3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第10部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　〃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　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