哈利波特7__哈利波特与死圣英文版-第16部分

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〃Why？　How　do　you　do　it？〃　asked　Harry。
〃Remorse；〃　said　Hermione。　〃You've　got　to　really　feel　what　you've　done。　There's　a　footnote。　Apparently　the　pain　of　it　can　destroy　you。　I　can't　see　Voldemort　attempting　it　somehow；　can　you？〃
〃No；〃　said　Ron；　before　Harry　could　answer。　〃So　does　it　say　how　to　destroy　Horcruxes　in　that　book？〃
〃Yes；〃　said　Hermione；　now　turning　the　fragile　pages　as　if　examining　rotting　entrails；　〃because　it　warns　Dark　wizards　how　strong　they　have　to　make　the　enchantments　on　them。　From　all　that　I've　read；　what　Harry　did　to　Riddle's　diary　was　one　of　the　few　really　foolproof　ways　of　destroying　a　Horcrux。〃
〃What；　stabbing　it　with　a　basilisk　fang？〃　asked　Harry。
〃Oh　well；　lucky　we've　got　such　a　large　supply　of　basilisk　fangs；　then；〃　said　Ron。　〃I　was　wondering　what　we　were　going　to　do　with　them。〃
〃It　doesn't　have　to　be　a　basilisk　fang；〃　said　Hermione　patiently。　〃It　has　to　be　something　so　destructive　that　the　Horcrux　can't　repair　itself。　Basilisk　venom　only　has　one　antidote；　and　it's　incredibly　rare　…〃
〃…　phoenix　tears；〃　said　Harry；　nodding。
〃Exactly；〃　said　Hermione。　〃Our　problem　is　that　there　are　very　few　substances　as　destructive　as　basilisk　venom；　and　they're　all　dangerous　to　carry　around　with　you。　That's　a　problem　we're　going　to　have　to　solve；　though；　because　ripping；　smashing；　or　crushing　a　Horcrux　won't　do　the　trick。　You've　got　to　put　it　beyond　magical　repair。〃
〃But　even　if　we　wreck　the　thing　it　lives　in；〃　said　Ron；　〃why　can't　the　bit　of　soul　in　it　just　go　and　live　in　something　else？〃
〃Because　a　Horcrux　is　the　complete　opposite　of　a　human　being。〃
Seeing　that　Harry　and　Ron　looked　thoroughly　confused；　Hermione　hurried　on。　〃Look；　if　I　picked　up　a　sword　right　now；　Ron；　and　ran　you　through　with　it；　I　wouldn't　damage　your　soul　at　all。〃
〃Which　would　be　a　real　comfort　to　me；　I'm　sure；〃　said　Ron。　Harry　laughed。
〃It　should　be；　actually！　But　my　point　is　that　whatever　happens　to　your　body；　your　soul　will　survive；　untouched；〃　said　Hermione。　〃But　it's　the　other　way　round　with　a
Horcrux。　The　fragment　of　soul　inside　it　depends　on　its　container；　its　enchanted　body；　for　survival。　It　can't　exist　without　it。〃
〃That　diary　sort　of　died　when　I　stabbed　it；〃　said　Harry；　remembering　ink　pouring　like　blood　from　the　punctured　pages；　and　the　screams　of　the　piece　of　Voldemort's　soul　as　it　vanished。
〃And　once　the　diary　was　properly　destroyed；　the　bit　of　soul　trapped　in　it　could　no　longer　exist。　Ginny　tried　to　get　rid　of　the　diary　before　you　did；　flushing　it　away；　but　obviously　it　came　back　good　as　new。〃
〃Hang　on；〃　said　Ron；　frowning。　〃The　bit　of　soul　in　that　diary　was　possessing　Ginny；　wasn't　it？　How　does　that　work；　then？〃
〃While　the　magical　container　is　still　intact；　the　bit　of　soul　inside　it　can　flit　in　and　out　of　someone　if　they　get　too　close　to　the　object。　I　don't　mean　holding　it　for　too　long；　it's　nothing　to　do　with　touching　it；〃　she　added　before　Ron　could　speak。　〃I　mean　close　emotionally。　Ginny　poured　her　heart　out　into　that　diary；　she　made　herself　incredibly　vulnerable。　You're　in　trouble　if　you　get　too　fond　of　or　dependent　on　the　Horcrux。〃
〃I　wonder　how　Dumbledore　destroyed　the　ring？〃　said　Harry。　〃Why　didn't　I　ask　him？　I　never　really　。　。　。〃
His　voice　trailed　away：　He　was　thinking　of　all　the　things　he　should　have　asked　Dumbledore；　and　of　how；　since　the　headmaster　had　died；　it　seemed　to　Harry　that　he　had　wasted　so　many　opportunities　when　Dumbledore　had　been　alive；　to　find　out　more　。　。　。　to　find　out　everything。　。　。　。
The　silence　was　shattered　as　the　bedroom　door　flew　open　with　a　wall…shaking　crash。　Hermione　shrieked　and　dropped　iSecrets　of　the　Darkest　Arti；　Crookshanks　streaked　under　the　bed；　hissing　indignantly；　Ron　jumped　off　the　bed；　skidded　on　a　discarded　Chocolate　Frog　wrapper；　and　smacked　his　head　on　the　opposite　wall；　and　Harry　instinctively　dived　for　his　wand　before　realizing　that　he　was　looking　up　at　Mrs。　Weasley；　whose　hair　was　disheveled　and　whose　face　was　contorted　with　rage。
〃I'm　so　sorry　to　break　up　this　cozy　little　gathering；〃　she　said；　her　voice　trembling。　〃I'm　sure　you　all　need　your　rest　。　。　。　but　there　are　wedding　presents　stacked　in　my　room　that　need　sorting　out　and　I　was　under　the　impression　that　you　had　agreed　to　help。〃
〃Oh　yes；〃　said　Hermione；　looking　terrified　as　she　leapt　to　her　feet；　sending　books　flying　in　every　direction。　〃we　will　。　。　。　we're　sorry　。　。　。〃
With　an　anguished　look　at　Harry　and　Ron；　Hermione　hurried　out　of　the　room　after　Mrs。　Weasley。
〃it's　like　being　a　house…elf；〃　complained　Ron　in　an　undertone；　still　massaging　his　head　as　he　and　Harry　followed。　〃Except　without　the　job　satisfaction。　The　sooner　this　wedding's　over；　the　happier；　I'll　be。〃
〃Yeah；〃　said　Harry；　〃then　we'll　have　nothing　to　do　except　find　Horcruxes。　。　。　。　It'll　be　like　a　holiday；　won't　it？〃
Ron　started　to　laugh；　but　at　the　sight　of　the　enormous　pile　of　wedding　presents　waiting　for　them　in　Mrs。　Weasley's　room；　stopped　quite　abruptly。
The　Delacours　arrived　the　following　morning　at　eleven　o'　clock。　Harry；　Ron；　Hermione　and　Ginny　were　feeling　quite　resentful　toward　Fleur's　family　by　this　time；　and　it　was　with　ill　grace　that　Ron　stumped　back　upstairs　to　put　on　matching　socks；　and　Harry　attempted　to　flatten　his　hair。　Once　they　had　all　been　deemed　smart　enough；　they　trooped　out　into　the　sunny　backyard　to　await　the　visitors。
Harry　had　never　seen　the　place　looking　so　tidy。　The　rusty　cauldrons　and　old　Wellington　boots　that　usually　littered　the　steps　by　the　back　door　were　gone；　replaced　by　two　new　Flutterby　bushes　standing　either　side　of　the　door　in　large　pots；　though　there　was　no　breeze；　the　leaves　waved　lazily；　giving　an　attractive　rippling　effect。　The　chickens　had　been　shut　away；　the　yard　had　been　swept；　and　the　nearby　garden　had　been　pruned；　plucked；　and　generally　spruced　up；　although　Harry；　who　liked　it　in　its　overgrown　state；　thought　that　it　looked　rather　forlorn　without　its　usual　contingent　of　capering　gnomes。
He　had　lost　track　of　how　many　security　enchantments　had　been　placed　upon　the　Burrow　by　both　the　Order　and　the　Ministry；　all　he　knew　was　that　it　was　no　longer　possible　for　anybody　to　travel　by　magic　directly　into　the　place。　Mr。　Weasley　had　therefore　gone　to　meet　the　Delacours　on　top　of　a　nearby　hill；　where　they　were　to　arrive　by　Portkey。　The　first　sound　of　their　approach　was　an　unusually　high…pitched　laugh；　which　turned　out　to　be　coming　from　Mr。　Weasley；　who　appeared　at　the　gate　moments　later；　laden　with　luggage　and　leading　a　beautiful　blonde　woman　in　long；　leaf　green　robes；　who　could　be　Fleur's　mother。
〃Maman！〃　cried　Fleur；　rushing　forward　to　embrace　her。　〃Papa！〃
Monsieur　Delacour　was　nowhere　near　as　attractive　as　his　wife；　he　was　a　head　shorter　and　extremely　plumb；　with　a　little；　pointed　black　beard。　However；　he　looked　good…natured。　Bouncing　towards　Mrs。　Weasley　on　high…heeled　boots；　he　kissed　her　twice　on　each　cheek；　leaving　her　flustered。
〃You　'ave　been　so　much　trouble；〃　he　said　in　a　deep　voice。　〃Fleur　tells　us　you　'ave　been　working　very　'ard。〃
〃Oh；　it's　been　nothing；　nothing！〃　trilled　Mrs。　Weasley。　〃No　trouble　at　all！〃
Ron　relieved　his　feelings　by　aiming　a　kick　at　a　gnome　who　was　peering　out　from　behind　one　of　the　new　Flutterby　bushes。
〃Dear　lady！〃　said　Monsieur　Delacour；　still　holding　Mrs。　Weasley's　hand　between　his　own　two　plump　ones　and　beaming。　〃We　are　most　honored　at　the　approaching　union　of　our　two　families！　Let　me　present　my　wife；　Apolline。〃
Madame　Delacour　glided　forward　and　stooped　to　kiss　Mrs。　Weasley　too。
〃iEnchanta233ei；〃　she　said。　〃Your　'usband　'as　been　telling　us　such　amusing　stories！〃
Mr。　Weasley　gave　a　maniacal　laugh；　Mrs。　Weasley　threw　him　a　look；　upon　which　he　became　immediately　silent　and　assumed　an　expression　appropriate　to　the　sickbed　of　a　close　friend。
〃And；　of　course；　you　'ave　met　my　leetle　daughter；　Gabrielle！〃　said　Monsieur　Delacour。　Gabrielle　was　Fleur　in　miniature；　eleven　years　old；　with　waist…length　hair　of　pure；　silvery　blonde；　she　gave　Mrs。　Weasley　a　dazzling　smile　and　hugged　her；　then　threw　Harry　a　glowing　look；　batting　her　eyelashes。　Ginny　cleared　her　throat　loudly。
〃Well；　come　in；　do！〃　said　Mrs。　Weasley　brightly；　and　she　ushered　the　Delacours　into　the　house；　with　many　〃No；　please！〃s　and　〃After　you！〃s　and　〃Not　at　all！〃s。
The　Delacours；　it　soon　transpired；　were　helpful；　pleasant　guests。　They　were　pleased　with　everything　and　keen　to　assist　with　the　preparations　for　the　wedding。　Monsieur　Delacour　pronounced　everything　from　the　seating　plan　to　the　bridesmaids'　shoes　〃iCharmant！i〃　Madame　Delacour　was　most　accomplished　at　household　spells　and　had　the　oven　properly　cleaned　in　a　trice；　Gabrielle　followed　her　elder　sister　around；　trying　to　assist　in　any　way　she　could　and　jabbering　away　in　rapid　French。
On　the　downside；　the　Burrow　was　not　built　to　accommodate　so　many　people。　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Weasley　were　now　sleeping　in　the　sitting　room；　having　shouted　down　Monsieur　and　Madame　Delacour's　protests　and　insisted　they　take　their　bedroom。　Gabrielle　was　sleeping　with　Fleur　in　Percy's　old　room；　and　Bill　would　be　sharing　with　Charlie；　his　best　man；　once　Charlie　arrived　from　Romania。　Opportunities　to　make　plans　together　became　virtually　nonexistent；　and　it　was　in　desperation　that　Harry；　Ron　and　Hermione　took　to　volunteering　to　feed　the　chickens　just　to　escape　the　overcrowded　house。
〃But　she　istilli　won't　leave　us　alone！〃　snarled　Ron；　and　their　second　attempt　at　a　meeting　in　the　yard　was　foiled　by　the　appearance　of　Mrs。　Weasley　carrying　a　large　basket　of　laundry　in　her　arms。
〃Oh；　good；　you've　fed　the　chickens；〃　she　called　as　she　approached　them。　〃We'd　better　shut　them　away　again　before　the　men　arrive　tomorrow　。　。　。　to　put　up　the　tent　for　the　wedding；〃　she　explained；　pausing　to　lean　against　the　henhouse。　She　looked　exhausted。　〃Millamant's　Magic　Marquees　。　。　。　they're　very　good。　Bill's　escorting　them。　。　。　。　You'd　better　stay　inside　while　they're　here；　Harry。　I　must　say　it　does　complicate　organizing　a　wedding；　having　all　these　security　spells　around　the　place。〃
〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Harry　humbly。
〃Oh；　don't　be　silly；　dear！〃　said　Mrs。　Weasley　at　once。　〃I　didn't　mean　…　well；　your　safety's　much　more　important！　Actually；　I've　been　wanting　to　ask　you　how　you　want　to　celebrate　your　birthday；　Harry。　Seventeen；　after　all；　it's　an　important　day。　。　。　。〃
〃I　don't　want　a　fuss；〃　said　Harry　quickly；　envisagin