3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第41部分

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ritten　in　invisible　ink？　Or　　instructions　to　get　into　Hogsmeade　without　passing　the　dementors？〃
　　Harry　blinked。　Snape's　eyes　gleamed。
　　〃Let　me　see；　let　me　see。。。。〃　he　muttered；　taking　out　his　wand　and　smoothing　the　map　out　on　his　desk。　〃Reveal　your　secret！〃　he　said；　touching　the　wand　to　the　parchment。
　　Nothing　happened。　Harry　clenched　his　hands　to　stop　them　from　shaking。
　　〃Show　yourself！〃　Snape　said；　tapping　the　map　sharply。
　　It　stayed　blank。　Harry　was　taking　deep；　calming　breaths。
　　〃Professor　Severus　Snape；　master　of　this　school；　mands　you　to　yield　the　information　you　conceal！〃　Snape　said；　hitting　the　map　with　his　wand。
　　As　though　an　invisible　hand　were　writing　upon　it；　words　appeared　on　the　smooth　surface　of　the　map。
　　Mooney　presents　his　pliments　to　Professor　Snape；　and　begs　him　to　keep　his　abnormally　large　nose　out　of　other　people's　business。〃
　　Snape　froze。　Harry　stared；　dumbstruck；　at　the　message。　But　the　map　didn't　stop　there。　More　writing　was　appearing　beneath　the　first。
　　〃Mr。　Prongs　agrees　with　Mr。　Moony　and　would　like　to　add　that　Professor　Snape　is　an　ugle　git。〃
　　It　would　have　been　very　funny　if　the　situation　hadn't　been　so　serious。　And　there　was　more。。。。
　　〃Mr。　Padfoot　would　like　to　register　his　astonishment　that　an　idiot　like　that　ever　became　a　professor。〃
　　Harry　closed　his　eyes　in　horror。　When　he'd　opened　them；　the　map　had　had　its　last　word。
　　〃Mr。　Wormtail　bids　Professor　Snape　good　day；　and　advises　him　to　wash　his　hair　；　the　slimeball。〃
　　Harry　waited　for　the　blow　to　fall。
　　〃So。。。〃　said　Snape　softly。　〃We'll　see　about　this。。。。〃
　　He　strode　across　to　his　fire；　seized　a　fistful　of　glittering　powder　from　a　jar　on　the　fireplace；　and　threw　it　into　the　flames。
　　〃Lupin！〃　Snape　called　into　the　fire。　〃I　want　a　word！〃
　　Utterly　bewildered；　Harry　stared　at　the　fire。　A　large　shape　had　appeared　in　it；　revolving　very　fast。　Seconds　later；　Professor　Lupin　was　clambering　out　of　the　fireplace；　brushing　ash　off　his　shabby　robes。
　　〃You　called；　Severus？〃　said　Lupin　mildly。
　　〃I　certainly　did；〃　said　Snape；　his　face　contorted　with　fury　as　he　strode　back　to　his　desk。　〃I　have　just　asked　Potter　to　empty　his　pockets。　He　was　carrying　this。〃
　　Snape　pointed　at　the　parchment；　on　which　the　words　of　Messrs。　Moony；　Wormtail；　Padfoot；　and　Prongs　were　still　shining。　An　odd；　closed　expression　appeared　on　Lupin's　face。
　　〃Well？〃　said　Snape。
　　Lupin　continued　to　stare　at　the　map。　Harry　had　the　impression　that　Lupin　was　doing　some　very　quick　thinking。
　　〃Well？〃　said　Snape　again。　〃This　parchment　is　plainly　full　of　Dark　Magic。　This　is　supposed　to　be　your　area　of　expertise；　Lupin。　Where　do　you　imagine　Potter　got　such　a　thing？〃
　　Lupin　looked　up　and；　by　the　merest　half…glance　in　Harry's　direction；　warned　him　not　to　interrupt。
　　〃Full　of　Dark　Magic？〃　he　repeated　mildly。　〃Do　you　really　think　so；　Severus？　It　looks　to　me　as　though　it　is　merely　a　piece　of　parchment　that　insults　anybody　who　reads　it。　Childish；　but　surely　not　dangerous？　I　imagine　Harry　got　it　from　a　joke　shop　〃
　　〃Indeed？〃　said　Snape。　His　jaw　had　gone　rigid　with　anger。　〃You　think　a　joke　shop　could　supply　him　with　such　a　thing？　You　don't　think　it　more　likely　that　he　got　it　directly　from　the　manufacturers？〃
　　Harry　didn't　understand　what　Snape　was　talking　about。　Nor；　apparently；　did　Lupin。
　　〃You　mean；　by　Mr。　Wormtail　or　one　of　these　people？〃　he　said。　〃Harry；　do　you　know　any　of　these　men？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Harry　quickly。
　　〃You　see；　Severus？〃　said　Lupin；　turning　back　to　Snape。　〃It　looks　like　a　Zonko　product　to　me　〃
　　Right　on　cue；　Ron　came　bursting　into　the　office。　He　was　pletely　out　of　breath；　and　stopped　just　short　of　Snape's　desk；　clutching　the　stitch　in　his　chest　and　trying　to　speak。
　　〃I　　gave　　Harry　　that　　stuff；〃　he　choked。　〃Bought　　it。。。　in　Zonko's。。。　ages　　ago。。。〃
　　〃Well！〃　said　Lupin；　clapping　his　hands　together　and　looking　around　cheerfully。　〃That　seems　to　clear　that　up！　Severus；　I'll　take　this　back；　shall　I？〃　He　folded　the　map　and　tucked　it　inside　his　robes。　〃Harry；　Ron；　e　with　me；　I　need　a　word　about　my　vampire　essay　　excuse　us；　Severus　〃
　　Harry　didn't　dare　look　at　Snape　as　they　left　his　office。　He。　Ron；　and　Lupin　walked　all　the　way　back　into　the　entrance　hall　before　speaking。　Then　Harry　turned　to　Lupin。
　　〃Professor；　I　〃
　　〃I　don't　want　to　hear　explanations；〃　said　Lupin　shortly。　He　glanced　around　the　empty　entrance　hall　and　lowered　his　voice。　〃I　happen　to　know　that　this　map　was　confiscated　by　Mr。　Filch　many　years　ago。　Yes；　I　know　it'　s　a　map；〃　he　said　as　Harry　and　Ron　looked　amazed。　〃I　don't　want　to　know　how　it　fell　into　your　possession。　I　am；　however；　astounded　that　you　didn't　hand　it　in。　Particularly　after　what　happened　the　last　time　a　student　left　information　about　the　castle　lying　around。　And　I　can't　let　you　have　it　back；　Harry。〃
　　Harry　had　expected　that；　and　was　too　keen　for　explanations　to　protest。
　　〃Why　did　Snape　think　I'd　got　it　from　the　manufacturers？〃
　　〃Because。。。；〃　Lupin　hesitated；　〃because　these　mapmakers　would　have　wanted　to　lure　you　out　of　school。　They'd　think　it　extremely　entertaining。〃
　　〃Do　you　know　them？〃　said　Harry；　impressed。
　　〃We've　met；〃　he　said　shortly。　He　was　looking　at　Harry　more　seriously　than　ever　before。
　　〃Don't　expect　me　to　cover　up　for　you　again；　Harry。　I　cannot　make　you　take　Sirius　Black　seriously。　But　I　would　have　thought　that　what　you　have　heard　when　the　dementors　draw　near　you　would　have　had　more　of　an　effect　on　you。　Your　parents　gave　their　lives　to　keep　you　alive；　Harry。　A　poor　way　to　repay　them　　gambling　their　sacrifice　for　a　bag　of　magic　tricks。〃
　　He　walked　away；　leaving　Harry　feeling　worse　by　far　than　he　had　at　any　point　in　Snape's　office。　Slowly；　he　and　Ron　mounted　the　marble　staircase。　As　Harry　passed　the　one…eyed　witch；　he　remembered　the　Invisibility　Cloak　　it　was　still　down　there；　but　he　didn't　dare　go　and　get　it。
　　〃It's　my　fault；〃　said　Ron　abruptly。　〃I　persuaded　you　to　go。　Lupin's　right；　it　was　stupid；　we　shouldn't've　done　it　〃
　　He　broke　off；　they　reached　the　corridor　where　the　security　trolls　were　pacing；　and　Hermione　was　walking　toward　them。　One　look　at　her　face　convinced　Harry　that　she　had　heard　what　had　happened。　His　heart　plummeted　　had　she　told　Professor　McGonagall？
　　〃e　to　have　a　good　gloat？〃　said　Ron　savagely　as　she　stopped　in　front　of　them。　〃Or　have　you　just　been　to　tell　on　us？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Hermione。　She　was　holding　a　letter　in　her　hands　and　her　lip　was　trembling。　〃I　just　thought　you　ought　to　know。。。　Hagrid　lost　his　case。　Buckbeak　is　going　to　be　executed。〃
　　CHAPTER　FIFTEEN
　　THE　QUIDDITCH　FINAL
　　He　sent　me　this；〃　Hermione　said；　holding　out　the　letter。
　　Harry　took　it。　The　parchment　was　damp；　and　enormous　teardrops　had　smudged　the　ink　so　badly　in　places　that　it　was　very　difficult　to　read。
　　Dear　Hermione；　We　lost。　I'm　allowed　to　bring　him　back　to　Hogwarts。　Execution　date　to　be　fixed。　Beaky　has　enjoyed　London。　I　won't　forget　all　the　help　you　gave　us。
　　Hagrid
　　〃They　can't　do　this；〃　said　Harry。　〃They　can't。　Buckbeak　isn't　dangerous。〃
　　〃Malfoy's　dad's　frightened　the　mittee　into　it；〃　said　Hermione；　wiping　her　eyes。　〃You　know　what　he's　like。　They're　a　bunch　of　doddery　old　fools；　and　they　were　scared。　There'll　be　an　appeal；　though；　there　always　is。　Only　I　can't　see　any　hope。。。。　Nothing　will　have　changed。〃
　　〃Yeah；　it　will；〃　said　Ron　fiercely。　〃You　won't　have　to　do　all　the　work　alone　this　time；　Hermione。　I'll　help。〃
　　〃Oh；　Ron！〃
　　Hermione　flung　her　arms　around　Ron's　neck　and　broke　down　pletely。　Ron；　looking　quite　terrified；　patted　her　very　awkwardly　on　the　top　of　the　head。　Finally；　Hermione　drew　away。
　　〃Ron；　I'm　really；　really　sorry　about　Scabbers。。。〃　she　sobbed。
　　〃Oh　　well　　he　was　old；〃　said　Ron；　looking　thoroughly　relieved　that　she　had　let　go　of　him。　〃And　he　was　a　bit　useless。　You　never　know；　Mum　and　Dad　might　get　me　an　owl　now。〃
　　The　safety　measures　imposed　on　the　students　since　Black's　second　break…in　made　it　impossible　for　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　to　go　and　visit　Hagrid　in　the　evenings。　Their　only　chance　of　talking　to　him　was　during　Care　of　Magical　Creatures　lessons。
　　He　seemed　numb　with　shock　at　the　verdict。
　　〃S'all　my　fault。　Got　all　tongue…tied。　They　was　all　sittin'　there　in　black　robes　an'　I　kep'　droppin'　me　notes　and　forgettin'　all　them　dates　yeh　looked　up　fer　me；　Hermione。　An'　then　Lucius　Malfoy　stood　up　an'　said　his　bit；　and　the　mittee　jus'　did　exac'ly　what　he　told　'em。。。。〃
　　〃There's　still　the　appeal！〃　said　Ron　fiercely。　〃Don't　give　up　Yet；　we're　working　on　it！〃
　　They　were　walking　back　up　to　the　castle　with　the　rest　of　the　class。　Ahead　they　could　see　Malfoy；　who　was　walking　with　Crabbe　and　Goyle；　and　kept　looking　back；　laughing　derisively。
　　〃S'no　good；　Ron；〃　said　Hagrid　sadly　as　they　reached　the　castle　steps。　〃That　mittee's　in　Lucius　Malfoy's　pocket。　I'm　jus'　gonna　make　sure　the　rest　o'　Beaky's　time　is　the　happiest　he's　ever　had。　I　owe　him　that。。。。〃
　　Hagrid　turned　around　and　hurried　back　toward　his　cabin；　his　face　buried　in　his　handkerchief。
　　〃Look　at　him　blubber！〃
　　Malfoy；　Crabbe；　and　Goyle　had　been　standing　just　inside　the　castle　doors；　listening。
　　〃Have　you　ever　seen　anything　quite　as　pathetic？〃　said　Malfoy。　〃And　he's　supposed　to　be　our　teacher！〃
　　Harry　and　Ron　both　made　furious　moves　toward　Malfoy；　but　Hermione　got　there　first　　SMACK！
　　She　had　slapped　Malfoy　across　the　face　with　all　the　strength　she　could　muster。　Malfoy　staggered。　Harry；　Ron；　Crabbe；　and　Goyle　stood　flabbergasted　as　Hermione　raised　her　hand　again。
　　〃Don't　you　dare　call　Hagrid　pathetic；　you　foul　　you　evil　〃
　　〃Hermione！〃　said　Ron　weakly；　and　he　tried　to　grab　her　hand　as　she　swung　it　back。
　　〃Get　off；　Ron！〃
　　Hermione　pulled　out　her　wand。　Malfoy　stepped　backward。　Crabbe　and　Goyle　looked　at　him　for　instructions；　thoroughly　bewildered。
　　〃C'mon；〃　Malfoy　muttered；　and　in　a　moment；　all　three　of　them　had　disappeared　into　the　passageway　to　the　dungeons。
　　〃Hermione！〃　Ron　said　again；　sounding　both　stunned　and　irnpressed。
　　〃Harry；　you'd　better　beat　him　in　the　Quidditch　final！〃　Hermione　said　shrilly。　〃You　just　better　had；　because　I　can't　stand　it　if　Slytherin　wins！〃
　　〃We're　due　in　Charms；〃　said　Ron；　still