3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第14部分

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the　school　along　the　platform　and　out　onto　a　rough　mud　track；　where　at　least　a　hundred　stagecoaches　awaited　the　remaining　students；　each　pulled；　Harry　could　only　assume；　by　an　invisible　horse；　because　when　they　climbed　inside　and　shut　the　door；　the　coach　set　off　all　by　itself；　bumping　and　swaying　in　procession。
　　The　coach　smelled　faintly　of　mold　and　straw。　Harry　felt　better　since　the　chocolate；　but　still　weak。　Ron　and　Hermione　kept　looking　at　him　sideways；　as　though　frightened　he　might　collapse　again。
　　As　the　carriage　trundled　toward　a　pair　of　magnificent　wrought　iron　gates；　flanked　with　stone　columns　topped　with　winged　boars；
　　Harry　saw　two　more　towering；　hooded　dementors；　standing　guard　on　either　side。　A　wave　of　cold　sickness　threatened　to　engulf　him　again；　he　leaned　back　into　the　lumpy　seat　and　closed　his　eyes　until　they　had　passed　the　gates。　The　carriage　picked　up　speed　on　the　long；　sloping　drive　up　to　the　castle；　Hermione　was　leaning　out　of　the　tiny　window；　watching　the　many　turrets　and　towers　draw　nearer。　At　last；　the　carriage　swayed　to　a　halt；　and　Hermione　and　Ron　got　out。
　　As　Harry　stepped　down；　a　drawling；　delighted　voice　sounded　in　his　ear。
　　〃You　fainted；　Potter？　Is　Longbottorn　telling　the　truth？　You　actualy　fainted？〃
　　Malfoy　elbowed　past　Hermione　to　block　Harry's　way　up　the　stone　steps　to　the　castle；　his　face　gleeful　and　his　pale　eyes　glinting　maliciously。　〃Shove　off；　Malfoy；〃　said　Ron；　whose　jaw　was　clenched。
　　〃Did　you　faint　as　well；　Weasley？〃　said　Malfoy　loudly。　〃Did　the　scary　old　dementor　frighten　you　too；　Weasley？〃
　　〃Is　there　a　problem？〃　said　a　mild　voice。　Professor　Lupin　had　just　gotten　out　of　the　next　carriage。
　　Malfoy　gave　Professor　Lupin　an　insolent　stare；　which　took　in　the　patches　on　his　robes　and　the　delapidated　suitcase。　With　a　tiny　hint　of　sarcasm　in　his　voice；　he　said；　〃Oh；　no　　er　　Professor；〃　then　he　smirked　at　Crabbe　and　Goyle　and　led　them　up　the　steps　into　the　castle。
　　Hermione　prodded　Ron　in　the　back　to　make　him　hurry；　and　the　three　of　them　joined　the　crowd　swarming　up　the　steps；　through　the　giant　oak　front　doors；　into　the　cavernous　entrance　hall；　which　was　lit　with　flaming　torches；　and　housed　a　magnificent　marble　staircase　that　led　to　the　upper　floors。
　　The　door　into　the　Great　Hall　stood　open　at　the　right；　Harry　followed　the　crowd　toward　it；　but　had　barely　glimpsed　the　enchanted　ceiling；　which　was　black　and　cloudy　tonight；　when　a　voice　called；　〃Potter！　Granger！　I　want　to　see　you　both！〃
　　Harry　and　Hermione　turned　around；　surprised。　Professor　McGonagall；　Transfiguration　teacher　and　head　of　Gryffindor　House；　was　calling　over　the　heads　of　the　crowd。　She　was　a　sternlooking　witch　who　wore　her　hair　in　a　tight　bun；　her　sharp　eyes　were　framed　with　square　spectacles。　Harry　fought　his　way　over　to　her　with　a　feeling　of　foreboding：　Professor　McGonagall　had　a　way　of　making　him　feel　he　must　have　done　something　wrong。
　　〃There's　no　need　to　look　so　worried　　I　just　want　a　word　in　MY　office；〃　she　told　them。　〃Move　along　there；　Weasley。〃
　　Ron　stared　as　Professor　McGonagall　ushered　Harry　and　Hermione　away　from　the　chattering　crowd；　they　acpanied　her　across　the　entrance　hall；　up　the　marble　staircase；　and　along　a　corridor。
　　Once　they　were　in　her　office；　a　small　room　with　a　large；　weling　fire；　Professor　McGonagall　motioned　Harry　and　Hermione　to　sit　down。　She　settled　herself　behind　her　desk　and　said　abruptly；　〃Professor　Lupin　sent　an　owl　ahead　to　say　that　you　were　taken　ill　on　the　train；　Potter。〃
　　Before　Harry　could　reply；　there　was　a　soft　knock　on　the　door　and　Madam　Pomfrey；　the　nurse；　came　bustling　in。
　　Harry　felt　himself　going　red　in　the　face。　It　was　bad　enough　that　he'd　passed　out；　or　whatever　he　had　done；　without　everyone　making　all　this　fuss。
　　〃I'm　fine；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　need　anything
　　〃Oh；　it's　you；　is　it？〃　said　Madam　Pomfrey；　ignoring　this　and　bending　down　to　stare　closely　at　him。　〃I　suppose　you've　been　doing　something　dangerous　again？〃
　　〃It　was　a　dementor；　Poppy；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall。
　　They　exchanged　a　dark　look；　and　Madam　Pomfrey　clucked　disapprovingly。
　　〃Setting　dementors　around　a　school；　she　muttered；　pushing　back　Harry's　hair　and　feeling　his　forehead。　〃He　won't　be　the　last　one　who　collapses。　Yes；　he's　all　clammy。　Terrible　things；　they　are；　and　the　effect　they　have　on　people　who　are　already　delicate
　　〃I'm　not　delicate！〃　said　Harry　crossly。
　　〃Of　course　you're　not；〃　said　Madam　Pomfrey　absentmindedly；　now　taking　his　pulse。
　　〃What　does　he　need？〃　said　Professor　McGonagall　crisply。　〃Bed　rest？　Should　he　perhaps　spend　tonight　in　the　hospital　wing？〃
　　〃I'm　fine！〃　said　Harry；　jumping　up。　The　thought　of　what　Draco　Malfoy　would　say　if　he　had　to　go　to　the　hospital　wing　was　torture。
　　〃Well；　he　should　have　some　chocolate；　at　the　very　least；〃　said　Madam　Pomfrey；　who　was　now　trying　to　peer　into　Harry's　eyes。
　　〃I've　already　had　some；〃　said　Harry。　〃Professor　Lupin　gave　me　some。　He　gave　it　to　all　of　us。〃
　　〃Did　he；　now？〃　said　Madam　Pomfrey　approvingly。　〃So　we've　finally　got　a　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts　teacher　who　knows　his　remedies？〃
　　〃Are　you　sure　you　feel　all　right；　Potter？〃　Professor　McGonagall　said　sharply。
　　〃Yes；　〃said　Harry。
　　〃Very　well。　Kindly　wait　outside　while　I　have　a　quick　word　with　Miss　Granger　about　her　course　schedule；　then　we　can　go　down　to　the　feast　together。〃
　　Harry　went　back　into　the　corridor　with　Madam　Pomfrey；　who　left　for　the　hospital　wing；　muttering　to　herself　He　had　to　wait　only　a　few　minutes；　then　Hermione　emerged　looking　very　happy　about　something；　followed　by　Professor　McGonagall；　and　the　three　of　them　made　their　way　back　down　the　marble　staircase　to　the　Great　Hall。
　　It　was　a　sea　of　pointed　black　hats；　each　of　the　long　House　tables　was　lined　with　students；　their　faces　glimmering　by　the　light　of　thousands　of　candles；　which　were　floating　over　the　tables　in　midair。　Professor　Flitwick；　who　was　a　tiny　little　wizard　with　a　shock　of　white　hair；　was　carrying　an　ancient　hat　and　a　three…legged　stool　out　of　the　hall。
　　〃Oh；〃　said　Hermione　softly；　〃we've　missed　the　Sorting！〃
　　New　students　at　Hogwarts　were　sorted　into　Houses　by　trying　on　the　sorting　Hat；　which　shouted　out　the　House　they　were　best　suited　to　（Gryffindor；　Ravenclaw；　Hufflepuff；　or　Slytherin）。　Professor　McGonagall　strode　off　toward　her　empty　seat　at　the　staff　table；　and　Harry　and　Hermione　set　off　in　the　other　direction；　as　quietly　as　possible；　toward　the　Gryffindor　table。　People　looked　around　at　them　as　they　passed　along　the　back　of　the　hall；　and　a　few　of　them　pointed　at　Harry。　Had　the　story　of　his　collapsing　in　front　of　the　dementor　traveled　that　fast？
　　He　and　Hermione　sat　down　on　either　side　of　Ron；　who　had　saved　them　seats。
　　〃What　was　all　that　about？〃　he　muttered　to　Harry。
　　Harry　started　to　explain　in　a　whisper；　but　at　that　moment　the　headmaster　stood　up　to　speak；　and　he　broke　off。
　　Professor　Dumbledore；　though　very　old；　always　gave　an　impression　of　great　energy。　He　had　several　feet　of　long　silver　hair　and　beard；　half…moon　spectacles；　and　an　extremely　crooked　nose。　He　was　often　described　as　the　greatest　wizard　of　the　age；　but　that　wasn't　why　Harry　respected　him。　You　couldn't　help　trusting　Albus　Dumbledore；　and　as　Harry　watched　him　beaming　around　at　the　students；　he　felt　really　calm　for　the　first　time　since　the　dementor　had　entered　the　train　partment。
　　〃Wele！〃　said　Dumbledore；　the　candlelight　shimmering　on　his　beard。　〃Wele　to　another　year　at　Hogwarts！　I　have　a　few　things　to　say　to　you　all；　and　as　one　of　them　is　very　serious；　I　think　it　best　to　get　it　out　of　the　way　before　you　bee　befuddled　by　our　excellent　feast。。。。〃
　　Dumbledore　cleared　his　throat　and　continued；　〃As　you　will　all　be　aware　after　their　search　of　the　Hogwarts　Express；　our　school　is　presently　playing　host　to　some　of　the　dementors　of　Azkaban；　who　are　here　on　Ministry　of　Magic　business。〃
　　He　paused；　and　Harry　remembered　what　Mr。　Weasley　had　said　about　Dumbledore　not　being　happy　with　the　dementors　guarding　the　school。
　　〃They　are　stationed　at　every　entrance　to　the　grounds；〃　Dumbledore　continued；　〃and　while　they　are　with　us；　I　must　make　it　plain　that　nobody　is　to　leave　school　without　permission。　Dementors　are　not　to　be　fooled　by　tricks　or　disguises　　or　even　Invisibility　Cloaks；〃　he　added　blandly；　and　Harry　and　Ron　glanced　at　each　other。　〃It　is　not　in　the　nature　of　a　dementor　to　understand　pleading　or　excuses。　I　therefore　warn　each　and　every　one　of　you　to　give　them　no　reason　to　harm　you。　I　look　to　the　prefects；　and　our　new　Head　Boy　and　Girl；　to　make　sure　that　no　student　runs　afoul　of　the　dementors；〃　he　said。
　　Percy；　who　was　sitting　a　few　seats　down　from　Harry；　puffed　out　his　chest　again　and　stared　around　impressively。　Dumbledore　paused　again；　he　looked　very　seriously　around　the　hall；　and　nobody　moved　or　made　a　sound。
　　〃On　a　happier　note；〃　he　continued；　I　am　pleased　to　wele　two　new　teachers　to　our　ranks　this　year。
　　〃First；　Professor　Lupin；　who　has　kindly　consented　to　fill　the　post　of　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts　teacher。〃
　　There　was　some　scattered；　rather　unenthusiastic　applause。　Only　those　who　had　been　in　the　partment　on　the　train　with　Professor　Lupin　clapped　hard；　Harry　among　them。　Professor　Lupin　looked　particu