jkrowlingharrypotterandpa-第26部分

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　　　〃Didn't　they　want　to　help；　sit？〃　said　Percy。
　　　〃Oh　yes；〃　said　Dumbledore　coldly。　〃But　I'm　afraid　no　dementor　will　cross　the　threshold　of　this　castle　while　I　am　headmaster。〃
　　　Percy　looked　slightly　abashed。　Dumbledore　left　the　hall；　walking　quickly　and　quietly。　Snape　stood　for　a　moment；　watching　the　headmaster　with　an　expression　of　deep　resentment　on　his　face；　then　he　too　left。
　　　Harry　glanced　sideways　at　Ron　and　Hermione。　Both　of　them　had　their　eyes　open　too；　reflecting　the　starry　ceiling。
　　　〃What　was　all　that　about？〃　Ron　mouthed。
　　　The　school　talked　of　nothing　but　Sirius　Black　for　the　next　few　days。　The　theories　about　how　he　had　entered　the　castle　became　wilder　and　wilder；　Hannah　Abbott；　from　Hufflepuff；　spent　much　of　their　next　Herbology　class　telling　anyone　who'd　listen　that　Black　could　turn　into　a　flowering　shrub。
　　　The　Fat　Lady's　ripped　canvas　had　been　taken　off　the　wall　and
　　　Replaced　with　the　portrait　of　Sir　Cadogan　and　his　fat　gray　pony。　Nobody　was　very　happy　about　this。　Sir　Cadogan　spent　half　his　time　challenging　people　to　duels；　and　the　rest　thinking　up　ridiculously　plicated　passwords；　which　he　changed　at　least　twice　a　day。
　　　〃He's　a　plete　lunatic；〃　said　Seamus　Finnigan　angrily　to　Percy。　〃Can't　we　get　anyone　else？〃
　　　〃None　of　the　other　pictures　wanted　the　job；〃　said　Percy。　〃Frightened　of　what　happened　to　the　Fat　Lady。　Sir　Cadogan　was　the　only　one　brave　enough　to　volunteer。〃
　　　Sir　Cadogan；　however；　was　the　least　of　Harry's　worries。　He　was　now　being　closely　watched。　Teachers　found　excuses　to　walk　along　corridors　with　him；　and　Percy　Weasley　（acting；　Harry　suspected；　on　his　mother's　orders）　was　tailing　him　everywhere　like　an　extremely　pompous　guard　dog。　To　cap　it　all；　Professor　McGonagall　summoned　Harry　into　her　office；　with　such　a　somber　expression　on　her　face　Harry　thought　someone　must　have　died。
　　　〃There's　no　point　hiding　it　from　you　any　longer；　Potter；〃　she　said　in　a　very　serious　voice。　〃I　know　this　will　e　as　a　shock　to　you；　but　Sirius　Black　…〃
　　　〃I　know　he's　after　me；〃　said　Harry　wearily。　〃I　heard　Ron's　dad　telling　his　mum。　Mr。　Weasley　works　for　the　Ministry　of　Magic。〃
　　　Professor　McGonagall　seemed　very　taken　aback。　She　stared　at　Harry　for　a　moment　or　two；　then　said；　〃I　see！　Well；　in　that　case；　Potter；　you'll　understand　why　I　don't　think　it's　a　good　idea　for　you　to　be　practicing　Quidditch　in　the　evenings。　Out　on　the　field　with　only　Your　team　members；　it's　very　exposed；　Potter　…〃
　　　〃We've　got　our　first　match　on　Saturday！〃　said　Harry；　outraged。　〃I've　got　to　train；　Professor！〃
　　　Professor　McGonagall　considered　him　intently。　Harry　knew　she　was　deeply　interested　in　the　Gryffindor　team's　prospects；　it　had　been　she；　after　all；　who'd　suggested　him　as　Seeker　in　the　first　Place。　He　waited；　holding　his　breath。
　　　〃Hmm。。。〃　Professor　McGonagall　stood　up　and　stared　out　of　the　window　at　the　Quidditch　field；　just　visible　through　the　rain。　〃Well。。。　goodness　knows；　I'd　like　to　see　us　win　the　Cup　at　last。。。　but　all　the　same；　Potter。。。　I'd　be　happier　if　a　teacher　were　present。　I'll　ask　Madam　Hooch　to　oversee　your　training　sessions。〃
　　　The　weather　worsened　steadily　as　the　first　Quidditch　match　drew　nearer。　Undaunted；　the　Gryffindor　team　was　training　harder　than　ever　under　the　eye　of　Madam　Hooch。　Then；　at　their　final　training　session　before　Saturday's　match；　Oliver　Wood　gave　his　team　some　unwele　news。
　　　〃We're　not　playing　Slytherin！〃　he　told　them；　looking　very　angry。　〃Flint's　just　been　to　see　me。　We're　playing　Hufflepuff　instead。〃
　　　〃Why？〃　chorused　the　rest　of　the　team。
　　　〃Flint's　excuse　is　that　their　Seeker's　arm's　still　injured；〃　said　Wood；　grinding　his　teeth　furiously。　〃But　it's　obvious　why　they're　doing　it。　Don't　want　to　play　in　this　weather。　Think　it'll　damage　their　chances。。。〃
　　　There　had　been　strong　winds　and　heavy　rain　all　day；　and　as　Wood　spoke；　they　heard　a　distant　rumble　of　thunder。
　　　〃There's　nothing　wrong　with　Malfoy's　arm！〃　said　Harry　furiously。　〃He's　faking　it！〃
　　　〃I　know　that；　but　we　can't　prove　it；〃　said　Wood　bitterly；　〃And　we've　been　practicing　all　those　moves　assuming　we're　playing　Slytherin；　and　instead　it's　Hufflepuff；　and　their　style's　quite　different。　They've　got　a　new　Captain　and　Seeker；　Cedric　Diggory　…〃
　　　Angelina；　Alicia；　and　Katie　suddenly　giggled。
　　　〃What？〃　said　Wood；　frowning　at　this　lighthearted　behavior。
　　　〃He's　that　tall；　good…looking　one；　isn't　he？〃　said　Angelina。
　　　〃Strong　and　silent；〃　said　Katie；　and　they　started　to　giggle　again。
　　　〃He's　only　silent　because　he's　too　thick　to　string　two　words　together；〃　said　Fred　impatiently。　〃I　don't　know　why　you're　worried；　Oliver；　Hufflepuff　is　a　pushover。　Last　time　we　played　them；　Harry　caught　the　Snitch　in　about　five　minutes；　remember？〃
　　　〃We　were　playing　in　pletely　different　conditions！〃　Wood　shouted；　his　eyes　bulging　slightly。　〃Diggory's　put　a　very　strong　side　together！　He's　an　excellent　Seeker！　I　was　afraid　you'd　take　it　like　this！　We　mustn't　relax！　We　must　keep　our　focus！　Slytherin　is　trying　to　wrong…foot　us！　We　must　win！〃
　　　〃Oliver；　calm　down！〃　said　Fred；　looking　slightly　alarmed。　〃We're　taking　Hufflepuff　very　seriously。　Seriously。〃
　　　The　day　before　the　match；　the　winds　reached　howling　point　and　the　rain　fell　harder　than　ever。　It　was　so　dark　inside　the　corridors　and　classrooms　that　extra　torches　and　lanterns　were　lit。　The　Slytherin　team　was　looking　very　smug　indeed；　and　none　more　so　than　Malfoy。
　　　〃Ah；　if　only　my　arm　was　feeling　a　bit　better！〃　he　sighed　as　the　gale　outside　pounded　the　windows。
　　　Harry　had　no　room　in　his　head　to　worry　about　anything　except　the　match　tomorrow。　Oliver　Wood　kept　hurrying　up　to　him　between　classes　and　giving　him　tips。　The　third　time　this　happened；　Wood　talked　for　so　long　that　Harry　suddenly　realized　he　was　ten　minutes　late　for　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts；　and　set　off　at　a　run　with　Wood　shouting　after　him；　〃Diggory's　got　a　very　fast　swerve；　Harry；　so　you　might　want　to　try　looping　him　…〃
　　　Harry　skidded　to　a　halt　outside　the　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts　classroom；　pulled　the　door　open；　and　dashed　inside。
　　　〃Sorry　I'm　late；　Professor　Lupin。　I　…〃
　　　But　it　wasn't　Professor　Lupin　who　looked　up　at　him　from　the　teacher's　desk；　it　was　Snape。
　　　〃This　lesson　began　ten　minutes　ago；　Potter；　so　I　think　we'll　make　it　ten　points　from　Gryffindor。　Sit　down。〃
　　　But　Harry　didn't　move。
　　　〃Where's　Professor　Lupin？〃　he　said。
　　　〃He　says　he　is　feeling　too　ill　to　teach　today；〃　said　Snape　with　a　twisted　smile。　〃I　believe　I　told　you　to　sit　down？〃
　　　But　Harry　stayed　where　he　was。
　　　〃What's　wrong　with　him？〃
　　　Snape's　black　eyes　glittered。
　　　〃Nothing　life…threatening；〃　he　said；　looking　as　though　he　wished　it　were。　〃Five　more　points　from　Gryffindor；　and　if　I　have　to　ask　you　to　sit　down　again；　it　will　be　fifty。〃
　　　Harry　walked　slowly　to　his　seat　and　sat　down。　Snape　looked　around　at　the　class。
　　　〃As　I　was　saying　before　Potter　interrupted；　Professor　Lupin　has　not　left　any　record　of　the　topics　you　have　covered　so　far　…〃
　　　〃Please；　sir；　we've　done　boggarts；　Red　Caps；　kappas；　and　grindylows；〃　said　Hermione　quickly；　〃and　we're　just　about　to　start　…〃
　　　〃Be　quiet；〃　said　Snape　coldly。　〃I　did　not　ask　for　information。　I　was　merely　menting　on　Professor　Lupin's　lack　of　organization。〃
　　　〃He's　the　best　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts　teacher　we've　ever　had；〃　said　Dean　Thomas　boldly；　and　there　was　a　murmur　of　agreement　from　the　rest　of　the　class。　Snape　looked　more　menacing　than　ever。
　　　〃You　are　easily　satisfied。　Lupin　is　hardly　overtaxing　you…I；Would　expect　first　years　to　be　able　to　deal　with　Red　Caps　and　grindylows。　Today　we　shall　discuss　…〃
　　　Harry　watched　him　flick　through　the　textbook；　to　the　very　back　chapter；　which　he　must　know　they　hadn't　covered。
　　　〃Werewolves；〃　said　Snape。
　　　〃But；　sir；〃　said　Hermione；　seemingly　unable　to　restrain　herself；　〃we're　not　supposed　to　do　werewolves　yet；　we're　due　to　start　hinkypunks　…〃
　　　〃Miss　Granger；〃　said　Snape　in　a　voice　of　deadly　calm；　〃I　was　under　the　impression　that　I　am　teaching　this　lesson；　not　you。　And　I　am　telling　you　all　to　turn　to　page　394。〃　He　glanced　around　again。　'All　of　you！　Now！〃
　　　With　many　bitter　sidelong　looks　and　some　sullen　muttering；　the　class　opened　their　books。
　　　〃Which　of　you　can　tell　me　how　we　distinguish　between　the　werewolf　and　the　true　wolf？〃　said　Snape。
　　　Everyone　sat　in　motionless　silence；　everyone　except　Hermione；　whose　hand；　as　it　so　often　did；　had　shot　straight　into　the　air。
　　　〃Anyone？〃　Snape　said；　ignoring　Hermione。　His　twisted　smile　was　back。　〃Are　you　telling　me　that　Professor　Lupin　hasn't　even　taught　you　the　basic　distinction　between　…〃
　　　〃We　told　you；〃　said　Parvati　suddenly；　〃we　haven't　got　as　far　as　werewolves　yet；　we're　still　on　…〃
　　　〃Silence！〃　snarled　Snape。　〃Well；　well；　well；　I　never　thought　I'd　meet　a　third…year　class　who　wouldn't　even　recognize　a　werewolf　when　they　saw　one。　I　shall　make　a　point　of　informing　Professor　Dumbledore　how　very　behind　you　all　are。。。〃
　　　〃Please；　sir；〃　said　Hermione；　whose　hand　was　still　in　the　air；　〃the　werewolf　differs　from　the　true　wolf　in　several　small　ways。　The　snout　of　the　werewolf　…〃
　　　〃That　is　the　second　time　you　have　spoken　out　of　turn；　Miss　Granger；〃　said　Snape　coolly。　〃Five　more　points　from　Gryffindor　for　being　an　insufferable　know…it…all。〃
　　　Hermio