jkrowlingharrypotterandpa-第36部分

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　　　〃Merry　Christmas！〃　said　Dumbledore　as　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　approached　the　table。　〃As　there　are　so　few　of　us；　it　seemed　foolish　to　use　the　House　tables。。。　Sit　down；　sit　down！〃
　　　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　sat　down　side　by　side　at　the　end　of　the　table。
　　　〃Crackers！〃　said　Dumbledore　enthusiastically；　offering　the　end　of　a　large　silver　noisemaker　to　Snape；　who　took　it　reluctantly　and　tugged。　With　a　bang　like　a　gunshot；　the　cracker　flew　apart　to　reveal　a　large；　pointed　witchs　hat　topped　with　a　stuffed　vulture。
　　　Harry；　remembering　the　boggart；　caught　Ron's　eye　and　they　both　grinned；　Snape's　mouth　thinned　and　he　pushed　the　hat　toward　Dumbledore；　who　swapped　it　for　his　wizard's　hat　at　once。
　　　〃Dig　in！〃　he　advised　the　table；　beaming　around。
　　　As　Harry　was　helping　himself　to　roast　potatoes；　the　doors　of　the　Great　Hall　opened　again。　It　was　Professor　Trelawney；　gliding　toward　them　as　though　on　wheels。　She　had　put　on　a　green　sequined　dress　in　honor　of　the　occasion；　making　her　look　more　than　ever　like　a　glittering；　oversized　dragonfly。
　　　〃Sibyll；　this　is　a　pleasant　surprise！〃　said　Dumbledore；　standing　up。
　　　〃I　have　been　crystal　gazing；　Headmaster；〃　said　Professor　Trelawney　in　her　mistiest；　most　faraway　voice；　〃and　to　my　astonishment；　I　saw　myself　abandoning　my　solitary　luncheon　and　ing　to　join　you。　Who　am　I　to　refuse　the　promptings　of　fate？　I　at　once　hastened　from　my　tower；　and　I　do　beg　you　to　forgive　my　lateness。。。〃
　　　〃Certainly；　certainly；〃　said　Dumbledore；　his　eyes　twinkling。　〃Let　me　draw　you　up　a　chair　…〃
　　　And　he　did　indeed　draw　a　chair　in　midair　with　his　wand；　which　revolved　for　a　few　seconds　before　falling　with　a　thud　between　Professors　Snape　and　McGonagall。　Professor　Trelawney；　however；　did　not　sit　down；　her　enormous　eyes　had　been　roving　around　the　table；　and　she　suddenly　uttered　a　kind　of　soft　scream。
　　　I　dare　not；　Headmaster！　If　I　join　the　table；　we　shall　be　thirteen！　Nothing　could　be　more　unlucky！　Never　forget　that　when　thirteen　dine　together；　the　first　to　rise　will　be　the　first　to　die！〃
　　　〃We'll　risk　it；　Sibyll；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall　inpatiendy。　〃Do　sit　down；　the　turkey's　getting　stone　cold。〃
　　　Professor　Trelawney　hesitated；　then　lowered　herself　into　the　empty　chair；　eyes　shut　and　mouth　clenched　tight；　as　though　expecting　a　thunderbolt　to　hit　the　table。　Professor　McGonagall　poked　a　large　spoon　into　the　nearest　tureen。
　　　〃Tripe；　Sibyll？〃
　　　Professor　Trelawney　ignored　her。　Eyes　open　again；　she　looked　around　once　more　and　said；　〃But　where　is　dear　Professor　Lupin？〃
　　　〃I'm　afraid　the　poor　fellow　is　ill　again；〃　said　Dumbledore；　indicating　that　everybody　should　start　serving　themselves。　〃Most　unfortunate　that　it　should　happen　on　Christmas　Day。〃
　　　〃But　surely　you　already　knew　that；　Sibyll？〃　said　Professor　McGonagall；　her　eyebrows　raised。
　　　Professor　Trelawney　gave　Professor　McGonagall　a　very　cold　look。
　　　〃Certainly　I　knew；　Minerva；　11　she　said　quietly。　〃But　one　does　not　parade　the　fact　that　one　is　AllKnowing。　I　frequently　act　as　though　I　am　not　possessed　of　the　Inner　Eye；　so　as　not　to　make　others　nervous。
　　　〃That　explains　a　great　deal；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall　tartly。
　　　Professor　Trelawney's　voice　suddenly　became　a　good　deal　less　misty。
　　　〃If　you　must　know；　Minerva；　I　have　seen　that　poor　Professor　Lupin　will　not　be　with　us　for　very　long。　He　seems　aware；　himself；　that　his　time　is　short。　He　positively　fled　when　I　offered　to　crystal　gaze　for　him　…〃
　　　〃Imagine　that；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall　dryly。
　　　I　doubt；〃　said　Dumbledore；　in　a　cheerful　but　slightly　raised　voice；　which　put　an　end　to　Professor　McGonagall　and　Professor　Trelawney's　conversation；　〃that　Professor　Lupin　is　in　any　immediate　danger。　Severus；　you've　made　the　potion　for　him　again？〃
　　　〃Yes；　Headmaster；〃　said　Snape。　〃W…what？〃　said　Harry；　scrambling　to　his　feet。　〃Why？〃
　　　〃It　will　need　to　be　checked　for　jinxes；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall。　〃Of　course；　I'm　no　expert；　but　I　daresay　Madam　Hooch　and　Professor　Flitwick　will　strip　it　down　…〃
　　　〃Strip　it　down？〃　repeated　Ron；　as　though　Professor　McGonagall　was　mad。
　　　〃It　shouldn't　take　more　than　a　few　weeks；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall。　〃You　will　have　it　back　if　we　are　sure　it　is　jinx…free。〃
　　　〃There's　nothing　wrong　with　it！〃　said　Harry；　his　voice　shaking　slightly。　〃Honestly；　Professor　…〃
　　　〃You　can't　know　that；　Potter；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall；　quite　kindly；　〃not　until　you've　flown　it；　at　any　rate；　and　I'm　afraid　that　is　out　of　the　question　until　we　are　certain　that　it　has　not　been　tampered　with。　I　shall　keep　you　informed。〃
　　　Professor　McGonagall　turned　on　her　heel　and　carried　the　Firebolt　out　of　the　portrait　hole；　which　closed　behind　her。　Harry　stood　staring　after　her；　the　tin　of　High…Finish　Polish　still　clutched　in　his　hands。　Ron；　however；　rounded　on　Hermione。
　　　〃What　did　you　go　running　to　McGonagall　for？
　　　Hermione　threw　her　book　aside。　She　was　still　pink　in　the　face；　but　stood　up　and　faced　Ron　defiantly。
　　　〃Because　I　thought…and　Professor　McGonagall　agrees　with　me…that　that　broom　was　probably　sent　to　Harry　by　Sirius　Black！〃
　　　
　　　
　　　CHAPTER　TWELVE
　　　THE　PATRONUS
　　　
　　　Harry　knew　that　Hermione　had　meant　well；　but　that　didn't　stop　him　from　being　angry　with　her。　He　had　been　the　owner　of　the　best　broom　in　the　world　for　a　few　short　hours；　and　now；　because　of　her　interference；　he　didn't　know　whether　he　would　ever　see　it　again。　He　was　positive　that　there　was　nothing　wrong　with　the　Firebolt　now；　but　what　sort　of　state　would　it　be　in　once　it　had　been　subjected　to　all　sorts　of　anti…jinx　tests？
　　　Ron　was　furious　with　Hermione　too。　As　far　as　he　was　concerned；　the　stripping…down　of　a　brandnew　Firebolt　was　nothing　less　than　criminal　damage。　Hermione；　who　remained　convinced　that　she　had　acted　for　the　best；　started　avoiding　the　mon　room。　Harry　and　Ron　supposed　she　had　taken　refuge　in　the　library　and　didn't　try　to　persuade　her　to　e　back。　All　in　all；　they　were　glad　when　the　rest　of　the　school　returned　shortly　after　New　Year；　and　Gryffindor　Tower　became　crowded　and　noisy　again。　Wood　sought　Harry　out　on　the　night　before　term　started。
　　　〃Had　a　good　Christmas？〃　he　said；　and　then；　without　waiting　for　an　answer；　he　sat　down；　lowered　his　voice；　and　said；　〃I've　been；　doing　some　thinking　over　Christmas；　Harry。　After　last　match；　you　know。　If　the　dementors　e　to　the　next　one。。。　I　mean。。。　we　can't　afford　you　to…well　…〃
　　　Wood　broke　off；　looking　awkward。
　　　〃I'm　working　on　it；〃　said　Harry　quickly。　〃Professor　Lupin　said　he'd　train　me　to　ward　off　the　dementors。　We　should　be　starting　this　week。　He　said　he'd　have　time　after　Christmas。〃
　　　〃Ah；〃　said　Wood；　his　expression　clearing。　〃Well；　in　that　case…I　really　didn't　want　to　lose　you　as　Seeker；　Harry。　And　have　you　ordered　a　new　broom　yet？〃
　　　〃No；〃　said　Harry。
　　　〃What！　You'd　better　get　a　move　on；　you　know…you　can't　ride　that　Shooting　Star　against　Ravenclaw！〃
　　　〃He　got　a　Firebolt　for　Christmas；〃　said　Ron。
　　　〃A　Firebolt？　No！　Seriously？　A…a　real　Firebolt？〃
　　　〃Don't　get　excited；　Oliver；〃　said　Harry　gloomily。　〃I　haven't　got　it　anymore。　It　was　confiscated。〃　And　he　explained　all　about　how　the　Firebolt　was　now　being　checked　for　jinxes。
　　　〃Jinxed？　How　could　it　be　jinxed？〃
　　　〃Sirius　Black〃　Harry　said　wearily。　〃He's　supposed　to　be　after　me。　So　McGonagall　reckons　he　might　have　sent　it。〃
　　　Waving　aside　the　information　that　a　famous　murderer　was　after　his　Seeker；　Wood　said；　〃But　Black　couldn't　have　bought　a　Firebolt！　He's　on　the　run！　The　whole　country's　on　the　lookout　for　him！　How　could　he　just　walk　into　Quality　Quidditch　Supplies　and　buy　a　broomstick？〃
　　　〃I　know；〃　said　Harry；　〃but　McGonagall　still　wants　to　strip　it　down　…〃
　　　Wood　went　pale。
　　　〃I'll　go　and　talk　to　her；　Harry；〃　he　promised。　〃I'll　make　her　see　reason。。。　A　Firebolt。。。　a　real　Firebolt；　on　our　team。。。　She　wants　Gryffindor　to　win　as　much　as　we　do。。。　I'll　make　her　see　sense。　A　Firebolt。。。〃
　　　Classes　started　again　the　next　day。　The　last　thing　anyone　felt　like　doing　was　spending　two　hours　on　the　grounds　on　a　raw　January　morning；　but　Hagrid　had　provided　a　bonfire　full　of　salamanders　for　their　enjoyment；　and　they　spent　an　unusually　good　lesson　collecting　dry　wood　and　leaves　to　keep　the　fire　blazing　while　the　flame…loving　lizards　scampered　up　and　down　the　crumbling；　white…hot　logs。　The　first　Divination　lesson　of　the　new　term　was　much　less　fun；　Professor　Trelawney　was　now　teaching　them　palmistry；　and　she　lost　no　time　in　informing　Harry　that　he　had　the　shortest　life　line　she　had　ever　seen。
　　　It　was　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts　that　Harry　was　keen　to　get　to；　after　his　conversation　with　Wood；　he　wanted　to　get　started　on　his　anti…dementor　lessons　as　soon　as　possible。
　　　〃Ah　yes；〃　said　Lupin；　when　Harry　reminded　him　of　his　promise　at　the　end　of　class。　〃Let　me　see。。。　how　about　eight　o'clock　on　Thursday　evening？　The　History　of　Magic　classroom　should　be　large　enough。。。　I'll　have　to　think　carefully　about　how　we're　going　to　do　this。。。　We　can't　bring　a　real　dementor　into　the　castle　to　practice　on。。。〃
　　　〃Still　looks　ill；　doesn't　he？〃　said　Ron　as　they　walked　down　the　corridor；　heading　to　dinner。　〃What　d'you　reckon's　the　matter　with　him？〃
　　　There　was　a　loud　and　impatient　〃tuh〃　from　behind　them。　It　was　Hermione；　who　had　been　sitting　at　the　feet　of　a　suit　of　armor；　repacking　her　bag；