jkrowling.harrypotterandgf-第106部分

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　last　year　too…his　tales　are　getting　taller；　and　you're　still　swallowing　them…the　boy　can　talk　to　snakes。　Dumbledore；　and　you　still　think　he's　trustworthy？〃
　　　〃You　fool！〃　Professor　McGonagall　cried。　〃Cedric　Diggory！　Mr。　Crouch！　These　deaths　were　not　the　random　work　of　a　lunatic！〃
　　　〃I　see　no　evidence　to　the　contrary！〃　shouted　Fudge；　now　matching　her　anger；　his　face　purpling。　〃It　seems　to　me　that　you　are　all　determined　to　start　a　panic　that　will　destabilize　everything　we　have　worked　for　these　last　thirteen　years！〃
　　　Harry　couldn't　believe　what　he　was　hearing。　He　had　always　thought　of　Fudge　as　a　kindly　figure；　a　little　blustering；　a　little　pompous；　but　essentially　good…natured。　But　now　a　short；　angry　wizard　stood　before　him；　refusing；　point…blank；　to　accept　the　prospect　of　disruption　in　his　fortable　and　ordered　world…to　believe　that　Voldemort　could　have　risen。
　　　〃Voldemort　has　returned；〃　Dumbledore　repeated。　〃If　you　accept　that　fact　straightaway。　Fudge；　and　take　the　necessary　measures；　we　may　still　be　able　to　save　the　situation。　The　first　and　most　essential　step　is　to　remove　Azkaban　from　the　control　of　the　dementors…〃
　　　〃Preposterous！〃　shouted　Fudge　again。　〃Remove　the　dementors？　I'd　be　kicked　out　of　office　for　suggesting　it！　Half　of　us　only　feel　safe　in　our　beds　at　night　because　we　know　the　dementors　are　standing　guard　at　Azkaban！〃
　　　〃The　rest　of　us　sleep　less　soundly　in　our　beds；　Cornelius；　knowing　that　you　have　put　Lord　Voldemort's　most　dangerous　supporters　in　the　care　of　creatures　who　will　join　him　the　instant　he　asks　them！〃　said　Dumbledore。　〃They　will　not　remain　loyal　to　you；　Fudge！　Voldemort　can　offer　them　much　more　scope　for　their　powers　and　their　pleasures　than　you　can！　With　the　dementors　behind　him；　and　his　old　supporters　returned　to　him；　you　will　be　hard…pressed　to　stop　him　regaining　the　sort　of　power　he　had　thirteen　years　ago！〃
　　　Fudge　was　opening　and　closing　his　mouth　as　though　no　words　could　express　his　outrage。
　　　〃The　second　step　you　must　take…and　at　once；〃　Dumbledore　pressed　on；　〃is　to　send　envoys　to　the　giants。〃
　　　〃Envoys　to　the　giants？〃　Fudge　shrieked；　finding　his　tongue　again。　〃What　madness　is　this？〃
　　　〃Extend　them　the　hand　of　friendship；　now；　before　it　is　too　late；〃　said　Dumbledore；　〃or　Voldemort　will　persuade　them；　as　he　did　before；　that　he　alone　among　wizards　will　give　them　their　rights　and　their　freedom！〃
　　　〃You…you　cannot　be　serious！〃　Fudge　gasped；　shaking　his　head　and　retreating　further　from　Dumbledore。　〃If　the　magical　munity　got　wind　that　I　had　approached　the　giants…people　hate　them；　Dumbledore…end　of　my　career…〃
　　　〃You　are　blinded；〃　said　Dumbledore；　his　voice　rising　now；　the　aura　of　power　around　him　palpable；　his　eyes　blazing　once　more；　〃by　the　love　of　the　office　you　hold；　Cornelius！　You　place　too　much　importance；　and　you　always　have　done；　on　the　so…called　purity　of　blood！　You　fail　to　recognize　that　it　matters　not　what　someone　is　born；　but　what　they　grow　to　be！　Your　dementor　has　just　destroyed　the　last　remaining　member　of　a　pure…blood　family　as　old　as　any…and　see　what　that　man　chose　to　make　of　his　life！　I　tell　you　nowtake　the　steps　I　have　suggested；　and　you　will　be　remembered；　in　office　or　out；　as　one　of　the　bravest　and　greatest　Ministers　of　Magic　we　have　ever　known。　Fail　to　act…and　history　will　remember　you　as　the　man　who　stepped　aside　and　allowed　Voldemort　a　second　chance　to　destroy　the　world　we　have　tried　to　rebuild！〃
　　　〃Insane；〃　whispered　Fudge；　still　backing　away。　〃Mad。。。〃
　　　And　then　there　was　silence。　Madam　Pomfrey　was　standing　frozen　at　the　foot　of　Harry's　bed；　her　hands　over　her　mouth。　Mrs。　Weasley　was　still　standing　over　Harry；　her　hand　on　his　shoulder　to　prevent　him　from　rising。　Bill；　Ron；　and　Hermione　were　staring　at　Fudge。
　　　〃If　your　determination　to　shut　your　eyes　will　carry　you　as　far　as　this；　Cornelius；〃　said　Dumbledore；　〃we　have　reached　a　parting　of　the　ways。　You　must　act　as　you　see　fit。　And　I…I　shall　act　as　I　see　fit。〃
　　　Dumbledore's　voice　carried　no　hint　of　a　threat；　it　sounded　like　a　mere　statement；　but　Fudge　bristled　as　though　Dumbledore　were　advancing　upon　him　with　a　wand。
　　　〃Now；　see　here；　Dumbledore；〃　he　said；　waving　a　threatening　finger。　〃I've　given　you　free　rein；　always。　I've　had　a　lot　of　respect　for　you。　I　might　not　have　agreed　with　some　of　your　decisions；　but　I've　kept　quiet。　There　aren't　many　who'd　have　let　you　hire　werewolves；　or　keep　Hagrid；　or　decide　what　to　teach　your　students　without　reference　to　the　Ministry。　But　if　you're　going　to　work　against　me…〃
　　　〃The　only　one　against　whom　I　intend　to　work；〃　said　Dumbledore；　〃is　Lord　Voldemort。　If　you　are　against　him；　then　we　remain；　Cornelius；　on　the　same　side。〃
　　　It　seemed　Fudge　could　think　of　no　answer　to　this。　He　rocked　backward　and　forward　on　his　small　feet　for　a　moment　and　spun　his　bowler　hat　in　his　hands。　Finally；　he　said；　with　a　hint　of　a　plea　in　his　voice；　〃He　can't　be　back；　Dumbledore；　he　just　can't　be　。。。〃
　　　Snape　strode　forward；　past　Dumbledore；　pulling　up　the　left　sleeve　of　his　robes　as　he　went。　He　stuck　out　his　forearm　and　showed　it　to　Fudge；　who　recoiled。
　　　〃There；〃　said　Snape　harshly。　〃There。　The　Dark　Mark。　It　is　not　as　clear　as　it　was　an　hour　or　so　ago；　when　it　burned　black；　but　you　can　still　see　it。　Every　Death　Eater　had　the　sign　burned　into　him　by　the　Dark　Lord。　It　was　a　means　of　distinguishing　one　another；　and　his　means　of　summoning　us　to　him。　When　he　touched　the　Mark　of　any　Death　Eater；　we　were　to　Disapparate；　and　Apparate；　instantly；　at　his　side。　This　Mark　has　been　growing　clearer　all　year。　Karkaroff　s　too。　Why　do　you　think　Karkaroff　fled　tonight？　We　both　felt　the　Mark　burn。　We　both　knew　he　had　returned。　Karkaroff　fears　the　Dark　Lord's　vengeance。　He　betrayed　too　many　of　his　fellow　Death　Eaters　to　be　sure　of　a　wele　back　into　the　fold。〃
　　　Fudge　stepped　back　from　Snape　too。　He　was　shaking　his　head。　He　did　not　seem　to　have　taken　in　a　word　Snape　had　said。　He　stared；　apparently　repelled　by　the　ugly　mark　on　Snape's　arm；　then　looked　up　at　Dumbledore　and　whispered；　〃I　don't　know　what　you　and　your　staff　are　playing　at；　Dumbledore；　but　I　have　heard　enough。　I　have　no　more　to　add。　I　will　be　in　touch　with　you　tomorrow；　Dumbledore；　to　discuss　the　running　of　this　school。　I　must　return　to　the　Ministry。〃
　　　He　had　almost　reached　the　door　when　he　paused。　He　turned　around；　strode　back　down　the　dormitory；　and　stopped　at　Harry's　bed。
　　　〃Your　winnings；〃　he　said　shortly；　taking　a　large　bag　of　gold　out　of　his　pocket　and　dropping　it　onto　Harrys　bedside　table。　〃One　thousand　Galleons。　There　should　have　been　a　presentation　ceremony；　but　under　the　circumstances。。。〃
　　　He　crammed　his　bowler　hat　onto　his　head　and　walked　out　of　the　room；　slamming　the　door　behind　him。　The　moment　he　had　disappeared；　Dumbledore　turned　to　look　at　the　group　around　Harry's　bed。
　　　〃There　is　work　to　be　done；〃　he　said。　〃Molly。。。　am　I　right　in　thinking　that　I　can　count　on　you　and　Arthur？〃
　　　〃Of　course　you　can；〃　said　Mrs。　Weasley。　She　was　white　to　the　lips；　but　she　looked　resolute。　〃We　know　what　Fudge　is。　It's　Arthur's　fondness　for　Muggles　that　has　held　him　back　at　the　Ministry　all　these　years。　Fudge　thinks　he　lacks　proper　wizarding　pride。〃
　　　〃Then　I　need　to　send　a　message　to　Arthur；〃　said　Dumbledore。　〃All　those　that　we　can　persuade　of　the　truth　must　be　notified　immediately；　and　he　is　well　placed　to　contact　those　at　the　Ministry　who　are　not　as　shortsighted　as　Cornelius。〃
　　　〃I'll　go　to　Dad；〃　said　Bill；　standing　up。　〃I'll　go　now。〃
　　　〃Excellent；〃　said　Dumbledore。　〃Tell　him　what　has　happened。　Tell　him　I　will　be　in　direct　contact　with　him　shortly。　He　will　need　to　be　discreet；　however。　If　Fudge　thinks　I　am　interfering　at　the　Ministry…〃
　　　〃Leave　it　to　me；〃　said　Bill。
　　　He　clapped　a　hand　on　Harry's　shoulder；　kissed　his　mother　on　the　cheek；　pulled　on　his　cloak；　and　strode　quickly　from　the　room。
　　　〃Minerva；〃　said　Dumbledore；　turning　to　Professor　McGonagall；　〃I　want　to　see　Hagrid　in　my　office　as　soon　as　possible。　Also…if　she　will　consent　to　e…Madame　Maxime。〃
　　　Professor　McGonagall　nodded　and　left　without　a　word。
　　　〃Poppy；〃　Dumbledore　said　to　Madam　Pomfrey；　〃would　you　be　very　kind　and　go　down　to　Professor　Moodys　office；　where　I　think　you　will　find　a　house…elf　called　Winky　in　considerable　distress？　Do　what　you　can　for　her；　and　take　her　back　to　the　kitchens。　I　think　Dobby　will　look　after　her　for　us。〃
　　　〃Very…very　well；〃　said　Madam　Pomfrey；　looking　startled；　and　she　too　left。
　　　Dumbledore　made　sure　that　the　door　was　closed；　and　that　Madam　Pomfrey's　footsteps　had　died　away；　before　he　spoke　again。
　　　〃And　now；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　time　for　two　of　our　number　to　recognize　each　other　for　what　they　are。　Sirius　。。。if　you　could　resume　your　usual　form。〃
　　　The　great　black　dog　looked　up　at　Dumbledore；　then；　in　an　instant；　turned　back　into　a　man。
　　　Mrs。　Weasley　screamed　and　leapt　back　from　the　bed。
　　　〃Sirius　Black！〃　she　shrieked；　pointing　at　him。
　　　〃Mum；　shut　up！〃　Ron　yelled。　〃It's　okay！〃
　　　Snape　had　not　yelled　or　jumped　backward；　but　the　look　on　his　face　was　one　of　mingled　fury　and　horror。
　　　〃Him！〃　he　snarled；　staring　at　Sirius；　whose　face　showed　equal　dislike。　〃What　is　he　doing　here？〃
　　　〃He　is　here　at　my　invitation；〃　said　Dumbledore；　looking　between　them；　〃as　are　you；　Severus。　I　trust　you　both。　It　is　time　for　you　to　lay　aside　your　old　differences　and　trust　each　other。〃
　　　Harry　thought　Dumbledore　was　asking　for　a　near　miracle。　Sirius　and　Snape　were　eyeing　each　other　with　the　utmost　loathing。
　　　〃I　will　settle；　in　the　short　term；〃　said　Dumbledore；　with　a　bite　of　impatience　in　his　voice；　〃for　a　lack　of　open　hostility。　You　will　shake　hands。　You　are　on　the　same　side　now。　Time　is　short；　and　unless　the　few　of　us　who　know　the　truth　do　not　stand　united；　there　is　no　hope
　　　for　any　us。
　　　Very　slowly…but　still　glaring　at　each　other　as　though　each　wished　the　other　nothing　but　ill…Sirius　and　Snape　moved　toward　each　other　and　shook　hands。　They　let　go　extremely　quickly。
　　　〃That　will　do　to　be　going　on　with；〃　said　Dumbledore；　stepping　between　them　once　more。　〃Now　I　have　work　for　each　of　you。　Fudge's　attitude；　though　not　unexpected；　changes　everything。　Sirius；　I　need　you　to　set　off　at　once。　You　are　to　alert　Remus　Lupin；　Arabella　Figg；　Mundungus　Fletcher…the　old　crowd。　Lie　low　at　Lupin's　for　a　while；　I　will　contact　you　there。〃
　　　〃But…〃　sa