jkrowling.hp&theorderofphenix-第25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！


　　　〃Step　over　here；〃　said　the　wizard　in　a　bored　voice。
　　　Harry　walked　closer　to　him　and　the　wizard　held　up　a　long　golden　rod；　thin　and　flexible　as　a　car　aerial；　and　passed　it　up　and　down　Harry's　front　and　back。
　　　〃Wand；〃　grunted　the　security　wizard　at　Harry；　putting　down　the　golden　instrument　and　holding　out　his　hand。
　　　Harry　produced　his　wand。　The　wizard　dropped　it　on　to　a　strange　brass　instrument；　which　looked　something　like　a　set　of　scales　with　only　one　dish。　It　began　to　vibrate。　A　narrow　strip　of　parchment　came　speeding　out　of　a　slit　in　the　base。　The　wizard　tore　this　off　and　read　the　writing　on　it。
　　　〃Eleven　inches；　phoenix…feather　core；　been　in　use　four　years。　That　correct？〃
　　　
　　　〃Yes；〃　said　Harry　nervously。
　　　〃I　keep　this；〃　said　the　wizard；　impaling　the　slip　of　parchment　on　a　small　brass　spike。　〃You　get　this　back；〃　he　added；　thrusting　the　wand　at　Harry。
　　　〃Thank　you。〃
　　　
　　　〃Hang　on　。。。〃　said　the　wizard　slowly。
　　　His　eyes　had　darted　from　the　silver　visitors　badge　on　Harry's　chest　to　his　forehead。
　　　〃Thank　you；　Eric；〃　said　Mr　Weasley　firmly；　and　grasping　Harry　by　the　shoulder　he　steered　him　away　from　the　desk　and　back　into　the　stream　of　wizards　and　witches　walking　through　the　golden　gates。
　　　Jostled　slightly　by　the　crowd；　Harry　followed　Mr　Weasley　through　the　gates　into　the　smaller　hall　beyond；　where　at　least　twenty　lifts　stood　behind　wrought　golden　grilles。　Harry　and　Mr　Weasley　joined　the　crowd　around　one　of　them。　Nearby；　stood　a　big　bearded　wizard　holding　a　large　cardboard　box　which　was　emitting　rasping　noises。
　　　〃All　right；　Arthur？〃　said　the　wizard；　nodding　at　Mr　Weasley。
　　　〃What've　you　got　there；　Bob？〃　asked　Mr　Weasley；　looking　at　the　box。
　　　〃We're　not　sure；〃　said　the　wizard　seriously。　'We　thought　it　was　a　bog…standard　chicken　until　it　started　breathing　fire。　Looks　like　a　serious　breach　of　the　Ban　on　Experimental　Breeding　to　me。〃
　　　
　　　With　a　great　jangling　and　clattering　a　lift　descended　in　front　of　them；　the　golden　grille　slid　back　and　Harry　and　Mr　Weasley　stepped　into　the　lift　with　the　rest　of　the　crowd　and　Harry　found　himself　jammed　against　the　back　wall。　Several　witches　and　wizards　were　looking　at　him　curiously；　he　stared　at　his　feet　to　avoid　catching　anyone's　eye；　flattening　his　fringe　as　he　did　so。　The　grilles　slid　shut　with　a　crash　and　the　lift　ascended　slowly；　chains　rattling；　while　the　same　cool　female　voice　Harry　had　heard　in　the　telephone　box　rang　out　again。
　　　〃Level　Seven；　Department　of　Magical　Games　and　Sports；　incorporating　the　British　and　Irish　Quidditch　League　Headquarters；　Official　Gobstones　Club　and　Ludicrous　Patents　Office。〃
　　　
　　　The　lift　doors　opened。　Harry　glimpsed　an　untidy…looking　corridor；　with　various　posters　of　Quidditch　teams　tacked　lopsidedly　on　the　walls。　One　of　the　wizards　in　the　lift；　who　was　carrying　an　armful　of　broomsticks；　extricated　himself　with　difficulty　and　disappeared　down　the　corridor。　The　doors　closed；　the　lift　juddered　upwards　again　and　the　woman's　voice　announced：
　　　
　　　〃Level　Six；　Department　of　Magical　Transportation；　incorporating　the　Floo　Network　Authority；　Broom　Regulatory　Control；　Portkey　Office　and　Apparation　Test　Centre。〃
　　　
　　　Once　again　the　lift　doors　opened　and　four　or　five　witches　and　wizards　got　out；　at　the　same　time；　several　paper　aeroplanes　swooped　into　the　lift。　Harry　stared　up　at　them　as　they　flapped　idly　around　above　his　head；　they　were　a　pale　violet　colour　and　he　could　see　Ministry　of　Magic　stamped　along　the　edge　of　their　wings。
　　　〃Just　inter…departmental　memos；〃　Mr　Weasley　muttered　to　him。　〃We　used　to　use　owls；　but　the　mess　was　unbelievable　。。。　droppings　all　over　the　desks　。。。〃
　　　
　　　As　they　clattered　upwards　again　the　memos　flapped　around　the　lamp　swaying　from　the　lift's　ceiling。
　　　〃Level　Five；　Department　of　International　Magical　Co…operation；　incorporating　the　International　Magical　Trading　Standards　Body；　the　International　Magical　Office　of　Law　and　the　International　Confederation　of　Wizards；　British　Seats。〃
　　　
　　　When　the　doors　opened；　two　of　the　memos　zoomed　out　with　a　few　more　of　the　witches　and　wizards；　but　several　more　memos　zoomed　in；　so　that　the　light　from　the　lamp　flickered　and　flashed　overhead　as　they　darted　around　it。
　　　〃Level　Four；　Department　for　the　Regulation　and　Control　of　Magical　Creatures；　incorporating　Beast；　Being　and　Spirit　Divisions；　Goblin　Liaison　Office　and　Pest　Advisory　Bureau。〃
　　　
　　　〃S'cuse；〃　said　the　wizard　carrying　the　fire…breathing　chicken　and　he　left　the　lift　pursued　by　a　little　flock　of　memos。　The　doors　clanged　shut　yet　again。
　　　〃Level　Three；　Department　of　Magical　Accidents　and　Catastrophes；　including　the　Accidental　Magic　Reversal　Squad；　Obliviator　Headquarters　and　Muggle…Worthy　Excuse　mittee。〃
　　　
　　　Everybody　left　the　lift　on　this　floor　except　Mr　Weasley；　Harry　and　a　witch　who　was　reading　an　extremely　long　piece　of　parchment　that　was　trailing　on　the　floor。　The　remaining　memos　continued　to　soar　around　the　lamp　as　the　lift　juddered　upwards　again；　then　the　doors　opened　and　the　voice　made　its　announcement。
　　　〃Level　Two；　Department　of　Magical　Law　Enforcement；　including　the　Improper　Use　of　Magic　Office；　Auror　Headquarters　and　Wizengamot　Administration　Services。〃
　　　
　　　〃This　is　us；　Harry；〃　said　Mr　Weasley；　and　they　followed　the　witch　out　of　the　lift　into　a　corridor　lined　with　doors。　〃My　office　is　on　the　other　side　of　the　floor。〃
　　　
　　　〃Mr　Weasley〃　said　Harry；　as　they　passed　a　window　through　which　sunlight　was　streaming；　〃aren't　we　still　underground？〃
　　　
　　　〃Yes；　we　are；〃　said　Mr　Weasley。　〃Those　are　enchanted　windows。　Magical　Maintenance　decide　what　weather　we'll　get　every　day。　We　had　two　months　of　hurricanes　last　time　they　were　angling　for　a　pay　rise　。。。　Just　round　here；　Harry。〃
　　　
　　　They　turned　a　corner；　walked　through　a　pair　of　heavy　oak　doors　and　emerged　in　a　cluttered　open　area　divided　into　cubicles；　which　was　buzzing　with　talk　and　laughter。　Memos　were　zooming　in　and　out　of　cubicles　like　miniature　rockets。　A　lopsided　sign　on　the　nearest　cubicle　read：　Auror　Headquarters。
　　　Harry　looked　surreptitiously　through　the　doorways　as　they　passed。　The　Aurors　had　covered　their　cubicle　walls　with　everything　from　pictures　of　wanted　wizards　and　photographs　of　their　families；　to　posters　of　their　favourite　Quidditch　teams　and　articles　from　the　Daily　Prophet。　A　scarlet…robed　man　with　a　ponytail　longer　than　Bill's　was　sitting　with　his　boots　up　on　his　desk；　dictating　a　report　to　his　quill。　A　little　further　along；　a　witch　with　a　patch　over　one　eye　was　talking　over　the　top　of　her　cubicle　wall　to　Kingsley　Shacklebolt。
　　　〃Morning；　Weasley；〃　said　Kingsley　carelessly；　as　they　drew　nearer。　〃I've　been　wanting　a　word　with　you；　have　you　got　a　second？〃
　　　
　　　〃Yes；　if　it　really　is　a　second；〃　said　Mr　Weasley；　〃I'm　in　rather　a　hurry。〃
　　　
　　　They　were　talking　as　though　they　hardly　knew　each　other　and　when　Harry　opened　his　mouth　to　say　hello　to　Kingsley；　Mr　Weasley　stood　on　his　foot。　They　followed　Kingsley　along　the　row　and　into　the　very　last　cubicle。
　　　Harry　received　a　slight　shock；　blinking　down　at　him　from　every　direction　was　Sirius's　face。　Newspaper　cuttings　and　old　photographs　…　even　the　one　of　Sirius　being　best　man　at　the　Potters'　wedding　…papered　the　walls。　The　only　Sirius…free　space　was　a　map　of　the　world　in　which　little　red　pins　were　glowing　like　jewels。
　　　〃Here；〃　said　Kingsley　brusquely　to　Mr　Weasley；　shoving　a　sheaf　of　parchment　into　his　hand。　〃I　need　as　much　information　as　possible　on　flying　Muggle　vehicles　sighted　in　the　last　twelve　months。　We've　received　information　that　Black　might　still　be　using　his　old　motorcycle。〃
　　　
　　　Kingsley　tipped　Harry　an　enormous　wink　and　added；　in　a　whisper；　〃Give　him　the　magazine；　he　might　find　it　interesting。〃　Then　he　said　in　normal　tones；　〃And　don't　take　too　long；　Weasley；　the　delay　on　that　firelegs　report　held　our　investigation　up　for　a　month。〃
　　　
　　　〃If　you　had　read　my　report　you　would　know　that　the　term　is　firearms；〃　said　Mr　Weasley　coolly。　〃And　I'm　afraid　you'll　have　to　wait　for　information　on　motorcycles；　we're　extremely　busy　at　the　moment。〃　He　dropped　his　voice　and　said；　〃If　you　can　get　away　before　seven；　Molly's　making　meatballs。〃
　　　
　　　He　beckoned　to　Harry　and　led　him　out　of　Kingsley's　cubicle；　through　a　second　set　of　oak　doors；　into　another　passage；　turned　left；　marched　along　another　corridor；　turned　right　into　a　dimly　lit　and　distinctly　shabby　corridor；　and　finally　reached　a　dead　end；　where　a　door　on　the　left　stood　ajar；　revealing　a　broom　cupboard；　and　a　door　on　the　right　bore　a　tarnished　brass　plaque　reading：　Misuse　of　Muggle　Artefacts。
　　　Mr　Weasley's　dingy　office　seemed　to　be　slightly　smaller　than　the　broom　cupboard。　Two　desks　had　been　crammed　inside　it　and　there　was　barely　space　to　move　around　them　because　of　all　the　overflowing　filing　cabinets　lining　the　walls；　on　top　of　which　were　tottering　piles　of　files。　The　little　wall　space　available　bore　witness　to　Mr　Weasley's　obsessions：　several　posters　of　cars；　including　one　of　a　dismantled　engine；　two　illustrations　of　postboxes　he　seemed　to　have　cut　out　of　Muggle　children's　books；　and　a　diagram　showing　how　to　wire　a　plug。
　　　Sitting　on　top　of　Mr　Weasley's　overflowing　in…tray　was　an　old　toaster　that　was　hiccoughing　in　a　disconsolate　way　and　a　pair　of　empty　leather　gl