3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第38章

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　　〃Malfoy's　dad's　frightened　the　mittee　into　it；〃　said　Hermione；　wiping　her　eyes。　〃You　know　what　he's　like。　They're　a　bunch　of　doddery　old　fools；　and　they　were　scared。　There'll　be　an　appeal；　though；　there　always　is。　Only　I　can't　see　any　hope。。。。　Nothing　will　have　changed。〃
　　〃Yeah；　it　will；〃　said　Ron　fiercely。　〃You　won't　have　to　do　all　the　work　alone　this　time；　Hermione。　I'll　help。〃
　　〃Oh；　Ron！〃
　　Hermione　flung　her　arms　around　Ron's　neck　and　broke　down　pletely。　Ron；　looking　quite　terrified；　patted　her　very　awkwardly　on　the　top　of　the　head。　Finally；　Hermione　drew　away。
　　〃Ron；　I'm　really；　really　sorry　about　Scabbers。。。〃　she　sobbed。
　　〃Oh　　well　　he　was　old；〃　said　Ron；　looking　thoroughly　relieved　that　she　had　let　go　of　him。　〃And　he　was　a　bit　useless。　You　never　know；　Mum　and　Dad　might　get　me　an　owl　now。〃
　　The　safety　measures　imposed　on　the　students　since　Black's　second　break…in　made　it　impossible　for　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　to　go　and　visit　Hagrid　in　the　evenings。　Their　only　chance　of　talking　to　him　was　during　Care　of　Magical　Creatures　lessons。
　　He　seemed　numb　with　shock　at　the　verdict。
　　〃S'all　my　fault。　Got　all　tongue…tied。　They　was　all　sittin'　there　in　black　robes　an'　I　kep'　droppin'　me　notes　and　forgettin'　all　them　dates　yeh　looked　up　fer　me；　Hermione。　An'　then　Lucius　Malfoy　stood　up　an'　said　his　bit；　and　the　mittee　jus'　did　exac'ly　what　he　told　'em。。。。〃
　　〃There's　still　the　appeal！〃　said　Ron　fiercely。　〃Don't　give　up　Yet；　we're　working　on　it！〃
　　They　were　walking　back　up　to　the　castle　with　the　rest　of　the　class。　Ahead　they　could　see　Malfoy；　who　was　walking　with　Crabbe　and　Goyle；　and　kept　looking　back；　laughing　derisively。
　　〃S'no　good；　Ron；〃　said　Hagrid　sadly　as　they　reached　the　castle　steps。　〃That　mittee's　in　Lucius　Malfoy's　pocket。　I'm　jus'　gonna　make　sure　the　rest　o'　Beaky's　time　is　the　happiest　he's　ever　had。　I　owe　him　that。。。。〃
　　Hagrid　turned　around　and　hurried　back　toward　his　cabin；　his　face　buried　in　his　handkerchief。
　　〃Look　at　him　blubber！〃
　　Malfoy；　Crabbe；　and　Goyle　had　been　standing　just　inside　the　castle　doors；　listening。
　　〃Have　you　ever　seen　anything　quite　as　pathetic？〃　said　Malfoy。　〃And　he's　supposed　to　be　our　teacher！〃
　　Harry　and　Ron　both　made　furious　moves　toward　Malfoy；　but　Hermione　got　there　first　　SMACK！
　　She　had　slapped　Malfoy　across　the　face　with　all　the　strength　she　could　muster。　Malfoy　staggered。　Harry；　Ron；　Crabbe；　and　Goyle　stood　flabbergasted　as　Hermione　raised　her　hand　again。
　　〃Don't　you　dare　call　Hagrid　pathetic；　you　foul　　you　evil　〃
　　〃Hermione！〃　said　Ron　weakly；　and　he　tried　to　grab　her　hand　as　she　swung　it　back。
　　〃Get　off；　Ron！〃
　　Hermione　pulled　out　her　wand。　Malfoy　stepped　backward。　Crabbe　and　Goyle　looked　at　him　for　instructions；　thoroughly　bewildered。
　　〃C'mon；〃　Malfoy　muttered；　and　in　a　moment；　all　three　of　them　had　disappeared　into　the　passageway　to　the　dungeons。
　　〃Hermione！〃　Ron　said　again；　sounding　both　stunned　and　irnpressed。
　　〃Harry；　you'd　better　beat　him　in　the　Quidditch　final！〃　Hermione　said　shrilly。　〃You　just　better　had；　because　I　can't　stand　it　if　Slytherin　wins！〃
　　〃We're　due　in　Charms；〃　said　Ron；　still　goggling　at　Hermione。　〃We'd　better　go。〃
　　They　hurried　up　the　marble　staircase　toward　Professor　Flitwick's　classroom。
　　〃You're　late；　boys！〃　said　Professor　Flitwick　reprovingly　as　Harry　opened　the　classroom　door。　〃e　along；　quickly；　wands　out；　we're　experimenting　with　Cheering　Charms　today；　we've　already　divided　into　pairs　〃
　　Harry　and　Ron　hurried　to　a　desk　at　the　back　and　opened　their　bags。　Ron　looked　behind　him。
　　〃Where's　Hermione　gone？〃
　　Harry　looked　around　too。　Hermione　hadn't　entered　the　classroom；　yet　Harry　knew　she　had　been　right　next　to　him　when　he　had　opened　the　door。
　　〃That's　weird；〃　said　Harry；　staring　at　Ron。　〃Maybe　　maybe　she　went　to　the　bathroom　or　something？〃
　　But　Hermione　didn't　turn　up　all　lesson。
　　〃She　could've　done　with　a　Cheering　Charm　on　her　too；〃　said　Ron　as　the　class　left　for　lunch；　all　grinning　broadly　　the　Cheering　Charms　had　left　them　with　a　feeling　of　great　contentment。
　　Hermione　wasn't　at　lunch　either。　By　the　time　they　had　finished　their　apple　pie；　the　after…effects　of　the　Cheering　Charms　were　wearing　off；　and　Harry　and　Ron　had　started　to　get　slightly　worried。
　　〃You　don't　think　Malfoy　did　something　to　her？〃　Ron　said　anxiously　as　they　hurried　upstairs　toward　Gryffindor　Tower。
　　They　passed　the　security　trolls；　gave　the　Fat　Lady　the　password　（〃Flibbertigibbet〃）；　and　scrambled　through　the　portrait　hole　into　the　mon　room。
　　Hermione　was　sitting　at　a　table；　fast　asleep；　her　head　resting　on　an　open　Arithmancy　book。　They　went　to　sit　down　on　either　side　of　her。　Harry　prodded　her　awake。
　　〃Wh　　what？〃　said　Hermione；　waking　with　a　start　and　staring　wildly　around。　〃Is　it　time　to　go？　W　　which　lesson　have　we　got　now？〃
　　〃Divination；　but　it's　not　for　another　twenty　minutes；〃　said　Harry。　〃Hermione；　why　didn't　you　e　to　Charms？〃
　　〃What？　Oh　no！〃　Hermione　squeaked。　〃I　forgot　to　go　to　Charms！〃
　　〃But　how　could　you　forget？〃　said　Harry。　〃You　were　with　us　till　we　were　right　outside　the　classroom！〃
　　〃I　don't　believe　it！〃　Hermione　wailed。　〃Was　Professor　Flitwick　angry？　Oh；　it　was　Malfoy；　I　was　thinking　about　him　and　I　lost　track　of　things！〃
　　〃You　know　what；　Hermione？〃　said　Ron；　looking　down　at　the　enormous　Arithmancy　book　Hermione　had　been　using　as　a　pillow。　〃I　reckon　you're　cracking　up。　You're　trying　to　do　too　much。〃
　　〃No；　I'm　not！〃　said　Hermione；　brushing　her　hair　out　of　her　eyes　and　staring　hopelessly　around　for　her　bag。　〃I　just　made　a　mistake；　that's　all！　I'd　better　go　and　see　Professor　Flitwick　and　say　sorry。。。　I'll　see　you　in　Divination！〃
　　Hermione　joined　them　at　the　foot　of　the　ladder　to　Professor　Trelawneys　classroom　twenty　minutes　later；　looking　extremely　harrassed。
　　〃I　can't　believe　I　missed　Cheering　Charms！　And　I　bet　they　e　up　in　our　exams；　Professor　Flitwick　hinted　they　might！〃
　　Together　they　climbed　the　ladder　into　the　dim；　stifling　tower　room。　Glowing　on　every　little　table　was　a　crystal　ball　full　of　pearly　white　mist。　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　sat　down　together　at　the　same　rickety　table。
　　〃I　thought　we　weren't　starting　crystal　balls　until　next　term；〃　Ron　muttered；　casting　a　wary　eye　around　for　Professor　Trelawney；　in　case　she　was　lurking　nearby。
　　〃Don't　plain；　this　means　we've　finished　palmistry；〃　Harry　muttered　back。　〃I　was　getting　sick　of　her　flinching　every　time　she　looked　at　my　hands。〃
　　〃Good　day　to　you！〃　said　the　familiar；　misty　voice；　and　Professor　Trelawney　made　her　usual　dramatic　entrance　out　of　the　shadows。　Parvati　and　Lavender　quivered　with　excitement；　their　faces　lit　by　the　milky　glow　of　their　crystal　ball。
　　〃I　have　decided　to　introduce　the　crystal　ball　a　little　earlier　than　I　had　planned；〃　said　Professor　Trelawney；　sitting　with　her　back　to　the　fire　and　gazing　around。　〃The　fates　have　informed　me　that　your　examination　in　June　will　concern　the　Orb；　and　I　am　anxious　to　give　you　sufficient　practice。〃
　　Hermione　snorted。
　　〃Well；　honestly。。。　'the　fates　have　informed　her'　who　sets　the　exam？　She　does！　What　an　amazing　prediction！〃　she　said；　not　troubling　to　keep　her　voice　low。　Harry　and　Ron　choked　back　laughs。
　　It　was　hard　to　tell　whether　Professor　Trelawney　had　heard　them　as　her　face　was　hidden　in　shadow。　She　continued；　however；　as　though　she　had　not。
　　〃Crystal　gazing　is　a　particularly　refined　art；〃　she　said　dreamily。　〃I　do　not　expect　any　of　you　to　See　when　first　you　peer　into　the　Orb's　infinite　depths。　We　shall　start　by　practicing　relaxing　the　conscious　mind　and　external　eyes〃　　Ron　began　to　snigger　uncontrollably　and　had　to　stuff　his　fist　in　his　mouth　to　stifle　the　noise　　〃so　as　to　clear　the　Inner　Eye　and　the　superconscious。　Perhaps；　if　we　are　lucky；　some　of　you　will　see　before　the　end　of　the　class。〃
　　And　so　they　began。　Harry；　at　least；　felt　extremely　foolish；　staring　blankly　at　the　crystal　ball；　trying　to　keep　his　mind　empty　when　thoughts　such　as　〃this　is　stupid〃　kept　drifting　across　it。　It　didn't　help　that　Ron　kept　breaking　into　silent　giggles　and　Hermione　kept　tutting。
　　〃Seen　anything　yet？〃　Harry　asked　them　after　a　quarter　of　an　hour's　quiet　crystal　gazing。
　　〃Yeah；　there's　a　burn　on　this　table；〃　said　Ron；　pointing。　〃Someone's　spilled　their　candle。〃
　　〃This　is　such　a　waste　of　time；〃　Hermione　hissed。　〃I　could　be　practicing　something　useful。　I　could　be　catching　up　on　Cheering　Charms　〃
　　Professor　Trelawney　rustled　past。
　　〃Would　anyone　like　me　to　help　them　interpret　the　shadowy　portents　within　their　Orb？〃　she　murmured　over　the　clinking　of　her　bangles。
　　I　don't　need　help；〃　Ron　whispered。　〃It's　obvious　what　this　means。　There's　going　to　be　loads　of　fog　tonight。〃
　　Both　Harry　and　Hermione　burst　out　laughing。
　　〃Now；　really！〃　said　Professor　Trelawney　as　everyone's　heads　turned　in　their　direction。　Parvati　and　Lavender　were　looking　scandalized。　〃You　are　disturbing　the　clairvoyant　vibrations！〃　She　approached　their　table　and　peered　into　their　crystal　ball。　Harry　felt　his　heart　sinking。　He　was　sure　he　knew　what　was　ing　
　　〃There　is　something　here！〃　Professor　Trelawney　whispered；　lowerng　her　face　to　the　ball；　so　that　it　was　reflected　twice　in　her　huge　glasses。　〃Something　moving。。。　but　what　is　it？〃
　　Harry　was　prepared　to　bet　everything　he　owned；　Including　his　Firebolt；　that　it　wasn't　good　news；　whatever　it　was。　And　sure　enough　
　　〃My　dear　Professor　Trelawney　breathed；　gazing　up　at　Harry。　〃It　is　here；　plainer　than　ever　before。。。　my　dear；　stalking　toward　you；　growing　ever　closer。。。　the　Gr　〃
　　〃Oh；　for　goodness'　sake！〃　said　Hermione　loudly。　〃Not　that　ridiculous　Grim　again！〃
　　Professor　Trelawney　raised　her　enormous　eyes　to　Hermione's　face。　Parvati　whispered　something　to　Lavender；　and　they　both　glared　at　Hermione　too。　Professor　Trelawney　stood　up；　surveying　Hermione　with　unmistakable　anger。
　　〃I　am　sorry　to　say　that　from　the　moment　you　have　arrived　in　this　class　my　dear；　it　has　been　apparent　that　you　do　not　have　what　the　noble　art　of　Divination　requires。　Indeed；　I　don't　remember　ever　meeting　a　student　whose　mind　was　so　hopelessly　mundane。〃
　　There　was　a　moment's　silence。　Then　
　　〃Fine！〃　said　Hermione　suddenly；　getting　up　and　cramming　Unfogging　the　Future　back　into　her　bag。　〃Fine！〃　she　repeated；　swinging　the　bag　over　her　shoulder　and　almost　knocking　Ron　off　his　chair。　〃I　give　up！　I'm　leaving！〃
　　And　to　the　whole　class's　amazement；　Hermione　strode　over　to　the　trapdoor；　kicked　it　open；　and　climbed　down　the　ladder　out　of　sight。
　　It　took　a　few　minutes　for　the　class　to　settle　down　again。　Professor　Trelawney　seemed　to　have　forgotten　all　about　the　Grim。　She　turned　abruptly　from　Harry　and　Ron's　table；　breathing　rather　heavily　as　she　tugged　her　gauzy　shawl　more　closely　to　her。
　　〃Ooooo！〃　said　Lavender　suddenly；　making　everyone　start。　〃Ooooo；　Professor　Trelawney；　I've　just　remembered！　You　saw　her　leaving；　didn't　you？　Didn't　you；　Professor？　'Around　Easter；　one　of　our　number　will　leave　us　forever！'　You　said　it　ages　ago；　Professor！〃
　　Professor　Trelawney　gave　her　a　dewy　smile。
　　〃Yes；　my　dear；　I　did　indeed　know　that　Miss　Granger　would　be　leaving　us。　One　hopes；　however；　that　one　might　have　mistaken　the　Signs。。。。　The　Inner　Eye　can　be　a　burden；　you