哈利波特7__哈利波特与死圣英文版-第30部分

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d　himself；　he　tried　again；　he　punished　himself；　he　tried　again。　Kreacher　failed　to　obey　orders；　Kreacher　could　not　destroy　the　locket！　And　his　mistress　was　mad　with　grief；　because　Master　Regulus　had　disappeared　and　Kreacher　could　not　tell　her　what　had　happened；　no；　because　Master　Regulus　had　f…f…forbidden　him　to　tell　any　of　the　f…f…family　what　happened　in　the　c…cave　a133〃
Kreacher　began　to　sob　so　hard　that　there　were　no　more　coherent　words。　Tears　flowed　down　Hermione's　cheeks　as　she　watched　Kreacher；　but　she　did　not　dare　touch　him　again。　Even　Ron；　who　was　no　fan　of　Kreacher's；　looked　troubled。　Harry　sat　back　on　his　heels　and　shook　his　head；　trying　to　clear　it。
〃I　don't　understand　you；　Kreacher；〃　he　said　finally。　〃Voldemort　tried　to　kill　you；　Regulus　died　to　bring　Voldemort　down；　but　you　were　still　happy　to　betray　Sirius　to　Voldemort？　You　were　happy　to　go　to　Narcissa　and　Bellatrix；　and　pass　information　to　Voldemort　through　them　a133　〃
〃Harry；　Kreacher　doesn't　think　like　that；〃　said　Hermione；　wiping　her　eyes　on　the　back　of　her　hand。　〃He's　a　slave；　house…elves　are　used　to　bad；　even　brutal　treatment；　what　Voldemort　did　to　Kreacher　wasn't　that　far　out　of　the　common　way。　What　do　wizard　wars　mean　to　an　elf　like　Kreacher？　He's　loyal　to　people　who　are　kind　to　him；　and　Mrs。　Black　must　have　been；　and　Regulus　certainly　was；　so　he　served　them　willingly　and　parroted　their　beliefs。　I　know　what　you're　going　to　say；〃　she　went　on　as　Harry　began　to　protest；　〃that　Regulus　changed　his　mind　a133　but　he　doesn't　seem　to　have　explained　that　to　Kreacher；　does　he？〃　And　I　think　I　know　why。　Kreacher　and　Regulus's　family　were　all　safest　if　they　kept　to　the　old　pure…blood　line。　Regulus　was　trying　to　protect　them　all。〃
〃Sirius　…　〃
〃Sirius　was　horrible　to　Kreacher；　Harry；　and　it's　no　good　looking　like　that；　you　know　it's　true。　Kreacher　had　been　alone　for　such　a　long　time　when　Sirius　came　to　live　here；　and　he　was　probably　starving　for　a　bit　of　affection。　I'm　sure　'Miss　Cissy'　and　'Miss　Bella'　were　perfectly　lovely　to　Kreacher　when　he　turned　up；　so　he　did　them　a　favor　and　told　them　everything　they　wanted　to　know。　I've　said　all　along　that　wizards　would　pay　for　how　they　treat　house…elves。　Well；　Voldemort　did　a133　and　so　did　Sirius。〃
Harry　had　no　retort。　As　he　watched　Kreacher　sobbing　on　the　floor；　he　remembered　what　Dumbledore　had　said　to　him；　mere　hours　after　Sirius's　death：　iI　do　not　think　Sirius　ever　saw　Kreacher　as　a　being　with　feelings　as　acute　as　a　human's　a133i
〃Kreacher；〃　said　Harry　after　a　while；　〃when　you　feel　up　to　it；　er　a133　please　sit　up。〃
It　was　several　minutes　before　Kreacher　hiccupped　himself　into　silence。　Then　he　pushed　himself　into　a　sitting　position　again；　rubbing　his　knuckles　into　his　eyes　like　a　small　child。
〃Kreacher；　I　am　going　to　ask　you　to　do　something；〃　said　Harry。　He　glanced　at　Hermione　for　assistance。　He　wanted　to　give　the　order　kindly；　but　at　the　same　time；　he　could　not　pretend　that　it　was　not　an　order。　However；　the　change　in　his　tone　seemed　to　have　gained　her　approval：　She　smiled　encouragingly。
〃Kreacher；　I　want　you；　please；　to　go　and　find　Mundungus　Fletcher。　We　need　to　find　out　where　the　locket　…　where　Master　Regulus's　locket　it。　It's　really　important。　We
want　to　finish　the　work　Master　Regulus　started；　we　want　to　…　er　…　ensure　that　he　didn't　die　in　vain。〃
Kreacher　dropped　his　fists　and　looked　up　at　Harry。
〃Find　Mundungus　Fletcher？〃　he　croaked。
And　bring　him　here；　to　Grimmauld　Place；〃　said　Harry。　〃Do　you　think　you　could　do　that　for　us？〃
As　Kreacher　nodded　and　got　to　his　feet；　Harry　had　a　sudden　inspiration。　He　pulled　out　Hagrid's　purse　and　took　out　the　fake　Horcrux；　the　substitute　locket　in　which　Regulus　had　placed　the　note　to　Voldemort。
〃Kreacher；　I'd；　er；　like　you　to　have　this；〃　he　said；　pressing　the　locket　into　the　elf's　hand。　〃This　belonged　to　Regulus　and　I'm　sure　he'd　want　you　to　have　it　as　a　token　of　gratitude　for　what　youa151〃
〃Overkill；　mate；〃　said　Ron　as　the　elf　took　one　look　at　the　locket；　let　out　a　howl　of　shock　and　misery；　and　threw　himself　back　onto　the　ground。
It　took　them　nearly　half　an　hour　to　calm　down　Kreacher；　who　was　so　overcome　to　be　presented　with　a　Black　family　heirloom　for　his　very　own　that　he　was　too　weak　at　the　knees　to　stand　properly。　When　finally　he　was　able　to　totter　a　few　steps　they　all　accompanied　him　to　his　cupboard；　watched　him　tuck　up　the　locket　safely　in　his　dirty　blankets；　and　assured　him　that　they　would　make　its　protection　their　first　priority　while　he　was　away。　He　then　made　two　low　bows　to　Harry　and　Ron；　and　even　gave　a　funny　little　spasm　in　Hermione's　direction　that　might　have　been　an　attempt　at　a　respectful　salute；　before　Disapparating　with　the　usual　loud　icracki。

pC0=〃Chapter　Eleven：　The　Bribe〃
bChapter　Eleven
iThe　Bribeib
If　Kreacher　could　escape　a　lake　full　of　Inferi；　Harry　was　confident　that　the　capture　of　Mundungus　would　take　a　few　hours　at　most；　and　he　prowled　the　house　all　morning　in　a　state　of　high　anticipation。　However；　Kreacher　did　not　return　that　morning　or　even　that　afternoon。　By　nightfall；　Harry　felt　discouraged　and　anxious；　and　a　supper　composed　largely　of　moldy　bread；　upon　which　Hermione　had　tried　a　variety　of　unsuccessful　Transfigurations；　did　nothing　to　help。
Kreacher　did　not　return　the　following　day；　nor　the　day　after　that。　However；　two　cloaked　men　had　appeared　in　the　square　outside　number　twelve；　and　they　remained　there　into　the　night；　gazing　in　the　direction　of　the　house　that　they　could　not　see。
〃Death　Eaters；　for　sure；〃　said　Ron；　as　he；　Harry；　and　Hermione　watched　from　the　drawing　room　windows。　〃Reckon　they　know　we're　in　here？〃
〃I　don't　think　so；〃　said　Hermione；　though　she　looked　frightened；　〃or　they'd　have　sent　Snape　in　after　us；　wouldn't　they？〃
〃D'you　reckon　he's　been　in　here　and　has　his　tongue　tied　by　Moody's　curse？〃　asked　Ron。
〃Yes；〃　said　Hermione；　〃otherwise　he'd　have　been　able　to　tell　that　lot　how　to　get　in；　wouldn't　he？　But　they're　probably　watching　to　see　whether　we　turn　up。　They　know　that　Harry　owns　the　house；　after　all。〃
〃How　do　they　a150a150？〃　began　Harry。
〃Wizarding　wills　are　examined　by　the　Ministry；　remember？　They'll　know　Sirius　left　you　the　place。〃
The　presence　of　the　Death　Eaters　outside　increased　the　ominous　mood　inside　number　twelve。　They　had　not　heard　a　word　form　anyone　beyond　Grimmauld　Place　since　Mr。　Weasley's　Patronus；　and　the　strain　was　starting　to　tell。　Restless　and　irritable；　Ron　had　developed　an　annoying　habit　of　playing　with　the　Deluminator　in　his　pocket；　This　particularly　infuriated　Hermione；　who　was　whiling　away　the　wait　for　Kreacher　by　studying　iThe　Tales　of　Beedle　the　Bardi　and　did　not　appreciate　the　way　the　lights　kept　flashing　on　and　off。
〃Will　you　stop　it！〃　she　cried　on　the　third　evening　of　Kreacher's　absence；　as　all　the　light　was　sucked　from　the　drawing　room　yet　again。
〃Sorry；　sorry！〃　said　Ron；　clicking　the　Deluminator　and　restoring　the　lights。　〃I　don't　know　I'm　doing　it！〃
〃Well；　can't　you　find　something　useful　to　occupy　yourself？〃
〃What；　like　reading　kids'　stories？〃
〃Dumbledore　left　me　this　book；　Ron　…〃
〃a151and　he　left　me　the　Deluminator；　maybe　I'm　supposed　to　use　it！〃
Unable　to　stand　the　bickering；　Harry　slipped　out　of　the　room　unnoticed　by　either　of　them。　He　headed　downstairs　toward　the　kitchen；　which　he　kept　visiting　because　he　was　sure　that　was　where　Kreacher　was　most　likely　to　reappear。　Halfway　down　the　flight　of　stairs　into　the　hall；　however；　he　heard　a　tap　on　the　front　door；　then　metallic　clicks　and　the　grinding　of　the　chain。
Every　nerve　in　his　body　seemed　to　tauten：　He　pulled　out　his　wand；　moved　into　the　shadows　beside　the　decapitated　elf　heads；　and　waited。　The　door　opened：　He　saw　a　glimpse　of　the　lamplit　square　outside；　and　a　cloaked　figure　edged　into　the　hall　and　closed　the　door　behind　it。　The　intruder　took　a　step　forward；　and　Moody's　voice　asked；　〃iSeverus　Snape？i〃　Then　the　dust　figure　rose　from　the　end　of　the　hall　and　rushed　him；　raising　its　dead　hand。
〃It　was　not　I　who　killed　you；　Albus；〃　said　a　quiet　voice。
The　jinx　broke：　The　dust…figure　exploded　again；　and　it　was　impossible　to　make　out　the　newcomer　through　the　dense　gray　cloud　it　left　behind。
Harry　pointed　the　wand　into　the　middle　of　it。
〃Don't　move！〃
He　had　forgotten　the　portrait　of　Mrs。　Black：　At　the　sound　of　his　yell；　the　curtains　hiding　her　flew　open　and　she　began　to　scream；　〃iMudbloods　and　filth　dishonoring　my　house　…i〃
Ron　and　Hermione　came　crashing　down　the　stairs　behind　Harry；　wands　pointing；　like　his；　at　the　unknown　man　now　standing　with　his　arms　raised　in　the　hall　below。
〃Hold　your　fire；　it's　me；　Remus！〃
〃Oh；　thank　goodness；〃　said　Hermione　weakly；　pointing　her　wand　at　Mrs。　Black　instead；　with　a　bang；　the　curtains　swished　shut　again　and　silence　fell。　Ron　too　lowered　his　wand；　but　Harry　did　not。
〃Show　yourself！〃　he　called　back。
Lupin　moved　forward　into　the　lamplight；　hands　still　held　high　in　a　gesture　of　surrender。
〃I　am　Remus　John　Lupin；　werewolf；　sometimes　known　as　Moony；　one　of　the　four　creators　of　the　Marauder's　Map；　married　to　Nymphadora；　usually　known　as　Tonks；　and　I　taught　you　how　to　produce　a　Patronus；　Harry；　which　takes　the　form　of　a　stag。〃
〃Oh；　all　right；〃　said　Harry；　lowering　his　wand；　〃but　I　had　to　check；　didn't　I？〃
〃Speaking　as　your　ex…Defense　Against　the　Dark　Arts　teacher；　I　quite　agree　that　you　had　to　check。　Ron；　Hermione；　you　shouldn't　be　so　quick　to　lower　your　defenses。〃
They　ran　down　the　stairs　towards　him。　Wrapped　in　a　thick　black　traveling　cloak；　he　looked　exhausted；　but　pleased　to　see　them。
〃No　sign　of　Severus；　then？〃　he　asked。
〃No；〃　said　Harry。　〃What's　going　on？　Is　everyone　okay？'
〃Yes；〃　said　Lupin；　〃but　we're　all　being　watched。　There　are　a　couple　of　Death　Eaters　in　the　square　outside　…〃
〃We　know　…〃
〃I　had　to　Apparate　very　precisely　onto　the　top　step　outside　the　front　door　to　be　sure　that　they　would　not　see　me。　They　can't　know　you're　in　here　or　I'm　sure　they'd　have　more　people　out　there；　they're　staking　out　everywhere　that's　got　any　connection　with　you；　Harry。　Let's　go　downstairs；　there's　a　lot　to　tell　you；　and　I　want　to　know　what　happened　after　you　left　the　Burrow。〃
They　descended　into　the　kitchen；　where　Hermione　pointed　her　wand　at　the　grate。　A　fire　sprang　up　instantly：　It　gave　the　illusion　of　coziness　to　the　stark　stone　walls　and　glistened　off　the　long　wooden　table。　Lup