哈利波特7__哈利波特与死圣英文版-第55部分

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After　two　nights　of　little　sleep；　Harry's　senses　seemed　more　alert　than　usual。　Their　escape　from　Godric's　Hollow　had　been　so　narrow　that　Voldemort　seemed　somehow　closer　than　before；　more　threatening。　As　darkness　drove　in　again　Harry　refused　Hermione's　offer　to　keep　watch　and　told　her　to　go　to　bed。
Harry　moved　an　old　cushion　into　the　tent　mouth　and　sat　down；　wearing　all　the　sweaters　he　owned　but　even　so；　still　shivery。　The　darkness　deepened　with　the　passing　hours　until　it　was　virtually　impenetrable。　He　was　on　the　point　of　taking　out　the　Marauder's　Map；　so　as　to　watch　Ginny's　dot　for　a　while；　before　he　remembered　that　it　was　the　Christmas　holidays　and　that　she　would　be　back　at　the　Burrow。
Every　tiny　movement　seemed　magnified　in　the　vastness　of　the　forest。　Harry　knew　that　it　must　be　full　of　living　creatures；　but　he　wished　they　would　all　remain　still　and　silent　so　that　he　could　separate　their　innocent　scurryings　and　prowlings　from　noises　that　might　proclaim　other；　sinister　movements。　He　remembered　the　sound　of　a　cloak　slithering　over　dead　leaves　many　years　ago；　and　at　once　thought　he　heard　it　again　before　mentally　shaking　himself。　Their　protective　enchantments　had　worked　for　weeks；　why　should　they　break　now？　And　yet　he　could　no　throw　off　the　feeling　that　something　was　different　tonight。
Several　times　he　jerked　upright；　his　neck　aching　because　he　had　fallen　asleep；　slumped　at　an　awkward　angle　against　the　side　of　the　tent。　The　night　reached　such　a　depth　of　velvety　blackness　that　he　might　have　been　suspended　in　limbo　between　Disapparation　and　Apparation。　He　had　just　held　a　hand　in　front　of　his　face　to　see　whether　he　could　make　out　his　fingers　when　it　happened。
A　bright　silver　light　appeared　right　ahead　of　him；　moving　through　the　trees。　Whatever　the　source；　it　was　moving　soundlessly。　The　light　seemed　simply　to　drift　toward　him。
He　jumped　to　his　feet；　his　voice　frozen　in　his　throat；　and　raised　Hermione's　wand。　He　screwed　up　his　eyes　as　the　light　became　blinding；　the　trees　in　front　of　it　pitch　black　in　silhouette；　and　still　the　thing　came　closer。。。。
And　then　the　source　of　the　light　stepped　out　from　behind　an　oak。　It　was　a　silver　white　doe；　moon…bright　and　dazzling；　picking　her　way　over　the　ground；　still　silent；　and　leaving　no　hoofprints　in　the　fine　powdering　of　snow。　She　stepped　toward　him；　her　beautiful　head　with　its　wide；　long…lashed　eyes　held　high。
Harry　stared　at　the　creature；　filled　with　wonder；　not　at　her　strangeness；　but　her　inexplicable　familiarity。　He　felt　that　he　had　been　waiting　for　her　to　come；　but　that　he　had　forgotten；　until　this　moment；　that　they　had　arranged　to　meet。　His　impulse　to　shout　for　Hermione；　which　had　been　so　strong　a　moment　ago；　had　gone。　He　knew；　he　would　have　staked　his　life　on　it；　that　she　had　come　for　him；　and　him　alone。
They　gazed　at　each　other　for　several　long　moments　and　then　she　turned　and　walked　away。
〃No；〃　he　said；　and　his　voice　was　cracked　with　lack　of　use。　〃Come　back！〃
She　continued　to　step　deliberately　through　the　trees；　and　soon　he　brightness　was　striped　by　their　thick　black　trunks。　For　one　trembling　second　he　hesitated。　Caution　murmured　it　could　be　a　trick；　a　lure；　a　trap。　But　instinct；　overwhelming　instinct；　told　him　that　this　was　not　Dark　Magic。　He　set　off　in　pursuit。
Snow　crunched　beneath　his　feet；　but　the　doe　made　no　noise　as　she　passed　through　the　trees；　for　she　was　nothing　but　light。　Deeper　and　deeper　into　the　forest　she　led　him；　and　Harry　walked　quickly；　sure　that　when　she　stopped；　she　would　allow　him　to　approach　her　properly。　And　then　she　would　speak　and　the　voice　would　tell　him　what　he　needed　to　know。
At　last　she　came　to　a　halt。　She　turned　her　beautiful　head　toward　him　once　more；　and　he　broke　into　a　run；　a　question　burning　in　him；　but　as　he　opened　his　lips　to　ask　it；　she　vanished。
Though　the　darkness　had　swallowed　her　whole；　her　burnished　image　was　still　imprinted　on　his　retinas；　it　obscured　his　vision；　brightening　when　he　lowered　his　eyelids；　disorienting　him。　Now　fear　came：　Her　presence　had　meant　safety。
〃iLumos！i〃　he　whispered；　and　the　wand…tip　ignited。
The　imprint　of　the　doe　faded　away　with　every　blink　of　his　eyes　as　he　stood　there；　listening　to　the　sounds　of　the　forest；　to　distant　crackles　of　twigs；　soft　swishes　of　snow。　Was　he　about　to　be　attacked？　Had　she　enticed　him　into　an　ambush？　Was　he　imagining　that　somebody　stood　beyond　the　reach　of　the　wandlight；　watching　him？
He　held　the　wand　higher。　Nobody　ran　out　at　him；　no　flash　of　green　light　burst　from　behind　a　tree。　Why；　then；　had　she　led　him　to　this　spot？
Something　gleamed　in　the　light　of　the　wand；　and　Harry　spun　about；　but　all　that　was　there　was　a　small；　frozen　pool；　its　black；　cracked　surface　glittering　as　he　raised　his　wand　higher　to　examine　it。
He　moved　forward　rather　cautiously　and　looked　down。　The　ice　reflected　his　distorted　shadow　and　the　beam　of　wandlight；　but　deep　below　the　thick；　misty　gray　carapace；　something　else　glinted。　A　great　silver　cross。。。
His　heart　skipped　into　his　mouth：　He　dropped　to　his　knees　at　the　pool's　edge　and　angled　the　wand　so　as　to　flood　the　bottom　of　the　pool　with　as　much　light　as　possible。　A
glint　of　deep　red。。。It　was　a　sword　with　glittering　rubies　in　its　hilt。。。。The　sword　of　Gryffindor　was　lying　at　the　bottom　of　the　forest　pool。
Barely　breathing；　he　stared　down　at　it。　How　was　this　possible？　How　could　it　have　come　to　be　lying　in　a　forest　pool；　this　close　to　the　place　where　they　were　camping？　Had　some　unknown　magic　drawn　Hermione　to　this　spot；　or　was　the　doe；　which　he　had　taken　to　be　a　Patronus；　some　kind　of　guardian　of　the　pool？　Or　had　the　sword　been　put　into　the　pool　after　they　had　arrived；　precisely　because　they　were　here？　In　which　case；　where　was　the　person　who　wanted　to　pass　it　to　Harry？　Again　he　directed　the　wand　at　the　surrounding　trees　and　bushes；　searching　for　a　human　outline；　for　the　glint　of　an　eye；　but　he　could　not　see　anyone　there。　All　the　same；　a　little　more　fear　leavened　his　exhilaration　as　he　returned　his　attention　to　the　sword　reposing　upon　the　bottom　of　the　frozen　pool。
He　pointed　the　wand　at　the　silvery　shape　and　murmured；　〃iAccio　Sword。i〃
It　did　not　stir。　He　had　not　expected　it　to。　If　it　had　been　that　easy　the　sword　would　have　lain　on　the　ground　for　him　to　pick　up；　not　in　the　depths　of　a　frozen　pool。　He　set　off　around　the　circle　of　ice；　thinking　hard　about　the　last　time　the　sword　had　delivered　itself　to　him。　He　had　been　in　terrible　danger　then；　and　had　asked　for　help。
〃Help；〃　he　murmured；　but　the　sword　remained　upon　the　pool　bottom；　indifferent；　motionless。
What　was　it；　Harry　asked　himself　（walking　again）；　that　Dumbledore　had　told　him　the　last　time　he　had　retrieved　the　sword？　iOnly　a　true　Gryffindor　could　have　pulled　that　out　of　the　hat。i　And　what　were　the　qualities　that　defined　a　Gryffindor？　A　small　voice　inside　Harry's　head　answered　him：　iTheir　daring　nerve　and　chivalry　set　Gryffindor　apart。i
Harry　stopped　walking　and　let　out　a　long　sigh；　his　smoky　breath　dispersing　rapidly　upon　the　frozen　air。　He　knew　what　he　had　to　do。　If　he　was　honest　with　himself；　he　had　thought　it　might　come　to　this　from　the　moment　he　had　spotted　the　sword　through　the　ice。
He　glanced　around　at　the　surrounding　trees　again；　but　was　convinced　now　that　nobody　was　going　to　attack　him。　They　had　had　their　chance　as　he　walked　alone　through　the　forest；　had　had　plenty　of　opportunity　as　he　examined　the　pool。　The　only　reason　to　delay　at　this　point　was　because　the　immediate　prospect　was　so　deeply　uninviting。
With　fumbling　fingers　Harry　started　to　remove　his　many　layers　of　clothing。　Where　〃chivalry〃　entered　into　this；　he　thought　ruefully；　he　was　not　entirely　sure；　unless　it　counted　as　chivalrous　that　he　was　not　calling　for　Hermione　to　do　it　in　his　stead。
An　owl　hooted　somewhere　as　he　stripped　off；　and　he　thought　with　a　pang　of　Hedwig。　He　was　shivering　now；　his　teeth　chattering　horribly；　and　yet　he　continued　to　strip　off　until　at　last　he　stood　there　in　his　underwear；　barefooted　in　the　snow。　He　placed　the　pouch　containing　his　wand；　his　mother's　letter；　the　shard　of　Sirius's　mirror；　and　the　old　Snitch　on　top　of　his　clothes；　then　he　pointed　Hermione's　wand　at　the　ice。
i〃Diffindo。〃i
It　cracked　with　a　sound　like　a　bullet　in　the　silence。　The　surface　of　the　pool　broke　and　chunks　of　dark　ice　rocked　on　the　ruffled　water。　As　far　as　Harry　could　judge；　it　was　not　deep；　but　to　retrieve　the　sword　he　would　have　to　submerge　himself　completely。
Contemplating　the　task　ahead　would　not　make　it　easier　or　the　water　warmer。　He　stepped　to　the　pool's　edge　and　placed　Hermione's　wand　on　the　ground　still　lit。　Then；　trying　not　to　imagine　how　much　colder　he　was　about　to　become　or　how　violently　he　would　soon　be　shivering；　he　jumped。
Every　pore　of　his　body　screamed　in　protest。　The　very　air　in　his　lungs　seemed　to　freeze　solid　as　he　was　submerged　to　his　shoulders　in　the　frozen　water。　He　could　hardly　breathe：　trembling　so　violently　the　water　lapped　over　the　edges　of　the　pool；　he　felt　for　the　blade　with　his　numb　feet。　He　only　wanted　to　dive　once。
Harry　put　off　the　moment　of　total　submersion　from　second　to　second；　gasping　and　shaking；　until　he　told　himself　that　it　must　be　done；　gathered　all　his　courage；　and　dived。
The　cold　was　agony：　It　attacked　him　like　fire。　His　brain　itself　seemed　to　have　frozen　as　he　pushed　through　the　dark　water　to　the　bottom　and　reached　out；　groping　for　the　sword。　His　fingers　closed　around　the　hilt；　he　pulled　it　upward。
Then　something　closed　tight　around　his　neck。　He　thought　of　water　weeds；　though　nothing　had　brushed　him　as　he　dived；　and　raised　his　hand　to　free　himself。　It　was　not　weed：　The　chain　of　the　Horcrux　had　tightened　and　was　slowly　constricting　his　windpipe。
Harry　kicked　out　wildly；　trying　to　push　himself　back　to　the　surface；　but　merely　propelled　himself　into　the　rocky　side　of　the　pool。　Thrashing；　suffocating；　he　scrabbled　at　the　strangling　chain；　his　frozen　fingers　unable　to　loosen　it；　and　now　little　lights　were　popping　inside　his　head；　and　he　was　going　to　drown；　there　was　nothing　left；　nothing　he　could　do；　and　the　arms　that　closed　around　his　chest　were　surely　Death's。。。。
Choking　and　retching；　soaking　and　colder　than　he　had　ever　been　in　his　life；　he　came　to　facedown　in　the　snow。　Somewhere；　close　by；　another　person　was　panting　and　coughing　and　staggering　around；　as　she　had　come　when　the　snake　atta