3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第4章

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　　〃St。　Brutus's；〃　said　Uncle　Vernon　promptly。　〃It's　a　first…rate　institution　for　hopeless　cases。〃
　　〃I　see；〃　said　Aunt　Marge。　〃Do　they　use　the　cane　at　St。　Brutus's；　boy？〃　she　barked　across　the　table。
　　〃Er　〃
　　Uncle　Vernon　nodded　curtly　behind　Aunt　Marge's　back。
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Harry。　Then；　feeling　he　might　as　well　do　the　thing　properly；　he　added；　〃all　the　time。〃
　　〃Excellent；〃　said　Aunt　Marge。　〃I　won't　have　this　namby…pamby；　wishy…washy　nonsense　about　not　hitting　people　who　deserve　it。　A　good　thrashing　is　what's　needed　in　ninety…nine　cases　out　of　a　hundred。　Have　you　been　beaten　often？〃
　　〃Oh；　yeah；〃　said　Harry；　〃loads　of　times。〃
　　Aunt　Marge　narrowed　her　eyes。
　　〃I　still　don't　like　your　tone；　boy；〃　she　said。　〃If　you　can　speak　of　your　beatings　in　that　casual　way；　they　clearly　aren't　hitting　you　hard　enough。　Petunia；　I'd　write　if　I　were　you。　Make　it　clear　that　you　approve　the　use　of　extreme　force　in　this　boy's　case。〃
　　Perhaps　Uncle　Vernon　was　worried　that　Harry　might　forget　their　bargain；　in　any　case；　he　changed　the　subject　abruptly。
　　〃Heard　the　news　this　morning；　Marge？　What　about　that　escaped　prisoner；　eh？〃
　　As　Aunt　Marge　started　to　make　herself　at　home；　Harry　caught　himself　thinking　almost　longingly　of　life　at　number　four　without　her。　Uncle　Vernon　and　Aunt　Petunia　usually　encouraged　Harry　to　stay　out　of　their　way；　which　Harry　was　only　too　happy　to　do。　Aunt　Marge；　on　the　other　hand；　wanted　Harry　under　her　eye　at　all　times；　so　that　she　could　boom　out　suggestions　for　his　improvement。　She　delighted　in　paring　Harry　with　Dudley；　and　took　huge　pleasure　in　buying　Dudley　expensive　presents　while　glaring　at　Harry；　as　though　daring　him　to　ask　why　he　hadn't　got　a　present　too。　She　also　kept　throwing　out　dark　hints　about　what　made　Harry　such　an　unsatisfactory　person。
　　〃You　mustn't　blame　yourself　for　the　way　the　boy's　turned　out；　Vernon；〃　she　said　over　lunch　on　the　third　day。　〃If　there's　something　rotten　on　the　inside；　there's　nothing　anyone　can　do　about　it。〃
　　Harry　tried　to　concentrate　on　his　food；　but　his　hands　shook　and　his　face　was　starting　to　burn　with　anger。　Remember　the　form；　he　told　himself　Think　about　Hogsmeade。　Don't　say　anything。　Don't　rise
　　Aunt　Marge　reached　for　her　glass　of　wine。
　　〃It's　one　of　the　basic　rules　of　breeding；〃　she　said。　〃You　see　it　all　the　time　with　dogs。　If　there's　something　wrong　with　the　bitch；　there'll　be　something　wrong　with　the　pup　〃
　　At　that　moment；　the　wineglass　Aunt　Marge　was　holding　exploded　in　her　hand。　Shards　of　glass　flew　in　every　direction　and　Aunt　Marge　sputtered　and　blinked；　her　great　ruddy　face　dripping。
　　〃Marge！〃　squealed　Aunt　Petunia。　〃Marge；　are　you　all　right？〃
　　〃Not　to　worry；〃　grunted　Aunt　Marge；　mopping　her　face　with　her　napkin。　〃Must　have　squeezed　it　too　hard。　Did　the　same　thing　at　Colonel　Fubster's　the　other　day。　No　need　to　fuss；　Petunia；　I　have　a　very　firm　grip。。。〃
　　But　Aunt　Petunia　and　Uncle　Vernon　were　both　looking　at　Harry　suspiciously；　so　he　decided　he'd　better　skip　dessert　and　escape　from　the　table　as　soon　as　he　could。
　　Outside　in　the　hall；　he　leaned　against　the　wall；　breathing　deeply　It　had　been　a　long　time　since　he'd　lost　control　and　made　something　explode。　He　couldn't　afford　to　let　it　happen　again。　The　Hogsmeade　form　wasn't　the　only　thing　at　stake　　if　he　carried　on　like　that；　he'd　be　in　trouble　with　the　Ministry　of　Magic。
　　Harry　was　still　an　underage　wizard；　and　he　was　forbidden　by　wizard　law　to　do　magic　outside　school。　His　record　wasn't　exactly　clean　either。　Only　last　summer　he'd　gotten　an　official　warning　that　had　stated　quite　clearly　that　if　the　Ministry　got　wind　of　any　more　magic　in　Privet　Drive；　Harry　would　face　expulsion　from　Hogwarts。
　　He　heard　the　Dursleys　leaving　the　table　and　hurried　upstairs　out　of　the　way。
　　Harry　got　through　the　next　three　days　by　forcing　himself　to　think　about　his　Handbook　of　Do…It…Yourself　Broomcare　whenever　Aunt　Marge　started　on　him。　This　worked　quite　well；　though　it　seemed　to　give　him　a　glazed　look；　because　Aunt　Marge　started　voicing　the　opinion　that　he　was　mentally　subnormal。
　　At　last；　at　long　last；　the　final　evening　of　Marge's　stay　arrived。　Aunt　Petunia　cooked　a　fancy　dinner　and　Uncle　Vernon　uncorked　several　bottles　of　wine。　They　got　all　the　way　through　the　soup　and　the　salmon　without　a　single　mention　of　Harry's　faults；　during　the　lemon　meringue　pie；　Uncle　Vernon　bored　them　A　with　a　long　talk　about　Grunnings；　his　drill…making　pany；　then　Aunt　Petunia　made　coffee　and　Uncle　Vernon　brought　out　a　bottle　of　brandy。
　　〃Can　I　tempt　you；　Marge？〃
　　Aunt　Marge　had　already　had　quite　a　lot　of　wine。　Her　huge　face　was　very　red。
　　〃Just　a　small　one；　then；〃　she　chuckled。　〃A　bit　more　than　that。。。　and　a　bit　more。。。　that's　the　ticket。〃
　　Dudley　was　eating　his　fourth　slice　of　pie。　Aunt　Petunia　was　sipping　coffee　with　her　little　finger　sticking　out。　Harry　really　wanted　to　disappear　into　his　bedroom；　but　he　met　Uncle　Vernon's　angry　little　eyes　and　knew　he　would　have　to　sit　it　out。
　　〃Aah；〃　said　Aunt　Marge；　smacking　her　lips　and　putting　the　empty　brandy　glass　back　down。　〃Excellent　nosh；　Petunia。　It's　normally　just　a　fry…up　for　me　of　an　evening；　with　twelve　dogs　to　look　after。。。。〃　She　burped　richly　and　patted　her　great　tweed　stomach。　〃Pardon　me。　But　I　do　like　to　see　a　healthy…sized　boy；〃　she　went　on；　winking　at　Dudley。　〃You'll　be　a　proper…sized　man；　Dudders；　like　your　father。　Yes；　I'll　have　a　spot　more　brandy；　Vernon。。。。〃
　　〃Now；　this　one　here　〃
　　She　jerked　her　head　at　Harry；　who　felt　his　stomach　clench。　The　Handbook；　he　thought　quickly。
　　〃This　one's　got　a　mean；　runty　look　about　him。　You　get　that　with　dogs。　I　had　Colonel　Fubster　drown　one　last　year。　Ratty　little　thing　it　was…　Weak。　Underbred。〃
　　Harry　was　trying　to　remember　page　twelve　of　his　book：　A　Charm　to　Cure　Reluctant　Reversers。　〃It　all　es　down　to　blood；　as　I　was　saying　the　other　day。
　　Bad　blood　will　out。　Now；　I'm　saying　nothing　against　your　family；　Petunia〃　she　patted　Aunt　Petunia's　bony　hand　with　her　shovellike　one　〃but　your　sister　was　a　bad　egg。　They　turn　up　in　the　best　families。　Then　she　ran　off　with　a　wastrel　and　here's　the　result　right　in　front　of　us。〃
　　Harry　was　staring　at　his　plate；　a　funny　ringing　in　his　ears。　Grasp　your　broom　firmly　by　the　tail；　he　thought。　But　he　couldn't　remember　what　came　next。　Aunt　Marge's　voice　seemed　to　be　boring　into　him　like　one　of　Uncle　Vernon's　drills。
　　〃This　Potter；　5）　said　Aunt　Marge　loudly；　seizing　the　brandy　bottle　and　splashing　more　into　her　glass　and　over　the　tablecloth；　〃you　never　told　me　what　he　did？〃
　　Uncle　Vernon　and　Aunt　Petunia　were　looking　extremely　tense。　Dudley　had　even　looked　up　from　his　pie　to　gape　at　his　parents。
　　〃He　　didn't　work；〃　said　Uncle　Vernon；　with　half　a　glance　at　Harry。　〃Unemployed。〃
　　〃As　I　expected！〃　said　Aunt　Marge；　taking　a　huge　swig　of　brandy　and　wiping　her　chin　on　her　sleeve。　〃A　no…account；　good…for…nothing；　lazy　scrounger　who　〃
　　〃He　was　not；〃　said　Harry　suddenly。　The　table　went　very　quiet。　Harry　was　shaking　all　over。　He　had　never　felt　so　angry　in　his　life。
　　〃MORE　BRANDY！〃　yelled　Uncle　Vernon；　who　had　gone　very　white。　He　emptied　the　bottle　into　Aunt　Marge's　glass。　〃You；　boy；〃　he　snarled　at　Harry。　〃Go　to　bed；　go　on　〃
　　〃No；　Vernon；〃　hiccuped　Aunt　Marge；　holding　up　a　hand；　her　tiny　bloodshot　eyes　fixed　on　Harry's。　〃Go　on；　boy；　go　on。　Proud　of　your　parents；　are　you？　They　go　and　get　themselves　killed　in　a　car　crash　（drunk；　I　expect）　〃
　　'They　didn't　die　in　a　car　crash！〃　said　Harry；　who　found　himself　on　his　feet。
　　〃They　died　in　a　car　crash；　you　nasty　little　liar；　and　left　you　to　be　a　burden　on　their　decent；　hardworking　relatives！〃　screamed　Aunt　Marge；　swelling　with　fury。　〃You　are　an　insolent；　ungrateful　little　〃
　　But　Aunt　Marge　suddenly　stopped　speaking。　For　a　moment；　it　looked　as　though　words　had　failed　her。　She　seemed　to　be　swelling　with　inexpressible　anger　　but　the　swelling　didn't　stop。　Her　great　red　face　started　to　expand；　her　tiny　eyes　bulged；　and　her　mouth　stretched　too　tightly　for　speech　　next　second；　several　buttons　had　just　burst　from　her　tweed　jacket　and　pinged　off　the　walls　　she　was　inflating　like　a　monstrous　balloon；　her　stomach　bursting　free　of　her　tweed　waistband；　each　of　her　fingers　blowing　up　like　a　salami　
　　〃MARGE！〃　yelled　Uncle　Vernon　and　Aunt　Petunia　together　as　Aunt　Marge's　whole　body　began　to　rise　off　her　chair　toward　the　ceiling。　She　was　entirely　round；　now；　like　a　vast　life　buoy　with　piggy　eyes；　and　her　hands　and　feet　stuck　out　weirdly　as　she　drifted　up　into　the　air；　making　apoplectic　popping　noises。　Ripper　came　skidding　into　the　room；　barking　madly。
　　〃NOOOOOOO！〃
　　Uncle　Vernon　seized　one　of　Marge's　feet　and　tried　to　pull　her　down　again；　but　was　almost　lifted　from　the　floor　himself。　A　second　later；　Ripper　leapt　forward　and　sank　his　teeth　into　Uncle　Vernon's　leg。
　　Harry　tore　from　the　dining　room　before　anyone　could　stop　him；　heading　for　the　cupboard　under　the　stairs。　The　cupboard　door　burst　magically　open　as　he　reached　it。　In　seconds；　he　had　heaved　his　trunk　to　the　front　door。　He　sprinted　upstairs　and　threw　himself　under　the　bed；　wrenching　up　the　loose　floorboard；　and　grabbed　the　pillowcase　full　of　his　books　and　birthday　presents。　He　wriggled　out；　seized　Hedwig's　empty　cage；　and　dashed　back　downstairs　to　his　trunk；　just　as　Uncle　Vernon　burst　out　of　the　dining　room；　his　trouser　leg　in　bloody　tatters。
　　〃E　BACK　IN　HERE！〃　he　bellowed。　〃E　BACK　AND　PUT　HER　RIGHT！〃
　　But　a　reckless　rage　had　e　over　Harry。　He　kicked　his　trunk　open；　pulled　out　his　wand；　and　pointed　it　at　Uncle　Vernon。
　　〃She　deserved　it；〃　Harry　said；　breathing　very　fast。　〃She　deserved　what　she　got。　You　keep　away　from　me。〃
　　He　fumbled　behind　him　for　the　latch　on　the　door。
　　〃I'm　going；〃　Harry　said。　〃I've　had　enough。〃
　　And　in　the　next　moment；　he　was　out　in　the　dark；　quiet　street；　heaving　his　heavy　trunk　behind　him；　Hedwig's　cage　under　his　arm。
　　CHAPTER　THREE
　　THE　KNIGHT　BUS
　　Harry　was　several　streets　away　before　he　collapsed　onto　a　low　wall　in　Magnolia　Crescent；　panting　from　the　effort　of　dragging　his　trunk。　He　sat　quite　still；　anger　still　surging　through　him；　listening　to　the　frantic　thumping　of　his　heart。
　　But　after　ten　minutes　alone　in　the　dark　street；　a　new　emotion　overtook　him：　panic。　Whichever　way　he　looked　at　it；　he　had　never　been　in　a　worse　fix。　He　was　stranded；　quite　alone；　in　the　dark　Muggle　world；　with　absolutely　nowhere　to　go。　And　the　worst　of　it　was；　he　had　just　done　serious　magic；　which　meant　that　he　was　almost　certainly　expelled　from　Hogwarts。　He　had　broken　the　Decree　for　the　Restriction　of　Underage　Wizardry　so　badly；　he　was　surprised　Ministry　of　Magic　representatives　weren't　swooping　down　on　him　where　he　sat。
　　Harry　shivered　and　looked　up　and　down　Magnolia　Crescent。
　　What；　was　going　to　happen　to　him？　Would　he　be　arrested；　or　would　he　simply　be　outlawed　from　the　wizarding　world？　He　thought　of　Ron　and　Hermione；　and　his　heart　sank　even　lower。　Harry　was　sure　that；　criminal　or　not；　Ron　and　Hermione　would　want　to　help　him　now；　but　they　were　both　abroad；　and　with　Hedwig　gone；　he　had　no　means　of　contacting　them。
　　He　didn't　have　any　Muggle　money；　either。　There　was　a　little　wizard　gold　in　the　money　bag　at　the　bottom　of　his　trunk；　but　the　rest　of　the　fortune　his　pare