3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第45章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　〃You　might　have　been　wearing　your　father's　old　cloak；　Harry〃
　　〃How　d'you　know　about　the　cloak？〃
　　〃The　number　of　times　I　saw　James　disappearing　under　it。。。；〃　said　Lupin；　waving　an　impatient　hand　again。　〃The　point　is；　even　if　you're　wearing　an　Invisibility　Cloak；　you　still　show　up　on　the　Marauder's　Map。　I　watched　you　cross　the　grounds　and　enter　Hagrid's　hut。　Twenty　minutes　later；　you　left　Hagrid；　and　set　off　back　toward　the　castle。　But　you　were　now　acpanied　by　somebody　else。〃
　　〃What？〃　said　Harry。　〃No；　we　weren't！〃
　　I　couldn't　believe　my　eyes；〃　said　Lupin；　still　pacing；　and　ignoring　Harry's　interruption。　〃I　thought　the　map　must　be　malfunctioning。　How　could　he　be　with　you？〃　〃No　one　was　with　us！〃　said　Harry。
　　〃And　then　I　saw　another　dot；　moving　fast　toward　you；　labeled　Sirius　Black。。。。　I　saw　him　collide　with　you；　I　watched　as　he　pulled　two　of　you　into　the　Whomping　Willow　〃
　　〃One　of　us！〃　Ron　said　angrily。
　　〃No；　Ron；〃　said　Lupin。　〃Two　of　you。〃
　　He　had　stopped　his　pacing；　his　eyes　moving　over　Ron。
　　〃Do　you　think　I　could　have　a　look　at　the　rat？〃　he　said　evenly。
　　〃What？〃　said　Ron。　〃What's　Scabbers　got　to　do　with　it？〃
　　〃Everything；〃　said　Lupin。　〃Could　I　see　him；　please？〃
　　Ron　hesitated；　then　put　a　hand　inside　his　robes。　Scabbers　emerged；　thrashing　desperately；　Ron　had　to　seize　his　long　bald　tail　to　stop　him　escaping。　Crookshanks　stood　up　on　Black's　leg　and　made　a　soft　hissing　noise。
　　Lupin　moved　closer　to　Ron。　He　seemed　to　be　holding　his　breath　as　he　gazed　intently　at　Scabbers。
　　〃What？〃　Ron　said　again；　holding　Scabbers　close　to　him；　looking　scared。　〃What's　my　rat　got　to　do　with　anything？〃
　　〃That's　not　a　rat；〃　croaked　Sirius　Black　suddenly。
　　〃What　d'you　mean　　of　course　he's　a　rat　〃
　　〃No；　he's　not；〃　said　Lupin　quietly。　〃He's　a　wizard。〃
　　〃An　Animagus；〃　said　Black；　〃by　the　name　of　Peter　Pettigrew。〃
　　CHAPTER　EIGHTEEN
　　MOONY；　WORMTAIL；　PADDFOOT；　AND　PRONGS
　　It　took　a　few　seconds　for　the　absurdity　of　this　statement　to　sink　in。　Then　Ron　voiced　what　Harry　was　thinking。
　　〃You're　both　mental。〃
　　〃Ridiculous！〃　said　Hermione　faintly。
　　〃Peter　Pettigrew's　dead！〃　said　Harry。　〃He　killed　him　twelve　years　ago！〃　He　pointed　at　Black；　whose　face　twitched　convulsively。
　　〃I　meant　to；〃　he　growled；　his　yellow　teeth　bared；　〃but　little　Peter　got　the　better　of　me。。。　not　this　time；　though！〃
　　And　Crookshanks　was　thrown　to　the　floor　as　Black　lunged　at　Scabbers；　Ron　yelled　with　pain　as　Black's　weight　fell　on　his　broken　leg。
　　。〃Sirius；　NO！〃　Lupin　yelled；　launching　himself　forwards　and　dragging　Black　away　from　Ron　again；　〃WAIT！　You　can't　do　it　just　like　that　　they　need　to　understand　　we've　got　to　explain　〃
　　〃We　can　explain　afterwards！〃　snarled　Black；　trying　to　throw　Lupin　off。　One　hand　was　still　clawing　the　air　as　it　tried　to　reach　Scabbers；　who　was　squealing　like　a　piglet；　scratching　Ron's　face　and　neck　as　he　tried　to　escape。
　　〃They've　　got　　a　　right　　to　　know　　…everything！〃　Lupin　panted；　still　trying　to　restrain　Black。　〃Ron's　kept　him　as　a　pet！　There　are　parts　of　it　even　I　don't　understand；　and　Harry　　you　owe　Harry　the　truth；　Sirius！〃
　　Black　stopped　struggling；　though　his　hollowed　eyes　were　still　fixed　on　Scabbers；　who　was　clamped　tightly　under　Ron's　bitten；　scratched；　ad　bleeding　hands。
　　〃All　right；　then；〃　Black　said；　without　taking　his　eyes　off　the　rat。
　　〃Tell　them　whatever　you　like。　But　make　it　quick；　Remus。　I　want　to　mit　the　murder　I　was　imprisoned　for。。。〃
　　〃You're　nutters；　both　of　you；〃　said　Ron　shakily；　looking　round　at　Harry　and　Hermione　for　support。　〃I've　had　enough　of　this。　I'm　off。〃
　　He　tried　to　heave　himself　up　on　his　good　leg；　but　Lupin　raised　his　wand　again；　pointing　it　at　Scabbers。
　　〃You're　going　to　hear　me　out；　Ron；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Just　keep　a　tight　hold　on　Peter　while　you　listen。〃
　　〃HE'S　NOT　PETER；　HE'S　SCABBERS！〃　Ron　yelled；　trying　to　fore　the　rat　back　into　his　front　pocket；　but　Scabbers　was　fighting　to　hard；　Ron　swayed　and　overbalanced；　and　Harry　caught　him　am　pushed　him　back　down　to　the　bed。　Then；　ignoring　Black；　Harry　turned　to　Lupin。
　　There　were　witnesses　who　saw　Pettigrew　die；〃　he　said。　〃A　whole　street　full　of　them。。。〃
　　〃They　didn't　see　what　they　thought　they　saw！〃　said　Black　savagely；　still　watching　Scabbers　struggling　in　Ron's　hands。
　　〃Everyone　thought　Sirius　killed　Peter；〃　said　Lupin；　nodding。　〃I　believed　it　myself　　until　I　saw　the　map　tonight。　Because　the　Marauder's　map　never　lies。。。　Peter's　alive。　Ron's　holding　him；　Harry。〃
　　Harry　looked　down　at　Ron；　and　as　their　eyes　met；　they　agreed；　silently：　Black　and　Lupin　were　both　out　of　their　minds。　Their　story　made　no　sense　whatsoever。　How　could　Scabbers　be　Peter　Pettigrew？　Azkaban　must　have　unhinged　Black　after　all　　but　why　was　Lupin　playing　along　with　him？
　　Then　Hermione　spoke；　in　a　trembling；　would…be　calm　sort　of　voice；　as　though　trying　to　will　Professor　Lupin　to　talk　sensibly。
　　〃But　Professor　Lupin。。。　Scabbers　can't　be　Pettigrew。。。　it　just　can't　be　true；　you　know　it　can't。。。〃
　　〃Why　can't　it　be　true？〃　Lupin　said　calmly；　as　though　they　were　in　class；　and　Hermione　had　simply　spotted　a　problem　in　an　experiment　with　grindylows。
　　〃Because。。。　because　people　would　know　if　Peter　Pettigrew　had　been　an　Animagus。　We　did　Animagi　in　class　with　Professor　McGonagall。　And　I　looked　them　up　when　I　did　my　homework　　the　Ministry　of　Magic　keeps　tabs　on　witches　and　wizards　who　can　bee　animals；　there's　a　register　showing　what　animal　they　bee；　and　their　markings　and　things。。。　and　I　went　and　looked　Professor　McGonagall　up　on　the　register；　and　there　have　been　only　seven　Animagi　this　century；　and　Pettigrew's　name　wasn't　on　the　list。〃
　　Harry　had　barely　had　time　to　marvel　inwardly　at　the　effort　Hermione　put　into　her　homework；　when　Lupin　started　to　laugh。
　　〃Light　again；　Hermione！〃　he　said。　〃But　the　Ministry　never　knew　that　here　used　to　be　three　unregistered　Animagi　running　around　Hogwarts。〃
　　〃I　you're　going　to　tell　them　the　story；　get　a　move　on；　Remus；〃　said　Black；　who　was　still　watching　Scabbers's　every　desperate　move。　〃I've　waited　twelve　years；　I'm　not　going　to　wait　much　longer。〃
　　〃All　right。。。　but　you'll　need　to　help　me；　Sirius；〃　said　Lupin；　I　only　know　how　it　began。。。〃
　　Lupin　broke　off。　There　had　been　a　loud　creak　behind　him。　The　bedroom　door　had　opened　of　its　own　accord。　All　five　of　them　stared　at　it。　Then　Lupin　strode　toward　it　and　looked　out　into　the　landing。
　　〃No　one　there。。。〃
　　〃This　place　is　haunted！〃　said　Ron。
　　〃It's　not；〃　said　Lupin；　still　looking　at　the　door　in　a　puzzled　way。　〃The　Shrieking　Shack　was　never　haunted。。。。　The　screams　and　howls　the　villagers　used　to　hear　were　made　by　me。〃
　　He　pushed　his　graying　hair　out　of　his　eyes；　thought　for　a　moment　then　said；　〃That's　where　all　of　this　starts　　with　my　being　a　werewolf；　None　of　this　could　have　happened　if　I　hadn't　been　bitter。。。　and　if　I　hadn't　been　so　foolhardy。。。〃
　　He　looked　sober　and　tired。　Ron　started　to　interrupt；　but　Hermione；　said；　〃Shh！〃　She　was　watching　Lupin　very　intently。
　　〃I　as　a　very　small　boy　when　I　received　the　bite。　My　parents　tried　everything；　but　in　those　days　there　was　no　cure。　The　potion　that　Professor　Snape　has　been　making　for　me　is　a　very　recent　discovery。　It　makes　me　safe；　you　see。　As　long　as　I　take　it　in　the　week；　preceding　the　full　moon；　I　keep　my　mind　when　I　transform。。。。　I'm　able　to　curl　up　in　my　office；　a　harmless　wolf；　and　wait　for　the　moon　to　wane　again。
　　〃Before　the　Wolfsbane　Potion　was　discovered；　however；　I　became　a　fully　fledged　monster　once　a　month。　It　seemed　impossible　that　I　would　be　able　to　e　to　Hogwarts。　Other　parents　weren't　likely　to　want　their　children　exposed　to　me。
　　〃But　then　Dumbledore　became　Headmaster；　and　he　was　sympathetic。　He　said　that　as　long　as　we　took　certain　precautions；　there　was　no　reason　I　shouldn't　e　to　school。。。。〃　Lupin　sighed；　and　looked　directly　at　Harry。　〃I　told　you；　months　ago；　that　the　Whomping　Willow　was　planted　the　year　I　came　to　Hogwarts。　The　truth　is　that　it　was　planted　because　I　came　to　Hogwarts。　This　house〃　　Lupin　looked　miserably　around　the　room；　　〃the　tunnel　that　leads　to　it　　they　were　built　for　my　use。　Once　a　month；　I　was　smuggled　out　of　the　castle；　into　this　place；　to　transform。　The　tree　was　placed　at　the　tunnel　mouth　to　stop　anyone　ing　across　me　while　I　was　dangerous。〃
　　Harry　couldn't　see　where　this　story　was　going；　but　he　was　listening　raptly　all　the　same。　The　only　sound　apart　from　Lupin's　voice　was　Scabbers's　frightened　squeaking。
　　〃My　transformations　in　those　days　were　　were　terrible。　It　is　very　painful　to　turn　into　a　werewolf。　I　was　separated　from　humans　to　bite；　so　I　bit　and　scratched　myself　instead。　The　villagers　heard　the　noise　and　the　screaming　and　thought　they　were　hearing　particularly　violent　spirits。　Dumbledore　encouraged　the　rumor。。。。　Even　now；　when　the　house　has　been　silent　for　years；　the　villagers　don't　dare　approach　it。。。。〃
　　〃But　apart　from　my　transformations；　I　was　happier　than　I　had　ever　been　in　my　life。　For　the　first　time　ever；　I　had　friends；　three　great　friends。　Sirius　Black。。。　Peter　Pettigrew。。。　and；　of　course；　your　father；　Harry　　James　Potter。〃
　　〃Now；　my　three　friends　could　hardly　fail　to　notice　that　I　disappeared　once　a　month。　I　made　up　all　sorts　of　stories。　I　told　them　my　mother　was　ill；　and　that　I　had　to　go　home　to　see　her。。。　I　was　terrified　they　would　desert　me　the　moment　they　found　out　what　I　was。　But　of　course；　they；　like　you；　Hermione；　worked　out　the　truth。。。。〃
　　〃And　they　didn't　desert　me　at　all。　Instead；　they　did　something　for　me　that　would　make　my　transformations　not　only　bearable；　but　the　best　times　of　my　life。　They　became　Animagi。〃
　　〃My　dad　too？〃　said　Harry；　astounded。
　　〃Yes；　indeed；〃　said　Lupin。　〃It　took　them　the　best　part　of　three　years　to　work　out　how　to　do　it。　Your　father　and　Sirius　here　were　the　cleverest　students　in　the　school；　and　lucky　they　were；　because　the　Animagus　transformation　can　go　horribly　wrong　　one　reason　the　Ministry　keeps　a　close　watch　on　those　attempting　to　do　it。　Peter　needed　all　the　help　he　could　get　from　James　and　Sirius。　Finally；　in　our　fifth　year；　they　managed　it。　They　could　each　turn　into　a　different　animal　at　will。〃
　　〃But　how　did　that　help　you？〃　said　Hermione；　sounding　puzzled。
　　〃They　couldn't　keep　me　pany　as　humans；　so　they　kept　me　pany　as　animals；〃　said　Lupin。　〃A　werewolf　is　only　a　danger　to　people。　They　sneaked　out　of　the　castle　every　month　under　James's　Invisibility　Cloak。　They　transformed。。。　Peter；　as　the　smallest；　could　slip　beneath　the　Willow's　attacking　branches　and　touch　the　knot　that　freezes　it。　They　would　then　slip　down　the　tunnel　and　join　me。　Under　their　influence；　I　became　less　dangerous。　My　body　was　still　wolfish；　but　my　mind　seemed　to　bee　less　so　while　I　was　with　them。〃
　　〃Hurry　up；　Remus；〃　snarled　Black；　who　was　still　watching　Scabbers　with　a　horrible　sort　of　hunger　on　his　face。
　　〃I'm　getting　there；　Sirius；　I'm　getting　there。。。　well；　highly　exciting　possibilities　were　open　to　us　now　that　we　could　all　transform。　Soon　we　were　leaving　the　Shrieking　Shack　and　roaming　the　school　grounds　and　the　village　by　night。　Sirius　and　James　transformed　into　such　large　animals；　they　were　able　to　keep　a　werewolf　in　check。　I　doubt　whether　any　Hogwarts　students　ever　found　out　more　about