3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第49部分

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d　to　Black's　side；　seized　his　hand；　pulled　him　to　his　feet　so　that　Crookshanks　fell　to　the　floor；　and　embraced　Black　like　a　brother。
　　Harry　felt　as　though　the　bottom　had　dropped　out　of　his　stomach。
　　〃DON'T　BELIEVE　IT！〃　Hermione　screamed。
　　Lupin　let　go　of　Black　and　turned　to　her。　She　had　raised　herself　off　the　floor　and　was　pointing　at　Lupin；　wild…eyed。　〃You　　you　〃
　　〃Hermione　〃
　　〃　you　and　him！〃
　　〃Hermione；　calm　down　〃
　　〃I　didn't　tell　anyone！〃　Hermione　shrieked。　〃I've　been　covering　up　for　you　〃
　　〃Hermione；　listen　to　me；　please'〃　Lupin　shouted。　〃I　can　explain　〃
　　Harry　could　feel　himself　shaking；　not　with　fear；　but　with　a　fresh　wave　of　fury。
　　〃I　trusted　you；〃　he　shouted　at　Lupin；　his　voice　wavering；　out　of　control；　〃and　all　the　time　you've　been　his　friend！〃
　　〃You're　wrong；〃　said　Lupin。　〃I　haven't　been　Sirius's　friend；　but　I　am　now　　Let　me　explain。。。。〃
　　〃NO！〃　Hermione　screamed。　〃Harry；　don't　trust　him；　he's　been　helping　Black　get　into　the　castle；　he　wants　you　dead　too　　he's　a　werewolf！〃
　　There　was　a　ringing　silence。　Everyone's　eyes　were　now　on　Lupin；　who　looked　remarkably　calm；　though　rather　pale。
　　〃Not　at　all　up　to　your　usual　standard；　Hermione；〃　he　said。　〃Only　one　out　of　three；　I'm　afraid。　I　have　not　been　helping　Sirius　get　into　the　castle　and　I　certainly　don't　want　Harry　dead。　An　odd　shiver　passed　over　his　face。　〃But　I　won't　deny　that　I　am　a　werewolf。〃
　　Ron　made　a　valiant　effort　to　get　up　again　but　fell　back　with　a　whimper　of　pain。　Lupin　made　toward　him；　looking　concerned；　but　Ron　gasped；　〃Get　away　ftom　me；　werewolf！〃
　　Lupin　stopped　dead。　Then；　with　an　obvious　effort；　he　turned　to　Hermione　and　said；　〃How　long　have　you　known？〃
　　〃Ages；〃　Hermione　whispered。　〃Since　I　did　Professor　Snape's　essay。。。〃
　　〃He'll　be　delighted；〃　said　Lupin　coolly。　〃He　assigned　that　essay　hoping　someone　would　realize　what　my　symptoms　meant。。。。　Did　you　check　the　lunar　chart　and　realize　that　I　was　always　ill　at　the　full　moon？　Or　did　you　realize　that　the　boggart　changed　into　the　moon　when　it　saw　me？〃
　　〃Both；〃　Hermione　said　quietly。
　　Lupin　forced　a　laugh。
　　〃You're　the　cleverest　witch　of　your　age　I've　ever　met；　Hermione。〃
　　〃I'm　not；〃　Hermione　whispered。　〃If　I'd　been　a　bit　cleverer；　I'd　have　told　everyone　what　you　are！〃
　　〃But　they　already　know；〃　said　Lupin。　〃At　least；　the　staff　do。〃
　　〃Dumbledore　hired　you　when　he　knew　you　were　a　werewolf。　Ron　gasped。　〃Is　he　mad？〃
　　〃Some　of　the　staff　thought　so；〃　said　Lupin。　〃He　had　to　work　very　hard　to　convince　certain　teachers　that　I'm　trustworthy　〃
　　〃AND　HE　WAS　WRONG！〃　Harry　yelled。　〃YOUVE　BEEN　HELPING　HIM　ALL　THE　TIME！〃　He　was　pointing　at　Black；　who　suddenly　crossed　to　the　four…poster　bed　and　sank　onto　it；　his　face　hidden　in　one　shaking　hand。　Crookshanks　leapt　up　beside　him　and　stepped　onto　his　lap；　purring。　Ron　edged　away　from　both　of　them；　dragging　his　leg。
　　I　have　not　been　helping　Sirius；〃　said　Lupin。　〃If　you'll　give　me　a　chance；　I'll　explain。　Look　〃
　　He　separated　Harry's；　Ron's　and　Hermione's　wands　and　threw　each　back　to　its　owner；　Harry　caught　his；　stunned。
　　There；　said　Lupin；　sticking　his　own　wand　back　into　his　belt　〃You're　armed；　we're　not。　Now　will　you　listen？〃
　　Harry　didn't　know　what　to　think。　Was　it　a　trick？
　　〃If　you　haven't　been　helping　him；〃　he　said；　with　a　furious　glance　at　Black；　〃how　did　you　know　he　was　here？〃
　　〃The　map；〃　said　Lupin。　〃The　Marauder's　Map。　I　was　in　my　office　examining　it　〃
　　〃You　know　how　to　work　it？〃　Harry　said　suspiciously。
　　〃Of　course　I　know　how　to　work　it；〃　said　Lupin；　waving　his　hand　impatiently。　〃I　helped　write　it。　I'm　Moony　　that　was　my　friends'　nickname　for　me　at　school。〃
　　〃You　wrote　？〃
　　〃The　important　thing　is；　I　was　watching　it　carefully　this　evening；　because　I　had　an　idea　that　you；　Ron；　and　Hermione　might　try　and　sneak　out　of　the　castle　to　visit　Hagrid　before　his　hippogriff　was　executed。　And　I　was　right；　wasn't　I〃
　　He　had　started　to　pace　up　and　down；　looking　at　them。　Little　patches　of　dust　rose　at　his　feet。
　　〃You　might　have　been　wearing　your　father's　old　cloak；　Harry〃
　　〃How　d'you　know　about　the　cloak？〃
　　〃The　number　of　times　I　saw　James　disappearing　under　it。。。；〃　said　Lupin；　waving　an　impatient　hand　again。　〃The　point　is；　even　if　you're　wearing　an　Invisibility　Cloak；　you　still　show　up　on　the　Marauder's　Map。　I　watched　you　cross　the　grounds　and　enter　Hagrid's　hut。　Twenty　minutes　later；　you　left　Hagrid；　and　set　off　back　toward　the　castle。　But　you　were　now　acpanied　by　somebody　else。〃
　　〃What？〃　said　Harry。　〃No；　we　weren't！〃
　　I　couldn't　believe　my　eyes；〃　said　Lupin；　still　pacing；　and　ignoring　Harry's　interruption。　〃I　thought　the　map　must　be　malfunctioning。　How　could　he　be　with　you？〃　〃No　one　was　with　us！〃　said　Harry。
　　〃And　then　I　saw　another　dot；　moving　fast　toward　you；　labeled　Sirius　Black。。。。　I　saw　him　collide　with　you；　I　watched　as　he　pulled　two　of　you　into　the　Whomping　Willow　〃
　　〃One　of　us！〃　Ron　said　angrily。
　　〃No；　Ron；〃　said　Lupin。　〃Two　of　you。〃
　　He　had　stopped　his　pacing；　his　eyes　moving　over　Ron。
　　〃Do　you　think　I　could　have　a　look　at　the　rat？〃　he　said　evenly。
　　〃What？〃　said　Ron。　〃What's　Scabbers　got　to　do　with　it？〃
　　〃Everything；〃　said　Lupin。　〃Could　I　see　him；　please？〃
　　Ron　hesitated；　then　put　a　hand　inside　his　robes。　Scabbers　emerged；　thrashing　desperately；　Ron　had　to　seize　his　long　bald　tail　to　stop　him　escaping。　Crookshanks　stood　up　on　Black's　leg　and　made　a　soft　hissing　noise。
　　Lupin　moved　closer　to　Ron。　He　seemed　to　be　holding　his　breath　as　he　gazed　intently　at　Scabbers。
　　〃What？〃　Ron　said　again；　holding　Scabbers　close　to　him；　looking　scared。　〃What's　my　rat　got　to　do　with　anything？〃
　　〃That's　not　a　rat；〃　croaked　Sirius　Black　suddenly。
　　〃What　d'you　mean　　of　course　he's　a　rat　〃
　　〃No；　he's　not；〃　said　Lupin　quietly。　〃He's　a　wizard。〃
　　〃An　Animagus；〃　said　Black；　〃by　the　name　of　Peter　Pettigrew。〃
　　CHAPTER　EIGHTEEN
　　MOONY；　WORMTAIL；　PADDFOOT；　AND　PRONGS
　　It　took　a　few　seconds　for　the　absurdity　of　this　statement　to　sink　in。　Then　Ron　voiced　what　Harry　was　thinking。
　　〃You're　both　mental。〃
　　〃Ridiculous！〃　said　Hermione　faintly。
　　〃Peter　Pettigrew's　dead！〃　said　Harry。　〃He　killed　him　twelve　years　ago！〃　He　pointed　at　Black；　whose　face　twitched　convulsively。
　　〃I　meant　to；〃　he　growled；　his　yellow　teeth　bared；　〃but　little　Peter　got　the　better　of　me。。。　not　this　time；　though！〃
　　And　Crookshanks　was　thrown　to　the　floor　as　Black　lunged　at　Scabbers；　Ron　yelled　with　pain　as　Black's　weight　fell　on　his　broken　leg。
　　。〃Sirius；　NO！〃　Lupin　yelled；　launching　himself　forwards　and　dragging　Black　away　from　Ron　again；　〃WAIT！　You　can't　do　it　just　like　that　　they　need　to　understand　　we've　got　to　explain　〃
　　〃We　can　explain　afterwards！〃　snarled　Black；　trying　to　throw　Lupin　off。　One　hand　was　still　clawing　the　air　as　it　tried　to　reach　Scabbers；　who　was　squealing　like　a　piglet；　scratching　Ron's　face　and　neck　as　he　tried　to　escape。
　　〃They've　　got　　a　　right　　to　　know　　…everything！〃　Lupin　panted；　still　trying　to　restrain　Black。　〃Ron's　kept　him　as　a　pet！　There　are　parts　of　it　even　I　don't　understand；　and　Harry　　you　owe　Harry　the　truth；　Sirius！〃
　　Black　stopped　struggling；　though　his　hollowed　eyes　were　still　fixed　on　Scabbers；　who　was　clamped　tightly　under　Ron's　bitten；　scratched；　ad　bleeding　hands。
　　〃All　right；　then；〃　Black　said；　without　taking　his　eyes　off　the　rat。
　　〃Tell　them　whatever　you　like。　But　make　it　quick；　Remus。　I　want　to　mit　the　murder　I　was　imprisoned　for。。。〃
　　〃You're　nutters；　both　of　you；〃　said　Ron　shakily；　looking　round　at　Harry　and　Hermione　for　support。　〃I've　had　enough　of　this。　I'm　off。〃
　　He　tried　to　heave　himself　up　on　his　good　leg；　but　Lupin　raised　his　wand　again；　pointing　it　at　Scabbers。
　　〃You're　going　to　hear　me　out；　Ron；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Just　keep　a　tight　hold　on　Peter　while　you　listen。〃
　　〃HE'S　NOT　PETER；　HE'S　SCABBERS！〃　Ron　yelled；　trying　to　fore　the　rat　back　into　his　front　pocket；　but　Scabbers　was　fighting　to　hard；　Ron　swayed　and　overbalanced；　and　Harry　caught　him　am　pushed　him　back　down　to　the　bed。　Then；　ignoring　Black；　Harry　turned　to　Lupin。
　　There　were　witnesses　who　saw　Pettigrew　die；〃　he　said。　〃A　whole　street　full　of　them。。。〃
　　〃They　didn't　see　what　they　thought　they　saw！〃　said　Black　savagely；　still　watching　Scabbers　struggling　in　Ron's　hands。
　　〃Everyone　thought　Sirius　killed　Peter；〃　said　Lupin；　nodding。　〃I　believed　it　myself　　until　I　saw　the　map　tonight。　Because　the　Marauder's　map　never　lies。。。　Peter's　alive。　Ron's　holding　him；　Harry。〃
　　Harry　looked　down　at　Ron；　and　as　their　eyes　met；　they　agreed；　silently：　Black　and　Lupin　were　both　out　of　their　minds。　Their　story　made　no　sense　whatsoever。　How　could　Scabbers　be　Peter　Pettigrew？　Azkaban　must　have　unhinged　Black　after　all　　but　why　was　Lupin　playing　along　with　him？
　　Then　Hermione　spoke；　in　a　trembling；　would…be　calm　sort　of　voice；　as　though　trying　to　will　Professor　Lupin　to　talk　sensibly。
　　〃But　Professor　Lupin。。。　Scabbers　can't　be　Pettigrew。。。　it　just　can't　be　true；　you　know　it　can't。。。〃
　　〃Why　can't　it　be　true？〃　Lupin　said　calmly；　as　though　they　were　in　class；　and　Hermione　had　simply　spotted　a　problem　in　an　experiment　with　grindylows。
　　〃Because。。。　because　people　would　know　if　Peter　Pettigrew　had　been　an　Animagus。　We　did　Animagi　in　class　with　Professor　McGonagall。　And　I　looked　them　up　when　I　did　my　homework　　the　Ministry　of　Magic　keeps　tabs　on　witches　and　wizards　who　can　bee　animals；　there's　a　register　showing　what　animal　they　bee；　and　their　markings　and　things。。。　and　I　went　and　looked　Professor　McGonagall　up　on　the　register；　and　there　have　been　only　seven　Animagi　this　century；　and　Pettigrew's　name　wasn't　on　the　list。〃
　　Harry　had　barely　had　time　to　marvel　inwardly　at　the　effort　Hermione　put　into　her　homework；　when　Lupin　started　to　laugh。
　　〃Light　again；　Hermione！〃　he　said。　〃But　the　Ministry　never　knew　that　here　used　to　be　three　unregistered　Animagi　running　around　Hogwarts。〃
　　〃I　you're　going　to　tell　them　the　story；　get　a　move　on；　Remus；〃　said　Black；　who　was　still　watching　Scabbers's　every　desperate　move。　〃I've　waited　twelve　years；　I'm　not　going　to　wait　much　longer。〃
　　〃All　right。。。　but　you'll　need　to　help　me；　Sirius；〃　said　Lupin；　I　only　know　how