3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第34部分

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　　〃You　won't；　will　you；　Harry？〃　said　Hermione。
　　〃Because　Black's　not　worth　dying　for；〃　said　Ron。
　　Harry　looked　at　them。　They　didn't　seem　to　understand　at　all。
　　〃D'you　know　what　I　see　and　hear　every　time　a　dementor　gets　too　near　me？〃　Ron　and　Hermione　shook　their　heads；　looking　apprehensive。　〃I　can　hear　my　mum　screaming　and　pleading　with　Voldemort。　And　if　you'd　heard　your　mum　screaming　like　that；　just　about　to　be　killed；　you　wouldn't　forget　it　in　a　hurry。　And　if　you　found　out　someone　who　was　supposed　to　be　a　friend　of　hers　betrayed　her　and　sent　Voldemort　after　her　〃
　　〃There's　nothing　you　can　do！〃　said　Hermione；　looking　stricken。　〃The　dementors　will　catch　Black　and　he'll　go　back　to　Azkaban　and　　and　serve　him　right！〃
　　〃You　heard　what　Fudge　said。　Black　isn't　affected　by　Azkaban　like　normal　people　are。　It's　not　a　punishment　for　him　like　it　is　for　the　others。〃
　　〃So　what　are　you　saying？〃　said　Ron；　looking　very　tense。　〃You　want　to　　to　kill　Black　or　something？〃
　　〃Don't　be　silly；〃　said　Herinione　in　a　panicky　voice。　〃Harry　doesn't　want　to　kill　anyone；　do　you；　Harry？〃
　　Again；　Harry　didn't　answer。　He　didn't　know　what　he　wanted　to　do。　All　he　knew　was　that　the　idea　of　doing　nothing；　while　Black　was　at　liberty；　was　almost　more　than　he　could　stand。
　　Malfoy　knows；〃　he　said　abruptly。　〃Remember　what　he　said　to　me　in　Potions？　'If　it　was　me；　I'd　hunt　him　down　myself。。。　I'd　want　revenge。
　　〃You're　going　to　take　Malfoy's　advice　instead　of　ours？〃　said　Ron　furiously。　〃Listen。。。　you　know　what　Pettigrew's　mother　got　back　after　Black　had　finished　with　him？　Dad　told　me　　the　Order　of　Merlin；　First　Class；　and　Pettigrew's　finger　in　a　box。　That　was　the　biggest　bit　of　him　they　could　find。　Black's　a　madman；　Harry；　and　he's　dangerous　〃
　　〃Malfoy's　dad　must　have　told　him；〃　said　Harry；　ignoring　Ron。　〃He　was　right　in　Voldemort's　inner　circle　〃
　　〃Say　You…Know…Who；　will　you？〃　interjected　Ron　angrily。
　　〃　so　obviously；　the　Malfoys　knew　Black　was　working　for　Voldemort　〃
　　〃　and　Malfoy'd　love　to　see　you　blown　into　about　a　million　pieces；　like　Pettigrew！　Get　a　grip。　Malfoy's　just　hoping　you'll　get　Yourself　killed　before　he　has　to　play　you　at　Quidditch。〃
　　〃Harry；　please；〃　said　Hermione；　her　eyes　now　shining　with　tears；　〃Please　be　sensible。　Black　did　a　terrible；　terrible　thing；　but　d…don't　Put　Yourself　in　danger；　it's　what　Black　wants。。。。　Oh；　Harry；　you'd　be　Playing　right　into　Black's　hands　if　you　went　looking　for　him。　Your　mum　and　dad　wouldn't　want　you　to　get　hurt；　would　they？　They'd　never　want　you　to　go　looking　for　Black！〃
　　〃I'll　never　know　what　they'd　have　wanted；　because　thanks　to　Black；　I've　never　spoken　to　them；〃　said　Harry　shortly。
　　There　was　a　silence　in　which　Crookshanks　stretched　luxuriously　flexing　his　claws。　Ron's　pocket　quivered。
　　〃Look；〃　said　Ron；　obviously　casting　around　for　a　change　of　subject；　〃it's　the　holidays！　It's　nearly　Christmas！　Let's　　let's　go　down　and　see　Hagrid。　We　haven't　visited　him　for　ages！〃
　　〃No！〃　said　Hermione　quickly。　〃Harry　isn't　supposed　to　leave　the　castle；　Ron　〃
　　〃Yeah；　let's　go；〃　said　Harry；　sitting　up；　〃and　I　can　ask　him　how　e　he　never　mentioned　Black　when　he　told　me　all　about　my　parents！〃
　　Further　discussion　of　Sirius　Black　plainly　wasn't　what　Ron　had　had　in　mind。
　　〃Or　we　could　have　a　game　of　chess；　he　said　hastily；　〃or　Gobstones。　Percy　left　a　set　〃
　　〃No；　let's　visit　Hagrid；〃　said　Harry　firmly。
　　So　they　got　their　cloaks　from　their　dormitories　and　set　off　through　the　portrait　hole　（〃Stand　and　fight；　you　yellow…bellied　mongrels！〃）；　down　through　the　empty　castle　and　out　through　the　oak　front　doors。
　　They　made　their　way　slowly　down　the　lawn；　making　a　shallow　trench　in　the　glittering；　powdery　snow；　their　socks　and　the　hems　of　their　cloaks　soaked　and　freezing。　The　Forbidden　Forest　looked　as　though　it　had　been　enchanted；　each　tree　smattered　with　silver；　and　Hagrid's　cabin　looked　like　an　iced　cake。
　　Ron　knocked；　but　there　was　no　answer。
　　〃He's　not　out；　is　he？〃　said　Hermione；　who　was　shivering　under　her　cloak。
　　Ron　had　his　ear　to　the　door。
　　〃There's　a　weird　noise；〃　he　said。　〃Listen　　is　that　Fang？〃
　　Harry　and　Hermione　put　their　ears　to　the　door　too。　From　inside　the　cabin　came　a　series　of　low；　throbbing　moans。
　　〃Think　we'd　better　go　and　get　someone？〃　said　Ron　nervously。
　　〃Hagrid！〃　called　Harry；　thumping　the　door。　〃Hagrid；　are　you　in　there。
　　There　was　a　sound　of　heavy　footsteps；　then　the　door　creaked　open。　Hagrid　stood　there　with　his　eyes　red　and　swollen；　tears　splashing　down　the　front　of　his　leather　vest。
　　〃YWve　heard？〃　he　bellowed；　and　he　flung　himself　onto　Harry's　neck。
　　Hagrid　being　at　least　twice　the　size　of　a　normal　man；　this　was　no　laughing　matter。　Harry；　about　to　collapse　under　Hagrid's　weight；　was　rescued　by　Ron　and　Hermione；　who　each　seized　Hagrid　under　an　arm　and　heaved　him　back　into　the　cabin。　Hagrid　allowed　himself　to　be　steered　into　a　chair　and　slumped　over　the　table；　sobbing　uncontrollably；　his　face　glazed　with　tears　that　dripped　down　into　his　tangled　beard。
　　〃Hagrid；　what　is　it？〃　said　Hermione；　aghast。
　　Harry　spotted　an　official…looking　letter　lying　open　on　the　table。
　　〃What's　this；　Hagrid？〃
　　Hagrid's　sobs　redoubled；　but　he　shoved　the　letter　toward　Harry；　who　Picked　it　up　and　read　aloud：
　　Dear　Mr。　Hagrid；
　　Further　to　our　inquiry　into　the　attack　by　a　hippogriff　on　a　student　in　your　class；　we　have　accepted　the　assurances　of　Professor　Dumbledore　that　you　bear　no　responsibility　for　the　regrettable　incident。
　　〃Well；　that's　okay　then；　Hagrid！〃　said　Ron；　clapping　Hagrid　oil　the　shoulder。　But　Hagrid　continued　to　sob；　and　waved　one　of　his　gigantic　hands；　inviting　Harry　to　read　on。
　　However；　we　must　register　our　concern　about　the　hippogriff　in　question。　We　have　decided　to　uphold　the　official　plaint　of　Mr。　Lucius　Malfoy；　and　this　matter　will　therefore　be　taken　to　the　mittee　for　the　Disposal　of　Dangerous　Creatures。　The　hearing　will　take　place　on　April　20th；　and　we　ask　you　to　present　yourself　and　your　hippogriff　at　the　mittee's　offices　in　London　on　that　date。　In　the　meantime；　the　hippogriff　should　be　kept　tethered　and　isolated。　Yours　in　fellowship。。。
　　There　followed　a　list　of　the　school　governors。
　　〃Oh；〃　said　Ron。　〃But　you　said　Buckbeak　isn't　a　bad　hippogriff；　Hagrid。　I　bet　he'll　get　off
　　〃Yeh　don'　know　them　gargoyles　at　the　mittee　fer　the　Disposal　o'　Dangerous　Creatures！〃　choked　Hagrid；　wiping　his　eyes　on　his　sleeve。　〃They've　got　it　in　fer　interestin'　creatures！〃
　　A　sudden　sound　from　the　corner　of　Hagrid's　cabin　made　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　whip　around。　Buckbeak　the　hippogriff　was　lying　in　the　corner；　chomping　on　something　that　was　oozing　blood　all　over　the　floor。
　　〃I　couldn'　leave　him　tied　up　out　there　in　the　snow！〃　choked　Hagrid。　〃All　on　his　own！　At　Christmas。〃
　　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　looked　at　one　another。　They　had　never　seen　eye　to　eye　with　Hagrid　about　what　he　called　〃interesting　creatures〃　and　other　people　called　〃terrifying　monsters。〃　Or'　the　other　hand；　there　didn't　seem　to　be　any　particular　harm　in　Buckbeak。　In　fact；　by　Hagrid's　usual　standards；　he　was　positively　cute。
　　〃You'll　have　to　put　up　a　good　strong　defense；　Hagrid；〃　said　Hermione；　sitting　down　and　laying　a　hand　on　Hagrid's　massive　forearm。　〃I'm　sure　you　can　prove　Buckbeak　is　safe。〃
　　〃Won't　make　no　diff'rence！〃　sobbed　Hagrid。　〃Them　Disposal　devils；　they're　all　in　Lucius　Malfoy's　pocket！　Scared　o'　him！　Ad　if　I　lose　the　case；　Buckbeak　〃
　　Hagrid　drew　his　finger　swiftly　across　his　throat；　then　gave　a　great　wail　and　lurched　forward；　his　face　in　his　arms。
　　〃What　about　Dumbledore；　Hagrid？〃　said　Harry。
　　〃He's　done　more'n　enough　fer　me　already；〃　groaned　Hagrid。　〃Got　enough　on　his　plate　what　with　keepin'　them　dementors　outta　the　castle；　an'　Sirius　Black　lurkin'　around　〃
　　Ron　and　Hermione　looked　quickly　at　Harry；　as　though　expecting　him　to　start　berating　Hagrid　for　not　telling　him　the　truth　about　Black。　But　Harry　couldn't　bring　himself　to　do　it；　not　now　that　he　saw　Hagrid　so　miserable　and　scared。
　　〃Listen；　Hagrid；〃　he　said；　〃you　can't　give　up。　Hermione's　right；　You　just　need　a　good　defense。　You　can　call　us　as　witnesses　〃
　　〃I'm　sure　I've　read　about　a　case　of　hippogriff…baiting；〃　said　Hermione　thoughtfully；　〃where　the　hippogriff　got　off　I'll　look　it　up　for　you；　Hagrid；　and　see　exactly　what　happened。〃
　　Hagrid　howled　still　more　loudly。　Harry　and　Hermione　looked　at　Ron　to　help　them。
　　〃Er　　shall　I　make　a　cup　of　tea？〃　said　Ron。
　　Harry　stared　at　him。
　　〃It's　what　my　mum　does　whenever　someone's　upset；〃　Ron　muttered；　shrugging。
　　At　last；　after　many　more　assurances　of　help；　with　a　steaming　mug　of　tea　in　front　of　him；　Hagrid　blew　his　nose　on　a　handkerchief　the　size　of　a　tablecloth　and　said；　〃Yer　right。　I　can'　afford　to　go　ter　pieces。　Gotta　pull　meself　together。。。。。
　　Fang　the　boarhound　came　timidly　out　from　under　the　table　and　laid　his　head　on　Hagrid's　knee。
　　〃I've　not　bin　meself　lately；〃　said　Hagrid；　stroking　Fang　with　one　hand　and　mopping　his　face　with　the　other。　〃Worried　abou'　Buckbeak；　an'　no　one　likin'　me　classes　〃
　　〃We　do　like　them！〃　lied　Hermione　at　once。
　　〃Yeah；　they're　great！〃　said　Ron；　crossing　his　fingers　under　the　table。　〃Er　　how　are　the　flo