3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第9章

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　　〃I　said；　that's　enough；〃　said　Mrs。　Weasley；　depositing　her　shopping　in　an　empty　chair。　〃Hello；　Harry；　dear。　I　suppose　you've　heard　our　exciting　news？〃　She　pointed　to　the　brand…new　silver　badge　on　Percy's　chest。　〃Second　Head　Boy　in　the　family！〃　she　said；　swelling　with　pride。
　　〃And　last；〃　Fred　muttered　under　his　breath。
　　I　don't　doubt　that；〃　said　Mrs。　Weasley；　frowning　suddenly。　〃I　notice　they　haven't　made　you　two　prefects。〃
　　〃What　do　we　want　to　be　prefects　for？〃　said　George；　looking　revolted　at　the　very　idea。　〃It'd　take　all　the　fun　out　of　life。〃
　　Ginny　giggled。
　　〃Yo　u　want　to　set　a　better　example　for　your　sister！〃　snapped　Mrs。　Weasley。
　　〃Ginny's　got　other　brothers　to　set　her　an　example；　Mother；〃　said　Percy　loftily。　〃I'm　going　up　to　change　for　dinner。。。〃
　　He　disappeared　and　George　heaved　a　sigh。
　　〃We　tried　to　shut　him　in　a　pyramid；〃　he　told　Harry。　〃But　Mum　spotted　us。〃
　　Dinner　that　night　was　a　very　enjoyable　affair。　Tom　the　innkeeper　put　three　tables　together　in　the　parlor；　and　the　seven　Weasleys；　Harry；　and　Hermione　ate　their　way　through　five　delicious　courses。
　　〃How're　we　getting　to　King's　Cross　tomorrow；　Dad？〃　asked　Fred　as　they　dug　into　a　sumptuous　chocolate　pudding。
　　〃The　Ministry's　providing　a　couple　of　cars；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley。
　　Everyone　looked　up　at　him。
　　〃Why？〃　said　Percy　curiously。
　　〃It's　because　of　you；　Perce；〃　said　George　seriously。　〃And　there'll　be　little　flags　on　the　hoods；　with　HB　on　them〃
　　〃　for　Humongous　Bighead；〃　said　Fred。
　　Everyone　except　Percy　and　Mrs。　Weasley　snorted　into　their　pudding。
　　〃Why　are　the　Ministry　providing　cars；　Father？〃　Percy　asked　again；　in　a　dignified　voice。
　　〃Well；　as　we　haven't　got　one　anymore；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley；
　　〃　and　as　I　work　there；　they're　doing　me　a　favor　〃
　　His　voice　was　casual；　but　Harry　couldn't　help　noticing　that　Mr。　Weasley's　ears　had　gone　red；　just　like　Ron's　did　when　he　was　under　Pressure。
　　〃Good　thing；　too；〃　said　Mrs。　Weasley　briskly。　〃Do　you　realize　how　much　luggage　you've　all　got　between　you？　A　nice　sight　you'd　be　on　the　Muggle　Underground。。。。　You　are　all　packed；　aren't　you？〃
　　〃Ron　hasn't　put　all　his　new　things　in　his　trunk　yet；〃　said　Percy；　in　a　long…suffering　voice。　〃He's　dumped　them　on　my　bed。〃
　　〃You'd　better　go　and　pack　properly；　Ron；　because　we　won't　have　much　time　in　the　morning；〃　Mrs。　Weasley　called　down　the　table。　Ron　scowled　at　Percy。
　　After　dinner　everyone　felt　very　full　and　sleepy。　One　by　one　they　made　their　way　upstairs　to　their　rooms　to　check　their　things　for　the　next　day。　Ron　and　Percy　were　next　door　to　Harry。　He　had　just　closed　and　locked　his　own　trunk　when　he　heard　angry　voices　through　the　wall；　and　went　to　see　what　was　going　on。
　　The　door　of　number　twelve　was　ajar　and　Percy　was　shouting。
　　〃It　was　here；　on　the　bedside　table；　I　took　it　off　for　polishing
　　〃I　haven't　touched　it；　all　right？〃　Ron　roared　back。
　　〃What's　up？〃　said　Harry。
　　〃My　Head　Boy　badge　is　gone；〃　said　Percy；　rounding　on　Harry。
　　〃So's　Scabbers's　rat　tonic；〃　said　Ron；　throwing　things　out　of　his　trunk　to　look。　〃I　think　I　might've　left　it　in　the　bar　〃
　　〃You're　not　going　anywhere　till　you've　found　my　badge！〃　yelled　Percy。
　　〃I'll　get　Scabbers's　stuff；　I'm　packed；〃　Harry　said　to　Ron；　and　he　went　downstairs。
　　Harry　was　halfway　along　the　passage　to　the　bar；　which　was　now　very　dark；　when　he　heard　another　pair　of　angry　voices　ing　from　the　parlor。　A　second　later；　he　recognized　them　as　Mr。　and　Mrs。
　　Weasleys'。　He　hesitated；　not　wanting　them　to　know　he'd　heard　them　arguing；　when　the　sound　of　his　own　name　made　him　stop；　then　move　closer　to　the　parlor　door。
　　〃makes　no　sense　not　to　tell　him；〃　Mr。　Weasley　was　saying　heatedly。　〃Harry's　got　a　right　to　know。　I've　tried　to　tell　Fudge；　but　he　insists　on　treating　Harry　like　a　child。　He's　thirteen　years　old　and　〃
　　〃Arthur；　the　truth　would　terrify　him！〃　said　Mrs。　Weasley　shrilly。　〃Do　you　really　want　to　send　Harry　back　to　school　with　that　hanging　over　him？　For　heaven's　sake；　he's　happy　not　knowing！〃
　　〃I　don't　want　to　make　him　miserable；　I　want　to　put　him　on　his　guard！〃　retorted　Mr。　Weasley。　〃You　know　what　Harry　and　Ron　are　like；　wandering　off　by　themselves　　they've　ended　up　in　the　Forbidden　Forest　twice！　But　Harry　mustn't　do　that　this　year！　When　I　think　what　could　have　happened　to　him　that　night　he　ran　away　from　home！　If　the　Knight　Bus　hadn't　picked　him　up；　I'm　prepared　to　bet　he　would　have　been　dead　before　the　Ministry　found　him。〃
　　〃But　he's　not　dead；　he's　fine；　so　what's　the　point
　　〃Molly；　they　say　Sirius　Black's　mad；　and　maybe　he　is；　but　he　was　clever　enough　to　escape　from　Azkaban；　and　that's　supposed　to　be　impossible。　It's　been　three　weeks；　and　no　one's　seen　hide　nor　hair　of　him；　and　I　don't　care　what　Fudge　keeps　telling　the　Daily　Prophet；　we're　no　nearer　catching　Black　than　inventing　self…spelling　wands。　The　only　thing　we　know　for　sure　is　what　Black's　after
　　〃But　Harry　will　be　perfectly　safe　at　Hogwarts。〃
　　〃We　thought　Azkaban　was　perfectly　safe。　If　Black　can　break　out　of　Azkaban；　he　can　break　into　Hogwarts。〃
　　〃But　no　one's　really　sure　that　Black's　after　Harry
　　There　was　a　thud　on　wood；　and　Harry　was　sure　Mr。　Weasley　had　banged　his　fist　on　the　table。
　　〃Molly；　how　many　times　do　I　have　to　tell　you？　They　didn't　report　it　in　the　press　because　Fudge　wanted　it　kept　quiet；　but　Fudge　went　out　to　Azkaban　the　night　Black　escaped。　The　guards　told　Fudge　that　Blacks　been　talking　in　his　sleep　for　a　while　now。　Always　the　same　words：　'He's　at　Hogwarts。。。　he's　at　Hogwarts。'　Black　is　deranged；　Molly；　and　he　wants　Harry　dead。　If　you　ask　me；　he　thinks　murdering　Harry　will　bring　You…Know…Who　back　to　pow　er。　Black　lost　everything　the　night　Harry　stopped　You…　Know…Who；　and　he's　had　twelve　years　alone　in　Azkaban　to　brood　on　that。。。。〃
　　There　was　a　silence。　Harry　leaned　still　closer　to　the　door；　desperate　to　hear　more。
　　〃Well；　Arthur；　you　must　do　what　you　think　is　right。　But　you're　forgetting　Albus　Dumbledore。　I　don't　think　anything　could　hurt　Harry　at　Hogwarts　while　Dumbledore's　headmaster。　I　suppose　he　knows　about　all　this？〃
　　〃Of　course　he　knows。　We　had　to　ask　him　if　he　minds　the　Azkaban　guards　stationing　themselves　around　the　entrances　to　the　school　grounds。　He　wasn't　happy　about　it；　but　he　agreed。〃
　　〃Not　happy？　Why　shouldn't　he　be　happy；　if　they're　there　to　catch　Black？〃
　　〃Dumbledore　isn't　fond　of　the　Azkaban　guards；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley　heavily。　〃Nor　am　1；　if　it　es　to　that。。。　but　when　you're　dealing　with　a　wizard　like　Black；　you　sometimes　have　to　join　forces　with　those　you'd　rather　avoid。〃
　　〃If　they　save　Harry　then　I　will　never　say　another　word　against　them；　said　Mr。　Weasley　wearily。　〃It's　late；　Molly；　we'd　better　go　up。。。。〃
　　Harry　heard　chairs　move。　As　quietly　as　he　could；　he　hurried　down　the　passage　to　the　bar　and　out　of　sight。　The　parlor　door　opened；　and　a　few　seconds　later　footsteps　told　him　that　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Weasley　were　climbing　the　stairs。
　　The　bottle　of　rat　tonic　was　lying　under　the　table　they　had　sat　at　earlier。　Harry　waited　until　he　heard　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Weasley's　bedroom　door　close；　then　headed　back　upstairs　with　the　bottle。
　　Fred　and　George　were　crouching　in　the　shadows　on　the　landing；　heaving　with　laughter　as　they　listened　to　Percy　dismantling　his　and　Ron's　room　in　search　of　his　badge。
　　〃We've　got　it；〃　Fred　whispered　to　Harry。　〃We've　been　improving　it。〃
　　The　badge　now　read　Bighead　Boy。
　　Harry　forced　a　laugh；　went　to　give　Ron　the　rat　tonic；　then　shut　himself　in　his　room　and　lay　down　on　his　bed。
　　So　Sirius　Black　was　after　him。　This　explained　everything。　Fudge　had　been　lenient　with　him　because　he　was　so　relieved　to　find　him　alive。　He'd　made　Harry　promise　to　stay　in　Diagon　Alley　where　there　were　plenty　of　wizards　to　keep　an　eye　on　him。　And　he　was　sending　two　Ministry　cars　to　take　them　all　to　the　station　tomorrow；　so　that　the　Weasleys　could　look　after　Harry　until　he　was　on　the　train。
　　Harry　lay　listening　to　the　muffled　shouting　next　door　and　wondered　why　he　didn't　feel　more　scared。　Sirius　Black　had　murdered　thirteen　people　with　one　curse；　Mr。　and　Mrs；　Weasley　obviously　thought　Harry　would　be　panic…stricken　if　he　knew　the　truth。　But　Harry　happened　to　agree　wholeheartedly　with　Mrs。　Weasley　that　the　safest　place　on　earth　was　wherever　Albus　Dumbledore　happened　to　be。　Didn't　people　always　say　that　Dumbledore　was　the　only　person　Lord　Voldemort　had　ever　been　afraid　of？　Surely　Black；　as　Voldemort's　right…hand　man；　would　be　just　as　frightened　of　him？
　　And　then　there　were　these　Azkaban　guards　everyone　kept　talking　about。　They　seemed　to　scare　most　people　senseless；　and　if　they　were　stationed　all　around　the　school；　Black's　chances　of　getting　inside　seemed　very　remote。
　　No；　all　in　all；　the　thing　that　bothered　Harry　most　was　the　fact　that　his　chances　of　visiting　Hogsmeade　now　looked　like　zero。　Nobody　would　want　Harry　to　leave　the　safety　of　the　castle　until　Black　was　caught；　in　fact；　Harry　suspected　his　every　move　would　be　carefully　watched　until　the　danger　had　passed。
　　He　scowled　at　the　dark　ceiling。　Did　they　think　he　couldn't　look　after　himself？　He'd　escaped　Lord　Voldemort　three　times；　he　wasn't　pletely　useless。。。。
　　Unbidden；　the　image　of　the　beast　in　the　shadows　of　Magnolia　Crescent　crossed　his　mind。　What　to　do　when　you　know　the　worst　is　ing。。。
　　〃I'm　not　going　to　be　murdered；〃　Harry　said　out　loud。
　　〃That's　the　spirit；　dear；〃　said　his　mirror　sleepily。
　　CHAPTER　FIVE
　　THE　DEMENTOR
　　Tom　woke　Harry　the　next　morning　with　his　usual　toothless　grin　and　a　cup　of　tea。　Harry　got　dressed　and　was　just　persuading　a　disgruntled　Hedwig　to　get　back　into　her　cage　when　Ron　banged　his　way　into　the　room；　pulling　a　sweatshirt　over　his　head　and　looking　irritable。
　　〃The　sooner　we　get　on　the　train；　the　better；〃　he　said。　〃At　least　I　can　get　away　from　Percy　at　Hogwarts。　Now　he's　accusing　me　of　dripping　tea　on　his　photo　of　Penelope　Clearwater。　You　know；〃　Ron　grimaced；　〃his　girlfriend。　She's　hidden　her　face　under　the　frame　because　her　nose　has　gone　all　blotchy。。。〃
　　〃I've　got　something　to　tell　you；〃　Harry　began；　but　they　were　interrupted　by　Fred　and　George；　who　had　looked　in　to　congratulate　Ron　on　infuriating　Percy　again。
　　They　headed　down　to　breakfast；　where　Mr。　Weasley　was　reading　the　front　page　of　the　Daily　Prophet　with　a　furrowed　brow　and　Mrs。　Weasley　was　telling　Hermione　and　Ginny　about　a　love　potion　she'd　made　as　a　young　girl。　All　three　of　them　were　rather　giggly。
　　〃What　were　you　saying？〃　Ron　asked　Harry　as　they　sat　down。
　　〃Later；〃　Harry　muttered　as　Percy　stormed　in。
　　Harry　had　no　chance　to　speak　to　Ron　or　Hermione　in　the　chaos　of　leaving；　they　were　too　busy　heaving　all　their　trunks　down　the　Leaky　Cauldron's　narrow　staircase　and　piling　them　up　near　the　door；　with　Hedwig　and　Hermes；　Percy's　screech　owl；　perched　on　top　in　their　cages。　A　small　wickerwork　basket　stood　beside　the　heap　of　trunks；　spitting　loudly。
　　〃It's　all　right；　Crookshanks；〃　Hermione　cooed　through　the　wickerwork。　〃I'll　let　you　out　on　the　train。〃
　　〃You　won't；〃　snapped　Ron。　〃What　about　poor　Scabbers；　eh？〃
　　He　pointed　at　his　chest；　where　a　large　lump　indicated　that　Scabbers　was　curled　up　in　his　pocket。
　　Mr。　Weasley；　who　had　been　outside　waiting　for　the　Ministry　cars；　stuck　his