哈利波特7__哈利波特与死圣英文版-第18部分

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Once　he　reached　the　seclusion　of　the　freshly　mown　lawn；　Ron　rounded　on　Harry。
〃You　ditched　her。　What　are　you　doing　now；　messing　her　around？〃
〃I'm　not　messing　her　around；〃　said　Harry；　as　Hermione　caught　up　with　them。
〃Rona150a150〃
But　Ron　held　up　a　hand　to　silence　her。
〃She　was　really　cut　up　when　you　ended　ita150a150〃
〃So　was　I。　You　know　why　I　stopped　it；　and　it　wasn't　because　I　wanted　to。〃
〃Yeah；　but　you　go　snogging　her　now　and　she's　just　going　to　get　her　hopes　up　againa150a150〃
〃She's　not　an　idiot；　she　knows　it　can't　happen；　she's　not　expecting　us　toa150a150to　end　up　married；　ora150a150〃
As　he　said　it；　a　vivid　picture　formed　in　Harry's　mind　of　Ginny　in　a　white　dress；　marrying　a　tall；　faceless；　and　unpleasant　stranger。
In　one　spiraling　moment　it　seemed　to　hit　him：　Her　future　was　free　and　unencumbered；　whereas　his。。。he　could　see　nothing　but　Voldemort　ahead。
〃If　you　keep　groping　her　every　chance　you　geta150a150〃
〃It　won't　happen　again；〃　said　Harry　harshly。　The　day　was　cloudless；　but　he　felt　as　though　the　sun　had　gone　in。　〃Okay？〃
Ron　looked　half　resentful；　half　sheepish；　he　rocked　backward　and　forward　on　his　feet　for　a　moment；　then　said；　〃Right　then；　well；　that's。。。yeah。〃
Ginny　did　not　seek　another　one…to…one　meeting　with　Harry　for　the　rest　of　the　day；　nor　by　any　look　or　gesture　did　she　show　that　they　had　shared　more　than　polite　conversation　in　her　room。　Nevertheless；　Charlie's　arrival　came　as　a　relief　to　Harry。　It　provided　a　distraction；　watching　Mrs。　Weasley　force　Charlie　into　a　chair；　raise　her　wand　threateningly；　and　announce　that　he　was　about　to　get　a　proper　haircut。
As　Harry's　birthday　dinner　would　have　stretched　the　Burrow's　kitchen　to　breaking　point　even　before　the　arrival　of　Charlie；　Lupin；　Tonks；　and　Hagrid；　several　tables　were　placed　end　to　end　in　the　garden。　Fred　and　George　bewitched　a　number　of　purple　lanterns　all　emblazoned　with　a　large　number　17；　to　hang　in　midair　over　the　guests。　Thanks　to　Mrs。　Weasley's　ministrations；　George's　wound　was　neat　and　clean；　but　Harry　was　not　yet　used　to　the　dark　hole　in　the　side　of　his　head；　despite　the　twins'　many　jokes　about　it。
Hermione　made　purple　and　gold　streamers　erupt　from　the　end　of　her　wand　and　drape　themselves　artistically　over　the　trees　and　bushes。
〃Nice；〃　said　Ron；　as　with　one　final　flourish　of　her　wand；　Hermione
turned　the　leaves　on　the　crabapple　tree　to　gold。　〃You've　really　got　an　eye　for　that　sort　of　thing。〃
〃Thank　you；　Ron！〃　said　Hermione；　looking　both　pleased　and　a　little　confused。　Harry　turned　away；　smiling　to　himself。　He　had　a　funny　notion　that　he　would　find　a　chapter　on　compliments　when　he　found　time　to　peruse　his　copy　of　Twelve　Fail…Safe　Ways　to　Charm　Witches；　he　caught　Ginny's　eye　and　grinned　at　her　before　remembering　his　promise　to　Ron　and　hurriedly　striking　up　a　conversation　with　Monsieur　Delacour。
〃Out　of　the　way；　out　of　the　way！〃　sang　Mrs。　Weasley；　coming　through　the　gate　with　what　appeared　to　be　a　giant；　beach…ball…sized　Snitch　floating　in　front　of　her。　Seconds　later　Harry　realized　that　it　was　his　birthday　cake；　which　Mrs。　Weasley　was　suspending　with　her　wand；　rather　than　risk　carrying　it　over　the　uneven　ground。　When　the　cake　had　finally　landed　in　the　middle　of　the　table；　Harry　said；
〃That　looks　amazing；　Mrs。　Weasley。〃
〃Oh；　it's　nothing；　dear；〃　she　said　fondly。　Over　her　shoulder；　Ron　gave　Harry　the　thumbs…up　and　mouthed；　Good　one。
By　seven　o'clock　all　the　guests　had　arrived；　led　into　the　house　by　Fred　and　George；　who　had　waited　for　them　at　the　end　of　the　lane。　Hagrid　had　honored　the　occasion　by　wearing　his　best；　and　horrible；　hairy　brown　suit。　Although　Lupin　smiled　as　he　shook　Harry's　hand；　Harry　thought　he　looked　rather　unhappy。　It　was　all　very　odd；　Tonks；　beside　him；　looked　simply　radiant。
〃Happy　birthday；　Harry；〃　she　said；　hugging　him　tightly。
〃Seventeen；　eh！〃　said　Hagrid　as　he　accepted　a　bucket…sized　glass　of　wine　from　Fred。　〃Six　years　ter　the　day　since　we　met；　Harry；　d'yeh　remember　it？〃
〃Vaguely；〃　said　Harry；　grinning　up　at　him。　〃Didn't　you　smash　down　the　front　door；　give　Dudley　a　pig's　tail；　and　tell　me　I　was　a　wizard？〃
〃I　forge'　the　details；〃　Hagrid　chortled。　〃All　righ'；　Ron；　Hermione？〃
〃We're　fine；〃　said　Hermione。　〃How　are　you？〃
〃Ar；　not　bad。　Bin　busy；　we　got　some　newborn　unicorns。　I'll　show　yeh　when　yeh　get　backa150a150〃　Harry　avoided　Ron's　and　Hermione's　gazes　as　Hagrid　rummaged　in　his　pocket。　〃Here。　Harry　a150a150　couldn't　think　what　ter　get　teh；　but　then　I　remembered　this。〃　He　pulled　out　a　small；　slightly　furry　drawstring　pouch　with　a　long　string；　evidently　intended　to　be　worn　around　the　neck。　〃Mokeskin。　Hide　anythin'　in　there　an'　no　one　but　the　owner　can　get　it　out。　They're　rare；　them。〃
〃Hagrid；　thanks！〃
〃'S'nothin'；〃　said　Hagrid　with　a　wave　of　a　dustbin…lid…sized　hand。　〃An'　there's　Charlie！　Always　liked　him　a150a150　hey！　Charlie！〃
Charlie　approached；　running　his　hand　slightly　ruefully　over　his　new；　brutally　short　haircut。　He　was　shorter　than　Ron；　thickset；　with　a　number　of　burns　and　scratches　up　his　muscley　arms。
〃Hi；　Hagrid；　how's　it　going？〃
〃Bin　meanin'　ter　write　fer　ages。　How's　Norbert　doin'？〃
〃Norbert？〃　Charlie　laughed。　〃The　Norwegian　Ridgeback？　We　call　her　Norberta　now。〃
〃Wha　a150a150　Norbert's　a　girl？〃
〃Oh　yeah；〃　said　Charlie。
〃How　can　you　tell？〃　asked　Hermione。
〃They're　a　lot　more　vicious；〃　said　Charlie。　He　looked　over　his　shoulder　and　dropped　his　voice。　〃Wish　Dad　would　hurry　up　and　get　here。　Mum's　getting　edgy。〃
They　all　looked　over　at　Mrs。　Weasley。　She　was　trying　to　talk　to　Madame　Delacour　while　glancing　repeatedly　at　the　gate。
〃I　think　we'd　better　start　without　Arthur；〃　she　called　to　the　garden　at　large　after　a　moment　or　two。　〃He　must　have　been　held　up　at　a150a150　oh！〃
They　all　saw　it　at　the　same　time：　a　streak　of　light　that　came　flying　across　the　yard　and　onto　the　table；　where　it　resolved　itself　into　a　bright　silver　weasel；　which　stood　on　its　hind　legs　and　spoke　with　Mr。　Weasley's　voice。
〃Minister　of　Magic　coming　with　me。〃
The　Patronus　dissolved　into　thin　air；　leaving　Fleur's　family　peering　in　astonishment　at　the　place　where　it　had　vanished。
〃We　shouldn't　be　here；〃　said　Lupin　at　once。　〃Harry　a150a150　I'm　sorry　a150a150　I'll　explain　some　other　timea150a150〃
He　seized　Tonks's　wrist　and　pulled　her　away；　they　reached　the　fence；　climbed　over　it；　and　vanished　from　sight。　Mrs。　Weasley　looked　bewildered。
〃The　Minister　a150a150　but　whya150a150？　I　don't　understanda150a150〃
But　there　was　no　time　to　discuss　the　matter；　a　second　later；　Mr。　Weasley　had　appeared　out　of　thin　air　at　the　gate；　accompanied　by　Rufus　Scrimgeour；　instantly　recognizable　by　his　mane　of　grizzled　hair。
The　two　newcomers　marched　across　the　yard　toward　the　garden　and　the　lantern…lit　table；　where　everybody　sat　in　silence；　watching　them　draw　closer。　As　Scrimgeour　came　within　range　of　the　lantern　light。　Harry　saw　that　he　looked　much　older　than　the　last　time　that　had　met；　scraggy　and　grim。
〃Sorry　to　intrude；〃　said　Scrimgeour；　as　he　limped　to　a　halt　before　the　table。　〃Especially　as　I　can　see　that　I　am　gate…crashing　a　party。〃
His　eyes　lingered　for　a　moment　on　the　giant　Snitch　cake。
〃Many　happy　returns。〃
〃Thanks；〃　said　Harry。
〃I　require　a　private　word　with　you；〃　Scrimgeour　went　on。　〃Also　with　Mr。　Ronald　Weasley　and　Miss　Hermione　Granger。〃
〃Us？〃　said　Ron；　sounding　surprised。　〃Why　us？〃
〃I　shall　tell　you　that　when　we　are　somewhere　more　private；〃　said　Scrimgeour。　〃Is　there　such　a　place？'　he　demanded　of　Mr。　Weasley。
〃Yes；　of　course；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley；　who　looked　nervous。　〃The；　er；　sitting　room；　why　don't　you　use　that？〃
〃You　can　lead　the　way；〃　Scrimgeour　said　to　Ron。　〃There　will　be　no　need　for　you　to　accompany　us；　Arthur。〃
Harry　saw　Mr。　Weasley　exchange　a　worried　look　with　Mrs。　Weasley　as　he；　Ron；　and　Hermione　stood　up。　As　they　led　the　way　back　to　the　house　in　silence；　Harry　knew　that　the　other　two　were　thinking　the　same　as　he　was；　Scrimgeour　must；　somehow；　had　learned　that　the　three　of　them　were　planning　to　drop　out　of　Hogwarts。
Scrimgeour　did　not　speak　as　they　all　passed　through　the　messed　kitchen　and　into　the　Burrow's　sitting　room。　Although　the　garden　had　been　full　of　soft　golden　evening　light；
it　was　already　dark　in　here；　Harry　flicked　his　wand　at　the　oil　lamps　as　he　entered　and　they　illuminated　the　shabby　but　cozy　room。　Scrimgeour　sat　himself　in　the　sagging　armchair　that　Mr。　Weasley　normally　occupied；　leaving　Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　to　squeeze　side　by　side　onto　the　sofa。　Once　they　had　done　so；　Scrimgeour　spoke。
〃I　have　some　questions　for　the　three　of　you；　and　I　think　it　will　be　best　if　we　do　it　individually。　If　you　two〃　a150a150　he　pointed　at　Harry　and　Hermione　a150a150　〃can　wait　upstairs；　I　will　start　with　Ronald。〃
〃We're　not　going　anywhere；〃　said　Harry；　while　Hermione　nodded　vigorously。　〃You　can　speak　to　us　together；　or　not　at　all。〃
Scrimgeour　gave　Harry　a　cold；　appraising　look。　Harry　had　the　impression　that　the　Minister　was　wondering　whether　it　was　worthwhile　opening　hostilities　this　early。
〃Very　well　then；　together；〃　he　said；　shrugging。　He　cleared　his　throat。　〃I　am　here；　as　I'm　sure　you　know；　because　of　Albus　Dumbledore's　will。〃
Harry；　Ron；　and　Hermione　looked　at　one　another。
〃A　surprise；　apparently！　You　were　not　aware　then　that　Dumbledore　had　left　you　anything？〃
〃A…all　of　us？〃　said　Ron；　〃Me　and　Hermione　too？〃
〃Yes；　all　of　a150a150〃
But　Harry　interrupted。
〃Dumbledore　died　over　a　month　ago。　Why　has　it　taken　this　long　to　give　us　what　he　left　us？〃
〃Isn't　it　obvious？〃　said　Hermione；　before　Scrimgeour　could　answer。　〃They　wanted　to　examine　whatever　he's　left　us。　You　had　no　right　to　do　that！〃　she　said；　and　her　voice　trembled　slightly。
〃I　had　every　right；〃　said　Scrimgeour　dismissively。　〃The　Decree　for　Justifiable　Confiscation　gives　the　Ministry　the　power　the　confiscate　the　contents　of　a　willa150a150〃
〃That　law　was　created　to　stop　wizards　passing　on　Dark　artifacts；〃　said　Hermione；　〃and　the　Ministry　is　supposed　to　have　powerful　evidence　that　the　deceased's　possessions　are　illegal　before　seizing　them！　Are　you　telling　me　that　you　thought　Dumbledore　was　trying　to　pass　us　something　cursed？〃
〃Are　you　planning　to　follow　a　career　in　Magical　Law；　Miss　Granger？〃　asked　Scrimgeour。
〃No；　I'm　not；〃　retorted　Hermione。　〃I'm　hoping　to　do　some　good　in　the　world！〃
Ron　laughed。　Scrimgeour's　eyes　flickered　t