哈利波特7__哈利波特与死圣英文版-第101部分

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is　distance　this　time；　because　he　knew　what　happened　after　James　had　hoisted　Severus　into　the　air　and　taunted　him；　he　knew　what　had　been　done　and　said；　and　it　gave　him　no　pleasure　to　hear　it　againa133　He　watched　as　Lily　joined　the　group　and　went　to　Snape's　defense。　Distantly　he　heard　Snape　shout　at　her　in　his　humiliation　and　his　fury；　the　unforgivable　word：　〃iMudblood。i〃
The　scene　changeda133
〃I'm　sorry。〃
〃I'm　not　interested。〃
〃I'm　sorry！〃
〃Save　your　breath〃
It　was　nighttime。　Lily；　who　was　wearing　a　dressing　gown；　stood　with　her　arms　folded　in　front　of　the　portrait　of　the　Fat　Lady；　at　the　entrance　to　Gryffindor　Tower。
〃I　only　came　out　because　Mary　told　me　you　were　threatening　to　sleep　here。〃
〃I　was。　I　would　have　done。　I　never　meant　to　call　you　Mudblood；　it　just　…　〃
〃Slipped　out？〃　There　was　no　pity　in　Lily's　voice。　〃It's　too　late。　I've　made　excuses　for　you　for　years。　None　of　my　friends　can　understand　why　I　even　talk　to　you。　You　and　your　precious　little　Death　Eater　friends　…　you　see；　you　don't　even　deny　it！　You　don't　even　deny　that's　what　you're　all　aiming　to　be！　You　can't　wait　to　join　You…Know…Who；　can　you？〃
He　opened　his　mouth；　but　closed　it　without　speaking。
〃I　can't　pretend　anymore。　You've　chosen　your　way；　I've　chosen　mine。〃
〃No　…　listen；　I　didn't　mean　…　〃
〃　…　to　call　me　Mudblood？　But　you　call　everyone　of　my　birth　Mudblood；　Severus。　Why　should　I　be　any　different？〃
He　struggled　on　the　verge　of　speech；　but　with　a　contemptuous　look　she　turned　and　climbed　back　through　the　portrait　holea133
The　corridor　dissolved；　and　the　scene　took　a　little　longer　to　reform：　Harry　seemed　to　fly　through　shifting　shapes　and　colors　until　his　surroundings　solidified　again　and　he　stood　on　a　hilltop；　forlorn　and　cold　in　the　darkness；　the　wind　whistling　through　the　branches　of　a　few　leafless　trees。　The　adult　Snape　was　panting；　turning　on　the　spot；　his　wand　gripped　tightly　in　his　hand；　waiting　for　something　or　for　someonea133　His　fear　infected　Harry　too；　even　though　he　knew　that　he　could　not　be　harmed；　and　he　looked　over　his　shoulder；　wondering　what　it　was　that　Snape　was　waiting　for　…
Then　a　blinding；　jagged　jet　of　white　light　flew　through　the　air。　Harry　thought　of　lightning；　but　Snape　had　dropped　to　his　knees　and　his　wand　had　flown　out　of　his　hand。
〃Don't　kill　me！〃
〃That　was　not　my　intention。〃
Any　sound　of　Dumbledore　Apparating　had　been　drowned　by　the　sound　of　the　wind　in　the　branches。　He　stood　before　Snape　with　his　robes　whipping　around　him；　and　his　face　was　illuminated　from　below　in　the　light　cast　by　his　wand。
〃Well；　Severus？　What　message　does　Lord　Voldemort　have　for　me？〃
〃No　…　no　message　…　I'm　here　on　my　own　account！〃
Snape　was　wringing　his　hands。　He　looked　a　little　mad；　with　his　straggling　black　hair　flying　around　him。
〃I　…　I　come　with　a　warning　…　no；　a　request　…　please　…　〃
Dumbledore　flicked　his　wand。　Though　leaves　and　branches　still　flew　through　the　night　air　around　them；　silence　fell　on　the　spot　where　he　and　Snape　faced　each　other。
〃What　request　could　a　Death　Eater　make　of　me？〃
〃The　…　the　prophecya133the　predictiona133Trelawneya133〃
〃Ah；　yes；〃　said　Dumbledore。　〃How　much　did　you　relay　to　Lord　Voldemort？〃
〃Everything　…　everything　I　heard！〃　said　Snape。　〃That　is　why　…　it　is　for　that　reason　…　he　thinks　it　means　Lily　Evans！〃
〃The　prophecy　did　not　refer　to　a　woman；〃　said　Dumbledore。　〃It　spoke　of　a　boy　born　at　the　end　of　July　…　〃
〃You　know　what　I　mean！　He　thinks　it　means　her　son；　he　is　going　to　hunt　her　down　…　kill　them　all　…　〃
〃If　she　means　so　much　to　you；〃　said　Dumbledore；　〃surely　Lord　Voldemort　will　spare　her？　Could　you　not　ask　for　mercy　for　the　mother；　in　exchange　for　the　son？〃
〃I　have　…　I　have　asked　him　…　〃
〃You　disgust　me；〃　said　Dumbledore；　and　Harry　had　never　heard　so　much　contempt　in　his　voice。　Snape　seemed　to　shrink　a　little；　〃You　do　not　care；　then；　about　the　deaths　of　her　husband　and　child？　They　can　die；　as　long　as　you　have　what　you　want？〃
Snape　said　nothing；　but　merely　looked　up　at　Dumbledore。
〃Hide　them　all；　then；〃　he　croaked。　〃Keep　her　…　them　…　safe。　Please。〃
〃And　what　will　you　give　me　in　return；　Severus？〃
〃In　…　in　return？〃　Snape　gaped　at　Dumbledore；　and　Harry　expected　him　to　protest；　but　after　a　long　moment　he　said；　〃Anything。〃
The　hilltop　faded；　and　Harry　stood　in　Dumbledore's　office；　and　something　was　making　a　terrible　sound；　like　a　wounded　animal。　Snape　was　slumped　forward　in　a　chair　and　Dumbledore　was　standing　over　him；　looking　grim。　After　a　moment　or　two；　Snape　raised　his　face；　and　he　looked　like　a　man　who　had　lived　a　hundred　years　of　misery　since　leaving　the　wild　hilltop。
〃I　thoughta133you　were　goinga133to　keep　hera133safea133〃
〃She　and　James　put　their　faith　in　the　wrong　person；〃　said　Dumbledore。　〃Rather　like　you；　Severus。　Weren't　you　hoping　that　Lord　Voldemort　would　spare　her？〃
Snape's　breathing　was　shallow。
〃Her　boy　survives；〃　said　Dumbledore。
With　a　tiny　jerk　of　the　head；　Snape　seemed　to　flick　off　an　irksome　fly。
〃Her　son　lives。　He　has　her　eyes；　precisely　her　eyes。　You　remember　the　shape　and　color　of　Lily　Evans's　eyes；　I　am　sure？〃
〃DON'T！〃　bellowed　Snape。　〃Gonea133deada133〃
〃Is　this　remorse；　Severus？〃
〃I　wisha133I　wish　iIi　were　deada133〃
〃And　what　use　would　that　be　to　anyone？〃　said　Dumbledore　coldly。　〃If　you　loved　Lily　Evans；　if　you　truly　loved　her；　then　your　way　forward　is　clear。〃
Snape　seemed　to　peer　through　a　haze　of　pain；　and　Dumbledore's　words　appeared　to　take　a　long　time　to　reach　him。
〃What　…　what　do　you　mean？〃
〃You　know　how　and　why　she　died。　Make　sure　it　was　not　in　vain。　Help　me　protect　Lily's　son。〃
〃He　does　not　need　protection。　The　Dark　Lord　has　gone　…　〃
〃The　Dark　Lord　will　return；　and　Harry　Potter　will　be　in　terrible　danger　when　he　does。〃
There　was　a　long　pause；　and　slowly　Snape　regained　control　of　himself；　mastered　his　own　breathing。　At　last　he　said；　〃Very　well。　Very　well。　But　never　…　never　tell；　Dumbledore！　This　must　be　between　us！　Swear　it！　I　cannot　beara133especially　Potter's　sona133I　want　your　word！〃
〃My　word；　Severus；　that　I　shall　never　reveal　the　best　of　you？〃　Dumbledore　sighed；　looking　down　into　Snape's　ferocious；　anguished　face。　〃If　you　insista133〃
The　office　dissolved　but　re…formed　instantly。　Snape　was　pacing　up　and　down　in　front　of　Dumbledore。
〃　…　mediocre；　arrogant　as　his　father；　a　determined　rule…breaker；　delighted　to　find　himself　famous；　attention…seeking　and　impertinent　…　〃
〃You　see　what　you　expect　to　see；　Severus；〃　said　Dumbledore；　without　raising　his　eyes　from　a　copy　of　iTransfiguration　Todayi。　〃Other　teachers　report　that　the　boy　is　modest；　likable；　and　reasonably　talented。　Personally；　I　find　him　an　engaging　child。〃
Dumbledore　turned　a　page；　and　said；　without　looking　up；　〃Keep　an　eye　on　Quirrell；　won't　you？〃
A　whirl　of　color；　and　now　everything　darkened；　and　Snape　and　Dumbledore　stood　a　little　apart　in　the　entrance　hall；　while　the　last　stragglers　from　the　Yule　Ball　passed　them　on　their　way　to　bed。
〃Well？〃　murmured　Dumbledore。
〃Karkaroff's　Mark　is　becoming　darker　too。　He　is　panicking；　he　fears　retribution；　you　know　how　much　help　he　gave　the　Ministry　after　the　Dark　Lord　fell。〃　Snape　looked　sideways　at　Dumbledore's　crooked…nosed　profile。　〃Karkaroff　intends　to　flee　if　the　Mark　burns。〃
〃Does　he？〃　said　Dumbledore　softly；　as　Fleur　Delacour　and　Roger　Davies　came　giggling　in　from　the　grounds。　〃And　are　you　tempted　to　join　him？〃
〃No；〃　said　Snape；　his　black　eyes　on　Fleur's　and　Roger's　retreating　figures。　〃I　am　not　such　a　coward。〃
〃No；〃　agreed　Dumbledore。　〃You　are　a　braver　man　by　far　than　Igor　Karkaroff。　You　know；　I　sometimes　think　we　Sort　too　soona133〃
He　walked　away；　leaving　Snape　looking　strickena133
And　now　Harry　stood　in　the　headmaster's　office　yet　again。　It　was　nighttime；　and　Dumbledore　sagged　sideways　in　the　thronelike　chair　behind　the　desk；　apparently　semiconscious。　His　right　hand　dangled　over　the　side；　blackened　and　burned。　Snape　was　muttering　incantations；　pointing　his　wand　at　the　wrist　of　the　hand；　while　with　his　left　hand　he　tipped　a　goblet　full　of　thick　golden　potion　down　Dumbledore's　throat。　After　a　moment　or　two；　Dumbledore's　eyelids　fluttered　and　opened。
〃Why；〃　said　Snape；　without　preamble；　〃iwhyi　did　you　put　on　that　ring？　It　carries　a　curse；　surely　you　realized　that。　Why　even　touch　it？〃
Marvolo　Gaunt's　ring　lay　on　the　desk　before　Dumbledore。　It　was　cracked；　the　sword　of　Gryffindor　lay　beside　it。
Dumbledore　grimaced。
〃Ia133was　a　fool。　Sorely　tempteda133〃
〃Tempted　by　what？〃
Dumbledore　did　not　answer。
〃It　is　a　miracle　you　managed　to　return　here！〃　Snape　sounded　furious。　〃That　ring　carried　a　curse　of　extraordinary　power；　to　contain　it　is　all　we　can　hope　for；　I　have　trapped　the　curse　in　one　hand　for　the　time　being　…　〃
Dumbledore　raised　his　blackened；　useless　hand；　and　examined　it　with　the　expression　of　one　being　shown　an　interesting　curio。
〃You　have　done　very　well；　Severus。　How　long　do　you　think　I　have？〃
Dumbledore's　tone　was　conversational；　he　might　have　been　asking　for　a　weather　forecast。　Snape　hesitated；　and　then　said；　〃I　cannot　tell。　Maybe　a　year。　There　is　no　halting　such　a　spell　forever。　It　will　spread　eventually；　it　is　the　sort　of　curse　that　strengthens　over　time。〃
Dumbledore　smiled。　The　news　that　he　had　less　than　a　year　to　live　seemed　a　matter　of　little　or　no　concern　to　him。
〃I　am　fortunate；　extremely　fortunate；　that　I　have　you；　Severus。〃
〃If　you　had　only　summoned　me　a　little　earlier；　I　might　have　been　able　to　do　more；　buy　you　more　time！〃　said　Snape　furiously。　He　looked　down　at　the　broken　ring　and　the　sword。　〃Did　you　think　that　breaking　the　ring　would　break　the　curse？〃
〃Something　like　thata133I　was　delirious；　no　doubta133〃　said　Dumbledore。　With　an　effort　he　straightened　himself　in　his　chair。　〃Well；　really；　this　makes　matters　much　more　straightforward。〃
Snape　looked　utterly　perplexed。　Dumbledore　smiled。
〃I　refer　to　the　plan　Lord　Voldemort　is　revolving　around　me。　His　plan　to　have　the　poor　Malfoy　boy　murder　me。〃
Snape　sat　down　in　the　chair　Harry　had　so　often　occupied；　across　the　desk　from　Dumbledore。　Harry　could　tell　that　he　wanted　to　say　more　on　the　subject　of　Dumbledore's　cursed　hand；　but　the　other　held　it　up　in　polite　refusal　to　discuss　the　matter　further。　Scowling；　Snape　said；　〃The　Dark　Lord　does　not　expect　Draco　to　succeed。　This　is　merely
punishment　for　Lucius's　recent　failures。　Slow　torture　for　Dra