3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第40部分

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e　evidence　all　pointed　that　way；　she　lost　her　temper　with　Harry　too。
　　〃Okay；　side　with　Ron；　I　knew　you　would！〃　she　said　shrilly。　〃First　the　Firebolt；　now　Scabbers；　everything's　my　fault；　isn't　it！　just　leave　me　alone；　Harry；　I've　got　a　lot　of　work　to　do！〃
　　Ron　had　taken　the　loss　of　his　rat　very　hard　indeed。
　　〃e　on；　Ron；　you　were　always　saying　how　boring　Scabbers　was；〃　said　Fred　bracingly。　〃And　he's　been　off…color　for　ages；　he　was　wasting　away。　It　was　probably　better　for　him　to　snuff　it　quickly　　one　swallow　　he　probably　didn't　feel　a　thing。〃
　　〃Fred！〃　said　Ginny　indignantly。
　　〃All　he　did　was　eat　and　sleep；　Ron；　you　said　it　yourself；〃　said　George。
　　〃He　bit　Goyle　for　us　once！〃　Ron　said　miserably。　〃Remember；　Harry？〃
　　〃Yeah；　that's　true；〃　said　Harry。
　　〃His　finest　hour；〃　said　Fred；　unable　to　keep　a　straight　face。　〃Let　the　scar　on　Goyle's　finger　stand　as　a　lasting　tribute　to　his　memory。　Oh；　e　on；　Ron；　get　yourself　down　to　Hogsmeade　and　buy　a　new　rat；　what's　the　point　of　moaning？〃
　　In　a　last…ditch　attempt　to　cheer　Ron　up；　Harry　persuaded　him　to　e　along　to　the　Gryffindor　team's　final　practice　before　the　Ravenclaw　match；　so　that　he　could　have　a　ride　on　the　Firebolt　after　they'd　finished。　This　did　seem　to　take　Ron's　mind　off　Scabbers　for　a　moment　（〃Great！　Can　I　try　and　shoot　a　few　goals　on　it？〃）　so　they　set　off　for　the　Quidditch　field　together。
　　Madam　Hooch；　who　was　still　overseeing　Gryffindor　practices　to　keep　an　eye　on　Harry；　was　just　as　impressed　with　the　Firebolt　as　everyone　else　had　been。　She　took　it　in　her　hands　before　takeoff　and　gave　them　the　benefit　of　her　professional　opinion。
　　〃Look　at　the　balance　on　it！　If　the　Nimbus　series　has　a　fault；　it's　a　slight　list　to　the　tail　end　　you　often　find　they　develop　a　drag　after　a　few　years。　They've　updated　the　handle　too；　a　bit　slimmer　than　the　Cleansweeps；　reminds　me　of　the　old　Silver　Arrows　　a　Pity　they've　stopped　making　them。　I　learned　to　fly　on　one；　and　a　very　fine　old　broom　it　was　too。。。。〃
　　She　continued　in　this　vein　for　some　time；　until　Wood　said；　〃Er　　Madam　Hooch？　Is　it　okay　if　Harry　has　the　Firebolt　back？　We　need　to　practice。。。。〃
　　〃Oh　　right　　here　you　are；　then；　Potter；〃　said　Madam　Hooch。　〃I'll　sit　over　here　with　Weasley。。。。〃
　　She　and　Ron　left　the　field　to　sit　in　the　stadium；　and　the　Gryffindor　team　gathered　around　Wood　for　his　final　instructions　for　tomorrow's　match。
　　〃Harry；　I've　just　found　out　who　Ravenclaw　is　playing　as　Seeker。　It's　Cho　Chang。　She's　a　fourth　year；　and　she's　pretty　good。。。。　I　really　hoped　she　wouldn't　be　fit；　she's　had　some　problems　with　injuries。。。。〃　Wood　scowled　his　displeasure　that　Cho　Chang　had　made　a　full　recovery；　then　said；　〃On　the　other　hand；　she　rides　a　et　Two　Sixty；　which　is　going　to　look　like　a　joke　next　to　the　Firebolt。〃　He　gave　Harry's　broom　a　look　of　fervent　admiration；　then　said；　〃Okay；　everyone；　let's　go　　〃
　　And　at　long　last；　Harry　mounted　his　Firebolt；　and　kicked　off　from　the　ground。
　　It　was　better　than　he'd　ever　dreamed。　The　Firebolt　turned　with　the　lightest　touch；　it　seemed　to　obey　his　thoughts　rather　than　his　grip；　it　sped　across　the　field　at　such　speed　that　the　stadium　turned　into　a　green…and…gray　blur；　Harry　turned　it　so　sharply　that　Alicia　Spinnet　screamed；　then　he　went　into　a　perfectly　controlled　dive；　brushing　the　grassy　field　with　his　toes　before　rising　thirty；　forty；　fifty　feet　into　the　air　again。
　　〃Harry；　I'm　letting　the　Snitch　out！〃　Wood　called。
　　Harry　turned　and　raced　a　Bludger　toward　the　goal　posts；　he　outstripped　it　easily；　saw　the　Snitch　dart　out　from　behind　Wood；　and　within　ten　seconds　had　caught　it　tightly　in　his　hand。
　　The　team　cheered　madly。　Harry　let　the　Snitch　go　again；　gave　it　a　minute's　head　start；　then　tore　after　it；　weaving　in　and　out　of　the　others；　he　spotted　it　lurking　near　Katie　Bell's　knee；　looped　her　easily；　and　caught　it　again。
　　It　was　the　best　practice　ever；　the　team；　inspired　by　the　presence　of　the　Firebolt　in　their　midst；　performed　their　best　moves　faultlessly；　and　by　the　time　they　hit　the　ground　again；　Wood　didn't　have　a　single　criticism　to　make；　which；　as　George　Weasley　pointed　out；　was　a　first。
　　〃I　can't　see　what's　going　to　stop　us　tomorrow！〃　said　Wood。　〃Not　unless　　Harry；　you've　sorted　out　your　dementor　problem；　haven't　you？〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　said　Harry；　thinking　of　his　feeble　Patronus　and　wishing　it　were　stronger。
　　〃The　dementors　won't　turn　up　again；　Oliver。　Dumbledore'd　go　ballistic；〃　said　Fred　confidently。
　　〃Well；　let's　hope　not；〃　said　Wood。　〃Anyway　　good　work；　everyone。　Let's　get　back　to　the　tower。。。　turn　in　early　〃
　　〃I'm　staying　out　for　a　bit；　Ron　wants　a　go　on　the　Firebolt；〃　Harry　told　Wood；　and　while　the　rest　of　the　team　headed　off　to　the　locker　rooms；　Harry　strode　over　to　Ron；　who　vaulted　the　barrier　to　the　stands　and　came　to　meet　him。　Madam　Hooch　had　fallen　asleep　in　her　seat。
　　〃Here　you　go；〃　said　Harry；　handing　Ron　the　Firebolt。
　　Ron；　an　expression　of　ecstasy　on　his　face；　mounted　the　broom　and　zoomed　off　into　the　gathering　darkness　while　Harry　walked　around　the　edge　of　the　field；　watching　him。　Night　had　fallen　before　Madam　Hooch　awoke　with　a　start；　told　Harry　and　Ron　off　for　not　waking　her；　and　insisted　that　they　go　back　to　the　castle。
　　Harry　shouldered　the　Firebolt　and　he　and　Ron　walked　out　of　the　shadowy　stadium；　discussing　the　Firebolt's　superbly　smooth　action；　its　phenomenal　acceleration；　and　its　pinpoint　turning。　They　were　halfway　toward　the　castle　when　Harry；　glancing　to　his　left；　saw　something　that　made　his　heart　turn　over　　a　pair　of　eyes；　gleaming　out　of　the　darkness。
　　Harry　stopped　dead；　his　heart　banging　against　his　ribs。
　　〃What's　the　matter？〃　said　Ron。
　　Harry　pointed。　Ron　pulled　out　his　wand　and　muttered；　〃Lumos！〃
　　A　beam　of　light　fell　across　the　grass；　hit　the　bottom　of　a　tree；　and　illuminated　its　branches；　there；　crouching　among　the　budding　leaves；　was　Crookshanks。
　　〃Get　out　of　here！〃　Ron　roared；　and　he　stooped　down　and　seized　a　stone　lying　on　the　grass；　but　before　he　could　do　anything　else；　Crookshanks　had　vanished　with　one　swish　of　his　long　ginger　tail。
　　〃See？〃　Ron　said　furiously；　chucking　the　stone　down　again。　〃She's　still　letting　him　wander　about　wherever　he　wants　　probably　washing　down　Scabbers　with　a　couple　of　birds　now。。。。〃
　　Harry　didn't　say　anything。　He　took　a　deep　breath　as　relief　seeped　through　him；　he　had　been　sure　for　a　moment　that　those　eyes　had　belonged　to　the　Grim。　They　set　off　for　the　castle　once　more。　slightly　ashamed　of　his　moment　of　panic；　Harry　didn't　say　anything　to　Ron　　nor　did　he　look　left　or　right　until　they　had　reached　the　well…lit　entrance　hall。
　　Harry　went　down　to　breakfast　the　next　morning　with　the　rest　of　the　boys　in　his　dormitory；　all　of　whom　seemed　to　think　the　Firebolt　deserved　a　sort　of　guard　of　honor。　As　Harry　entered　the　Great　Hall；　heads　turned　in　the　direction　of　the　Firebolt；　and　there　was　a　good　deal　of　excited　muttering。　Harry　saw；　with　enormous　satisfaction；　that　the　Slytherin　team　were　all　looking　thunderstruck。
　　〃Did　you　see　his　face？〃　said　Ron　gleefully；　looking　back　at　Malfay。　〃He　can't　believe　it！　This　is　brilliant！〃
　　Wood；　too；　was　basking　in　the　reflected　glory　of　the　Firebolt。
　　〃Put　it　here；　Harry；〃　he　said；　laying　the　broom　in　the　middle　of　the　table　and　carefully　turning　it　so　that　its　name　faced　upward。　People　from　the　Ravenclaw　and　Hufflepuff　tables　were　soon　ing　over　to　look。　Cedric　Diggory　came　over　to　congratulate　Harry　on　having　acquired　such　a　superb　replacement　for　his　Nimbus；　and　Percy's　Ravenclaw　girlfriend；　Penelope　Clearwater；　asked　if　she　could　actually　hold　the　Firebolt。
　　〃Now；　now；　Penny；　no　sabotage！〃　said　Percy　heartily　as　she　examined　the　Firebolt　closely。　〃Penelope　and　I　have　got　a　bet　on；〃　he　told　the　team。　〃Ten　Galleons　on　the　oute　of　the　match！〃
　　Penelope　put　the　Firebolt　down　again；　thanked　Harry；　and　went　back　to　her　table。
　　〃Harry　　make　sure　you　win；〃　said　Percy；　in　an　urgent　whisper。　〃I　haven't　got　ten　Galleons。　Yes；　I'm　ing；　Penny！〃　And…he　bustled　off　to　join　her　in　a　piece　of　toast。
　　〃Sure　you　can　manage　that　broom；　Potter？〃　said　a　cold；　drawling　voice。
　　Draco　Malfoy　had　arrived　for　a　closer　look；　Crabbe　and　Coyle　right　behind　him。
　　〃Yeah；　reckon　so；〃　said　Harry　casually。
　　〃Got　plenty　of　special　features；　hasn't　it？〃　said　Malfoy；　eyes　glittering　maliciously。　〃Shame　it　doesn't　e　with　a　parachute　　in　case　you　get　too　near　a　dementor。〃
　　Crabbe　and　Goyle　sniggered。
　　〃Pity　you　can't　attach　an　extra　arm　to　yours；　Malfoy；〃　said　Harry。　〃Then　it　could　catch　the　Snitch　for　you。〃
　　The　Gryffindor　team　laughed　loudly。　Malfoy's　pale　eyes　narrowed；　and　he　stalked　away。　They　watched　him　rejoin　the　rest　of　the　Slytherin　team；　who　put　their　heads　together；　no　doubt　asking　Malfoy　whether　Harry's　broom　really　was　a　Firebolt。
　　At　a　quarter　to　eleven；　the　Gryffindor　team　set　off　for　the　locker　rooms。　The　weather　couldn't　have　been　more　different　from　their　match　against　Hufflepuff。　It　was　a　clear；　cool　day　with　a　very　light　breeze；　there　would　be　no　visibility　problems　this　time；　and　Harry；　though　nervous；　was　starting　to　feel　the　excitement　only　a　Quidditch　match　could　bring。　They　could　hear　the　rest　of　the　school　moving　into　the　stadium　beyond。　Harr