jkrowling.harrypotterandgf-第89部分

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hat's　he　been　doing　while　he　should　have　been　judging　the　tournament？〃
　　　Sirius　lapsed　into　silence；　still　staring　at　the　cave　wall。　Buckbeak　was　ferreting　around　on　the　rocky　floor；　looking　for　bones　he　might　have　overlooked。　Finally；　Sirius　looked　up　at　Ron。
　　　〃You　say　your　brother　s　Crouch's　personal　assistant？　Any　chance　you　could　ask　him　if　he's　seen　Crouch　lately？〃
　　　〃I　can　try；〃　said　Ron　doubtfully。　〃Better　not　make　it　sound　like　I　reckon　Crouch　is　up　to　anything　dodgy；　though。　Percy　loves　Crouch。〃
　　　〃And　you　might　try　and　find　out　whether　they've　got　any　leads　on　Bertha　Jorkins　while　you're　at　it；〃　said　Sirius；　gesturing　to　the　second　copy　of　the　Daily　Prophet。
　　　〃Bagman　told　me　they　hadn't；〃　said　Harry。
　　　〃Yes；　he's　quoted　in　the　article　in　there；〃　said　Sirius；　nodding　at　the　paper。　〃Blustering　on　about　how　bad　Bertha's　memory　is。　Well；　maybe　she's　changed　since　I　knew　her；　but　the　Bertha　I　knew　wasn't　forgetful　at　all…quite　the　reverse。　She　was　a　bit　dim；　but　she　had　an　excellent　memory　for　gossip。　It　used　to　get　her　into　a　lot　of　trouble；　she　never　knew　when　to　keep　her　mouth　shut。　I　can　see　her　being　a　bit　of　a　liability　at　the　Ministry　of　Magic。。。　maybe　that's　why　Bagman　didn't　bother　to　look　for　her　for　so　long。。。〃
　　　Sirius　heaved　an　enormous　sigh　and　rubbed　his　shadowed　eyes。
　　　〃What's　the　time？〃
　　　Harry　checked　his　watch；　then　remembered　it　hadn't　been　working　since　it　had　spent　over　an　hour　in　the　lake。
　　　〃It's　half　past　three；〃　said　Hermione。
　　　〃You'd　better　get　back　to　school；〃　Sirius　said；　getting　to　his　feet。　〃Now　listen。。。〃　He　looked　particularly　hard　at　Harry。　〃I　don't　want　you　lot　sneaking　out　of　school　to　see　me；　all　right？　Just　send　notes　to　me　here。　I　still　want　to　hear　about　anything　odd。　But　you're　not　to　go　leaving　Hogwarts　without　permission；　it　would　be　an　ideal　opportunity　for　someone　to　attack　you。〃
　　　〃No　one's　tried　to　attack　me　so　far；　except　a　dragon　and　a　couple　of　grindylows；〃　Harry　said；　but　Sirius　scowled　at　him。
　　　〃I　don't　care。。。　I'll　breathe　freely　again　when　this　tournament's　over；　and　that's　not　until　June。　And　don't　forget；　if　you're　talking　about　me　among　yourselves；　call　me　Snuffles；　okay？〃
　　　He　handed　Harry　the　empty　napkin　and　flask　and　went　to　pat　Buckbeak　good…bye。　〃I'll　walk　to　the　edge　of　the　village　with　you；〃　said　Sirius；　〃see　if　I　can　scrounge　another　paper。〃
　　　He　transformed　into　the　great　black　dog　before　they　left　the　cave；　and　they　walked　back　down　the　mountainside　with　him；　across　the　boulder…strewn　ground；　and　back　to　the　stile。　Here　he　allowed　each　of　them　to　pat　him　on　the　head；　before　turning　and　setting　off　at　a　run　around　the　outskirts　of　the　village。　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　made　their　way　back　into　Hogsmeade　and　up　toward　Hogwarts。
　　　〃Wonder　if　Percy　knows　all　that　stuff　about　Crouch？〃　Ron　said　as　they　walked　up　the　drive　to　the　castle。　〃But　maybe　he　doesn't　care。。。　It'd　probably　just　make　him　admire　Crouch　even　more。　Yeah；　Percy　loves　rules。　He'd　just　say　Crouch　was　refusing　to　break　them　for　his　own　son。〃
　　　〃Percy　would　never　throw　any　of　his　family　to　the　dementors；〃　said　Hermione　severely。
　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Ron。　〃If　he　thought　we　were　standing　in　the　way　of　his　career。。。　Percy's　really　ambitious；　you　know。。。〃
　　　They　walked　up　the　stone　steps　into　the　entrance　hall；　where　the　delicious　smells　of　dinner　wafted　toward　them　from　the　Great　Hall。
　　　〃Poor　old　Snuffles；〃　said　Ron；　breathing　deeply。　〃He　must　really　like　you。　Harry。。。　Imagine　having　to　live　off　rats。〃
　　　
　　　
　　　CHAPTER　TWENTY…EIGHT
　　　THE　MADNESS　OF　MR　CROUCH
　　　
　　　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　went　up　to　the　Owlery　after　breakfast　on　Sunday　to　send　a　letter　to　Percy；　asking；　as　Sirius　had　suggested；　whether　he　had　seen　Mr。　Crouch　lately。　They　used　Hedwig；　because　it　had　been　so　long　since　she'd　had　a　job。　When　they　had　watched　her　fly　out　of　sight　through　the　Owlery　window；　they　proceeded　down　to　the　kitchen　to　give　Dobby　his　new　socks。
　　　The　house…elves　gave　them　a　very　cheery　wele；　bowing　and　curtsying　and　bustling　around　making　tea　again。　Dobby　was　ecstatic　about　his　present。
　　　〃Harry　Potter　is　too　good　to　Dobby！〃　he　squeaked；　wiping　large　tears　out　of　his　enormous　eyes。
　　　〃You　saved　my　life　with　that　gillyweed；　Dobby；　you　really　did；〃　said　Harry。
　　　〃No　chance　of　more　of　those　eclairs；　is　there？〃　said　Ron；　who　was　looking　around　at　the　beaming　and　bowing　house…elves。
　　　〃You've　just　had　breakfast！〃　said　Hermione　irritably；　but　a　great　silver　platter　of　eclairs　was　already　zooming　toward　them；　supported　by　four　elves。
　　　〃We　should　get　some　stuff　to　send　up　to　Snuffles；〃　Harry　muttered。
　　　〃Good　idea；〃　said　Ron。　〃Give　Pig　something　to　do。　You　couldn't　give　us　a　bit　of　extra　food；　could　you？〃　he　said　to　the　surrounding　elves；　and　they　bowed　delightedly　and　hurried　off　to　get　some　more。
　　　〃Dobby；　where's　Winky？〃　said　Hermione；　who　was　looking　around。
　　　〃Winky　is　over　there　by　the　fire；　miss；〃　said　Dobby　quietly；　his　ears　drooping　slightly。
　　　〃Oh　dear；〃　said　Hermione　as　she　spotted　Winky。
　　　Harry　looked　over　at　the　fireplace　too。　Winky　was　sitting　on　the　same　stool　as　last　time；　but　she　had　allowed　herself　to　bee　so　filthy　that　she　was　not　immediately　distinguishable　from　the　smoke…blackened　brick　behind　her。　Her　clothes　were　ragged　and　unwashed。　She　was　clutching　a　bottle　of　butterbeer　and　swaying　slightly　on　her　stool；　staring　into　the　fire。　As　they　watched　her；　she　gave　an　enormous　hiccup。
　　　〃Winky　is　getting　through　six　bottles　a　day　now；〃　Dobby　whispered　to　Harry。
　　　〃Well；　it's　not　strong；　that　stuff；〃　Harry　said。
　　　But　Dobby　shook　his　head。　〃'Tis　strong　for　a　house…elf；　sir；〃　he　said。
　　　Winky　hiccuped　again。　The　elves　who　had　brought　the　eclairs　gave　her　disapproving　looks　as　they　returned　to　work。
　　　〃Winky　is　pining；　Harry　Potter；〃　Dobby　whispered　sadly。　〃Winky　wants　to　go　home。　Winky　still　thinks　Mr。　Crouch　is　her　master；　sir；　and　nothing　Dobby　says　will　persuade　her　that　Professor　Dumbledore　is　her　master　now。〃
　　　〃Hey；　Winky；〃　said　Harry；　struck　by　a　sudden　inspiration；　walking　over　to　her；　and　bending　down；　〃you　don't　know　what　Mr。　Crouch　might　be　up　to；　do　you？　Because　he's　stopped　turning　up　to　judge　the　Triwizard　Tournament。〃
　　　Winky's　eyes　flickered。　Her　enormous　pupils　focused　on　Harry。　She　swayed　slightly　again　and　then　said；　〃M…Master　is　stopped…hic…ing？〃
　　　〃Yeah；〃　said　Harry；　〃we　haven't　seen　him　since　the　first　task。　The　Daily　Prophet's　saying　he's　ill。〃
　　　Winky　swayed　some　more；　staring　blurrily　at　Harry。
　　　〃Masterhicill？〃
　　　Her　bottom　lip　began　to　tremble。
　　　〃But　we're　not　sure　if　that's　true；〃　said　Hermione　quickly。
　　　〃Master　is　needing　his…hie…Winky！〃　whimpered　the　elf。　〃Master　cannot…hic…manage…hic…all　by　himself。。。〃
　　　〃Other　people　manage　to　do　their　own　housework；　you　know；　Winky；〃　Hermione　said　severely。
　　　〃Winky…hic…is　not　only…hic…doing　housework　for　Mr。　Crouch！〃　Winky　squeaked　indignantly；　swaying　worse　than　ever　and　slopping　butterbeer　down　her　already　heavily　stained　blouse。　〃Master　is…hic…trusting　Winky　with…hic…the　most　important…hic…the　most　secret。。。〃
　　　〃What？〃　said　Harry。
　　　But　Winky　shook　her　head　very　hard；　spilling　more　butterbeer　down　herself。
　　　〃Winky　keeps…hic…her　master's　secrets；〃　she　said　mutinously；　swaying　very　heavily　now；　frowning　up　at　Harry　with　her　eyes　crossed。　〃You　is…hic…nosing；　you　is。〃
　　　〃Winky　must　not　talk　like　that　to　Harry　Potter！〃　said　Dobby　angrily。　〃Harry　Potter　is　brave　and　noble　and　Harry　Potter　is　not　nosy！〃
　　　〃He　is　nosing…hic…into　my　master's…hic…private　and　secret…hic…Winky　is　a　good　house…elfhic…Winky　keeps　her　silence…hic…people　trying　to…hic…pry　and　poke…hic…〃
　　　Winky's　eyelids　drooped　and　suddenly；　without　warning；　she　slid　off　her　stool　into　the　hearth；　snoring　loudly。　The　empty　bottle　of　butterbeer　rolled　away　across　the　stone…flagged　floor。　Half　a　dozen　house…elves　came　hurrying　forward；　looking　disgusted。　One　of　them　picked　up　the　bottle；　the　others　covered　Winky　with　a　large　checked　tablecloth　and　tucked　the　ends　in　neatly；　hiding　her　from　view。
　　　〃We　is　sorry　you　had　to　see　that；　sirs　and　miss！〃　squeaked　a　nearby　elf；　shaking　his　head　and　looking　very　ashamed。　〃We　is　hoping　you　will　not　judge　us　all　by　Winky；　sirs　and　miss！〃
　　　〃She's　unhappy！〃　said　Hermione；　exasperated。　〃Why　don't　you　try　and　cheer　her　up　instead　of　covering　her　up？〃
　　　〃Begging　your　pardon；　miss；〃　said　the　house…elf；　bowing　deeply　again；　〃but　house…elves　has　no　right　to　be　unhappy　when　there　is　work　to　be　done　and　masters　to　be　served。〃
　　　〃Oh　for　heavens　sake！〃　Hermione　cried。　〃Listen　to　me；　all　of　you！　You've　got　just　as　much　right　as　wizards　to　be　unhappy！　You've　got　the　right　to　wages　and　holidays　and　proper　clothes；　you　don't　have　to　do　everything　you're　told…look　at　Dobby！〃
　　　〃Miss　will　please　keep　Dobby　out　of　this；〃　Dobby　mumbled；　looking　scared。　The　cheery　smiles　had　vanished　from　the　faces　of　the　house…elves　around　the　kitchen。　They　were　suddenly　looking　at　Hermione　as　though　she　were　mad　and　dangerous。
　　　〃We　has　your　extra　food！〃　squeaked　an　elf　at　Harry's　elbow；　and　he　shoved　a　large　ham；　a　dozen　cakes；　and　some　fruit　into　Harry's　arms。　〃Good…bye！〃
　　　The　house…elves　crowded　around　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　and　began　shunting　them