3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第7部分

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　　〃Perhaps　a　pot　of　tea；〃　said　Fudge；　who　still　hadn't　let　go　of　Harry。
　　There　was　a　loud　scraping　and　puffing　from　behind　them；　and　Stan　and　Ern　appeared；　carrying　Harry's　trunk　and　Hedwig's　cage　and　looking　around　excitedly。
　　〃'Ow　e　you　di'n't　tell　us　'oo　you　are；　eh；　Neville？〃　said　Stan；　beaming　at　Harry；　while　Ernie's　owlish　face　peered　interestedly　over　Stan's　shoulder。
　　〃And　a　private　parlor；　please；　Tom；〃　said　Fudge　pointedly。
　　‘Bye；〃　Harry　said　miserably　to　Stan　and　Ern　as　Tom　beckoned　Fudge　toward　the　passage　that　led　from　the　bar。
　　〃'Bye；　Neville！〃　called　Stan。
　　Fudge　marched　Harry　along　the　narrow　passage　after　Tom's　lantern；　and　then　into　a　small　parlor。　Tom　clicked　his　fingers；　a　fire　burst　into　life　in　the　grate；　and　he　bowed　himself　out　of　the　room。
　　〃Sit　down；　Harry；〃　said　Fudge；　indicating　a　chair　by　the　fire。
　　Harry　sat　down；　feeling　goose　bumps　rising　up　his　arms　despite　the　glow　of　the　fire。　Fudge　took　off　his　pinstriped　cloak　and　tossed　it　aside；　then　hitched　up　the　trousers　of　his　bottle…green　suit　and　sat　down　opposite　Harry。
　　〃I　am　Cornelius　Fudge；　Harry。　The　Minister　of　Magic。〃
　　Harry　already　knew　this；　of　course；　he　had　seen　Fudge　once　before；　but　as　he　had　been　wearing　his　father's　Invisibility　Cloak　at　the　time；　Fudge　wasn't　to　know　that。
　　Tom　the　innkeeper　reappeared；　wearing　an　apron　over　his　nightshirt　and　bearing　a　tray　of　tea　and　crumpets。　He　placed　the　tray　on　a　table　between　Fudge　and　Harry　and　left　the　parlor；　closing　the　door　behind　him。
　　〃Well；　Harry；〃　said　Fudge；　pouring　out　tea；　〃you've　had　us　all　in　a　right　flap；　I　don't　mind　telling　you。　Running　away　from　your　aunt　and　uncle's　house　like　that！　I'd　started　to　think。。。　but　you're　safe；　and　that's　what　matters。〃
　　Fudge　buttered　himself　a　crumpet　and　pushed　the　plate　toward　Harry。
　　〃Eat；　Harry；　you　look　dead　on　your　feet。　Now　then。。。　You　will　be　pleased　to　hear　that　we　have　dealt　with　the　unfortunate　blowing…up　of　Miss　Marjorie　Dursley。　Two　members　of　the　Accidental　Magic　Reversal　Department　were　dispatched　to　Privet　Drive　a　few　hours　ago。　Miss　Dursley　has　been　punctured　and　her　memory　has　been　modified。　She　has　no　recollection　of　the　incident　at　all。　So　that's　that；　and　no　harm　done。〃
　　Fudge　smiled　at　Harry　over　the　rim　of　his　teacup；　rather　like　an　uncle　surveying　a　favorite　nephew。　Harry；　who　couldn't　believe　his　ears；　opened　his　mouth　to　speak；　couldn't　think　of　anything　to　say；　and　closed　it　again。
　　〃Ah；　you're　worrying　about　the　reaction　of　your　aunt　and　uncle？〃　said　Fudge。　〃Well；　I　won't　deny　that　they　are　extremely　angry；　Harry；　but　they　are　prepared　to　take　you　back　next　summer　as　long　as　you　stay　at　Hogwarts　for　the　Christmas　and　Easter　holidays。〃
　　Harry　unstuck　his　throat。
　　〃I　always　stay　at　Hogwarts　for　the　Christmas　and　Easter　holidays；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　don't　ever　want　to　go　back　to　Privet　Drive。〃
　　〃Now；　now；　I'm　sure　you'll　feel　differently　once　you've　calmed　down；〃　said　Fudge　in　a　worried　tone。　〃They　are　your　family；　after　all；　and　I'm　sure　you　are　fond　of　each　other　　er　　very　deep　down。〃
　　It　didn't　occur　to　Harry　to　put　Fudge　right。　He　was　still　waiting　to　hear　what　was　going　to　happen　to　him　now。
　　〃So　all　that　remains；〃　said　Fudge；　now　buttering　himself　a　second　crumpet；　〃is　to　decide　where　you're　going　to　spend　the　last　two　weeks　of　your　vacation。　I　suggest　you　take　a　room　here　at　the　Leaky　Cauldron　and
　　〃Hang　on；〃　blurted　Harry。　〃What　about　my　punishment？〃
　　Fudge　blinked。　〃Punishment？〃
　　〃I　broke　the　law！〃　Harry　said。　〃The　Decree　for　the　Restriction　of　Underage　Wizardry！〃
　　〃Oh；　my　dear　boy；　we're　not　going　to　punish　you　for　a　little　thing　like　that！〃　cried　Fudge；　waving　his　crumpet　impatiently。　〃It　was　an　accident！　We　don't　send　people　to　Azkaban　just　for　blowing　up　their　aunts！〃
　　But　this　didn't　tally　at　all　with　Harry's　past　dealings　with　the　Ministry　of　Magic。
　　〃Last　year；　I　got　an　official　warning　just　because　a　house…elf　smashed　a　pudding　in　my　uncle's　house！〃　he　told　Fudge；　frowning。　〃The　Ministry　of　Magic　said　I'd　be　expelled　from　Hogwarts　if　there　was　any　more　magic　there！〃
　　Unless　Harry's　eyes　were　deceiving　him；　Fudge　was　suddenly　looking　awkward。
　　〃Circumstances　change；　Harry。。。　We　have　to　take　into　account。。。　in　the　present　climate。。。　Surely　you　don't　want　to　be　expelled？〃
　　〃Of　course　I　don't；〃　said　Harry。
　　〃Well　then；　what's　A　the　fuss　about？〃　laughed　Fudge。　〃Now；　have　a　crumpet；　Harry；　while　I　go　and　see　if　Tom's　got　a　room　for　you。〃
　　Fudge　strode　out　of　the　parlor　and　Harry　stared　after　him。　There　was　something　extremely　odd　going　on。　Why　had　Fudge　been　waiting　for　him　at　the　Leaky　Cauldron；　if　not　to　punish　him　for　what　he'd　done？　And　now　Harry　came　to　think　of　it；　surely　it　wasn't　usual　for　the　Minister　of　Magic　himself　to　get　involved　in　matters　of　underage　magic？
　　Fudge　came　back；　acpanied　by　Tom　the　innkeeper。
　　〃Room　eleven's　free；　Harry；〃　said　Fudge。　〃I　think　you'll　be　very　fortable。　just　one　thing；　and　I'm　sure　you'll　understand。。。　I　don't　want　you　wandering　off　into　Muggle　London；　all　right？　Keep　to　Diagon　Alley。　And　you're　to　be　back　here　before　dark　each　night。　Sure　you'll　understand。　Tom　will　be　keeping　an　eye　on　you　for　me。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Harry　slowly；　〃but　why？〃
　　〃Don't　want　to　lose　you　again；　do　we？〃　said　Fudge　with　a　hearty　laugh。　〃No；　no。。。　best　we　know　where　you　are。。。。　I　mean。。。〃
　　Fudge　cleared　his　throat　loudly　and　picked　up　his　pinstriped　cloak。
　　〃Well；　I'll　be　off；　plenty　to　do；　you　know。。。
　　〃Have　you　had　any　luck　with　Black　yet？〃　Harry　asked。
　　Fudge's　finger　slipped　on　the　silver　fastenings　of　his　cloak。
　　〃What's　that？　Oh；　you've　heard　　well；　no；　not　yet；　but　it's　only　a　matter　of　time。　The　Azkaban　guards　have　never　yet　failed。。。　and　they　are　angrier　than　I've　ever　seen　them。〃
　　Fudge　shuddered　slightly。
　　〃So；　I'll　say　good…bye。〃
　　He　held　out　his　hand　and　Harry；　shaking　it；　had　a　sudden　idea。
　　〃Er　　Minister？　Can　I　ask　you　something？〃
　　〃Certainly；〃　said　Fudge　with　a　smile。
　　〃Well；　third　years　at　Hogwarts　are　allowed　to　visit　Hogsmeade；　but　my　aunt　and　uncle　didn't　sign　the　permission　form。　D'you　think　you　could　？〃
　　Fudge　was　looking　unfortable。
　　〃Ah；〃　he　said。　〃No；　no；　I'm　very　sorry；　Harry；　but　as　I'm　not　your　parent　or　guardian　〃
　　〃But　you　I　re　the　Minister　of　Magic；〃　said　Harry　eagerly。　〃If　you　gave　me　permission
　　〃No；　I'm　sorry；　Harry；　but　rules　are　rules；〃　said　Fudge　flatly。
　　'Perhaps　You'll　be　able　to　visit　Hogsmeade　next　year。　In　fact；　I　think　it's　best　if　you　don't。。。　yes。。。　well；　I'll　be　off　Enjoy　your　stay；　Harry。〃
　　And　with　a　last　smile　and　shake　of　Harry's　hand；　Fudge　left　the　room。　Tom　now　moved　forward；　beaming　at　Harry。
　　〃If　you'll　follow　me；　Mr。　Potter；〃　he　said；　〃I've　already　taken　your　things　up。。。〃
　　Harry　followed　Tom　up　a　handsome　wooden　staircase　to　a　door　with　a　brass　number　eleven　on　it；　which　Tom　unlocked　and　opened　for　him。
　　Inside　was　a　very　fortable…looking　bed；　some　highly　polished　oak　furniture；　a　cheerfully　crackling　fire　and；　perched　on　top　of　the　wardrobe　…
　　〃Hedwig！〃　Harry　gasped。
　　The　snowy　owl　clicked　her　beak　and　fluttered　down　onto　Harry's　arm。
　　〃Very　smart　owl　you've　got　there；　chuckled　Tom。　〃Arrived　about　five　minutes　after　you　did。　If　there's　anything　you　need；　Mr。　Potter；　don't　hesitate　to　ask。〃
　　He　gave　another　bow　and　left。
　　Harry　sat　on　his　bed　for　a　long　time；　absentmindedly　stroking　Hedwig。　The　sky　outside　the　window　was　changing　rapidly　from　deep；　velvety　blue　to　cold；　steely　gray　and　then；　slowly；　to　pink　shot　with　gold。　Harry　could　hardly　believe　that　he'd　left　Privet　Drive　only　a　few　hours　ago；　that　he　wasn't　expelled；　and　that　he　was　now　facing　two　pletely　Dursley…free　weeks。
　　〃It's　been　a　very　weird　night；　Hedwig；〃　he　yawned。
　　And　without　even　removing　his　glasses；　he　slumped　back　onto　his　pillows　and　fell　asleep。
　　CHAPTER　FOUR
　　THE　LEAKY　CAULDRON
　　It　took　Harry　several　days　to　get　used　to　his　strange　new　freedom。　Never　before　had　he　been　able　to　get　up　whenever　he　wanted　or　eat　whatever　he　fancied。　He　could　even　go　wherever　he　pleased；　as　long　as　it　was　in　Diagon　Alley；　and　as　this　long　cobbled　street　was　packed　with　the　most　fascinating　wizarding　shops　in　the　world；　Harry　felt　no　desire　to　break　his　word　to　Fudge　and　stray　back　into　the　Muggle　world。
　　Harry　ate　breakfast　each　morning　in　the　Leaky　Cauldron；　where　he　liked　watching　the　other　guests：　funny　little　witches　from　the　country；　up　for　a　day's　shopping；　venerable…looking　wizards　arguing　over　the　latest　article　in　Transfiguration　Today；　wild…looking　warlocks；　raucous　dwarfs；　and　once；　what　looked　suspiciously　like　a　hag；　who　ordered　a　plate　of　raw　liver　from　behind　a　thick　woollen　balaclava。
　　After　breakfast　Harry　would　go　out　into　the　backyard；　take　out　his　wand；　tap　the　third　brick　from　the　left　above　the　trash　bit；；　and　stand　back　as　the　archway　into　Diagon　Alley　opened　in　the　wall。
　　Harry　spent　the　long　sunny　days　exploring　the　shops　and　eating　under　the　brightly　colored　umbrellas　outside　cafes；　where　his　fellow　diners　were　showing　one　another　their　purchases　（　〃　it　；　s　a　lunascope；　old　boy　　no　more　messing　around　with　moon　charts；　see？〃）　or　else　discussing　the　case　of　Sirius　Black　（〃personalty；　I　won't　let　any　of　the　children　out　alone　until　he's　back　in　Azkaban〃）。　Harry　didn't　have　to　do　his　homework　under　the　blankets　by　flashlight　anymore；　now　he　could　sit　in　the　bright　sunshine　outside　Florean　Fortescue's　Ice　Cream　Parlor；　finishing　all　his　essays　with　occasional　help　from　Florean　Fortescue　himself；　who；　apart　from　knowing　a　great　deal　about　medieval　witch　burnings；　gave　Harry　free　sundaes　every　half　an　hour。
　　Once　Harry　had　refilled　his　money　bag　with　gold　Galleons；　silver　Sickles；　and　bronze　Knuts　from　his　vault　at　Gringotts；　he　had　to　exercise　a　lot　of　self…control　not　to　spend　the　whole　lot　at　once。　He　had　to　keep　reminding　himself　that　he　had　five　years　to　go　at　Hogwarts；　and　how　it　would　feel　to　ask　the　Dursleys　for　money　for　spellbooks；　to　stop　himself　from　buying　a　handsome　set　of　solid　gold　Gobstones　（a　wizarding　game　rather　like　marbles；　in　which　the　stones　squirt　a　nasty…smelling　liquid　into　the　ot