3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第8章

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；　forgetful　boy；　outside　Flourish　and　Blotts。　Harry　didn't　stop　to　chat；　Neville　appeared　to　have　mislaid　his　booklist　and　was　being　told　off　by　his　very　formidable…looking　grandmother。　Harry　hoped　she　never　found　out　that　he'd　pretended　to　be　Neville　while　on　the　run　from　the　Ministry　of　Magic。
　　Harry　woke　on　the　last　day　of　the　holidays；　thinking　that　he　would　at　least　meet　Ron　and　Hermione　tomorrow；　on　the　Hogwarts　Express。　He　got　up；　dressed；　went　for　a　last　look　at　the　Firebolt；　and　was　just　wondering　where　he'd　have　lunch；　when　someone　yelled　his　name　and　he　turned。
　　〃Harry！　HARRY！〃
　　They　were　there；　both　of　them；　sitting　outside　Florean　Fortescue's　Ice　Cream　Parlor　　Ron　looking　incredibly　freckly；　Her；；one　very　brown；　both　waving　frantically　at　him。
　　〃Finally！〃　said　Ron；　grinning　at　Harry　as　he　sat　down。　〃We　went　to　the　Leaky　Cauldron；　but　they　said　you'd　left；　and　we　went　to　Flourish　and　Blotts；　and　Madam　Malkin's；　and　〃
　　〃I　got　all　my　school　stuff　last　week；〃　Harry　explained。　〃And　how　e　You　knew　I'm　staying　at　the　Leaky　Cauldron？〃　〃Dad；〃　said　Ron　simply。
　　Mr。　Weasley；　who　worked　at　the　Ministry　of　Magic；　would　of　course　have　heard　the　whole　story　of　what　had　happened　to　Aunt　Marge。
　　〃Did　you　really　blow　up　your　aunt；　Harry？〃　said　Hermione　in　a　very　serious　voice。
　　〃I　didn't　mean　to；〃　said　Harry；　while　Ron　roared　with　laughter。　〃I　just　　lost　control。〃
　　〃It's　not　funny；　Ron；〃　said　Hermione　sharply。　〃Honestly；　I'm　amazed　Harry　wasn't　expelled。〃
　　〃So　am　I；〃　admitted　Harry。　〃Forget　expelled；　I　thought　I　was　going　to　be　arrested。〃　He　looked　at　Ron。　〃Your　dad　doesn't　know　why　Fudge　let　me　off；　does　he？〃
　　〃Probably　'cause　it's　you；　isn't　it？〃　shrugged　Ron；　still　chuckling。　〃Famous　Harry　Potter　and　all　that。　I'd　hate　to　see　what　the　Ministry'd　do　to　me　if　I　blew　up　an　aunt。　Mind　you；　they'd　have　to　dig　me　up　first；　because　Mum　would've　killed　me。　Anyway；　you　can　ask　Dad　yourself　this　evening。　We're　staying　at　the　Leaky　Cauldron　tonight　too！　So　you　can　e　to　King's　Cross　with　us　tomorrow！　Hermione's　there　as　well！〃
　　Hermione　nodded；　beaming。　〃Mum　and　Dad　dropped　me　off　this　morning　with　all　my　Hogwarts　things。〃
　　〃Excellent！〃　said　Harry　happily。　〃So；　have　you　got　all　your　new　books　and　stuff？〃
　　〃Look　at　this；〃　said　Ron；　pulling　a　long　thin　box　out　of　a　bag　and　opening　it。　〃Brand…new　wand。　Fourteen　inches；　willow；　containing　one　unicorn　tail…hair。　And　we've　got　all　our　books　〃　He　pointed　at　a　large　bag　under　his　chair。　〃What　about　those　Monster　Books；　eh？　The　assistant　nearly　cried　when　we　said　we　wanted　two。〃
　　〃What's　all　that；　Hermione？〃　Harry　asked；　pointing　at　not　one　but　three　bulging　bags　in　the　chair　next　to　her。
　　；；Well；　I'm　taking　more　new　subjects　than　you；　aren't　IF'　said　Hermione。　〃Those　are　my　books　for　Arithmancy；　Care　of　Magical　Creatures；　Divination；　the　Study　of　Ancient　Runes；　Muggle　Studies　〃
　　〃What　are　you　doing　Muggle　Studies　for？〃　said　Ron；　rolling　his　eyes　at　Harry。　〃You're　Muggle…　born！　Your　mum　and　dad　are　Muggles！　You　already　know　all　about　Muggles！〃
　　〃But　it'll　be　fascinating　to　study　them　from　the　wizarding　point　of　view；〃　said　Hermione　earnestly。
　　〃Are　you　planning　to　eat　or　sleep　at　all　this　year；　Hermione？〃　asked　Harry；　while　Ron　sniggered。　Hermione　ignored　them。
　　〃I've　still　got　ten　Galleons；〃　she　said；　checking　her　purse。　〃It's　my　birthday　in　September；　and　Mum　and　Dad　gave　me　some　money　to　get　myself　an　early　birthday　present。〃
　　〃How　about　a　nice　book？　said　Ron　innocently。
　　〃No；　I　don't　think　so；〃　said　Hermione　posedly。　〃I　really　want　an　owl。　I　mean；　Harry's　got　Hedwig　and　you've　got　Errol　〃
　　〃I　haven't；〃　said　Ron。　〃Errol's　a　family　owl。　All　I've　got　is　Scabbers。〃　He　pulled　his　pet　rat　out　of　his　pocket。　〃And　I　want　to　get　him　checked　over；〃　he　added；　placing　Scabbers　on　the　table　in　front　of　them。　〃I　don't　think　Egypt　agreed　with　him。〃
　　Scabbers　was　looking　thinner　than　usual；　and　there　was　a　definite　droop　to　his　whiskers。
　　〃There's　a　magical　creature　shop　just　over　there；〃　said　Harry；　who　knew　Diagon　Alley　very　well　by　now。　〃You　could　see　if　they've　got　anything　for　Scabbers；　and　Hermione　can　get　her　owl；〃
　　So　they　paid　for　their　ice　cream　and　crossed　the　street　to　the　Magical　Menagerie。
　　There　wasn't　much　room　inside。　Every　inch　of　wall　was　hidden　by　cages。　It　was　smelly　and　very　noisy　because　the　occupants　Of　these　cages　were　all　squeaking；　squawking；　jabbering；　or　hissing。　The　witch　behind　the　counter　was　already　advising　a　wizard　on　the　care　of　double…ended　newts；　so　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　waited；　examining　the　cages。
　　A　pair　of　enormous　purple　toads　sat　gulping　wetly　and　feasting　on　dead　blowflies。　A　gigantic　tortoise　with　a　jewel…encrusted　shell　was　glittering　near　the　window。　Poisonous　orange　snails　were　oozing　slowly　up　the　side　of　their　glass　tank；　and　a　fat　white　rabbit　kept　changing　into　a　silk　top　hat　and　back　again　with　a　loud　popping　noise。　Then　there　were　cats　of　every　color；　a　noisy　cage　of　ravens；　a　basket　of　funny　custard…colored　furballs　that　were　humming　loudly；　and　on　the　counter；　a　vast　cage　of　sleek　black　rats　that　were　playing　some　sort　of　skipping　game　using　their　long；　bald　tails。
　　The　double…ended　newt　wizard　left；　and　Ron　approached　the　counter。
　　〃It's　my　rat；〃　he　told　the　witch。　〃He　been　a　bit　off…color　ever　since　I　brought　him　back　from　Egypt。〃
　　〃Bang　him　on　the　counter；〃　said　the　witch；　pulling　a　pair　of　heavy　black　spectacles　out　of　her　pocket。
　　Ron　lifted　Scabbers　out　of　his　inside　pocket　and　placed　him　next　to　the　cage　of　his　fellow　rats；　who　stopped　their　skipping　tricks　and　scuffled　to　the　wire　for　a　better　took。
　　Like　nearly　everything　Ron　owned；　Scabbers　the　rat　was　secondhand　（he　had　once　belonged　to　Ron's　brother　Percy）　and　a　bit　battered。　Next　to　the　glossy　rats　in　the　cage；　he　looked　especially　woebegone。
　　〃Hm；〃　said　the　witch；　picking　up　Scabbers。　〃How　old　is　this　rat？〃
　　〃Dunno；〃　said　Ron。　〃Quite　old。　He　used　to　belong　to　my　brother。〃
　　〃What　powers　does　he　have？〃　said　the　witch；　examining　Scabbers　closely。
　　〃Er　〃　The　truth　was　that　Scabbers　had　never　shown　the　faintest　trace　of　interesting　powers。　The　witchs　eyes　moved　from　Scabbers's　tattered　left　ear　to　his　front　paw；　which　had　a　toe　missing；　and　tutted　loudly。
　　〃He's　been　through　the　mill；　this　one；〃　she　said。
　　〃He　was　like　that　when　Percy　gave　him　to　me；〃　said　Ron　defensively。
　　〃An　ordinary　mon　or　garden　rat　like　this　can't　be　expected　to　live　longer　than　three　years　or　so；〃　said　the　witch。　〃Now；　if　you　were　looking　for　something　a　bit　more　hard…wearing；　you　might　like　one　of　these　〃
　　She　indicated　the　black　rats；　who　promptly　started　skipping　again。　Ron　muttered；　〃Show…offs。〃
　　〃Well；　if　you　Don't　want　a　replacement；　you　can　try　this　rat　tonic；〃　said　the　witch；　reaching　under　the　counter　and　bringing　out　a　small　red　bottle。
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Ron。　〃How　much　　OUCH！〃
　　Ron　buckled　as　something　huge　and　orange　came　soaring　from　the　top　of　the　highest　cage；　landed　on　his　head；　and　then　propelled　itself；　spitting　madly；　at　Scabbers。
　　〃NO；　CROOKSHANKS；　NO！〃　cried　the　witch；　but　Scabbers；　shot　from　between　her　hands　like　a　bar　of　soap；　landed　splay…legged　on　the　floor；　and　then　scampered　for　the　door。
　　〃Scabbers！〃　Ron　shouted；　racing　out　of　the　shop　after　him；　Harry　followed。
　　It　took　them　nearly　ten　minutes　to　catch　Scabbers；　who　had　taken　refuge　under　a　wastepaper　bin　outside　Quality　Quidditch　Supplies。　Ron　stuffed　the　trembling　rat　back　into　his　pocket　and　straightened　up；　massaging　his　head。
　　〃What　was　that？〃
　　〃It　was　either　a　very　big　cat　or　quite　a　small　tiger；〃　said　Harry。
　　〃Where's　Hermione？〃
　　〃Probably　getting　her　owl
　　They　made　their　way　back　up　the　crowded　street　to　the　Magical　Menagerie。　As　they　reached　it；　Hermione　came　out；　but　she　wasn't　carrying　an　owl。　Her　arms　were　clamped　tightly　around　the　enormous　ginger　cat。
　　〃You　bought　that　monster？〃　said　Ron；　his　mouth　hanging　open。
　　〃He's　gorgeous；　isn't　he？〃　said　Hermione；　glowing。
　　That　was　a　matter　of　opinion；　thought　Harry。　The　cat's　ginger　fur　was　thick　and　fluffy；　but　it　was　definitely　a　bit　bowlegged　and　its　face　looked　grumpy　and　oddly　squashed；　as　though　it　had　run　headlong　into　a　brick　wall。　Now　that　Scabbers　was　out　of　sight；　however；　the　cat　was　purring　contentedly　in　Hermione's　arms。
　　〃Herinione；　that　thing　nearly　scalped　me！〃　said　Ron。
　　〃He　didn't　mean　to；　did　you；　Crookshanks？〃　said　Hermione。
　　〃And　what　about　Scabbers？〃　said　Ron；　pointing　at　the　lump　in　his　chest　pocket。　〃He　needs　rest　and　relaxation！　How's　he　going　to　get　it　with　that　thing　around？〃
　　〃That　reminds　me；　you　forgot　your　rat　tonic；〃　said　Hermione；　slapping　the　small　red　bottle　into　Ron's　hand。　〃And　stop　worrying；　Crookshanks　will　be　sleeping　in　my　dormitory　and　Scabbers　in　yours；　what's　the　problem？　Poor　Crookshanks；　that　witch　said　he'd　been　in　there　for　ages；　no　one　wanted　him。〃
　　〃Wonder　why；〃　said　Ron　sarcastically　as　they　set　off　toward　the　Leaky　Cauldron。
　　They　found　Mr。　Weasley　sitting　in　the　bar；　reading　the　Daily　prophet。
　　〃Harry！〃　he　said；　smiling　as　he　looked　up。　〃How　are　you？〃
　　〃Fine；　thanks；〃　said　Harry　as　he；　Ron；　and　Hermione　joined　Mr。　Weasley　with　A　their　shopping。
　　Mr。　Weasley　put　down　his　paper；　and　Harry　saw　the　now　familiar　picture　of　Sirius　Black　staring　up　at　him。
　　〃They　still　haven't　caught　him；　then？〃　he　asked。
　　〃No；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley；　looking　extremely　grave。　〃They've　pulled　us　all　off　our　regular　jobs　at　the　Ministry　to　try　and　find　him；　but　no　luck　so　far。〃
　　〃Would　we　get　a　reward　if　we　caught　him？〃　asked　Ron。　〃It'd　be　good　to　get　some　more　money　〃
　　〃Don't　be　ridiculous；　Ron；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley；　who　on　closer　inspection　looked　very　strained。　〃Black's　not　going　to　be　caught　by　a　thirteen…year…old　wizard。　It's　the　Azkaban　guards　who'll　get　him　back；　You　mark　my　words。〃
　　At　that　moment　Mrs。　Weasley　entered　the　bar；　laden　with　shopping　bags　and　followed　by　the　twins；　Fred　and　George；　who　were　about　to　start　their　fifth　year　at　Hogwarts；　the　newly　elected　Head　Boy；　Percy；　and　the　Weasleys'　youngest　child　and　only　girl；　Ginny。
　　Ginny；　who　had　always　been　very　taken　with　Harry；　seemed　even　more　heartily　embarrassed　than　usual　when　she　saw　him；　perhaps　because　he　had　saved　her　life　during　their　previous　year　at　Hogwarts。　She　went　very　red　and　muttered　〃hello〃　without　looking　at　him。　Percy；　however；　held　out　his　hand　solemnly　as　though　he　and　Harry　had　never　met　and　said；　〃Harry。　How　nice　to　see　you。
　　〃Hello；　Percy；〃　said　Harry；　trying　not　to　laugh。
　　I　hope　you're　well？〃　said　Percy　pompously；　shaking　hands。　It　was　rather　like　being　introduced　to　the　mayor。
　　〃Very　well；　thanks　〃
　　〃Harry！〃　said　Fred；　elbowing　Percy　out　of　the　way　and　bowing　deeply。　〃Simply　splendid　to　see　you；　old　boy　〃
　　〃Marvelous；〃　said　George；　pushing　Fred　aside　and　seizing　Harry's　hand　in　turn。　〃Absolutely　spiffing。〃
　　Percy　scowled。
　　〃That's　enough；　now；〃　said　Mrs。　Weasley。
　　〃Mum！〃　said　Fred　as　though　he'd　only　just　spotted　her　and　seizing　her　hand　too。　〃How　really　corking　to　see　you　〃
　　〃I　said；　that's　enough；〃　said　Mrs。　Weasley；　depositing　her　shopping　in　an　empty　chair。　〃Hello；　Harry；　dear。　I　su