3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第19部分

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o　stand　next　to　it；　the　wardrobe　gave　a　sudden　wobble；　banging　off　the　wall。
　　〃Nothing　to　worry　about；〃　said　Professor　Lupin　calmly　because　a　few　people　had　jumped　backward　in　alarm。　〃There's　a　boggart　in　there。〃
　　Most　people　seemed　to　feel　that　this　was　something　to　worry　about。　Neville　gave　Professor　Lupin　a　look　of　pure　terror；　and　Seamus　Finnigan　eyed　the　now　rattling　doorknob　apprehensively。
　　〃Boggarts　like　dark；　enclosed　spaces；〃　said　Professor　Lupin。　〃Wardrobes；　the　gap　beneath　beds；　the　cupboards　under　sinks　　I've　even　met　one　that　had　lodged　itself　in　a　grandfather　clock。　This　one　moved　in　yesterday　afternoon；　and　I　asked　the　headmaster　if　the　staff　would　leave　it　to　give　my　third　years　some　practice。
　　〃So；　the　first　question　we　must　ask　ourselves　is；　what　is　a　boggart？〃
　　Hermione　put　up　her　hand。
　　〃It's　a　shape…shifter；〃　she　said。　〃It　can　take　the　shape　of　whatever　it　thinks　will　frighten　us　most。〃
　　〃Couldn't　have　put　it　better　myself；〃　said　Professor　Lupin；　and　Hermione　glowed。　〃So　the　boggart　sitting　in　the　darkness　within　has　not　yet　assumed　a　form。　He　does　not　yet　know　what　will　frighten　the　person　on　the　other　side　of　the　door。　Nobody　knows　what　a　boggart　looks　like　when　he　is　alone；　but　when　I　let　him　out；　he　will　immediately　bee　whatever　each　of　us　most　fears。
　　〃This　means；〃　said　Professor　Lupin；　choosing　to　ignore　Neville's　'mall　sputter　of　terror；　〃that　we　have　a　huge　advantage　over　the　boggart　before　we　begin。　Have　you　spotted　it；　Harry？〃
　　Trying　to　answer　a　question　with　Hermione　next　to　him；　bobbing　up　and　down　on　the　balls　of　her　feet　with　her　hand　in　the　air；　was　very　off…putting；　but　Harry　had　a　go。
　　〃Er　　because　there　are　so　many　of　us；　it　won't　know　what　shape　it　should　be？〃
　　〃Precisely；〃　said　Professor　Lupin；　and　Hermione　put　her　hand　down；　looking　a　little　disappointed。　〃It's　always　best　to　have　　pany　when　you're　dealing　with　a　boggart。　He　bees　confused。　Which　should　he　bee；　a　headless　corpse　or　a　flesh…eating　slug？　I　once　saw　a　boggart　make　that　very　mistake　　tried　to　frighten　two　people　at　once　and　turned　himself　into　half　a　slug。　Not　remotely　frightening。
　　〃The　charm　that　repels　a　boggart　is　simple；　yet　it　requires　force　of　mind。　You　see；　the　thing　that　really　finishes　a　boggart　is　laughter。　What　you　need　to　do　is　force　it　to　assume　a　shape　that　you　find　amusing。
　　〃We　will　practice　the　charm　without　wands　first。　After　me；　please　。。。　Riddikulus！〃
　　〃Riddikulus！〃　said　the　class　together。
　　〃Good；〃　said　Professor　Lupin。　〃Very　good。　But　that　was　the　easy　part；　I'm　afraid。　You　see；　the　word　alone　is　not　enough。　And　this　is　where　you　e　in；　Neville。〃
　　The　wardrobe　shook　again；　though　not　as　much　as　Neville；　who　walked　forward　as　though　he　were　heading　for　the　gallows。
　　〃Right；　Neville；〃　said　Professor　Lupin。　〃First　things　first：　what　would　you　say　is　the　thing　that　frightens　you　most　in　the　world？〃
　　Neville's　lips　moved；　but　no　noise　came　out。
　　〃didn't　catch　that；　Neville；　sorry；〃　said　Professor　Lupin　cheerfully。
　　Neville　looked　around　rather　wildly；　as　though　begging　someone　to　help　him；　then　said；　in　barely　more　than　a　whisper；　〃Professor　Snape。〃
　　Nearly　everyone　laughed。　Even　Neville　grinned　apologetically。　Professor　Lupin；　however；　looked　thoughtful。
　　〃Professor　Snape。。。　hmmm。。。　Neville；　I　believe　you　live　with　your　grandmother？〃
　　〃Er　　yes；〃　said　Neville　nervously。　〃But　　I　don't　want　the　boggart　to　turn　into　her　either。〃
　　〃No；　no；　you　misunderstand　me；〃　said　Professor　Lupin；　now　smiling。　〃I　wonder；　could　you　tell　us　what　sort　of　clothes　your　grandmother　usually　wears？〃
　　Neville　looked　startled；　but　said；　〃Well。。。　always　the　same　hat。　A　tall　one　with　a　stuffed　vulture　on　top。　And　a　long　dress。。。　green；　normally。。。　and　sometimes　a　fox…fur　scarf。〃
　　〃And　a　handbag？〃　prompted　Professor　Lupin。
　　〃A　big　red　one；〃　said　Neville。
　　〃Right　then；〃　said　Professor　Lupin。　〃Can　you　picture　those　clothes　very　clearly；　Neville？　Can　you　see　them　in　your　mind's　eye？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Neville　uncertainty；　plainly　wondering　what　was　ing　next。
　　〃When　the　boggart　bursts　out　of　this　wardrobe；　Neville；　and　sees　You；　it　will　assume　the　form　of　Professor　Snape；〃　said　Lupin。　〃And　You　will　raise　your　wand　　thus　　and　cry　'Riddikulus'　　and　concentrate　hard　on　your　grandmother's　clothes。　If　all　goes　well；　Professor　Boggart　Snape　will　be　forced　into　that　vulture…topped　hat；　and　that　green　dress；　with　that　big　red　handbag。〃
　　There　was　a　great　shout　of　laughter。　The　wardrobe　wobbled　more　violently。
　　〃If　Neville　is　successful；　the　boggart　is　likely　to　shift　his　attention　to　each　of　us　in　turn；〃　said　Professor　Lupin。　〃I　would　like　all　of　you　to　take　a　moment　now　to　think　of　the　thing　that　scares　you　most；　and　imagine　how　you　might　force　it　to　look　ical。。。。〃
　　The　room　went　quiet。　Harry　thought。。。　'What　scared　him　most　in　the　world？
　　His　first　thought　was　Lord　Voldemort　　a　Voldemort　returned　to　full　strength。　But　before　he　had　even　started　to　plan　a　possible　counterattack　on　a　boggart…Voldemort；　a　horrible　image　came　floating　to　the　surface　of　his　mind。。。。
　　A　rotting；　glistening　hand；　slithering　back　beneath　a　black　cloak　。。。　a　long；　rattling　breath　from　an　unseen　mouth。。。　then　a　cold　so　penetrating　it　felt　like　drowning。。。。
　　Harry　shivered；　then　looked　around；　hoping　no　one　had　noticed。　Many　people　had　their　eyes　shut　tight。　Ron　was　muttering　to　himself；　〃Take　its　legs　off　〃　Harry　was　sure　he　knew　what　that　was　about。　Ron's　greatest　fear　was　spiders。
　　〃Everyone　ready？〃　said　Professor　Lupin。
　　Harry　felt　a　lurch　of　fear。　He　wasn't　ready。　How　could　you　make　a　dementor　less　frightening？　But　he　didn't　want　to　ask　for　more　time；　everyone　else　was　nodding　and　rolling　up　their　sleeves。
　　〃Neville；　we're　going　to　back　away；〃　said　Professor　Lupin。　〃Let　you　have　a　clear　field；　all　right？　I'll　call　the　next　person　forward。。。。　Everyone　back；　now；　so　Neville　can　get　a　clear　shot　〃
　　They　all　retreated；　backed　against　the　walls；　leaving　Neville　alone　beside　the　wardrobe。　He　looked　pale　and　frightened；　but　he　had　pushed　up　the　sleeves　of　his　robes　and　was　holding　his　wand　ready。
　　〃On　the　count　of　three；　Neville；〃　said　Professor　Lupin；　who　was
　　pointing　his　own　wand　at　the　handle　of　the　wardrobe。　〃One　two　　three　　now！〃
　　A　jet　of　sparks　shot　from　the　end　of　Professor　Lupin's　wand　and　hit　the　doorknob。　The　wardrobe　burst　open。　Hook…nosed　and　menacing；　Professor　Snape　stepped　out；　his　eyes　flashing　at　Neville。
　　Neville　backed　away；　his　wand　up；　mouthing　wordlessly。　Snape　was　bearing　down　upon　him；　reaching　inside　his　robes。
　　〃R　　r　　riddikulus！　〃squeaked　Neville。
　　There　was　a　noise　like　a　whip　crack。　Snape　stumbled；　he　was　wearing　a　long；　lace…trimmed　dress　and　a　towering　hat　topped　with　a　moth…eaten　vulture；　and　he　was　swinging　a　huge　crimson　handbag。
　　There　was　a　roar　of　laughter；　the　boggart　paused；　confused；　and　Professor　Lupin　shouted；　〃Parvati！　Forward！〃
　　Parvati　walked　forward；　her　face　set。　Snape　rounded　on　her。　There　was　another　crack；　and　where　he　had　stood　was　a　bloodstained；　bandaged　mummy；　its　sightless　face　was　turned　to　Parvati　and　it　began　to　walk　toward　her　very　slowly；　dragging　its　feet；　its　stiff　arms　rising　
　　〃Riddikulus！〃　cried　Parvati。
　　A　bandage　unraveled　at　the　mummy's　feet；　it　became　entangled；　fell　face　forward；　and　its　head　rolled　off。
　　〃Seamus！〃　roared　Professor　Lupin。
　　Seamus　darted　past　Parvati。
　　Crack！　Where　the　mummy　had　been　was　a　woman　with　floorlength　black　hair　and　a　skeletal；　green…tinged　face　　a　banshee。　She　opened　her　mouth　wide　and　an　unearthly　sound　filled　the　room；　a　long；　wailing　shriek　that　made　the　hair　on　Harry's　head　stand　on　end　　'Riddikulus！〃　shouted　Seamus。
　　The　banshee　made　a　rasping　noise　and　clutched　her　throat；　her　voice　was　gone。
　　Crack！　The　banshee　turned　into　a　rat；　which　chased　its　tail　in　a　circle；　then　　crack！…　became　a　rattlesnake；　which　slithered　and　writhed　before　　crack！　　being　a　single；　bloody　eyeball。
　　'It's　confused！〃　shouted　Lupin。　〃We're　getting　there！　Dean！〃
　　Dean　hurried　forward。
　　Crack！　The　eyeball　became　a　severed　hand；　which　flipped　over　and　began　to　creep　along　the　floor　like　a　crab。
　　〃Riddikulus！〃　yelled　Dean。
　　'There　was　a　snap；　and　the　hand　was　trapped　in　a　mousetrap。
　　〃Excellent！　Ron；　you　next！〃
　　Ron　leapt　forward。
　　Crack！
　　Quite　a　few　people　screamed。　A　giant　spider；　six　feet　tall　and　covered　in　hair；　was　advancing　on　Ron；　clicking　its　pincers　menacingly。　For　a　moment；　Harry　thought　Ron　had　frozen。　Then　
　　〃Riddikulus！〃　bellowed　Ron；　and　the　spider's　legs　vanished；　it　rolled　over　and　over；　Lavender　Brown　squealed　and　ran　out　of　its　way　and　it　came　to　a　halt　at　Harry's　feet。　He　raised　his　wand；　ready；　but　
　　〃Here！〃　shouted　Professor　Lupin　suddenly；　hurrying　forward。　Crack！
　　The　legless　spider　had　vanished。　For　a　second；　everyone　looked　wildly　around　to　see　where　it　was。　Then　they　saw　a　silvery…white　orb　hanging　in　the　air　in　front　of　Lupin；　who　said；　〃Riddikulus！〃　almosi　lazily。
　　Crack！
　　〃Forward；　Neville；　and　finish　him　off！〃　said　Lupin　as　the　boggart　landed　on　the　floor　as　a　cockroach。　Crack！　Snape　was　back。　This　time　Neville　charged　forward　looking　determined。
　　〃Riddikulus！〃　he　shouted；　and　they　had　a　split　second's　view　of　Snape　in　his　lacy　dress　before　Neville　let　out　a　great　〃Ha！〃　of　laughter；　and　the　boggart　exploded；　burst　into　a　thousand　tiny　wisps　of　smoke；　and　was　gone。
　　〃Excellent！〃　cried　Professor　Lupin　as　the　class　broke　into　applause。　〃Excellent）　Neville。　Well　done；　everyone。。。。　Let　me　See。。。　five　points　to　Gryffindor　for　every　person　to　tackle　the　boggart　　ten　for　Neville　because　he　did　it　twice。。。　and　five　each　to　Hermione　and　Harry。〃
　　〃But　I　didn't　do　anything；〃　said　Harry。
　　〃You　and　Hermione　answered　my　questions　correctly　at　the　start　of　the　class；　Harry；〃　Lupin　said　lightly。　〃Very　well；　everyone；　an　excellent　lesson。　Homework；　kindly　read　the　chapter　on　boggarts　and　summarize　it　for　me。。。　to　be　handed　in　on　Monday。　That　will　be　all。〃
　　Talking　excitedly；　the　class　left　the　staffroom。　Harry；　however；　wasn't　feeling　cheerful。　Professor　Lupin　had　deliberately　stopped　him　from　tackling　the　boggart。　W