4.harry potter and the goblet of fire-第37部分

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et　of　orange　juice；　then　took　off　again；　clearly　desperate　for　a　good　long　sleep　in　the　Owlery。
　　There　was　a　pleasant　feeling　of　anticipation　in　the　air　that　day。　Nobody　was　very　attentive　in　lessons；　being　much　more　interested　in　the　arrival　that　evening　of　the　people　from　Beauxbatons　and　Durmstrang；　even　Potions　was　more　bearable　than　usual；　as　it　was　half　an　hour　shorter。　When　the　bell　rang　early；　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　hurried　up　to　Gryffindor　Tower；　deposited　their　bags　and　books　as　they　had　been　instructed；　pulled　on　their　cloaks；　and　rushed　back　downstairs　into　the　entrance　hall。
　　The　Heads　of　Houses　were　ordering　their　students　into　lines。
　　〃Weasley；　straighten　your　hat；〃　Professor　McGonagall　snapped　at　Ron。　〃Miss　Patil；　take　that　ridiculous　thing　out　of　your　hair。〃
　　Parvati　scowled　and　removed　a　large　ornamental　butterfly　from　the　end　of　her　plait。
　　〃Follow　me；　please；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall。　〃First　years　in　front。　。　。　no　pushing。。
　　。
　　They　filed　down　the　steps　and　lined　up　in　front　of　the　castle。　It　was　a　cold；　clear　evening；　dusk　was　falling　and　a　pale；　transparent…looking　moon　was　already　shining　over　the　Forbidden　Forest。　Harry；　standing　between　Ron　and　Hermione　in　the　fourth　row　from　the　front；　saw　Dennis　Creevey　positively　shivering　with　anticipation　among　the　other　first　years。
　　〃Nearly　six；〃　said　Ron；　checking　his　watch　and　then　staring　down　the　drive　that　led　to　the　front　gates。　〃How　d'you　reckon　they're　ing？　The　train？〃
　　〃I　doubt　it；〃　said　Hermione。
　　〃How；　then？　Broomsticks？〃　Harry　suggested；　looking　up　at　the　starry　sky。
　　〃I　don't　think　so。　。　。　not　from　that　far　away。。　。
　　〃A　Portkey？〃　Ron　suggested。　〃Or　they　could　Apparate　…　maybe　you're　allowed　to　do　it　under　seventeen　wherever　they　e　from？〃
　　〃You　can't　Apparate　inside　the　Hogwarts　grounds；　how　often　do　I　have　to　tell　you？〃　said　Hermione　impatiently。
　　They　scanned　the　darkening　grounds　excitedly；　but　nothing　was　moving；　everything　was　still；　silent；　and　quite　as　usual。　Harry　was　starting　to　feel　cold。　He　wished　they'd　hurry　up。　。。　。　Maybe　the　foreign　students　were　preparing　a　dramatic　entrance。　。　。　。　He　remembered　what　Mr。　Weasley　had　said　back　at　the　campsite　before　the　Quidditch　World　Cup：
　　〃always　the　same　…　we　can't　resist　showing　off　when　we　get　together。　。。〃
　　And　then　Dumbledore　called　out　from　the　back　row　where　he　stood　with　the　other　teachers　…〃
　　Aha！　Unless　I　am　very　much　mistaken；　the　delegation　from　Beauxbatons　approaches！〃
　　〃Where？〃　said　many　students　eagerly；　all　looking　in　different　directions。
　　〃There！〃　yelled　a　sixth　year；　pointing　over　the　forest。
　　Something　large；　much　larger　than　a　broomstick　…　or；　indeed；　a　hundred　broomsticks　…　was　hurtling　across　the　deep　blue　sky　toward　the　castle；　growing　larger　all　the　time。
　　〃It's　a　dragon！〃　shrieked　one　of　the　first　years；　losing　her　head　pletely。
　　〃Don't　be　stupid。　。　。　it's　a　flying　house！〃　said　Dennis　Creevey。
　　Dennis's　guess　was　closer。　。　。　。　As　the　gigantic　black　shape　skimmed　over　the　treetops　of　the　Forbidden　Forest　and　the　lights　shining　from　the　castle　windows　hit　it；　they　saw　a　gigantic；　powderblue；　horse…drawn　carriage；　the　size　of　a　large　house；　soaring　toward　them；　pulled　through　the　air　by　a　dozen　winged　horses；　all　palominos；　and　each　the　size　of　an　elephant。
　　The　front　three　rows　of　students　drew　backward　as　the　carriage　hurtled　ever　lower；　ing　in　to　land　at　a　tremendous　speed　…　then；　with　an　almighty　crash　that　made　Neville　jump　backward　onto　a　Slytherin　fifth　year's　foot；　the　horses'　hooves；　larger　than　dinner　plates；　hit　the　ground。　A　second　later；　the　carriage　landed　too；　bouncing　upon　its　vast　wheels；　while　the　golden　horses　tossed　their　enormous　heads　and　rolled　large；　fiery　red　eyes。
　　Harry　just　had　time　to　see　that　the　door　of　the　carriage　bore　a　coat　of　arms　（two　crossed；　golden　wands；　each　emitting　three　stars）　before　it　opened。
　　A　boy　in　pale　blue　robes　jumped　down　from　the　carriage；　bent　forward；　fumbled　for　a　moment　with　something　on　the　carriage　floor；　and　unfolded　a　set　of　golden　steps。　He　sprang　back　respectfully。　Then　Harry　saw　a　shining；　high…heeled　black　shoe　emerging　from　the　inside　of　the　carriage　…　a　shoe　the　size　of　a　child's　sled　…　followed；　almost　immediately；　by　the　largest　woman　he　had　ever　seen　in　his　life。　The　size　of　the　carriage；　and　of　the　horses；　was　immediately　explained。　A　few　people　gasped。
　　Harry　had　only　ever　seen　one　person　as　large　as　this　woman　in　his　life；　and　that　was　Hagrid；　he　doubted　whether　there　was　an　inch　difference　in　their　heights。　Yet　somehow　…maybe　simply　because　he　was　used　to　Hagrid　…　this　woman　（now　at　the　foot　of　the　steps；　and　looking　around　at　the　waiting；　wide…eyed　crowd）　seemed　even　more　unnaturally　large。
　　As　she　stepped　into　the　light　flooding　from　the　entrance　hall；　she　was　revealed　to　have　a　handsome；　olive…skinned　face；　large；　black；　liquid…looking　eyes；　and　a　rather　beaky　nose。
　　Her　hair　was　drawn　back　in　a　shining　knob　at　the　base　of　her　neck。　She　was　dressed　from　head　to　foot　in　black　satin；　and　many　magnificent　opals　gleamed　at　her　throat　and　on　her　thick　fingers。
　　Dumbledore　started　to　clap；　the　students；　following　his　lead；　broke　into　applause　too；　many　of　them　standing　on　tiptoe；　the　better　to　look　at　this　woman。
　　Her　face　relaxed　into　a　gracious　smile　and　she　walked　forward　toward　Dumbledore；　extending　a　glittering　hand。　Dumbledore；　though　tall　himself；　had　barely　to　bend　to　kiss　it。
　　〃My　dear　Madame　Maxime；〃　he　said。　〃Wele　to　Hogwarts。〃
　　〃Dumbly…dort；〃　said　Madame　Maxime　in　a　deep　voice。　〃I　'ope　I　find　you　well？〃
　　〃In　excellent　form；　I　thank　you；〃　said　Dumbledore。
　　〃My　pupils；〃　said　Madame　Maxime；　waving　one　of　her　enormous　hands　carelessly　behind　her。
　　Harry；　whose　attention　had　been　focused　pletely　upon　Madame　Maxime；　now　noticed　that　about　a　dozen　boys　and　girls；　all；　by　the　look　of　them；　in　their　late　teens；　had　emerged　from　the　carriage　and　were　now　standing　behind　Madame　Maxime。　They　were　shivering；　which　was　unsurprising；　given　that　their　robes　seemed　to　be　made　of　fine　silk；　and　none　of　them　were　wearing　cloaks。　A　few　had　wrapped　scarves　and　shawls　around　their　heads。　From　what
　　Harry　could　see　of　them　（they　were　standing　in　Madame　Maxime's　enormous　shadow）；　they　were　staring　up　at　Hogwarts　with　apprehensive　looks　on　their　faces。
　　〃As　Karkaroff　arrived　yet？〃　Madame　Maxime　asked。
　　〃He　should　be　here　any　moment；〃　said　Dumbledore。　〃Would　you　like　to　wait　here　and　greet　him　or　would　you　prefer　to　step　inside　and　warm　up　a　trifle？〃
　　〃Warm　up；　I　think；〃　said　Madame　Maxime。　〃But　ze　'orses　…〃
　　〃Our　Care　of　Magical　Creatures　teacher　will　be　delighted　to　take　care　of　them；〃　said　Dumbledore；　〃the　moment　he　has　returned　from　dealing　with　a　slight　situation　that　has　arisen　with　some　of　his　other　…　er　…　charges。〃
　　〃Skrewts；〃　Ron　muttered　to　Harry；　grinning。
　　〃My　steeds　require　…　er　…　forceful　'andling；〃　said　Madame　Maxime；　looking　as　though　she　doubted　whether　any　Care　of　Magical　Creatures　teacher　at　Hogwarts　could　be　up　to　the　job。
　　〃Zey　are　very　strong。　。　。　。〃
　　〃I　assure　you　that　Hagrid　will　be　well　up　to　the　job；〃　said　Dumbledore；　smiling。
　　〃Very　well；〃　said　Madame　Maxime；　bowing　slightly。　〃Will　you　please　inform　zis　'Agrid　zat　ze　'orses　drink　only　single…malt　whiskey？〃
　　〃It　will　be　attended　to；〃　said　Dumbledore；　also　bowing。
　　〃e；〃　said　Madame　Maxime　imperiously　to　her　students；　and　the　Hogwarts　crowd　parted　to　allow　her　and　her　students　to　pass　up　the　stone　steps。
　　〃How　big　d'you　reckon　Durmstrang's　horses　are　going　to　be？〃　Seamus　Finnigan　said；　leaning　around　Lavender　and　Parvati　to　address　Harry　and　Ron。
　　〃Well；　if　they're　any　bigger　than　this　lot；　even　Hagrid　won't　be　able　to　handle　them；〃
　　said　Harry。　〃That's　if　he　hasn't　been　attacked　by　his　skrewts。　Wonder　what's　up　with　them？〃
　　〃Maybe　they've　escaped；〃　said　Ron　hopefully。
　　〃Oh　don't　say　that；〃　said　Hermione　with　a　shudder。　〃Imagine　that　lot　loose　on　the　grounds。　。　。　。〃
　　They　stood；　shivering　slightly　now；　waiting　for　the　Durmstrang　party　to　arrive。　Most　people　were　gazing　hopefully　up　at　the　sky。
　　For　a　few　minutes；　the　silence　was　broken　only　by　Madame　Maxime's　huge　horses　snorting　and　stamping。　But　then　…　〃Can　you　hear　something？〃　said　Ron　suddenly。
　　Harry　listened；　a　loud　and　oddly　eerie　noise　was　drifting　toward　them　from　out　of　the　darkness：　a　muffled　rumbling　and　sucking　sound；　as　though　an　immense　vacuum　cleaner　were　moving　along　a　riverbed。
　　〃The　lake！〃　yelled　Lee　Jordan；　pointing　down　at　it。　〃Look　at　the　lake！〃
　　From　their　position　at　the　top　of　the　lawns　overlooking　the　grounds；　they　had　a　clear　view　of　the　smooth　black　surface　of　the　water　…　except　that　the　surface　was　suddenly　not　smooth　at　all。　Some　disturbance　was　taking　place　deep　in　the　center；　great　bubbles　were　forming　on　the　surface；　waves　were　now　washing　over　the　muddy　banks　…　and　then；　out　in　the　very　middle　of　the　lake；　a　whirlpool　appeared；　as　if　a　giant　plug　had　just　been　pulled　out　of　the　lake's　floor。　。
　　What　seemed　to　be　a　long；　black　pole　began　to　rise　slowly　out　of　the　heart　of　the　whirlpool。　。　。　and　then　Harry　saw　the　rigging。。。。
　　〃It's　a　mast！〃　he　said　to　Ron　and　Hermione。
　　Slowly；　magnificently；　the　ship　rose　out　of　the　water；　gleaming　in　the　moonlight。　It　had　a　strangely　skeletal　look　about　it；　as　though　it　were　a　resurrected　wreck；　and　the　dim；　misty　lights　shimmering　at　its　portholes　looked　like　ghostly　eyes。　Finally；　with　a　great　sloshing　noise；　the　ship　emerged　entirely；　bobbing　on　the　turbulent　water；　and　began　to　glide　toward　the　bank。　A　few　moments　later；　they　heard　the　splash　of　an　anchor　being　thrown　down　in　the　shallows；　and　the　thud　of　a　plank　being　lowered　onto　the　bank。
　　People　were　disembarking；　they　could　see　their　silhouettes　passing　the　lights　in　the　ship's　portholes。　All　of　them；　Harry　noticed；　seemed　to　be　built　along　the　lines　of　Crabbe　and　Goyle。。。　but　then；　as　they　drew　nearer；　walking　up　the　lawns　into　the　light　streaming　from　the　entrance　hall；　he　saw　that　their　bulk　was　really　due　to　the　fact　that　they　were　wearing　cloaks　of　some　kind　of　shaggy；　matted　fur。　But　the　man　who　was　leading　them　up　to　the　castle　was