3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第35章

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ly；　good　lady！〃　cried　Sir　Cadogan。
　　There　was　a　stunned　silence；　both　inside　and　outside　the　mon　room。
　　〃You　　you　did？〃　said　Professor　McGonagall。　〃But　　but　the　password！〃
　　〃He　had　'em！〃　said　Sir　Cadogan　proudly。　〃Had　the　whole　week's；　my　lady！　Read　'em　off　a　little　piece　of　paper！〃
　　Professor　McGonagall　pulled　herself　back　through　the　portrait　hole　to　face　the　stunned　crowd。　She　was　white　as　chalk。
　　〃Which　person；〃　she　said；　her　voice　shaking；　〃which　abysmally　foolish　person　wrote　down　this　week's　passwords　and　left　them　lying　around？〃
　　There　was　utter　silence；　broken　by　the　smallest　of　terrified　squeaks。　Neville　Longbottom；　trembling　from　head　to　fluffy　slippered　toes；　raised　his　hand　slowly　into　the　air。
　　CHAPTER　FOURTEEN
　　SNAPE'S　GRUDGE
　　No　one　in　Gryffindor　Tower　slept　that　night。　They　knew　that　the　castle　was　being　searched　again；　and　the　whole　House　stayed　awake　in　the　mon　room；　waiting　to　hear　whether　Black　had　been　caught。　Professor　McGonagall　came　back　at　dawn；　to　tell　them　that　he　had　again　escaped。
　　Throughout　the　day；　everywhere　they　went　they　saw　signs　of　tighter　security；　Professor　Flitwick　could　be　seen　teaching　the　front　doors　to　recognize　a　large　picture　of　Sirius　Black；　Filch　was　suddenly　bustling　up　and　down　the　corridors；　boarding　up　everything　from　tiny　cracks　in　the　walls　to　mouse　holes。　Sir　Cadogan　had　been　fired。　His　portrait　had　been　taken　back　to　its　lonely　landing　on　the　seventh　floor；　and　the　Fat　Lady　was　back。　She　had　been　expertly　restored；　but　was　still　extremely　nervous；　and　had　agreed　to　return　to　her　job　only　on　condition　that　she　was　given　extra　protection。　A　bunch　of　surly　security　trolls　had　been　hired　to　guard　her。　They　paced　the　corridor　in　a　menacing　group；　talking　in　grunts　and　paring　the　size　of　their　clubs。
　　Harry　couldn't　help　noticing　that　the　statue　of　the　one…eyed　witch　on　the　third　floor　remained　unguarded　and　unblocked。　It　seemed　that　Fred　and　George　had　been　right　in　thinking　that　they　　and　now　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　　were　the　only　ones　who　knew　about　the　hidden　passageway　within　it。
　　〃D'you　reckon　we　should　tell　someone？〃　Harry　asked　Ron。
　　〃We　know　he's　not　ing　in　through　Honeyduke's；〃　said　Ron　dismissively。　〃We'd've　heard　if　the　shop　had　been　broken　into。〃
　　Harry　was　glad　Ron　took　this　view。　If　the　one…eyed　witch　was　boarded　up　too；　he　would　never　be　able　to　go　into　Hogsmeade　again。
　　Ron　had　bee　an　instant　celebrity。　For　the　first　time　in　his　life；　people　were　paying　more　attention　to　him　than　to　Harry；　and　it　was　clear　that　Ron　was　rather　enjoying　the　experience。　Though　still　severely　shaken　by　the　night's　events；　he　was　happy　to　tell　anyone　who　asked　what　had　happened；　with　a　wealth　of　detail。
　　〃。。。　I　was　asleep；　and　I　heard　this　ripping　noise；　and　I　thought　it　was　in　my　dream；　you　know？　But　then　there　was　this　draft。。。　I　woke　up　and　one　side　of　the　hangings　on　my　bed　had　been　pulled　down。。。。　I　rolled　over。。。　and　I　saw　him　standing　over　me。。。　like　a　skeleton；　with　loads　of　filthy　hair　。。。　holding　this　great　long　knife；　must've　been　twelve　inches。。。　and　he　looked　at　me；　and　I　looked　at　him；　and　then　I　yelled；　and　he　scampered。
　　〃Why；　though？〃　Ron　added　to　Harry　as　the　group　of　secondyear　girls　who　had　been　listening　to　his　chilling　tale　departed。　〃Why　did　he　run？〃
　　Harry　had　been　wondering　the　same　thing。　Why　had　Black；　having　got　the　wrong　bed；　not　silenced　Ron　and　proceeded　to　Harry？　Black　had　proved　twelve　years　ago　that　he　didn't　mind　murdering　innocent　people；　and　this　time　he　had　been　facing　five　unarmed　boys；　four　of　whom　were　asleep。
　　〃He　must've　known　he'd　have　a　job　getting　back　out　of　the　castle　once　you'd　yelled　and　woken　people　up；〃　said　Harry　thoughtfully。　〃He'd've　had　to　kill　the　whole　House　to　get　back　through　the　portrait　hole。。。　then　he　would'　ve　met　the　teachers。。。。〃
　　Neville　was　in　total　disgrace。　Professor　McGonagall　was　so　furious　with　him　she　had　banned　him　from　all　future　Hogsmeade　visits；　given　him　a　detention；　and　forbidden　anyone　to　give　him　the　password　into　the　tower。　Poor　Neville　was　forced　to　wait。　outside　the　mon　room　every　night　for　somebody　to　let　him　in；　while　the　security　trolls　leered　unpleasantly　at　him。　None　of　these　punishments；　however；　came　close　to　matching　the　one　his　grandmother　had　in　store　for　him。　Two　days　after　Black's　break…in；　she　sent　Neville　the　very　worst　thing　a　Hogwarts　student　could　receive　over　breakfast　　a　Howler。
　　The　school　owls　swooped　into　the　Great　Hall　carrying　the　mail　as　usual；　and　Neville　choked　as　a　huge　barn　owl　landed　in　front　of　him；　a　scarlet　envelope　clutched　in　its　beak。　Harry　and　Ron；　who　were　sitting　opposite　him；　recognized　the　letter　as　a　Howler　at　once　　Ron　had　got　one　from　his　mother　the　year　before。
　　〃Run　for　it；　Neville；〃　Ron　advised。
　　Neville　didn't　need　telling　twice。　He　seized　the　envelope；　and　holding　it　before　him　like　a　bomb；　sprinted　out　of　the　hall；　while　the　Slytherin　table　exploded　with　laughter　at　the　sight　of　him。　They　heard　the　Howler　go　off　in　the　entrance　hall　　Neville's　grandmother's　voice；　magically　magnified　to　a　hundred　times　its　Usual　volume；　shrieking　about　how　he　had　brought　shame　on　the　whole　family。
　　Harry　was　too　busy　feeling　sorry　for　Neville　to　notice　immediately　that　he　had　a　letter　too。　Hedwig　got　his　attention　by　nipping　him　sharply　on　the　wrist。
　　〃Ouch！　Oh　　thanks；　Hedwig。〃
　　Harry　tore　open　the　envelope　while　Hedwig　helped　herself　to　some　of　Neville's　cornflakes。　The　note　inside　said：
　　Dear　Harry　and　Ron；　How　Abut　having　tea　with　me　this　afternoon　'round　six？　I'll　e　collect　you　from　the　castle。　WAIT　FOR　ME　IN　THE　ENTRANCE　HALL；　YOU'RE　NOT　ALLOWED　OUT　ON　YOUR　OWN。　Cheers；　Hagrid
　　〃He　probably　wants　to　hear　all　about　Black！〃　said　Ron。
　　So　at　six　o'clock　that　afternoon；　Harry　and　Ron　left　Gryffindor　Tower；　passed　the　security　trolls　at　a　run；　and　headed　down　to　the　entrance　hall。
　　Hagrid　was　already　waiting　for　them。
　　〃All　right；　Hagrid！〃　said　Ron。　〃S'pose　you　want　to　hear　about　Saturday　night；　do　you？〃
　　〃I've　already　heard　all　abou'　it；〃　said　Hagrid；　opening　the　front　doors　and　leading　them　outside。
　　〃Oh；〃　said　Ron；　looking　slightly　put　out。
　　The　first　thing　they　saw　on　entering　Hagrid's　cabin　was　Buckbeak；　who　was　stretched　out　on　top　of　Hagrid's　patchwork　quilt；　his　enormous　wings　folded　tight　to　his　body；　enjoying　a　large　plate　of　dead　ferrets。　Averting　his　eyes　from　this　unpleasant　sight；　Harry　saw　a　gigantic；　hairy　brown　suit　and　a　very　horrible　yellow…and…orange　tie　hanging　from　the　top　of　Hagrid's　wardrobe　door。
　　〃What　are　they　for；　Hagrid？〃　said　Harry。
　　〃Buckbeaks　case　against　the　mittee　fer　the　Disposal　o'　Dangerous　Creatures；〃　said　Hagrid。　〃This　Friday。　Him　an'　me'll　be　goin'　down　ter　London　together。　I've　booked　two　beds　on　the　Knight　Bus。。。。〃
　　Harry　felt　a　nasty　pang　of　guilt。　He　had　pletely　forgotten　that　Buckbeak's　trial　was　so　near；　and　judging　by　the　uneasy　look　on　Ron's　face；　he　had　too。　They　had　also　forgotten　their　promise　about　helping　him　prepare　Buckbeak's　defense；　the　arrival　of　the　Firebolt　had　driven　it　clean　out　of　their　minds。
　　Hagrid　poured　them　tea　and　offered　them　a　plate　of　Bath　buns　but　they　knew　better　than　to　accept；　they　had　had　too　much　experience　with　Hagrid's　cooking。
　　I　got　somethin'　ter　discuss　with　you　two；〃　said　Hagrid；　sitting　himself　between　them　and　looking　uncharacteristically　serious。
　　〃What？〃　said　Harry。
　　〃Hermione；〃　said　Hagrid。
　　〃What　about　her？〃　said　Ron。
　　〃She's　in　a　righ'　state；　that's　what。　She's　bin　in'　down　ter　visit　me　a　lot　since　Chris'mas。　Bin　feelin'　lonely。　Firs'　yeh　weren'　talking　to　her　because　o'　the　Firebolt；　now　yer　not　talkin'　to　her　because　her　cat　〃
　　〃　ate　Scabbers！〃　Ron　interjected　angrily。
　　〃Because　her　cat　acted　like　all　cats　do；〃　Hagrid　continued　doggedly。　〃She's　cried　a　fair　few　times；　yeh　know。　Goin'　through　a　rough　time　at　the　moment。　Bitten　off　more'n　she　can　chew；　if　yeh　ask　me；　all　the　work　she's　tryin'　ter　do。　Still　found　time　ter　help　me　with　Buckbeak's　case；　mind。。。。　She's　found　some　really　good　stuff　fer　me。。。　reckon　he'll　stand　a　good　chance　now。。。〃
　　〃Hagrid；　we　should've　helped　as　well　　sorry　〃　Harry　began　awkwardly。
　　〃I'm　not　blamin'　yeh！〃　said　Hagrid；　waving　Harry's　apology　aside。　〃Gawd　knows　yeh've　had　enough　ter　be　gettin'　on　with。　I've　seen　yeh　practicin'　Quidditch　ev'ry　hour　o'　the　day　an'　night　　but　I　gotta　tell　yeh；　I　thought　you　two'd　value　yer　friend　more'n　broomsticks　or　rats。　Tha's　all。〃
　　Harry　and　Ron　exchanged　unfortable　looks。
　　〃Really　upset；　she　was；　when　Black　nearly　stabbed　yeh；　Ron。　She's　got　her　heart　in　the　right　place；　Hermione　has；　an'　you　two　not　talkin'　to　her　〃
　　〃If　she'd　just　get　rid　of　that　cat；　I'd　speak　to　her　again！〃　Ron　said　angrily。　〃But　she's　still　sticking　up　for　it！　It's　a　maniac；　and　she　won't　hear　a　word　against　it！〃
　　〃Ah；　well；　people　can　be　a　bit　stupid　abou'　their　pets；〃　said　Hagrid　wisely。　Behind　him；　Buckbeak　spat　a　few　ferret　bones　onto　Hagrid's　pillow。
　　They　spent　the　rest　of　their　visit　discussing　Gryffindor's　improved　chances　for　the　Quidditch　Cup。　At　nine　o'clock；　Hagrid　walked　them　back　up　to　the　castle。
　　A　large　group　of　people　was　bunched　around　the　bulletin　board　when　they　returned　to　the　mon　room。
　　〃Hogsmeade；　next　weekend！〃　said　Ron；　craning　over　the　heads　to　read　the　new　notice。　〃What　d'you　reckon？〃　he　added　quietly　to　Harry　as　they　went　to　sit　down。
　　〃Well；　Filch　hasn't　done　anything　about　the　passage　into　Honeydukes。。。。〃　Harry　said；　even　more　quietly。
　　〃Harry！〃　said　a　voice　in　his　right　ear。　Harry　started　and　looked　around　at　Hermione；　who　was　sitting　at　the　table　right　behind　them　and　clearing　a　space　in　the　wall　of　books　that　had　been　hiding　her。
　　〃Harry；　if　you　go　into　Hogsmeade　again。。。　I'll　tell　Professor　McGonagall　about　that　map！〃　said　Hermione。
　　〃Can　you　hear　someone　talking；　Harry？〃　growled　Ron；　not　looking　at　Hermione。
　　〃Ron；　how　can　you　let　him　go　with　you？　After　what　Sirius　Black　nearly　did　to　you！　I　mean　it；　I'll　tell　〃
　　〃So　now　you're　trying　to　get　Harry　expelled！〃　said　Ron　furiously。　〃Haven't　you　done　enough　damage　this　year？〃
　　Hermione　opened　her　mouth　to　respond；　but　with　a　soft　hiss；　Crookshanks　leapt　onto　her　lap。　Hermione　took　one　frightened　look　at　the　expression　on　Ron's　face；　gathered　up　Crookshanks；　and　hurried　away　toward　the　girls'　dormitories。
　　〃So　how　about　it？〃　Ron　said　to　Harry　as　though　there　had　been　no　interruption。　〃e　on；　last　time　we　went　you　didn't　see　anything。　You　haven't　even　been　inside　Zonko's　yet！〃
　　Harry　looked　around　to　check　that　Hermione　was　well　out　of　earshot。
　　〃Okay；〃　he　said。　〃But　I'm　taking　the　Invisibility　Cloak　this　time。〃
　　On　Saturday　morning；　Harry　packed　his　Invisibility　Cloak　in　his　bag；　slipped　the　Marauder's　Map　into　his　pocket；　and　went　down　to　breakfast　with　everyone　else。　Hermione　kept　shooting　suspicious　looks　down　the　table　at　him；　but　he　avoided　her　eye　and　was　careful　to　let　her　see　him　walking　back　up　the　marble　staircase　in　the　entrance　hall　as　everybody　else　proceeded　to　the　front　doors。
　　〃'Bye！〃　Harry　called　to　Ron。　〃See　you　when　you　get　back！〃
　　Ron　grinned　and　winked。
　　Harry　hurried　up　to　the　third　floor；