But　Black　couldn't　have　bought　a　Firebolt！　He's　on　the　run！　The　whole　country's　on　the　lookout　for　him！　How　could　he　just　walk　into　Quality　Quidditch　Supplies　and　buy　a　broomstick？〃
　　〃I　know；〃　said　Harry；　〃but　McGonagall　still　wants　to　strip　it　down　〃
　　Wood　went　pale。
　　〃I'll　go　and　talk　to　her；　Harry；〃　he　promised。　〃I'll　make　her　see　reason。。。。　A　Firebolt。。。　a　real　Firebolt；　on　our　team。。。　She　wants　Gryffindor　to　win　as　much　as　we　do。。。。　I'll　make　her　see　sense。　A　Firebolt。。。〃
　　Classes　started　again　the　next　day。　The　last　thing　anyone　felt　like　doing　was　spending　two　hours　on　the　grounds　on　a　raw　January　morning；　but　Hagrid　had　provided　a　bonfire　full　of　salamanders　for　their　enjoyment；　and　they　spent　an　unusually　good　lesson　collecting　dry　wood　and　leaves　to　keep　the　fire　blazing　while　the　flame…loving　lizards　scampered　up　and　down　the　crumbling；　white…hot　logs。　The　first　Divination　lesson　of　the　new　term　was　much　less　fun；　Professor　Trelawney　was　now　teaching　them　palmistry；　and　she　lost　no　time　in　informing　Harry　that　he　had　the　shortest　life　line　she　had　ever　seen。
　　It　was　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts　that　Harry　was　keen　to　get　to；　after　his　conversation　with　Wood；　he　wanted　to　get　started　on　his　anti…dementor　lessons　as　soon　as　possible。
　　〃Ah　yes；〃　said　Lupin；　when　Harry　reminded　him　of　his　promise　at　the　end　of　class。　〃Let　me　see。。。　how　about　eight　o'clock　on　Thursday　evening？　The　History　of　Magic　classroom　should　be　large　enough。。。。　I'll　have　to　think　carefully　about　how　we're　going　to　do　this。。。。　We　can't　bring　a　real　dementor　into　the　castle　to　practice　on。。。。〃
　　〃Still　looks　ill；　doesn't　he？〃　said　Ron　as　they　walked　down　the　corridor；　heading　to　dinner。　〃What　d'you　reckon's　the　matter　with　him？〃
　　There　was　a　loud　and　impatient　〃tuh〃　from　behind　them。　It　was　Hermione；　who　had　been　sitting　at　the　feet　of　a　suit　of　armor；　repacking　her　bag；　which　was　so　full　of　books　it　wouldn't　close。
　　〃And　what　are　you　tutting　at　us　for？〃　said　Ron　irritably。
　　〃Nothing；〃　said　Hermione　in　a　lofty　voice；　heaving　her　bag　back　over　her　shoulder。
　　〃Yes；　you　were；〃　said　Ron。　〃I　said　I　wonder　what's　wrong　with　Lupin；　and　you　〃
　　〃Well；　isn't　it　obvious？〃　said　Hermione；　with　a　look　of　maddening　superiority。
　　〃If　you　don't　want　to　tell　us；　don't；〃　snapped　Ron。
　　〃Fine；〃　said　Hermione　haughtily；　and　she　marched　off。
　　〃She　doesn't　know；〃　said　Ron；　staring　resentfully　after　Hermione。　〃She's　just　trying　to　get　us　to　talk　to　her　again。〃
　　At　eight　o'clock　on　Thursday　evening；　Harry　left　Gryffindor　Tower　for　the　History　of　Magic　classroom。　It　was　dark　and　empty　when　he　arrived；　but　he　lit　the　lamps　with　his　wand　and　had　waited　only　five　minutes　when　Professor　Lupin　turned　up；　carrying　a　large　packing　case；　which　he　heaved　onto　Professor　Binn's　desk。
　　〃What's　that？〃　said　Harry。
　　〃Another　boggart；〃　said　Lupin；　stripping　off　his　cloak。　〃I've　been　bing　the　castle　ever　since　Tuesday；　and　very　luckily；　I　found　this　one　lurking　inside　Mr。　Filch's　filing　cabinet。　It's　the　nearest　we'll　get　to　a　real　dementor。　The　boggart　will　turn　into　a　dementor　when　he　sees　you；　so　we'll　be　able　to　practice　on　him。　I　can　store　him　in　my　office　when　we're　not　using　him；　there's　a　cupboard　under　my　desk　he'll　like。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Harry；　trying　to　sound　as　though　he　wasn't　apprehensive　at　all　and　merely　glad　that　Lupin　had　found　such　a　good　substitute　for　a　real　dementor。
　　〃So。。。〃　Professor　Lupin　had　taken　out　his　own　wand；　and　indicated　that　Harry　should　do　the　same。　〃The　spell　I　am　going　to　try　and　teach　you　is　highly　advanced　magic；　Harry　　well　beyond　ordinary　Wizarding　Level。　It　is　called　the　Patronus　Charm。〃
　　〃How　does　it　work？〃　said　Harry　nervously。
　　〃Well；　when　it　works　correctly；　It　conjures　up　a　Patronus；〃　said　Lupin；　〃which　is　a　kind　of　anti…　dementor　　a　guardian　that　acts　as　a　shield　between　you　and　the　dementor。〃
　　Harry　had　a　sudden　vision　of　himself　crouching　behind　a　Hagridsized　figure　holding　a　large　club。　Professor　Lupin　continued；　〃The　Patronus　is　a　kind　of　positive　force；　a　projection　of　the　very　things　that　the　dementor　feeds　upon　　hope；　happiness；　the　desire　to　survive　　but　it　cannot　feel　despair；　as　real　humans　can；　so　the　dementors　can't　hurt　it。　But　I　must　warn　you；　Harry；　that　the　charm　might　be　too　advanced　for　you。　Many　qualified　wizards　have　difficulty　with　it。〃
　　〃What　does　a　Patronus　look　like？〃　said　Harry　curiously。
　　〃Each　one　is　unique　to　the　wizard　who　conjures　it。〃
　　〃And　how　do　you　conjure　it？〃
　　〃With　an　incantation；　which　will　work　only　if　you　are　concentrating；　with　all　your　might；　on　a　single；　very　happy　memory。〃
　　Harry　cast　his　mind　about　for　a　happy　memory。　Certainly；　nothing　that　had　happened　to　him　at　the　Dursleys'　was　going　to　do。　Finally；　he　settled　on　the　moment　when　he　had　first　ridden　a　broomstick。
　　〃Right；〃　he　said；　trying　to　recall　as　exactly　as　possible　the　wonderful；　soaring　sensation　of　his　stomach。
　　〃The　incantation　is　this　〃　Lupin　cleared　his　throat。　〃Expecto　patronum！〃
　　〃Expecto　patronum；　〃　Harry　repeated　under　his　breath；　〃expecto　patronum。〃
　　〃Concentrating　hard　on　your　happy　memory？〃
　　〃Oh　　yeah　〃　said　Harry；　quickly　forcing　his　thoughts　back　to　that　first　broom　ride。　〃Expecto　patrono　　no；　patronum　　sorry　　expecto　patronum；　expecto　patronum〃
　　Something　whooshed　suddenly　out　of　the　end　of　his　wand；　it　looked　like　a　wisp　of　silvery　gas。
　　〃Did　you　see　that？〃　said　Harry　excitedly。　〃Something　happened！〃
　　〃Very　good；〃　said　Lupin；　smiling。　〃Right；　then　　ready　to　try　it　on　a　dementor？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　Harry　said；　gripping　his　wand　very　tightly；　and　moving　into　the　middle　of　the　deserted　classroom。　He　tried　to　keep　his　mind　on　flyin