3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第7章

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　　〃Well；　third　years　at　Hogwarts　are　allowed　to　visit　Hogsmeade；　but　my　aunt　and　uncle　didn't　sign　the　permission　form。　D'you　think　you　could　？〃
　　Fudge　was　looking　unfortable。
　　〃Ah；〃　he　said。　〃No；　no；　I'm　very　sorry；　Harry；　but　as　I'm　not　your　parent　or　guardian　〃
　　〃But　you　I　re　the　Minister　of　Magic；〃　said　Harry　eagerly。　〃If　you　gave　me　permission
　　〃No；　I'm　sorry；　Harry；　but　rules　are　rules；〃　said　Fudge　flatly。
　　'Perhaps　You'll　be　able　to　visit　Hogsmeade　next　year。　In　fact；　I　think　it's　best　if　you　don't。。。　yes。。。　well；　I'll　be　off　Enjoy　your　stay；　Harry。〃
　　And　with　a　last　smile　and　shake　of　Harry's　hand；　Fudge　left　the　room。　Tom　now　moved　forward；　beaming　at　Harry。
　　〃If　you'll　follow　me；　Mr。　Potter；〃　he　said；　〃I've　already　taken　your　things　up。。。〃
　　Harry　followed　Tom　up　a　handsome　wooden　staircase　to　a　door　with　a　brass　number　eleven　on　it；　which　Tom　unlocked　and　opened　for　him。
　　Inside　was　a　very　fortable…looking　bed；　some　highly　polished　oak　furniture；　a　cheerfully　crackling　fire　and；　perched　on　top　of　the　wardrobe　…
　　〃Hedwig！〃　Harry　gasped。
　　The　snowy　owl　clicked　her　beak　and　fluttered　down　onto　Harry's　arm。
　　〃Very　smart　owl　you've　got　there；　chuckled　Tom。　〃Arrived　about　five　minutes　after　you　did。　If　there's　anything　you　need；　Mr。　Potter；　don't　hesitate　to　ask。〃
　　He　gave　another　bow　and　left。
　　Harry　sat　on　his　bed　for　a　long　time；　absentmindedly　stroking　Hedwig。　The　sky　outside　the　window　was　changing　rapidly　from　deep；　velvety　blue　to　cold；　steely　gray　and　then；　slowly；　to　pink　shot　with　gold。　Harry　could　hardly　believe　that　he'd　left　Privet　Drive　only　a　few　hours　ago；　that　he　wasn't　expelled；　and　that　he　was　now　facing　two　pletely　Dursley…free　weeks。
　　〃It's　been　a　very　weird　night；　Hedwig；〃　he　yawned。
　　And　without　even　removing　his　glasses；　he　slumped　back　onto　his　pillows　and　fell　asleep。
　　CHAPTER　FOUR
　　THE　LEAKY　CAULDRON
　　It　took　Harry　several　days　to　get　used　to　his　strange　new　freedom。　Never　before　had　he　been　able　to　get　up　whenever　he　wanted　or　eat　whatever　he　fancied。　He　could　even　go　wherever　he　pleased；　as　long　as　it　was　in　Diagon　Alley；　and　as　this　long　cobbled　street　was　packed　with　the　most　fascinating　wizarding　shops　in　the　world；　Harry　felt　no　desire　to　break　his　word　to　Fudge　and　stray　back　into　the　Muggle　world。
　　Harry　ate　breakfast　each　morning　in　the　Leaky　Cauldron；　where　he　liked　watching　the　other　guests：　funny　little　witches　from　the　country；　up　for　a　day's　shopping；　venerable…looking　wizards　arguing　over　the　latest　article　in　Transfiguration　Today；　wild…looking　warlocks；　raucous　dwarfs；　and　once；　what　looked　suspiciously　like　a　hag；　who　ordered　a　plate　of　raw　liver　from　behind　a　thick　woollen　balaclava。
　　After　breakfast　Harry　would　go　out　into　the　backyard；　take　out　his　wand；　tap　the　third　brick　from　the　left　above　the　trash　bit；；　and　stand　back　as　the　archway　into　Diagon　Alley　opened　in　the　wall。
　　Harry　spent　the　long　sunny　days　exploring　the　shops　and　eating　under　the　brightly　colored　umbrellas　outside　cafes；　where　his　fellow　diners　were　showing　one　another　their　purchases　（　〃　it　；　s　a　lunascope；　old　boy　　no　more　messing　around　with　moon　charts；　see？〃）　or　else　discussing　the　case　of　Sirius　Black　（〃personalty；　I　won't　let　any　of　the　children　out　alone　until　he's　back　in　Azkaban〃）。　Harry　didn't　have　to　do　his　homework　under　the　blankets　by　flashlight　anymore；　now　he　could　sit　in　the　bright　sunshine　outside　Florean　Fortescue's　Ice　Cream　Parlor；　finishing　all　his　essays　with　occasional　help　from　Florean　Fortescue　himself；　who；　apart　from　knowing　a　great　deal　about　medieval　witch　burnings；　gave　Harry　free　sundaes　every　half　an　hour。
　　Once　Harry　had　refilled　his　money　bag　with　gold　Galleons；　silver　Sickles；　and　bronze　Knuts　from　his　vault　at　Gringotts；　he　had　to　exercise　a　lot　of　self…control　not　to　spend　the　whole　lot　at　once。　He　had　to　keep　reminding　himself　that　he　had　five　years　to　go　at　Hogwarts；　and　how　it　would　feel　to　ask　the　Dursleys　for　money　for　spellbooks；　to　stop　himself　from　buying　a　handsome　set　of　solid　gold　Gobstones　（a　wizarding　game　rather　like　marbles；　in　which　the　stones　squirt　a　nasty…smelling　liquid　into　the　other　player's　face　when　they　lose　a　point）。　He　was　sorely　tempted；　too；　by　the　perfect；　moving　model　of　the　galaxy　in　a　large　glass　ball；　which　would　have　meant　he　never　had　to　take　another　Astronomy　lesson。　But　the　thing　that　tested　Harry's　resolution　most　appeared　in　his　favorite　shop；　Quality　Quidditch　Supplies；　a　week　after　he'd　arrived　at　the　Leaky　Cauldron。
　　Curious　to　know　what　the　crowd　in　the　shop　was　staring　at；　Harry　edged　his　way　inside　and　squeezed　in　among　the　excited　witches　and　wizards　until　he　glimpsed　a　newly　erected　podium；　on　which　was　mounted　the　most　magnificent　broom　he　had　ever　seen　in　his　life。
　　〃Just　e　out　　prototype　〃　a　square…jawed　wizard　was　telling　his　panion。
　　〃It's　the　fastest　broom　in　the　world；　isn't　it；　Dad？〃　squeaked　a　boy　younger　than　Harry；　who　was　swinging　off　his　father's　arm。
　　〃Irish　International　Side's　Just　put　in　an　order　for　seven　of　these　beauties！〃　the　proprietor　of　the　shop　told　the　crowd。　〃And　they're　favorites　for　the　World　Cup！〃
　　A　large　witch　in　front　of　Harry　moved；　and　he　was　able　to　read　the　sign　next　to　the　broom：
　　**　THE　FIREBOLT　**
　　THIS　STATE…OF…THE…ART　PACING　BROOM　SPORTS　A　STREAM…LINED；　SUPERFINE　HANDLE　OF　ASH；　TREATED　WITH　A　DIAMOND…HARD　POLISH　AND　HAND…　NUMBERED　WITH　ITS　OWN　REGISTRATION　NUMBER。　EACH　INDIVIDUALLY　SELECTED　BIRCH　TWIG　IN　THE　BROOMTAIL　HAS　BEEN　HONED　TO　AERODYNAMIC　PERFECTION；　GIVING　THE　FIREBOLT　UNSURPASSABLE　BALANCE　AND　PINPOINT　PRECISION。　THE　FIREBOLT　HAS　AN　ACCELERATION　OF　150　MILES　AN　HOUR　IN　TEN　SECONDS　AND　INCORPORATES　AN　UNBREAKABLE　BRAKING　CHARM。　PRICE　ON　REQUEST。
　　Price　on　request。。。　Harry　didn't　like　to　think　how　much　gold　the　Firebolt　would　cost。　He　had　never　wanted　anything　as　much　in　his　whole　life　　but　he　had　never　lost　a　Quidditch　match　on　his　Nim　bus　Two　Thousand；　and　what　was　the　point　in　emptying　his　Gringotts　vault　for　the　Firebolt；　when　he　had　a　very　good　broom　already？　Harry　didn't　ask　for　the　price；　but　he　returned；　almost　every　day　after　that；　just　to　look　at　the　Firebolt。
　　There　were；　however；　things　that　Harry　needed　to　buy。　He　went　to　the　Apothecary　to　replenish　his　store　of　potions　ingredients；　and　as　his　school　robes　were　now　several　inches　too　short　in　the　arm　and　leg；　he　visited　Madam　Malkin's　Robes　for　All　Occasions　and　bought　new　ones。　Most　important　of　all；　he　had　to　buy　his　new　schoolbooks；　which　would　include　those　for　his　two　new　subjects；　Care　of　Magical　Creatures　and　Divination。
　　Harry　got　a　surprise　as　he　looked　in　at　the　bookshop　window。　Instead　of　the　usual　display　of　gold…　embossed　spellbooks　the　size　of　paving　slabs；　there　was　a　large　iron　cage　behind　the　glass　that　held　about　a　hundred　copies　of　The　Monster　Book　of　Monsters。　Torn　pages　were　flying　everywhere　as　the　books　grappled　with　each　other；　locked　together　in　furious　wrestling　matches　and　snapping　aggressively。
　　Harry　pulled　his　booklist　out　of　his　pocket　and　consulted　it　for　the　first　time。　The　Monster　Book　of　Monsters　was　listed　as　the　required　book　for　Care　of　Magical　Creatures。　Now　Harry　understood　why　Hagrid　had　said　it　would　e　in　useful。　He　felt　relieved；　he　had　been　wondering　whether　Hagrid　wanted　help　with　some　terrifying　new　pet。
　　As　Harry　entered　Flourish　and　Blotts；　the　manager　came　hurrying　toward　him。
　　〃Hogwarts？〃　he　said　abruptly。　〃e　to　get　your　new　books？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Harry；　〃I　need　〃
　　〃Get　out　of　the　way；〃　said　the　manager　impatiently；　brushing　Harry　aside。　He　drew　on　a　pair　of　very　thick　gloves；　picked　up　a　large；　knobbly　walking　stick；　and　proceeded　toward　the　door　of　the　Monster　Books'　cage。
　　〃Hang　on；〃　said　Harry　quickly；　〃I've　already　got　one　of　those。〃
　　〃Have　you？〃　A　look　of　enormous　relief　spread　over　the　manager's　face。　〃Thank　heavens　for　that。　I've　been　bitten　five　times　already　this　morning　〃
　　A　loud　ripping　noise　rent　the　air；　two　of　the　Monster　Books　had　seized　a　third　and　were　pulling　it　apart。
　　〃Stop　it！　Stop　it！〃　cried　the　manager；　poking　the　walking　stick　through　the　bars　and　knocking　the　books　apart。　〃I'm　never　stocking　them　again；　never！　It's　been　bedlam！　I　thought　we'd　seen　the　worst　when　we　bought　two　hundred　copies　of　the　Invisible　Book　of　Invisibility　…cost　a　fortune；　and　we　never　found　them。。。。　Well。。。　is　there　anything　else　I　can　help　you　with？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Harry；　looking　down　his　booklist；　〃I　need　Unfogging　the　Future　by　Cassandra　Vablatsky。〃
　　〃Ah；　starting　Divination；　are　you？〃　said　the　manager；　stripping　off　his　gloves　and　leading　Harry　into　the　back　of　the　shop；　where　there　was　a　corner　devoted　to　fortune…telling。　A　small　table　was　stacked　with　volumes　such　as　Predicting　the　Unpredictable：　Insulate　Yourself　Against　Shocks　and　Broken　Balls：　When　Fortunes　Turn　Foul。
　　〃Here　you　are；；'　said　the　manager；　who　had　climbed　a　set　of　steps　to　take　down　a　thick；　black…　bound　book。　〃Unfogging　the　Future。　Very　good　guide　to　all　your　basic　fortune…telling　methods　…　palmistry；　crystal　balls；　bird　entrails。
　　But　Harry　wasn't　listening。　His　eyes　had　fallen　on　another　book；　which　was　among　a　display　on　a　small　table：　Death　Omens。…　What　to　Do　When　You　Know　the　Worst　Is　ing。
　　〃Oh；　I　wouldn't　read　that　if　I　were　you；〃　said　the　manager　lightly；　looking　to　see　what　Harry　was　staring　at。　〃You'll　start　seeing　death　omens　everywhere。　It's　enough　to　frighten　anyone　to　death。　〃
　　But　Harry　continued　to　stare　at　the　front　cover　of　the　book；　it　showed　a　black　dog　large　as　a　bear；　with　gleaming　eyes。　It　looked　oddly　familiar。。。
　　The　manager　pressed　Unfogging　the　Future　into　Harry's　hands。
　　〃Anything　else？〃　he　said。
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Harry；　tearing　his　eyes　away　from　the　dog's　and　dazedly　consulting　his　booklist。　〃Er　　I　need　Intermediate　Transfiguration　and　The　Standard　Book　of　Spells；　Grade　Three。〃
　　Harry　emerged　from　Flourish　and　Blotts　ten　minutes　later　with　his　new　books　under　his　arms　and　made　his　way　back　to　the　Leaky　Cauldron；　hardly　noticing　where　he　was　going　and　bumping　into　several　people。
　　He　tramped　up　the　stairs　to　his　room；　went　inside；　and　tipped　his　books　onto　his　bed。　Somebody　had　been　in　to　tidy；　the　windows　were　open　and　sun　was　pouring　inside。　Harry　could　hear　the　buses　rolling　by　in　the　unseen　Muggle　street　behind　him　and　the　sound　of　the　invisible　crowd　below　in　Diagon　Alley。　He　caught　sight　of　himself　in　the　mirror　over　the　basin。
　　〃It　can't　have　been　a　death　omen；〃　he　told　his　reflection　defiantly。　〃I　was　panicking　when　I　saw　that　thing　in　Magnolia　Crescent。。。。　It　was　probably　just　a　stray　dog。。。。〃
　　He　raised　his　hand　automatically　and　tried　to　make　his　hair　lie　flat
　　〃You're　fighting　a　losing　battle　there；　dear；〃　said　his　mirror　in　a　vvheezy　voice。
　　As　the　days　slipped　by；　Harry　started　looking　wherever　he　went　for　a　sign　of　Ron　or　Hermione。　Plenty　of　Hogwarts　students　were　arriving　in　Diagon　Alley　now；　with　the　start　of　term　so　near。　Harry　met　Seamus　Finnigan　and　Dean　Thomas；　his　fellow　Gryffindors；　in　Quality　Quidditch　Supplies；　where　they　too　were　ogling　the　Firebolt；　he　also　ran　into　the　real　Neville　Longbottom；　a　round…faced；　forgetful　boy；　outside　Flour