哈利波特7__哈利波特与死圣英文版-第24部分

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　punched　him　in　the　face。　According　to　Bathilda；　Albus　did　not　even　defend　himself；　and　that's　odd　enough　in　itself。　Albus　could　have　destroyed　Aberforth　in　a　duel　with　both　hands　tied　behind　his　back。
Muriel　swigged　yet　more　champagne。　The　recitation　of　those　old　scandals　seemed　to　elate　her　as　much　as　they　horrified　Doge。　Harry　did　not　know　what　to　think；　what　to　believe。　He　wanted　the　truth　and　yet　all　Doge　did　was　sit　there　and　bleat　feebly　that　Ariana　had　been　ill。　Harry　could　hardly　believe　that　Dumbledore　would　not　have　intervened　if　such　cruelty　was　happening　inside　his　own　house；　and　yet　there　was　undoubtedly　something　odd　about　the　story。
〃And　I'll　tell　you　something　else；〃　Muriel　said；　hiccupping　slightly　as　she　lowered　her　goblet。　〃I　think　Bathilda　has　spilled　the　beans　to　Rita　Skeeter。　All　those　hints　in　Skeeter's　interview　about　an　important　source　close　to　the　Dumbledores　…　goodness　knows　she　was　there　all　through　the　Ariana　business；　and　it　would　fit！〃
〃Bathilda；　would　never　talk　to　Rita　Skeeter！〃　whispered　Doge。
〃Bathilda　Bagshot？〃　Harry　said。　〃The　author　of　iA　History　of　Magici？〃
The　name　was　printed　on　the　front　of　one　of　Harry's　textbooks；　though　admittedly　not　one　of　the　ones　he　had　read　more　attentively。
〃Yes；〃　said　Doge；　clutching　at　Harry's　question　like　a　drowning　man　at　a　life　heir。　〃A　most　gifted　magical　historian　and　an　old　friend　of　Albus's。〃
〃Quite　gaga　these　days；　I've　heard；〃　said　Auntie　Muriel　cheerfully。
〃If　that　is　so；　it　is　even　more　dishonorable　for　Skeeter　to　have　taken　advantage　of　her；〃　said　Doge；　〃and　no　reliance　can　be　placed　on　anything　Bathilda　may　have　said！〃
〃Oh；　there　are　ways　of　bringing　back　memories；　and　I'm　sure　Rita　Skeeter　knows　them　all；〃　said　Auntie　Muriel　〃But　even　if　Bathilda's　completely　cuckoo；　I'm　sure　she'd　still　have　old　photographs；　maybe　even　letters。　She　knew　the　Dumbledores　for　yearsa133。　Well　worth　a　trip　to　Godric's　Hollow；　I'd　have　thought。〃
Harry；　who　had　been　taking　a　sip　of　butterbeer；　choked。　Doge　banged　him　on　the　back　as　Harry　coughed；　looking　at　Auntie　Muriel　through　streaming　eyes。　Once　he　had　control　of　his　voice　again；　he　asked；　〃Bathilda　Bagshot　lives　in　Godric's　Hollow？〃
〃Oh　yes；　she's　been　there　forever！　The　Dumbledores　moved　there　after　Percival　was　imprisoned；　and　she　was　their　neighbor。〃
〃The　Dumbledores　lived　in　Godric's　Hollows？〃
〃Yes；　Barry；　that's　what　I　just　said；〃　said　Auntie　Muriel　testily。
Harry　felt　drained；　empty。　Never　once；　in　six　years；　had　Dumbledore　told　Harry　that　they　had　both　lived　and　lost　loved　ones　in　Godric's　Hollow。　Why？　Were　Lily　and　James　buried　close　to　Dumbledore's　mother　and　sister？　Had　Dumbledore　visited　their　graves；　perhaps　walked　past　Lily's　and　James's　to　do　so？　And　he　had　never　once　told　Harry　a133　never　bothered　to　saya133
And　why　it　was　so　important；　Harry　could　not　explain　even　to　himself；　yet　he　felt　it　had　been　tantamount　to　a　lie　not　to　tell　him　that　they　had　this　place　and　these　experiences　in　common。　He　stared　ahead　of　him；　barely　noticing　what　was　going　on　around　him；　and　did　not　realize　that　Hermione　had　appeared　out　of　the　crowd　until　she　drew　up　a　chair　beside　him。
〃I　simply　can't　dance　anymore；〃　she　panted；　slipping　of　one　of　her　shoes　and　rubbing　the　sole　of　her　foot。　〃Ron's　gone　looking　to　find　more　butterbeers。　It's　a　bit　odd。　I've　just　seen　Viktor　storming　away　from　Luna's　father；　it　looked　like　they'd　been　arguing　…〃　She　dropped　her　voice；　staring　at　him。　〃Harry；　are　you　okay？〃
Harry　did　not　know　where　to　begin；　but　it　did　not　matter；　at　that　moment；　something　large　and　silver　came　falling　through　the　canopy　over　the　dance　floor。　Graceful　and　gleaming；　the　lynx　landed　lightly　in　the　middle　of　the　astonished　dancers。　Heads　turned；　as　those　nearest　it　froze　absurdly　in　mid…dance。　Then　the　Patronus's　mouth　opened　wide　and　it　spoke　in　the　loud；　deep；　slow　voice　of　Kingsley　Shacklebolt。
〃The　Ministry　has　fallen。　Scrimgeour　is　dead。　They　are　coming。〃

pC0=〃Chapter　Nine：　A　Place　to　Hide〃
bChapter　Nine
iA　Place　to　Hideib
Everything　seemed　fuzzy；　slow。　Harry　and　Hermione　jumped　to　their　feet　and　drew　their　wands。　Many　people　were　only　just　realizing　that　something　strange　had　happened；　heads　were　still　turning　toward　the　silver　cat　as　it　vanished。　Silence　spread　outward　in　cold　ripples　from　the　place　where　the　Patronus　had　landed。　Then　somebody　screamed。
Harry　and　Hermione　threw　themselves　into　the　panicking　crowd。　Guests　were　sprinting　in　all　directions；　many　were　Disapparating；　the　protective　enchantments　around　the　Burrow　had　broken。
〃Ron！〃　Hermione　cried。　〃Ron；　where　are　you？〃
As　they　pushed　their　way　across　the　dance　floor；　Harry　saw　cloaked　and　masked　figures　appearing　in　the　crowd；　then　he　saw　Lupin　and　Tonks；　their　wands　raised；　and　heard　both　of　them　shout；　〃iProtego！i〃；　a　cry　that　was　echoed　on　all　sides　…
〃Ron！　Ron！〃　Hermione　called；　half　sobbing　as　she　and　Harry　were　buffered　by　terrified　guests：　Harry　seized　her　hand　to　make　sure　they　weren't　separated　as　a　streak　of　light　whizzed　over　their　heads；　whether　a　protective　charm　or　something　more　sinister　he　did　not　know　…
And　then　Ron　was　there。　He　caught　hold　of　Hermione's　free　arm；　and　Harry　felt　her　turn　on　the　spot；　sight　and　sound　were　extinguished　as　darkness　pressed　in　upon　him；　all　he　could　feel　was　Hermione's　hand　as　he　was　squeezed　through　space　and　time；　away　from　the　Burrow；　away　from　the　descending　Death　Eaters；　away；　perhaps；　from　Voldemort　himself。　。　。　。
〃Where　are　we？〃　said　Ron's　voice。
Harry　opened　his　eyes。　For　a　moment　he　thought　they　had　not　left　the　wedding　after　all；　They　still　seemed　to　be　surrounded　by　people。
〃Tottenham　Court　Road；〃　panted　Hermione。　〃Walk；　just　walk；　we　need　to　find　somewhere　for　you　to　change。〃
Harry　did　as　she　asked。　They　half　walked；　half　ran　up　the　wide　dark　street　thronged　with　late…night　revelers　and　lined　with　closed　shops；　stars　twinkling　above　them。　A　double…decker　bus　rumbled　by　and　a　group　of　merry　pub…goers　ogled　them　as　they　passed；　Harry　and　Ron　were　still　wearing　dress　robes。
〃Hermione；　we　haven't　got　anything　to　change　into；〃　Ron　told　her；　as　a　young　woman　burst　into　raucous　giggles　at　the　sight　of　him。
〃Why　didn't　I　make　sure　I　had　the　Invisibility　Cloak　with　me？〃　said　Harry；　inwardly　cursing　his　own　stupidity。　〃All　last　year　I　kept　it　on　me　and　…〃
〃It's　okay；　I've　got　the　Cloak；　I've　got　clothes　for　both　of　you；〃　said　Hermione；　〃Just　try　and　act　naturally　until　…　this　will　do。〃
She　led　them　down　a　side　street；　then　into　the　shelter　of　a　shadowy　alleyway。
〃When　you　say　you've　got　the　Cloak；　and　clothes　。　。　。〃　said　Harry；　frowning　at　Hermione；　who　was　carrying　nothing　except　her　small　beaded　handbag；　in　which　she　was　now　rummaging。
〃Yes；　they're　here；〃　said　Hermione；　and　to　Harry　and　Ron's　utter　astonishment；　she　pulled　out　a　pair　of　jeans；　a　sweatshirt；　some　maroon　socks；　and　finally　the　silvery　Invisibility　Cloak。
〃How　the　ruddy　hell　…　？〃
〃Undetectable　Extension　Charm；〃　said　Hermione。　〃Tricky；　but　I　think　I've　done　it　okay；　anyway；　I　managed　to　fit　everything　we　need　in　here。〃　She　gave　the　fragile…looking　bag　a　little　shake　and　it　echoed　like　a　cargo　hold　as　a　number　of　heavy　objects　rolled　around　inside　it。　〃Oh；　damn；　that'll　be　the　books；〃　she　said；　peering　into　it；　〃and　I　had　them　all　stacked　by　subject。　。　。　。　Oh　well。　。　。　。　Harry；　you'd　better　take　the　Invisibility　Cloak。　Ron；　hurry　up　and　change。　。　。　。〃
〃When　did　you　do　all　this？〃　Harry　asked　as　Ron　stripped　off　his　robes。
〃I　told　you　at　the　Burrow；　I've　had　the　essentials　packed　for　days；　you　know；　in　case　we　needed　to　make　a　quick　getaway。　I　packed　your　rucksack　this　morning；　Harry；　after　you　changed；　and　put　it　in　here。　。　。　。　I　just　had　a　feeling。　。　。　。〃
〃You're　amazing；　you　are；〃　said　Ron；　handing　her　his　bundled…up　robes。
〃Thank　you；〃　said　Hermione；　managing　a　small　smile　as　she　pushed　the　robes　into　the　bag。　〃Please；　Harry；　get　that　Cloak　on！〃
Harry　threw　his　Invisibility　Cloak　around　his　shoulders　and　pulled　it　up　over　his　head；　vanishing　from　sight。　He　was　only　just　beginning　to　appreciate　what　had　happened。
〃The　others　…　everybody　at　the　wedding　…〃
〃We　can't　worry　about　that　now；〃　whispered　Hermione。　〃It's　you　they're　after；　Harry；　and　we'll　just　put　everyone　in　even　more　danger　by　going　back。〃
〃She's　right；〃　said　Ron；　who　seemed　to　know　that　Harry　was　about　to　argue；　even　if　he　could　not　see　his　face。　〃Most　of　the　Order　was　there；　they'll　look　after　everyone。〃
Harry　nodded；　then　remembered　that　they　could　not　see　him；　and　said；　〃Yeah。〃　But　he　thought　of　Ginny；　and　fear　bubbled　like　acid　in　his　stomach。
〃Come　on；　I　think　we　ought　to　keep　moving；〃　said　Hermione。
They　moved　back　up　the　side　street　and　onto　the　main　road　again；　where　a　group　of　men　on　the　opposite　side　was　singing　and　weaving　across　the　pavement。
〃Just　as　a　matter　of　interest；　why　Tottenham　Court　Road？〃　Ron　asked　Hermione。
〃I've　no　idea；　it　just　popped　into　my　head；　but　I'm　sure　we're　safer　out　in　the　Muggle　world；　it's　not　where　they'll　expect　us　to　be。〃
〃True；〃　said　Ron；　looking　around；　〃but　don't　you　feel　a　bit　…　exposed？〃
〃Where　else　is　there？〃　asked　Hermione；　cringing　as　the　men　on　the　other　side　of　the　road　started　wolf…whistling　at　her。　〃We　can　hardly　book　rooms　at　the　Leaky　Cauldron；　can　we？　And　Grimmauld　Place　is　out　if　Snape　can　get　in　there。　。　。　。　I　suppose　we　could　try　my　parents'　home；　though　I　think　there's　a　chance　they　might　check　there。　。　。　。　Oh；　I　wish　they'd　shut　up！〃
〃All　right；　darling？〃　the　drunkest　of　the　men　on　the　other　pavement　was　yelling。　〃Fancy　a　drink？　Ditch　ginger　and　come　and　have　a　pint！〃
〃Let's　sit　down　somewhere；〃　Hermione　said　hastily　as　Ron　opened　his　mouth　to　shout　back　across　the　road。　〃Look；　this　will　do；　in　here！〃
It　was　a　small　and　shabby　all…night　cafa233。　A　light　layer　of　grease　lay　on　all　the　Formica…topped　tables；　but　it　was　at　least　empty。　Harry　slipped　into　a　booth　first　and　Ron　sat　next　to　him　opposite　Hermione；　who　had　her　back　to　the　entrance　and　did　not　like　it：　She　glanced　over　her　shoulder　so　frequently　she　appeared　to　have　a　twitch。　Harry　did　not　like　being　stationary；　walking　had　given　the　illusion　that　they　had　a　goal。　Beneath　the　Cloak　he　could　feel　the　last　vestiges　of　Polyjuice　leaving　him；　his　hands　returning　to　their　usual　length　and　shape