哈利波特7__哈利波特与死圣英文版-第60部分

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〃It's　nothing　like　a　bird；〃　said　Hermione；　frowning　at　the　tower。
〃I　was　talking　about　a　chess　rook；〃　said　Ron。　〃A　castle　to　you。〃
Ron's　legs　were　the　longest　and　he　reached　the　top　of　the　hill　first。　When　Harry　and　Hermione　caught　up　with　him；　panting　and　clutching　stitches　in　their　sides；　they　found　him　grinning　broadly。
〃It's　theirs；〃　said　Ron。　〃Look。〃
Three　hand…painted　signs　had　been　tacked　to　a　broke…down　gate。　The　first　read；
THE　QUIBBLER。　EDITOR；　X。　LOVEGOOD
the　second；
PICK　YOUR　OWN　MISTLETOE
the　third；
KEEP　OFF　THE　DIRIGIBLE　PLUMS
The　gate　creaked　as　they　opened　it。　The　zigzagging　path　leading　to　the　front　door　was　overgrown　with　a　variety　of　odd　plants；　including　a　bush　covered　in　orange　radishlike　fruit　Luna　sometimes　wore　as　earrings。　Harry　thought　he　recognized　a　Snargaluff　and　gave　the　wizened　stump　a　wide　berth。　Two　aged　crab　apple　trees；　bent　with　the　wind；　stripped　of　leaves　but　still　heavy　with　berry…sized　red　fruits　and　bushy　crowns　of　white　beaded　mistletoe；　stood　sentinel　on　either　side　of　the　front　door。　A　little　owl　with　a　slightly　flattened　hawklike　head　peered　down　at　them　from　one　of　the　branches。
〃You'd　better　take　off　the　Invisibility　Cloak；　Harry；〃　said　Hermione。　〃It's　you　Mr。　Lovegood　wants　to　help；　not　us。〃
He　did　as　she　suggested；　handing　her　the　Cloak　to　stow　in　the　beaded　bag。　She　then　rapped　three　times　on　the　thick　black　door；　which　was　studded　with　iron　nails　and　bore　a　knocker　shaped　like　an　eagle。
Barely　ten　seconds　passed；　then　the　door　was　flung　open　and　there　stood　Xenophilius　Lovegood；　barefoot　and　wearing　what　appeared　to　be　a　stained　nightshirt。　His　long　white　candyfloss　hair　was　dirty　and　unkempt。　Xenophilius　had　been　positively　dapper　at　Bill　and　Fleur's　wedding　by　comparison。　〃What？　What　is　it？　Who　are　you？　What　do　you　want？〃　he　cried　in　a　high…pitched；　querulous　voice；　looking　first　at　Hermione；　then　at　Ron；　and　finally　at　Harry；　upon　which　his　mouth　fell　open　in　a　perfect；　comical　O。　〃Hello；　Mr。　Lovegood；〃　said　Harry；　holding　out　his　hand；　〃I'm　Harry；　Harry　Potter。〃　Xenophilius　did　not　take　Harry's　hand；　although　the　eye　that　was　not　pointing　inward　at　his　nose　slid　straight　to　the　scar　on　Harry's　forehead。　〃Would　it　be　okay　if　we　came　in？〃　asked　Harry。　〃There's　something　we'd　like　to　ask　you。〃　〃I　。　。　。　I'm　not　sure　that's　advisable；〃　whispered　Xenophilius；　He　swallowed　and　cast　a　quick　look　around　the　garden。　〃Rather　a　shock　。　。　。　My　word　。　。　。　I　。　。　。　I'm　afraid　I　don't　really　think　I　ought　to　a150a150〃　〃It　wont　take　long〃　said　Harry；　slightly　disappointed　by　this　less…than…warm　welcome。　〃I　a150a150　oh；　all　right　then。　Come　in；　quickly；　Quickly！〃　They　were　barely　over　the　threshold　when　Xenophilius　slammed　the　door　shut　behind　them；　They　were　standing　in　the　most　peculiar　kitchen　Harry　had　ever　seen。　The　room　was　perfectly　circular；　so　that　he　felt　like　being　inside　a　giant　pepper　pot。　Everything　was　curved　to　fit　the　walls　…　the　stove；　the　sink；　and　the　cupboards　…　and　all　of　it　had　been　painted　with　flowers；　insects；　and　birds　in　bright　primary　colors。　Harry　thought　he　recognized　Luna's　styles。　The　effect　in　such　and　enclosed　space；　was　slightly　overwhelming。　In　the　middle　of　the　floor；　a　wrought…iron　spiral　staircase　ld　to　the　upper　levels。　There　was　a　great　deal　of　clattering　and　banging　coming　from　overhead：　Harry　wondered　what　Luna　could　be　doing。　〃You'd　better　come　up。〃　said　Xenophilius；　still　looking　extremely　uncomfortable；　and　he　led　the　way。　The　room　above　seemed　to　be　a　combination　of　living　room　and　workplace；
and　as　such；　was　even　more　cluttered　than　the　kitchen。　Though　much　smaller　and　entirely　round；　the　room　somewhat　resembled　the　Room　of　Requirement　on　the　unforgettable　occasion　that　it　had　transformed　itself　into　a　gigantic　labyrinth　comprised　of　centuries　of　hidden　objects。　There　were　piles　upon　piles　of　books　and　papers　on　every　surface。　Delicately　made　models　of　creatures　Harry　did　not　recognize；　all　flapping　wings　or　snapping　jaws；　hung　from　the　ceiling。　Luna　was　not　there：　The　thing　that　was　making　such　a　racket　was　a　wooden　object　covered　in　magically　turning　cogs　and　wheels；　It　looked　like　the　bizarre　offspring　of　a　workbench　and　a　set　of　shelves；　but　after　a　moment　Harry　deduced　that　it　was　an　old…fashioned　printing　press；　due　to　the　fact　that　it　was　churning　out　Quibblers。　〃Excuse　me；〃　said　Xenophilius；　and　he　strode　over　to　the　machine；　seized　grubbily　tablecloth　from　beneath　an　immense　number　of　books　and　papers；　which　all　tumbled　onto　the　floor；　and　threw　it　over　the　press；　somewhat　muffling　the　loud　bangs　and　clatters。　He　then　faced　Harry。　〃Why　have　you　come　here？〃　Before　Harry　could　speak；　however；　Hermione　let　out　a　small　cry　of　shock。　〃Mr。　Lovegood　…　what's　that？〃　See　was　pointing　at　an　enormous；　gray　spiral　horn；　not　unlike　that　of　a　unicorn；　which　had　been　mounted　on　the　wall；　protruding　several　feet　into　the　room。　〃It　is　the　horn　of　a　Crumple…Horned　Snorkack；〃　said　Xenophilius。　〃No　it　isn't！〃　said　Hermione。　〃Hermione；〃　muttered　Harry；　embarrassed；　〃now's　not　the　moment　…〃　〃But　Harry；　it's　an　Erumpent　horn！　It's　a　Class　B　Tradeable　Material　and　it's　an　extraordinary　dangerous　thing　to　have　in　a　house！〃　〃How'd　you　know　it's　an　Erumpent　horn？〃　asked　Ron；　edging　away　from　the　horn　as　fast　as　he　could；　given　the　extreme　clutter　of　the　room。　〃There's　a　description　in　Fantastic　Beasts　and　Where　to　Find　Them！　Mr。　Lovegood；　you　need　to　get　rid　of　it　straightaway；　don't　you　know　it　can　explode　at　the　slightest　touch？〃　〃The　Crumple　Horned　Snorkack〃　said　Xenophilius　very　clearly；　a　mulish　look　upon　his　face；　〃is　a　shy　and　highly　magical　creature；　and　it's　horn　…〃　〃Mr。　Lovegood。　I　recognize　the　grooved　markings　around　the　base；　that's　an　Erumpent　horn　and　it's　incredibly　dangerous　…　I　don't　know　where　you　got　it…〃　〃I　bought　it；〃　said　Xenophilius　dogmatically。　〃Two　weeks　ago；　from　a　delightful　young　wizard　who　knew　my　interest　in　the　exquisite　Snorkack。　A　Christmas　surprise　for　my　Luna。　Now；〃　he　said；　turning　to　Harry；　〃why　exactly　have　you　come　here；　Mr。　Potter？〃　〃We　need　some　help；〃　said　Harry；　before　Hermione　could　start　again。　〃Ah；〃　said　Xenophilius；　〃Help；　Hmm。〃　His　good　eye　moved　again　to　Harry's　scar。　He　seemed　simultaneously　terrified　and　mesmerized。　〃Yes。　The　thing　is　。。。　helping　Harry　Potter　。。。　rather　dangerous。。。〃
〃Aren't　you　the　one　who　keeps　telling　everyone　it's　their　first　duty　to　help　Harry？〃　said　Ron。　〃In　that　magazine　of　yours？〃　Xenophilius　glanced　behind　him　at　the　concealed　printing　press；　still　banging　and　clattering　beneath　the　tablecloth。　〃Er　…　yes；　I　have　expressed　that　view。　however　…〃　〃That's　for　everyone　else　to　do；　not　you　personally？〃　said　Ron。　Xenophilius　did　not　answer。　He　kept　swallowing；　his　eyes　darting　between　the　three　of　them。　Harry　had　the　impression　that　he　was　undergoing　some　painful　internal　struggle。　〃Where's　Luna？〃　asked　Hermione。　〃Let's　see　what　she　thinks。〃　Xenophilius　gulped。　He　seemed　to　be　steeling　himself。　Finally　he　said　in　a　shaky　voice　difficult　to　hear　over　the　noise　of　the　printing　press；　〃Luna　is　down　at　the　stream；　fishing　for　Freshwater　Plimpies。　She。。。she　will　like　to　see　you。　I'll　go　and　call　her　and　then　…　yes；　very　well。　I　shall　try　to　help　you。〃　He　disappeared　down　the　spiral　staircase　and　they　heard　the　front　open　and　close。　They　looked　at　each　other。　〃Cowardly　old　wart；〃　said　Ron。　〃Luna's　got　ten　times　his　guts。〃　〃He's　probably　worried　about　what'll　happen　to　them　if　the　Death　Eaters　find　out　I　was　here〃　said　Harry。　〃Well；　I　agree　with　Ron；　〃　said　Hermione；　〃Awful　old　hypocrite；　telling　everyone　else　to　help　you　and　trying　to　worm　our　of　it　himself。　And　for　heaven's　sake　keep　away　from　that　horn。〃　Harry　crossed　to　the　window　on　the　far　side　of　the　room。　He　could　see　a　stream；　a　thin；　glittering　ribbon　lying　far　below　them　at　the　base　of　the　hill。　They　were　very　high　up；　a　bird　fluttered　past　the　window　as　he　stared　in　the　direction　of　the　Burrow；　now　invisible　beyond　another　line　of　hills。　Ginny　was　over　there　somewhere。　They　were　closer　to　each　other　today　than　they　had　been　since　Bill　and　Fleur's　wedding；　but　she　could　have　no　idea　he　was　gazing　toward　her　now；　thinking　of　her。　He　suppose　he　ought　to　be　glad　of　it；　anyone　he　came　into　contact　with　was　in　danger；　Xenophilius's　attitude　proved　that。　he　turned　away　from　the　windows　and　his　gaze　fell　upon　another　peculiar　object　standing　upon　the　cluttered；　curved　slide　board；　a　stone　but　of　a　beautiful　but　austere…looking　witch　wearing　a　most　bizarre…looking　headdress。　Two　objects　that　resembled　golden　ear　trumpets　curved　out　from　the　sides。　A　tiny　pair　of　glittering　blue　wing　was　stuck　to　a　leather　strap　that　ran　over　the　top　of　her　head；　while　one　of　the　orange　radishes　had　been　stuck　to　a　second　strap　around　her　forehead。　〃Look　at　this；〃　said　Harry。　〃Fetching；〃　said　Ron。　〃Surprised　he　didn't　hear　that　to　the　wedding。〃　They　heard　the　front　door　close；　and　a　moment　later　Xenophilius　climbed　back　up　the　spiral　staircase　into　the　room；　his　thin　legs　now　encase　in　Wellington　boots；　bearing　a　tray　of　ill…assorted　teacups　and　a　steaming　teapot。　〃Ah；　you　have　spotted　my　pet　invention；〃　he　said；　shoving　the　tray　into
Hermione's　arms　and　joining　Harry　at　the　statue's　side。　〃Modeled；　fittingly　enough；　upon　the　head　of　the　beautiful　Rowens　Ravenclaw；　'Wit　beyond　measure　is　a　man's　greatest　treasure！'〃　He　indicated　the　objects　like　ear　trumpets。　〃These　are　the　Wrackpurt　siphons　…　to　remove　all　sources　of　distraction　from　the　thinker's　immediate　area。　Here；　〃he　pointed　out　the　tiny　wings；　〃a　billywig　propeller；　to　induce　an　elevated　frame　of　mind。　Finally；　〃he　pointed　to　the　orange　radish；　〃the　dirigible　Plum；　so　as　to　enhance　the　ability　to　accept　the　extraordinary。〃　Xenophilius　strode　back　to　the　tea　tray；　which　Hermione　had　managed　to　balance　precariously　on　one　of　the　cluttered　side　tables。　〃May　I　offer　you　all　an　infusion　of　Gurdyroots？〃　said　Xenophilius。　〃We　make　it　ourselves。〃　As　he　started　to　pour　out　the　drink；　which　was　as　deeply　purple　as　beetroot　juice；　he　added；　〃Luna　is　down　beyond　Bottom　Bridge；　she　is　most　excited　that　you　are　here　She　ought　not　to　be　too　long；　she　has　caught　nearly　enough　Plumpies　to　make　soup　for　all　of　us。　Do　sit　down　and　help　yourselves　to　sugar。　〃Now；〃　he　remove　a　tottering　pile　of　papers　from　an　armchair　an