3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第35部分

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　　〃We　do　like　them！〃　lied　Hermione　at　once。
　　〃Yeah；　they're　great！〃　said　Ron；　crossing　his　fingers　under　the　table。　〃Er　　how　are　the　flobberworms？〃
　　〃Dead；〃　said　Hagrid　gloomily。　〃Too　much　lettuce。〃
　　〃Oh　no！〃　said　Ron；　his　lip　twitching。
　　〃An'　them　dementors　make　me　feel　ruddy　terrible　an'　all；〃　said　Hagrid；　with　a　sudden　shudder。　〃Gotta　walk　past　'em　ev'ry　time　I　want　a　drink　in　the　Three　Broomsticks。　'S　like　bein'　back　in　Azkaban　〃
　　He　fell　silent；　gulping　his　tea。　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　watched　him　breathlessly。　They　had　never　heard　Hagrid　talk　about　his　brief　spell　in　Azkaban　before。　After　a　pause；　Hermione　said　timidly；　〃Is　it　awful　in　there；　Hagrid？〃
　　〃Yeh've　no　idea；〃　said　Hagrid　quietly。　〃Never　bin　anywhere　like　it。　Thought　I　was　goin'　mad。　Kep'　goin'　over　horrible　stuff　in　me　mind。。。　the　day　I　got　expelled　from　Hogwarts。。。　day　me　dad　died。。。　day　I　had　ter　let　Norbert　go。。。。〃
　　His　eyes　filled　with　tears。　Norbert　was　the　baby　dragon　Hagrid　had　once　won　in　a　game　of　cards。
　　〃Yeh　can'　really　remember　who　yeh　are　after　a　while。　An'　yeh　can'　really　see　the　point　o'　livin'　at　all。　I　used　ter　hope　I'd　jus'　die　in　me　sleep。　When　they　let　me　out；　it　was　like　bein'　born　again；　ev'rythin'　I　came　floodin'　back；　it　was　the　bes'　feelin'　in　the　world。　Mind；　the　dementors　weren't　keen　on　lettin'　me　go。〃
　　〃But　you　were　innocent！〃　said　Hermione。
　　Hagrid　snorted。
　　〃Think　that　matters　to　them？　They　don'　care。　Long　as　they've　got　a　couple　o'　hundred　humans　stuck　there　with　'em；　so　they　can　leech　all　the　happiness　out　of　'em；　they　don'　give　a　damn　who's　guilty　an'　who's　not。〃
　　Hagrid　went　quiet　for　a　moment；　staring　into　his　tea。　Then　he　said　quietly；　〃Thought　o'　jus'　letting　Buckbeak　go。。。　tryin'　ter　make　him　fly　away。。。　but　how　d'yeh　explain　ter　a　hippogriff　it's　gotta　go　inter　hidin'？　An'　…an'　I'm　scared　o'　breakin'　the　law。。。。〃　He　looked　up　at　them；　tears　leaking　down　his　face　again。　〃I　don'　ever　want　ter　go　back　ter　Azkaban。〃
　　The　trip　to　Hagrid's；　though　far　from　fun；　had　nevertheless　had　the　effect　Ron　and　Hermione　had　hoped。　Though　Harry　had　by　no　means　forgotten　about　Black；　he　couldn't　brood　constantly　on　revenge　if　he　wanted　to　help　Hagrid　win　his　case　against　the　mittee　for　the　Disposal　of　Dangerous　Creatures。　He；　Ron；　and　Hermione　went　to　the　library　the　next　day　and　returned　to　the　empty　mon　room　laden　with　books　that　might　help　prepare　a　defense　for　Buckbeak。　The　three　of　them　sat　in　front　of　the　roaring　fire；　slowly　turning　the　pages　of　dusty　volumes　about　famous　cases　If　marauding　beasts；　speaking　occasionally　when　they　ran　across　something　relevant。
　　〃Here's　something。。。　there　was　a　case　in　1722。。。　but　the　hippogriff　was　convicted　　ugh；　look　what　they　did　to　it；　that's　disgusting　〃
　　〃This　might　help；　look　　a　manticore　savaged　someone　in　1296；　and　they　let　the　manticore　off　　oh　　no；　that　was　only　because　everyone　was　too　scared　to　go　near　it。〃
　　Meanwhile；　in　the　rest　of　the　castle；　the　usual　magnificent　Christmas　decorations　had　been　put　up；　despite　the　fact　that　hardly　any　of　the　students　remained　to　enjoy　them。　Thick　streamers　of　holly　and　mistletoe　were　strung　along　the　corridors；　mysterious　lights　shone　from　inside　every　suit　of　armor；　and　the　Great　Hall　was　filled　with　its　usual　twelve　Christmas　trees；　glittering　with　golden　stars。　A　powerful　and　delicious　smell　of　cooking　pervaded　the　corridors；　and　by　Christmas　Eve；　it　had　grown　so　strong　that　even　Scabbers　poked　his　nose　out　of　the　shelter　of　Ron's　pocket　to　sniff　hopefully　at　the　air。
　　On　Christmas　morning；　Harry　was　woken　by　Ron　throwing　his　pillow　at　him。
　　〃Oy！　Presents！〃
　　Harry　reached　for　his　glasses　and　put　them　on；　squinting　through　the　semi…darkness　to　the　foot　of　his　bed；　where　a　small　heap　of　parcels　had　appeared。　Ron　was　already　ripping　the　paper　off　his　own　presents。
　　'Another　sweater　from　Mum。。。　maroon　again。。。　see　if　you've　got　one。
　　Harry　had。　Mrs。　Weasley　had　sent　him　a　scarlet　sweater　with　the　Gryffindor　lion　knitted　on　the　front；　also　a　dozen　home…baked　mince　pies；　some　Christmas　cake；　and　a　box　of　nut　brittle。　As　he　moved　all　these　things　aside；　he　saw　a　long；　thin　package　lying　underneath。
　　〃What's　that？〃　said　Ron；　looking　over；　a　freshly　unwrapped　pair　of　maroon　socks　in　his　hand。
　　〃Dunno。。。〃
　　Harry　ripped　the　parcel　open　and　gasped　as　a　magnificent；　gleaming　broomstick　rolled　out　onto　his　bedspread。　Ron　dropped　his　socks　and　jumped　off　his　bed　for　a　closer　look。
　　〃I　don't　believe　it；〃　he　said　hoarsely。
　　It　was　a　Firebolt；　identical　to　the　dream　broom　Harry　had　gone　to　see　every　day　in　Diagon　Alley。　Its　handle　glittered　as　he　picked　it　up。　He　could　feel　it　vibrating　and　let　go；　it　hung　in　midair；　unsupported；　at　exactly　the　right　height　for　him　to　mount　it。　His　eyes　moved　from　the　golden　registration　number　at　the　top　of　the　handle；　right　down　to　the　perfectly　smooth；　streamlined　birch　twigs　that　made　up　the　tail。
　　〃Who　sent　it　to　you？〃　said　Ron　in　a　hushed　voice。
　　〃Look　and　see　if　there's　a　card；〃　said　Harry。
　　Ron　ripped　apart　the　Firebolt's　wrappings。
　　〃Nothing！　Blimey；　who'd　spend　that　much　on　you？〃
　　〃Well；〃　said　Harry；　feeling　stunned；　〃I'm　betting　it　wasn't　the　Dursleys。〃
　　I　bet　it　was　Dumbledore；〃　said　Ron；　now　walking　around　and　around　the　Firebolt；　taking　in　every　glorious　inch。　〃He　sent　you　the　Invisibility　Cloak　anonymously。。。。〃
　　〃That　was　my　dad's；　though；〃　said　Harry。　〃Dumbledore　was　just　Passing　it　on　to　me。　He　wouldn't　spend　hundreds　of　Galleons　on　me。　He　can't　go　giving　students　stuff　like　this　〃
　　〃That's　why　he　wouldn't　say　it　was　from　him！〃　said　Ron。　〃In　case　some　git　like　Malfoy　said　it　was　favoritism。　Hey；　Harry〃　　Ron　gave　a　great　whoop　of　laughter　　〃Malfoy！　Wait　till　he　sees　you　on　this！　He'll　be　sick　as　a　pig！　This　is　an　international　standard　broom；　this　is！〃
　　〃I　can't　believe　this；〃　Harry　muttered；　running　a　hand　along　the　Firebolt；　while　Ron　sank　onto　Harry's　bed；　laughing　his　head　off　at　the　thought　of　Malfoy。　〃Who　…？〃
　　〃I　know；〃　said　Ron；　controlling　himself；　〃I　know　who　it　could've　been　　Lupin！〃
　　〃What？〃　said　Harry；　now　starting　to　laugh　himself　〃Lupin？　Listen；　if　he　had　this　much　gold；　he'd　be　able　to　buy　himself　some　new　robes。〃
　　〃Yeah；　but　he　likes　you；〃　said　Ron。　〃And　he　was　away　when　your　Nimbus　got　smashed；　and　he　might've　heard　about　it　and　decided　to　visit　Diagon　Alley　and　get　this　for　you　〃
　　〃What　d'you　mean；　he　was　away？〃　said　Harry。　〃He　was　ill　when　I　was　playing　in　that　match。〃
　　〃Well；　he　wasn't　in　the　hospital　wing；〃　said　Ron。　〃I　was　there；　cleaning　out　the　bedpans　on　that　detention　from　Snape；　remember？〃
　　Harry　frowned　at　Ron。
　　〃I　can't　see　Lupin　affording　something　like　this。〃
　　〃What're　you　two　laughing　about？〃
　　Hermione　had　just　e　in；　wearing　her　dressing　gown　and　carrying　Crookshanks；　who　was　looking　very　grumpy；　with　a　string　of　tinsel　tied　around　his　neck。
　　〃Don't　bring　him　in　here！〃　said　Ron；　hurriedly　snatching　Scabbers　from　the　depths　of　his　bed　and　stowing　him　in　his　pajama　pocket。
　　But　Hermione　wasn't　listening。　She　dropped　Crookshanks　onto　Seamus's　empty　bed　and　stared；　open…mouthed；　at　the　Firebolt。
　　〃Oh；　Harry！　Who　sent　you　that？〃
　　〃No　idea；〃　said　Harry。　〃There　wasn't　a　card　or　anything　with　it。〃
　　To　his　great　surprise；　Hermione　did　not　appear　either　excited　or　intrigued　by　the　news。　On　the　contrary；　her　face　fell；　and　she　bit　her　lip。
　　〃What's　the　matter　with　you？〃　said　Ron。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Hermione　slowly；　〃but　it's　a　bit　odd；　isn't　it？　I　mean；　this　is　supposed　to　be　quite　a　good　broom；　isn't　it？〃
　　Ron　sighed　exasperatedly。
　　〃It's　the　best　broom　there　is；　Hermione；〃　he　said。
　　〃So　it　must've　been　really　expensive。。。。〃
　　〃Probably　cost　more　than　all　the　Slytherins'　brooms　put　together；〃　said　Ron　happily。
　　〃Well。。。　who'd　send　Harry　something　as　expensive　as　that；　and　not　even　tell　him　they'd　sent　it？〃　said　Hermione。
　　〃Who　cares？〃　said　Ron　impatiently。　〃Listen；　Harry；　can　I　have　a　go　on　it？　Can　I？〃
　　〃I　don't　think　anyone　should　ride　that　broom　just　yet！〃　said　Hermione　shrilly。
　　Harry　and　Ron　looked　at　her。
　　〃What　d'you　think　Harry's　going　to　do　with　it　　sweep　the　floor？〃　said　Ron。
　　But　before　Hermione　could　answer；　Crookshanks　sprang　from　Seamus's　bed；　right　at　Ron's　chest。
　　〃GET　　HIM　　OUT　　OF　　HERE！〃　Ron　bellowed　as　Crookshanks's　claws　ripped　his　pajamas　and　Scabbers　attempted　a　wild　escape　over　his　shoulder。　Ron　seized　Scabbers　by　the　tail　and　aimed　a　misjudged　kick　at　Crookshanks　that　hit　the　trunk　at　the　end　of　Harry's　bed；　knocking　it　over　and　causing　Ron　to　hop　up　and　down；　howling　with　pain。
　　Crookshanks's　fur　suddenly　stood　on　end。　A　shrill；　tint；；　whistling　was　filling　the　room。　The　Pocket　Sneakoscope　had　bee　dislodged　from　Uncle　Vernon's　old　socks　and　was　whirling　and　gleaming　on　the　floor。
　　I　forgot　about　that！〃　Harry　said；　bending　down　and　picking　up　the　Sneakoscope。　I　never　wear　those　socks　if　I　can　help　it。。。。
　　The　Sneakoscope　whirled　and　whistled　in　his　palm。　Crookshanks　was　hissing　and　spitting　at　it。
　　〃You'd　better　take　that　cat　out　of　here；　Hermione；〃　said　Ron　furiously；　sitting　on　Harry's　bed　nursing　his　toe。　〃Can't　you