jkrowling.harrypotterandgf-第44部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　〃What　is　it　with　her？〃　said　Ron；　exasperated；　as　Hermione　ran　away　up　the　marble　staircase。
　　　〃Hey；　Ron；〃　said　Harry　suddenly。　〃It's　your　friend。。。〃
　　　The　students　from　Beauxbatons　were　ing　through　the　front　doors　from　the　grounds；　among　them；　the　veela…girl。　Those　gathered　around　the　Goblet　of　Fire　stood　back　to　let　them　pass；　watching　eagerly。
　　　Madame　Maxime　entered　the　hall　behind　her　students　and　organized　them　into　a　line。　One　by　one；　the　Beauxbatons　students　stepped　across　the　Age　Line　and　dropped　their　slips　of　parchment　into　the　blue…white　flames。　As　each　name　entered　the　fire；　it　turned　briefly　red　and　emitted　sparks。
　　　〃What　d'you　reckon'll　happen　to　the　ones　who　aren't　chosen？〃　Ron　muttered　to　Harry　as　the　veela…girl　dropped　her　parchment　into　the　Goblet　of　Fire。　〃Reckon　they'll　go　back　to　school；　or　hang　around　to　watch　the　tournament？〃
　　　〃Dunno；〃　said　Harry。　〃Hang　around；　I　suppose。。。　Madame　Maxime's　staying　to　judge；　isn't　she？〃
　　　When　all　the　Beauxbatons　students　had　submitted　their　names；　Madame　Maxime　led　them　back　out　of　the　hall　and　out　onto　the　grounds　again。
　　　〃Where　are　they　sleeping；　then？〃　said　Ron；　moving　toward　the　front　doors　and　staring　after　them。
　　　A　loud　rattling　noise　behind　them　announced　Hermione's　reappearance　with　the　box　of　S。　P。　E。　W。　badges。
　　　〃Oh　good；　hurry　up；〃　said　Ron；　and　he　jumped　down　the　stone　steps；　keeping　his　eyes　on　the　back　of　the　veela…girl；　who　was　now　halfway　across　the　lawn　with　Madame　Maxime。
　　　As　they　neared　Hagrid's　cabin　on　the　edge　of　the　Forbidden　Forest；　the　mystery　of　the　Beauxbatons'　sleeping　quarters　was　solved。　The　gigantic　powder…blue　carriage　in　which　they　had　arrived　had　been　parked　two　hundred　yards　from　Hagrid's　front　door；　and　the　students　were　climbing　back　inside　it。　The　elephantine　flying　horses　that　had　pulled　the　carriage　were　now　grazing　in　a　makeshift　paddock　alongside　it。
　　　Harry　knocked　on　Hagrid's　door；　and　Fang's　booming　barks　answered　instantly。
　　　〃Bout　time！〃　said　Hagrid；　when　he'd　flung　open　the　door。　〃Thought　you　lot'd　forgotten　where　I　live！〃
　　　〃We've　been　really　busy；　Hag…〃　Hermione　started　to　say；　but　then　she　stopped　dead；　looking　up　at　Hagrid；　apparently　lost　for　words。
　　　Hagrid　was　wearing　his　best　（and　very　horrible）　hairy　brown　suit；　plus　a　checked　yellow…and…orange　tie。　This　wasn't　the　worst　of　it；　though；　he　had　evidently　tried　to　tame　his　hair；　using　large　quantities　of　what　appeared　to　be　axle　grease。　It　was　now　slicked　down　into　two　bunches…perhaps　he　had　tried　a　ponytail　like　Bill's；　but　found　he　had　too　much　hair。　The　look　didn't　really　suit　Hagrid　at　all。　For　a　moment；　Hermione　goggled　at　him；　then；　obviously　deciding　not　to　ment；　she　said；　〃Erm…where　are　the　skrewts。〃
　　　〃Out　by　the　pumpkin　patch；〃　said　Hagrid　happily。　〃They're　get…tin'　massive；　mus'　be　nearly　three　foot　long　now。　On'y　trouble　is；　they've　started　killin'　each　other。〃
　　　〃Oh　no；　really？〃　said　Hermione；　shooting　a　repressive　look　at　Ron；　who；　staring　at　Hagrid's　odd　hairstyle；　had　just　opened　his　mouth　to　say　something　about　it。
　　　〃Yeah；〃　said　Hagrid　sadly。　〃S'　okay；　though；　I've　got　'em　in　separate　boxes　now。　Still　got　abou'　twenty。〃
　　　〃Well；　that's　lucky；〃　said　Ron。　Hagrid　missed　the　sarcasm。
　　　Hagrid's　cabin　prised　a　single　room；　in　one　corner　of　which　was　a　gigantic　bed　covered　in　a　patchwork　quilt。　A　similarly　enormous　wooden　table　and　chairs　stood　in　front　of　the　fire　beneath　the　quantity　of　cured　hams　and　dead　birds　hanging　from　the　ceiling。　They　sat　down　at　the　table　while　Hagrid　started　to　make　tea；　and　were　soon　immersed　in　yet　more　discussion　of　the　Triwizard　Tournament。　Hagrid　seemed　quite　as　excited　about　it　as　they　were。
　　　〃You　wait；〃　he　said；　grinning。　〃You　jus'　wait。　Yer　going　ter　see　some　stuff　yeh've　never　seen　before。　Firs'　task。。。　ah；　but　I'm　not　supposed　ter　say。〃
　　　〃Go　on；　Hagrid！〃　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　urged　him；　but　he　just　shook　his　head；　grinning。
　　　〃I　don'　want　ter　spoil　it　fer　yeh；〃　said　Hagrid。　〃But　it's　gonna　be　spectacular；　I'll　tell　yeh　that。　Them　champions're　going　ter　have　their　work　cut　out。　Never　thought　I'd　live　ter　see　the　Triwizard　Tournament　played　again！〃
　　　They　ended　up　having　lunch　with　Hagrid；　though　they　didn't　eat　much…Hagrid　had　made　what　he　said　was　a　beef　casserole；　but　after　Hermione　unearthed　a　large　talon　in　hers；　she；　Harry；　and　Ron　rather　lost　their　appetites。　However；　they　enjoyed　themselves　trying　to　make　Hagrid　tell　them　what　the　tasks　in　the　tournament　were　going　to　be；　speculating　which　of　the　entrants　were　likely　to　be　selected　as　champions；　and　wondering　whether　Fred　and　George　were　beardless　yet。
　　　A　light　rain　had　started　to　fall　by　midafternoon；　it　was　very　cozy　sitting　by　the　fire；　listening　to　the　gentle　patter　of　the　drops　on　the　window；　watching　Hagrid　darning　his　socks　and　arguing　with　Hermione　about　house…elves…for　he　flatly　refused　to　join　S。　P。　E。　W。　when　she　showed　him　her　badges。
　　　〃It'd　be　doin'　'em　an　unkindness；　Hermione；〃　he　said　gravely；　threading　a　massive　bone　needle　with　thick　yellow　yarn。　〃It's　in　their　nature　ter　look　after　humans；　that's　what　they　like；　see？　Yeh'd　be　makin'　'em　unhappy　ter　take　away　their　work；　an'　insutin'　'em　if　yeh　tried　ter　pay　'em。〃
　　　〃But　Harry　set　Dobby　free；　and　he　was　over　the　moon　about　it！〃　said　Hermione。　〃And　we　heard　he's　asking　for　wages　now！〃
　　　〃Yeah；　well；　yeh　get　weirdos　in　every　breed。　I'm　not　sayin'　there　isn't　the　odd　elf　who'd　take　freedom；　but　yeh'll　never　persuade　most　of　'em　ter　do　it…no；　nothin'　doin'；　Hermione。〃
　　　Hermione　looked　very　cross　indeed　and　stuffed　her　box　of　badges　back　into　her　cloak　pocket。
　　　By　half　past　five　it　was　growing　dark；　and　Ron；　Harry；　and　Hermione　decided　it　was　time　to　get　back　up　to　the　castle　for　the　Halloween　feast…and；　more　important；　the　announcement　of　the　school　champions。
　　　〃I'll　e　with　yeh；〃　said　Hagrid；　putting　away　his　darning。　〃Jus'　give　us　a　sec。〃
　　　Hagrid　got　up；　went　across　to　the　chest　of　drawers　beside　his　bed；　and　began　searching　for　something　inside　it。　They　didn't　pay　too　much　attention　until　a　truly　horrible　smell　reached　their　nostrils。　Coughing；　Ron　said；　〃Hagrid；　what's　that？〃
　　　〃Eh？〃　said　Hagrid；　turning　around　with　a　large　bottle　in　his　hand。　〃Don'　yeh　like　it？〃
　　　〃Is　that　aftershave？〃　said　Hermione　in　a　slightly　choked　voice。
　　　〃Er…eau　de　cologne；〃　Hagrid　muttered。　He　was　blushing。
　　　〃Maybe　it's　a　bit　much；〃　he　said　gruffly。　〃I'll　go　take　it　off；　hang　on。。。〃
　　　He　stumped　out　of　the　cabin；　and　they　saw　him　washing　himself　vigorously　in　the　water　barrel　outside　the　window。
　　　〃Eau　de　cologne？〃　said　Hermione　in　amazement。　〃Hagrid？〃
　　　〃And　what's　with　the　hair　and　the　suit？〃　said　Harry　in　an　undertone。
　　　〃Look！〃　said　Ron　suddenly；　pointing　out　of　the　window。　Hagrid　had　just　straightened　up　and　turned　'round。　If　he　had　been　blushing　before；　it　was　nothing　to　what　he　was　doing　now。　Getting　to　their　feet　very　cautiously；　so　that　Hagrid　wouldn't　spot　them；　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　peered　through　the　window　and　saw　that　Madame　Maxime　and　the　Beauxbatons　students　had　just　emerged　from　their　carriage；　clearly　about　to　set　off　for　the　feast　too。　They　couldn't　hear　what　Hagrid　was　saying；　but　he　was　talking　to　Madame　Maxime　with　a　rapt；　misty…eyed　expression　Harry　had　only　ever　seen　him　wear　once　before…when　he　had　been　looking　at　the　baby　dragon；　Norbert。
　　　〃He's　going　up　to　the　castle　with　her！〃　said　Hermione　indignantly。　〃I　thought　he　was　waiting　for　us！〃
　　　Without　so　much　as　a　backward　glance　at　his　cabin；　Hagrid　was　trudging　off　up　the　grounds　with　Madame　Maxime；　the　Beaux…batons　students　following　in　their　wake；　jogging　to　keep　up　with　their　enormous　strides。
　　　〃He　fancies　her！〃　said　Ron　incredulously。　〃Well；　if　they　end　up　having　children；　they'll　be　setting　a　world　record…bet　any　baby　of　theirs　would　weigh　about　a　ton。〃
　　　They　let　themselves　out　of　the　cabin　and　shut　the　door　behind　them。　It　was　surprisingly　dark　outside。　Drawing　their　cloaks　more　closely　around　themselves；　they　set　off　up　the　sloping　lawns。
　　　〃Ooh　it's　them；　look！〃　Hermione　whispered。
　　　The　Durmstrang　party　was　walking　up　toward　the　castle　from　the　lake。　Viktor　Krum　was　walking　side　by　side　with　Karkaroff；　and　the　other　Durmstrang　students　were　straggling　along　behind　them。　Ron　watched　Krum　excitedly；　but　Krum　did　not　look　around　as　he　reached　the　front　doors　a　little　ahead　of　Hermione；　Ron；　and　Harry　and　proceeded　through　them。
　　　When　they　entered　the　candlelit　Great　Hall　it　was　almost　full。　The　Goblet　of　Fire　had　been　moved；　it　was　now　standing　in　front　of　Dumbledore's　empty　chair　at　the　teachers'　table。　Fred　and　George…clean…shaven　again…seemed　to　have　taken　their　disappointment　fairly　well。
　　　〃Hope　it's　Angelina；〃　said　Fred　as　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　sat　down。
　　　〃So　do　I！〃　said　Hermione　breathlessly。　〃Well；　we'll　soon　know！〃
　　　The　Halloween　feast　seemed　to　take　much　longer　than　usual。　Perhaps　because　it　was　their　second　feast　in　two　days；　Harry　didn't　seem　to　fancy　the　extravagantly　prepared　food　as　much　as　he　would　have　normally。　Like　everyone　else　in　the　Hall；　judging　by　the　constantly　craning　necks；　the　impatient　expressions　on　every　face；　the　fidgeting；　and　the　standing　up　to　see　whether　Dumbledore　had　finished　eating　y