3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第55章

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　　Lupin　threw　his　last　few　books　into　his　case；　closed　the　desk　drawers；　and　turned　to　look　at　Harry。
　　〃Here　　I　brought　this　from　the　Shrieking　Shack　last　night；〃　he　said；　handing　Harry　back　the　Invisibility　Cloak。　〃And。。。〃　He　hesitated；　then　held　out　the　Marauder's　Map　too。　〃I　am　no　longer　your　teacher；　so　I　don't　feel　guilty　about　giving　you　back　this　as　well。　It's　no　use　to　me；　and　I　daresay　you；　Ron；　and　Hermione　will　find　uses　for　it。〃
　　Harry　took　the　map　and　grinned。
　　〃You　told　me　Moony；　Wormtail；　Padfoot；　and　Prongs　would've　wanted　to　lure　me　out　of　school。。。　you　said　they'd　have　thought　it　was　funny。〃
　　〃And　so　we　would　have；〃　said　Lupin；　now　reaching　down　to　close　his　case。　〃I　have　no　hesitation　in　saying　that　James　would　have　been　highly　disappointed　if　his　son　had　never　found　any　of　the　secret　passages　out　of　the　castle。〃
　　There　was　a　knock　on　the　door。　Harry　hastily　stuffed　the　Marauder's　Map　and　the　Invisibility　Cloak　into　his　pocket。
　　It　was　Professor　Dumbledore。　He　didn't　look　surprised　to　see　Harry　there。
　　〃Your　carriage　is　at　the　gates；　Remus；〃　he　said。
　　〃Thank　You；　Headmaster。〃
　　Lupin　picked　up　his　old　suitcase　and　the　empty　grindylow　tank。
　　〃Well　　good…bye；　Harry；〃　he　said；　smiling。　〃It　has　been　a　real　pleasure　teaching　you。　I　feel　sure　we'll　meet　again　sometime。　Headmaster；　there　is　no　need　to　see　me　to　the　gates；　I　can　manage。。。。〃
　　Harry　had　the　impression　that　Lupin　wanted　to　leave　as　quickly　as　possible。
　　〃Good…bye；　then；　Remus；〃　said　Dumbledore　soberly。　Lupin　shifted　the　grindylow　tank　slightly　so　that　he　and　Dumbledore　could　shake　hands。　Then；　with　a　final　nod　to　Harry　and　a　swift　smile；　Lupin　left　the　office。
　　Harry　sat　down　in　his　vacated　chair；　staring　glumly　at　the　floor。　He　heard　the　door　close　and　looked　up。　Dumbledore　was　still　there。
　　〃Why　so　miserable；　Harry？〃　he　said　quietly。　〃You　should　be　very　proud　of　yourself　after　last　night。〃
　　〃It　didn't　make　any　difference；〃　said　Harry　bitterly。　〃Pettigrew　got　away。〃
　　〃Didn't　make　any　difference？〃　said　Dumbledore　quietly；　〃It　made　all　the　difference　in　the　world；　Harry。　You　helped　uncover　the　truth。　You　saved　an　innocent　man　from　a　terrible　fate。〃
　　Terrible。　Something　stirred　in　Harry's　memory。　Greater　and　more　terrible　than　ever　before。。。　Professor　Trelawney's　prediction！
　　〃Professor　Dumbledore　　yesterday；　when　I　was　having　my　Divination　exam；　Professor　Trelawney　went　very　　very　strange。〃
　　〃Indeed？〃　said　Dumbledore。　〃Er　　stranger　than　usual；　you　mean？〃
　　〃Yes。。。　her　voice　went　all　deep　and　her　eyes　rolled　and　she　said　。。。　she　said　Voldemort's　servant　was　going　to　set　out　to　return　to　him　before　midnight。。。。　She　said　the　servant　would　help　him　e　back　to　power。〃　Harry　stared　up　at　Dumbledore。　〃And　then　she　sort　of　became　normal　again；　and　she　couldn't　remember　anything　she'd　said。　Was　it　　was　she　making　a　real　prediction？〃
　　Dumbledore　looked　mildly　impressed。
　　〃Do　you　know；　Harry；　I　think　she　might　have　been。〃　he　said　thoughtfully。　〃Who'd　have　thought　it？　That　brings　her　total　of　real　predictions　up　to　two。　I　should　offer　her　a　pay　raise。。。。〃
　　〃But　〃　Harry　looked　at　him；　aghast。　How　could　Dumbledore　take　this　so　calmly？
　　〃But　　I　stopped　Sirius　and　Professor　Lupin　from　killing　Pettigrew！　That　makes　it　my　fault　if　Voldemort　es　back！〃
　　〃It　does　not；〃　said　Dumbledore　quietly。　〃Hasn't　your　experience　with　the　Time…Turner　taught　you　anything；　Harry？　The　consequences　of　our　actions　are　always　so　plicated；　so　diverse；　that　predicting　the　future　is　a　very　difficult　business　indeed。。。。　Professor　Trelawney；　bless　her；　is　living　proof　of　that。。。。　You　did　a　very　noble　thing；　in　saving　Pettigrew's　life。〃
　　〃But　if　he　helps　Voldemort　back　to　power
　　〃Pettigrew　owes　his　life　to　you。　You　have　sent　Voldemort　a　deputy　who　is　in　your　debt。。。。　When　one　wizard　saves　another　wizard's　life；　it　creates　a　certain　bond　between　them。。。　and　I'm　much　mistaken　if　Voldemort　wants　his　servant　in　the　debt　of　Harry　Potter。〃
　　〃I　don't　want　a　connection　with　Pettigrew！〃　said　Harry。　〃He　betrayed　my　parents！〃
　　〃This　is　magic　at　its　deepest；　its　most　impenetrable；　Harry。　But　trust　me。。。　the　time　may　e　when　you　will　be　very　glad　you　saved　Pettigrew's　life。〃
　　Harry　couldn't　imagine　when　that　would　be。　Dumbledore　looked　as　though　he　knew　what　Harry　was　thinking。
　　〃I　knew　your　father　very　well；　both　at　Hogwarts　and　later；　Harry；〃　he　said　gently。　〃He　would　have　saved　Pettigrew　too；　I　am　sure　of　it。〃
　　Harry　looked　up　at　him。　Dumbledore　wouldn't　laugh　　he　could　tell　Dumbledore。。。
　　〃I　thought　it　was　my　dad　who'd　conjured　my　Patronus。　I　mean；　when　I　saw　myself　across　the　lake　。。。　I　thought　I　was　seeing　him。〃　〃An　easy　mistake　to　make；〃　said　Dumbledore　softly。　〃I　expect　you'll　tire　of　hearing　it；　but　you　do　look　extraordinarily　like　James。　Except　for　the　eyes。。。　you　have　your　mother's　eyes。
　　Harry　shook　his　head。
　　〃It　was　stupid；　thinking　it　was　him；〃　he　muttered。　〃I　mean；　I　knew　he　was　dead。〃
　　〃You　think　the　dead　we　loved　ever　truly　leave　us？　You　think　that　we　don't　recall　them　more　clearly　than　ever　in　times　of　great　trouble？　Your　father　is　alive　in　you；　Harry；　and　shows　himself　most　plainly　when　you　have　need　of　him。　How　else　could　you　produce　that　particular　Patronus？　Prongs　rode　again　last　night。〃
　　It　took　a　moment　for　Harry　to　realize　what　Dumblefore　had　said。
　　Last　night　Sirius　told　me　all　about　how　they　became　Animagi；〃　said　Dumbledore；　smiling。　〃An　extraordinary　achievement　　not　least；　keeping　it　quiet　from　me。　And　then　I　remembered　the　most　unusual　form　your　Patronus　took；　when　it　charged　Mr。　Malfoy　down　at　your　Quidditch　match　against　Ravenclaw。　You　know；　Harry；　in　a　way；　you　did　see　your　father　last　night。。。。　You　found　him　inside　yourself。〃
　　And　Dumbledore　left　the　office；　leaving　Harry　to　his　very　confused　thoughts。
　　Nobody　at　Hogwarts　now　knew　the　truth　of　what　had　happened　the　night　that　Sirius；　Buckbeak；　and　Pettigrew　had　vanished　except　Harry；　Ron；　Hermione；　and　Professor　Dumbledore。　As　the　end　of　term　approached；　Harry　heard　many　different　theories　about　what　had　really　happened；　but　none　of　them　came　close　to　the　truth。
　　Malfoy　was　furious　about　Buckbeak。　He　was　convinced　that　Hagrid　had　found　a　way　of　smuggling　the　hippogriff　to　safety；　and　seemed　outraged　that　he　and　his　father　had　been　outwitted　by　a　gamekeeper。　Percy　Weasley；　meanwhile；　had　much　to　say　on　the　subject　of　Sirius's　escape。
　　〃If　I　manage　to　get　into　the　Ministry；　I'll　have　a　lot　of　proposals　to　make　about　Magical　Law　Enforcement！〃　he　told　the　only　person　who　would　listen　　his　girlfriend；　Penelope。
　　Though　the　weather　was　perfect；　though　the　atmosphere　was　so
　　cheerful；　though　he　knew　they　had　achieved　the　near　impossible　in　helping　Sirius　to　freedom；　Harry　had　never　approached　the　end　of　a　school　year　in　worse　spirits。
　　He　certainly　wasn't　the　only　one　who　was　sorry　to　see　Professor　Lupin　go。　The　whole　of　Harry's　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts　class　was　miserable　about　his　resignation。
　　〃Wonder　what　they'll　give　us　next　year？〃　said　Seamus　Finnigan　gloomily。
　　〃Maybe　a　vampire；〃　suggested　Dean　Thomas　hopefully。
　　It　wasn't　only　Professor　Lupin's　departure　that　was　weighing　on　Harry's　mind。　He　couldn't　help　thinking　a　lot　about　Professor　Trelawney's　prediction。　He　kept　wondering　where　Pettigrew　was　now；　whether　he　had　sought　sanctuary　with　Voldemort　yet。　But　the　thing　that　was　lowering　Harry's　spirits　most　of　all　was　the　prospect　of　returning　to　the　Dursleys。　For　maybe　half　an　hour；　a　glorious　half　hour；　he　had　believed　he　would　be　living　with　Sirius　from　now　on。。。　his　parents'　best　friend。。。。　It　would　have　been　the　next　best　thing　to　having　his　own　father　back。　And　while　no　news　of　Sirius　was　definitely　good　news；　because　it　meant　he　had　successfully　gone　into　hiding；　Harry　couldn't　help　feeling　miserable　when　he　thought　of　the　home　he　might　have　had；　and　the　fact　that　it　was　now　impossible。
　　The　exam　results　came　out　on　the　last　day　of　term。　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　had　passed　every　subject。　Harry　was　amazed　that　he　had　got　through　Potions。　He　had　a　shrewd　suspicion　that　Dumbledore　might　have　stepped　in　to　stop　Snape　failing　him　on　purpose。　Snape's　behavior　toward　Harry　over　the　past　week　had　been　quite　alarming。　Harry　wouldn't　have　thought　it　possible　that　Snape's　dislike　for　him　could　increase；　but　it　certainly　had。　A　muscle　twitched　unpleasantly　at　the　corner　of　Snape's　thin　mouth　every　time　he　looked　at　Harry；　and　he　was　constantly　flexing　his　fingers；　as　though　itching　to　place　them　around　Harry's　throat。
　　Percy　had　got　his　top…grade　N。E。W。T。s；　Fred　and　George　had　scraped　a　handful　of　O。W。L。s　each。　Gryffindor　House；　meanwhile；　largely　thanks　to　their　spectacular　performance　in　the　Quidditch　Cup；　had　won　the　House　championship　for　the　third　year　running。　This　meant　that　the　end　of　term　feast　took　place　amid　decorations　of　scarlet　and　gold；　and　that　the　Gryffindor　table　was　the　noisiest　of　the　lot；　as　everybody　celebrated。　Even　Harry　managed　to　forget　about　the　journey　back　to　the　Dursleys　the　next　day　as　he　ate；　drank；　talked；　and　laughed　with　the　rest。
　　As　the　Hogwarts　Express　pulled　out　of　the　station　the　next　mornIng；　Hermione　gave　Harry　and　Ron　some　surprising　news。
　　〃I　went　to　see　Professor　McGonagall　this　morning；　just　before　breakfast。　I've　decided　to　drop　Muggle　Studies。〃
　　〃But　you　passed　your　exam　with　three　hundred　and　twenty　percent！〃　said　Ron。
　　〃I　know；〃　sighed　Hermione；　〃but　I　can't　stand　another　year　like　this　one。　That　Time…Turner；　it　was　driving　me　mad。　I've　handed　it　in。　Without　Muggle　Studies　and　Divination；　I'll　be　able　to　have　a　normal　schedule　again。〃
　　I　still　can't　believe　you　didn't　tell　us　about　it；〃　said　Ron　grumpily。　〃We're　supposed　to　be　your　friends。〃
　　〃I　promised　I　wouldn't　tell　anyone；〃　said　Hermione　severely。　She　looked　around　at　Harry；　who　was　watching　Hogwarts　disappear　from　view　behind　a　mountain。　Two　whole　months　before　he'd　see　it　again。。。。
　　〃Oh；　cheer　up；　Harry！〃　said　Hermione　sadly。
　　〃I'm　okay；〃　said　Harry　quickly。　〃Just　thinking　about　the　holidays。〃
　　〃Yeah；　I've　been　thinking　about　them　too；〃　said　Ron。　〃Harry；　you've　got　to　e　and　stay　with　us。　I'll　fix　it　up　with　Mum　and　Dad；　then　I'll　call　you。　I　know　how　to　use　a　fellytone　now　〃
　　〃A　telephone；　Ron；〃　said　Hermione。　〃Honestly；　you　should　take　Muggle　Studies　next　year。。。。〃
　　Ron　*ignored　her。
　　〃It's　the　Quidditch　World　Cup　this　summer！　How　about　it；　Harry？　e　and　stay；　and　we'll　go　and　see　it！　Dad　can　usually　get　tickets　from　work。〃
　　This　proposal　had　the　effect　of　cheering　Harry　up　a　great　deal。
　　〃Yeah。。。　I　bet　the　Dursleys'd　be　pleased　to　let　me　e。。。　especially　after　what　I　did　to　Aunt　Marge。。。。〃
　　Feeling　considerably　more　cheerful；　Harry　joined　Ron　and　Hermione　in　several　games　of　Exploding　Snap；　and　when　the　witch　with　the　tea　cart　arrived；　he　bought　himself　a　very　large　lunch；　though　nothing　with　chocolate　in　it。
　　But　it　was　late　in　the　afternoon　before　the　thing　that　made　him　truly　happy　turned　up。。。。
　　〃Harry；〃　said　Hermione　suddenly；　peering　over　his　shoulder。　〃What's　that　thing　outside　your　window？〃
　　Harry　turned　to　look　outside。　Something　very　small　and　gray　was　bobbing　in　and