3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第53章

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　　〃How　do　you　expect　to　find　a　rat　in　the　dark？〃　snapped　Hermione。　〃There's　nothing　we　can　do！　We　came　back　to　help　Sirius；　we're　not　supposed　to　be　doing　anything　else！〃
　　〃All　right！〃
　　The　moon　slid　out　from　behind　its　cloud。　They　saw　the　tiny　figures　across　the　grounds　stop。　Then　they　saw　movement　
　　〃There　goes　Lupin；〃　Hermione　whispered。　〃He's　transforming
　　〃Hermione！〃　said　Harry　suddenly。　〃We've　got　to　move！〃
　　〃We　mustn't；　I　keep　telling　you　〃
　　〃Not　to　interfere！　Lupin's　going　to　run　into　the　forest；　right　at　us！〃
　　Hermione　gasped。
　　〃Quick！〃　she　moaned；　dashing　to　untie　Buckbeak。　〃Quick！　Where　are　we　going　to　go？　Where　are　we　going　to　hide？　The　dementors　wilt　be　ing　any　moment　〃
　　〃Back　to　Hagrid's！〃　Harry　said。　〃It's　empty　now　　e　on！〃
　　They　ran　as　fast　as　they　could；　Buckbeak　cantering　along　behind　them。　They　could　hear　the　werewolf　howling　behind　them。。。。
　　The　cabin　was　in　sight；　Harry　skidded　to　the　door；　wrenched　it　open；　and　Hermione　and　Buckbeak　flashed　past　him；　Harry　threw　himself　in　after　them　and　bolted　the　door。　Fang　the　boarhound　barked　loudly。
　　〃Shh；　Fang；　it's　us！〃　said　Hermione；　hurrying　over　and　scratching　his　ears　to　quieten　him。　〃That　was　really　close！〃　she　said　to　Harry。
　　〃Yeah。。。〃
　　Harry　was　looking　out　of　the　window。　It　was　much　harder　to　see　what　was　going　on　from　here。　Buckbeak　seemed　very　happy　to　find　himself　back　inside　Hagrid's　house。　He　lay　down　in　front　of　the　fire；　folded　his　wings　contentedly；　and　seemed　ready　for　a　good　nap。
　　〃I　think　I'd　better　go　outside　again；　you　know；〃　said　Harry　slowly。　〃I　can't　see　what's　going　on　　we　won't　know　when　it's　time　〃
　　Hermione　looked　up。　Her　expression　was　suspicious。
　　〃I'm　not　going　to　try　and　interfere；〃　said　Harry　quickly。　〃But　if　we　don't　see　what's　going　on；　how're　we　going　to　know　when　it's　time　to　rescue　Sirius？〃
　　〃Well。。。　okay；　then。。。　I'll　wait　here　with　Buckbeak。。。　but　Harry；　be　careful　　there's　a　werewolf　out　there　　and　the　dementors
　　Harry　stepped　outside　again　and　edged　around　the　cabin。　He　could　hear　yelping　in　the　distance。　That　meant　the　dementors　were　closing　in　on　Sirius。。。。　He　and　Hermione　would　be　running　to　him　any　moment。。。。
　　Harry　stared　out　toward　the　lake；　his　heart　doing　a　kind　of　drumroll　in　his　chest。。。。　Whoever　had　sent　that　Patronus　would　be　appearing　at　any　moment。。。。
　　For　a　fraction　of　a　second　he　stood；　irresolute；　in　front　of　Hagrid's　door。　You　must　not　be　seen。　But　he　didn't　want　to　be　seen。　He　wanted　to　do　the　seeing。。。。　He　had　to　know。。。
　　And　there　were　the　dementors。　They　were　emerging　out　of　the　darkness　from　every　direction；　gliding　around　the　edges　of　the　lake。。。。　They　were　moving　away　from　where　Harry　stood；　to　the　opposite　bank。。。。　He　wouldn't　have　to　get　near　them。。。。
　　Harry　began　to　run。　He　had　no　thought　in　his　head　except　his　father。。。　If　it　was　him。。。　if　it　really　was　him。。。　he　had　to　know；　had　to　find　out。。。。
　　The　lake　was　ing　nearer　and　nearer；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　anybody。　On　the　opposite　bank；　he　could　see　tiny　glimmers　of　silver　　his　own　attempts　at　a　Patronus　
　　There　was　a　bush　at　the　very　edge　of　the　water。　Harry　threw　himself　behind　it；　peering　desperately　through　the　leaves。　On　the　opposite　bank；　the　glimmers　of　silver　were　suddenly　extinguished。　A　terrified　excitement　shot　through　him　　any　moment　now　
　　〃e　on！〃　he　muttered；　staring　about。　〃Where　are　you？　Dad；　e　on　〃
　　But　no　one　came。　Harry　raised　his　head　to　look　at　the　circle　of　dementors　across　the　lake。　One　of　them　was　lowering　its　hood。　It　was　time　for　the　rescuer　to　appear　　but　no　one　was　ing　to　help　this　time　
　　And　then　it　hit　him　　he　understood。　He　hadn't　seen　his　father　　he　had　seen　himself　
　　Harry　flung　himself　out　from　behind　the　bush　and　pulled　out　his　wand。
　　〃EXPECTO　PATRONUM！　〃he　yelled。
　　And　out　of　the　end　of　his　wand　burst；　not　a　shapeless　cloud　of　mist；　but　a　blinding；　dazzling；　silver　animal。　He　screwed　up　his　eyes；　trying　to　see　what　it　was。　It　looked　like　a　horse。　It　was　galloping　silently　away　from　him；　across　the　black　surface　of　the　lake。　He　saw　it　lower　its　head　and　charge　at　the　swarming　dementors。。。。　Now　it　was　galloping　around　and　around　the　black　shapes　on　the　ground；　and　the　dementors　were　falling　back；　scattering；　retreating　into　the　darkness。。。。　They　were　gone。
　　The　Patronus　turned。　It　was　cantering　back　toward　Harry　across　the　still　surface　of　the　water。　It　wasn't　a　horse。　It　wasn't　a　unicorn；　either。　It　was　a　stag。　It　was　shining　brightly　as　the　moon　above　。。。　it　was　ing　back　to　him。。。。
　　It　stopped　on　the　bank。　Its　hooves　made　no　mark　on　the　soft　ground　as　it　stared　at　Harry　with　its　large；　silver　eyes。　Slowly；　it　bowed　its　antlered　head。　And　Harry　realized。。。　〃Prongs；　〃he　whispered。
　　But　as　his　trembling　fingertips　stretched　toward　the　creature；　it　vanished。
　　Harry　stood　there；　hand　still　outstretched。　Then；　with　a　great　leap　of　his　heart；　he　heard　hooves　behind　him　…he　whirled　around　and　saw　Hermione　dashing　toward　him；　dragging　Buckbeak　behind　her。
　　〃What　did　you　do？〃　she　said　fiercely。　〃You　said　you　were　only　going　to　keep　a　lookout！〃
　　〃I　just　saved　all　our　lives。。。；〃　said　Harry。　〃Get　behind　here　　behind　this　bush　　I'll　explain。〃
　　Hermione　listened　to　what　had　just　happened　with　her　mouth　open　yet　again。
　　〃Did　anyone　see　you？〃
　　〃Yes；　haven't　you　been　listening？　I　saw　me　but　I　thought　I　was　my　dad！　It's　okay！〃
　　〃Harry；　I　can't　believe　it。。。。　You　conjured　up　a　Patronus　that　drove　away　all　those　dementors！　That's　very；　very　advanced　magic。　I　knew　I　could　do　it　this　time；〃　said　Harry；　〃because　I'd　already　done　it。。。。　Does　that　make　sense？〃
　　〃I　don't　know　　Harry；　look　at　Snape！〃
　　Together　they　peered　around　the　bush　at　the　other　bank。　Snape　had　regained　consciousness。　He　was　conjuring　stretchers　and　lifting　the　limp　forms　of　Harry；　Hermione；　and　Black　onto　them。　A　fourth　stretcher；　no　doubt　bearing　Ron；　was　already　floating　at　his　side。　Then；　wand　held　out　in　front　of　him；　he　moved　them　away　toward　the　castle。
　　〃Right；　it's　nearly　time；〃　said　Hermione　tensely；　looking　at　her　watch。　〃We've　got　about　forty…five　minutes　until　Dumbledore　locks　the　door　to　the　hospital　wing。　We've　got　to　rescue　Sirius　and　get　back　into　the　ward　before　anybody　realizes　we're　missing。。。。　11
　　They　waited；　watching　the　moving　clouds　reflected　in　the　lake；　while　the　bush　next　to　them　whispered　in　the　breeze。　Buckbeak；　bored；　was　ferreting　for　worms　again。
　　〃D'　you　reckon　he's　up　there　yet？〃　said　Harry；　checking　his　watch。　He　looked　up　at　the　castle　and　began　counting　the　windows　to　the　right　of　the　West　Tower。
　　〃Look！〃　Hermione　whispered。　〃Who's　that？　Someone's　ing　back　out　of　the　castle！〃
　　Harry　stared　through　the　darkness。　The　man　was　hurrying　across　the　grounds；　toward　one　of　the　entrances。　Something　shiny　glinted　in　his　belt。
　　〃Macnair！〃　said　Harry。　〃The　executioner！　He's　gone　to　get　the　dementors！　This　is　it；　Hermione　〃
　　Hermione　put　her　hands　on　Buckbeak's　back　and　Harry　gave　her　a　leg　up。　Then　he　placed　his　foot　on　one　of　the　lower　branches　of　the　bush　and　climbed　up　in　front　of　her。　He　pulled　Buckbeak's　rope　back　over　his　neck　and　tied　it　to　the　other　side　of　his　collar　like　reins。
　　〃Ready？〃　he　whispered　to　Hermione。　〃YotM　better　hold　on　to　me　
　　He　nudged　Buckbeak's　sides　with　his　heels。
　　Buckbeak　soared　straight　into　the　dark　air。　Harry　gripped　his　flanks　with　his　knees；　feeling　the　great　wings　rising　powerfully　beneath　them。　Hermione　was　holding　Harry　very　tight　around　the　waist；　he　could　hear　her　muttering；　〃Oh；　no　　I　don't　like　this　oh；　I　really　don't　like　this　〃
　　Harry　urged　Buckbeak　forward。　They　were　gliding　quietly　toward　the　upper　floors　of　the　castle。。。。　Harry　pulled　hard　on　the　left…hand　side　of　the　rope；　and　Buckbeak　turned。　Harry　was　trying　to　count　the　windows　flashing　past　
　　〃Whoa！〃　he　said；　pulling　backward　as　hard　as　he　could。
　　Buckbeak　slowed　down　and　they　found　themselves　at　a　stop；　unless　you　counted　the　fact　that　they　kept　rising　up　and　down　several　feet　as　the　hippogriff　beat　his　wings　to　remain　airborne。
　　〃He's　there！〃　Harry　said；　spotting　Sirius　as　they　rose　up　beside　the　window。　He　reached　out；　and　as　Buckbeak's　wings　fell；　was　able　to　tap　sharply　on　the　glass。
　　Black　looked　up。　Harry　saw　his　jaw　drop。　He　leapt　from　his　chair；　hurried　to　the　window　and　tried　to　open　it；　but　it　was　locked。
　　〃Stand　back！〃　Hermione　called　to　him；　and　she　took　out　her　wand；　still　gripping　the　back　of　Harry's　robes　with　her　left　hand。
　　〃Alohomora！〃
　　The　window　sprang　open。
　　〃How　　how　？〃　said　Black　weakly；　staring　at　the　hippogriff
　　〃Get　on　　there's　not　much　time；〃　said　Harry；　gripping　Buckbeak　firmly　on　either　side　of　his　sleek　neck　to　hold　him　steady。　〃You've　got　to　get　out　of　here　…the　dementors　are　ing　　Macnair's　gone　to　get　them。〃
　　Black　placed　a　hand　on　either　side　of　the　window　frame　and　heaved　his　head　and　shoulders　out　of　it。　It　was　very　lucky　he　was　so　thin。　In　seconds；　he　had　managed　to　fling　one　leg　over　Buckbeak's　back　and　pull　himself　onto　the　hippogriff　behind　Hermione。
　　〃Okay；　Buckbeak；　up！〃　said　Harry；　shaking　the　rope。　〃Up　to　the　tower　　e　on。
　　The　hippogriff　gave　one　sweep　of　its　mighty　wings　and　they　were　soaring　upward　again；　high　as　the　top　of　the　West　Tower。　Buckbeak　landed　with　a　clatter　on　the　battlements；　and　Harry　and　Hermione　slid　off　him　at　once。
　　〃Sirius；　you'd　better　go；　quick；〃　Harry　panted。　〃They'll　reach　Flitwick's　office　any　moment；　they'll　find　out　you're　gone。〃
　　Buckbeak　pawed　the　ground；　tossing　his　sharp　head。
　　〃What　happened　to　the　other　boy？　Ron？〃　croaked　Sirius。
　　〃He's　going　to　be　okay。　He's　still　out　of　it；　but　Madam　Pomfrey　says　she'll　be　able　to　make　him　better。　Quick　　go　〃
　　But　Black　was　still　staring　down　at　Harry。
　　〃How　can　I　ever　thank　〃
　　〃GO！〃　Harry　and　Hermione　shouted　together。
　　Black　wheeled　Buckbeak　around；　facing　the　open　sky。
　　〃We'll　see　each　other　again；〃　he　said。　〃You　are　　truly　your　father's　son；　Harry。。。。〃
　　He　squeezed　Buckbeak's　sides　with　his　heels。　Harry　and　Hermione　jumped　back　as　the　enormous　wings　rose　once　more。。。。　The　hippogriff　took　off　into　the　air。。。。　He　and　his　rider　became　smaller　and　smaller　as　Harry　gazed　after　them。。。　then　a　cloud　drifted　across　the　moon。。。。　They　were　gone。
　　CHAPTER　TWENTY…TWO
　　OWL　POST　AGAIN
　　Harry！〃
　　Hermione　was　tugging　at　his　sleeve；　staring　at　her　watch。　〃We've　got　exactly　ten　minutes　to　get　back　down　to　the　hospital　wing　without　anybody　seeing　us　　before　Dumbledore　locks　the　door　〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Harry；　wrenching　his　gaze　from　the　sky；　〃let's　go。。。。〃
　　They　slipped　through　the　doorway　behind　them　and　down　a　tightly　spiraling　stone　staircase。　As　they　reached　the　bottom　of　it；　they　heard　voices。　They　flattened　themselves　against　the　wall　and　listened。　It　sounded　like　Fudge　and　Snape。　They　were　walking　quickly　along　the　corridor　at　the　foot　of　the　staircase。
　　〃。。。　only　hope　Dumbledore's　not　going　to　make　difficulties；〃　Snape　was　saying。　〃The　Kiss　will　be　performed　immediately？〃
　　〃As　soon　as　Macnair　returns　with　the　dementors。　This　whole　Black　affair　has　been　highly　embarrassing。　I　can't　tell　you　how　much　I'm　looking　forward　to　in