3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第56部分

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　　〃Now；　pay　attention；〃　said　Dumbledore；　speaking　very　low；　and　very　clearly。　〃Sirius　is　locked　in　Professor　Flitwick's　office　on　the　seventh　floor。　Thirteenth　window　from　the　right　of　the　West　Tower。　If　all　goes　well；　you　will　be　able　to　save　more　than　one　innocent　life　tonight。　But　remember　this；　both　of　you：　you　must　not　be　seen。　Miss　Granger；　you　know　the　law　　you　know　what　is　at　stake。。。。　You　　must　　not　　be　　seen。〃
　　Harry　didn't　have　a　clue　what　was　going　on。　Dumbledore　had　turned　on　his　heel　and　looked　back　as　he　reached　the　door。
　　〃I　am　going　to　lock　you　in。　It　is　〃　he　consulted　his　watch；　〃five　minutes　to　midnight。　Miss　Granger；　three　turns　should　do　it。　Good　luck。〃
　　〃Good　luck？〃　Harry　repeated　as　the　door　closed　behind　Dumbledore。　〃Three　turns？　What's　he　talking　about？　What　are　we　supposed　to　do？〃
　　But　Hermione　was　fumbling　with　the　neck　of　her　robes；　pulling　from　beneath　them　a　very　long；　very　fine　gold　chain。
　　〃Harry；　e　here；〃　she　said　urgently。　〃Quick！〃
　　Harry　moved　toward　her；　pletely　bewildered。　She　was　holding　the　chain　out。　He　saw　a　tiny；　sparkling　hourglass　hanging　from　it。
　　〃Here　〃
　　She　had　thrown　the　chain　around　his　neck　too。
　　〃Ready？〃　she　said　breathlessly。
　　〃What　are　we　doing？〃　Harry　said；　pletely　lost。
　　Hermione　turned　the　hourglass　over　three　times。
　　The　dark　ward　dissolved。　Harry　had　the　sensation　that　he　was　flying　very　fast；　backward。　A　blur　of　colors　and　shapes　rushed　past　him；　his　ears　were　pounding；　he　tried　to　yell　but　couldn't　hear　his　own　voice　
　　And　then　he　felt　solid　ground　beneath　his　feet；　and　everything　came　into　focus　again　
　　He　was　standing　next　to　Hermione　in　the　deserted　entrance　hall　and　a　stream　of　golden　sunlight　was　falling　across　the　paved　floor　from　the　open　front　doors。　He　looked　wildly　around　at　Hermione；　the　chain　of　the　hourglass　cutting　into　his　neck。
　　〃Hermione；　what　？〃
　　〃In　here！〃　Hermione　seized　Harry's　arm　and　dragged　him　across　the　hall　to　the　door　of　a　broom　closet；　she　opened　it；　pushed　him　inside　among　the　buckets　and　mops；　then　slammed　the　door　behind　them。
　　〃What　　how　　Hermione；　what　happened？〃
　　〃We've　gone　back　in　time；〃　Hermione　whispered；　lifting　the　chain　off　Harry's　neck　in　the　darkness。　〃Three　hours　back。。。〃
　　Harry　found　his　own　leg　and　gave　it　a　very　hard　pinch。　It　hurt　a　lot；　which　seemed　to　rule　out　the　possibility　that　he　was　having　a　very　bizarre　dream。
　　〃But　〃
　　〃Shh！　Listen！　Someone's　ing！　I　think　　I　think　it　might　be　us！〃　Hermione　had　her　ear　pressed　against　the　cupboard　door。
　　〃Footsteps　across　the　hall。。。　yes；　I　think　it's　us　going　down　to　Hagrid's！〃
　　〃Are　you　telling　me；〃　Harry　whispered；　〃that　we're　here　in　this　cupboard　and　we're　out　there　too？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Hermione；　her　ear　still　glued　to　the　cupboard　door。　〃I'm　sure　it's　us。　It　doesn't　sound　like　more　than　three　people。。。　and　we're　walking　slowly　because　we're　under　the　Invisibility　Cloak　　〃
　　She　broke　off；　still　listening　intently。
　　〃We've　gone　down　the　front　steps。。。。〃
　　Hermione　sat　down　on　an　upturned　bucket；　looking　desperately　anxious；　but　Harry　wanted　a　few　questions　answered。
　　〃Where　did　you　get　that　hourglass　thing？〃
　　〃It's　called　a　Time…Turner；〃　Hermione　whispered；　〃and　I　got　it　from　Professor　McGonagall　on　our　first　day　back。　I've　been　using　it　all　year　to　get　to　all　my　lessons。　Professor　McGonagall　made　me　swear　I　wouldn't　tell　anyone。　She　had　to　write　all　sorts　of　letters　to　the　Ministry　of　Magic　so　I　could　have　one。　She　had　to　tell　them　that　I　was　a　model　student；　and　that　I'd　never；　ever　use　it　for　anything　except　my　studies。。。。　I've　been　turning　it　back　so　I　could　do　hours　over　again；　that's　how　I've　been　doing　several　lessons　at　once；　see？　But。。。
　　〃Harry；　I　don't　understand　what　Dumbledore　wants　us　to　do。　Why　did　he　tell　us　to　go　back　three　hours？　How's　that　going　to　help　Sirius？〃
　　Harry　stared　at　her　shadowy　face。
　　〃There　must　be　something　that　happened　around　now　he　wants　us　to　change；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃What　happened？　We　were　walking　down　to　Hagrid's　three　hours　ago。。。。〃
　　〃This　is　three　hours　ago；　and　we　are　walking　down　to　Hagrid's；〃　said　Hermione。　〃We　just　heard　ourselves　leaving。。。。〃
　　Harry　frowned；　he　felt　as　though　he　were　screwing　up　his　whole　brain　in　concentration。
　　〃Dumbledore　just　said　　just　said　we　could　save　more　than　one　innocent　life。。。。〃　And　then　it　hit　him。　〃Hermione；　we're　going　to　save　Buckbeak！〃
　　〃But　　how　will　that　help　Sirius？〃
　　〃Dumbledore　said　　he　just　told　us　where　the　window　is　　the　window　of　Flitwick's　office！　Where　they've　got　Sirius　locked　up！　We've　got　to　fly　Buckbeak　up　to　the　window　and　rescue　Sirius！　Sirius　can　escape　on　Buckbeak　　they　can　escape　together！〃
　　From　what　Harry　could　see　of　Hermione's　face；　she　looked　terrified。
　　〃If　we　manage　that　without　being　seen；　it'll　be　a　miracle！〃
　　〃Well；　we've　got　to　try；　haven't　we？〃　said　Harry。　He　stood　up　and　pressed　his　ear　against　the　door。　〃Doesn't　sound　like　anyone's　there。。。。　e　on；　let's　go。〃
　　Harry　pushed　open　the　closet　door。　The　entrance　hall　was　deserted。　As　quietly　and　quickly　as　they　could；　they　darted　out　of　the　closet　and　down　the　stone　steps。　The　shadows　were　already　lengthening；　the　tops　of　the　trees　in　the　Forbidden　Forest　gilded　once　more　with　gold。
　　〃If　anyone's　looking　out　of　the　window　〃　Hermione　squeaked；　looking　up　at　the　castle　behind　them。
　　〃We'll　run　for　it；〃　said　Harry　determinedly。　〃Straight　into　the　forest；　all　right？　We'll　have　to　hide　behind　a　tree　or　something　and　keep　a　lookout　〃
　　〃Okay；　but　we'll　go　around　by　the　greenhouses！〃　said　Hermione　breathlessly。　〃We　need　to　keep　out　of　sight　of　Hagrid's　front　door；　or　we'll　see　us！　We　must　be　nearly　at　Hagrid's　by　now！〃
　　Still　working　out　what　she　meant；　Harry　set　off　at　a　sprint；　Hermione　behind　him。　They　tore　across　the　vegetable　gardens　to　the　greenhouses；　paused　for　a　moment　behind　them；　then　set　off　again；　fast　as　they　could；　skirting　around　the　Whomping　Willow；　tearing　toward　the　shelter　of　the　forest。。。。
　　Safe　in　the　shadows　of　the　trees；　Harry　turned　around；　seconds　later；　Hermione　arrived　beside　him；　panting。
　　〃Right；〃　she　gasped。　〃We　need　to　sneak　over　to　Hagrid's。。。。　Keep　out　of　sight；　Harry。。。。〃
　　They　made　their　way　silently　through　the　trees；　keeping　to　the　very　edge　of　the　forest。　Then；　as　they　glimpsed　the　front　of　Hagrid's　house；　they　heard　a　knock　upon　his　door。　They　moved　quickly　behind　a　wide　oak　trunk　and　peered　out　from　either　side。　Hagrid　had　appeared　in　his　doorway；　shaking　and　white；　looking　around　to　see　who　had　knocked。　And　Harry　heard　his　own　voice。
　　〃It's　us。　We're　wearing　the　Invisibility　Cloak。　Let　us　in　and　we　can　take　it　off。〃
　　〃Yeh　shouldn've　e！〃　Hagrid　whispered。　He　stood　back；　then　shut　the　door　quickly。
　　〃This　is　the　weirdest　thing　we've　ever　done；〃　Harry　said　fervently。
　　〃Let's　move　along　a　bit；〃　Hermione　whispered。　〃We　need　to　get　nearer　to　Buckbeak！〃
　　They　crept　through　the　trees　until　they　saw　the　nervous　hippogriff；　tethered　to　the　fence　around　Hagrid's　pumpkin　patch。
　　〃Now？〃　Harry　whispered。
　　〃No！〃　said　Hermione。　〃If　we　steal　him　now；　those　mittee　people　will　think　Hagrid　set　him　free！　We've　got　to　wait　until　they've　seen　he's　tied　outside！〃
　　〃That's　going　to　give　us　about　sixty　seconds；〃　said　Harry。　This　was　starting　to　seem　impossible。
　　At　that　moment；　there　was　a　crash　of　breaking　china　from　inside　Hagrid's　cabin。
　　〃That's　Hagrid　breaking　the　milk　jug；〃　Hermione　whispered。　〃I'm　going　to　find　Scabbers　in　a　moment　〃
　　Sure　enough；　a　few　minutes　later；　they　heard　Hermione's　shriek　of　surprise。
　　〃Hermione；〃　said　Harry　suddenly；　〃what　if　we　　we　just　run　in　there　and　grab　Pettigrew　〃
　　〃No！〃　said　Hermione　in　a　terrified　whisper。　〃Don't　you　understand？　We're　breaking　one　of　the　most　important　wizarding　laws！　Nobody's　supposed　to　change　time；　nobody！　You　heard　Dumbledore；　if　we're　seen　〃
　　〃We'd　only　be　seen　by　ourselves　and　Hagrid！〃
　　〃Harry；　what　do　you　think　you'd　do　if　you　saw　yourself　bursting　into　Hagrid's　house？〃　said　Hermione。
　　〃I'd　　I'd　think　I'd　gone　mad；〃　said　Harry；　〃or　I'd　think　there　was　some　Dark　Magic　going　on　〃
　　〃Exactly！　You　wouldn't　understand；　you　might　even　attack　yourself！　Don't　you　see？　Professor　McGonagall　told　me　what　awful　things　have　happened　when　wizards　have　meddled　with　time。。。。　Loads　of　them　ended　up　killing　their　past　or　future　selves　by　mistake！〃
　　〃Okay！〃　said　Harry。　〃It　was　just　an　idea；　I　just　thought
　　But　Hermione　nudged　him　and　pointed　toward　the　castle。　Harry　moved　his　head　a　few　inches　to　get　a　clear　view　of　the　distant　front　doors。　Dumbledore；　Fudge；　the　old　mittee　member；　and　Macnair　the　executioner　were　ing　down　the　steps。
　　〃We're　about　to　e　out！〃　Hermione　breathed。
　　And　sure　enough；　moments　later；　Hagrid's　back　door　opened；　and　Harry　saw　himself；　Ron；　and　Hermione　walking　out　of　it　with　Hagrid。　It　was；　without　a　doubt；　the　strangest　sensation　of　his　life；　standing　behind　the　tree；　and　watching　himself　in　the　pumpkin　patch。
　　〃It's　Okay；　Beaky；　it's　okay。。。〃　Hagrid　said　to　Buckbeak。　Then　he　turned　to　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione。　〃Go　on。　Get　goin'。〃
　　〃Hagrid；　we　can't　〃
　　〃We'll　tell　them　what　really　happened
　　〃They　can't　kill　him　〃
　　〃Go！　It's　bad　enough　without　you　lot　in　trouble　an'　all！〃
　　Harry　watched　the　Hermione　in　the　pumpkin　patch　throw　the　Invisibility　Cloak　over　him　and　Ron。
　　〃Go　quick。　Don'　listen。。。。〃
　　There　was　a　knock　on　Hagrid's　front　door。　The　execution　party　had　arrived。　Hagrid　turned；　around　and　headed　back　into　his　cabin；　leaving　the　back　door　ajar。　Harry　watched　the　grass　flatten　in　patches　all　around　the　cabin　and　heard　three　pairs　of　feet　retreating。　He；　Ron；　and　Hermione　had　gone。。。　but　the　Harry　and　Hermione　hidden　in　the　trees　could　now　hear　what　was　happening　inside　the　cabin　through　the　back　door。
　　〃Where　is　the　beast？〃　came　the　cold　voice　of　Macnair。
　　〃Out　　outside；〃　Hagrid　croaked。
　　Harry　pulled　his　head　out　of　sight　as　Macnair's　face　appeared　at　Hagrid's　window；　staring　out　at　Buckbeak。　Then　they　heard　Fudge。
　　〃We　　er　　have　to　read　you　the　official　notice　of　execution；　Hagrid。　I'll　make　it　quick。　And　then　you　and　Macnair　need　to