3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第42章

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ite　unlike　her　own：
　　〃THE　DARK　LORD　LIES　ALONE　AND　FRIENDLESS；　ABANDONED　BY　HIS　FOLLOWERS。　HIS　SERVANT　HAS　BEEN　CHAINED　THESE　TWELVE　YEARS。　TONIGHT；　BEFORE　MIDNIGHT。。。　THE　SERVANT　WILL　BREAK　FREE　AND　SET　OUT　TO　REJOIN　HIS　MASTER。　THE　DARK　LORD　WILL　RISE　AGAIN　WITH　HIS　SERVANTS　AID；　GREATER　AND　MORE　TERRIBLE　THAN　EVER　HE　WAS。　TONIGHT。。。　BEFORE　MIDNIGHT。。。　THE　SERVANT。。。　WILL　SET　OU。。。　TO　REJOIN。。。　HIS　MASTER。。。。
　　Professor　Trelawney's　head　fell　forward　onto　her　chest。　She　made　a　grunting　sort　of　noise。　Harry　sat　there；　staring　at　her。　Then；　quite　suddenly；　Professor　Trelawney's　head　snapped　up　again。
　　〃I'm　so　sorry；　dear　boy；〃　she　said　dreamily；　〃the　heat　of　the　day；　you　know。。。　I　drifted　off　for　a　moment。。。。〃
　　Harry　sat　there；　staring　at　her。
　　〃Is　there　anything　wrong；　my　dear？〃
　　〃You　　you　just　told　me　that　the　　the　Dark　Lord's　going　to　rise　again。。。　that　his　servant's　going　to　go　back　to　him。
　　Professor　Trelawney　looked　thoroughly　startled。
　　〃The　Dark　Lord？　He…Who…Must…Not…Be…Named？　My　dear　boy；　that's　hardly　something　to　joke　about。。。。　Rise　again；　indeed　〃
　　；'But　you　just　said　it！　You。　said　the　Dark　Lord　〃
　　〃I　think　you　must　have　dozed　off　too；　dear！〃　said　Professor　Trelawney。　〃I　would　certainly　not　presume　to　predict　anything　quite　as　far…fetched　as　that！〃
　　Harry　climbed　back　down　the　ladder　and　the　spiral　staircase；　wondering。。。　had　he　just　heard　Professor　Trelawney　make　a　real　prediction？　Or　had　that　been　her　idea　of　an　impressive　end　to　the　test？
　　Five　minutes　later　he　was　dashing　past　the　security　trolls　outside　the　entrance　to　Gryffindor　Tower；　Professor　Trelawney's　words　still　resounding　in　his　head。　People　were　striding　past　him　in　the　opposite　direction；　laughing　and　joking；　heading　for　the　grounds　and　a　bit　of　long…awaited　freedom；　by　the　time　he　had　reached　the　portrait　hole　and　entered　the　mon　room；　it　was　almost　deserted。　Over　in　the　corner；　however；　sat　Ron　and　Hermione。
　　〃Professor　Trelawney；〃　Harry　panted；　〃just　told　me　〃
　　But　he　stopped　abruptly　at　the　sight　of　their　faces。
　　〃Buckbeak　lost；〃　said　Ron　weakly。　〃Hagrid's　just　sent　this。〃
　　Hagrid's　note　was　dry　this　time；　no　tears　had　splattered　it；　yet　his　hand　seemed　to　have　shaken　so　much　as　he　wrote　that　it　was　hardly　legible。
　　Lost　appeal。　They're　going　to　execute　at　sunset。　Nothing　you　can　do。　Don't　e　down。　I　don't　want　you　to　see　it。
　　Hagrid
　　〃We've　got　to　go；〃　said　Harry　at　once。　〃He　can't　just　sit　there　on　his　own；　waiting　for　the　executioner！〃
　　〃Sunset；　though；〃　said　Ron；　who　was　staring　out　the　window　ill　a　glazed　sort　of　way。　〃We'd　never　be　allowed。。。　'specially　you；　Harry。。。。〃
　　Harry　sank　his　head　into　his　hands；　thinking。
　　〃If　we　only　had　the　Invisibility　Cloak。。。。〃
　　〃Where　is　it？〃　said　Hermione。
　　Harry　told　her　about　leaving　it　in　the　passageway　under　the　one…eyed　witch。
　　〃。。。　if　Snape　sees　me　anywhere　near　there　again；　I'm　in　serious　trouble；〃　he　finished。
　　〃That's　true；〃　said　Hermione；　getting　to　her　feet。　〃If　he　sees　you。。。。　How　do　you　open　the　witch's　hump　again？〃
　　〃You　　you　tap　it　and　say；　'Dissendium；'〃　said　Harry。　〃But　〃
　　Hermione　didn't　wait　for　the　rest　of　his　sentence；　she　strode　across　the　room；　pushed　open　the　Fat　Lady's　portrait　and　vanished　from　sight。
　　〃She　hasn't　gone　to　get　it？〃　Ron　said；　staring　after　her。
　　She　had。　Hermione　returned　a　quarter　of　an　hour　later　with　the　silvery　cloak　folded　carefully　under　her　robes。
　　〃Hermione；　I　don't　know　what's　gotten；　into　you　lately！〃　said　Ron；　astounded。　〃First　you　hit　Malfoy；　then　you　walk　out　on　Professor　Trelawney　〃
　　Hermione　looked　rather　flattered。
　　They　went　down　to　dinner　with　everybody　else；　but　did　not　return　to　Gryffindor　Tower　afterward。　Harry　had　the　cloak　hidden　down　tie　front　of　his　robes；　he　had　to　keep　his　arms　folded　to　hide　the　lump。　They　skulked　in　an　empty　chamber　off　the　entrance　hall；　listening；　until　they　were　sure　it　was　deserted。　They　heard　a　last　pair　of　people　hurrying　across　the　hall　and　a　door　slamming。　Hermione　poked　her　head　around　the　door。
　　〃Okay；〃　she　whispered；　〃no　one　there　　cloak　on　〃
　　Walking　very　close　together　so　that　nobody　would　see　them；　they　crossed　the　hall　on　tiptoe　beneath　the　cloak；　then　walked　down　the　stone　front　steps　into　the　grounds。　The　sun　was　already　sinking　behind　the　Forbidden　Forest；　gilding　the　top　branches　of　the　trees。
　　They　reached　Hagrid's　cabin　and　knocked。　He　was　a　minute　in　answering；　and　when　he　did；　he　looked　all　around　for　his　visitor；　pale…faced　and　trembling。
　　〃It's　us；〃　Harry　hissed。　〃We're　wearing　the　Invisibility　Cloak。　Let　us　in　and　we　can　take　it　off。〃
　　〃Yeh　shouldn've　e！〃　Hagrid　whispered；　but　he　stood　back；　and　they　stepped　inside。　Hagrid　shut　the　door　quickly　and　Harry　pulled　off　the　cloak。
　　Hagrid　was　not　crying；　nor　did　he　throw　himself　upon　their　necks。　He　looked　like　a　man　who　did　not　know　where　he　was　or　what　to　do。　This　helplessness　was　worse　to　watch　than　tears。
　　〃Wan'　some　tea？〃　he　said。　His　great　hands　were　shaking　as　he　reached　for　the　kettle。
　　〃Where's　Buckbeak；　Hagrid？〃　said　Hermione　hesitantly。
　　I　　I　took　him　outside；〃　said　Hagrid；　spilling　milk　all　over　the　table　as　he　filled　up　the　jug。　〃He's　tethered　in　me　pumpkin　patch。　Thought　he　oughta　see　the　trees　an'　　an'　smell　fresh　air　　before
　　Hagrid's　hand　trembled　so　violently　that　the　milk　jug　slipped　from　his　grasp　and　shattered　all　over　the　floor。
　　〃I'll　do　it；　Hagrid；〃　said　Hermione　quickly；　hurrying　over　and　starting　to　clean　up　the　mess。
　　〃There's　another　one　in　the　cupboard；〃　Hagrid　said；　sitting　down　and　wiping　his　forehead　on　his　sleeve。　Harry　glanced　at　Ron；　who　looked　back　hopelessly。
　　〃Isn't　there　anything　anyone　can　do；　Hagrid？〃　Harry　asked　fiercely；　sitting　down　next　to　him。　〃Dumbledore　〃
　　〃He's　tried；〃　said　Hagrid。　〃He's　got　no　power　ter　overrule　the　mittee。　He　told　'em　Buckbeak's　all　right；　but　they're　scared。。。。　Yeh　know　what　Lucius　Malfoy's　like。。。　threatened　'em；　I　expect。。。　an'　the　executioner；　Macnair；　he's　an　old　pal　o'　Malfoy's。。。　but　it'll　be　quick　an'　clean。。。　an'　I'll　be　beside　him。。。。　〃
　　Hagrid　swallowed。　His　eyes　were　darting　all　over　the　cabin　as　though　looking　for　some　shred　of　hope　or　fort。
　　〃Dumbledore's　gonna　e　down　while　it　　while　it　happens。　Wrote　me　this　mornin'。　Said　he　wants　ter　　ter　be　with　me。　Great　man；　Dumbledore。。。。〃
　　Hermione；　who　had　been　rummaging　in　Hagrid's　cupboard　for　another　milk　jug；　let　out　a　small；　quickly　stifled　sob。　She　straightened　up　with　the　new　jug　in　her　hands；　fighting　back　tears。
　　〃We'll　stay　with　you　too；　Hagrid；〃　she　began；　but　Hagrid　shook　his　shaggy　head。
　　〃Yeh're　ter　go　back　up　ter　the　castle。　I　told　yeh；　I　don'　wan'　yeh　watchin'。　An'　yeh　shouldn'　be　down　here　anyway。。。　If　Fudge　an'　Dumbledore　catch　yeh　out　without　permission；　Harry；　yeh'll　be　in　big　trouble。〃
　　Silent　tears　were　now　streaming　down　Hermione's　face；　but　she　hid　them　from　Hagrid；　bustling　around　making　tea。　Then；　as　she　picked　up　the　milk　bottle　to　pour　some　into　the　jug；　she　let　out　a　shriek。
　　〃Ron；　I　don't　believe　it　　it's　Scabbers！〃
　　Ron　gaped　at　her。
　　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　　Hermione　carried　the　milk　jug　over　to　the　table　and　turned　it　upside　down。　With　a　frantic　squeak；　and　much　scrambling　to　get　back　inside；　Scabbers　the　rat　came　sliding　out　onto　the　table。
　　〃Scabbers！〃　said　Ron　blankly。　〃Scabbers；　what　are　you　doing　here？〃
　　He　grabbed　the　struggling　rat　and　held　him　up　to　the　light。　Scabbers　looked　dreadful。　He　was　thinner　than　ever；　large　tufts　of　hair　had　fallen　out　leaving　wide　bald　patches；　and　he　writhed　in　Ron's　hands　as　though　desperate　to　free　himself
　　〃It's　okay；　Scabbers！〃　said　Ron。　〃No　cats！　There's　nothing　here　to　hurt　you！〃
　　Hagrid　suddenly　stood　up；　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　window。　His　normally　ruddy　face　had　gone　the　color　of　parchment。
　　〃They're　in'。。。。〃
　　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　whipped　around。　A　group　of　men　was　walking　down　the　distant　castle　steps。　In　front　was　Albus　Dumbledore；　his　silver　beard　gleaming　in　the　dying　sun。　Next　to　him　trotted　Cornelius　Fudge。　Behind　them　came　the　feeble　old　mittee　member　and　the　executioner；　Macnair。
　　〃Yeh　gotta　go；〃　said　Hagrid。　Every　inch　of　him　was　trembling。　〃They　mustn'　find　yeh　here。。。。　Go　now。。。〃
　　Ron　stuffed　Scabbers　into　his　pocket　and　Hermione　picked　up　the　cloak。　〃I'll　let　yeh　out　the　back　way；〃　said　Hagrid。
　　They　followed　him　to　the　door　into　his　back　garden。　Harry　felt　strangely　unreal；　and　even　more　so　when　he　saw　Buckbeak　a　few　yards　away；　tethered　to　a　tree　behind　Hagrid's　Pumpkin　patch。　Buckbeak　seemed　to　know　something　was　happening。　He　turned　his　sharp　head　from　side　to　side　and　pawed　the　ground　nervously。
　　〃It's　okay；　Beaky；〃　said　Hagrid　softly。　〃It's　okay。。。〃　He　turned　to　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione。　〃Go　on；〃　he　said。　〃Get　goin'。〃
　　But　they　didn't　move。
　　〃Hagrid；　we　can't　〃
　　〃We'll　tell　them　what　really　happened　〃
　　〃They　can't　kill　him　〃
　　〃Go！〃　said　Hagrid　fiercely。　〃It's　bad　enough　without　you　lot　in　trouble　an'　all！〃
　　They　had　no　choice。　As　Hermione　threw　the　cloak　over　Harry　and　Ron；　they　heard　voices　at　the　front　of　the　cabin。　Hagrid　looked　at　the　place　where　they　had　just　vanished　from　sight。
　　〃Go　quick；〃　he　said　hoarsely。　〃Don'　listen。。。。〃
　　And　he　strode　back　into　his　cabin　as　someone　knocked　at　the　front　door。
　　Slowly；　in　a　kind　of　horrified　trance；　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　set　off　silently　around　Hagrid's　house。　As　they　reached　the　other　side；　the　front　door　closed　with　a　sharp　snap。
　　〃Please；　let's　hurry；〃　Hermione　whispered。　〃I　can't　stand　it；　I　can't　bear　it。。。。〃
　　They　started　up　the　sloping　lawn　toward　the　castle。　The　sun　was　sinking　fast　now；　the　sky　had　turned　to　a　clear；　purple…tinged　grey；　but　to　the　west　there　was　a　ruby…red　glow。
　　Ron　stopped　dead。
　　〃Oh；　please；　Ron；〃　Hermione　began。
　　〃It's　Scabbers　　he　won't　　stay　put　〃
　　Ron　was　bent　over；　trying　to　keep　Scabbers　in　his　pocket；　but　the　rat　was　going　berserk；　squeaking　madly；　twisting　and　flailing；　trying　to　sink　his　teeth　into　Ron's　hand。
　　〃Scabbers；　it's　me；　you　idiot；　it's　Ron；〃　Ron　hissed。
　　They　heard　a　door　open　behind　them　and　men's　voices。
　　〃Oh；　Ron；　please　let's　move；　they're　going　to　do　it！〃　Hermione　breathed。
　　〃Okay　　Scabbers；　stay　put　〃
　　They　walked　forward；　Harry；　like　Hermione；　was　trying　not　to　listen　to　the　rumble　of　voices　behind　them。　Ron　stopped　again。
　　〃I　can't　hold　him　　Scabbers；　shut　up；　everyone'll　hear　us　〃
　　The　rat　was　squealing　wildly；　but　not　loudly　enough　to　cover　up　the　sounds　drifting　from　Hagrid's　garden。　There　was　a　jumble　of　indistinct　male　voices；　a　silence；　and　then；　without　warning；　the　unmistakable　swish　and　thud　of　an　axe。
　　Hermione　swayed　on　the　spot。
　　〃They　did　it！〃　she　whispered　to　Harry。　〃I　d　　don't　believe　it　　they　did　it！〃
　　CHAPTER　SEVENTEEN
　　CAT；　RAT；　AND　DOG
　　Harry's　mind　had　gone　blank　with　shock。　The　three　of　them　stood　transfixed　with　horror　under　the　Invisibility　Cloak。　The　very　last　rays　of　the　setting　sun　were　casting　a　bloody　light　over　the　long…　shadowed　grounds。　Then；　behind　them；　they　heard　a　wild　howling。
　　〃Hagrid；〃　Harry　muttered。　Without　thinking　about　what　he　wa