3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第48章

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Harry's　head！　Why　should　I？〃
　　〃I'll　tell　you　why；〃　said　Black。　〃Because　you　never　did　anything　for　anyone　unless　you　could　see　what　was　in　it　for　you。　Voldemort's　been　in　hiding　for　fifteen　years；　they　say　he's　half　dead。　You　weren't　about　to　mit　murder　right　under　Albus　Dumbledore's　nose；　for　a　wreck　of　a　wizard　who'd　lost　all　of　his　power；　were　you？　You'd　want　to　be　quite　sure　he　was　the　biggest　bully　in　the　playground　before　you　went　back　to　him；　wouldn't　you？　Why　else　did　you　find　a　wizard　family　to　take　you　in？　Keeping　an　ear　out　for　news；　weren't　YOU；　Peter？　Just　in　case　your　old　protector　regained　strength；　and　it　was　safe　to　rejoin　him。。。。〃
　　Pettigrew　opened　his　mouth　and　closed　it　several　times。　He　seemed　to　have　lost　the　ability　to　talk。
　　〃Er　　Mr。　Black　　Sirius？〃　said　Hermione。
　　Black　jumped　at　being　addressed　like　this　and　stared　at　Hermione　as　though　he　had　never　seen　anything　quite　like　her。
　　〃If　you　don't　mind　me　asking；　how　　how　did　you　get　out　of　Azkaban；　if　you　didn't　use　Dark　Magic？〃
　　〃Thank　you！〃　gasped　Pettigrew；　nodding　frantically　at　her。　〃Exactly！　Precisely　what　I　〃
　　But　Lupin　silenced　him　with　a　look。　Black　was　frowning　slightly　at　Hermione；　but　not　as　though　he　were　annoyed　with　her。　He　seemed　to　be　pondering　his　answer。
　　〃I　don't　know　how　I　did　it；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃I　think　the　only　reason　I　never　lost　my　mind　is　that　I　knew　I　was　innocent。　That　wasn't　a　happy　thought；　so　the　dementors　couldn't　suck　it　out　of　me。。。　but　it　kept　me　sane　and　knowing　who　I　am。。。　helped　me　keep　my　powers。。。　so　when　it　all　became　。。。　too　much。。。　I　could　transform　in　my　cell。。。　bee　a　dog。　Dementors　can't　see；　you　know。。。。〃　He　swallowed。　〃They　feel　their　way　toward　people　by　feeding　off　their　emotions。。。。　They　could　tell　that　my　feelings　were　less　　less　human；　less　plex　when　I　was　a　dog。。。　but　they　thought；　of　course；　that　I　was　losing　my　mind　like　everyone　else　in　there；　so　it　didn't　trouble　them。　But　I　was　weak；　very　weak；　and　I　had　no　hope　of　driving　them　away　from　me　without　a　wand。。。。〃
　　〃But　then　I　saw　Peter　in　that　picture。。。　I　realized　he　was　at　Hogwarts　with　Harry。。。　perfectly　positioned　to　act；　if　one　hint　reached　his　ears　that　the　Dark　Side　was　gathering　strength　again。。。。〃
　　Pettigrew　was　shaking　his　head；　mouthing　noiselessly；　but　staring　all　the　while　at　Black　as　though　hypnotized。
　　〃。。。　ready　to　strike　at　the　moment　he　could　be　sure　of　allies。。。　and　to　deliver　the　last　Potter　to　them。　if　he　gave　them　Harry；　who'd　dare　say　he'd　betrayed　Lord　Voldemort？　He'd　be　weled　back　with　honors。。。。
　　〃So　you　see；　I　had　to　do　something。　I　was　the　only　one　who　knew　Peter　was　still　alive。。。。〃
　　Harry　remembered　what　Mr。　Weasley　had　told　Mrs。　Wealsey。　〃The　guards　say　he's　been　talking　in　his　sleep。。。　always　the　same　words。。。　'He's　at　Hogwarts。'〃
　　〃It　was　as　if　someone　had　lit　a　fire　In　my　head；　and　the　dementors　couldn't　destroy　it。。。。　It　wasn't　a　happy　feeling。。。　it　was　an　obsession。。。　but　it　gave　me　strength；　it　cleared　my　mind。　So；　one　night　when　they　opened　my　door　to　bring　food；　I　slipped　past　them　as　a　dog。。。。　It's　so　much　harder　for　them　to　sense　animal　emotions　that　they　were　confused。。。。　I　was　thin；　very　thin。。。　thin　enough　to　slip　through　the　bars。。。。　I　swam　as　a　dog　back　to　the　mainland。。。。　I　journeyed　north　and　slipped　into　the　Hogwarts　grounds　as　a　dog。　I've　been　living　in　the　forest　ever　since；　except　when　I　came　to　watch　the　Quidditch；　of　course。　You　fly　as　well　as　your　father　did；　Harry。。。。〃
　　He　looked　at　Harry；　who　did　not　look　away。
　　〃Believe　me；〃　croaked　Black。　〃Believe　me；　Harry。　I　never　betrayed　James　and　Lily。　I　would　have　died　before　I　betrayed　them。〃
　　And　at　long　last；　Harry　believed　him。　Throat　too　tight　to　speak；　he　nodded。
　　〃No！〃
　　Pettigrew　had　fallen　to　his　knees　as　though　Harry's　nod　had　been　his　own　death　sentence。　He　shuffled　forward　on　his　knees；　groveling；　his　hands　clasped　in　front　of　him　as　though　praying。
　　〃Sirius　　it's　me。。。　it's　Peter。。。　your　friend。。。　you　wouldn't　〃
　　Black　kicked　out　and　Pettigrew　recoiled。
　　〃There's　enough　filth　on　my　robes　without　you　touching　them；〃　said　Black。
　　〃Remus！〃　Pettigrew　squeaked；　turning　to　Lupin　instead；　writhing　imploringly　in　front　of　him。　〃You　don't　believe　this　wouldn't　Sirius　have　told　you　they'd　changed　the　plan？〃
　　〃Not　if　he　thought　I　was　the　spy；　Peter；〃　said　Lupin。　〃I　assume　that's　why　you　didn't　tell　me；　Sirius？〃　he　said　casually　over　Pettigrews　head。
　　〃Forgive　me；　Remus；〃　said　Black。
　　〃Not　at　all；　Padfoot；　old　friend；〃　said　Lupin；　who　was　now　rolling　up　his　sleeves。　〃And　will　you；　in　turn；　forgive　me　for　believing　you　were　the　spy？〃
　　〃Of　course；〃　said　Black；　and　the　ghost　of　a　grin　flitted　across　his　gaunt　face。　He；　too；　began　rolling　up　his　sleeves。　〃Shall　we　kill　him　together？〃
　　〃Yes；　I　think　so；〃　said　Lupin　grimly。
　　〃You　wouldn't。。。　you　won't。。。；〃　gasped　Pettigrew。　And　he　scrambled　around　to　Ron。
　　〃Ron。。。　haven't　I　been　a　good　friend。。。　a　good　pet？　You　won't　let　them　kill　me；　Ron；　will　you。。。　you're　on　my　side；　aren't　you。
　　But　Ron　was　staring　at　Pettigrew　with　the　utmost　revulsion。
　　〃I　let　you　sleep　in　my　bed！〃　he　said。
　　〃Kind　boy。。。　kind　master。。。〃　Pettigrew　crawled　toward　Ron　〃You　won't　let　them　do　it。。。。　I　was　your　rat。。。。　I　was　a　good　pet。。。。〃
　　〃If　you　made　a　better　rat　than　a　human；　it's　not　much　to　boast　about；　Peter；〃　said　Black　harshly。　Ron；　going　still　paler　with　pain；　wrenched　his　broken　leg　out　of　Pettigrew's　reach。　Pettigrew　turned　on　his　knees；　staggered　forward；　and　seized　the　hem　of　Hermione's　robes。
　　〃Sweet　girl。。。　clever　girl。。。　you　　you　won't　let　them。。。。　Help　me。。。。〃
　　Hermione　pulled　her　robes　out　of　Pettigrew's　clutching　hands　and　backed　away　against　the　wall；　looking　horrified。
　　Pettigrew　knelt；　trembling　uncontrollably；　and…turned　his　head　slowly　toward　Harry。
　　〃Harry。。。　Harry。。。　you　look　just　like　your　father。。。　just　like　him。。。。〃
　　〃HOW　DARE　YOU　SPEAK　TO　HARRY？〃　roared　Black。　〃HOW　DARE　YOU　FACE　HIM？　HOW　DARE　YOU　TALK　ABOUT　JAMES　IN　FRONT　OF　HIM？〃
　　〃Harry；〃　whispered　Pettigrew；　shuffling　toward　him；　hands　outstretched。　〃Harry；　James　wouldn't　have　wanted　me　killed。。。。　James　would　have　understood；　Harry。。。　he　would　have　shown　me　mercy。。。〃
　　Both　Black　and　Lupin　strode　forward；　seized　Pettigrew's　shoulders；　and　threw　him　backward　onto　the　floor。　He　sat　there；　twitching　with　terror；　staring　up　at　them。
　　〃You　sold　Lily　and　James　to　Voldemort；〃　said　Black；　who　was　shaking　too。　〃Do　you　deny　it？〃
　　Pettigrew　burst　into　tears。　It　was　horrible　to　watch；　like　an　oversized；　balding　baby；　cowering　on　the　floor。
　　〃Sirius；　Sirius；　what　could　I　have　done？　The　Dark　Lord。。。　you　have　no　idea。。。　he　has　weapons　you　can't　imagine。。。。　I　was　scared；　Sirius；　I　was　never　brave　like　you　and　Remus　and　James。　I　never　meant　it　to　happen。。。。　He…Who…Must…Not…Be…Named　forced　me　〃
　　〃DON'T　LIE！〃　bellowed　Black。　〃YOU'D　BEEN　PASSING　INFORMATION　TO　HIM　FOR　A　YEAR　BEFORE　LILY　AND　JAMES　DIED！　YOU　WERE　HIS　SPY！〃
　　〃He　　he　was　taking　over　everywhere！〃　gasped　Pettigrew。　〃Wh　　what　was　there　to　be　gained　by　refusing　him？〃
　　〃What　was　there　to　be　gained　by　fighting　the　most　evil　wizard　who　has　ever　existed？〃　said　Black；　with　a　terrible　fury　in　his　face。　〃Only　innocent　lives；　Peter！〃
　　〃You　don't　understand！〃　whined　Pettigrew。　〃He　would　have　killed　me；　Sirius！〃
　　〃THEN　YOU　SHOULD　HAVE　DIED！〃　roared　Black。　〃DIED　RATHER　THAN　BETRAY　YOUR　FRIENDS；　AS　WE　WOULD　HAVE　DONE　FOR　YOU！〃
　　Black　and　Lupin　stood　shoulder　to　shoulder；　wands　raised。
　　〃You　should　have　realized；〃　said　Lupin　quietly；　〃if　Voldemort　didn't　kill　you；　we　would。　Good…bye；　Peter。〃
　　Hermione　covered　her　face　with　her　hands　and　turned　to　the　wall。
　　〃NO！〃　Harry　yelled。　He　ran　forward；　placing　himself　in　front　Pettigrew；　facing　the　wands。　〃You　can't　kill　him；〃　he　said　breathlessly。　〃You　can't。〃
　　Black　and　Lupin　both　looked　staggered。
　　〃Harry；　this　piece　of　vermin　is　the　reason　you　have　no　parents；〃　Black　snarled。　〃This　cringing　bit　of　filth　would　have　seen　you　die　too；　without　turning　a　hair。　You　heard　him。　His　own　stinking　skin　meant　more　to　him　than　your　whole　family。〃
　　〃I　know；〃　Harry　panted。　〃We'll　take　him　up　to　the　castle。　We'll　hand　him　over　to　the　dementors。。。。　He　can　go　to　Azkaban。。。　but　don't　kill　him。〃
　　〃Harry！〃　gasped　Pettigrew；　and　he　flung　his　arms　around　Harry's　knees。　〃You　　thank　you　　it's　more　than　I　deserve　　thank　you　〃
　　〃Get　off　me；〃　Harry　spat；　throwing　Pettigrew's　hands　off　him　in　disgust。　〃I'm　not　doing　this　for　you。　I'm　doing　it　because　　I　don't　reckon　my　dad　would've　wanted　them　to　bee　killers　　just　for　you。〃
　　No　one　moved　or　made　a　sound　except　Pettigrew；　whose　breath　was　ing　in　wheezes　as　he　clutched　his　chest。　Black　and　Lupin　were　looking　at　each　other。　Then；　with　one　movement；　they　lowered　their　wands。
　　〃You're　the　only　person　who　has　the　right　to　decide；　Harry；〃　said　Black。　〃But　think。。。　think　what　he　did。。。。〃
　　〃He　can　go　to　Azkaban；〃　Harry　repeated。　〃If　anyone　deserves　that　place；　he　does。。。。〃
　　Pettigrew　was　still　wheezing　behind　him。
　　〃Very　well；〃　said　Lupin。　〃Stand　aside；　Harry。〃
　　Harry　hesitated。
　　〃I'm　going　to　tie　him　up；〃　said　Lupin。　〃That's　all；　I　swear。〃
　　Harry　stepped　out　of　the　way。　Thin　cords　shot　from　Lupin's　wand　this　time；　and　next　moment；　Pettigrew　was　wriggling　on　the　floor；　bound　and　gagged。
　　〃But　if　you　transform；　Peter；〃　growled　Black；　his　own　wand　pointing　at　Pettigrew　too；　〃we　will　kill　you。　You　agree；　Harry？〃
　　Harry　looked　down　at　the　pitiful　figure　on　the　floor　and　nodded　so　that　Pettigrew　could　see　him。
　　〃Right；〃　said　Lupin；　suddenly　businesslike。　〃Ron；　I　can't　mend　bones　nearly　as　well　as　Madam　Pomfrey；　so　I　think　it's　best　if　we　just　strap　your　leg　up　until　we　can　get　you　to　the　hospital　wing。〃
　　He　hurried　over　to　Ron；　bent　down；　tapped　Ron's　leg　with　his　wand；　and　muttered；　〃Ferula。〃　Bandages　spun　up　Ron's　leg；　strapping　it　tightly　to　a　splint。　Lupin　helped　him　to　his　feet；　Ron　put　his　weight　gingerly　on　the　leg　and　didn't　wince。
　　〃That's　better；〃　he　said。　〃Thanks。〃
　　〃What　about　Professor　Snape？〃　said　Hermione　in　a　small　voice；　looking　down　at　Snape's　prone　figure。
　　〃There's　nothing　seriously　wrong　with　him；〃　said　Lupin；　bending　over　Snape　and　checking　his　pulse。　〃You　were　just　a　little　　overenthusiastic。　Still　out　cold。　Er　　perhaps　it　will　be　best　if　we　don't　revive　him　until　we're　safety　back　in　the　castle。　We　can　take　him　like　this。。。。〃
　　He　muttered；　〃Mobilicorpus。〃　As　though　invisible　strings　were　tied　to　Snape's　wrists；　neck；　and　knees；　he　was　pulled　into　a　standing　position；　head　still　lolling　unpleasantly；　like　a　grotesque　puppet。　He　hung　a　few　inches　above　the　ground；　his　limp　feet　dangling。　Lupin　picked　up　the　Invisibility　Cloak　and　tucked　it　safely　into　his　pocket。
　　〃And　two　of　us　should　be　chained　to　this；〃　said　Black；　nudging　Pettigrew　with　his　toe。　〃Just　to　make　sure。〃
　　〃I'll　do　it；〃　said　Lupin。
　　〃And　me；〃　said　Ron　savagely；　limping　forward。
　　Black　conjured　heavy　manacles　from　thin　air；　soon　Pettigrew　was　upright　again；　left　arm　chained　to　Lupin's　right；　right　arm　to　Ron's　left。　Ron's　face　was　set。　He　seemed　to　have　taken　Scabbers's　true　identity　as　a　personal　insult。　C