jkrowling.harrypotterandgf-第74部分

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　　　〃Missing　your　half…breed　pal？〃　he　kept　whispering　to　Harry　whenever　there　was　a　teacher　around；　so　that　he　was　safe　from　Harry's　retaliation。　〃Missing　the　elephant…man？〃
　　　There　was　a　Hogsmeade　visit　halfway　through　January。　Hermione　was　very　surprised　that　Harry　was　going　to　go。
　　　〃I　just　thought　you'd　want　to　take　advantage　of　the　mon　room　being　quiet；〃　she　said。　〃Really　get　to　work　on　that　egg。〃
　　　〃Oh　I…I　reckon　I've　got　a　pretty　good　idea　what　it's　about　now；〃　Harry　lied。
　　　〃Have　you　really？〃　said　Hermione；　looking　impressed。　〃Well　done！〃
　　　Harrys　insides　gave　a　guilty　squirm；　but　he　ignored　them。　He　still　had　five　weeks　to　work　out　that　egg　clue；　after　all；　and　that　was　ages。。。　whereas　if　he　went　into　Hogsmeade；　he　might　run　into　Hagrid；　and　get　a　chance　to　persuade　him　to　e　back。
　　　He；　Ron；　and　Hermione　left　the　castle　together　on　Saturday　and　set　off　through　the　cold；　wet　grounds　toward　the　gates。　As　they　passed　the　Durmstrang　ship　moored　in　the　lake；　they　saw　Viktor　Krum　emerge　onto　the　deck；　dressed　in　nothing　but　swimming　trunks。　He　was　very　skinny　indeed；　but　apparently　a　lot　tougher　than　he　looked；　because　he　climbed　up　onto　the　side　of　the　ship；　stretched　out　his　arms；　and　dived；　right　into　the　lake。
　　　〃He's　mad！〃　said　Harry；　staring　at　Krums　dark　head　as　it　bobbed　out　into　the　middle　of　the　lake。　〃It　must　be　freezing；　it's　January！〃
　　　〃It's　a　lot　colder　where　he　es　from；〃　said　Hermione。　〃I　suppose　it　feels　quite　warm　to　him。〃
　　　〃Yeah；　but　there's　still　the　giant　squid；〃　said　Ron。　He　didn't　sound　anxious…if　anything；　he　sounded　hopeful。　Hermione　noticed　his　tone　of　voice　and　frowned。
　　　〃He's　really　nice；　you　know；〃　she　said。　〃He's　not　at　all　like　you'd　think；　ing　from　Durmstrang。　He　likes　it　much　better　here；　he　told　me。〃
　　　Ron　said　nothing。　He　hadn't　mentioned　Viktor　Krum　since　the　ball；　but　Harry　had　found　a　miniature　arm　under　his　bed　on　Boxing　Day；　which　had　looked　very　much　as　though　it　had　been　snapped　off　a　small　model　figure　wearing　Bulgarian　Quidditch　robes。
　　　Harry　kept　his　eyes　skinned　for　a　sign　of　Hagrid　all　the　way　down　the　slushy　High　Street；　and　suggested　a　visit　to　the　Three　Broomsticks　once　he　had　ascertained　that　Hagrid　was　not　in　any　of　the　shops。
　　　The　pub　was　as　crowded　as　ever；　but　one　quick　look　around　at　all　the　tables　told　Harry　that　Hagrid　wasn't　there。　Heart　sinking；　he　went　up　to　the　bar　with　Ron　and　Hermione；　ordered　three　butterbeers　from　Madam　Rosmerta；　and　thought　gloomily　that　he　might　just　as　well　have　stayed　behind　and　listened　to　the　egg　wailing　after　all。
　　　〃Doesn't　he　ever　go　into　the　office？〃　Hermione　whispered　suddenly。　〃Look！〃
　　　She　pointed　into　the　mirror　behind　the　bar；　and　Harry　saw　Ludo　Bagman　reflected　there；　sitting　in　a　shadowy　corner　with　a　bunch　of　goblins。　Bagman　was　talking　very　fast　in　a　low　voice　to　the　goblins；　all　of　whom　had　their　arms　crossed　and　were　looking　rather　menacing。
　　　It　was　indeed　odd。　Harry　thought；　that　Bagman　was　here　at　the　Three　Broomsticks　on　a　weekend　when　there　was　no　Triwizard　event；　and　therefore　no　judging　to　be　done。　He　watched　Bagman　in　the　mirror。　He　was　looking　strained　again；　quite　as　strained　as　he　had　that　night　in　the　forest　before　the　Dark　Mark　had　appeared。　But　just　then　Bagman　glanced　over　at　the　bar；　saw　Harry；　and　stood　up。
　　　〃In　a　moment；　in　a　moment！〃　Harry　heard　him　say　brusquely　to　the　goblins；　and　Bagman　hurried　through　the　pub　toward　Harry；　his　boyish　grin　back　in　place。
　　　〃Harry！〃　he　said。　〃How　are　you？　Been　hoping　to　run　into　you！　Everything　going　all　right？〃
　　　〃Fine；　thanks；〃　said　Harry。
　　　〃Wonder　if　I　could　have　a　quick；　private　word；　Harry？〃　said　Bagman　eagerly。　〃You　couldn't　give　us　a　moment；　you　two；　could　you？〃
　　　〃Er…okay；〃　said　Ron；　and　he　and　Hermione　went　off　to　find　a　table。
　　　Bagman　led　Harry　along　the　bar　to　the　end　furthest　from　Madam　Rosmerta。
　　　〃Well；　I　just　thought　I'd　congratulate　you　again　on　your　splendid　performance　against　that　Horntail；　Harry；〃　said　Bagman。　〃Really　superb。〃
　　　〃Thanks；〃　said　Harry；　but　he　knew　this　couldn't　be　all　that　Bagman　wanted　to　say；　because　he　could　have　congratulated　Harry　in　front　of　Ron　and　Hermione。　Bagman　didn't　seem　in　any　particular　rush　to　spill　the　beans；　though。　Harry　saw　him　glance　into　the　mirror　over　the　bar　at　the　goblins；　who　were　all　watching　him　and　Harry　in　silence　through　their　dark；　slanting　eyes。
　　　〃Absolute　nightmare；〃　said　Bagman　to　Harry　in　an　undertone；　noticing　Harry　watching　the　goblins　too。　〃Their　English　isn't　too　good。。。　it's　like　being　back　with　all　the　Bulgarians　at　the　Quidditch　World　Cup。。。　but　at　least　they　used　sign　language　another　human　could　recognize。　This　lot　keep　gabbling　in　Gobblede…gook。。。　and　I　only　know　one　word　of　Gobbledegook。　Bladvak。　It　means　'pickax。　'　I　don't　like　to　use　it　in　case　they　think　I'm　threatening　them。〃
　　　He　gave　a　short；　booming　laugh。
　　　〃What　do　they　want？〃　Harry　said；　noticing　how　the　goblins　were　still　watching　Bagman　very　closely。
　　　〃Er…well。。。〃　said　Bagman；　looking　suddenly　nervous。　〃They　。。。er　。。。they're　looking　for　Barty　Crouch。〃
　　　〃Why　are　they　looking　for　him　here？〃　said　Harry。　〃He's　at　the　Ministry　in　London；　isn't　he？〃
　　　〃Er　。。。as　a　matter　of　fact；　I've　no　idea　where　he　is；〃　said　Bagman。　〃He's　sort　of。。。　stopped　ing　to　work。　Been　absent　for　a　couple　of　weeks　now。　Young　Percy；　his　assistant；　says　he's　ill。　Apparently　he's　just　been　sending　instructions　in　by　owl。　But　would　you　mind　not　mentioning　that　to　anyone。　Harry？　Because　Rita　Skeeter's　still　poking　around　everywhere　she　can；　and　I'm　willing　to　bet　she'd　work　up　Bartys　illness　into　something　sinister。　Probably　say　he's　gone　missing　like　Bertha　Jorkins。〃
　　　〃Have　you　heard　anything　about　Bertha　Jorkins？〃　Harry　asked。
　　　〃No；〃　said　Bagman；　looking　strained　again。　〃I've　got　people　looking；　of　course　。。。〃　（About　time；　thought　Harry）　〃and　it's　all　very　strange。　She　definitely　arrived　in　Albania；　because　she　met　her　second　cousin　there。　And　then　she　left　the　cousin's　house　to　go　south　and　see　an　aunt。。。　and　she　seems　to　have　vanished　without　trace　en　route。　Blowed　if　I　can　see　where　she's　got　to　。。。she　doesn't　seem　the　type　to　elope；　for　instance。。。　but　still。。。　What　are　we　doing；　talking　about　goblins　and　Bertha　Jorkins？　I　really　wanted　to　ask　you〃…he　lowered　his　voice…〃how　are　you　getting　on　with　your　golden　egg？〃
　　　〃Er。。。　not　bad；〃　Harry　said　untruthfully。
　　　Bagman　seemed　to　know　he　wasn't　being　honest。
　　　〃Listen；　Harry；〃　he　said　（still　in　a　very　low　voice）；　〃I　feel　very　bad　about　all　this。。。　you　were　thrown　into　this　tournament；　you　didn't　volunteer　for　it。。。　and　if。。。〃　（his　voice　was　so　quiet　now；　Harry　had　to　lean　closer　to　listen）　〃if　I　can　help　at　all。。。　a　prod　in　the　right　direction。。。　I've　taken　a　liking　to　you。。。　the　way　you　got　past　that　dragon！。。。　well；　just　say　the　word。〃
　　　Harry　stared　up　into　Bagman's　round；　rosy　face　and　his　wide；　baby…blue　eyes。
　　　〃We're　supposed　to　work　out　the　clues　alone；　aren't　we？〃　he　said；　careful　to　keep　his　voice　casual　and　not　sound　as　though　he　was　accusing　the　head　of　the　Department　of　Magical　Games　and　Sports　of　breaking　the　rules。
　　　〃Well。。。　well；　yes；〃　said　Bagman　impatiently；　〃but…e　on。　Harry…we　all　want　a　Hogwarts　victory；　don't　we？〃
　　　〃Have　you　offered　Cedric　help？〃　Harry　said。
　　　The　smallest　of　frowns　creased　Bagman's　smooth　face。　〃No；　I　haven't；〃　he　said。　〃I…well；　like　I　say；　I've　taken　a　liking　to　you。　Just　thought　I'd　offer　。。。〃
　　　〃Well；　thanks；〃　said　Harry；　〃but　I　think　I'm　nearly　there　with　the　egg。。。　couple　more　days　should　crack　it。〃
　　　He　wasn't　entirely　sure　why　he　was　refusing　Bagman's　help；　except　that　Bagman　was　almost　a　stranger　to　him；　and　accepting　his　assistance　would　feel　somehow　much　more　like　cheating　than　asking　advice　from　Ron；　Hermione；　or　Sirius。
　　　Bagman　looked　almost　affronted；　but　couldn't　say　much　more　as　Fred　and　George　turned　up　at　that　point。
　　　〃Hello；　Mr。　Bagman；〃　said　Fred　brightly。　〃Can　we　buy　you　a　drink？〃
　　　〃Er。。。　no；〃　said　Bagman；　with　a　last　disappointed　glance　at　Harry；　〃no；　thank　you；　boys　。。。〃
　　　Fred　and　George　looked　quite　as　disappointed　as　Bagman；　who　was　surveying　Harry　as　though　he　had　let　him　down　badly。
　　　〃Well；　I　must　dash；〃　he　said。　〃Nice　seeing　you　all。　Good　luck；　Harry。〃
　　　He　hurried　out　of　the　pub。　The　goblins　all　slid　off　their　chairs　and　exited　after　him。　Harry　went　to　rejoin　Ron　and　Hermione。
　　　〃What　did　he　want？〃　Ron　said；　the　moment　Harry　had　sat　down。
　　　〃He　offered　to　help　me　with　the　golden　egg；〃　said　Harry。
　　　〃He　shouldn't　be　doing　that！〃　said　Hermione；　looking　very　shocked。　〃He's　one　of　the　judges！　And　anyway；　you've　already　worked　it　out…haven't　you？〃
　　　〃Er。。。　nearly；〃　said　Harry。
　　　〃Well；　I　don't　think　Dumbledore　would　like　it　if　he　knew　Bagman　was　trying　to　persuade　you　to　cheat！〃　said　Hermione；　still　looking　deeply　disapproving。　〃I　hope　he's　trying　to　help　Cedric　as　much！〃
　　　〃He's　not；　I　asked；〃　said　Harry。
　　　〃Who　cares　if　Diggorys　getting　help？〃　said　Ron。　Harry　privately　agreed。
　　　〃Those　goblins　didn't　look　very　friendly；〃　said　Hermione；　sipping　her　butterbeer。　〃What　were　they　doing　here？〃
　　　〃Looking　for　Crouch；　according　to　Bagman；〃　said　Harry。　〃He's　still　ill。　Hasn't　been　into　work。〃
　　　〃Maybe　Percys　poisoning　him；〃　said　Ron。