4.harry potter and the goblet of fire-第57部分

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　　〃I　would　think；〃　she　said；　in　a　mystical　whisper　that　did　not　conceal　her　obvious　annoyance；　〃that　some　of　us〃　…　she　stared　very　meaningfully　at　Harry…　〃might　be　a　little　less　frivolous　had　they　seen　what　I　have　seen　during　my　crystal　gazing　last　night。　As　I　sat　here；　absorbed　in　my　needlework；　the　urge　to　consult　the　orb　overpowered　me。　I　arose；　I　settled　myself　before　it；　and　I　gazed　into　its　crystalline　depths　。　。　。　and　what　do　you　think　I　saw　gazing　back　at　me？〃
　　〃An　ugly　old　bat　in　outsize　specs？〃　Ron　muttered　under　his　breath。
　　Harry　fought　hard　to　keep　his　face　straight。
　　〃Death；　my　dears。〃
　　Parvati　and　Lavender　both　put　their　hands　over　their　mouths；　looking　horrified。
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Professor　Trelawney；　nodding　impressively；　〃it　es；　ever　closer；　it　circles　overhead　like　a　vulture；　ever　lower。　。　。　ever　lower　over　the　castle。　。　。　。〃
　　She　stared　pointedly　at　Harry；　who　yawned　very　widely　and　obviously。
　　〃It'd　be　a　bit　more　impressive　if　she　hadn't　done　it　about　eighty　times　before；〃　Harry　said　as　they　finally　regained　the　fresh　air　of　the　staircase　beneath　Professor　Trelawney's　room。　〃But　if　I'd　dropped　dead　every　time　she's　told　me　I'm　going　to；　I'd　be　a　medical　miracle。〃
　　〃You'd　be　a　sort　of　extra…concentrated　ghost；〃　said　Ron；　chortling；　as　they　passed　the　Bloody　Baron　going　in　the　opposite　direction；　his　wide　eyes　staring　sinisterly。　〃At　least　we　didn't　get　homework。　I　hope　Hermione　got　loads　off　Professor　Vector；　I　love　not　working　when　she　is。　。　。　。〃
　　But　Hermione　wasn't　at　dinner；　nor　was　she　in　the　library　when　they　went　to　look　for　her　afterward。　The　only　person　in　there　was　Viktor　Krum。　Ron　hovered　behind　the　bookshelves　for　a　while；　watching　Krum；　debating　in　whispers　with　Harry　whether　he　should　ask　for　an　autograph　…　but　then　Ron　realized　that　six　or　seven　girls　were　lurking　in　the　next　row　of　books；　debating　exactly　the　same　thing；　and　he　lost　his　enthusiasm　for　the　idea。
　　〃Wonder　where　she's　got　to？〃　Ron　said　as　he　and　Harry　went　back　to　Gryffindor　Tower。
　　〃Dunno　。　。　。　balderdash。〃
　　But　the　Fat　Lady　had　barely　begun　to　swing　forward　when　the　sound　of　racing　feet　behind　them　announced　Hermione's　arrival。
　　〃Harry！〃　she　panted；　skidding　to　a　halt　beside　him　（the　Fat　Lady　stared　down　at　her；　eyebrows　raised）。　〃Harry；　you've　got　to　e　…　you've　got　to　e；　the　most　amazing　thing's　happened…　please　…〃
　　She　seized　Harry's　arm　and　started　to　try　to　drag　him　back　along　the　corridor。
　　〃What's　the　matter？〃　Harry　said。
　　〃I'll　show　you　when　we　get　there　…　oh　e　on；　quick　…〃
　　Harry　looked　around　at　Ron；　he　looked　back　at　Harry；　intrigued。
　　〃Okay；〃　Harry　said；　starting　off　back　down　the　corridor　with　Hermione；　Ron　hurrying　to　keep　up。
　　〃Oh　don't　mind　me！〃　the　Fat　Lady　called　irritably　after　them。　〃Don't　apologize　for　bothering　me！　I'll　just　hang　here；　wide　open；　until　you　get　back；　shall　I？〃
　　〃Yeah；　thanks！〃　Ron　shouted　over　his　shoulder。
　　〃Hermione；　where　are　we　going？〃　Harry　asked；　after　she　had　led　them　down　through　six　floors；　and　started　down　the　marble　staircase　into　the　entrance　hall。
　　〃You'll　see；　you'll　see　in　a　minute！〃　said　Hermione　excitedly。
　　She　turned　left　at　the　bottom　of　the　staircase　and　hurried　toward　the　door　through　which　Cedric　Diggory　had　gone　the　night　after　the　Goblet　of　Fire　had　regurgitated　his　and　Harry's　names。　Harry　had　never　been　through　here　before。　He　and　Ron　followed　Hermione　down　a　flight　of　stone　steps；　but　instead　of　ending　up　in　a　gloomy　underground　passage　like　the　one　that　led　to　Snape's　dungeon；　they　found　themselves　in　a　broad　stone　corridor；　brightly　lit　with　torches；　and　decorated　with　cheerful　paintings　that　were　mainly　of　food。
　　〃Oh　hang　on　。　。　。〃　said　Harry　slowly；　halfway　down　the　corridor。　〃Wait　a　minute；　Hermione。　。　。　。〃
　　〃What？〃　She　turned　around　to　look　at　him；　anticipation　all　over　her　face。
　　〃I　know　what　this　is　about；〃　said　Harry。
　　He　nudged　Ron　and　pointed　to　the　painting　just　behind　Hermione。　It　showed　a　gigantic　silver　fruit　bowl。
　　〃Hermione！〃　said　Ron；　cottoning　on。　〃You're　trying　to　rope　us　into　that　spew　stuff　again！〃
　　〃No；　no；　I'm　not！〃　she　said　hastily。　〃And　it's　not　spew；　Ron　…〃
　　〃Changed　the　name；　have　you？〃　said　Ron；　frowning　at　her。　〃What　are　we　now；　then；　the　House…Elf　Liberation　Front？　I'm　not　barging　into　that　kitchen　and　trying　to　make　them　stop　work；　I'm　not　doing　it　…〃
　　〃I'm　not　asking　you　to！〃　Hermione　said　impatiently。　〃I　came　down　here　just　now；　to　talk　to　them　all；　and　I　found　…　oh　e　on；　Harry；　I　want　to　show　you！〃
　　She　seized　his　arm　again；　pulled　him　in　front　of　the　picture　of　the　giant　fruit　bowl；　stretched　out　her　forefinger；　and　tickled　the　huge　green　pear。　It　began　to　squirm；　chuckling；　and　suddenly　turned　into　a　large　green　door　handle。　Hermione　seized　it；　pulled　the　door　open；　and　pushed　Harry　hard　in　the　back；　forcing　him　inside。
　　He　had　one　brief　glimpse　of　an　enormous；　high…ceilinged　room；　large　as　the　Great　Hall　above　it；　with　mounds　of　glittering　brass　pots　and　pans　heaped　around　the　stone　walls；　and　a　great　brick　fireplace　at　the　other　end；　when　something　small　hurtled　toward　him　from　the　middle　of　the　room；　squealing；　〃Harry　Potter；　sir！　Harry　Potter！〃
　　Next　second　all　the　wind　had　been　knocked　out　of　him　as　the　squealing　elf　hit　him　hard　in　the　midriff；　hugging　him　so　tightly　he　thought　his　ribs　would　break。
　　〃D…Dobby？〃　Harry　gasped。
　　〃It　is　Dobby；　sir；　it　is！〃　squealed　the　voice　from　somewhere　around　his　navel。　〃Dobby　has　been　hoping　and　hoping　to　see　Harry　Potter；　sir；　and　Harry　Potter　has　e　to　see　him；　sir！〃
　　Dobby　let　go　and　stepped　back　a　few　paces；　beaming　up　at　Harry；　his　enormous；　green；　tennis…ball…shaped　eyes　brimming　with　tears　of　happiness。　He　looked　almost　exactly　as　Harry　remembered　him；　the　pencil…shaped　nose；　the　batlike　ears；　the　long　fingers　and　feet　…　all　except　the　clothes；　which　were　very　different。
　　When　Dobby　had　worked　for　the　Malfoys；　he　had　always　worn　the　same　filthy　old　pillowcase。
　　Now；　however；　he　was　wearing　the　strangest　assortment　of　garments　Harry　had　ever　seen；　he　had　done　an　even　worse　job　of　dressing　himself　than　the　wizards　at　the　World　Cup。　He　was　wearing　a　tea　cozy　for　a　hat；　on　which　he　had　pinned　a　number　of　bright　badges；　a　tie　patterned　with　horseshoes　over　a　bare　chest；　a　pair　of　what　looked　like　children's　soccer　shorts；　and　odd　socks。　One　of　these；　Harry　saw；　was　the　black　one　Harry　had　removed　from　his　own　foot　and　tricked　Mr。　Malfoy　into　giving　Dobby；　thereby　setting　Dobby　free。　The　other　was　covered　in　pink　and　orange　stripes。
　　〃Dobby；　what're　you　doing　here？〃　Harry　said　in　amazement。　〃Dobby　has　e　to　work　at　Hogwarts；　sir！〃　Dobby　squealed　excitedly。　〃Professor　Dumbledore　gave　Dobby　and　Winky　jobs；　sir！
　　〃Winky？〃　said　Harry。　〃She's　here　too？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；　yes！〃　said　Dobby；　and　he　seized　Harry's　hand　and　pulled　him　off　into　the　kitchen　between　the　four　long　wooden　tables　that　stood　there。　Each　of　these　tables；　Harry　noticed　as　he　passed　them；　was　positioned　exactly　beneath　the　four　House　tables
　　above；　in　the　Great　Hall。　At　the　moment；　they　were　clear　of　food；　dinner　having　finished；　but　he　supposed　that　an　hour　ago　they　had　been　laden　with　dishes　that　were　then　sent　up　through　the　ceiling　to　their　counterparts　above。
　　At　least　a　hundred　little　elves　were　standing　around　the　kitchen；　beaming；　bowing；　and　curtsying　as　Dobby　led　Harry　past　them。　They　were　all　wearing　the　same　uniform：　a　tea　towel　stamped　with　the　Hogwarts　crest；　and　tied；　as　Winky's　had　been；　like　a　toga。
　　Dobby　stopped　in　front　of　the　brick　fireplace　and　pointed。
　　〃Winky；　sir！〃　he　said。
　　Winky　was　sitting　on　a　stool　by　the　fire。　Unlike　Dobby；　she　had　obviously　not　foraged　for　clothes。　She　was　wearing　a　neat　little　skirt　and　blouse　with　a　matching　blue　hat；　which　had　holes　in　it　for　her　large　ears。　However；　while　every　one　of　Dobby's　strange　collection　of　garments　was　so　clean　and　well　cared　for　that　it　looked　brand…new；　Winky　was　plainly　not　taking　care　other　clothes　at　all。　There　were　soup　stains　all　down　her　blouse　and　a　burn　in　her　skirt。
　　〃Hello；　Winky；〃　said　Harry。
　　Winky's　lip　quivered。　Then　she　burst　into　tears；　which　spilled　out　of　her　great　brown　eyes　and　splashed　down　her　front；　just　as　they　had　done　at　the　Quidditch　World　Cup。
　　〃Oh　dear；〃　said　Hermione。　She　and　Ron　had　followed　Harry　and　Dobby　to　the　end　of　the　kitchen。　〃Winky；　don't　cry；　please　don't。。。〃
　　But　Winky　cried　harder　than　ever。　Dobby；　on　the　other　hand；　beamed　up　at　Harry。
　　〃Would　Harry　Potter　like　a　cup　of　tea？〃　he　squeaked　loudly；　over　Winky's　sobs。
　　〃Er　…　yeah；　okay；〃　said　Harry。
　　Instantly；　about　six　house…elves　came　trotting　up　behind　him；　bearing　a　large　silver　tray　laden　with　a　teapot；　cups　for　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione；　a　milk　jug；　and　a　large　plate　of　biscuits。
　　〃Good　service！〃　Ron　said；　in　an　impressed　voice。　Hermione　frowned　at　him；　but　the　elves　all　looked　delighted；　they　bowed　very　low　and　retreated。
　　〃How　long　have　you　been　here；　Dobby？〃　Harry　asked　as　Dobby　handed　around　the　tea。
　　〃Only　a　week。　Harry　Potter；　sir！〃　said　Dobby　happily。　〃Dobby　came　to　see　Professor　Dumbledore；　sir。　You　see；　sir；　it　is　very　difficult　for　a　house…elf　who　has　been　dismissed　to　get　a　new　position；　sir；　very　difficult　indeed　…〃
　　At　this；　Winky　howled　even　harder；　her　squashed…tomato　of　a　nose　dribbling　all　down　her　front；　though　she　made　no　effort　to　stem　the　flow。
　　〃Dobby　has　traveled　the　country　for　two　whole　years；　sir；　trying　to　find　work！〃　Dobby　squeaked。　〃But　Dobby　hasn't　found　work；　sir；　because　Dobby　wants　paying　now！〃
　　The　house…elves　all　around　the　kitchen；　who　had　been　listening　and　watching　with　interest；　all　looked　away　at　these　words；　as　though　Dobby　had　said　something　rude　and　embarrassing。　Hermione；　however；　said；　〃Good　for　you；　Dobby！〃
　　〃Thank　you；　miss！〃　said　Dobby；　grinning　toothily　at　her。　〃But　most　wizards　doesn't　want　a　house…elf　who　wants　paying；　miss。　'That's　not　the　point　of　a　house…elf；'　they　says；　and　they　slammed　the　door　in　Dobby's　face！　Dobby　likes　work；　but　he　wants　to　wear　clothes　and　he　wants　to　be　paid。　Harry　Potter。。。。　Dobby　likes　being　free！〃
　　The　Hogwarts　house…elves　had　now　started　edging　away