3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第32章

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　　To　make　matters　even　worse；　Harry's　anti…dementor　lessons　were　not　going　nearly　as　well　as　he　had　hoped。　Several　sessions　on；　he　was　able　to　produce　an　indistinct；　silvery　shadow　every　time　the　boggart…dementor　approached　him；　but　his　Patronus　was　too　feeble　to　drive　the　dementor　away。　All　it　did　was　hover；　like　a　semitransparent　cloud；　draining　Harry　of　energy　as　he　fought　to　keep　it　there。　Harry　felt　angry　with　himself；　guilty　about　his　secret　desire　to　hear　his　parents'　voices　again。
　　〃You're　expecting　too　much　of　yourself；〃　said　Professor　Lupin；　sternly　in　their　fourth　week　of　practice。　〃For　a　thirteen…year…old　wizard；　even　an　indistinct　Patronus　is　a　huge　achievement。　You　aren't　passing　out　anymore；　are　you？〃
　　I　thought　a　Patronus　would　　charge　the　dementors　down　or　something；〃　said　Harry　dispiritedly。　〃Make　them　disappear　〃
　　〃The　true　Patronus　does　do　that；〃　said　Lupin。　〃But　you've　achieved　a　great　deal　in　a　very　short　space　of　time。　If　the　dementors　put　in　an　appearance　at　your　next　Quidditch　match；　You　will　be　able　to　keep　them　at　bay　long　enough　to　get　back　to　the　ground。〃
　　〃You　said　it's　harder　if　there　are　loads　of　them；〃　said　Harry。
　　〃I　have　plete　confidence　in　you；〃　said　Lupin；　smiling。　〃Here　　you've　earned　a　drink　…　something　from　the　Three　Broomsticks。　You　won't　have　tried　it　before　〃
　　He　pulled　two　bottles　out　of　his　briefcase。
　　〃Butterbeer！〃　said　Harry；　without　thinking。　〃Yeah；　I　like　that　stuff！〃
　　Lupin　raised　an　eyebrow。
　　〃Oh　…Ron　and　Hermione　brought　me　some　back　from　Hogsmeade；〃　Harry　lied　quickly。
　　I　see；〃　said　Lupin；　though　he　still　looked　slightly　suspicious。　〃Well　　let's　drink　to　a　Gryffindor　victory　against　Ravenclaw！　Not　that　I'm　supposed　to　take　sides；　as　a　teacher。。。　〃　he　added　hastily
　　They　drank　the　butterbeer　in　silence；　until　Harry　voiced　something　he'd　been　wondering　for　a　while。
　　〃What's　under　a　dementor's　hood？〃
　　Professor　Lupin　lowered　his　bottle　thoughtfully。
　　〃Hmmm。。。　well；　the　only　people　who　really　know　are　in　no　condition　to　tell　us。　You　see；　the　dementor　lowers　its　hood　only　to　use　its　last　and　worst　weapon。〃
　　〃What's　that？〃
　　〃They　call　it　the　Dementor's　Kiss；〃　said　Lupin；　with　a　slightly　twisted　smile。　〃It's　what　dementors　do　to　those　they　wish　to　destroy　utterly。　I　suppose　there　must　be　some　kind　of　mouth　under　there；　because　they　clamp　their　jaws　upon　the　mouth　of　the　victim　and　　and　suck　out　his　soul。〃
　　Harry　accidentally　spat　out　a　bit　of　butterbeer。
　　〃What　　they　kill　？〃
　　〃Oh　no；〃　said　Lupin。　〃Much　worse　than　that。　You　can　exist　without　your　soul；　you　know；　as　long　as　your　brain　and　heart　are　still　working。　But　you'll　have　no　sense　of　self　anymore；　no　memory；　no。　。。　anything。　There's　no　chance　at　all　of　recovery。　You'll　just　exist。　As　an　empty　shell。　And　your　soul　is　gone　forever。。。　lost。〃
　　Lupin　drank　a　little　more　butterbeer；　then　said；　〃It's　the　fate　that　awaits　Sirius　Black。　It　was　in　the　Daily　Prophet　this　morning。　The　Ministry　have　given　the　dementors　permission　to　perform　it　if　they　find　him。〃
　　Harry　sat　stunned　for　a　moment　at　the　idea　of　someone　having　their　soul　sucked　out　through　their　mouth。　But　then　he　thought　of　Black。
　　〃He　deserves　it；〃　he　said　suddenly。
　　〃You　think　so？〃　said　Lupin　lightly。　〃Do　you　really　think　anyone　deserves　that？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Harry　defiantly。　〃For。。。　for　some　things。。。〃
　　He　would　have　liked　to　have　told　Lupin　about　the　conversation　he'd　overheard　about　Black　in　the　Three　Broomsticks；　about　Black　betraying　his　mother　and　father；　but　it　would　have　involved　revealing　that　he'd　gone　to　Hogsmeade　without　permission；　and　he　knew　Lupin　wouldn't　be　very　impressed　by　that。　So　he　finished　his　butterbeer；　thanked　Lupin；　and　left　the　History　of　Magic　classroom。
　　Harry　half　wished　that　he　hadn't　asked　what　was　under　a　dementor's　hood；　the　answer　had　been　so　horrible；　and　he　was　so　lost　in　unpleasant　thoughts　of　what　it　would　feel　like　to　have　your　soul　sucked　out　of　you　that　he　walked　headlong　into　Professor　McGonagall　halfway　up　the　stairs。
　　〃Do　watch　where　you're　going；　Potter！〃
　　〃Sorry；　Professor　〃
　　〃I've　just　been　looking　for　you　in　the　Gryffindor　mon　room；　Well；　here　it　is；　we've　done　everything　we　could　think　of；　and　there　doesn't　seem　to　be　anything　wrong　with　it　at　all。　You've　got　a　very　good　friend　somewhere；　Potter。。。。〃
　　Harry's　jaw　dropped。　She　was　holding　out　his　Firebolt；　and　it　looked　as　magnificent　as　ever。
　　〃I　can　have　it　back？〃　Harry　said　weakly。　〃Seriously？〃
　　〃Seriously；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall；　and　she　was　actually　smiling。　〃I　daresay　you'll　need　to　get　the　feel　of　it　before　Saturday's　match；　won't　you？　And　Potter　　do　try　and　win；　won't　you？　Or　we'll　be　out　of　the　running　for　the　eighth　year。　in　a　row；　as　Professor　Snape　was　kind　enough　to　remind　me　only　last　night。。。。〃
　　Speechless；　Harry　carried　the　Firebolt　back　upstairs　toward　Gryffindor　Tower。　As　he　turned　a　corner；　he　saw　Ron　dashing　toward　him；　grinning　from　ear　to　ear。
　　〃She　gave　it　to　You？　Excellent！　Listen；　can　I　still　have　a　go　on　it？　Tomorrow？〃
　　〃Yeah。。。　anything；〃　said　Harry；　his　heart　lighter　than　it　had　been　in　a　month。　〃You　know　what　　we　should　make　up　with　Hermione。。。。　She　was　only　trying　to　help。。。。〃
　　〃Yeah；　all　right；〃　said　Ron。　〃She's　in　the　mon　room　how　working；　for　a　change　〃
　　They　turned　into　the　corridor　to　Gryffindor　Tower　and　saw　Neville　Longbottom；　pleading　with　Sir　Cadogan；　who　seemed　to　be　refusing　him　entrance。
　　〃I　wrote　them　down！〃　Neville　was　saying　tearfully。　〃But　I　must've　dropped　them　somewhere！〃
　　〃A　likely　tale！〃　roared　Sir　Cadogan。　Then；　spotting　Harry　and　Ron：　〃Good　even；　my　fine　young　yeomen！　e　clap　this　loon　in　irons。　He　is　trying　to　force　entry　to　the　chambers　within！〃
　　〃Oh；　shut　up；〃　said　Ron　as　he　and　Harry　drew　level　with　Neville。
　　〃I've　lost　the　passwords！〃　Neville　told　them　miserably。　〃I　made　him　tell　me　what　passwords　he　was　going　to　use　this　week；　because　he　keeps　changing　them；　and　now　I　don't　know　what　I've　done　with　them！〃
　　〃Oddsbodikins；〃　said　Harry　to　Sir　Cadogan；　who　looked　extremely　disappointed　and　reluctantly　swung　forward　to　let　them　into　the　mon　room。　There　was　a　sudden；　excited　murmur　as　every　head　turned　and　the　next　moment；　Harry　was　surrounded　by　people　exclaiming　over　his　Firebolt。
　　〃Where'd　you　get　it；　Harry？〃
　　〃Will　you　let　me　have　a　go？〃　〃Have　you　ridden　it　yet；　Harry？〃
　　〃Ravenclaw'll　have　no　chance；　they're　all　on　Cleansweep　Sevens！〃
　　〃Can　I　just　hold　it；　Harry？〃
　　After　ten　minutes　or　so；　during　which　the　Firebolt　was　Passed　around　and　admired　from　every　angle；　the　crowd　dispersed　and　Harry　and　Ron　had　a　clear　view　of　Hermione；　the　only　person　who　hadn't　rushed　over　to　them；　bent　over　her　work　and　carefully　avoiding　their　eyes。　Harry　and　Ron　approached　her　table　and　at　last；　she　looked　up。
　　〃I　got　it　back；〃　said　Harry；　grinning　at　her　and　holding　up　the　Firebolt。
　　〃See；　Hermione？　There　wasn't　anything　wrong　with　it！〃　said　Ron。
　　〃Well　　there　might　have　been！〃　said　Hermione。　〃I　mean；　at　least　you　know　now　that　it's　safe！〃
　　〃Yeah；　I　suppose　so；〃　said　Harry。　〃Id　better　put　it　upstairs。〃
　　〃I'll　take　it！〃　said　Ron　eagerly。　〃I've　got　to　give　Scabbers　his　rat　tonic。〃
　　He　took　the　Firebolt　and；　holding　it　as　if　it　were　made　of　glass；　carried　it　away　up　the　boys'　staircase。
　　〃Can　I　sit　down；　then？〃　Harry　asked　Hermione。
　　〃I　suppose　so；〃　said　Hermione；　moving　a　great　stack　of　parchment　off　a　chair。
　　Harry　looked　around　at　the　cluttered　table；　at　the　long　Arithmancy　essay　on　which　the　ink　was　still　glistening；　at　the　even　longer　Muggle　Studies　essay　（〃Explain　Why　Muggles　Need　Electricity〃　and　at　the　rune　translation　Hermione　was　now　poring　over。
　　〃How　are　you　getting　through　all　this　stuff？〃　Harry　asked　her。
　　〃Oh；　well　　you　know　　working　hard；〃　said　Hermione。　Close…up；　Harry　saw　that　she　looked　almost　as　tired　as　Lupin。
　　〃Why　don't　you　just　drop　a　couple　of　subjects？〃　Harry　asked；　watching　her　lifting　books　as　she　searched　for　her　rune　dictionary。
　　〃I　couldn't　do　that！〃　said　Hermione；　looking　scandalized。
　　〃Arithmancy　looks　terrible；〃　said　Harry；　picking　up　a　very　plicated…looking　number　chart。
　　〃Oh　no；　it's　wonderful！〃　said　Hermione　earnestly。　〃It's　my　favorite　subject！　It's　〃
　　But　exactly　what　was　wonderful　about　Arithmancy；　Harry　never　found　out。　At　that　precise　moment；　a　strangled　yell　echoed　down　the　boys'　staircase。　The　whole　mon　room　fell　silent；　staring；　petrified；　at　the　entrance。　Then　came　hurried　footsteps；　growing　louder　and　louder　　and　then　Ron　came　leaping　into　view；　dragging　with　him　a　bedsheet。
　　〃LOOK！〃　he　bellowed；　striding　over　to　Hermione's　table。
　　〃LOOK！〃　he　yelled；　shaking　the　sheets　in　her　face。
　　〃Ron；　what　？〃
　　〃SCABBERS！　LOOK！　SCABBERS！〃
　　Hermione　was　leaning　away　from　Ron；　looking　utterly　bewildered。　Harry　looked　down　at　the　sheet　Ron　was　holding。　There　was　something　red　on　it。　Something　that　looked　horribly　like　
　　〃BLOOD！〃　Ron　yelled　into　the　stunned　silence。　〃HE'S　GONE！　AND　YOU　KNOW　WHAT　WAS　ON　THE　FLOOR？〃
　　〃N　　no；〃　said　Hermione　in　a　trembling　voice。
　　Ron　threw　something　down　onto　Hermione's　rune　translation。　Hermione　and　Harry　leaned　forward。　Lying　on　top　of　the　weird；　spiky　shapes　were　several　long；　ginger　cat　hairs。
　　CHAPTER　THIRTEEN
　　GRYFFINDOR　VERSUS　RAVENCLAW
　　It　looked　like　the　end　of　Ron　and　Hermione's　friendship。　Each　was　so　angry　with　the　other　that　Harry　couldn't　see　how　they'd　ever　make　up。
　　Ron　was　enraged　that　Hermione　had　never　taken　Crookshanks's　attempts　to　eat　Scabbers　seriously；　hadn't　bothered　to　keep　a　close　enough　watch　on　him；　and　was　still　trying　to　pretend　that　Crookshanks　was　innocent　by　suggesting　that　Ron　look　for　Scabbers　under　all　the　boys'　beds。　Hermione；　meanwhile；　maintained　fiercely　that　Ron　had　no　proof　that　Crookshanks　had　eaten　Scabbers；　that　the　ginger　hairs　might　have　been　there　since　Christmas；　and　that　Ron　had　been　prejudiced　against　her　cat　ever　since　Crookshanks　had　landed　on　Ron's　head　in　the　Magical　Menagerie。
　　Personally；　Harry　was　sure　that　Crookshanks　had　eaten　Scabbers；　and　when　he　tried　to　point　out　to　Hermione　that　the　evidence　all　pointed　that　way；　she　lost　her　temper　with　Harry　too。
　　〃Okay；　side　with　Ron；　I　knew　you　would！〃　she　said　shrilly。　〃First　the　Firebolt；　now　Scabbers；　everything's　my　fault；　isn't　it！　just　leave　me　alone；　Harry；　I've　got　a　lot　of　work　to　do！〃
　　Ron　had　taken　the　loss　of　his　rat　very　hard　indeed。
　　〃e　on；　Ron；　you　were　always　saying　how　boring　Scabbers　was；〃　said　Fred　bracingly。　〃And　he's　been　off…color　for　ages；　he　was　wasting　away。　It　was　probably　better　for　him　to　snuff　it　quickly　　one　swallow　　he　probably　didn't　feel　a　thing。〃
　　〃Fred！〃　said　Ginny　indignantly。
　　〃All　he　did　was　eat　and　sleep；　Ron；　you　said　it　yourself；〃　said　George。
　　〃He　bit　Goyle　for　us　once！〃　Ron　said　miserably。　〃Remember；　Harry？〃
　　〃Yeah；　that's　true；〃　said　Harry。
　　〃His　finest　hour；〃　said　Fred；　unable　to　keep　a　straight　face。　〃Let　the　scar　on　Goyle's　finger　stand　as　a　lasting　tribute　to　his　memory。　Oh；　e　on；　Ron；　get　yourself　down　to　Hogsmeade　and　buy　a　new　rat；　what's　the　point　of　moaning？〃
　　In　a　last…ditch　attempt　to　cheer　Ron　up；　Harry　persu