3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第55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！


　　〃Nasty　cut　you've　got　there。。。。　Black's　work；　I　suppose？〃
　　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　it　was　Potter；　Weasley；　and　Granger；　Minister。。。。〃
　　〃No！〃
　　〃Black　had　bewitched　them；　I　saw　it　immediately。　A　Confundus　Charm；　to　judge　by　their　behavior。　They　seemed　to　think　there　was　a　possibility　he　was　innocent。　They　weren't　responsible　for　their　actions。　On　the　other　hand；　their　interference　might　have　permitted　Black　to　escape。。。。　They　obviously　thought　they　were　going　to　catch　Black　single…handed。　They've　got　away　with　a　great　deal　before　now。。。　I'm　afraid　it's　given　them　a　rather　high　opinion　of　themselves。。。　and　of　course　Potter　has　always　been　allowed　an　extraordinary　amount　of　license　by　the　headmaster　〃
　　〃Ah；　well；　Snape。。。　Harry　Potter；　you　know。。。　we've　all　got　a　bit　of　a　blind　spot　where　he's　concerned。〃
　　〃And　yet　　is　it　good　for　him　to　be　given　so　much　special　treatment？　Personally；　I　try　and　treat　him　like　any　other　student。　And　any　other　student　would　be　suspended　　at　the　very　least　　for　leading　his　friends　into　such　danger。　Consider；　Minister　　against　all　school　rules　　after　all　the　precautions　put　in　place　for　his　protection　　out…of…bounds；　at　night；　consorting　with　a　werewolf　and　a　murderer　　and　I　have　reason　to　believe　he　has　been　visiting　Hogsmeade　illegally　too　〃
　　〃Well；　well。。。　we　shall　see；　Snape；　we　shall　see。。。。　The　boy　has　undoubtedly　been　foolish。。。。〃
　　Harry　lay　listening　with　his　eyes　tight　shut。　He　felt　very　groggy。　The　words　he　was　hearing　seemed　to　be　traveling　very　slowly　from　his　ears　to　his　brain；　so　that　it　was　difficult　to　understand。。。。　His　limbs　felt　like　lead；　his　eyelids　too　heavy　to　lift。。。。　He　wanted　to　lie　here；　on　this　fortable　bed；　forever。。。。
　　〃What　amazes　me　most　is　the　behavior　of　the　dementors。。。　you've　really　no　idea　what　made　them　retreat；　Snape？〃
　　〃No；　Minister。。。　by　the　time　I　had　e　'round　they　were　heading　back　to　their　positions　at　the　entrances。。。。〃
　　〃Extraordinary。　And　yet　Black；　and　Harry；　and　the　girl　〃
　　〃All　unconscious　by　the　time　I　reached　them。　I　bound　and　gagged　Black；　naturally；　conjured　stretchers；　and　brought　them　all　straight　back　to　the　castle。〃
　　There　was　a　pause。　Harry's　brain　seemed　to　be　moving　a　little　faster；　and　as　it　did；　a　gnawing　sensation　grew　in　the　pit　of　his　stomach。。。。
　　He　opened　his　eyes。
　　Everything　was　slightly　blurred。　Somebody　had　removed　his　glasses。　He　was　lying　in　the　dark　hospital　wing。　At　the　very　end　of　the　ward；　he　could　make　out　Madam　Pomfrey　with　her　back　to　him；　bending　over　a　bed。　Harry　squinted。　Ron's　red　hair　was　visible　beneath　Madam　Pomfrey's　arm。
　　Harry　moved　his　head　over　on　the　pillow。　In　the　bed　to　his　right　lay　Hermione。　Moonlight　was　falling　across　her　bed。　Her　eyes　were　open　too。　She　looked　petrified；　and　when　she　saw　that　Harry　was　awake；　pressed　a　finger　to　her　lips；　then　pointed　to　the　hospital　wing　door。　It　was　ajar；　and　the　voices　of　Cornelius　Fudge　and　Snape　were　ing　through　it　from　the　corridor　outside。
　　Madam　Pomfrey　now　came　walking　briskly　up　the　dark　ward　to　Harry's　bed。　He　turned　to　took　at　her。　She　was　carrying　the　largest　block　of　chocolate　he　had　ever　seen　in　his　life。　It　looked　like　a　small　boulder。
　　〃Ah；　you're　awake！〃　she　said　briskly。　She　placed　the　chocolate　on　Harry's　bedside　table　and　began　breaking　it　apart　with　a　small　hammer。
　　〃How's　Ron？〃　said　Harry　and　Hermione　together。
　　〃He'll　live；　said　Madam　Pomfrey　grimly。　〃As　for　you　two　you'll　be　staying　here　until　I'm　satisfied　you're　　Potter；　what　do　you　think　you're　doing？〃
　　Harry　was　sitting　up；　putting　his　glasses　back　on；　and　picking　up　his　wand。
　　〃I　need　to　see　the　headmaster；〃　he　said。
　　〃Potter；〃　said　Madam　Pomfrey　soothingly；　〃it's　all　right。　They've　got　Black。　He's　locked　away　upstairs。　The　dementors　will　be　performing　the　kiss　any　moment　now　〃
　　〃WHAT？〃
　　Harry　jumped　up　out　of　bed；　Hermione　had　done　the　same。　But　his　shout　had　been　heard　in　the　corridor　outside；　next　second；　Cornelius　Fudge　and　Snape　had　entered　the　ward。
　　〃Harry；　Harry；　what's　this？〃　said　Fudge；　looking　agitated。　〃You　should　be　in　bed　　has　he　had　any　chocolate？〃　he　asked　Madam　Pomfrey　anxiously。
　　〃Minister；　listen！〃　Harry　said。　〃Sirius　Black's　innocent！　Peter　Pettigrew　faked　his　own　death！　We　saw　him　tonight！　You　can't　let　the　dementors　do　that　thing　to　Sirius；　he's　〃
　　But　Fudge　was　shaking　his　head　with　a　small　smile　on　his　face。
　　〃Harry；　Harry；　you're　very　confused；　you've　been　through　a　dreadful　ordeal；　lie　back　down；　now；　we've　got　everything　under　control。。。。〃
　　〃YOU　HAVEN'T！〃　Harry　yelled。　〃YOUVE　GOT　THE　WRONG　MAN！〃
　　〃Minister；　listen；　please；〃　Hermione　said；　she　had　hurried　to　Harry's　side　and　was　gazing　imploringly　into　Fudge's　face。　〃I　saw　him　too。　It　was　Ron's　rat；　he's　an　Animagus；　Pettigrew；　I　mean；　and　〃
　　〃You　see；　Minister？〃　said　Snape。　〃Confunded；　both　of　them。。。。　Black's　done　a　very　good　job　on　them。。。。〃　〃WE'RE　NOT　CONFUNDED！〃　Harry　roared。
　　〃Minister！　Professor！〃　said　Madam　Pomfrey　angrily。　〃I　must　insist　that　you　leave。　Potter　is　my　patient；　and　he　should　not　be　distressed！〃
　　〃I'm　not　distressed；　I'm　trying　to　tell　them　what　happened！〃　Harry　said　furiously。　〃If　they'd　just　listen　〃
　　But　Madam　Pomfrey　suddenly　stuffed　a　large　chunk　of　chocolate　into　Harry's　mouth；　he　choked；　and　she　seized　the　opportunity　to　force　him　back　onto　the　bed。
　　〃Now；　please；　Minister；　these　children　need　care。　Please　leave
　　The　door　opened　again。　It　was　Dumbledore。　Harry　swallowed　his　mouthful　of　chocolate　with　great　difficulty　and　got　up　again。
　　〃Professor　Dumbledore；　Sirius　Black　〃
　　〃For　heaven's　sake！〃　said　Madam　Pomfrey　hysterically。　〃Is　this　a　hospital　wing　or　not？　Headmaster；　I　must　insist　〃
　　〃My　apologies；　Poppy；　but　I　need　a　word　with　Mr。　Potter　and　Miss　Granger；〃　said　Dumbledore　calmly。　〃I　have　just　been　talking　to　Sirius　Black　〃
　　〃I　suppose　he's　told　you　the　same　fairy　tale　he's　planted　in　Potter's　mind？〃　spat　Snape。　〃Something　about　a　rat；　and　Pettigrew　being　alive　〃
　　〃That；　indeed；　is　Black's　story；〃　said　Dumbledore；　surveying　Snape　closely　through　his　half…moon　spectacles。
　　〃And　does　my　evidence　count　for　nothing？〃　snarled　Snape。　〃Peter　Pettigrew　was　not　in　the　Shrieking　Shack；　nor　did　I　see　any　sign　of　him　on　the　grounds。〃
　　〃That　was　because　you　were　knocked　out；　Professor！〃　said　Hermione　earnestly。　〃You　didn't　arrive　in　time　to　hear
　　〃Miss　Granger；　HOLD　YOUR　TONGUE！〃
　　〃Now；　Snape；〃　said　Fudge；　startled；　〃the　young　lady　is　disturbed　in　her　mind；　we　must　make　allowances　〃
　　〃I　would　like　to　speak　to　Harry　and　Hermione　alone；〃　said　Dumbledore　abruptly。　〃Cornelius；　Severus；　Poppy　　please　leave　us。〃
　　〃Headmaster！〃　sputtered　Madam　Pomfrey。　〃They　need　treatment；　they　need　rest　〃
　　〃This　cannot　wait；〃　said　Dumbledore。　〃I　must　insist。〃
　　Madam　Pomfrey　pursed　her　lips　and　strode　away　into　her　office　at　the　end　of　the　ward；　slamming　the　door　behind　her。　Fudge　consulted　the　large　gold　pocket　watch　dangling　from　his　waistcoat。
　　〃The　dementors　should　have　arrived　by　now；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　go　and　meet　them。　Dumbledore；　I'll　see　you　upstairs。〃
　　He　crossed　to　the　door　and　held　it　open　for　Snape；　but　Snape　hadn't　moved。
　　〃You　surely　don't　believe　a　word　of　Black's　story？〃　Snape　whispered；　his　eyes　fixed　on　Dumbledore's　face。
　　〃I　wish　to　speak　to　Harry　and　Hermione　alone；〃　Dumbledore　repeated。
　　Snape　took　a　step　toward　Dumbledore。
　　〃Sirius　Black　showed　he　was　capable　of　murder　at　the　age　of　sixteen；〃　he　breathed。　〃You　haven't　forgotten　that；　Headmaster？　You　haven't　forgotten　that　he　once　tried　to　kill　me？〃
　　〃My　memory　is　as　good　as　it　ever　was；　Severus；〃　said　Dumbledore　quietly。
　　Snape　turned　on　his　heel　and　marched　through　the　door　Fudge　was　still　holding。　It　closed　behind　them；　and　Dumbledore　turned　to　Harry　and　Hermione。　They　both　burst　into　speech　at　the　same　time。
　　〃Professor；　Black's　telling　the　truth　　we　saw　Pettigrew　〃　he　escaped　when　Professor　Lupin　turned　into　a　werewolf　〃
　　〃　he's　a　rat　〃
　　〃　Pettigrew's　front　paw；　I　mean；　finger；　he　cut　it　off　〃
　　〃　Pettigrew　attacked　Ron；　it　wasn't　Sirius　〃
　　But　Dumbledore　held　up　his　hand　to　stem　the　flood　of　explanations。
　　〃It　is　your　turn　to　listen；　and　I　beg　you　will　not　interrupt　me；　because　there　is　very　little　time；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃There　is　not　a　shred　of　proof　to　support　Black's　story；　except　your　word　　and　the　word　of　two　thirteen…year…old　wizards　will　not　convince　anybody。　A　street　full　of　eyewitnesses　swore　they　saw　Sirius　murder　Pettigrew。　I　myself　gave　evidence　to　the　Ministry　that　Sirius　had　been　the　Potters'　Secret…Keeper。〃
　　〃Professor　Lupin　can　tell　you　〃　Harry　said；　unable　to　stop　himself
　　〃Professor　Lupin　is　currently　deep　in　the　forest；　unable　to　tell　anyone　anything。　By　the　time　he　is　human　again；　it　will　be　too　late；　Sirius　will　be　worse　than　dead。　I　might　add　that　werewolves　are　so　mistrusted　by　most　of　our　kind　that　his　support　will　count　for　very　little　　and　the　fact　that　he　and　Sirius　are　old　friends　〃
　　〃But　〃
　　〃Listen　to　me；　Harry。　It　is　too　late；　you　understand　me？　You　must　see　that　Professor　Snape's　version　of　events　is　far　more　convincing　than　yours。〃
　　〃He　hates　Sirius；〃　Hermione　said　desperately。　〃All　because　of　some　stupid　trick　Sirius　played　on　him　〃
　　〃Sirius　has　not　acted　like　an　innocent　man。　The　attack　on　the　Fat　Lady　　entering　Gryffindor　Tower　with　a　knife　　without　Pettigrew；　alive　or　dead；　we　have　no　chance　of　overturning　Sirius's　sentence。〃
　　〃But　you　believe　us。〃
　　〃Yes；　I　do；〃　said　Dumbledore　quietly。　〃But　I　have　no　power　to　make　other　men　see　the　truth；　or　to　overrule　the　Minister　of　Magic。。。。〃
　　Harry　stared　up　into　the　grave　face　and　felt　as　though　the　ground　beneath　him　were　falling　sharply　away。　He　had　grown　used　to　the　idea　that　Dumbledore　could　solve　anything。　He　had　expected　Dumbledore　to　pull　some　amazing　solution　out　of　the　air。　But　no　。。。　their　last　hope　was　gone。
　　〃What　we　need；〃　said　Dumbledore　slowly；　and　his　light　blue　eyes　moved　from　Harry　to　Hermione；　〃is　more　time。〃
　　〃But　〃　Hermione　began。　And　then　her　eyes　became　very　round。　〃OH！〃
　　〃Now；　pay　attention；〃　said　Dumbledore；　speaking　very　low；　and　very　clearly。　〃Sirius　is　locked