3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第52部分

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　　〃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。　Ron；　give　me　that　rat。〃
　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　with　him　if　I　give　him　to　you？〃　Ron　asked　Lupin　tensely。
　　〃Force　him　to　show　himself；〃　said　Lupin。　〃If　he　really　is　a　rat；　it　won't　hurt　him。〃
　　Ron　hesitated。　Then　at　long　last；　he　held　out　Scabbers　and　Lupin　took　him。　Scabbers　began　to　squeak　without　stopping；　twisting　and　turning；　his　tiny　black　eyes　bulging　in　his　head。　〃Ready；　Sirius？〃　said　Lupin。
　　Black　had　already　retrieved　Snape's　wand　from　the　bed。　He　approached　Lupin　and　the　struggling　rat；　and　his　wet　eyes　suddenly　seemed　to　be　burning　in　his　face。
　　〃Together？〃　he　said　quietly。
　　〃I　think　so；；；　said　Lupin；　holding　Scabbers　tightly　in　one　hand　and　his　wand　in　the　other。　〃On　the　count　of　three。　One　　two　　THREE！〃
　　A　flash　of　blue…white　light　erupted　from　both　wands；　for　a　moment；　Scabbers　was　frozen　in　midair；　his　small　gray　form　twisting　madly　　Ron　yelled　　the　rat　fell　and　hit　the　floor。　There　was　another　blinding　flash　of　light　and　then　
　　It　was　like　watching　a　speeded…up　film　of　a　growing　tree。　A　head　was　shooting　upward　from　the　ground；　limbs　were　sprouting；　a　moment　later；　a　man　was　standing　where　Scabbers　had　been；　cringing　and　wringing　his　hands。　Crookshanks　was　spitting　and　snarling　on　the　bed；　the　hair　on　his　back　was　standing　up。
　　He　was　a　very　short　man；　hardly　taller　than　Harry　and　Hermione。　His　thin；　colorless　hair　was　unkempt　and　there　was　a　large　bald　patch　on　top。　He　had　the　shrunken　appearance　of　a　plump　man　who　has　lost　a　lot　of　weight　in　a　short　time。　His　skin　looked　grubby；　almost　like　Scabbers's　fur；　and　something　of　the　rat　lingered　around　his　pointed　nose　and　his　very　small；　watery　eyes。　He　looked　around　at　them　all；　his　breathing　fast　and　shallow。　Harry　saw　his　eyes　dart　to　the　door　and　back　again。
　　〃Well；　hello；　Peter；〃　said　Lupin　pleasantly；　as　though　rats　frequently　erupted　into　old　school　friends　around　him。　〃Long　time；　no　see。
　　〃S　　Sirius。。。　R　　Remus。。。〃　Even　Pettigrew's　voice　was　squeaky。　Again；　his　eyes　darted　toward　the　door。　〃My　friends。。。　my　old　friends。。。〃
　　Black's　wand　arm　rose；　but　Lupin　seized　him　around　the　wrist；　gave　him　a　warning　took；　then　turned　again　to　Pettigrew；　his　voice　light　and　casual。
　　〃We've　been　having　a　little　chat；　Peter；　about　what　happened　the　night　Lily　and　James　died。　You　might　have　missed　the　finer　points　while　you　were　squeaking　around　down　there　on　the　bed　〃
　　〃Remus；〃　gasped　Pettigrew；　and　Harry　could　see　beads　of　sweat　breaking　out　over　his　pasty　face；　〃you　don't　believe　him；　do　you。。。？　He　tried　to　kill　me；　Remus。。。。〃
　　〃So　we've　heard；〃　said　Lupin；　more　coldly。　〃I'd　like　to　clear　up　one　or　two　little　matters　with　you；　Peter；　if　you'll　be　so　〃
　　〃He's　e　to　try　and　kill　me　again！〃　Pettigrew　squeaked　suddenly；　pointing　at　Black；　and　Harry　saw　that　he　used　his　middle　finger；　because　his　index　was　missing。　〃He　killed　Lily　and　James　and　now　he's　going　to　kill　me　too。。。。　You've　got　to　help　me；　Remus。。。。〃
　　Black's　face　looked　more　skull…like　than　ever　as　he　stared　at　Pettigrew　with　his　fathomless　eyes。
　　〃No　one's　going　to　try　and　kill　you　until　we've　sorted　a　few　things　out；〃　said　Lupin。
　　〃Sorted　things　out？〃　squealed　Pettigrew；　looking　wildly　about　him　once　more；　eyes　taking　in　the　boarded　windows　and；　again'　the　only　door。　〃I　knew　he'd　e　after　me！　I　knew　he'd　be　back　for　me！　I've　been　waiting　for　this　for　twelve　years！〃
　　〃You　knew　Sirius　was　going　to　break　out　of　Azkaban？〃　said　Lupin；　his　brow　furrowed。　〃When　nobody　has　ever　done　it　before？〃
　　〃He's　got　dark　powers　the　rest　of　us　can　only　dream　of！〃　Pettigrew　shouted　shrilly。　〃How　else　did　he　get　out　of　there？　I　suppose　He…Who…Must…Not…Be…Named　taught　him　a　few　tricks！〃
　　Black　started　to　laugh；　a　horrible；　mirthless　laugh　that　filled　the　whole　room。
　　〃Voldemort；　teach　me　tricks？〃　he　said。
　　Pettigrew　flinched　as　though　Black　had　brandished　a　whip　at　him。
　　〃What；　scared　to　hear　your　old　master's　name？〃　said　Black。　I　don't　blame　you；　Peter。　His　lot　aren't　very　happy　with　you；　are　they？〃
　　〃Don't　know　what　you　mean；　Sirius　〃　muttered　Pettigrew；　his　breathing　faster　than　ever。　His　whole　face　was　shining　with　sweat　now。
　　〃You　haven't　been　hiding　from　me　for　twelve　years；〃　said　Black。　〃You've　been　hiding　from　Voldemort's　old　supporters。　I　heard　things　in　Azkaban；　Peter。。。　They　all　think　you're　dead；　or　you'd　have　to　answer　to　them。。。。　I've　heard　them　screaming　all　sorts　of　things　in　their　sleep。　Sounds　like　they　think　the　double…crosser　double…crossed　them。　Voldemort　went　to　the　Potters'　on　your　information。。。　and　Voldemort　met　his　downfall　there。　And　not　all　Voldemort's　supporters　ended　up　in　Azkaban；　did　they？　There　are　still　plenty　out　here；　biding　their　time；　pretending　they've　seen　the　error　of　their　ways。
　　If　they　ever　got　wind　that　you　were　still　alive；　Peter　〃
　　〃Don't　know。。。　what　you're　talking　about。。。；〃　said　Pettigrew　again；　more　shrilly　than　ever。　He　wiped　his　face　on　his　sleeve　and　looked　up　at　Lupin。　〃You　don't　believe　this　　this　madness；　Remus　〃
　　〃I　must　admit；　Peter；　I　have　difficulty　in　understanding　why　an　innocent　man　would　want　to　spend　twelve　years　as　a　rat；〃　said　Lupin　evenly。
　　〃Innocent；　but　scared！〃　squealed　Pettigrew。　〃If　Voldemort's　supporters　were　after　me；　it　was　because　I　put　one　of　their　best　men　in　Azkaban　　the　spy；　Sirius　Black！〃
　　Black's　face　contorted。
　　〃How　dare　you；〃　he　growled；　sounding　suddenly　like　the　bearsized　dog　he　had　been。　I；　a　spy　for　Voldemort？　When　did　I　ever　sneak　around　people　who　were　stronger　and　more　powerful　than　myself？　But　you；　Peter　　I'll　never　understand　why　I　didn't　see　you　were　the　spy　from　the　start。　You　always　liked　big　friends　who'd　look　after　you；　didn't　you？　It　used　to　be　us。。。　me　and　Remus。。。　and　James。。。。
　　Pettigrew　wiped　his　face　again；　he　was　almost　panting　for　breath。
　　〃Me；　a　spy。。。　must　be　out　of　your　mind。。。　never。。。　don't　know　how　you　can　say　such　a　〃
　　〃Lily　and　James　only　made　you　Secret…Keeper　because　I　suggested　it；〃　Black　hissed；　so　venomously　that　Pettigrew　took　a　step　backward。　〃I　thought　it　was　the　perfect　plan。。。　a　bluff。。。　Voldemort　would　be　sure　to　e　after　me；　would　never　dream　they'd　use　a　weak；　talentless　thing　like　you。。。。　It　must　have　been　the　finest　moment　of　your　miserable　life；　telling　Voldemort　you　could　hand　him　the　Potters。〃
　　Pettigrew　was　muttering　distractedly；　Harry　caught　words　like　〃far…fetched〃　and　〃lunacy；〃　but　he　couldn't　help　paying　more　attention　to　the　ashen　color　of　Pettigrew's　face　and　the　way　his　eyes　continued　to　dart　toward　the　windows　and　door。
　　〃Professor　Lupin？〃　said　Hermione　timidly。　〃Can　　can　I　say　something？〃
　　〃Certainly；　Hermione；〃　said　Lupin　courteously。
　　〃Well　　Scabbers　　I　mean；　this　　this　man　　he's　been　sleeping　in　Harry's　dormitory　for　three　years。　If　he's　working　for　You…Know…Who；　how　e　he　never　tried　to　hurt　Harry　before　now？〃
　　〃There！〃　said　Pettigrew　shrilly；　pointing　at　Ron　with　his　maimed　hand。　〃Thank　you！　You　see；　Remus？　I　have　never　hurt　a　hair　of　Harry's　head！　Why　should　I？〃
　　〃I'll　tell　you　why；〃　said　Black。　〃Because　you　never　did　anything　for　anyone　unless　you　could　see　what　was　in　it　for　you。　Voldemort's　been　in　hiding　for　fifteen　years；　they　say　he's　half　dead。　You　weren't　about　to　mit　murder　right　under　Albus　Dumbledore's　nose；　for　a　wreck　of　a　wizard　who'd　lost　all　of　his　power；　were　you？　You'd　want　to　be　quite　sure　he　was　the　biggest　bully　in　the　playground　before　you　went　back　to　him；　wouldn't　you？　Why　else　did　you　find　a　wizard　family　to　take　you　in？　Keeping　an　ear　out　for　news；　weren't　YOU；　Peter？　Just　in　case　your　old　protector　regained　strength；　and　it　was　safe　to　rejoin　him。。。。〃
　　Pettigrew　opened　his　mouth　and　closed　it　several　times。　He　seemed　to　have　lost　the　ability　to　talk。
　　〃Er　　Mr。　Black　　Sirius？〃　said　Hermione。
　　Black　jumped　at　being　addressed　like　this　and　stared　at　Hermione　as　though　he　had　never　seen　anything　quite　like　her。
　　〃If　you　don't　mind　me　asking；　how　　how　did　you　get　out　of　Azkaban；　if　you　didn't　use　Dark　Magic？〃
　　〃Thank　you！〃　gasped　Pettigrew；　nodding　frantically　at　her。　〃Exactly！　Precisely　what　I　〃
　　But　Lupin　silenced　him　with　a　look。　Black　was　frowning　slightly　at　Hermione；　but　not　as　though　he　were　annoyed　with　her。　He　seemed　to　be　pondering　his　answer。
　　〃I　don't　know　how　I　did　it；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃I　think　the　only　reason　I　never　lost　my　mind　is　that　I　knew　I　was　innocent。　That　wasn't　a　happy　thought；　so　the　dementors　couldn't　suck　it　out　of　me。。。　but　it　kept　me　sane　and　knowing　who　I　am。。。　helped　me　keep　my　powers。。。　so　when　it　all　became　。。。　too　much。。。　I　could　transform　in　my　cell。。。　bee　a　dog。　Dementors　can't　see；　you　know。。。。〃　He　swallowed。　〃They　feel　their　way　toward　people　by　feeding　off　their　emotions。。。。　They　could　tell　that　my　feelings　were　less　　less　human；　less　plex　when　I　was　a　dog。。。　but　they　thought；　of　course；　that　I　was　losing　my　mind　like　everyone　else　in　there；　so　it　didn't　trouble　them。　But　I　was　weak；　very　weak；　and　I　had　no　hope　of　driving　them　away　from　me　without　a　wand。。。。〃
　　〃But　then　I　saw　Peter　in　that　picture。。。　I　realized　he　was　at　Hogwarts　with　Harry。。。　perfectly　positioned　to　act；　if　one　hint　reached　his　ears　that　the　Dark　Side　was　gathering　strength　again。。。。〃
　　Pettigrew　was　shaking　his　head；　mouthing　noiselessly；　but　staring　all　the　while　at　Black　as　though　hypnotized。
　　〃。。。　ready　to　strike　at　the　moment　he　could　be　sure　of　allies。。。　and　to　deliver　the　last　Potter　to　them。　if　he　gave　them　Harry；　who'd　dare　say　he'd　betrayed　Lord　Voldemort？　He'd　be　weled　back　with　honors。。。。
　　〃So　you　see；　I　had　to　do　something。　I　was　the　only　one　who　knew　Peter　was　still　alive。。。。〃
　　Harry　remembered　what　Mr。　Weasley　had　told　Mrs。　Wealsey。　〃The　guards　say　he's　been　talking　in　his　sleep。。。　always　the　same　words。。。　'He's　at　Hogwarts。'〃
　　〃It　was　as　if　someone　had　lit　a　fire　In　my　head；　and　the　dementors　couldn't　destroy　it。。。。　It　wasn't　a　happy　feeling。。。　it　was　an　obsession。。。　but　it　gave　me　strength；　it　cleared　my　mind。　So；　one　night　when　they　opened　my　door　to　bring　food；　I　slipped　past　them