3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第14部分

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　large　group　of　Slytherins　with　a　very　funny　story。　As　they　passed；　Malfoy　did　a　ridiculous　impression　of　a　swooning　fit　and　there　was　a　roar　of　laughter。
　　〃Ignore　him；〃　said　Hermione；　who　was　right　behind　Harry。　〃Just　ignore　him；　it's　not　worth　it。。。。〃
　　〃Hey；　Potter！〃　shrieked　Pansy　Parkinson；　a　Slytherin　girl　with　a　face　like　a　pug。　〃Potter！　The　dementors　are　ing；　Potter！　Woooooooooo！〃
　　Harry　dropped　into　a　seat　at　the　Gryffindor　table；　next　to　George　Weasley。
　　〃New　third…year　course　schedules；〃　said　George；　passing　then；　over。　〃What's　up　with　you；　Harry？〃
　　〃Malfoy；〃　said　Ron；　sitting　down　on　George's　other　side　and　glaring　over　at　the　Slytherin　table。
　　George　looked　up　in　time　to　see　Malfoy　pretending　to　faint　with　terror　again。
　　〃That　little　git；〃　he　said　calmly。　〃He　wasn't　so　cocky　last　night　when　the　dementors　were　down　at　our　end　of　the　train。　Came　runing　into　our　partment；　didn't　he；　Fred？〃
　　〃Nearly　wet　himself；〃　said　Fred；　with　a　contemptuous　glance　at　Malfoy。
　　〃I　wasn't　too　happy　myself；〃　said　George。　〃They're　horrible　things；　those　dementors。。。。〃
　　〃Sort　of　freeze　your　insides；　don't　they？〃　said　Fred。
　　〃You　didn't　pass　out；　though；　did　you？〃　said　Harry　in　a　low　voice。
　　〃Forget　it；　Harry；〃　said　George　bracingly。　〃Dad　had　to　go　out　to　Azkaban　one　time；　remember；　Fred？　And　he　said　it　was　the　worst　place　he'd　ever　been；　he　came　back　all　weak　and　shaking。。。。　They　suck　the　happiness　out　of　a　place；　dementors。　Most　of　the　prisoners　go　mad　in　there。〃
　　〃Anyway；　we'll　see　how　happy　Malfoy　looks　after　our　first　Quidditch　match；〃　said　Fred。　〃Gryffindor　versus　Slytherin；　first　game　of　the　season；　remember？〃
　　The　only　time　Harry　and　Malfoy　had　faced　each　other　in　a　Quidditch　match；　Malfoy　had　definitely　e　off　worse。　Feeling　slightly　more　cheerful；　Harry　helped　himself　to　sausages　and　fried　tomatoes。
　　Hermione　was　examining　her　new　schedule。
　　〃　Ooh；　good；　we're　starting　some　new　subjects　today；〃　she　said　happily。　villains　are　these；　that　trespass　upon　my　private　lands！　e　I。　scorn　at　my　fall；　perchance？　Draw；　you　knaves；　you　dogs！〃
　　They　watched　in　astonishment　as　the　little　knight　tugged　his　sword　out　of　its　scabbard　and　began　brandishing　it　violently；　hopping　up　and　down　in　rage。　But　the　sword　was　too　long　for　him；　a　particularly　wild　swing　made　him　overbalance；　and　he　landed　facedown　in　the　grass。
　　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　said　Harry；　moving　closer　to　the　picture。
　　〃Get　back；　you　scurvy　braggart！　Back；　you　rogue！〃
　　The　knight　seized　his　sword　again　and　used　it　to　push　himself　back　up；　but　the　blade　sank　deeply　into　the　grass　and；　though　he　pulled　with　all　his　might；　he　couldn't　get　it　out　again。　Finally；　he　had　to　flop　back　down　onto　the　grass　and　push　up　his　visor　to　mop　his　sweating　face。
　　〃Listen；〃　said　Harry；　taking　advantage　of　the　knight's　exhaustion；　〃we're　looking　for　the　North　Tower。　You　don't　know　the　way；　do　you？〃
　　〃A　quest！〃　The　knight's　rage　seemed　to　vanish　instantly。　He　clanked　to　his　feet　and　shouted；　〃e　follow　me；　dear　friends；　and　we　shall　find　our　goal；　or　else　shall　perish　bravely　in　the　charge！〃
　　He　gave　the　sword　another　fruitless　tug；　tried　and　failed　to　mount　the　fat　pony；　gave　up；　and　cried；　〃On　foot　then；　good　sirs　and　gentle　lady！　On！　On！〃
　　And　he　ran；　clanking　loudly；　into　the　left　side　of　the　frame　and　out　of　sight。
　　They　hurried　after　him　along　the　corridor；　following　the　sound　of　his　armor。　Every　now　and　then　they　spotted　him　running　through　a　picture　ahead。
　　〃Be　of　stout　heart；　the　worst　is　yet　to　e！〃　yelled　the　knight；　and　they　saw　him　reappear　in　front　of　an　alarmed　group　of　women　in　crinolines；　whose　picture　hung　on　the　wall　of　a　narrow　spiral　staircase。
　　Puffing　loudly；　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　climbed　the　tightly　spiraling　steps；　getting　dizzier　and　dizzier；　until　at　last　they　heard　the　murmur　of　voices　above　them　and　knew　they　had　reached　the　classroom。
　　〃Farewell！〃　cried　the　knight；　popping　his　head　into　a　painting　of　some　sinister…looking　monks。　〃Farewell；　my　rades…in…arms！　If　ever　you　have　need　of　noble　heart　and　steely　sinew；　call　upon　Sir　Cadogan！〃
　　〃Yeah；　we'll　call　you；〃　muttered　Ron　as　the　knight　disappeared；　〃if　we　ever　need　someone　mental。〃
　　They　climbed　the　last　few　steps　and　emerged　onto　a　tiny　landing；　where　most　of　the　class　was　already　assembled。　There　were　no　doors　off　this　landing；　but　Ron　nudged　Harry　and　pointed　at　the　ceiling；　where　there　was　a　circular　trapdoor　with　a　brass　plaque　on　it。
　　〃'Sibyll　Trelawney；　Divination　teacher；〃'　Harry　read。　〃How're　we　supposed　to　get　up　there？〃
　　As　though　in　answer　to　his　question；　the　trapdoor　suddenly　opened；　and　a　silvery　ladder　descended　right　at　Harry's　feet。　Everyone　got　quiet。
　　〃After　you；〃　said　Ron；　grinning；　so　Harry　climbed　the　ladder　first。
　　He　emerged　into　the　strangest…looking　classroom　he　had　ever　seen。　In　fact；　it　didn't　look　like　a　classroom　at　all；　more　like　a　cross　between　someone's　attic　and　an　old…fashioned　tea　shop。　At　leasttwenty　small；　circular　tables　were　crammed　inside　it；　all　surrounded　by　chintz　armchairs　and　fat　little　poufs。　Everything　was　lit　with　a　dim；　crimson　light；　the　curtains　at　the　windows　were　all　closed；　and　the　many　lamps　were　draped　with　dark　red　scarves。　it　was　stiflingly　warm；　and　the　fire　that　was　burning　under　the　crowded　mantelpiece　was　giving　off　a　heavy；　sickly　sort　of　perfume　as　it　heated　a　large　copper　kettle。　The　shelves　running　around　the　circular　walls　were　crammed　with　dusty…looking　feathers；　stubs　of　candles；　many　packs　of　tattered　playing　cards；　countless　silvery　crystal　balls；　and　a　huge　array　of　teacups。
　　Ron　appeared　at　Harry's　shoulder　as　the　class　assembled　around　them；　all　talking　in　whispers。
　　〃Where　is　she？〃　Ron　said。
　　A　voice　came　suddenly　out　of　the　shadows；　a　soft；　misty　sort　of　voice。
　　〃Wele；〃　it　said。　〃How　nice　to　see　you　in　the　physical　world　at　last。〃
　　Harry's　immediate　impression　was　of　a　large；　glittering　insect。　Professor　Trelawney　moved　into　the　firelight；　and　they　saw　that　she　was　very　thin；　her　large　glasses　magnified　her　eyes　to　several　times　their　natural　size；　and　she　was　draped　in　a　gauzy　spangled　shawl。　Innumerable　chains　and　beads　hung　around　her　spindly　neck；　and　her　arms　and　hands　were　encrusted　with　bangles　and　rings。
　　〃Sit；　my　children；　sit；〃　she　said；　and　they　all　climbed　awkwardly　into　armchairs　or　sank　onto　poufs。　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　sat　themselves　around　the　same　round　table。
　　〃Wele　to　Divination；〃　said　Professor　Trelawney；　who　had　seated　herself　in　a　winged　armchair　in　front　of　the　fire。　〃My　name　is　professor　Trelawney。　You　may　not　have　seen　me　before。　I　find　that　descending　too　often　into　the　hustle　and　bustle　of　the　main　school　clouds　my　Inner　Eye。〃
　　Nobody　said　anything　to　this　extraordinary　pronouncement。　Professor　Trelawney　delicately　rearranged　her　shawl　and　continued；　〃So　you　have　chosen　to　study　Divination；　the　most　difficult　of　all　magical　arts。　I　must　warn　you　at　the　outset　that　if　you　do　not　have　the　Sight；　there　is　very　little　I　will　be　able　to　teach　you。。　Books　can　take　you　only　so　far　in　this　field。。。。〃
　　At　these　words；　both　Harry　and　Ron　glanced；　grinning；　at　Hermione；　who　looked　startled　at　the　news　that　books　wouldn't　be　much　help　in　this　subject。
　　〃Many　witches　and　wizards；　talented　though　they　are　in　the　area　of　loud　bangs　and　smells　and　sudden　disappearings；　are　yet　unable　to　penetrate　the　veiled　mysteries　of　the　future；〃　Professor　Trelawney　went　on；　her　enormous；　gleaming　eyes　moving　from　face　to　nervous　face。　〃It　is　a　Gift　granted　to　few。　You；　boy；〃　she　said　suddenly　to　Neville；　who　almost　toppled　off　his　pouf。　〃Is　your　grandmother　well？〃
　　〃I　think　so；〃　said　Neville　tremulously。
　　〃I　wouldn't　be　so　sure　if　I　were　you；　dear；〃　said　Professor　Trelawney；　the　firelight　glinting　on　her　long　emerald　earrings。　Neville　gulped。　Professor　Trelawney　continued　placidly。　〃We　will　be　covering　the　basic　methods　of　Divination　this　year。　The　first　term　will　be　devoted　to　reading　the　tea　leaves。　Next　term　we　shall　progress　to　palmistry。　By　the　way；　my　dear；〃　she　shot　suddenly　at　Parvati　Patil；　〃beware　a　red…haired　man。〃
　　Parvati　gave　a　startled　look　at　Ron；　who　was　right　behind　her　and　edged　her　chair　away　from　him。
　　〃In　the　second　term；〃　Professor　Trelawney　went　on；　〃we　shall　progress　to　the　crystal　ball　　if　we　have　finished　with　fire　omens；　that　is。　Unfortunately；　classes　will　be　disrupted　in　February　by　a　nasty　bout　of　flu。　I　myself　will　lose　my　voice。　And　around　Easter；　one　of　our　number　will　leave　us　forever。〃
　　A　very　tense　silence　followed　this　pronouncement；　but　Professor　Trelawney　seemed　unaware　of　it。
　　〃I　wonder；　dear；〃　she　said　to　Lavender　Brown；　who　was　nearest　and　shrank　back　in　her　chair；　〃if　you　could　pass　me　the　largest　silver　teapot？〃
　　Lavender；　looking　relieved；　stood　up；　took　an　enormous　teapot　from　the　shelf；　and　put　it　down　on　the　table　in　front　of　Professor　Trelawney。
　　〃Thank　you；　my　dear。　Incidentally；　that　thing　you　are　dreading　　it　will　happen　on　Friday　the　sixteenth　of　October。〃
　　Lavender　trembled。
　　〃Now；　I　want　you　all　to　divide　into　pairs。　Collect　a　teacup　from　the　shelf；　e　to　me；　and　I　will　fill　it。　Then　sit　down　and　drink；　drink　until　only　the　dregs　remain。　Swill　these　around　the　cup　three　times　with　the　left　hand；　then　turn　the　cup　upside　down　on　its　saucer；　wait　for　the　last　of　the　tea　to　drain　away；　then　give　your　cup　to　your　partner　to　read。　You　will　interpret　the　patterns　using　pages　five　and　six　of　Unfogging　the　Future。　I　shall　move　among　you；　helping　and　instructing。　Oh；　and　dear〃　　she　caught　Neville　by　the　arm　as　he　made　to　stand　up　　〃after　you've　broken　your　first　cup；　would　you　be　so　kind　as　to　select　one　of　the　blue　patterned　ones？　I'm　rather　attached　to　the　pink。〃
　　Sure　enough；　Neville　had　no　sooner　reached　the　shelf　of　teacups　when　there　was　a　tinkle　of　breaking　china。　Professor　Trelawney　swept　over　to　him　holding　a　dustpan　and　brush　and　said；　〃One　of　the　blue　ones；　then；　dear；　if　you　wouldn't　mind。。。　thank　you。　。。。　〃
　　When　Harry　and　Ron　had　had　their　teacups　filled；　they　went　back　to　their　table　and　tried　to　drink　the　scalding　tea　quickly。　They　swilled　the　dregs　around　as　Professor　Trelawney　had　in