3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第45部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


N。E。W。T。s　（Nastily　Exhausting　Wizarding　Tests）；　the　highest　qualification　Hogwarts　offered。　As　Percy　hoped　to　enter　the　Ministry　of　Magic；　he　needed　top　grades。　He　was　being　increasingly　edgy；　and　gave　very　severe　punishments　to　anybody　who　disturbed　the　quiet　of　the　mon　room　in　the　evenings。　In　fact；　the　only　person　who　seemed　more　anxious　than　Percy　was　Hermione。
　　Harry　and　Ron　had　given　up　asking　her　how　she　was　managing　to　attend　several　classes　at　once；　but　they　couldn't　restrain　themselves　when　they　saw　the　exam　schedule　she　had　drawn　up　for　herself。　The　first　column　read：
　　Monday
　　9　o'clock；　Arithmancy
　　9　o'clock；　Transfiguration
　　Lunch
　　1　o'clock；　Charms
　　1　o'clock；　Ancient　Runes
　　〃Hermione？〃　Ron　said　cautiously；　because　she　was　liable　to　explode　when　interrupted　these　days。　〃Er　　are　you　sure　you've　copied　down　these　times　right？〃
　　〃What？〃　snapped　Hermione；　picking　up　the　exam　schedule　and　examining　it。　〃Yes；　of　course　I　have。〃
　　〃Is　there　any　point　asking　how　you're　going　to　sit　for　two　exams　at　once？〃　said　Harry。
　　〃No；〃　said　Hermione　shortly。　〃Have　either　of　you　seen　my　copy　of　Numerology　and　Gramatica？〃
　　〃Oh；　yeah；　I　borrowed　it　for　a　bit　of　bedtime　reading；〃　said　Ron；　but　very　quietly。　Hermione　started　shifting　heaps　of　parchment　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　plenty　of　opportunity　to　speak　to　Hagrid。
　　〃Beaky's　gettin'　a　bit　depressed；〃　Hagrid　told　them；　bending　low　on　the　pretense　of　checking　that　Harry's　flobberworm　was　still　alive。　〃Bin　cooped　up　too　long。　But　still。。。　we'll　know　day　after　tomorrow　　one　way　or　the　other　〃
　　They　had　Potions　that　afternoon；　which　was　an　unqualified　disaster。　Try　as　Harry　might；　he　couldn't　get　his　Confusing　Concoction　to　thicken；　and　Snape；　standing　watch　with　an　air　of　vindictive　pleasure；　scribbled　something　that　looked　suspiciously　like　a　zero　onto　his　notes　before　moving　away。
　　Then　came　Astronomy　at　midnight；　up　on　the　tallest　tower；　History　of　Magic　on　Wednesday　morning；　in　which　Harry　scribbled　everything　Florean　Fortescue　had　ever　told　him　about　medieval　witch…hunts；　while　wishing　he　could　have　had　one　of　Fortescue's　choco…nut　sundaes　with　him　in　the　stifling　classroom。　Wednesday　afternoon　meant　Herbology；　in　the　greenhouses　under　a　baking…hot　sun；　then　back　to　the　mon　room　once　more；　with　sunburnt　necks；　thinking　longingly　of　this　time　next　day；　when　it　would　all　be　over。
　　Their　second　to　last　exam；　on　Thursday　morning；　was　Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts。　Professor　Lupin　had　piled　the　most　unusual　exam　any　of　them　had　ever　taken；　a　sort　of　obstacle　course　outside　in　the　sun；　where　they　had　to　wade　across　a　deep　paddling　pool　containing　a　grindylow；　cross　a　series　of　potholes　full　of　Red　Caps；　squish　their　way　across　a　patch　of　marsh　while　ignoring　misleading　directions　from　a　hinkypunk；　then　climb　into　an　old　trunk　and　battle　with　a　new　boggart。
　　〃Excellent；　Harry；〃　Lupin　muttered　as　Harry　climbed　out　of　the　trunk；　grinning。　〃Full　marks。〃
　　Flushed　with　his　success；　Harry　hung　around　to　watch　Ron　and　Hermione。　Ron　did　very　well　until　he　reached　the　hinkypunk；　which　successfully　confused　him　into　sinking　waist…high　into　the　quagmire。　Hermione　did　everything　perfectly　until　she　reached　the　trunk　with　the　boggart　in　it。　After　about　a　minute　inside　it；　she　burst　out　again；　screaming。
　　〃Hermione！〃　said　Lupin；　startled。　〃What's　the　matter？〃
　　〃P　　P　　Professor　McGonagall！〃　Hermione　gasped；　pointing　into　the　trunk。　〃Sh　　she　said　I'd　failed　everything！〃
　　It　took　a　little　while　to　calm　Hermione　down。　When　at　last　she　had　regained　a　grip　on　herself；　she；　Harry；　and　Ron　went　back　to　the　castle。　Ron　was　still　slightly　inclined　to　laugh　at　Hermione's　boggart；　but　an　argument　was　averted　by　the　sight　that　met　them　on　the　top　of　the　steps。
　　Cornelius　Fudge；　sweating　slightly　in　his　pinstriped　cloak；　was　standing　there　staring　out　at　the　grounds。　He　started　at　the　sight　of　Harry。
　　〃Hello　there；　Harry！〃　he　said。　〃Just　had　an　exam；　I　expect？　Nearly　finished？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Harry。　Hermione　and　Ron；　not　being　on　speaking　terms　with　the　Minister　of　Magic；　hovered　awkwardly　in　the　background。
　　〃Lovely　day；〃　said　Fudge；　casting　an　eye　over　the　lake。
　　〃Pity。。。　pity。。。〃
　　He　sighed　deeply　and　looked　down　at　Harry。
　　〃I'm　here　on　an　unpleasant　mission；　Harry。　The　mittee　for　the　Disposal　of　Dangerous　Creatures　required　a　witness　to　the　execution　of　a　mad　hippogriff。　As　I　needed　to　visit　Hogwarts　to　check　on　the　Black　situation；　I　was　asked　to　step　in。〃
　　〃Does　that　mean　the　appeal's　already　happened？〃　Ron　interrupted；　stepping　forward。
　　〃No；　no；　it's　scheduled　for　this　afternoon；〃　said　Fudge；　looking　curiously　at　Ron。
　　〃Then　you　might　not　have　to　witness　an　execution　at　A！〃　said　Eon　stoutly。　〃The　hippogriff　might　get　off！〃
　　Before　Fudge　could　answer；　two　wizards　came　through　the　castle　doors　behind　him。　One　was　so　ancient　he　appeared　to　be　withering　before　their　very　eyes；　the　other　was　tall　and　strapping；　with　a　thin　back　mustache。　Harry　gathered　that　they　were　representatives　of　the　mittee　for　the　Disposal　of　Dangerous　Creatures；　because　tie　very　old　wizard　squinted　toward　Hagrid's　cabin　and　said　in　a　feeble　voice；　〃Dear；　dear；　I'm　getting　too　old　for　this。。。。　Two　o'clock；　isn't　it；　Fudge？〃
　　The　black…mustached　man　was　fingering　something　in　his　belt；　Harry　looked　and　saw　that　he　was　running　one　broad　thumb　along　the　blade　of　a　shining　axe。　Ron　opened　his　mouth　to　say　something；　but　Hermione　nudged　him　hard　in　the　ribs　and　jerked　her　head　toward　the　entrance　hall。
　　〃Why'd　you　stop　me？〃　said　Ron　angrily　as　they　entered　the　Great　Hall　for　lunch。　〃Did　you　see　them？　They've　even　got　the　axe　ready！　This　isn't　justice！〃
　　〃Ron；　your　dad　works　for　the　Ministry；　you　can't　go　saying　things　like　that　to　his　boss！〃　said　Hermione；　but　she　too　looked　very　upset。　〃As　long　as　Hagrid　keeps　his　head　this　time；　and　argue；　hi　case　properly；　they　can't　possibly　execute　Buckbeak。。。。〃
　　But　Harry　could　tell　Hermione　didn't　really　believe　what　she　was　saying。　All　around　them；　people　were　talking　excitedly　as　they　ate　their　lunch；　happily　anticipating　the　end　of　the　exams　that　afternoon；　but　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione；　lost　in　worry　about　Hagrid　and　Buckbeak；　didn't　join　in。
　　Harry's　and　Ron's　last　exam　was　Divination；　Hermione's；　Muggle　Studies。　They　walked　up　the　marble　staircase　together；　Hermione　left　them　on　the　first　floor　and　Harry　and　Ron　proceeded　all　the　way　up　to　the　seventh；　where　many　of　their　class　were　sitting　on　the　spiral　staircase　to　Professor　Trelawney's　classroom；　trying　to　cram　in　a　bit　of　last…minute　studying。
　　〃She's　seeing　us　all　separately；〃　Neville　informed　them　as　they　went　to　sit　down　next　to　him。　He　had　his　copy　of　Unfogging　the　Future　open　on　his　lap　at　the　pages　devoted　to　crystal　gazing。　〃Have　either　of　you　ever　seen　anything　in　a　crystal　ball？〃　he　asked　them　unhappily。
　　〃Nope；〃　said　Ron　in　an　offhand　voice。　He　kept　checking　his　watch；　Harry。　knew　that　he　was　counting　down　the　time　until　Buckbeak's　appeal　started。
　　The　line　of　people　outside　the　classroom　shortened　very　slowly。　As　each　person　climbed　back　down　the　silver　ladder；　the　rest　of　the　class　hissed；　〃What　did　she　ask？　Was　it　okay？〃
　　But　they　all　refused　to　say。
　　〃She　says　the　crystal　ball's　told　her　that　if　I　tell　you；　I'll　have　a　horrible　accident！〃　squeaked　Neville　as　he　clambered　back　down　the　ladder　toward　Harry　and　Ron；　who　had　now　reached　the　landing。
　　〃That's　convenient；〃　snorted　Ron。　〃You　know；　I'm　starting　to　think　Hermione　was　right　about　her〃　　he　jabbed　his　thumb　toward　the　trapdoor　overhead　　〃she's　a　right　old　fraud。〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　said　Harry；　looking　at　his　own　watch。　It…was　now　two　o'clock。　〃Wish　she'd　hurry　up。。。〃
　　Parvati　came　back　down　the　ladder　glowing　with　pride。
　　〃She　says　I've　got　all　the　makings　of　a　true　Seer；〃　she　informed　Harry　and　Ron。　〃I　saw　loads　of　stuff。。。　Well；　good　luck！〃
　　She　hurried　off　down　the　spiral　staircase　toward　Lavender。
　　〃Ronald　Weasley；〃　said　the　familiar；　misty　voice　from　over　their　heads。　Ron　grimaced　at　Harry　and　climbed　the　silver　ladder　out　of　sight。　Harry　was　now　the　only　person　left　to　be　tested。　He　settled　himself　on　the　floor　with　his　back　against　the　wall；　listening　to　a　fly　buzzing　in　the　sunny　window；　his　mind　across　the　grounds　with　Hagrid。
　　Finally；　after　about　twenty　minutes；　Ron's　large　feet　reappeared　on　the　ladder。
　　〃How'd　it　go？〃　Harry　asked　him；　standing　up。
　　〃Rubbish；〃　said　Ron。　〃Couldn't　see　a　thing；　so　I　made　some　stuff　up。　Don't　think　she　was　convinced；　though。。。。〃
　　〃Meet　you　in　the　mon　room；〃　Harry　muttered　as　Professor　Trelawney's　voice　called；　〃Harry　Potter！〃
　　The　tower　room　was　hotter　than　ever　before；　the　curtains　were　closed；　the　fire　was　alight；　and　the　usual　sickly　scent　made　Harry　cough　as　he　stumbled　through　the　clutter　of　chairs　and　table　to　where　Professor　Trelawney　sat　waiting　for　him　before　a　large　crystal　ball。
　　〃Good　day；　my　dear；〃　she　said　softly。　〃If　you　would　kindly　gaze　into　the　Orb。。。。　Take　your　time；　now。。。　then　tell　me　what　you　see　within　it。。。。〃
　　Harry　bent　over　the　crystal　ball　and　stared；　stared　as　hard　as　he　could；　willing　it　to　show　him　something　other　than　swirling　white　fog；　but　nothing　happened。
　　〃Well？〃　Professor　Trelawney　prompted　delicately。　〃What　do　you　see？〃
　　The　heat　was　overpowering　and　his　nostrils　were　stinging　with　the　perfumed　smoke　wafting　from　the　fire　beside　them。　He　thought　of　what　Ron　had　just　said；　and　decided　to　pretend。
　　〃Er　〃　said　Harry；　〃a　dark　shape。。。　um。。。〃
　　〃What　does　it　resemble？〃　whispered　Professor　Trelawney。　〃Think；　now。。。〃
　　Harry　cast　his　mind　around　and　it　landed　on　Buckbeak。
　　〃A　hippogriff；〃　he　said　firmly。
　　〃Indeed！〃　whispered　Professor　Trelawney；　scribbling　keenly　on　the　parchment　perched　upon　her　knees。　〃My　boy；　you　may　well　be　seeing　the　oute　of　poor　Hagrid's　trouble　with　the　Ministry　of　Magic！　Look　closer。。。　Does　the　hippogriff　appear　to。。。　have　its　head？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Harry　firmly。
　　〃Are　you　sure？〃　Professor　Trelawney　urged　him。　〃Are　you　quite　sure；　dear？　You　don't　see　it　writhing　on　the　ground；　perhaps；　and　a　shadowy　figure　raising　an　axe　behind　it？〃
　　〃No！〃　said　Harry；　starting