4.harry potter and the goblet of fire-第90部分

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　　〃The　very　same；〃　said　Karkaroff　eagerly。　〃I　believe　he　used　a　network　of　well…placed　wizards；　both　inside　the　Ministry　and　out；　to　collect　information　…〃
　　〃But　Travers　and　Mulciber　we　have；〃　said　Mr。　Crouch。　〃Very　well；　Karkaroff；　if　that　is　all；　you　will　be　returned　to　Azkaban　while　we　decide　…〃
　　〃Not　yet！〃　cried　Karkaroff；　looking　quite　desperate。　〃Wait；　I　have　more！〃
　　Harry　could　see　him　sweating　in　the　torchlight；　his　white　skin　contrasting　strongly　with　the　black　of　his　hair　and　beard。
　　〃Snape！〃　he　shouted。　〃Severus　Snape！〃
　　〃Snape　has　been　cleared　by　this　council；〃　said　Crouch　disdainfully。　〃He　has　been　vouched　for　by　Albus　Dumbledore。〃
　　〃No！〃　shouted　Karkaroff；　straining　at　the　chains　that　bound　him　to　the　chair。　〃I　assure　you！　Severus　Snape　is　a　Death　Eater！〃
　　Dumbledore　had　gotten　to　his　feet。
　　〃I　have　given　evidence　already　on　this　matter；〃　he　said　calmly。　〃Severus　Snape　was　indeed　a　Death　Eater。　However；　he　rejoined　our　side　before　Lord　Voldemort's　downfall　and
　　turned　spy　for　us；　at　great　personal　risk。　He　is　now　no　more　a　Death　Eater　than　I　am。〃
　　Harry　turned　to　look　at　Mad…Eye　Moody。　He　was　wearing　a　look　of　deep　skepticism　behind　Dumbledore's　back。
　　〃Very　well；　Karkaroff；〃　Crouch　said　coldly；　〃you　have　been　of　assistance。　I　shall　review　your　case。　You　will　return　to　Azkaban　in　the　meantime。　。。。〃
　　Mr。　Crouch's　voice　faded。　Harry　looked　around；　the　dungeon　was　dissolving　as　though　it　were　made　of　smoke；　everything　was　fading；　he　could　see　only　his　own　body　…　all　else　was　swirling　darkness。　。　。　。
　　And　then；　the　dungeon　returned。　Harry　was　sitting　in　a　different　seat；　still　on　the　highest　bench；　but　now　to　the　left　side　of　Mr。　Crouch。　The　atmosphere　seemed　quite　different：　relaxed；　even　cheerful。　The　witches　and　wizards　all　around　the　walls　were　talking　to　one　another；　almost　as　though　they　were　at　some　sort　of　sporting　event。　Harry　noticed　a　witch　halfway　up　the　rows　of　benches　opposite。　She　had　short　blonde　hair；　was　wearing　magenta　robes；　and　was　sucking　the　end　of　an　acid…green　quill。　It　was；　unmistakably；　a　younger　Rita　Skeeter。　Harry　looked　around；　Dumbledore　was　sitting　beside　him　again；　wearing　different　robes。　Mr。　Crouch　looked　more　tired　and　somehow　fiercer；　gaunter。　。　。　。　Harry　understood。　It　was　a　different　memory；　a　different　day　。。。　a　different　trial。
　　The　door　in　the　corner　opened；　and　Ludo　Bagman　walked　into　the　room。
　　This　was　not；　however；　a　Ludo　Bagman　gone　to　seed；　but　a　Ludo　Bagman　who　was　clearly　at　the　height　of　his　Quidditch…playing　fitness。　His　nose　wasn't　broken　now；　he　was　tall　and　lean　and　muscular。　Bagman　looked　nervous　as　he　sat　down　in　the　chained　chair；　but　it　did　not　bind　him　there　as　it　had　bound　Karkaroff；　and　Bagman；　perhaps　taking　heart　from　this；　glanced　around　at　the　watching　crowd；　waved　at　a　couple　of　them；　and　managed　a　small　smile。
　　〃Ludo　Bagman；　you　have　been　brought　here　in　front　of　the　Council　of　Magical　Law　to　answer　charges　relating　to　the　activities　of　the　Death　Eaters；〃　said　Mr。　Crouch。　〃We　have　heard　the　evidence　against　you；　and　are　about　to　reach　our　verdict。　Do　you　have　anything　to　add　to　your　testimony　before　we　pronounce　judgment？〃
　　Harry　couldn't　believe　his　ears。　Ludo　Bagman；　a　Death　Eater？
　　〃Only；〃　said　Bagman；　smiling　awkwardly；　〃well　…　I　know　I've　been　a　bit　of　an　idiot　…〃
　　One　or　two　wizards　and　witches　in　the　surrounding　seats　smiled　indulgently。　Mr。　Crouch　did　not　appear　to　share　their　feelings。　He　was　staring　down　at　Ludo　Bagman　with　an　expression　of　the　utmost　severity　and　dislike。
　　〃You　never　spoke　a　truer　word；　boy；〃　someone　muttered　dryly　to　Dumbledore　behind　Harry。
　　He　looked　around　and　saw　Moody　sitting　there　again。　〃If　I　didn't　know　he'd　always　been　dim；　I'd　have　said　some　of　those　Bludgers　had　permanently　affected　his　brain。　。。。〃
　　〃Ludovic　Bagman；　you　were　caught　passing　information　to　Lord　Voldemort's　supporters；〃
　　said　Mr。　Crouch。　〃For　this；　I　suggest　a　term　of　imprisonment　in　Azkaban　lasting　no　less　than　…〃
　　But　there　was　an　angry　outcry　from　the　surrounding　benches。　Several　of　the　witches　and　wizards　around　the　walls　stood　up；　shaking　their　heads；　and　even　their　fists；　at　Mr。
　　Crouch。
　　〃But　I've　told　you；　I　had　no　idea！〃　Bagman　called　earnestly　over　the　crowd's　babble；　his　round　blue　eyes　widening。　〃None　at　all！　Old　Rookwood　was　a　friend　of　my　dad's　。　。　。
　　never　crossed　my　mind　he　was　in　with　You…Know…Who！　I　thought　I　was　collecting　information　for　our　side！　And　Rookwood　kept　talking　about　getting　me　a　job　in　the　Ministry　later　on　。。。　once　my　Quidditch　days　are　over；　you　know　。。。　I　mean；　I　can't　keep　getting　hit　by　Bludgers　for　the　rest　of　my　life；　can　I？〃
　　There　were　titters　from　the　crowd。
　　〃It　will　be　put　to　the　vote；〃　said　Mr。　Crouch　coldly。　He　turned　to　the　right…hand　side　of　the　dungeon。　〃The　jury　will　please　raise　their　hands　。　。　。　those　in　favor　of　imprisonment。。。〃
　　Harry　looked　toward　the　right…hand　side　of　the　dungeon。　Not　one　person　raised　their　hand。　Many　of　the　witches　and　wizards　around　the　walls　began　to　clap。　One　of　the　witches　on　the　jury　stood　up。
　　〃Yes？〃　barked　Crouch。
　　〃We'd　just　like　to　congratulate　Mr。　Bagman　on　his　splendid　performance　for　England　in　the　Quidditch　match　against　Turkey　last　Saturday；〃　the　witch　said　breathlessly。
　　Mr。　Crouch　looked　furious。　The　dungeon　was　ringing　with　applause　now。　Bagman　got　to　his　feet　and　bowed；　beaming。
　　〃Despicable；〃　Mr。　Crouch　spat　at　Dumbledore；　sitting　down　as　Bagman　walked　out　of　the　dungeon。　〃Rookwood　get　him　a　job　indeed。　。　。　。　The　day　Ludo　Bagman　joins　us　will　be　a　sad　day　indeed　for　the　Ministry。　。　。　。〃
　　And　the　dungeon　dissolved　again。　When　it　had　returned；　Harry　looked　around。　He　and　Dumbledore　were　still　sitting　beside　Mr。　Crouch；　but　the　atmosphere　could　not　have　been　more　different。　There　was　total　silence；　broken　only　by　the　dry　sobs　of　a　frail；　wispy…looking　witch　in　the　seat　next　to　Mr。　Crouch。　She　was　clutching　a　handkerchief　to　her　mouth　with　trembling　hands。
　　Harry　looked　up　at　Crouch　and　saw　that　he　looked　gaunter　and　grayer　than　ever　before。　A　nerve　was　twitching　in　his　temple。
　　〃Bring　them　in；〃　he　said；　and　his　voice　echoed　through　the　silent　dungeon。
　　The　door　in　the　corner　opened　yet　again。　Six　dementors　entered　this　time；　flanking　a　group　of　four　people。　Harry　saw　the　people　in　the　crowd　turn　to　look　up　at　Mr。　Crouch。
　　A　few　of　them　whispered　to　one　another。
　　The　dementors　placed　each　of　the　four　people　in　the　four　chairs　with　chained　arms　that　now　stood　on　the　dungeon　floor。　There　was　a　thickset　man　who　stared　blankly　up　at　Crouch；　a　thinner　and　more　nervous…looking　man；　whose　eyes　were　darting　around　the　crowd；　a　woman　with　thick；　shining　dark　hair　and　heavily　hooded　eyes；　who　was　sitting　in　the　chained　chair　as　though　it　were　a　throne；　and　a　boy　in　his　late　teens；　who　looked　nothing　short　of　petrified。　He　was　shivering；　his　straw…colored　hair　all　over　his　face；　his　freckled　skin　milk…white。　The　wispy　little　witch　beside　Crouch　began　to　rock　backward　and　forward　in　her　seat；　whimpering　into　her　handkerchief。
　　Crouch　stood　up。　He　looked　down　upon　the　four　in　front　of　him；　and　there　was　pure　hatred　in　his　face。
　　〃You　have　been　brought　here　before　the　Council　of　Magical　Law；〃　he　said　clearly；　〃so　that　we　may　pass　judgment　on　you；　for　a　crime　so　heinous　…〃
　　〃Father；〃　said　the　boy　with　the　straw…colored　hair。　〃Father。　。　。please　。　。　。
　　〃…　that　we　have　rarely　heard　the　like　of　it　within　this　court；〃　said　Crouch；　speaking　more　loudly；　drowning　out　his　son's　voice。
　　〃We　have　heard　the　evidence　against　you。　The　four　of　you　stand　accused　of　capturing　an　Auror　…　Frank　Longbottom　…　and　subjecting　him　to　the　Cruciatus　Curse；　believing　him　to　have　knowledge　of　the　present　whereabouts　of　your　exiled　master；　He…Who…Must…Not…Be…Named　…〃
　　〃Father；　I　didn't！〃　shrieked　the　boy　in　chains　below。　〃I　didn't；　I　swear　it。　Father；　don't　send　me　back　to　the　dementors　…〃
　　〃You　are　further　accused；〃　bellowed　Mr。　Crouch；　〃of　using　the　Cruciatus　Curse　on　Frank　Longbottom's　wife；　when　he　would　not　give　you　information。　You　planned　to　restore　He…Who…Must…Not…Be…Named　to　power；　and　to　resume　the　lives　of　violence　you　presumably　led　while　he　was　strong。　I　now　ask　the　jury　…〃
　　〃Mother！〃　screamed　the　boy　below；　and　the　wispy　little　witch　beside　Crouch　began　to　sob；　rocking　backward　and　forward。　〃Mother；　stop　him。　Mother；　I　didn't　do　it；　it　wasn't　me！〃
　　〃I　now　ask　the　jury；〃　shouted　Mr。　Crouch；　〃to　raise　their　hands　if　they　believe；　as　I　do；　that　these　crimes　deserve　a　life　sentence　in　Azkaban！〃
　　In　unison；　the　witches　and　wizards　along　the　right…hand　side　of　the　dungeon　raised　their　hands。　The　crowd　around　the　walls　began　to　clap　as　it　had　for　Bagman；　their　faces　full　of　savage　triumph。　The　boy　began　to　scream。
　　〃No！　Mother；　no！　I　didn't　do　it；　I　didn't　do　it；　I　didn't　know！　Don't　send　me　there；　don't　let　him！〃
　　The　dementors　were　gliding　back　into　the　room。　The　boys'　three　panions　rose　quietly　from　their　seats；　the　woman　with　the　heavy…lidded　eyes　looked　up　at　Crouch　and　called；　〃The　Dark　Lord　will　rise　again；　Crouch！　Throw　us　into　Azkaban；　we　will　wait！　He　will　rise　again　and　will　e　for　us；　he　will　reward　us　beyond　any　of　his　other　supporters！　We　alone　were　faithful！　We　alone　tried　to　find　him！〃
　　But　the　boy　was　trying　to　fight　off　the　dementors；　even　though　Harry　could　see　their　cold；　draining　power　starting　to　affect　him。　The　crowd　was　jeering；　some　of　them　on　their　feet；　as　the　woman　swept　out　of　the　dungeon；　and　the　boy　continued　to　struggle。
　　〃I'm　your　son！〃　he　screamed　up　at　Crouch。　〃I'm　your　son！〃
　　〃You　are　no　son　of　mine！〃　bellowed　Mr。　Crouch；　his　eyes　bulging　suddenly。　〃I　have　no　son！〃
　　The　wispy　witch　beside　him　gave　a　great　gasp　and　slumped　in　her　seat。　She　had　fainted。
　　Crouch　appeared　not　to　have　noticed。
　　〃Take　them　away！〃　Crouch　roared　at　the　dementors；　spit　flying　from　his　mouth。　〃Take　them　away；　and　may　they　rot　there！〃
　　〃Father！　Father；　I　wasn't　involved！　No！　No！　Father；　please！〃
　　〃I　think。　Harry；　it　is　time　to　return　to　my　office；〃　said　a　quiet　voice　in　Harrys　ear。
　　Harry　started。　He　looked　around。　Then　he　looked　on　his　other　side。
　　There