3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第51部分

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　to　kill　Harry　〃
　　〃Two　more　for　Azkaban　tonight；〃　said　Snape；　his　eyes　now　gleaming　fanatically。　〃I　shall　be　interested　to　see　how　Dumbledore　takes　this。。。。　He　was　quite　convinced　you　were　harmless；　you　know；　Lupin。。。　a　tame　werewolf　〃
　　〃You　fool；〃　said　Lupin　softly。　〃Is　a　schoolboy　grudge　worth　putting　an　innocent　man　back　inside　Azkaban？〃
　　BANG！　Thin；　snakelike　cords　burst　from　the　end　of　Snape's　wand　and　twisted　themselves　around　Lupin's　mouth；　wrists；　and　ankles；　he　overbalanced　and　fell　to　the　floor；　unable　to　move。　With　a　roar　of　rage；　Black　started　toward　Snape；　but　Snape　pointed　his　wand　straight　between　Black's　eyes。
　　〃Give　me　a　reason；〃　he　whispered。　〃Give　me　a　reason　to　do　it；　and　I　swear　I　will。〃
　　Black　stopped　dead。　It　would　have　been　impossible　to　say　which　face　showed　more　hatred。
　　Harry　stood　there；　paralyzed；　not　knowing　what　to　do　or　whom　to　believe。　He　glanced　around　at　Ron　and　Hermione。　Ron　looked　just　as　confused　as　he　did；　still　fighting　to　keep　hold　on　the　struggling　Scabbers。　Hermione；　however；　took　an　uncertain　step　toward　Snape　and　said；　in　a　very　breathless　voice；　〃Professor　Snape　　it　it　wouldn't　hurt　to　hear　what　they've　got　to　say；　w　　would　it？〃
　　〃Miss　Granger；　you　are　already　facing　suspension　from　this　school；〃　Snape　spat。　〃You；　Potter；　and　Weasley　are　out…of…bounds；　in　the　pany　of　a　convicted　murderer　and　a　werewolf。　For　once　in　your　life；　hold　your　tongue。〃
　　〃But　if　　if　there　was　a　mistake　〃
　　〃KEEP　QUIET；　YOU　STUPID　GIRL！〃　Snape　shouted；　looking　suddenly　quite　deranged。　〃DON'T　TALK　ABOUT　WHAT　YOU　DON'T　UNDERSTAND！〃　A　few　sparks　shot　out　of　the　end　of　his　wand；　which　was　still　pointed　at　Black's　face。　Hermione　fell　silent。
　　〃Vengeance　is　very　sweet；〃　Snape　breathed　at　Black。　〃How　I　hoped　I　would　be　the　one　to　catch　you。。。。〃
　　〃The　joke's　on　you　again；　Severus；〃　Black　snarled。　〃As　long　as　this　boy　brings　his　rat　up　to　the　castle〃　　he　jerked　his　head　at　Ron　　〃I'll　e　quietly。。。。〃
　　〃Up　to　the　castle？〃　said　Snape　silkily。　〃I　don't　think　we　need　to　go　that　far。　All　I　have　to　do　is　call　the　dementors　once　we　get　out　of　the　Willow。　They'll　be　very　pleased　to　see　you；　Black。。。　pleased　enough　to　give　you　a　little　kiss；　I　daresay。。。　I　〃
　　What　little　color　there　was　in　Blacks　face　left　it。
　　〃You　…you've　got　to　hear　me　out；〃　he　croaked。　〃The　rat　　look　at　the　rat　〃
　　But　there　was　a　mad　glint　in　Snape's　eyes　that　Harry　had　never　seen　before。　He　seemed　beyond　reason。
　　〃e　on；　all　of　you；〃　he　said。　He　clicked　his　fingers；　and　the　ends　of　the　cords　that　bound　Lupin　flew　to　his　hands。　〃I'll　drag　the　werewolf。　Perhaps　the　dementors　will　have　a　kiss　for　him　too　〃
　　Before　he　knew　what　he　was　doing；　Harry　had　crossed　the　room　in　three　strides　and　blocked　the　door。
　　〃Get　out　of　the　way；　Potter；　you're　in　enough　trouble　already；〃　snarled　Snape。　〃If　I　hadn't　been　here　to　save　your　skin　〃
　　〃Professor　Lupin　could　have　killed　me　about　a　hundred　times　this　year；〃　Harry　said。　〃I've　been　alone　with　him　loads　of　times；　having　defense　lessons　against　the　dementors。　If　he　was　helping　Black；　why　didn't　he　just　finish　me　off　then？〃
　　〃Don't　ask　me　to　fathom　the　way　a　werewolf's　mind　works；〃　hissed　Snape。　〃Get　out　of　the　way；　Potter。〃
　　〃YOURE　PATHETIC！〃　Harry　yelled。　〃JUST　BECAUSE　THEY　MADE　A　FOOL　OF　YOU　AT　SCHOOL　YOU　WON'T　EVEN　LISTEN　〃
　　〃SILENCE！　I　WILL　NOT　BE　SPOKEN　TO　LIKE　THAT！〃　Snape　shrieked；　looking　madder　than　ever。　〃Like　father；　like　son；　Potter！　I　have　just　saved　your　neck；　you　should　be　thanking　me　on　bended　knee！　You　would　have　been　well　served　if　he'd　killed　you！　You'd　have　died　like　your　father；　too　arrogant　to　believe　you　might　be　mistaken　in　Black　　now　get　out　of　the　way；　or　I　will　make　you。　GET　OUT　OF　THE　WAY；　POTTER！〃
　　Harry　made　up　his　mind　in　a　split　second。　Before　Snape　could　take　even　one　step　toward　him；　he　had　raised　his　wand。
　　〃Expelliarmus！〃　he　yelled　　except　that　his　wasn't　the　only　voice　that　shouted。　There　was　a　blast　that　made　the　door　rattle　on　its　hinges；　Snape　was　lifted　off　his　feet　and　slammed　into　the　wall；　then　slid　down　it　to　the　floor；　a　trickle　of　blood　oozing　from　under　his　hair。　He　had　been　knocked　out。
　　Harry　looked　around。　Both　Ron　and　Hermione　had　tried　to　disarm　Snape　at　exactly　the　same　moment。　Snape's　wand　soared　in　a　high　arc　and　landed　on　the　bed　next　to　Crookshanks。
　　〃You　shouldn't　have　done　that；〃　said　Black；　looking　at　Harry。
　　〃You　should　have　left　him　to　me。。。。〃
　　Harry　avoided　Black's　eyes。　He　wasn't　sure；　even　now；　that　he'd　done　the　right　thing。
　　〃We　attacked　a　teacher。。。　We　attacked　a　teacher。。。〃　Hermione　whimpered；　staring　at　the　lifeless　Snape　with　frightened　eyes。　〃Oh；　we're　going　to　be　in　so　much　trouble　〃
　　Lupin　was　struggling　against　his　bonds。　Black　bent　down　quickly　and　untied　him。　Lupin　straightened　up；　rubbing　his　arms　where　the　ropes　had　cut　into　them。
　　〃Thank　you；　Harry；〃　he　said。
　　〃I'm　still　not　saying　I　believe　you；〃　he　told　Lupin。
　　〃Then　it's　time　we　offered　you　some　proof；〃　said　Lupin。　〃You；　boy　　give　me　Peter；　please。　Now。〃
　　Ron　clutched　Scabbers　closer　to　his　chest。
　　〃e　off　it；〃　he　said　weakly。　〃Are　you　trying　to　say　he　broke　out　of　Azkaban　just　to　get　his　hands　on　Scabbers？　I　mean。。。〃　He　looked　up　at　Harry　and　Hermione　for　support；　〃Okay；　say　Pettigrew　could　turn　into　a　rat　　there　are　millions　of　rats　　how's　he　supposed　to　know　which　one　he's　after　if　he　was　locked　up　in　Azkaban？〃
　　〃You　know；　Sirius；　that's　a　fair　question；〃　said　Lupin；　turning　to　Black　and　frowning　slightly。　〃How　did　you　find　out　where　he　was？〃
　　Black　put　one　of　his　clawlike　hands　inside　his　robes　and　took　out　a　crumpled　piece　of　paper；　which　he　smoothed　flat　and　held　out　to　show　the　others。
　　It　was　the　photograph　of　Ron　and　his　family　that　had　appeared　in　the　Daily　Prophet　the　previous　summer；　and　there；　on　Ron's　shoulder；　was　Scabbers。
　　〃How　did　you　get　this？〃　Lupin　asked　Black；　thunderstruck。
　　〃Fudge；〃　said　Black。　〃When　he　came　to　inspect　Azkaban　last　year；　he　gave　me　his　paper。　And　there　was　Peter；　on　the　front　page　on　this　boy's　shoulder。。。　I　knew　him　at　once。。。　how　many　times　had　I　seen　him　transform？　And　the　caption　said　the　boy　would　be　going　back　to　Hogwarts。。。　to　where　Harry　was。。。
　　〃My　God；〃　said　Lupin　softly；　staring　from　Scabbers　to　the　picture　in　the　paper　and　back　again。　〃His　front　paw。。。〃
　　〃What　about　it？〃　said　Ron　defiantly。
　　〃He's　got　a　toe　missing；〃　said　Black。
　　〃Of　course；〃　Lupin　breathed。　〃So　simple。。。　so　brilliant。。。　he　cut　it　off　himself？〃
　　〃Just　before　he　transformed；〃　said　Black。　〃When　I　cornered　him；　he　yelled　for　the　whole　street　to　hear　that　I'd　betrayed　Lily　and　James。　Then；　before　I　could　curse　him；　he　blew　apart　the　street　with　the　wand　behind　his　back；　killed　everyone　within　twenty　feet　of　himself　　and　sped　down　into　the　sewer　with　the　other　rats。。。。〃
　　〃Didn't　you　ever　hear；　Ron？〃　said　Lupin。　〃The　biggest　bit　of　Peter　they　found　was　his　finger。〃
　　〃Look；　Scabbers　probably　had　a　fight　with　another　rat　or　something！　He's　been　in　my　family　for　ages；　right　〃
　　〃Twelve　years；　in　fact；〃　said　Lupin。　〃Didn't　you　ever　wonder　why　he　was　living　so　long？〃
　　〃We　　we've　been　taking　good　care　of　him！〃　said　Ron。
　　〃Not　looking　too　good　at　the　moment；　though；　is　he？〃　said　Lupin。　〃I'd　guess　he's　been　losing　weight　ever　since　he　heard　Sirius　was　on　the　loose　again。。。。〃
　　〃He's　been　scared　of　that　mad　cat！〃　said　Ron；　nodding　toward　Crookshanks；　who　was　still　purring　on　the　bed。
　　But　that　wasn't　right；　Harry　thought　suddenly。。。　Scabbers　had　been　looking　ill　before　he　met　Crookshanks。。。　ever　since　Ron's　return　from　Egypt。。。　since　the　time　when　Black　had　escaped。。。。
　　〃This　cat　isn't　mad；〃　said　Black　hoarsely。　He　reached　out　a　bony　hand　and　stroked　Crookshanks's　fluffy　head。　〃He's　the　most　intelligent　of　his　kind　I've　ever　met。　He　recognized　Peter　for　what　he　was　right　away。　And　when　he　met　me；　he　knew　I　was　no　dog。　It　was　a　while　before　he　trusted　me。。。。　Finally；　I　managed　to　municate　to　him　what　I　was　after；　and　he's　been　helping　me。　。。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　breathed　Hermione。
　　〃He　tried　to　bring　Peter　to　me；　but　couldn't。。。　so　he　stole　the　passwords　into　Gryffindor　Tower　for　me。。。。　As　I　understand　it；　he　took　them　from　a　boy's　bedside　table。。。。〃
　　Harry's　brain　seemed　to　be　sagging　under　the　weight　of　what　he　was　hearing。　It　was　absurd。。。　and　yet。。。
　　〃But　Peter　got　wind　of　what　was　going　on　and　ran　for　it。〃　croaked　Black。　〃This　cat　　Crookshanks；　did　you　call　him？　　told　me　Peter　had　left　blood　on　the　sheets。。。。　I　supposed　he　bit　himself。。。　Well；　faking　his　own　death　had　worked　once。〃
　　These　words　jolted　Harry　to　his　senses。
　　〃And　why　did　he　fake　his　death？〃　he　said　furiously。　〃Because　he　knew　you　were　about　to　kill　him　like　you　killed　my　parents！〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Lupin；　〃Harry…〃
　　〃And　now　you've　e　to　finish　him　off！〃
　　〃Yes；　I　have；〃　said　Black；　with　an　evil　look　at　Scabbers。
　　〃Then　I　should've　let　Snape　take　you！〃　Harry　shouted。
　　〃Harry；〃　said　Lupin　hurriedly；　〃don't　you　see？　All　this　time　we've　thought　Sirius　betrayed　your　parents；　and　Peter　tracked　him　down　　but　it　was　the　other　way　around；　don't　you　see？　Peter　betrayed　your　mother　and　father　　Sirius　tracked　Peter　down　〃
　　〃THAT'S　NOT　TRUE！〃　Harry　yelled。　〃HE　WAS　THEIR　SECRET…KEEPER！　HE　SAID　SO　BEFORE　YOU　TURNED　UP。　HE　SAID　HE　KILLED　THEM！〃
　　He　was　pointing　at　Black；　who　shook　his　head　slowly；　the　sunken　eyes　were　suddenly　over　bright。
　　〃Harry。。。　I　as　good　as　killed　them；〃　he　croaked。　〃I　persuaded　Lily　and　James　to　change　to　Peter　at　the　last　moment；　persuaded　them　to　use　him　as　Secret…Keeper　instead　of　me。。。。　I'm　to　blame；　I　know　it。。。。　The　night　they　died；　I'd　arranged　to　check　on　Peter；　make　sure　he　was　still　safe；　but　when　I　arrived　at　his　hiding　place；　he'd　gone。　Yet　there　was　no　sign　of　a　struggle。　It　didn't　feel　right。　I　was　scared。　I　set　out　for　your　parents'　house　straight　away。　And　when　I　saw　their　house；　destroyed；　and　their　bodies。。。　I　realized　what　Peter　must've　done。。。　what　I'd　done。。。。〃
　　His　voice　broke。　He　turned　away。
　　〃Enough　of　this；〃　said　Lupin；　and　there　was　a　steely　note　in　his　voice　Harry　had　never　heard　before。　〃There's　one　certain　way　to　prove　what　really　happened。　Ro