3.harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban-第8部分

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　in　which　the　stones　squirt　a　nasty…smelling　liquid　into　the　other　player's　face　when　they　lose　a　point）。　He　was　sorely　tempted；　too；　by　the　perfect；　moving　model　of　the　galaxy　in　a　large　glass　ball；　which　would　have　meant　he　never　had　to　take　another　Astronomy　lesson。　But　the　thing　that　tested　Harry's　resolution　most　appeared　in　his　favorite　shop；　Quality　Quidditch　Supplies；　a　week　after　he'd　arrived　at　the　Leaky　Cauldron。
　　Curious　to　know　what　the　crowd　in　the　shop　was　staring　at；　Harry　edged　his　way　inside　and　squeezed　in　among　the　excited　witches　and　wizards　until　he　glimpsed　a　newly　erected　podium；　on　which　was　mounted　the　most　magnificent　broom　he　had　ever　seen　in　his　life。
　　〃Just　e　out　　prototype　〃　a　square…jawed　wizard　was　telling　his　panion。
　　〃It's　the　fastest　broom　in　the　world；　isn't　it；　Dad？〃　squeaked　a　boy　younger　than　Harry；　who　was　swinging　off　his　father's　arm。
　　〃Irish　International　Side's　Just　put　in　an　order　for　seven　of　these　beauties！〃　the　proprietor　of　the　shop　told　the　crowd。　〃And　they're　favorites　for　the　World　Cup！〃
　　A　large　witch　in　front　of　Harry　moved；　and　he　was　able　to　read　the　sign　next　to　the　broom：
　　**　THE　FIREBOLT　**
　　THIS　STATE…OF…THE…ART　PACING　BROOM　SPORTS　A　STREAM…LINED；　SUPERFINE　HANDLE　OF　ASH；　TREATED　WITH　A　DIAMOND…HARD　POLISH　AND　HAND…　NUMBERED　WITH　ITS　OWN　REGISTRATION　NUMBER。　EACH　INDIVIDUALLY　SELECTED　BIRCH　TWIG　IN　THE　BROOMTAIL　HAS　BEEN　HONED　TO　AERODYNAMIC　PERFECTION；　GIVING　THE　FIREBOLT　UNSURPASSABLE　BALANCE　AND　PINPOINT　PRECISION。　THE　FIREBOLT　HAS　AN　ACCELERATION　OF　150　MILES　AN　HOUR　IN　TEN　SECONDS　AND　INCORPORATES　AN　UNBREAKABLE　BRAKING　CHARM。　PRICE　ON　REQUEST。
　　Price　on　request。。。　Harry　didn't　like　to　think　how　much　gold　the　Firebolt　would　cost。　He　had　never　wanted　anything　as　much　in　his　whole　life　　but　he　had　never　lost　a　Quidditch　match　on　his　Nim　bus　Two　Thousand；　and　what　was　the　point　in　emptying　his　Gringotts　vault　for　the　Firebolt；　when　he　had　a　very　good　broom　already？　Harry　didn't　ask　for　the　price；　but　he　returned；　almost　every　day　after　that；　just　to　look　at　the　Firebolt。
　　There　were；　however；　things　that　Harry　needed　to　buy。　He　went　to　the　Apothecary　to　replenish　his　store　of　potions　ingredients；　and　as　his　school　robes　were　now　several　inches　too　short　in　the　arm　and　leg；　he　visited　Madam　Malkin's　Robes　for　All　Occasions　and　bought　new　ones。　Most　important　of　all；　he　had　to　buy　his　new　schoolbooks；　which　would　include　those　for　his　two　new　subjects；　Care　of　Magical　Creatures　and　Divination。
　　Harry　got　a　surprise　as　he　looked　in　at　the　bookshop　window。　Instead　of　the　usual　display　of　gold…　embossed　spellbooks　the　size　of　paving　slabs；　there　was　a　large　iron　cage　behind　the　glass　that　held　about　a　hundred　copies　of　The　Monster　Book　of　Monsters。　Torn　pages　were　flying　everywhere　as　the　books　grappled　with　each　other；　locked　together　in　furious　wrestling　matches　and　snapping　aggressively。
　　Harry　pulled　his　booklist　out　of　his　pocket　and　consulted　it　for　the　first　time。　The　Monster　Book　of　Monsters　was　listed　as　the　required　book　for　Care　of　Magical　Creatures。　Now　Harry　understood　why　Hagrid　had　said　it　would　e　in　useful。　He　felt　relieved；　he　had　been　wondering　whether　Hagrid　wanted　help　with　some　terrifying　new　pet。
　　As　Harry　entered　Flourish　and　Blotts；　the　manager　came　hurrying　toward　him。
　　〃Hogwarts？〃　he　said　abruptly。　〃e　to　get　your　new　books？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Harry；　〃I　need　〃
　　〃Get　out　of　the　way；〃　said　the　manager　impatiently；　brushing　Harry　aside。　He　drew　on　a　pair　of　very　thick　gloves；　picked　up　a　large；　knobbly　walking　stick；　and　proceeded　toward　the　door　of　the　Monster　Books'　cage。
　　〃Hang　on；〃　said　Harry　quickly；　〃I've　already　got　one　of　those。〃
　　〃Have　you？〃　A　look　of　enormous　relief　spread　over　the　manager's　face。　〃Thank　heavens　for　that。　I've　been　bitten　five　times　already　this　morning　〃
　　A　loud　ripping　noise　rent　the　air；　two　of　the　Monster　Books　had　seized　a　third　and　were　pulling　it　apart。
　　〃Stop　it！　Stop　it！〃　cried　the　manager；　poking　the　walking　stick　through　the　bars　and　knocking　the　books　apart。　〃I'm　never　stocking　them　again；　never！　It's　been　bedlam！　I　thought　we'd　seen　the　worst　when　we　bought　two　hundred　copies　of　the　Invisible　Book　of　Invisibility　…cost　a　fortune；　and　we　never　found　them。。。。　Well。。。　is　there　anything　else　I　can　help　you　with？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Harry；　looking　down　his　booklist；　〃I　need　Unfogging　the　Future　by　Cassandra　Vablatsky。〃
　　〃Ah；　starting　Divination；　are　you？〃　said　the　manager；　stripping　off　his　gloves　and　leading　Harry　into　the　back　of　the　shop；　where　there　was　a　corner　devoted　to　fortune…telling。　A　small　table　was　stacked　with　volumes　such　as　Predicting　the　Unpredictable：　Insulate　Yourself　Against　Shocks　and　Broken　Balls：　When　Fortunes　Turn　Foul。
　　〃Here　you　are；；'　said　the　manager；　who　had　climbed　a　set　of　steps　to　take　down　a　thick；　black…　bound　book。　〃Unfogging　the　Future。　Very　good　guide　to　all　your　basic　fortune…telling　methods　…　palmistry；　crystal　balls；　bird　entrails。
　　But　Harry　wasn't　listening。　His　eyes　had　fallen　on　another　book；　which　was　among　a　display　on　a　small　table：　Death　Omens。…　What　to　Do　When　You　Know　the　Worst　Is　ing。
　　〃Oh；　I　wouldn't　read　that　if　I　were　you；〃　said　the　manager　lightly；　looking　to　see　what　Harry　was　staring　at。　〃You'll　start　seeing　death　omens　everywhere。　It's　enough　to　frighten　anyone　to　death。　〃
　　But　Harry　continued　to　stare　at　the　front　cover　of　the　book；　it　showed　a　black　dog　large　as　a　bear；　with　gleaming　eyes。　It　looked　oddly　familiar。。。
　　The　manager　pressed　Unfogging　the　Future　into　Harry's　hands。
　　〃Anything　else？〃　he　said。
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Harry；　tearing　his　eyes　away　from　the　dog's　and　dazedly　consulting　his　booklist。　〃Er　　I　need　Intermediate　Transfiguration　and　The　Standard　Book　of　Spells；　Grade　Three。〃
　　Harry　emerged　from　Flourish　and　Blotts　ten　minutes　later　with　his　new　books　under　his　arms　and　made　his　way　back　to　the　Leaky　Cauldron；　hardly　noticing　where　he　was　going　and　bumping　into　several　people。
　　He　tramped　up　the　stairs　to　his　room；　went　inside；　and　tipped　his　books　onto　his　bed。　Somebody　had　been　in　to　tidy；　the　windows　were　open　and　sun　was　pouring　inside。　Harry　could　hear　the　buses　rolling　by　in　the　unseen　Muggle　street　behind　him　and　the　sound　of　the　invisible　crowd　below　in　Diagon　Alley。　He　caught　sight　of　himself　in　the　mirror　over　the　basin。
　　〃It　can't　have　been　a　death　omen；〃　he　told　his　reflection　defiantly。　〃I　was　panicking　when　I　saw　that　thing　in　Magnolia　Crescent。。。。　It　was　probably　just　a　stray　dog。。。。〃
　　He　raised　his　hand　automatically　and　tried　to　make　his　hair　lie　flat
　　〃You're　fighting　a　losing　battle　there；　dear；〃　said　his　mirror　in　a　vvheezy　voice。
　　As　the　days　slipped　by；　Harry　started　looking　wherever　he　went　for　a　sign　of　Ron　or　Hermione。　Plenty　of　Hogwarts　students　were　arriving　in　Diagon　Alley　now；　with　the　start　of　term　so　near。　Harry　met　Seamus　Finnigan　and　Dean　Thomas；　his　fellow　Gryffindors；　in　Quality　Quidditch　Supplies；　where　they　too　were　ogling　the　Firebolt；　he　also　ran　into　the　real　Neville　Longbottom；　a　round…faced；　forgetful　boy；　outside　Flourish　and　Blotts。　Harry　didn't　stop　to　chat；　Neville　appeared　to　have　mislaid　his　booklist　and　was　being　told　off　by　his　very　formidable…looking　grandmother。　Harry　hoped　she　never　found　out　that　he'd　pretended　to　be　Neville　while　on　the　run　from　the　Ministry　of　Magic。
　　Harry　woke　on　the　last　day　of　the　holidays；　thinking　that　he　would　at　least　meet　Ron　and　Hermione　tomorrow；　on　the　Hogwarts　Express。　He　got　up；　dressed；　went　for　a　last　look　at　the　Firebolt；　and　was　just　wondering　where　he'd　have　lunch；　when　someone　yelled　his　name　and　he　turned。
　　〃Harry！　HARRY！〃
　　They　were　there；　both　of　them；　sitting　outside　Florean　Fortescue's　Ice　Cream　Parlor　　Ron　looking　incredibly　freckly；　Her；；one　very　brown；　both　waving　frantically　at　him。
　　〃Finally！〃　said　Ron；　grinning　at　Harry　as　he　sat　down。　〃We　went　to　the　Leaky　Cauldron；　but　they　said　you'd　left；　and　we　went　to　Flourish　and　Blotts；　and　Madam　Malkin's；　and　〃
　　〃I　got　all　my　school　stuff　last　week；〃　Harry　explained。　〃And　how　e　You　knew　I'm　staying　at　the　Leaky　Cauldron？〃　〃Dad；〃　said　Ron　simply。
　　Mr。　Weasley；　who　worked　at　the　Ministry　of　Magic；　would　of　course　have　heard　the　whole　story　of　what　had　happened　to　Aunt　Marge。
　　〃Did　you　really　blow　up　your　aunt；　Harry？〃　said　Hermione　in　a　very　serious　voice。
　　〃I　didn't　mean　to；〃　said　Harry；　while　Ron　roared　with　laughter。　〃I　just　　lost　control。〃
　　〃It's　not　funny；　Ron；〃　said　Hermione　sharply。　〃Honestly；　I'm　amazed　Harry　wasn't　expelled。〃
　　〃So　am　I；〃　admitted　Harry。　〃Forget　expelled；　I　thought　I　was　going　to　be　arrested。〃　He　looked　at　Ron。　〃Your　dad　doesn't　know　why　Fudge　let　me　off；　does　he？〃
　　〃Probably　'cause　it's　you；　isn't　it？〃　shrugged　Ron；　still　chuckling。　〃Famous　Harry　Potter　and　all　that。　I'd　hate　to　see　what　the　Ministry'd　do　to　me　if　I　blew　up　an　aunt。　Mind　you；　they'd　have　to　dig　me　up　first；　because　Mum　would've　killed　me。　Anyway；　you　can　ask　Dad　yourself　this　evening。　We're　staying　at　the　Leaky　Cauldron　tonight　too！　So　you　can　e　to　King's　Cross　with　us　tomorrow！　Hermione's　there　as　well！〃
　　Hermione　nodded；　beaming。　〃Mum　and　Dad　dropped　me　off　this　morning　with　all　my　Hogwarts　things。〃
　　〃Excellent！〃　said　Harry　happily。　〃So；　have　you　got　all　your　new　books　and　stuff？〃
　　〃Look　at　this；〃　said　Ron；　pulling　a　long　thin　box　out　of　a　bag　and　opening　it。　〃Brand…new　wand。　Fourteen　inches；　willow；　containing　one　unicorn　tail…hair。　And　we've　got　all　our　books　〃　He　pointed　at　a　large　bag　under　his　chair。　〃What　about　those　Monster　Books；　eh？　The　assistant　nearly　cried　when　we　said　we　wanted　two。〃
　　〃What's　all　that；　Hermione？〃　Harry　asked；　pointing　at　not　one　but　three　bulging　bags　in　the　chair　next　to　her。
　　；；Well；　I'm　taking　more　new　subjects　than　you；　aren't　IF'　said　Hermione。　〃Those　are　my　books　for　Arithmancy；　Care　of　Magical　Creatures；　Divination；　the　Study　of　Ancient　Runes；　Muggle　Studies　〃
　　〃What　are　you　doing　Muggle　Studies　for？〃　said　Ron；　rolling　his　eyes　at　Harry。　〃You're　Muggle…　born！　Your　mum　and　dad　are　Muggles！　You　already　know　all　about　Muggles！〃
　　〃But　it'll　be　fascinating　to　study　them　from　the　wizarding　point　of　view；