3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第40部分

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　　〃I　really　wish　I　could　hear　that　great　hairy　moron　trying　to　defend　himself。。。　'There's　no　'arm　in　'im；　'onest　that　hippogriff's　as　good　as　dead　〃
　　Malfoy　suddenly　caught　sight　of　Ron。　His　pale　face　split　in　a　malevolent　grin。
　　〃What　are　you　doing；　Weasley？〃
　　Malfoy　looked　up　at　the　crumbling　house　behind　Ron。
　　〃Suppose　You'd　love　to　live　here；　wouldn't　you；　Weasley？　Dreaming　about　having　your　own　bedroom？　I　heard　your　family　all　sleep　in　one　room　　is　that　true？〃
　　Harry　seized　the　back　of　Ron's　robes　to　stop　him　from　leaping　on　Malfoy。　〃Leave　him　to　me；〃　he　hissed　in　Ron's　ear。
　　The　opportunity　was　too　perfect　to　miss。　Harry　crept　silently　around　behind　Malfoy；　Crabbe；　and　Goyle；　bent　down；　and　scooped　a　large　handful　of　mud　out　of　the　path。
　　〃We　were　just　discussing　your　friend　Hagrid；〃　Malfoy　said　to　Ron。　〃Just　trying　to　imagine　what　he's　saying　to　the　mittee　for　the　Disposal　of　Dangerous　Creatures。　D'you　think　he'll　cry　when　they　cut　off　his　hippogriff's
　　SPLAT。
　　Malfoy's　head　jerked　forward　as　the　mud　hit　him；　his　silverblond　hair　was　suddenly　dripping　in　muck。
　　〃What　the　？〃
　　Ron　had　to　hold　onto　the　fence　to　keep　himself　standing；　he　was　laughing　so　hard。　Malfoy；　Crabbe；　and　Goyle　spun　stupidly　on　the　spot；　staring　wildly　around；　Malfoy　trying　to　wipe　his　hair　clean。
　　〃What　was　that？　'Who　did　that？〃
　　〃Very　haunted　up　here；　isn't　it？〃　said　Ron；　with　the　air　of　one　menting　on　the　weather。
　　Crabbe　and　Goyle　were　looking　scared。　Their　bulging　muscles　were　no　use　against　ghosts。　Malfoy　was　staring　madly　around　at　the　deserted　landscape。
　　Harry　sneaked　along　the　path；　where　a　particularly　sloppy　puddle　yielded　some　foul…smelling；　green　sludge。
　　SPLATTER。
　　Crabbe　and　Goyle　caught　some　this　time。　Goyle　hopped　furiously　on　the　spot；　trying　to　rub　it　out　of　his　small；　dull　eyes。
　　〃It　came　from　over　there！〃　said　Malfoy；　wiping　his　face；　and　staring　at　a　spot　some　six　feet　to　the　left　of　Harry。
　　Crabbe　blundered　forward；　his　long　arms　outstretched　like　a　zombie。　Harry　dodged　around　him；　picked　up　a　stick；　and　lobbed　it　at　Crabbe's　back。　Harry　doubled　up　with　silent　laughter　as　Crabbe　did　a　kind　of　pirouette　in　midair；　trying　to　see　who　had　thrown　it。　As　Ron　was　the　only　person　Crabbe　could　see；　it　was　Ron　he　started　toward；　but　Harry　stuck　out　his　leg。　Crabbe　stumbled　　and　his　huge；　flat　foot　caught　the　hem　of　Harry's　cloak。　Harry　felt　a　great　tug；　then　the　cloak　slid　off　his　face。
　　For　a　split　second；　Malfoy　stared　at　him。
　　〃AAARGH！〃　he　yelled；　pointing　at　Harry's　head。　Then　he　turned　tail　and　ran；　at　breakneck　speed；　back　down　the　hill；　Crabbe　and　Goyle　behind　him。
　　Harry　tugged　the　cloak　up　again；　but　the　damage　was　done。
　　〃Harry！〃　Ron　said；　stumbling　forward　and　staring　hopelessly　at　the　point　where　Harry　had　disappeared；　〃you'd　better　run　for　it！　If　Malfoy　tells　anyone　　you'd　better　get　back　to　the　castle；　quick　〃　〃See　you　later；〃　said　Harry；　and　without　another　word；　he　tore　back　down　the　path　toward　Hogsmeade。
　　Would　Malfoy　believe　what　he　had　seen？　Would　anyone　believe
　　Malfoy？　Nobody　knew　about　the　Invisibility　Cloak　　nobody　except　Dumbledore。　Harry's　stomach　turned　over　　Dumbledore　would　know　exactly　what　had　happened；　if　Malfoy　said　any…　thing　
　　Back　into　Honeydukes；　back　down　the　cellar　steps；　across　the　stone　floor；　through　the　trapdoor　　Harry　pulled　off　the　cloak；　tucked　it　under　his　arm；　and　ran；　flat　out；　along　the　passage。。。。　Malfoy　would　get　back　first。。。　how　long　would　it　take　him　to　find　a　teacher？　Panting；　a　sharp　pain　in　his　side；　Harry　didn't　slow　down　until　he　reached　the　stone　slide。　He　would　have　to　leave　the　cloak　where　it　was；　it　was　too　much　of　a　giveaway　in　case　Malfoy　had　tipped　off　a　teacher　　he　hid　it　in　a　shadowy　corner；　then　started　to　climb；　fast　as　he　could；　his　sweaty　hands　slipping　on　the　sides　of　the　chute。　He　reached　the　inside　of　the　witch's　hump；　tapped　it　with　his　wand；　stuck　his　head　through；　and　hoisted　himself　out；　the　hump　closed；　and　just　as　Harry　jumped　out　from　behind　the　statue；　he　heard　quick　footsteps　approaching。
　　It　was　Snape。　He　approached　Harry　at　a　swift　walk；　his　black　robes　swishing；　then　stopped　in　front　of　him。
　　〃So；〃　he　said。
　　There　was　a　look　of　surpressed　triumph　about　him。　Harry　tried　to　look　innocent；　all　too　aware　of　his　sweaty　face　and　his　muddy　hands；　which　he　quickly　hid　in　his　pockets。
　　〃e　with　me；　Potter；〃　said　Snape。
　　Harry　followed　him　downstairs；　trying　to　wipe　his　hands　clean　on　the　inside　of　his　robes　without　Snape　noticing。　They　walked　down　the　stairs　to　the　dungeons　and　then　into　Snape's　office。
　　Harry　had　been　in　here　only　once　before；　and　he　had　been　in　very　serious　trouble　then　too。　Snape　had　aquired　a　few　more　slimy　horrible　things　in　jars　since　last　time；　all　standing　on　shelves　behind　his　desk；　glinting　in　the　firelight　and　adding　to　the　threatening　atmosphere。
　　〃Sit；〃　said　Snape。
　　Harry　sat。　Snape；　however；　remained；　standing。
　　〃Mr。　Malfoy　has　just　been　to　see　me　with　a　strange　story；　Potter；〃　said　Snape。
　　Harry　didn't　say　anything。
　　〃He　tells　me　that　he　was　up　by　the　Shrieking　Shack　when　he　ran　into　Weasley　　apparently　alone。〃
　　Still；　Harry　didn't　speak。
　　〃Mr。　Malfoy　states　that　he　was　standing　talking　to　Weasley；　when　a　large　amount　of　mud　hit　him　in　the　back　of　the　head。　How　do　you　think　that　could　have　happened？〃
　　Harry　tried　to　look　mildly　surprised。
　　〃I　don't　know；　Professor。〃
　　Snape's　eyes　were　boring　into　Harry's。　It　was　exactly　like　trying　to　stare　down　a　hippogriff。　Harry　tried　hard　not　to　blink。
　　〃Mr。　Malfoy　then　saw　an　extraordinary　apparition。　Can　you　imagine　what　it　might　have　been；　Potter？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Harry；　now　trying　to　sound　innocently　curious。
　　〃It　was　your　head；　Potter。　Floating　in　midair。〃
　　There　was　a　long　silence。
　　〃Maybe　he'd　better　go　to　Madam　Pomfrey；〃　said　Harry。　〃If　he's　seeing　things　like　〃
　　〃What　would　your　head　have　been　doing　in　Hogsmeade；　Potter？〃　said　Snape　softly。　〃Your　head　is　not　allowed　in　Hogsmeade。　No　part　of　your　body　has　permission　to　be　in　Hogsmeade。〃
　　〃I　know　that；〃　said　Harry；　striving　to　keep　his　face　free　of　guilt　or　fear。　〃It　sounds　like　Malfoy's　having　hallucin　〃
　　〃Malfoy　is　not　having　hallucinations；〃　snarled　Snape；　and　he　bent　down；　a　hand　on　each　arm　of　Harry's　chair；　so　that　their　faces　were　a　foot　apart。　〃If　your　head　was　in　Hogsmeade；　so　was　the　rest　of　you。〃
　　〃I've　been　up　in　Gryffindor　Tower；〃　said　Harry。　〃Like　you　told　〃　〃Can　anyone　confirm　that？〃
　　Harry　didn't　say　anything。　Snape's　thin　mouth　curled　into　a　horrible　smile。
　　〃So；〃　he　said；　straightening　up　again。　〃Everyone　from　the　Minister　of　Magic　downward　has　been　trying　to　keep　famous　Harry　Potter　safe　from　Sirius　Black。　But　famous　Harry　Potter　is　a　law　unto　himself　Let　the　ordinary　people　worry　about　his　safety！　Famous　Harry　Potter　goes　where　he　wants　to；　with　no　thought　for　the　consequences。
　　Harry　stayed　silent。　Snape　was　trying　to　provoke　him　into　telling　the　truth。　He　wasn't　going　to　do　it。　Snape　had　no　proof　　yet。
　　〃How　extraordinarily　like　your　father　you　are；　Potter；〃　Snape　said　suddenly；　his　eyes　glinting。　〃He　too　was　exceedingly　arrogant。　A　small　amount　of　talent　on　the　Quidditch　field　made　him　think　he　was　a　cut　above　the　rest　of　us　too。　Strutting　around　the　place　with　his　friends　and　admirers。。。　The　resemblance　between　you　is　uncanny。〃
　　〃My　dad　didn't　strut；〃　said　Harry；　before　he　could　stop　himself。　〃And　neither　do　I。〃
　　〃Your　father　didn't　set　much　store　by　rules　either；〃　Snape　went　on；　pressing　his　advantage；　his　thin　face　full　of　malice。　〃Rules　were　for　lesser　mortals；　not　Quidditch　Cup…winners。　His　head　was　so　swollen　〃
　　〃SHUT　UP！〃
　　Harry　was　suddenly　on　his　feet。　Rage　such　as　he　had　not　felt　since　his　last　night　in　Privet　Drive　was　coursing　through　him。　He　didn't　care　that　Snape's　face　had　gone　rigid；　the　black　eyes　flashing　dangerously。
　　〃What　did　you　say　to　me；　Potter？〃
　　〃I　told　you　to　shut　up　about　my　dad！〃　Harry　yelled。　I　know　the　truth；　all　right？　He　saved　your　life！　Dumbledore　told　me！　You　wouldn't　even　be　here　if　it　wasn't　for　my　dad！〃
　　Snape's　sallow　skin　had　gone　the　color　of　sour　milk。
　　〃And　did　the　headmaster　tell　you　the　circumstances　in　which　your　father　saved　my　life？〃　he　whispered。　〃Or　did　he　consider　the　details　too　unpleasant　for　precious　Potter's　delicate　ears？〃
　　Harry　bit　his　lip。　He　didn't　know　what　had　happened　and　didn't　want　to　admit　it　　but　Snape　seemed　to　have　guessed　the　truth。
　　I　would　hate　for　you　to　run　away　with　a　false　idea　of　your　father；　Potter；〃　he　said；　a　terrible　grin　twisting　his　face。　〃Have　you　been　imagining　some　act　of　glorious　heroism？　Then　let　me　correct　you　　your　saintly　father　and　his　friends　played　a　highly　amusing　joke　on　me　that　would　have　resulted　in　my　death　if　your　father　hadn't　got　cold　feet　at　the　last　moment。　There　was　nothing　brave　about　what　he　did。　He　was　saving　his　own　skin　as　much　as　mine。　Had　their　joke　succeeded；　he　would　have　been　expelled　from　Hogwarts。〃
　　Snape's　uneven；　yellowish　teeth　were　bared。
　　〃Turn　out　your　pockets；　Potter！〃　he　spat　suddenly。
　　Harry　didn't　move。　There　was　a　pounding　in　his　ears。
　　〃Turn　out　your　pockets；　or　we　go　straight　to　the　headmaster！　Pull　them　out；　Potter！〃
　　Cold　with　dread；　Harry　slowly　pulled　out　the　bag　of　Zonko's　tricks　and　the　Marauder's　Map。
　　Snap　picked　up　the　Zonko's　bag。
　　〃Ron　gave　them　to　me；〃　said　Harry；　praying　he'd　get　a　chance　to　tip　Ron　off　before　Snape　saw　him。　〃He　…brought　them　back　from　Hogsmeade　last　time　〃
　　〃Indeed？　And　you've　been　carrying　them　around　ever　since？　How　very　touching。。。　and　what　is　this？〃
　　Snape　had　picked　up　the　map。　Harry　tried　with　all　his　might　to　keep　his　face　impassive。
　　〃Spare　bit　of　parchment；〃　he　said　with　a　shrug。
　　Snape　turned　it　over；　his　eyes　on　Harry。
　　〃Surely　you　don't　need　such　a　very　old　piece　of　parchment？〃　he　said。　〃Why　don't　I　just　　throw　this　away？〃
　　His　hand　moved　toward　the　fire。
　　〃No！〃　Harry　said　quickly。
　　〃So！〃　said　Snape；　his　long　nostrils　quivering。　〃Is　this　another　treasured　gift　from　Mr。　Weasley？　Or　is　it　　something　else？　A　letter；　perhaps；　written　in　invisible　ink