3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第56章

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　　〃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　out　of　sight　beyond　the　glass。　He　stood　up　for　a　better　look　and　saw　that　it　was　a　tiny　owl；　carrying　a　letter　that　was　much　too　big　for　it。　The　owl　was　so　small；　in　fact；　that　it　kept　tumbling　over　in　the　air；　buffeted　this　way　and　that　in　the　train's　slipstream。　Harry　quickly　pulled　down　the　window；　stretched　out　his　arm；　and　caught　it。　It　felt　like　a　very　fluffy　Snitch。　He　brought　it　carefully　inside。　The　owl　dropped　its　letter　onto　Harry's　seat　and　began　zooming　around　their　partment；　apparently　very　pleased　with　itself　for　acplishing　its　task。　Hedwig　clicked　her　beak　with　a　sort　of　dignified　disapproval。　Crookshanks　sat　up　in　his　seat；　following　the　owl　with　his　great　yellow　eyes。　Ron；　noticing　this；　snatched　the　owl　safely　out　of　harm's　way。
　　Harry　picked　up　the　letter。　It　was　addressed　to　him。　He　ripped　open　the　letter；　and　shouted；　〃It's　from　Sirius！〃
　　〃What？〃　said　Ron　and　Hermione　excitedly。　〃Read　it　aloud！〃
　　Dear　Harry；
　　I　hope　this　finds　you　before　you　reach　your　aunt　and　uncle。　I　don't　know　whether　they're　used　to　owl　post。
　　Buckbeak　and　I　are　in　hiding。　I　won't　tell　you　where；　in　case　this　owl　falls　into　the　wrong　hands。　I　have　some　doubt　about　his　reliability；　but　he　is　the　best　I　could　find；　and　he　did　seem　eager　for　the　job。
　　I　believe　the　dementors　are　still　searching　for　me；　but　they　haven't　a　hope　of　finding　me　here。　I　am　planning　to　allow　some　Muggles　to　glimpse　me　soon；　a　long　way　from　Hogwarts；　so　that　the　security　on　the　castle　will　be　lifted。
　　There　is　something　I　never　got　around　to　telling　you　during　our　brief　meeting。　It　was　I　who　sent　you　the　Firebolt　
　　〃Ha！〃　said　Hermione　triumphantly。　〃See！　I　told　you　it　was　from　him！〃
　　〃Yes；　but　he　hadn't　jinxed　it；　had　he？〃　said　Ron。　〃Ouch！〃　The　tiny　owl；　now　hooting　happily　in　his　hand；　had　nibbled　one　of　his　fingers　in　what　it　seemed　to　think　was　an　affectionate　way。
　　Crookshanks　took　the　order　to　the　Owl　Office　for　me。　I　used　your　name　but　told　them　to　take　the　gold　from　my　own　Gringotts　vault。　Please　consider　it　as　thirteen　birthdays'　worth　of　presents　from　your　godfather。
　　I　would　also　like　to　apologize　for　the　fright　I　think　I　gave　you　that　night　last　year　when　you　left　your　uncle's　house。　I　had　only　hoped　to　get　a　glimpse　of　you　before　starting　my　journey　north；　but　I　think　the　sight　of　me　alarmed　you。
　　I　am　enclosing　something　else　for　you；　which　I　think　will　make　your　next　year　at　Hogwarts　more　enjoyable。
　　If　ever　you　need　me；　send　word。　Your　owl　will　find　me。
　　I'll　write　again　soon。
　　Sirius
　　Harry　looked　eagerly　inside　the　envelope。　There　was　another　piece　of　parchment　in　there。　He　read　it　through　quickly　and　felt　suddenly　as　warm　and　contented　as　though　he'd　swallowed　a　bottle　of　hot　butterbeer　in　one　gulp。
　　I；　Sirius　Black；　Harry　Potter's　godfather；　hereby　give　him　permission　to　visit　Hogsmeade　on　weekends。
　　〃That'll　be　good　enough　for　Dumbledore！〃　said　Harry　happily。　He　looked　back　at　Sirius's　letter。　〃Hang　on；　there's　a　RS。。。。〃
　　I　thought　your　ftiend　Ron　might　like　to　keep　this　owl；　as　it's　my　fault　he　no　longer　has　a　rat。
　　Ron's　eyes　widened。　The　minute　owl　was　still　hooting　excitedly。　〃Keep　him？〃　he　said　uncertainly。　He　looked　closely　at　the　owl　for　a　moment；　then；　to　Harry's　and　Hermione's　great　surprise；　he　held　him　out　for　Crookshanks　to　sniff。
　　〃What　do　you　reckon？〃　Ron　asked　the　cat。　〃Definitely　an　owl？〃
　　Crookshanks　purred。
　　〃That's　good　enough　for　me；〃　said　Ron　happily。　〃He's　mine。〃
　　Harry　read　and　reread　the　letter　from　Sirius　all　the　way　back　into　King's　Cross　station。　It　was　still　clutched　tightly　in　his　hand　as　he；　Ron；　and　Hermione　stepped　back　through　the　barrier　of　platform　nine　an（'　three…quarters。　Harry　spotted　Uncle　Vernon　at　once。　He　was　standing　a　good　distance　from　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Weasley；　eyeing　them　suspiciously；　and　when　Mrs。　Weasley　hugged　Harry　in　greeting；　his　worst　suspicions　about　them　seemed　confirmed。
　　〃I'll　call　about　the　World　Cup！〃　Ron　yelled　after　Harry　as　Harry　bid　him　and　Hermione　good…bye；　then　wheeled　the　trolley　bearing　his　trunk　and　Hedwig's　cage　toward　Uncle　Vernon；　who　greeted　him　in　his　usual　fashion。
　　〃What's　that？〃　he　snarled；　staring　at　the　envelope　Harry　was　still　clutching　in　his　hand。　〃If　it's　another　form　for　me　to　sign；　you've　got　another　…〃
　　〃It's　not；〃　said　Harry　cheerfully。　〃It's　a　letter　from　my　godfather。〃
　　〃Godfather？〃　sputtered　Uncle　Vernon。　〃You　haven't　got　a　godfather！〃
　　〃Yes；　I　have；〃　said　Harry　brightly。　〃He　was　my　mum　and　dad's　best　friend。　He's　a　convicted　murderer；　but　he's　broken　out　of　wizard　prison　and　he's　on　the　run。　He　likes　to　keep　in　touch　with　me；　though。。。　keep　up　with　my　news。。。　check　if　I'm　happy。。。〃
　　And；　grinning　broadly　at　the　look　of　horror　on　Uncle　Vernon's　face；　Harry　set　off　toward　the　station　exit；　Hedwig　rattling　along　in　front　of　him；　for　what　looked　like　a　much　better　summer　than　the　last。
　　THE　END