3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第23部分

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　　〃What　do　you　mean；　Peeves？〃　said　Dumbledore　calmly；　and　Peeves's　grin　faded　a　little。　He　didn't　dare　taunt　Dumbledore。　Instead　he　adopted　an　oily　voice　that　was　no　better　than　his　cackle。　〃Ashamed；　Your　Headship；　sit。　Doesn't　want　to　be　seen。　She's　a　horrible　mess。　Saw　her　running　through　the　landscape　up　on　the　fourth　floor；　sir；　dodging　between　the　trees。　Crying　something　dreadful；〃　he　said　happily。　〃Poor　thing；〃　he　added　unconvincingly。
　　〃Did　she　say　who　did　it？〃　said　Dumbledore　quietly。
　　〃Oh　yes；　Professorhead；〃　said　Peeves；　with　the　air　of　one　cradling　a　large　bombshell　in　his　arms。　〃He　got　very　angry　when　she　wouldn't　let　him　in；　you　see。〃　Peeves　flipped　over　and　grinned　at　Dumbledore　from　between　his　own　legs。　〃Nasty　temper　he's　got；　that　Sirius　Black。〃
　　CHAPTER　NINE
　　GRIM　DEFEAT
　　Professor　Dumbledore　sent　all　the　Gryffindors　back　to　the　Great　Hall；　where　they　were　joined　ten　minutes　later　by　the　students　from　Hufflepuff；　Ravenclaw；　and　Slytherin；　who　all　looked　extremely　confused。
　　〃The　teachers　and　I　need　to　conduct　a　thorough　search　of　the　castle；〃　Professor　Dumbledore　told　them　as　Professors　McGonagall　and　Flitwick　closed　all　doors　into　the　hall。　〃I'm　afraid　that；　for　your　own　safety；　you　will　have　to　spend　the　night　here。　I　want　the　prefects　to　stand　guard　over　the　entrances　to　the　hall　and　I　am　leaving　the　Head　Boy　and　Girl　in　charge。　Any　disturbance　should　be　reported　to　me　immediately；〃　he　added　to　Percy；　who　was　looking　immensely　proud　and　important。　〃Send　word　with　one　of　the　ghosts。〃
　　Professor　Dumbledore　paused；　about　to　leave　the　hall；　and　said；　〃Oh；　yes；　you'll　be　needing。。。〃
　　One　casual　wave　of　his　wand　and　the　long　tables　flew　to　the　edges　of　the　hall　and　stood　themselves　against　the　walls；　another　wave；　and　the　floor　was　covered　with　hundreds　of　squashy　purple　sleeping　bags。
　　〃Sleep　well；〃　said　Professor　Dumbledore；　closing　the　door　behind　him。
　　The　hall　immediately　began　to　buzz　excitedly；　the　Gryffindors　were　telling　the　rest　of　the　school　what　had　just　happened。
　　〃Everyone　into　their　sleeping　bags！〃　shouted　Percy。　〃e　on；　now；　no　more　talking！　Lights　out　in　ten　minutes！〃
　　〃C'mon；〃　Ron　said　to　Harry　and　Hermione；　they　seized　three　sleeping　bags　and　dragged　them　into　a　corner。
　　〃Do　you　think　Black's　still　in　the　castle？〃　Hermione　whispered　anxiously。
　　〃Dumbledore　obviously　thinks　he　might　be；〃　said　Ron。
　　〃It's　very　lucky　he　picked　tonight；　you　know；〃　said　Hermione　as　they　climbed　fully　dressed　into　their　sleeping　bags　and　propped　themselves　on　their　elbows　to　talk。　〃The　one　night　we　weren't　in　the　tower。。。。〃
　　I　reckon　he's　lost　track　of　time；　being　on　the　run；〃　said　Ron。　〃Didn't　realize　it　was　Halloween。　Otherwise　he'd　have　e　bursting　in　here。〃
　　Hermione　shuddered。
　　All　around　them；　people　were　asking　one　another　the　same　question：　〃How　did　he　get　in？〃
　　〃Maybe　he　knows　how　to　Apparate；〃　said　a　Ravenclaw　a　few　feet　away；　〃Just　appear　out　of　thin　air；　you　know。〃
　　〃Disguised　himself；　probably；〃　said　a　Hufflepuff　fifth　year。　〃He　could've　flown　in；〃　suggested　Dean　Thomas。
　　〃Honestly；　am　I　the　only　person　who's　ever　bothered　to　read　Hogwarts；　A　History？〃　said　Hermione　crossly　to　Harry　and　Ron。
　　〃Probably；〃　said　Ron。　〃Why？〃
　　〃Because　the　castle's　protected　by　more　than　walls；　You　know；；；　said　Hermione。　〃There　are　all　sorts　of　enchantments　on　it；　to　stop　people　entering　by　stealth。　You　can't　just　Apparate　in　here。　And　I'd　like　to　see　the　disguise　that　could　fool　those　dementors。　They're　guarding　every　single　entrance　to　the　grounds。　They'd　have　seen　him　fly　in　too。　And　Fitch　knows　all　the　secret　passages；　they'll　have　them　covered。。。。〃
　　〃The　lights　are　going　out　now！〃　Percy　shouted。　〃I　want　everyone　in　their　sleeping　bags　and　no　more　talking！〃
　　The　candles　all　went　out　at　once。　The　only　light　now　came　from　the　silvery　ghosts；　who　were　drifting　about　talking　seriously　to　the　prefects；　and　the　enchanted　ceiling；　which；　like　the　sky　outside；　was　scattered　with　stars。　What　with　that；　and　the　whispering　that　still　filled　the　hall；　Harry　felt　as　though　he　were　sleeping　outdoors　in　a　light　wind。
　　Once　every　hour；　a　teacher　would　reappear　in　the　hall　to　check　that　everything　was　quiet。　Around　three　in　the　morning；　when　many　students　had　finally　fallen　asleep；　Professor　Dumbledore　came　in。　Harry　watched　him　looking　around　for　Percy；　who　had　been　prowling　between　the　sleeping　bags；　telling　people　off　for　talking。　Percy　was　only　a　short　way　away　from　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermlone；　who　quickly　pretended　to　be　asleep　as　Dumbledore's　footsteps　drew　nearer。
　　〃Any　sign　of　him；　Professor？〃　asked　Percy　in　a　whisper。
　　〃No。　All　well　here？〃
　　〃Everything　under　control；　sir。〃
　　〃Good。　There's　no　point　moving　them　all　now。　I've　found　a　temporary　guardian　for　the　Gryffindor　portrait　hole。　You'll　be　able　to　move　them　back　in　tomorrow。〃
　　〃And　the　Fat　Lady；　sir？〃
　　〃Hiding　in　a　map　of　Argyllshire　on　the　second　floor。　Apparently　she　refused　to　let　Black　in　without　the　password；　so　he　attacked。　She's　still　very　distressed；　but　once　she's　calmed　down；　I'll　have　Mr。　Filch　restore　her。〃
　　Harry　heard　the　door　of　the　hall　creak　open　again；　and　more　footsteps。
　　〃Headmaster？〃　It　was　Snape。　Harry　kept　quite　still；　listening　hard。　〃The　whole　of　the　third　floor　has　been　searched。　He's　not　there。　And　Filch　has　done　the　dungeons；　nothing　there　either。〃
　　〃What　about　the　Astronomy　tower？　Professor　Trelawney's　room？　The　Owlery？〃
　　〃All　searched。〃
　　〃Very　well；　Severus。　I　didn't　really　expect　Black　to　linger。〃
　　〃Have　you　any　theory　as　to　how　he　got　in；　Professor？〃　asked　Snape。
　　Harry　raised　his　head　very　slightly　off　his　arms　to　free　his　other　ear；
　　〃Many；　Severus；　each　of　them　as　unlikely　as　the　next。〃
　　Harry　opened　his　eyes　a　fraction　and　squinted　up　to　where　they　stood；　Dumbledore's　back　was　to　him；　but　he　could　see　Percy's　face；　rapt　with　attention；　and　Snape's　profile；　which　looked　angry。
　　〃You　remember　the　conversation　we　had；　Headmaster；　just　before　　ah　　the　start　of　term？〃　said　Snape；　who　was　barely　opening　his　lips；　as　though　trying　to　block　Percy　out　of　the　conversation。
　　〃I　do；　Severus；〃　said　Dumbledore；　and　there　was　something　like　warning　in　his　voice。
　　〃It　seems　　almost　impossible　　that　Black　could　have　entered　the　school　without　inside　help。　I　did　express　my　concerns　whet；　you　appointed　〃
　　〃I　do　not　believe　a　single　person　inside　this　castle　would　have　helped　Black　enter　it；〃　said　Dumbledore；　and　his　tone　made　it　so　clear　that　the　subject　was　closed　that　Snape　didn't　reply。　〃I　must　go　down　to　the　dementors；〃　said　Dumbledore。　I　said　I　would　inform　them　when　our　search　was　plete。〃
　　〃Didn't　they　want　to　help；　sit？〃　said　Percy。
　　〃Oh　yes；〃　said　Dumbledore　coldly。　〃But　I'm　afraid　no　dementor　will　cross　the　threshold　of　this　castle　while　I　am　headmaster。〃
　　Percy　looked　slightly　abashed。　Dumbledore　left　the　hall；　walking　quickly　and　quietly。　Snape　stood　for　a　moment；　watching　the　headmaster　with　an　expression　of　deep　resentment　on　his　face；　then　he　too　left。
　　Harry　glanced　sideways　at　Ron　and　Hermione。　Both　of　them　had　their　eyes　open　too；　reflecting　the　starry　ceiling。
　　〃What　was　all　that　about？〃　Ron　mouthed。
　　The　school　talked　of　nothing　but　Sirius　Black　for　the　next　few　days。　The　theories　about　how　he　had　entered　the　castle　became　wilder　and　wilder；　Hannah　Abbott；　from　Hufflepuff；　spent　much　of　their　next　Herbology　class　telling　anyone　who'd　listen　that　Black　could　turn　into　a　flowering　shrub。
　　The　Fat　Lady's　ripped　canvas　had　been　taken　off　the　wall　and
　　Replaced　with　the　portrait　of　Sir　Cadogan　and　his　fat　gray　pony。　Nobody　was　very　happy　about　this。　Sir　Cadogan　spent　half　his　time　challenging　people　to　duels；　and　the　rest　thinking　up　ridiculously　plicated　passwords；　which　he　changed　at　least　twice　a　day。
　　〃He's　a　plete　lunatic；〃　said　Seamus　Finnigan　angrily　to　Percy。　〃Can't　we　get　anyone　else？〃
　　〃None　of　the　other　pictures　wanted　the　job；〃　said　Percy。　〃Frightened　of　what　happened　to　the　Fat　Lady。　Sir　Cadogan　was　the　only　one　brave　enough　to　volunteer。〃
　　Sir　Cadogan；　however；　was　the　least　of　Harry's　worries。　He　was　now　being　closely　watched。　Teachers　found　excuses　to　walk　along　corridors　with　him；　and　Percy　Weasley　（acting；　Harry　suspected；　on　his　mother's　orders）　was　tailing　him　everywhere　like　an　extremely　pompous　guard　dog。　To　cap　it　all；　Professor　McGonagall　summoned　Harry　into　her　office；　with　such　a　somber　expression　on　her　face　Harry　thought　someone　must　have　died。
　　〃There's　no　point　hiding　it　from　you　any　longer；　Potter；〃　she　said　in　a　very　serious　voice。　〃I　know　this　will　e　as　a　shock　to　you；　but　Sirius　Black　〃
　　〃I　know　he's　after　me；〃　said　Harry　wearily。　〃I　heard　Ron's　dad　telling　his　mum。　Mr。　Weasley　works　for　the　Ministry　of　Magic。〃
　　Professor　McGonagall　seemed　very　taken　aback。　She　stared　at　Harry　for　a　moment　or　two；　then　said；　〃I　see！　Well；　in　that　case；　Potter；　you'll　understand　why　I　don't　think　it's　a　good　idea　for　you　to　be　practicing　Quidditch　in　the　evenings。　Out　on　the　field　with　only　Your　team　members；　it's　very　exposed；　Potter　〃
　　〃We've　got　our　first　match　on　Saturday！〃　said　Harry；　outraged。　〃I've　got　to　train；　Professor！〃
　　Professor　McGonagall　considered　him　intently。　Harry　knew　she　was　deeply　interested　in　the　Gryffindor　team's　prospects；　it　had　been　she；　after　all；　who'd　suggested　him　as　Seeker　in　the　first　Place。　He　waited；　holding　his　breath。
　　〃Hmm。。。〃　Professor　McGonagall　stood　up　and　stared　out　of　the　window　at　the　Quidditch　field；　just　visible　through　the　rain。　〃Well。。。　goodness　knows；　I'd　like　to　see　us　win　the　Cup　at　last。。。　but　all　the　same；　Potter。。。　I'd　be　happier　if　a　teacher　were　present。　I'll　ask　Madam　Hooch　to　oversee　your　training　sessions。〃
　　The　weather　worsened　steadily　as　the　first　Quidditch　match　drew　nearer。　Undaunted；　the　Gryffindor　team　was　training　harder　than　ever　under　the　eye　of　Madam　Hooch。　Then；　at　their　final　training　session　before　Saturday's　match；　Oliver　Wood　gave　his　team　some　unwele　news。
　　〃We're　not　playing　Slytherin！〃　he　told　them；　looking　very　angry。　〃Flint's　just　been　to　see　me。　We're　playing　Hufflepuff　instead。〃
　　〃Why？〃　chorused　the　rest　of　th