3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第36章

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　　〃'Bye！〃　Harry　called　to　Ron。　〃See　you　when　you　get　back！〃
　　Ron　grinned　and　winked。
　　Harry　hurried　up　to　the　third　floor；　slipping　the　Marauder's　Map　out　of　his　pocket　as　he　went。　Crouching　behind　the　one…eyed　witch；　he　smoothed　it　out。　A　tiny　dot　was　moving　in　his　direction。　Harry　squinted　at　it。　The　minuscule　writing　next　to　it　read　Neville　Longbottom。
　　Harry　quickly　pulled　out　his　wand；　muttered；　〃Dissendium！〃　and　shoved　his　bag　into　the　statue；　but　before　he　could　climb　in　himself；　Neville　came　around　the　corner。
　　〃Harry！　I　forgot　you　weren't　going　to　Hogsmeade　either！〃
　　〃Hi；　Neville；〃　said　Harry；　moving　swiftly　away　from　the　statue　and　pushing　the　map　back　into　his　pocket。　〃What　are　you　up　to？〃
　　〃Nothing；〃　shrugged　Neville。　〃Want　a　game　of　Exploding　Snap？〃
　　〃Er　　not　now　　I　was　going　to　go　to　the　library　and　do　that　vampire　essay　for　Lupin　〃
　　〃I'll　e　with　you！〃　said　Neville　brightly。　I　haven't　done　it　either！〃
　　〃Er　　hang　on　　yeah；　I　forgot；　I　finished　it　last　night！〃
　　〃Great；　you　can　help　me！〃　said　Neville；　his　round　face　anxious。　〃I　don't　understand　that　thing　about　the　garlic　at　all　　do　they　have　to　eat　it；　or　〃
　　He　broke　off　with　a　small　gasp；　looking　over　Harry's　shoulder。
　　It　was　Snape。　Neville　took　a　quick　step　behind　Harry。
　　〃And　what　are　you　two　doing　here？〃　said　Snape；　ing　to　a　halt　and　looking　from　one　to　the　other。　〃An　odd　place　to　meet　〃
　　To　Harry's　immense　disquiet；　Snape's　black　eyes　flicked　to　the　doorways　on　either　side　of　them；　and　then　to　the　one…eyed　witch。
　　〃We're　not　　meeting　here；〃　said　Harry。　〃We　just　　met　here。〃
　　〃Indeed？〃　said　Snape。　〃You　have　a　habit　of　turning　up　in　unexpected　places；　Potter；　and　you　are　very　rarely　there　for　no　good　reason。。。。　I　suggest　the　pair　of　you　return　to　Gryffindor　Tower；　where　you　belong。〃
　　Harry　and　Neville　set　off　without　another　word。　As　they　turned　the　corner；　Harry　looked　back。　Snape　was　running　one　of　his　hands　over　the　one…eyed　witch's　head；　examining　it　closely。
　　Harry　managed　to　shake　Neville　off　at　the　Fat　Lady　by　telling　him　the　password；　then　pretending　he'd　left　his　vampire　essay　in　the　library　and　doubling　back。　Once　out　of　sight　of　the　security　trolls；　he　pulled　out　the　map　again　and　held　it　close　to　his　nose。
　　The　third　floor　corridor　seemed　to　be　deserted。　Harry　scanned　the　map　carefully　and　saw；　with　a　leap　of　relief；　that　the　tiny　dot　labeled　Severus　Snape　was　now　back　in　its　office。
　　He　sprinted　back　to　the　one…eyed　witch；　opened　her　hump；　heaved　himself　inside；　and　slid　down　to　meet　his　bag　at　the　bottom　of　the　stone　chute。　He　wiped　the　Marauder's　Map　blank　again；　then　set　off　at　a　run。
　　Harry；　pletely　hidden　beneath　the　Invisibility　Cloak；　emerged　into　the　sunlight　outside　Honeydukes　and　prodded　Ron　in　the　back。
　　It's　me；〃　he　muttered。
　　〃What　kept　you？〃　Ron　hissed。
　　〃Snape　was　hanging　around。〃
　　They　set　off　up　the　High　Street。
　　〃Where　are　you？〃　Ron　kept　muttering　out　of　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　〃Are　you　still　there？　This　feels　weird。。。。〃
　　They　went　to　the　post　office；　Ron　pretended　to　be　checking　the　price　of　an　owl　to　Bill　in　Egypt　so　that　Harry　could　have　a　good　look　around。　The　owls　sat　hooting　softly　down　at　him；　at　least　three　hundred　of　them；　from　Great　Grays　right　down　to　tiny　little　Scops　owls　（〃Local　Deliveries　Only〃）；　which　were　so　small　they　could　have　sat　in　the　palm　of　Harry's　hand。
　　Then　they　visited　Zonko's；　which　was　so　packed　with　students　Harry　had　to　exercise　great　care　not　to　tread　on　anyone　and　cause　a　panic。　There　were　jokes　and　tricks　to　fulfill　even　Fred's　and　George's　wildest　dreams；　Harry　gave　Ron　whispered　orders　and　passed　him　some　gold　from　under　the　cloak。　They　left　Zonko's　with　their　money　bags　considerably　lighter　than　they　had　been　on　entering；　but　their　pockets　bulging　with　Dungbombs；　Hiccup　Sweets；　Frog　Spawn　Soap；　and　a　Nose…Biting　Teacup　apiece。
　　The　day　was　fine　and　breezy；　and　neither　of　them　felt　like　staying　indoors；　so　they　walked　past　the　Three　Broomsticks　and　climbed　a　slope　to　visit　the　Shrieking　Shack；　the　most　haunted　dwelling　in　Britain。　It　stood　a　little　way　above　the　rest　of　the　village；　and　even　in　daylight　was　slightly　creepy；　with　its　boarded　windows　and　dank　overgrown　garden。
　　〃Even　the　Hogwarts　ghosts　avoid　it；〃　said　Ron　as　they　leaned　on　the　fence；　looking　up　at　it。　〃I　asked　Nearly　Headless　Nick。。。　he　says　he's　heard　a　very　rough　crowd　lives　here。　No　one　can　get　in。　Fred　and　George　tried；　obviously；　but　all　the　entrances　are　sealed　shut。。。。〃
　　Harry；　feeling　hot　from　their　climb；　was　just　considering　taking　off　the　cloak　for　a　few　minutes　when　they　heard　voices　nearby。　Someone　was　climbing　toward　the　house　from　the　other　side　of　the　hill；　moments　later；　Malfoy　had　appeared；　followed　closely　by　Crabbe　and　Goyle。　Malfoy　was　speaking。
　　〃。。。　should　have　an　owl　from　Father　any　time　now。　He　had　to　go　to　the　hearing　to　tell　them　about　my　arm。。。　about　how　I　couldn't　use　it　for　three　months。。。。〃
　　Crabbe　and　Goyle　sniggered。
　　〃I　really　wish　I　could　hear　that　great　hairy　moron　trying　to　defend　himself。。。　'There's　no　'arm　in　'im；　'onest　that　hippogriff's　as　good　as　dead　〃
　　Malfoy　suddenly　caught　sight　of　Ron。　His　pale　face　split　in　a　malevolent　grin。
　　〃What　are　you　doing；　Weasley？〃
　　Malfoy　looked　up　at　the　crumbling　house　behind　Ron。
　　〃Suppose　You'd　love　to　live　here；　wouldn't　you；　Weasley？　Dreaming　about　having　your　own　bedroom？　I　heard　your　family　all　sleep　in　one　room　　is　that　true？〃
　　Harry　seized　the　back　of　Ron's　robes　to　stop　him　from　leaping　on　Malfoy。　〃Leave　him　to　me；〃　he　hissed　in　Ron's　ear。
　　The　opportunity　was　too　perfect　to　miss。　Harry　crept　silently　around　behind　Malfoy；　Crabbe；　and　Goyle；　bent　down；　and　scooped　a　large　handful　of　mud　out　of　the　path。
　　〃We　were　just　discussing　your　friend　Hagrid；〃　Malfoy　said　to　Ron。　〃Just　trying　to　imagine　what　he's　saying　to　the　mittee　for　the　Disposal　of　Dangerous　Creatures。　D'you　think　he'll　cry　when　they　cut　off　his　hippogriff's
　　SPLAT。
　　Malfoy's　head　jerked　forward　as　the　mud　hit　him；　his　silverblond　hair　was　suddenly　dripping　in　muck。
　　〃What　the　？〃
　　Ron　had　to　hold　onto　the　fence　to　keep　himself　standing；　he　was　laughing　so　hard。　Malfoy；　Crabbe；　and　Goyle　spun　stupidly　on　the　spot；　staring　wildly　around；　Malfoy　trying　to　wipe　his　hair　clean。
　　〃What　was　that？　'Who　did　that？〃
　　〃Very　haunted　up　here；　isn't　it？〃　said　Ron；　with　the　air　of　one　menting　on　the　weather。
　　Crabbe　and　Goyle　were　looking　scared。　Their　bulging　muscles　were　no　use　against　ghosts。　Malfoy　was　staring　madly　around　at　the　deserted　landscape。
　　Harry　sneaked　along　the　path；　where　a　particularly　sloppy　puddle　yielded　some　foul…smelling；　green　sludge。
　　SPLATTER。
　　Crabbe　and　Goyle　caught　some　this　time。　Goyle　hopped　furiously　on　the　spot；　trying　to　rub　it　out　of　his　small；　dull　eyes。
　　〃It　came　from　over　there！〃　said　Malfoy；　wiping　his　face；　and　staring　at　a　spot　some　six　feet　to　the　left　of　Harry。
　　Crabbe　blundered　forward；　his　long　arms　outstretched　like　a　zombie。　Harry　dodged　around　him；　picked　up　a　stick；　and　lobbed　it　at　Crabbe's　back。　Harry　doubled　up　with　silent　laughter　as　Crabbe　did　a　kind　of　pirouette　in　midair；　trying　to　see　who　had　thrown　it。　As　Ron　was　the　only　person　Crabbe　could　see；　it　was　Ron　he　started　toward；　but　Harry　stuck　out　his　leg。　Crabbe　stumbled　　and　his　huge；　flat　foot　caught　the　hem　of　Harry's　cloak。　Harry　felt　a　great　tug；　then　the　cloak　slid　off　his　face。
　　For　a　split　second；　Malfoy　stared　at　him。
　　〃AAARGH！〃　he　yelled；　pointing　at　Harry's　head。　Then　he　turned　tail　and　ran；　at　breakneck　speed；　back　down　the　hill；　Crabbe　and　Goyle　behind　him。
　　Harry　tugged　the　cloak　up　again；　but　the　damage　was　done。
　　〃Harry！〃　Ron　said；　stumbling　forward　and　staring　hopelessly　at　the　point　where　Harry　had　disappeared；　〃you'd　better　run　for　it！　If　Malfoy　tells　anyone　　you'd　better　get　back　to　the　castle；　quick　〃　〃See　you　later；〃　said　Harry；　and　without　another　word；　he　tore　back　down　the　path　toward　Hogsmeade。
　　Would　Malfoy　believe　what　he　had　seen？　Would　anyone　believe
　　Malfoy？　Nobody　knew　about　the　Invisibility　Cloak　　nobody　except　Dumbledore。　Harry's　stomach　turned　over　　Dumbledore　would　know　exactly　what　had　happened；　if　Malfoy　said　any…　thing　
　　Back　into　Honeydukes；　back　down　the　cellar　steps；　across　the　stone　floor；　through　the　trapdoor　　Harry　pulled　off　the　cloak；　tucked　it　under　his　arm；　and　ran；　flat　out；　along　the　passage。。。。　Malfoy　would　get　back　first。。。　how　long　would　it　take　him　to　find　a　teacher？　Panting；　a　sharp　pain　in　his　side；　Harry　didn't　slow　down　until　he　reached　the　stone　slide。　He　would　have　to　leave　the　cloak　where　it　was；　it　was　too　much　of　a　giveaway　in　case　Malfoy　had　tipped　off　a　teacher　　he　hid　it　in　a　shadowy　corner；　then　started　to　climb；　fast　as　he　could；　his　sweaty　hands　slipping　on　the　sides　of　the　chute。　He　reached　the　inside　of　the　witch's　hump；　tapped　it　with　his　wand；　stuck　his　head　through；　and　hoisted　himself　out；　the　hump　closed；　and　just　as　Harry　jumped　out　from　behind　the　statue；　he　heard　quick　footsteps　approaching。
　　It　was　Snape。　He　approached　Harry　at　a　swift　walk；　his　black　robes　swishing；　then　stopped　in　front　of　him。
　　〃So；〃　he　said。
　　There　was　a　look　of　surpressed　triumph　about　him。　Harry　tried　to　look　innocent；　all　too　aware　of　his　sweaty　face　and　his　muddy　hands；　which　he　quickly　hid　in　his　pockets。
　　〃e　with　me；　Potter；〃　said　Snape。
　　Harry　followed　him　downstairs；　trying　to　wipe　his　hands　clean　on　the　inside　of　his　robes　without　Snape　noticing。　They　walked　down　the　stairs　to　the　dungeons　and　then　into　Snape's　office。
　　Harry　had　been　in　here　only　once　before；　and　he　had　been　in　very　serious　trouble　then　too。　Snape　had　aquired　a　few　more　slimy　horrible　things　in　jars　since　last　time；　all　standing　on　shelves　behind　his　desk；　glinting　in　the　firelight　and　adding　to　the　threatening　atmosphere。
　　〃Sit；〃　said　Snape。
　　Harry　sat。　Snape；　however；　remained；　standing。
　　〃Mr。　Malfoy　has　just　been　to　see　me　with　a　strange　story；　Potter；〃　said　Snape。
　　Harry　didn't　say　anything。
　　〃He　tells　me　that　he　was　up　by　the　Shrieking　Shack　when　he　ran　into　Weasley　　apparently　alone。〃
　　Still；　Harry　didn't　speak。
　　〃Mr。　Malfoy　states　that　he　was　standing　talking　to　Weasley；　when　a　large　amount　of　mud　hit　him　in　the　back　of　the　head。　How　do　you　think　that　could　have　happened？〃
　　Harry　tried　to　look　mildly　surprised。
　　〃I　don't　know；　Professor。〃
　　Snape's　eyes　were　boring　into　Harry's。　It　was　exactly　like　trying　to　stare　down　a　hippogriff。　Harry　tried　hard　not　to　blink。
　　〃Mr。　Malfoy　then　saw　an　extraordinary　apparition。　Can　you　imagine　what　it　might　have　been；　Potter？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Harry；　now　trying　to　sound　innocently　curious。
　　〃It　was　your　head；　Potter。　Floating　in　midair。〃
　　There　was　a　long　silence。
　　〃Maybe　he'd　better　go　to　Madam　Pomfrey；〃　said　Harry。　〃If　he's　seeing　things　like　〃
　　〃What　would　your　head　have　been　doing　in　Hogsmeade；　Potter？〃　said　Snape　softly。　〃Your　head　is　not　allowed　in　Hogsmeade。　No　part　of　your　body　has　permission　to　be　in　Hogsmeade。〃
　　〃I　know　that；〃　said　Harry；　striving　to　keep　his　face　free　of　guilt　or　fear。　〃It　sounds　like　Malfoy's