3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第47章

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ulder。。。　I　knew　him　at　once。。。　how　many　times　had　I　seen　him　transform？　And　the　caption　said　the　boy　would　be　going　back　to　Hogwarts。。。　to　where　Harry　was。。。
　　〃My　God；〃　said　Lupin　softly；　staring　from　Scabbers　to　the　picture　in　the　paper　and　back　again。　〃His　front　paw。。。〃
　　〃What　about　it？〃　said　Ron　defiantly。
　　〃He's　got　a　toe　missing；〃　said　Black。
　　〃Of　course；〃　Lupin　breathed。　〃So　simple。。。　so　brilliant。。。　he　cut　it　off　himself？〃
　　〃Just　before　he　transformed；〃　said　Black。　〃When　I　cornered　him；　he　yelled　for　the　whole　street　to　hear　that　I'd　betrayed　Lily　and　James。　Then；　before　I　could　curse　him；　he　blew　apart　the　street　with　the　wand　behind　his　back；　killed　everyone　within　twenty　feet　of　himself　　and　sped　down　into　the　sewer　with　the　other　rats。。。。〃
　　〃Didn't　you　ever　hear；　Ron？〃　said　Lupin。　〃The　biggest　bit　of　Peter　they　found　was　his　finger。〃
　　〃Look；　Scabbers　probably　had　a　fight　with　another　rat　or　something！　He's　been　in　my　family　for　ages；　right　〃
　　〃Twelve　years；　in　fact；〃　said　Lupin。　〃Didn't　you　ever　wonder　why　he　was　living　so　long？〃
　　〃We　　we've　been　taking　good　care　of　him！〃　said　Ron。
　　〃Not　looking　too　good　at　the　moment；　though；　is　he？〃　said　Lupin。　〃I'd　guess　he's　been　losing　weight　ever　since　he　heard　Sirius　was　on　the　loose　again。。。。〃
　　〃He's　been　scared　of　that　mad　cat！〃　said　Ron；　nodding　toward　Crookshanks；　who　was　still　purring　on　the　bed。
　　But　that　wasn't　right；　Harry　thought　suddenly。。。　Scabbers　had　been　looking　ill　before　he　met　Crookshanks。。。　ever　since　Ron's　return　from　Egypt。。。　since　the　time　when　Black　had　escaped。。。。
　　〃This　cat　isn't　mad；〃　said　Black　hoarsely。　He　reached　out　a　bony　hand　and　stroked　Crookshanks's　fluffy　head。　〃He's　the　most　intelligent　of　his　kind　I've　ever　met。　He　recognized　Peter　for　what　he　was　right　away。　And　when　he　met　me；　he　knew　I　was　no　dog。　It　was　a　while　before　he　trusted　me。。。。　Finally；　I　managed　to　municate　to　him　what　I　was　after；　and　he's　been　helping　me。　。。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　breathed　Hermione。
　　〃He　tried　to　bring　Peter　to　me；　but　couldn't。。。　so　he　stole　the　passwords　into　Gryffindor　Tower　for　me。。。。　As　I　understand　it；　he　took　them　from　a　boy's　bedside　table。。。。〃
　　Harry's　brain　seemed　to　be　sagging　under　the　weight　of　what　he　was　hearing。　It　was　absurd。。。　and　yet。。。
　　〃But　Peter　got　wind　of　what　was　going　on　and　ran　for　it。〃　croaked　Black。　〃This　cat　　Crookshanks；　did　you　call　him？　　told　me　Peter　had　left　blood　on　the　sheets。。。。　I　supposed　he　bit　himself。。。　Well；　faking　his　own　death　had　worked　once。〃
　　These　words　jolted　Harry　to　his　senses。
　　〃And　why　did　he　fake　his　death？〃　he　said　furiously。　〃Because　he　knew　you　were　about　to　kill　him　like　you　killed　my　parents！〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Lupin；　〃Harry…〃
　　〃And　now　you've　e　to　finish　him　off！〃
　　〃Yes；　I　have；〃　said　Black；　with　an　evil　look　at　Scabbers。
　　〃Then　I　should've　let　Snape　take　you！〃　Harry　shouted。
　　〃Harry；〃　said　Lupin　hurriedly；　〃don't　you　see？　All　this　time　we've　thought　Sirius　betrayed　your　parents；　and　Peter　tracked　him　down　　but　it　was　the　other　way　around；　don't　you　see？　Peter　betrayed　your　mother　and　father　　Sirius　tracked　Peter　down　〃
　　〃THAT'S　NOT　TRUE！〃　Harry　yelled。　〃HE　WAS　THEIR　SECRET…KEEPER！　HE　SAID　SO　BEFORE　YOU　TURNED　UP。　HE　SAID　HE　KILLED　THEM！〃
　　He　was　pointing　at　Black；　who　shook　his　head　slowly；　the　sunken　eyes　were　suddenly　over　bright。
　　〃Harry。。。　I　as　good　as　killed　them；〃　he　croaked。　〃I　persuaded　Lily　and　James　to　change　to　Peter　at　the　last　moment；　persuaded　them　to　use　him　as　Secret…Keeper　instead　of　me。。。。　I'm　to　blame；　I　know　it。。。。　The　night　they　died；　I'd　arranged　to　check　on　Peter；　make　sure　he　was　still　safe；　but　when　I　arrived　at　his　hiding　place；　he'd　gone。　Yet　there　was　no　sign　of　a　struggle。　It　didn't　feel　right。　I　was　scared。　I　set　out　for　your　parents'　house　straight　away。　And　when　I　saw　their　house；　destroyed；　and　their　bodies。。。　I　realized　what　Peter　must've　done。。。　what　I'd　done。。。。〃
　　His　voice　broke。　He　turned　away。
　　〃Enough　of　this；〃　said　Lupin；　and　there　was　a　steely　note　in　his　voice　Harry　had　never　heard　before。　〃There's　one　certain　way　to　prove　what　really　happened。　Ron；　give　me　that　rat。〃
　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　with　him　if　I　give　him　to　you？〃　Ron　asked　Lupin　tensely。
　　〃Force　him　to　show　himself；〃　said　Lupin。　〃If　he　really　is　a　rat；　it　won't　hurt　him。〃
　　Ron　hesitated。　Then　at　long　last；　he　held　out　Scabbers　and　Lupin　took　him。　Scabbers　began　to　squeak　without　stopping；　twisting　and　turning；　his　tiny　black　eyes　bulging　in　his　head。　〃Ready；　Sirius？〃　said　Lupin。
　　Black　had　already　retrieved　Snape's　wand　from　the　bed。　He　approached　Lupin　and　the　struggling　rat；　and　his　wet　eyes　suddenly　seemed　to　be　burning　in　his　face。
　　〃Together？〃　he　said　quietly。
　　〃I　think　so；；；　said　Lupin；　holding　Scabbers　tightly　in　one　hand　and　his　wand　in　the　other。　〃On　the　count　of　three。　One　　two　　THREE！〃
　　A　flash　of　blue…white　light　erupted　from　both　wands；　for　a　moment；　Scabbers　was　frozen　in　midair；　his　small　gray　form　twisting　madly　　Ron　yelled　　the　rat　fell　and　hit　the　floor。　There　was　another　blinding　flash　of　light　and　then　
　　It　was　like　watching　a　speeded…up　film　of　a　growing　tree。　A　head　was　shooting　upward　from　the　ground；　limbs　were　sprouting；　a　moment　later；　a　man　was　standing　where　Scabbers　had　been；　cringing　and　wringing　his　hands。　Crookshanks　was　spitting　and　snarling　on　the　bed；　the　hair　on　his　back　was　standing　up。
　　He　was　a　very　short　man；　hardly　taller　than　Harry　and　Hermione。　His　thin；　colorless　hair　was　unkempt　and　there　was　a　large　bald　patch　on　top。　He　had　the　shrunken　appearance　of　a　plump　man　who　has　lost　a　lot　of　weight　in　a　short　time。　His　skin　looked　grubby；　almost　like　Scabbers's　fur；　and　something　of　the　rat　lingered　around　his　pointed　nose　and　his　very　small；　watery　eyes。　He　looked　around　at　them　all；　his　breathing　fast　and　shallow。　Harry　saw　his　eyes　dart　to　the　door　and　back　again。
　　〃Well；　hello；　Peter；〃　said　Lupin　pleasantly；　as　though　rats　frequently　erupted　into　old　school　friends　around　him。　〃Long　time；　no　see。
　　〃S　　Sirius。。。　R　　Remus。。。〃　Even　Pettigrew's　voice　was　squeaky。　Again；　his　eyes　darted　toward　the　door。　〃My　friends。。。　my　old　friends。。。〃
　　Black's　wand　arm　rose；　but　Lupin　seized　him　around　the　wrist；　gave　him　a　warning　took；　then　turned　again　to　Pettigrew；　his　voice　light　and　casual。
　　〃We've　been　having　a　little　chat；　Peter；　about　what　happened　the　night　Lily　and　James　died。　You　might　have　missed　the　finer　points　while　you　were　squeaking　around　down　there　on　the　bed　〃
　　〃Remus；〃　gasped　Pettigrew；　and　Harry　could　see　beads　of　sweat　breaking　out　over　his　pasty　face；　〃you　don't　believe　him；　do　you。。。？　He　tried　to　kill　me；　Remus。。。。〃
　　〃So　we've　heard；〃　said　Lupin；　more　coldly。　〃I'd　like　to　clear　up　one　or　two　little　matters　with　you；　Peter；　if　you'll　be　so　〃
　　〃He's　e　to　try　and　kill　me　again！〃　Pettigrew　squeaked　suddenly；　pointing　at　Black；　and　Harry　saw　that　he　used　his　middle　finger；　because　his　index　was　missing。　〃He　killed　Lily　and　James　and　now　he's　going　to　kill　me　too。。。。　You've　got　to　help　me；　Remus。。。。〃
　　Black's　face　looked　more　skull…like　than　ever　as　he　stared　at　Pettigrew　with　his　fathomless　eyes。
　　〃No　one's　going　to　try　and　kill　you　until　we've　sorted　a　few　things　out；〃　said　Lupin。
　　〃Sorted　things　out？〃　squealed　Pettigrew；　looking　wildly　about　him　once　more；　eyes　taking　in　the　boarded　windows　and；　again'　the　only　door。　〃I　knew　he'd　e　after　me！　I　knew　he'd　be　back　for　me！　I've　been　waiting　for　this　for　twelve　years！〃
　　〃You　knew　Sirius　was　going　to　break　out　of　Azkaban？〃　said　Lupin；　his　brow　furrowed。　〃When　nobody　has　ever　done　it　before？〃
　　〃He's　got　dark　powers　the　rest　of　us　can　only　dream　of！〃　Pettigrew　shouted　shrilly。　〃How　else　did　he　get　out　of　there？　I　suppose　He…Who…Must…Not…Be…Named　taught　him　a　few　tricks！〃
　　Black　started　to　laugh；　a　horrible；　mirthless　laugh　that　filled　the　whole　room。
　　〃Voldemort；　teach　me　tricks？〃　he　said。
　　Pettigrew　flinched　as　though　Black　had　brandished　a　whip　at　him。
　　〃What；　scared　to　hear　your　old　master's　name？〃　said　Black。　I　don't　blame　you；　Peter。　His　lot　aren't　very　happy　with　you；　are　they？〃
　　〃Don't　know　what　you　mean；　Sirius　〃　muttered　Pettigrew；　his　breathing　faster　than　ever。　His　whole　face　was　shining　with　sweat　now。
　　〃You　haven't　been　hiding　from　me　for　twelve　years；〃　said　Black。　〃You've　been　hiding　from　Voldemort's　old　supporters。　I　heard　things　in　Azkaban；　Peter。。。　They　all　think　you're　dead；　or　you'd　have　to　answer　to　them。。。。　I've　heard　them　screaming　all　sorts　of　things　in　their　sleep。　Sounds　like　they　think　the　double…crosser　double…crossed　them。　Voldemort　went　to　the　Potters'　on　your　information。。。　and　Voldemort　met　his　downfall　there。　And　not　all　Voldemort's　supporters　ended　up　in　Azkaban；　did　they？　There　are　still　plenty　out　here；　biding　their　time；　pretending　they've　seen　the　error　of　their　ways。
　　If　they　ever　got　wind　that　you　were　still　alive；　Peter　〃
　　〃Don't　know。。。　what　you're　talking　about。。。；〃　said　Pettigrew　again；　more　shrilly　than　ever。　He　wiped　his　face　on　his　sleeve　and　looked　up　at　Lupin。　〃You　don't　believe　this　　this　madness；　Remus　〃
　　〃I　must　admit；　Peter；　I　have　difficulty　in　understanding　why　an　innocent　man　would　want　to　spend　twelve　years　as　a　rat；〃　said　Lupin　evenly。
　　〃Innocent；　but　scared！〃　squealed　Pettigrew。　〃If　Voldemort's　supporters　were　after　me；　it　was　because　I　put　one　of　their　best　men　in　Azkaban　　the　spy；　Sirius　Black！〃
　　Black's　face　contorted。
　　〃How　dare　you；〃　he　growled；　sounding　suddenly　like　the　bearsized　dog　he　had　been。　I；　a　spy　for　Voldemort？　When　did　I　ever　sneak　around　people　who　were　stronger　and　more　powerful　than　myself？　But　you；　Peter　　I'll　never　understand　why　I　didn't　see　you　were　the　spy　from　the　start。　You　always　liked　big　friends　who'd　look　after　you；　didn't　you？　It　used　to　be　us。。。　me　and　Remus。。。　and　James。。。。
　　Pettigrew　wiped　his　face　again；　he　was　almost　panting　for　breath。
　　〃Me；　a　spy。。。　must　be　out　of　your　mind。。。　never。。。　don't　know　how　you　can　say　such　a　〃
　　〃Lily　and　James　only　made　you　Secret…Keeper　because　I　suggested　it；〃　Black　hissed；　so　venomously　that　Pettigrew　took　a　step　backward。　〃I　thought　it　was　the　perfect　plan。。。　a　bluff。。。　Voldemort　would　be　sure　to　e　after　me；　would　never　dream　they'd　use　a　weak；　talentless　thing　like　you。。。。　It　must　have　been　the　finest　moment　of　your　miserable　life；　telling　Voldemort　you　could　hand　him　the　Potters。〃
　　Pettigrew　was　muttering　distractedly；　Harry　caught　words　like　〃far…fetched〃　and　〃lunacy；〃　but　he　couldn't　help　paying　more　attention　to　the　ashen　color　of　Pettigrew's　face　and　the　way　his　eyes　continued　to　dart　toward　the　windows　and　door。
　　〃Professor　Lupin？〃　said　Hermione　timidly。　〃Can　　can　I　say　something？〃
　　〃Certainly；　Hermione；〃　said　Lupin　courteously。
　　〃Well　　Scabbers　　I　mean；　this　　this　man　　he's　been　sleeping　in　Harry's　dormitory　for　three　years。　If　he's　working　for　You…Know…Who；　how　e　he　never　tried　to　hurt　Harry　before　now？〃
　　〃There！〃　said　Pettigrew　shrilly；　pointing　at　Ron　with　his　maimed　hand。　〃Thank　you！　You　see；　Remus？　I　have　never　hurt　a　hair　of　Harry's　head！　Why　should　I？〃
　　〃I'll　tell　you　why；〃　said　Black。　〃Because　you　never　did　anything　f