jkrowling.hp&theorderofphenix-第90部分
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e strange silver instrument was for; but before he could do so; there was a shout from the top of the wall to their right; the wizard called Everard had reappeared in his portrait; panting slightly。
'Dumbledore!'
'What news?' said Dumbledore at once。
'I yelled until someone came running;' said the wizard; who was mopping his brow on the curtain behind him; 'said I'd heard something moving downstairs … they weren't sure whether to believe me but went down to check … you know there are no portraits down there to watch from。 Anyway; they carried him up a few minutes later。 He doesn't look good; he's covered in blood; I ran along to Elfrida Cragg's portrait to get a good view as they left …'
'Good;' said Dumbledore as Ron made a convulsive movement。 'I take it Dilys will have seen him arrive; then …'
And moments later; the silver…ringleted witch had reappeared in her picture; too; she sank; coughing; into her armchair and said; 'Yes; they've taken him to St Mungo's; Dumbledore: they carried him past my portrait: he looks bad:'
Thank you;' said Dumbledore。 He looked round at Professor McGonagall。
'Minerva; I need you to go and wake the other Weasley children。'
'Of course:'
Professor McGonagall got up and moved swiftly to the door。 Harry cast a sideways glance at Ron; who was looking terrified。
'And Dumbledore … what about Molly?' said Professor McGonagall; pausing at the door。
That will be a job for Fawkes when he has finished keeping a lookout for anybody approaching;' said Dumbledore。 'But she may already know: that excellent clock of hers:'
Harry knew Dumbledore was referring to the clock that told; not the time; but the whereabouts and conditions of the various Weasley family members; and with a pang he thought that Mr Weasley's hand must; even now; be pointing at mortal peril。 But it was very late。 Mrs Weasley was probably asleep; not watching the clock。 Harry felt cold as he remembered Mrs Weasley's Boggart turning into Mr Weasley's lifeless body; his glasses askew; blood running down his face: but Mr Weasley wasn't going to die: he couldn't:
Dumbledore was now rummaging in a cupboard behind Harry and Ron。 He emerged from it carrying a blackened old kettle; which he placed carefully on his desk。 He raised his wand and murmured; 'Portus!' For a moment the kettle trembled; glowing with an odd blue light; then it quivered to rest; as solidly black as ever。
Dumbledore marched over to another portrait; this time of a clever…looking wizard with a pointed beard; who had been painted wearing the Slytherin colours of green and silver and was apparently sleeping so deeply that he could not hear Dumbledore's voice when he attempted to rouse him。
'Phineas。 Phineas。'
The subjects of the portraits lining the room were no longer pretending to be asleep; they were shifting around in their frames; the better to watch what was happening。 When the clever…looking wizard continued to feign sleep; some of them shouted his name; too。
'Phineas! Phineas! PHINEAS!'
He could not pretend any longer; he gave a theatrical jerk and opened his eyes wide。
'Did someone call?'
'I need you to visit your other portrait again; Phineas;' said Dumbledore。 'I've got another message。'
'Visit my other portrait?' said Phineas in a reedy voice; giving a long; fake yawn (his eyes travelling around the room and focusing on Harry)。 'Oh; no; Dumbledore; I am too tired tonight。'
Something about Phineas's voice was familiar to Harry; where had he heard it before? But before he could think; the portraits on the surrounding walls broke into a storm of protest。
'Insubordination; sir!' roared a corpulent; red…nosed wizard; brandishing his fists。 'Dereliction of duty!'
'We are honour…bound to give service to the present Headmaster of Hogwarts!' cried a frail…looking old wizard whom Harry recognised as Dumbledore's predecessor; Armando Dippet。 'Shame on you; Phineas!'
'Shall I persuade him; Dumbledore?' called a gimlet…eyed witch; raising an unusually thick wand that looked not unlike a birch rod。
'Oh; very well;' said the wizard called Phineas; eyeing the wand with mild apprehension; 'though he may well have destroyed my picture by now; he's done away with most of the family …'
'Sirius knows not to destroy your portrait;' said Dumbledore; and Harry realised immediately where he had heard Phineas's voice before: issuing from the apparently empty frame in his bedroom in Grimmauld Place。 'You are to give him the message that Arthur Weasley has been gravely injured and that his wife; children and Harry Potter will be arriving at his house shortly。 Do you understand?'
'Arthur Weasley; injured; wife and children and Harry Potter ing to stay;' repeated Phineas in a bored voice。 'Yes; yes: very well
He sloped away into the frame of the portrait and disappeared from view at the very moment the study door opened again。 Fred; George and Ginny were ushered inside by Professor McGonagall; all three of them looking dishevelled and shocked; still in their night things。
'Harry … what's going on?' asked Ginny; who looked frightened。 'Professor McGonagall says you saw Dad get hurt …'
'Your father has been injured in the course of his work for the Order of the Phoenix;' said Dumbledore; before Harry could speak。 'He has been taken to St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries。 I am sending you back to Sirius's house; which is much more convenient for the hospital than The Burrow。 You will meet your mother there。'
'How're we going?' asked Fred; looking shaken。 Floo powder?'
'No;' said Dumbledore; Floo powder is not safe at the moment; the Network is being watched。 You will be taking a Portkey。' He indicated the old kettle lying innocently on his desk。 'We are just waiting for Phineas Nigellus to report back: I want to be sure that the coast is clear before sending you …'
There was a flash of flame in the very middle of the office; leaving behind a single golden feather that floated gently to the floor。
'It is Fawkes's warning;' said Dumbledore; catching the feather as it fell。 'Professor Umbridge must know you're out of your beds: Minerva; go and head her off … tell her any story …'
Professor McGonagall was gone in a swish of tartan。
'He says he'll be delighted;' said a bored voice behind Dumbledore; the wizard called Phineas had reappeared in front of his Slytherin banner。 'My great…great…grandson has always had an odd taste in house…guests。'
'e here; then;' Dumbledore said to Harry and the Weasleys。 'And quickly; before anyone else joins us。'
Harry and the others gathered around Dumbledore's desk。
'You have all used a Portkey before?' asked Dumbledore; and they nodded; each reaching out to touch some part of the blackened kettle。 'Good。 On the count of three; then: one: two:'
It happened in a fraction of a second: in the infinitesimal pause before Dumbledore said 'three'; Harry looked up at him … they were very close together … and Dumbledore's clear blue gaze moved from the Portkey to Harry's face。
At once; Harry's scar burned white…hot; as though the old wound had burst open again … and unbidden; unwanted; but terrifyingly strong; there rose within Harry a hatred so powerful he felt; for that instant; he would like nothing better than to strike … to bite … to sink his fangs into the man before him …
': three。'
Harry felt a powerful jerk behind his navel; the ground vanished from beneath his feet; his hand was glued to the kettle; he was banging into the others as they all sped forwards in a swirl of colours and a rush of wind; the kettle pulling them onwards: until his feet hit the ground so hard his knees buckled; the kettle clattered to the ground; and somewhere close at hand a voice said:
'Back again; the blood…traitor brats。 Is it true their father's dying?'
'OUT!' roared a second voice。
Harry scrambled to his feet and looked around; they had arrived in the gloomy basement kitchen of number twelve; Grimmauld Place。 The only sources of light were the fire and one guttering candle; which illuminated the remains of a solitary supper。 Kreacher was disappearing through the door to the hall; looking back at them malevolently as he hitched up his loincloth; Sirius was hurrying towards them all; looking anxious。 He was unshaven and still in his day clothes; there was also a slightly Mundungus…like whiff of stale drink about him。
'What's going on?' he said; stretching out a hand to help Ginny up。 Phineas Nigellus said Arthur's been badly injured …'
'Ask Harry;' said Fred。
'Yeah; I want to hear this for myself;' said George。
The twins and Ginny were staring at him。 Kreacher's footsteps had stopped on the stairs outside。
'It was …' Harry began; this was even worse than telling McGonagall and Dumbledore。 'I had a … a kind of … vision'。
And he told them all that he had seen; though he altered the story so that it sounded as though he had watched from the sidelines as the snake attacked; rather than from behind the snake's own eyes。 Ron; who