3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第63部分

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　　〃I'd　　I'd　think　I'd　gone　mad；〃　said　Harry；　〃or　I'd　think　there　was　some　Dark　Magic　going　on　〃
　　〃Exactly！　You　wouldn't　understand；　you　might　even　attack　yourself！　Don't　you　see？　Professor　McGonagall　told　me　what　awful　things　have　happened　when　wizards　have　meddled　with　time。。。。　Loads　of　them　ended　up　killing　their　past　or　future　selves　by　mistake！〃
　　〃Okay！〃　said　Harry。　〃It　was　just　an　idea；　I　just　thought
　　But　Hermione　nudged　him　and　pointed　toward　the　castle。　Harry　moved　his　head　a　few　inches　to　get　a　clear　view　of　the　distant　front　doors。　Dumbledore；　Fudge；　the　old　mittee　member；　and　Macnair　the　executioner　were　ing　down　the　steps。
　　〃We're　about　to　e　out！〃　Hermione　breathed。
　　And　sure　enough；　moments　later；　Hagrid's　back　door　opened；　and　Harry　saw　himself；　Ron；　and　Hermione　walking　out　of　it　with　Hagrid。　It　was；　without　a　doubt；　the　strangest　sensation　of　his　life；　standing　behind　the　tree；　and　watching　himself　in　the　pumpkin　patch。
　　〃It's　Okay；　Beaky；　it's　okay。。。〃　Hagrid　said　to　Buckbeak。　Then　he　turned　to　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione。　〃Go　on。　Get　goin'。〃
　　〃Hagrid；　we　can't　〃
　　〃We'll　tell　them　what　really　happened
　　〃They　can't　kill　him　〃
　　〃Go！　It's　bad　enough　without　you　lot　in　trouble　an'　all！〃
　　Harry　watched　the　Hermione　in　the　pumpkin　patch　throw　the　Invisibility　Cloak　over　him　and　Ron。
　　〃Go　quick。　Don'　listen。。。。〃
　　There　was　a　knock　on　Hagrid's　front　door。　The　execution　party　had　arrived。　Hagrid　turned；　around　and　headed　back　into　his　cabin；　leaving　the　back　door　ajar。　Harry　watched　the　grass　flatten　in　patches　all　around　the　cabin　and　heard　three　pairs　of　feet　retreating。　He；　Ron；　and　Hermione　had　gone。。。　but　the　Harry　and　Hermione　hidden　in　the　trees　could　now　hear　what　was　happening　inside　the　cabin　through　the　back　door。
　　〃Where　is　the　beast？〃　came　the　cold　voice　of　Macnair。
　　〃Out　　outside；〃　Hagrid　croaked。
　　Harry　pulled　his　head　out　of　sight　as　Macnair's　face　appeared　at　Hagrid's　window；　staring　out　at　Buckbeak。　Then　they　heard　Fudge。
　　〃We　　er　　have　to　read　you　the　official　notice　of　execution；　Hagrid。　I'll　make　it　quick。　And　then　you　and　Macnair　need　to　sign　it。　Macnair；　You're　supposed　to　listen　too；　that's　procedure　〃
　　Macnair's　face　vanished　from　the　window。　It　was　now　or　never。
　　〃Wait　here；〃　Harry　whispered　to　Hermione。　〃I'll　do　it。〃
　　As　Fudge's　voice　started　again；　Harry　darted　out　from　behind　his　tree；　vaulted　the　fence　into　the　pumpkin　patch；　and　approached　Buckbeak。
　　〃It　is　the　decision　of　the　mittee　for　the　Disposal　of　Dangerous　Creatures　that　the　hippogriff　Buckbeak；　hereafter　called　the　condemned；　shall　he　executed　on　the　sixth　of　June　at　sundown　〃
　　Careful　not　to　blink；　Harry　stared　up　into　Buckbeak's　fierce　orange　eyes　once　more　and　bowed。　Buckbeak　sank　to　his　scaly　knees　and　then　stood　up　again。　Harry　began　to　fumble　with　the　knot　of　rope　tying　Buckbeak　to　the　fence。
　　〃。。。　sentenced　to　execution　by　beheading；　to　be　carried　out　by　the　mittee's　appointed　executioner；　Walden　Macnai。。。〃
　　〃e　on；　Buckbeak；〃　Harry　murmured；　〃e　on；　we're　going　to　help　you。　Quietly。。。　quietly。。。〃
　　〃。。。　as　witnessed　below。　Hagrid；　you　sign　here。。。〃
　　Harry　threw　all　his　weight　onto　the　rope；　but　Buckbeak　had　dug　in　his　front　feet。
　　〃Well；　let's　get　this　over　with；〃　said　the　reedy　voice　of　the　mittee　member　from　inside　Hagrid's　cabin。　〃Hagrid；　perhaps　it　will　be　better　if　you　stay　inside　〃
　　〃No；　I　　I　wan'　ter　be　with　him。。。。　I　don'　wan'　him　ter　be　alone　〃
　　Footsteps　echoed　from　within　the　cabin。
　　〃Buckbeak；　move！〃　Harry　hissed。
　　Harry　tugged　harder　on　the　rope　around　Buckbeak's　neck。　The　hippogriff　began　to　walk；　rustling　its　wings　irritably。　They　were　still　ten　feet　away　from　the　forest；　in　plain　view　of　Hagrid's　back　door。　〃One　moment；　please；　Macnair；〃　came　Dumbledore's　voice。　〃You　need　to　sign　too。〃　The　footsteps　stopped。　Harry　heaved　on　the　rope。　Buckbeak　snapped　his　beak　and　walked　a　little　faster。
　　Hermione's　white　face　was　sticking　out　from　behind　a　tree。
　　〃Harry；　hurry！〃　she　mouthed。
　　Harry　could　still　hear　Dumbledore's　voice　talking　from　within　the　cabin。　He　gave　the　rope　another　wrench。　Buckbeak　broke　into　a　grudging　trot。　They　had　reached　the　trees。。。。
　　〃Quick！　Quick！〃　Hermione　moaned；　darting　out　from　behind　her　tree；　seizing　the　rope　too　and　adding　her　weight　to　make　Buckbeak　move　faster。　Harry　looked　over　his　shoulder；　they　were　now　blocked　from　sight；　they　couldn't　see　Hagrid's　garden　at　all。
　　〃Stop！〃　he　whispered　to　Hermione。　〃They　might　hear　us
　　Hagrid's　back　door　had　opened　with　a　bang。　Harry；　Hermione；　and　Buckbeak　stood　quite　still；　even　the　hippogriff　seemed　to　be　listening　intently。
　　Silence。。。　then　
　　〃Where　is　it？〃　said　the　reedy　voice　of　the　mittee　member。　〃Where　is　the　beast？〃
　　〃It　was　tied　here！〃　said　the　executioner　furiously。　I　saw　it！　just　here！〃
　　〃How　extraordinary；〃　said　Dumbledore。　There　was　a　note　of　amusement　in　his　voice。
　　〃Beaky！〃　said　Hagrid　huskily。
　　There　was　a　swishing　noise；　and　the　thud　of　an　axe。　The　executioner　seemed　to　have　swung　it　into　the　fence　in　anger。　And　then　came　the　howling；　and　this　time　they　could　hear　Hagrid's　words　through　his　sobs。
　　〃Gone！　Gone！　Bless　his　little　beak；　he's　gone！　Musta　pulled　himself　free！　Beaky；　yeh　clever　boy！〃
　　Buckbeak　started　to　strain　against　the　rope；　trying　to　get　back　to　Hagrid。　Harry　and　Hermione　tightened　their　grip　and　dug　their　heels　into　the　forest　floor　to　stop　him。
　　〃Someone　untied　him！〃　the　executioner　was　snarling。　〃We　should　search　the　grounds；　the　forest。〃
　　〃Macnair；　if　Buckbeak　has　indeed　been　stolen；　do　you　really　think　the　thief　will　have　led　him　away　on　foot？〃　said　Dumbledore；　still　sounding　amused。　〃Search　the　skies；　if　you　will。。。。　Hagrid；　I　could　do　with　a　cup　of　tea。　Or　a　large　brandy。〃
　　〃O'　　o'　course；　Professor；〃　said　Hagrid；　who　sounded　weak　with　happiness。　〃e　in；　e　in。。。。〃
　　Harry　and　Hermione　listened　closely。　They　heard　footsteps；　the　soft　cursing　of　the　executioner；　the　snap　of　the　door；　and　then　silence　once　more。
　　〃Now　what？〃　whispered　Harry；　looking　around。
　　〃We'll　have　to　hide　in　here；〃　said　Hermione；　who　looked　very　shaken。　〃We　need　to　wait　until　they've　gone　back　to　the　castle。　Then　we　wait　until　it's　safe　to　fly　Buckbeak　up　to　Sirius's　window。　He　won't　be　there　for　another　couple　of　hours。。。。　Oh；　this　is　going　to　be　difficult。。。。〃
　　She　looked　nervously　over　her　shoulder　into　the　depths　of　the　forest。　The　sun　was　setting　now。
　　〃We're　going　to　have　to　move；〃　said　Harry；　thinking　hard。　〃We've　got　to　be　able　to　see　the　Whomping　Willow；　or　we　won't　know　what's　going　on。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Hermione；　getting　a　firmer　grip　on　Buckbeak's　rope。　〃But　we've　got　to　keep　out　of　sight；　Harry；　remember。。。。〃
　　They　moved　around　the　edge　of　the　forest；　darkness　falling　thickly　around　them；　until　they　were　hidden　behind　a　clump　of　trees　through　which　they　could　make　out　the　Willow。
　　〃There's　Ron！〃　said　Harry　suddenly。
　　A　dark　figure　was　sprinting　across　the　lawn　and　its　shout　echoed　through　the　still　night　air。
　　〃Get　away　from　him　　get　away　　Scabbers；　e　here　〃
　　And　then　they　saw　two　more　figures　materialize　out　of　nowhere。　Harry　watched　himself　and　Hermione　chasing　after　Ron。　Then　he　saw　Ron　dive。
　　〃Gotcha！　Get　off；　you　stinking　cat　〃
　　〃There's　Sirius！〃　said　Harry。　The　great　shape　of　the　dog　had　bounded　out　from　the　roots　of　the　Willow。　They　saw　him　bowl　Harry　over；　then　seize　Ron。。。。
　　〃Looks　even　worse　from　here；　doesn't　it？〃　said　Harry；　watching　the　dog　pulling　Ron　into　the　roots。　〃Ouch　　look；　I　just　got　walloped　by　the　tree　　and　so　did　you　　this　is　weird〃
　　The　Whomping　Willow　was　creaking　and　lashing　out　with　its　lower　branches；　they　could　see　themselves　darting　here　and　there；　trying　to　reach　the　trunk。　And　then　the　tree　froze。
　　〃That　was　Crookshanks　pressing　the　knot；〃　said　Hermione。
　　〃And　there　we　go。。。〃　Harry　muttered。　〃We're　in。〃
　　The　moment　they　disappeared；　the　tree　began　to　move　again。　Seconds　later；　they　heard　footsteps　quite　close　by。　Dumbledore；　Macnair；　Fudge；　and　the　old　mittee　member　were　making　their　way　up　to　the　castle。
　　〃Right　after　we'd　gone　down　into　the　passage！〃　said　Hermione。　〃If　only　Dumbledore　had　e　with　us。。。〃
　　〃Macnair　and　Fudge　would've　e　too；〃　said　Harry　bitterly。　〃I　bet　you　anything　Fudge　would've　told　Macnair　to　murder　Sirius　on　the　spot。。。。〃
　　They　watched　the　four　men　climb　the　castle　steps　and　disappear　from　view。　For　a　few　minutes　the　scene　was　deserted。　Then　
　　〃Here　es　Lupin！〃　said　Harry　as　they　saw　another　figure　sprinting　down　the　stone　steps　and　hating　toward　the　Willow。　Harry　looked　up　at　the　sky。　Clouds　were　obscuring　the　moon　pletely。
　　They　watched　Lupin　seize　a　broken　branch　from　the　ground　and　prod　the　knot　on　the　trunk。　The　tree　stopped　fighting；　and　Lupin；　too；　disappeared　into　the　gap　in　its　roots。
　　〃If　he'd　only　grabbed　the　cloak；〃　said　Harry。　〃It's　just　lying　there。。。。〃
　　He　turned　to　Hermione。
　　〃If　I　just　dashed　out　now　and　grabbed　it；　Snape'd　never　be　able　to　get　it　and　〃
　　〃Harry；　we　mustn't　be　seen！〃
　　〃How　can　you　stand　this？〃　he　asked　Hermione　fiercely。　〃Just　standing　here　and　watching　it　happen？〃