4.harry potter and the goblet of fire-第58部分

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　　The　Hogwarts　house…elves　had　now　started　edging　away　from　Dobby；　as　though　he　were　carrying　something　contagious。　Winky；　however；　remained　where　she　was；　though　there　was　a　definite　increase　in　the　volume　other　crying。
　　〃And　then；　Harry　Potter；　Dobby　goes　to　visit　Winky；　and　finds　out　Winky　has　been　freed　too；　sir！〃　said　Dobby　delightedly。
　　At　this；　Winky　flung　herself　forward　off　her　stool　and　lay　face…down　on　the　flagged　stone　floor；　beating　her　tiny　fists　upon　it　and　positively　screaming　with　misery。　Hermione　hastily　dropped　down　to　her　knees　beside　her　and　tried　to　fort　her；　but　nothing　she　said　made　the　slightest　difference。　Dobby　continued　with　his　story；　shouting　shrilly　over　Winky's　screeches。
　　〃And　then　Dobby　had　the　idea。　Harry　Potter；　sir！　'Why　doesn't　Dobby　and　Winky　find　work　together？'　Dobby　says。　'Where　is　there　enough　work　for　two　house…elves？'　says　Winky。
　　And　Dobby　thinks；　and　it　es　to　him；　sir！　Hogwarts！　So　Dobby　and　Winky　came　to　see　Professor　Dumbledore；　sir；　and　Professor　Dumbledore　took　us　on！〃
　　Dobby　beamed　very　brightly；　and　happy　tears　welled　in　his　eyes　again。
　　〃And　Professor　Dumbledore　says　he　will　pay　Dobby；　sir；　if　Dobby　wants　paying！　And　so　Dobby　is　a　free　elf；　sir；　and　Dobby　gets　a　Galleon　a　week　and　one　day　off　a　month！〃
　　〃That's　not　very　much！〃　Hermione　shouted　indignantly　from　the　floor；　over　Winky's　continued　screaming　and　fist…beating。
　　〃Professor　Dumbledore　offered　Dobby　ten　Galleons　a　week；　and　weekends　off；〃　said　Dobby；　suddenly　giving　a　little　shiver；　as　though　the　prospect　of　so　much　leisure　and　riches　were　frightening；　〃but　Dobby　beat　him　down；　miss。　。　。　。　Dobby　likes　freedom；　miss；　but　he　isn't　wanting　too　much；　miss；　he　likes　work　better。〃
　　〃And　how　much　is　Professor　Dumbledore　paying　you；　Winky？〃　Hermione　asked　kindly。
　　If　she　had　thought　this　would　cheer　up　Winky；　she　was　wildly　mistaken。　Winky　did　stop　crying；　but　when　she　sat　up　she　was　glaring　at　Hermione　through　her　massive　brown　eyes；　her　whole　face　sopping　wet　and　suddenly　furious。
　　〃Winky　is　a　disgraced　elf；　but　Winky　is　not　yet　getting　paid！〃　she　squeaked。　〃Winky　is　not　sunk　so　low　as　that！　Winky　is　properly　ashamed　of　being　freed！〃
　　〃Ashamed？〃　said　Hermione　blankly。　〃But　…　Winky；　e　on！　It's　Mr。　Crouch　who　should　be　ashamed；　not　you！　You　didn't　do　anything　wrong；　he　was　really　horrible　to　you　…〃
　　But　at　these　words；　Winky　clapped　her　hands　over　the　holes　in　her　hat；　flattening　her　ears　so　that　she　couldn't　hear　a　word；　and　screeched；　〃You　is　not　insulting　my　master；　miss！　You　is　not　insulting　Mr。　Crouch！　Mr。　Crouch　is　a　good　wizard；　miss！　Mr。　Crouch　is　right　to　sack　bad　Winky！〃
　　〃Winky　is　having　trouble　adjusting；　Harry　Potter；〃　squeaked　Dobby　confidentially。　〃Winky　forgets　she　is　not　bound　to　Mr。　Crouch　anymore；　she　is　allowed　to　speak　her　mind　now；　but　she　won't　do　it。〃
　　〃Can't　house…elves　speak　their　minds　about　their　masters；　then？〃　Harry　asked。
　　〃Oh　no；　sir；　no；〃　said　Dobby；　looking　suddenly　serious。　〃'Tis　part　of　the　house…elf's　enslavement；　sir。　We　keeps　their　secrets　and　our　silence；　sir。　We　upholds　the　family's　honor；　and　we　never　speaks　ill　of　them　…　though　Professor　Dumbledore　told　Dobby　he　does　not　insist　upon　this。　Professor　Dumbledore　said　we　is　free　to　…　to…〃
　　Dobby　looked　suddenly　nervous　and　beckoned　Harry　closer。　Harry　bent　forward。　Dobby　whispered；　〃He　said　we　is　free　to　call　him　a　…　a　barmy　old　codger　if　we　likes；　sir！〃
　　Dobby　gave　a　frightened　sort　of　giggle。
　　〃But　Dobby　is　not　wanting　to；　Harry　Potter；〃　he　said；　talking　normally　again；　and　shaking　his　head　so　that　his　ears　flapped。　〃Dobby　likes　Professor　Dumbledore　very　much；　sir；　and　is　proud　to　keep　his　secrets　and　our　silence　for　him。〃
　　〃But　you　can　say　what　you　like　about　the　Malfoys　now？〃　Harry　asked　him；　grinning。
　　A　slightly　fearful　look　came　into　Dobby's　immense　eyes。
　　〃Dobby　…　Dobby　could；〃　he　said　doubtfully。　He　squared　his　small　shoulders。　〃Dobby　could　tell　Harry　Potter　that　his　old　masters　were　…　were　…　bad　Dark　wizards'。〃
　　Dobby　stood　for　a　moment；　quivering　all　over；　horror…struck　by　his　own　daring　…　then　he　rushed　over　to　the　nearest　table　and　began　banging　his　head　on　it　very　hard；　squealing；　〃Bad　Dobby！　Bad　Dobby！〃
　　Harry　seized　Dobby　by　the　back　of　his　tie　and　pulled　him　away　from　the　table。
　　〃Thank　you。　Harry　Potter；　thank　you；〃　said　Dobby　breathlessly；　rubbing　his　head。
　　〃You　just　need　a　bit　of　practice；〃　Harry　said。
　　〃Practice！〃　squealed　Winky　furiously。　〃You　is　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself；　Dobby；　talking　that　way　about　your　masters！〃
　　〃They　isn't　my　masters　anymore；　Winky！〃　said　Dobby　defiantly。　〃Dobby　doesn't　care　what　they　think　anymore！〃
　　〃Oh　you　is　a　bad　elf；　Dobby！〃　moaned　Winky；　tears　leaking　down　her　face　once　more。　〃My　poor　Mr。　Crouch；　what　is　he　doing　without　Winky？　He　is　needing　me；　he　is　needing　my　help！　I　is　looking　after　the　Crouches　all　my　life；　and　my　mother　is　doing　it　before　me；　and　my　grandmother　is　doing　it　before　her　。。。　oh　what　is　they　saying　if　they　knew　Winky　was　freed？　Oh　the　shame；　the　shame！〃　She　buried　her　face　in　her　skirt　again　and　bawled。
　　〃Winky；〃　said　Hermione　firmly；　〃I'm　quite　sure　Mr。　Crouch　is　getting　along　perfectly　well　without　you。　We've　seen　him；　you　know　…〃
　　〃You　is　seeing　my　master？〃　said　Winky　breathlessly；　raising　her　tearstained　face　out　of　her　skirt　once　more　and　goggling　at　Hermione。　〃You　is　seeing　him　here　at　Hogwarts？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Hermione；　〃he　and　Mr。　Bagman　are　judges　in　the　Triwizard　Tournament。〃
　　〃Mr。　Bagman　es　too？〃　squeaked　Winky；　and　to　Harry　's　great　surprise　（and　Ron's　and　Hermione's　too；　by　the　looks　on　their　faces）；　she　looked　angry　again。　〃Mr。　Bagman　is　a　bad　wizard！　A　very　bad　wizard！　My　master　isn't　liking　him；　oh　no；　not　at　all！〃
　　〃Bagman　…　bad？〃　said　Harry。
　　〃Oh　yes；〃　Winky　said；　nodding　her　head　furiously；　〃My　master　is　telling　Winky　some　things！　But　Winky　is　not　saying。。　。　Winky　…　Winky　keeps　her　master's　secrets。　。。。〃
　　She　dissolved　yet　again　in　tears；　they　could　hear　her　sobbing　into　her　skirt；　〃Poor
　　master；　poor　master；　no　Winky　to　help　him　no　more！〃
　　They　couldn't　get　another　sensible　word　out　of　Winky。　They　left　her　to　her　crying　and　finished　their　tea；　while　Dobby　chatted　happily　about　his　life　as　a　free　elf　and　his　plans　for　his　wages。
　　〃Dobby　is　going　to　buy　a　sweater　next；　Harry　Potter！〃　he　said　happily；　pointing　at　his　bare　chest；　〃Tell　you　what；　Dobby；〃　said　Ron；　who　seemed　to　have　taken　a　great　liking　to　the　elf；　〃I'll　give　you　the　one　my　mum　knits　me　this　Christmas；　I　always　get　one　from　her。　You　don't　mind　maroon；　do　you？〃
　　Dobby　was　delighted。
　　〃We　might　have　to　shrink　it　a　bit　to　fit　you；〃　Ron　told　him；　〃but　it'll　go　well　with　your　tea　cozy。〃
　　As　they　prepared　to　take　their　leave；　many　of　the　surrounding　elves　pressed　in　upon　them；　offering　snacks　to　take　back　upstairs。　Hermione　refused；　with　a　pained　look　at　the　way　the　elves　kept　bowing　and　curtsying；　but　Harry　and　Ron　loaded　their　pockets　with　cream　cakes　and　pies。
　　〃Thanks　a　lot！〃　Harry　said　to　the　elves；　who　had　all　clustered　around　the　door　to　say　good　night。　〃See　you；　Dobby！〃
　　〃Harry　Potter　。　。　。　can　Dobby　e　and　see　you　sometimes；　sir？〃　Dobby　asked　tentatively。
　　〃　'Course　you　can；〃　said　Harry；　and　Dobby　beamed。
　　〃You　know　what？〃　said　Ron；　once　he；　Hermione；　and　Harry　had　left　the　kitchens　behind　and　were　climbing　the　steps　into　the　entrance　hall　again。　〃All　these　years　I've　been　really　impressed　with　Fred　and　George；　nicking　food　from　the　kitchens　…　well；　it's　not　exactly　difficult；　is　it？　They　can't　wait　to　give　it　away！〃
　　〃I　think　this　is　the　best　thing　that　could　have　happened　to　those　elves；　you　know；〃　said　Hermione；　leading　the　way　back　up　the　marble　staircase。　〃Dobby　ing　to　work　here；　I　mean。　The　other　elves　will　see　how　happy　he　is；　being　free；　and　slowly　it'll　dawn　on　them　that　they　want　that　too！〃
　　〃Let's　hope　they　don't　look　too　closely　at　Winky；〃　said　Harry。
　　〃Oh　she'll　cheer　up；〃　said　Hermione；　though　she　sounded　a　bit　doubtful。　〃Once　the　shock's　worn　off；　and　she's　got　used　to　Hogwarts；　she'll　see　how　much　better　off　she　is　without　that　Crouch　man。〃
　　〃She　seems　to　love　him；〃　said　Ron　thickly　（he　had　just　started　on　a　cream　cake）。
　　〃Doesn't　think　much　of　Bagman；　though；　does　she？〃　said　Harry。　〃Wonder　what　Crouch　says　at　home　about　him？〃
　　〃Probably　says　he's　not　a　very　good　Head　of　Department；〃　said　Hermione；　〃and　let's　face　it。。。　he's　got　a　point；　hasn't　he？〃
　　〃I'd　still　rather　work　for　him　than　old　Crouch；〃　said　Ron。　〃At　least　Bagman's　got　a　sense　of　humor。〃
　　〃Don't　let　Percy　hear　you　saying　that；〃　Hermione　said；　smiling　slightly。
　　〃Yeah；　well；　Percy　wouldn't　want　to　work　for　anyone　with　a　sense　of　humor；　would　he？〃
　　said　Ron；　now　starting　on　a　chocolate　eclair。　〃Percy　wouldn't　recognize　a　joke　if　it　danced　naked　in　front　of　him　wearing　Dobby's　tea　cozy。〃
　　CHAPTER　TWENTY…TWO　…　THE　UNEXPECTED　TASK
　　Potter！　Weasley！　Will　you　pay　attention？〃
　　Professor　McGonagall's　irritated　voice　cracked　like　a　whip　through　the　Transfiguration　class　on　Thursday；　and　Harry　and　Ron　both　jumped　and　looked　up。
　　It　was　the　end　of　the　lesson；　they　had　finished　their　work；　the　guinea　fowl　they　had　been　changing　into　guinea　pigs　had　been　shut　away　in　a　large　cage　on　Professor　McGonagall's　desk　（Neville's　still　had　feathers）；　they　had　copied　down　their　homework　from　the　blackboard　（〃Describe；　with　examples；　the　ways　in　which　Transforming　Spells　must　be　adapted　when　performing　Cross…Species　Switches〃｝。　The　bell　was　due　to　ring　at　any　moment；　and　Harry　and　Ron；　who　had　been　having　a　sword　fight　with　a　couple　of　Fred　and　George's　fake　wands　at　the　back　of　the　class；　looked　up；　Ron　holding　a　tin　parrot　and　Harry；　a　rubber　haddock。
　　〃Now　that　Potter　and　Weasley　have　been　kind　enough　to　act　their　age；〃　said　Professor　McGonagall；　with　an　angry　look　at　the　pair　of　them　as　the　head　of　Harry's　haddock　drooped　and　fell　silently　to　the　floor　…　Ron's　parrot's　beak　had　severed　it　moments　before　…　〃I　have　something　to　say　to　you　all。
　　〃The　Yule　Ball　is　approaching　…　a　traditional　part　of　the　Triwizard　Tournament　and　an　opportunity　for　us　to　socialize　with　our　foreign　guests。　Now；　the