3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第24部分

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　Hufflepuff　instead。〃
　　〃Why？〃　chorused　the　rest　of　the　team。
　　〃Flint's　excuse　is　that　their　Seeker's　arm's　still　injured；〃　said　Wood；　grinding　his　teeth　furiously。　〃But　it's　obvious　why　they're　doing　it。　Don't　want　to　play　in　this　weather。　Think　it'll　damage　their　chances。。。。〃
　　There　had　been　strong　winds　and　heavy　rain　all　day；　and　as　Wood　spoke；　they　heard　a　distant　rumble　of　thunder。
　　〃There's　nothing　wrong　with　Malfoy's　arm！〃　said　Harry　furiously。　〃He's　faking　it！〃
　　〃I　know　that；　but　we　can't　prove　it；〃　said　Wood　bitterly；　〃And　we've　been　practicing　all　those　moves　assuming　we're　playing　Slytherin；　and　instead　it's　Hufflepuff；　and　their　style's　quite　different。　They've　got　a　new　Captain　and　Seeker；　Cedric　Diggory　〃
　　Angelina；　Alicia；　and　Katie　suddenly　giggled。
　　〃What？〃　said　Wood；　frowning　at　this　lighthearted　behavior。
　　〃He's　that　tall；　good…looking　one；　isn't　he？〃　said　Angelina。
　　〃Strong　and　silent；〃　said　Katie；　and　they　started　to　giggle　again。
　　〃He's　only　silent　because　he's　too　thick　to　string　two　words　together；〃　said　Fred　impatiently。　〃I　don't　know　why　you're　worried；　Oliver；　Hufflepuff　is　a　pushover。　Last　time　we　played　them；　Harry　caught　the　Snitch　in　about　five　minutes；　remember？〃
　　〃We　were　playing　in　pletely　different　conditions！〃　Wood　shouted；　his　eyes　bulging　slightly。　〃Diggory's　put　a　very　strong　side　together！　He's　an　excellent　Seeker！　I　was　afraid　you'd　take　it　like　this！　We　mustn't　relax！　We　must　keep　our　focus！　Slytherin　is　trying　to　wrong…foot　us！　We　must　win！〃
　　〃Oliver；　calm　down！〃　said　Fred；　looking　slightly　alarmed。　〃We're　taking　Hufflepuff　very　seriously。　Seriously。〃
　　The　day　before　the　match；　the　winds　reached　howling　point　and　the　rain　fell　harder　than　ever。　It　was　so　dark　inside　the　corridors　and　classrooms　that　extra　torches　and　lanterns　were　lit。　The　Slytherin　team　was　looking　very　smug　indeed；　and　none　more　so　than　Malfoy。
　　〃Ah；　if　only　my　arm　was　feeling　a　bit　better！〃　he　sighed　as　the　gale　outside　pounded　the　windows。
　　Harry　had　no　room　in　his　head　to　worry　about　anything　except　the　match　tomorrow。　Oliver　Wood　kept　hurrying　up　to　him　between　classes　and　giving　him　tips。　The　third　time　this　happened；　Wood　talked　for　so　long　that　Harry　suddenly　realized　he　was　ten　minutes　late　for　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts；　and　set　off　at　a　run　with　Wood　shouting　after　him；　〃Diggory's　got　a　very　fast　swerve；　Harry；　so　you　might　want　to　try　looping　him　〃
　　Harry　skidded　to　a　halt　outside　the　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts　classroom；　pulled　the　door　open；　and　dashed　inside。
　　〃Sorry　I'm　late；　Professor　Lupin。　I　〃
　　But　it　wasn't　Professor　Lupin　who　looked　up　at　him　from　the　teacher's　desk；　it　was　Snape。
　　〃This　lesson　began　ten　minutes　ago；　Potter；　so　I　think　we'll　make　it　ten　points　from　Gryffindor。　Sit　down。〃
　　But　Harry　didn't　move。
　　〃Where's　Professor　Lupin？〃　he　said。
　　〃He　says　he　is　feeling　too　ill　to　teach　today；〃　said　Snape　with　a　twisted　smile。　〃I　believe　I　told　you　to　sit　down？〃
　　But　Harry　stayed　where　he　was。
　　〃What's　wrong　with　him？〃
　　Snape's　black　eyes　glittered。
　　〃Nothing　life…threatening；〃　he　said；　looking　as　though　he　wished　it　were。　〃Five　more　points　from　Gryffindor；　and　if　I　have　to　ask　you　to　sit　down　again；　it　will　be　fifty。〃
　　Harry　walked　slowly　to　his　seat　and　sat　down。　Snape　looked　around　at　the　class。
　　〃As　I　was　saying　before　Potter　interrupted；　Professor　Lupin　has　not　left　any　record　of　the　topics　you　have　covered　so　far　〃
　　〃Please；　sir；　we've　done　boggarts；　Red　Caps；　kappas；　and　grindylows；〃　said　Hermione　quickly；　〃and　we're　just　about　to　start　〃
　　〃Be　quiet；〃　said　Snape　coldly。　〃I　did　not　ask　for　information。　I　was　merely　menting　on　Professor　Lupin's　lack　of　organization。〃
　　〃He's　the　best　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts　teacher　we've　ever　had；〃　said　Dean　Thomas　boldly；　and　there　was　a　murmur　of　agreement　from　the　rest　of　the　class。　Snape　looked　more　menacing　than　ever。
　　〃You　are　easily　satisfied。　Lupin　is　hardly　overtaxing　you　　I　；Would　expect　first　years　to　be　able　to　deal　with　Red　Caps　and　grindylows。　Today　we　shall　discuss　〃
　　Harry　watched　him　flick　through　the　textbook；　to　the　very　back　chapter；　which　he　must　know　they　hadn't　covered。
　　〃Werewolves；〃　said　Snape。
　　〃But；　sir；〃　said　Hermione；　seemingly　unable　to　restrain　herself；　〃we're　not　supposed　to　do　werewolves　yet；　we're　due　to　start　hinkypunks　〃
　　〃Miss　Granger；〃　said　Snape　in　a　voice　of　deadly　calm；　〃I　was　under　the　impression　that　I　am　teaching　this　lesson；　not　you。　And　I　am　telling　you　all　to　turn　to　page　394。〃　He　glanced　around　again。　'All　of　you！　Now！〃
　　With　many　bitter　sidelong　looks　and　some　sullen　muttering；　the　class　opened　their　books。
　　〃Which　of　you　can　tell　me　how　we　distinguish　between　the　werewolf　and　the　true　wolf？〃　said　Snape。
　　Everyone　sat　in　motionless　silence；　everyone　except　Hermione；　whose　hand；　as　it　so　often　did；　had　shot　straight　into　the　air。
　　〃Anyone？〃　Snape　said；　ignoring　Hermione。　His　twisted　smile　was　back。　〃Are　you　telling　me　that　Professor　Lupin　hasn't　even　taught　you　the　basic　distinction　between　〃
　　〃We　told　you；〃　said　Parvati　suddenly；　〃we　haven't　got　as　far　as　werewolves　yet；　we're　still　on　〃
　　〃Silence！〃　snarled　Snape。　〃Well；　well；　well；　I　never　thought　I'd　meet　a　third…year　class　who　wouldn't　even　recognize　a　werewolf　when　they　saw　one。　I　shall　make　a　point　of　informing　Professor　Dumbledore　how　very　behind　you　all　are。。。。〃
　　〃Please；　sir；〃　said　Hermione；　whose　hand　was　still　in　the　air；　〃the　werewolf　differs　from　the　true　wolf　in　several　small　ways。　The　snout　of　the　werewolf　〃
　　〃That　is　the　second　time　you　have　spoken　out　of　turn；　Miss　Granger；〃　said　Snape　coolly。　〃Five　more　points　from　Gryffindor　for　being　an　insufferable　know…it…all。〃
　　Hermione　went　very　red；　put　down　her　hand；　and　stared　at　the　floor　with　her　eyes　full　of　tears。　It　was　a　mark　of　how　much　the　class　loathed　Snape　that　they　were　all　glaring　at　him；　because　every　one　of　them　had　called　Hermione　a　know…it…all　at　least　once；　and　Ron；　who　told　Hermione　she　was　a　know…it…all　at　least　twice　a　week；　said　loudly；　〃You　asked　us　a　question　and　she　knows　the　answer！　Why　ask　if　you　don't　want　to　be　told？〃
　　The　class　knew　instantly　he'd　gone　too　far。　Snape　advanced　on　Ron　slowly；　and　the　room　held　its　breath。
　　〃Detention；　Weasley；〃　Snape　said　silkily；　his　face　very　close　to　Ron's。　〃And　if　I　ever　hear　you　criticize　the　way　I　teach　a　class　again；　you　will　be　very　sorry　indeed。〃
　　No　one　made　a　sound　throughout　the　rest　of　the　lesson。　They　sat　and　made　notes　on　werewolves　from　the　textbook；　while　Snape　prowled　up　and　down　the　rows　of　desks；　examining　the　work　they　had　been　doing　with　Professor　Lupin。
　　〃Very　poorly　explained。。。　That　is　incorrect；　the　kappa　is　more　monly　found　in　Mongolia。。。。　Professor　Lupin　gave　this　eight　out　of　ten？　I　wouldn't　have　given　it　three。。。。〃
　　When　the　bell　rang　at　last；　Snape　held　them　back。
　　〃You　will　each　write　an　essay；　to　be　handed　in　to　me；　on　the　ways　you　recognize　and　kill　werewolves。　I　want　two　rolls　of　parchment　or；　the　subject；　and　I　want　them　by　Monday　morning。　It　is　time　somebody　took　this　class　in　hand。　Weasley；　stay　behind；　we　need　to　arrange　your　detention。〃
　　Harry　and　Hermione　left　the　room　with　the　rest　of　the　class；　who　waited　until　they　were　well　out　of　earshot；　then　burst　into　a　furious　tirade　about　Snape。
　　〃Snape's　never　been　like　this　with　any　of　our　other　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts　teachers；　even　if　he　did　want　the　job；〃　Harry　said　to　Hermione。　〃Why's　he　got　it　in　for　Lupin？　D'you　think　this　is　all　because　of　the　boggart？〃
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Hermione　pensively。　〃But　I　really　hope　Professor　Lupin　gets　better　soon。。。。〃
　　Ron　caught　up　with　them　five　minutes　later；　in　a　towering　rage。
　　〃D'you　know　what　that　〃　（he　called　Snape　something　that　made　Hermione　say　〃Ron！〃）　〃　is　making　me　do？　I've　got　to　scrub　out　the　bedpans　in　the　hospital　wing。　Without　magic！〃　He　was　breathing　deeply；　his　fists　clenched。　〃Why　couldn't　Black　have　hidden　in　Snape's　office；　eh？　He　could　have　finished　him　off　for　us！〃
　　Harry　woke　extremely　early　the　next　morning；　so　early　that　it　was　till　dark。　For　a　moment　he　thought　the　roaring　of　the　wind　had　woken　him。　Then　he　felt　a　cold　breeze　on　the　back　of　his　neck　and　sat　bolt　upright　　Peeves　the　Poltergeist　had　been　floating　next　to　him；　blowing　hard　in　his　ear。
　　〃What　did　you　do　that　for？〃　said　Harry　furiously。　Peeves　puffed　out　his　cheeks；　blew　hard；　and　zoomed　backward　out　of　the　room；　cackling。
　　Harry　fumbled　for　his　alarm　clock　and　looked　at　it。　It　was　half　past　four。　Cursing　Peeves；　he　rolled　over　and　tried　to　get　back　to　sleep；　but　it　was　very　difficult；　now　that　he　was　awake；　to　ignore　the　sounds　of　the　thunder　rumbling　overhead；　the　pounding　of　the　wind　against　the　castle　walls；　and　the　distant　creaking　of　the　trees　in　the　Forbidden　Forest。　In　a　few　hours　he　would　be　out　on　the　Quidditch　field；　battling　through　that　gale。　Finally；　he　gave　up　any　thought　of　more　sleep；　got　up；　dressed；　picked　up　his　Nimbus　Two　Thousand；　and　walked　quietly　out　of　the　dormitory。
　　As　Harry　opened　the　door；　something　brushed　against　his　leg。　He　bent　down　just　in　time　to　grab　Crookshanks　by　the　end　of　his　bushy　tail　and　drag　him　outside。
　　〃You　know；　I　reckon　Ron　was　right　about　you；〃　Harry　told　Crookshanks　suspiciously。　〃There　are　plenty　of　mice　around　this　place　　go　and　chase　them。　Go　on；〃　he　added；　nudging　Crookshanks　down　the　spiral　staircase　with　his　foot。　〃Leave　Scabbers　alone。〃
　　The　noise　of　the　storm　was　even　louder　in　the　mon　roorn。　Harry　knew　better　than　to　think　the　match　would　be　canceled；　Quidditch　matches　weren't　called　off　for　trifles　like　thunderstorms。　Nevertheless；　he　was　starting　to　feel　very　apprehensive。　Wood　had　pointed　out　Cedric　Diggory　to　him　in　the　corridor；　Diggory　was　a　fifth　year　and　a　lot　bigger　than　Harry。　Seekers　were　usually　light
　　and　speedy；　but　Diggory's　weight　would　be　an　advantage　in　this　weather　because　he　was　less　likely　to　be　blown　off　course。
　　Harry　whiled　away　the　hours　until　dawn　in　front　of　the　fire；　getting　up　every　now　and　then　to　stop　Crookshanks　from　sneaking　up
　　the　boys；　staircase　again。　At　long　last　Harry　th