3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第22部分

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　　He　followed　Lupin　into　his　office。　In　the　corner　stood　a　very　large　tank　of　water。　A　sickly　green　creature　with　sharp　little　horns　had　its　face　pressed　against　the　glass；　pulling　faces　and　flexing　its　long；　spindly　fingers。
　　〃Water　demon；〃　said　Lupin；　surveying　the　grindylow　thoughtfully。　〃We　shouldn't　have　much　difficulty　with　him；　not　after　the　kappas。　The　trick　is　to　break　his　grip。　You　notice　the　abnormally　long　fingers？　Strong；　but　very　brittle。〃
　　The　grindylow　bared　its　green　teeth　and　then　buried　itself　in　a　tangle　of　weeds　in　a　corner。
　　〃Cup　of　tea？〃　Lupin　said；　looking　around　for　his　kettle。　〃I　was　just　thinking　of　making　one。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Harry　awkwardly。
　　Lupin　tapped　the　kettle　with　his　wand　and　a　blast　of　steam　issued　suddenly　from　the　spout。
　　〃Sit　down；〃　said　Lupin；　taking　the　lid　off　a　dusty　tin。　〃I've　only　got　teabags；　I'm　afraid　　but　I　daresay　you've　had　enough　of　tea　leaves？〃
　　Harry　looked　at　him。　Lupin's　eyes　were　twinkling。
　　〃How　did　you　know　about　that？〃　Harry　asked。
　　〃Professor　McGonagall　told　me；〃　said　Lupin；　passing　Harry　a　chipped　mug　of　tea。　〃You're　not　worried；　are　you？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Harry。
　　He　thought　for　a　moment　of　telling　Lupin　about　the　dog　he'd　seen　in　Magnolia　Crescent　but　decided　not　to。　He　didn't　want　Lupin　to　think　he　was　a　coward；　especially　since　Lupin　alreadv　seemed　to　think　he　couldn't　cope　with　a　boggart。
　　Something　of　Harry's　thoughts　seemed　to　have　shown　on　his　face；　because　Lupin　said；　〃Anything　worrying　you；　Harry？〃
　　〃No；〃　Harry　lied。　He　drank　a　bit　of　tea　and　watched　the　grindylow　brandishing　a　fist　at　him。　〃Yes；〃　he　said　suddenly；　putting　his　tea　down　on　Lupin's　desk。　〃You　know　that　day　we　fought　the　boggart？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Lupin　slowly。
　　〃Why　didn't　you　let　me　fight　it？〃　said　Harry　abruptly。
　　Lupin　raised　his　eyebrows。
　　〃I　would　have　thought　that　was　obvious；　Harry；〃　he　said；　sounding　surprised。
　　Harry；　who　had　expected　Lupin　to　deny　that　he'd　done　any　such　thing；　was　taken　aback。
　　〃Why？〃　he　said　again。
　　〃Well；〃　said　Lupin；　frowning　slightly；　〃I　assumed　that　if　the　boggart　faced　you；　it　would　assume　the　shape　of　Lord　Voldemort。〃
　　Harry　stared。　Not　only　was　this　the　last　answer　he'd　expected；　but　Lupin　had　said　Voldemort's　name。　The　only　person　Harry　had　ever　heard　say　the　name　aloud　（apart　from　himself）　was　Professor　Dumbledore。
　　〃Clearly；　I　was　wrong；〃　said　Lupin；　still　frowning　at　Harry。　〃But　I　didn't　think　it　a　good　idea　for　Lord　Voldemort　to　materialize　in　the　staffroom。　I　imagined　that　people　would　panic。〃
　　〃I　didn't　think　of　Voldemort；〃　said　Harry　honestly。　〃I　　I　remembered　those　dementors。〃
　　〃I　see；〃　said　Lupin　thoughtfully。　〃Well；　well。。。　I'm　impressed。〃　fie　smiled　slightly　at　the　look　of　surprise　on　Harry's　face。　〃That　suggests　that　what　you　fear　most　of　all　is　　fear。　Very　wise；　Harry。〃
　　Harry　didn't　know　what　to　say　to　that；　so　he　drank　some　mot；；　tea。
　　〃So　you've　been　thinking　that　I　didn't　believe　you　capable　of　fighting　the　boggart？〃　said　Lupin　shrewdly。
　　〃Well。。。　yeah；〃　said　Harry。　He　was　suddenly　feeling　a　lot　happier。　〃Professor　Lupin；　you　know　the　dementors　〃
　　He　was　interrupted　by　a　knock　on　the　door。
　　〃e　in；〃　called　Lupin。
　　The　door　opened；　and　in　came　Snape。　He　was　carrying　a　goblet；　which　was　smoking　faintly；　and　stopped　at　the　sight　of　Harry；　his　black　eyes　narrowing。
　　〃Ah；　Severus；〃　said　Lupin；　smiling。　〃Thanks　very　much。　Could　you　leave　it　here　on　the　desk　for　me？〃
　　Snape　set　down　the　smoking　goblet；　his　eyes　wandering　between　Harry　and　Lupin。
　　〃I　was　just　showing　Harry　my　grindylow；〃　said　Lupin　pleasantly；　pointing　at　the　tank。
　　〃Fascinating；〃　said　Snape；　without　looking　at　it。　〃You　should　drink　that　directly；　Lupin。〃
　　〃Yes；　Yes；　I　will；〃　said　Lupin。
　　〃I　made　an　entire　cauldronful；〃　Snape　continued。　〃If　you　need　more。
　　〃I　should　probably　take　some　again　tomorrow。　Thanks　very　much；　Severus。〃
　　〃Not　at　all；〃　said　Snape；　but　there　was　a　look　in　his　eye　Harry　didn't　like。　He　backed　out　of　the　room；　unsmiling　and　watchful。
　　Harry　looked　curiously　at　the　goblet。　Lupin　smiled。
　　〃Professor　Snape　has　very　kindly　concocted　a　potion　for　me；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　never　been　much　of　a　potion…brewer　and　this　one　is　particularly　plex。〃　He　picked　up　the　goblet　and　sniffed　it。　〃Pity　sugar　makes　it　useless；〃　he　added；　taking　a　sip　and　shuddering。
　　〃Why　？〃　Harry　began。　Lupin　looked　at　him　and　answered　the　unfinished　question。
　　〃I've　been　feeling　a　bit　off…color；〃　he　said。　〃This　potion　is　the　only　thing　that　helps。　I　am　very　lucky　to　be　working　alongside　Professor　Snape；　there　aren't　many　wizards　who　are　up　to　making　it。〃
　　Professor　Lupin　took　another　sip　and　Harry　had　a　crazy　urge　to　knock　the　goblet　out　of　his　hands。
　　〃Professor　Snape's　very　interested　in　the　Dark　Arts；　he　blurted　out。
　　〃Really？〃　said　Lupin；　looking　only　mildly　interested　as　he　took　another　gulp　of　potion。
　　〃Some　people　reckon　〃　Harry　hesitated；　then　plunged　recklessly　on；　〃some　people　reckon　he'd　do　anything　to　get　the　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts　job。〃
　　Lupin　drained　the　goblet　and　pulled　a　face。
　　〃Disgusting；〃　he　said。　〃Well；　Harry；　I'd　better　get　back　to　work。　see　you　at　the　feast　later。〃
　　〃Right；〃　said　Harry；　putting　down　his　empty　teacup。
　　The　empty　goblet　was　still　smoking。
　　〃There　you　go；〃　said　Ron。　〃We　got　as　much　as　we　could　carry。〃
　　A　shower　of　brilliantly　colored　sweets　fell　into　Harry's　lap。　It　was　dusk；　and　Ron　and　Hermione　had　just　turned　up　in　the　mon　room；　pink…faced　from　the　cold　wind　and　looking　as　though　they'd　had　the　time　of　their　lives。
　　〃Thanks；〃　said　Harry；　picking　up　a　packet　of　tiny　black　Pepper　Imps。　〃What's　Hogsmeade　like？　Where　did　you　go？〃
　　By　the　sound　of　it　　everywhere。　Dervish　and　Banges；　the　wizarding　equipment　shop；　Zonko's　Joke　Shop；　into　the　Three　Broomsticks　for　foaming　mugs　of　hot　butterbeer；　and　many　places　besides。
　　〃The　post　office；　Harry！　About　two　hundred　owls；　all　sitting　on　shelves；　all　color…coded　depending　on　how　fast　you　want　your　letter　to　get　there！〃
　　〃Honeydukes　has　got　a　new　kind　of　fudge；　they　were　giving　out　free　samples；　there's　a　bit；　look　〃
　　〃We　think　we　saw　an　ogre；　honestly；　they　get　all　sorts　at　the　Three　Broomsticks　〃
　　〃Wish　we　could　have　brought　you　some　butterbeer；　really　warms　you　up　〃
　　〃What　did　you　do？〃　said　Hermione；　looking　anxious。　〃Did　you　get　any　work　done？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Harry。　〃Lupin　made　me　a　cup　of　tea　in　his　office。　And　then　Snape　came　in。。。。〃
　　He　told　them　all　about　the　goblet。　Ron's　mouth　fell　open。
　　〃Lupin　drank　it？〃　he　gasped。　〃Is　he　mad？〃
　　Hermione　checked　her　watch。
　　〃We'd　better　go　down；　you　know；　the　feast'll　be　starting　in　fiveminutes　They　hurried　through　the　portrait　hole　and　into　the　crowd；　still　discussing　Snape。
　　〃But　if　he　　you　know〃　　Hermione　dropped　her　voice；　glancing　nervously　around　　〃if　he　was　trying　to　to　poison　Lupin　　he　wouldn't　have　done　it　in　front　of　Harry。〃
　　〃Yeah；　maybe；〃　said　Harry　as　they　reached　the　entrance　hall　and　crossed　into　the　Great　Hall。　It　had　been　decorated　with　hundreds　and　hundreds　of　candle…filled　pumpkins；　a　cloud　of　fluttering　live　bats；　and　many　flaming　orange　streamers；　which　were　swimming　lazily　across　the　stormy　ceiling　like　brilliant　watersnakes。
　　The　food　was　delicious；　even　Hermione　and　Ron；　who　were　full　to　bursting　with　Honeydukes　sweets；　managed　second　helpings　of　everything。　Harry　kept　glancing　at　the　staff　table。　Professor　Lupin
　　looked　cheerful　and　as　well　as　he　ever　did；　he　was　talking　animatedly　to　tiny　little　Professor　Flitwick；　the　Charms　teacher。　Harry　moved　his　eyes　along　the　table；　to　the　place　where　Snape　sat。　Was　he　imagining　it；　or　were　Snape's　eyes　flickering　toward　Lupin　more　often　than　was　natural？
　　The　feast　finished　with　an　entertainment　provided　by　the　Hogwarts　ghosts。　They　popped　out　of　the　walls　and　tables　to　do　a　bit　of　formation　gliding；　Nearly　Headless　Nick；　the　Gryffindor　ghost；　had　a　great　success　with　a　reenactment　of　his　own　botched　beheading。
　　It　had　been　such　a　pleasant　evening　that　Harry's　good　mood　couldn't　even　be　spoiled　by　Malfoy；　who　shouted　through　the　crowd　as　they　all　left　the　hall；　〃The　dementors　send　their　love；　Potter！〃
　　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　followed　the　rest　of　the　Gryffindors　along　the　usual　path　to　Gryffindor　Tower；　but　when　they　reached　the　corridor　that　ended　with　the　portrait　of　the　Fat　Lady；　they　found　it　jammed　with　students。
　　〃Why　isn't　anyone　going　in？〃　said　Ron　curiously。
　　Harry　peered　over　the　heads　in　front　of　him。　The　portrait　seemed　to　be　closed。
　　〃Let　me　through；　please；〃　came　Percy's　voice；　and　he　came　bustling　importantly　through　the　crowd。　〃What's　the　holdup　here？　You　can't　all　have　forgotten　the　password　　excuse　me；　I'm　Head　Boy　〃
　　And　then　a　silence　fell　over　the　crowd；　from　the　front　first；　so　that　a　chill　seemed　to　spread　down　the　corridor。　They　heard　Percy　say；　in　a　suddenly　sharp　voice；　〃Somebody　get　Professor　Dumbledore。　Quick。〃
　　People's　heads　turned；　those　at　the　back　were　standing　on　tiptoe。
　　〃What's　going　on？〃　said　Ginny；　who　had　just　arrived。
　　A　moment　later；　Professor　Dumbledore　was　there；　sweeping　toward　the　portrait；　the　Gryffindors　squeezed　together　to　let　him　through；　and　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　moved　closer　to　see　what　the　trouble　was。
　　〃Oh；　my　〃　Hermione　grabbed　Harry's　arm。
　　The　Fat　Lady　had　vanished　from　her　portrait；　which　had　been　slashed　so　viciously　that　strips　of　canvas　littered　the　floor；　great　chunks　of　it　had　been　torn　away　pletely。
　　Dumbledore　took　one　quick　look　at　the　ruined　painting　and　turned；　his　eyes　somber；　to　see　Professors　McGonagall；　Lupin；　and　Snape　hurrying　toward　him。
　　〃We　need　to　find　her；〃　said　Dumbledore。　〃Professor　McGonagall；　please　go　to　Mr。　Filch　at　once　and　tell　him　to　search　every　painting　in　the　castle　for　the　Fat　Lady。〃
　　〃You'll　be　lucky！〃　said　a　cackling　voice。
　　It　was　Peeves　the　Poltergeist；　bobbing　over　the　crowd　and　looking　delighted；　as　he　always　did；　at　the　sight　of　wreckage　or　worry。
　　〃What　do　you　mean；　Peeves？〃　said　Dumbledore　calmly；　and　Peeves's　grin　faded　a　little。　He　didn't　dare　taunt　Dumbledore。　Instead　he　adopted　a