3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第39章

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　　〃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　know。。。〃
　　Lavender　and　Parvati　looked　deeply　impressed；　and　moved　over　so　that　Professor　Trelawney　could　join　their　table　instead。
　　〃Some　day　Hermione's　having；　eh？〃　Ron　muttered　to　Harry；　looking　awed。
　　〃Yeah。。。〃
　　Harry　glanced　into　the　crystal　ball　but　saw　nothing　but　swirling　white　mist。　Had　Professor　Trelawney　really　seen　the　Grim　again？　Would　he？　The　last　thing　he　needed　was　another　near…fatal　accident；　with　the　Quidditch　final　drawing　ever　nearer。
　　The　Easter　holidays　were　not　exactly　relaxing。　The　third　years　had　never　had　so　much　homework。　Neville　Longbottom　seemed　close　to　a　nervous　collapse；　and　he　wasn't　the　only　one。
　　〃Call　this　a　holiday！〃　Seamus　Finnigan　roared　at　the　mon　room　one　afternoon。　〃The　exams　are　ages　away；　what're　they　playing　at？〃
　　But　nobody　had　as　much　to　do　as　Hermione。　Even　without　Divination；　she　was　taking　more　subjects　than　anybody　else。　She　was　usually　last　to　leave　the　mon　room　at　night；　first　to　arrive　at　the　library　the　next　morning；　she　had　shadows　like　Lupin's　under　her　eyes；　and　seemed　constantly　close　to　tears。
　　Ron　had　taken　over　responsibility　for　Buckbeak's　appeal。　When　he　wasn't　doing　his　own　work；　he　was　poring　over　enormously　thick　volumes　with　names　like　The　Handbook　of　Hippogriff　Psychology　and　Fowl　or　Foul？　A　Study　of　Hippogriff　Brutality。　He　was　so　absorbed；　he　even　forgot　to　be　horrible　to　Crookshanks。
　　Harry；　meanwhile；　had　to　fit　in　his　homework　around　Quidditch　practice　every　day；　not　to　mention　endless　discussions　of　tactics　with　Wood。　The　Gryffindor…Slytherin　match　would　take　place　on　the　first　Saturday　after　the　Easter　holidays。　Slytherin　was　leading　the　tournament　by　exactly　two　hundred　points。　This　meant　（as　Wood　constantly　reminded　his　team）　that　they　needed　to　win　the　match　by　more　than　that　amount　to　win　the　Cup。　It　also　meant　that　the　burden　of　winning　fell　largely　on　Harry；　because　capturing　the　Snitch　was　worth　one　hundred　and　fifty　points。
　　〃So　you　must　catch　it　only　if　we're　more　than　fifty　points　up；〃　Wood　told　Harry　constantly。　〃Only　if　we're　more　than　fifty　points　up；　Harry；　or　we　win　the　match　but　lose　the　Cup。　You've　got　that；　Haven't　you？　You　must　catch　the　Snitch　only　if　we're　〃
　　〃I　KNOW；　OLIVER！〃　Harry　yelled。
　　The　whole　of　Gryffindor　House　was　obsessed　with　the　ing　match。　Gryffindor　hadn't　won　the　Quidditch　Cup　since　the　legendary　Charlie　Weasley　（Ron's　second　oldest　brother）　had　been　seeker。　But　Harry　doubted　whether　any　of　them；　even　Wood；　wanted　to　win　as　much　as　he　did。　The　enmity　between　Harry　and　Malfoy　was　at　its　highest　point　ever。　Malfoy　was　still　smarting　；bout　the　mud…throwing　incident　in　Hogsmeade　and　was　even　more　furious　that　Harry　had　somehow　wormed　his　way　out　of　punishment。　Harry　hadn't　forgotten　Malfoy's　attempt　to　sabotage　him　in　the　match　against　Ravenclaw；　but　it　was　the　matter　of　Buckbeak　that　made　him　most　determined　to　beat　Malfoy　in　front　of　the　entire　school。
　　Never；　in　anyone's　memory；　had　a　match　approached　in　such　a　highly　charged　atmosphere。　By　the　time　the　holidays　were　over；　tension　between　the　two　teams　and　their　Houses　was　at　the　breaking　point。　A　number　of　small　scuffles　broke　out　in　the　corridors；　culminating　in　a　nasty　incident　in　which　a　Gryffindor　fourth　year　and　a　Slytherin　sixth　year　ended　up　in　the　hospital　wing　with　leeks　sprouting　out　of　their　ears。
　　Harry　was　having　a　particularly　bad　time　of　it。　He　couldn't　walk　to　class　without　Slytherins　sticking　out　their　legs　and　trying　to　trip　him　up；　Crabbe　and　Goyle　kept　popping　up　wherever　he　went；　and　slouching　away　looking　disappointed　when　they　saw　him　surrounded　by　people。　Wood　had　given　instructions　that　Harry　should　be　acpanied　everywhere　he　went；　in　case　the　Slytherins　tried　to　put　him　out　of　action。　The　whole　of　Gryffindor　House　took　up　the　challenge　enthusiastically；　so　that　it　was　impossible　for　Harry　to　get　to　classes　on　time　because　he　was　surrounded　by　a　vast；　chattering　crowd。　Harry　was　more　concerned　for　his　Firebolt's　safety　than　his　own。　When　he　wasn't　flying　it；　he　locked　it　securely　in　his　trunk　and　frequently　dashed　back　up　to　Gryffindor　Tower　at　break　times　to　check　that　it　was　still　there。
　　All　usual　pursuits　were　abandoned　in　the　Gryffindor　mon　room　the　night　before　the　match。　Even　Hermione　had　Put　down　her　books。
　　〃I　can't　work；　I　can't　concentrate；〃　she　said　nervously。
　　There　was　a　great　deal　of　noise。　Fred　and　George　Weasley　were　dealing　with　the　pressure　by　being　louder　and　more　exuberant　than　ever。　Oliver　Wood　was　crouched　over　a　model　of　a　Quidditch　field　in　the　corner；　prodding　little　figures　across　it　with　his　wand　and　muttering　to　himself　Angelina；　Alicia；　and　Katie　were　laughing　at　Fred's　and　George's　jokes。　Harry　was　sitting　with　Ron　and　Hermione；　removed　from　the　center　of　things；　trying　not　to　think　about　the　next　day；　because　every　time　he　did；　he　had　the　horrible　sensation　that　something　very　large　was　fighting　to　get　out　of　his　stomach。
　　〃You're　going　to　be　fine；〃　Hermione　told　him；　though　she　looked　positively　terrified。
　　〃You've　got　a　Firebolt！〃　said　Ron。
　　〃Yeah。。。〃　said　Harry；　his　stomach　writhing。
　　It　came　as　a　relief　when　Wood　suddenly　stood　up　and　yelled；　〃Team！　Bed！〃
　　Harry　slept　badly。　First　he　dreamed　that　he　had　overslept；　and　that　Wood　was　yelling；　〃Where　were　you？　We　had　to　use　Neville　instead！〃　Then　he　dreamed　that　Malfoy　and　the　rest　of　the　Slytherin　team　arrived　for　the　match　riding　dragons。　He　was　flying　at　breakneck　speed；　trying　to　avoid　a　spurt　of　flames　from　Malfoy's　steed's　mouth；　when　he　realized　he　had　forgotten　his　Firebolt。　He　fell　through　the　air　and　woke　with　a　start。
　　It　was　a　few　seconds　before　Harry　remembered　that　the　match　hadn't　taken　place　yet；　that　he　was　safe　in　bed；　and　that　the　Slytherin　team　definitely　wouldn't　be　allowed　to　play　on　dragons。　He　was　feeling　very　thirsty。　Quietly　as　he　could；　he　got　out　of　his　four…poster　and　went　to　pour　himself　some　water　from　the　silver　jug　beneath　the　window。
　　The　grounds　were　still　and　quiet。　No　breath　of　wind　disturbed　the　treetops　in　the　Forbidden　Forest；　the　Whomping　Willow　was　motionless　and　innocent…looking。　It　looked　as　though　the　conditions　for　the　match　would　be　perfect。
　　Harry　set　down　his　goblet　and　was　about　to　turn　back　to　his　bed　when　something　caught　his　eye。　An　animal　of　some　kind　was　prowling　across　the　silvery　lawn。
　　Harry　dashed　to　his　bedside　table；　snatched　up　his　glasses；　and　put　them　on；　then　hurried　back　to　the　window。　It　couldn't　be　the　Grim　　not　now　　not　right　before　the　match　…
　　He　peered　out　at　the　grounds　again　and；　after　a　minute's　frantic　searching；　spotted　it。　It　was　skirting　the　edge　of　the　forest　now。。。　It　wasn't　the　Grim　at　all　。。。　it　was　a　cat。。。。　Harry　clutched　the　window　ledge　in　relief　as　he　recognized　the　bottlebrush　tail。　It　was　only　Crookshanks。。。。
　　Or　was　it　only　Crookshanks？　Harry　squinted；　pressing　his　nose　flat　against　the　glass。　Crookshanks　seemed　to　have　e　to　a　halt。　Harry　was　sure　he　could　see　something　else　moving　in　the　shadow　of　the　trees　too。
　　And　just　then；　it　emerged　　a　gigantic；　shaggy　black　dog；　moving　stealthily　across　the　lawn；　Crookshanks　trotting　at　its　side。　Harry　stared。　What　did　this　mean？　If　Crookshanks　could　see　the　dog　as　well；　how　could　it　be　an　omen　of　Harry's　death？
　　〃Ron！〃　Harry　hissed。　〃Ron！　Wake　up！〃
　　〃Huh？〃
　　I　need　you　to　tell　me　if　you　can　see　something！〃
　　〃S'all　dark；　Harry；〃　Ron　muttered　thickly。　〃What're　you　or；　about？〃
　　〃Down　here　〃
　　Harry　looked　quickly　back　out　of　the　window。
　　Crookshanks　and　the　dog　had　vanished。　Harry　climbed　onto　the　windowsill　to　look　right　down　into　the　shadows　of　the　castle；　but　they　weren't　there。　Where　had　they　gone？
　　A　loud　snore　told　him　Ron　had　fallen　asleep　again。
　　Harry　and　the　rest　of　the　Gryffindor　team　entered　the　Great　Hall　the　next　day　to　enormous　applause。　Harry　couldn't　help　grinning　broadly　as　he　saw　that　both　the　Ravenclaw　and　Hufflepuff　tables　were　applauding　them　too。　The　Slytherin　table　hissed　loudly　as　they　passed。　Harry　noticed　that　Malfoy　looked　even　paler　than　usual。
　　Wood　spent　the　whole　of　breakfast　urging　his　team　to　eat；　while　touching　nothing　himself　Then　he　hurried　them　off　to　the　field　before　anyone　else　had　finished；　so　they　could　get　an　idea　of　the　conditions。　As　they　left　the　Great　Hall；　everyone　applauded　again。
　　〃Good　luck；　Harry！〃　called　Cho。　Harry　felt　himself　blushing。
　　〃Okay　　no　wind　to　speak　of　　sun's　a　bit　bright；　that　could　impair　your　vision；　watch　out　for　it　　ground's　fairly　hard；　good；　that'll　give　us　a　fast　kickoff　〃
　　Wood　paced　the　field；　staring　around　with　the　team　behind　him。　Finally；　they　saw　the　front　doors　of　the　castle　open　in　the　distance　and　the　rest　of　the　school　spilling　onto　the　lawn。
　　〃Locker　rooms；〃　said　Wood　tersely。
　　None　of　them　spoke　as　they　changed　into　their　scarlet　robes。　Harry　wondered　if　they　were　feeling　like　he　was：　as　though　he'd　eaten　something　extremely　wriggly　for　breakfast。　In　what　seemed　like　no　time　at　all；　Wood　was　saying；　〃Okay；　it's　time；　let's　go　〃
　　They　walked　out　onto　the　field　to　a　tidal　wave　of　noise。　Threequarters　of　the　crowd　was　wearing　scarlet　rosettes；　waving　scarlet　flags　with　the　Gryffindor　lion　upon　them；　or　brandishing　banners　with　slogans　like　〃GO　GRYFFINDOR！〃　and　〃LIONS　FOR　THE　CUK'　Behind　the　Slytherin　goal　posts；　however；　two　hundred　people　were　wearing　green；　the　silver　serpent　of　Slytherin　glittered　on　their　flags；　and　Professor　Snape　sat　in　the　very　front　row；　wearing　green　like　everyone　else；　and　a　very　grim　smile。
　　〃And　here　are　the　Gryffindors！〃　yelled　Lee　Jordan；　who　was　acting　as　mentator　as　usual。　〃Potter；　Bell；　Johnson；　Spinnet；　Weasley；　Weasley；　and　Wood。　Widely　acknowledged　as　the　best　team　Hogwarts　has　seen　in　a　good　few　years　〃
　　Lee's　ments　were　drowned　by　a　tide　of　〃boos〃　from　the　Slytherin　end。
　　〃And　here　e　the　Slytherin　team；　led　by　Captain　Flint。　He's　Made　some　changes　in　the　lineup　and　seems　to　be　going　for　size　rather　than　skill　〃
　　More　boos　from　the　Slytherin　crowd。　Harry；　however；　thought　Lee　had　a　point。　Malfoy　was　easily　the　smallest　person　On　the　Slytherin　team；　the　rest　of　them　were　enormous。
　　〃Captains；　shake　hands！〃　said　Madam　Hooch。
　　Flint　and　Wood　approached　each　other　and　grasped　each　other's　hand　very　tightly；　it　looked　as　though　each　was　trying　to　break　the　other's　fingers。
　　〃Mount　your　brooms！〃　said　Madam　Hooch。　〃Three。。。　two。。。　one。。。〃
　　The　sound　of　her　whistle　was　lost　in　the　roar　from　the　crowd　as　fourteen　brooms　rose　into　the　air。　Harry　felt　his　hair　fly　back　off　his　forehead；　his　nerves　left　him　in　the　thrill　of　the　flight；　he　glanced　around；　saw　Malfoy　on　his　tail；　and　sped　off　in　search　of　the　Snitch。
　　〃And　it's　Gryffindor　in　possession；　Alicia　Spinner　of　Gryffindor　with　the　Quaffle；　heading　straight　for　the　Slytherin　goal　posts；　looking　good；　Alicia！　Argh；　no　　Quaffle　intercepted　by　Warrington；　Warrington　of　Slytherin　tearing　UP　the　field　　WHAM！　　nice　Bludger　work　there　by　George　Weasley；　Warrington　drops　the　Quaffle；　it's　caught　by　　Johnson；　Gryffi