jkrowling.harrypotterandgf-第22部分

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y's　it　such　a　big　deal？〃
　　　〃I　told　you；　it's　You…Know…Who's　symbol；　Ron；〃　said　Hermione；　before　anyone　else　could　answer。　〃I　read　about　it　in　The　Rise　and　Fall　of　the　Dark　Arts。〃
　　　〃And　it　hasn't　been　seen　for　thirteen　years；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley　quietly。　〃Of　course　people　panicked。。。　it　was　almost　like　seeing　You…Know…Who　back　again。〃
　　　〃I　don't　get　it；〃　said　Ron；　frowning。　〃I　mean。。。　it's　still　only　a　shape　in　the　sky。。。
　　　〃Ron；　You…Know…Who　and　his　followers　sent　the　Dark　Mark　into　the　air　whenever　they　killed；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley。　〃The　terror　it　inspired。。。　you　have　no　idea；　you're　too　young。　Just　picture　ing　home　and　finding　the　Dark　Mark　hovering　over　your　house；　and　knowing　what　you're　about　to　find　inside。。。〃　Mr。　Weasley　winced。　〃Everyone's　worst　fear。。。　the　very　worst。。
　　　There　was　silence　for　a　moment。　Then　Bill；　removing　the　sheet　from　his　arm　to　check　on　his　cut；　said；　〃Well；　it　didn't　help　us　tonight；　whoever　conjured　it。　It　scared　the　Death　Eaters　away　the　moment　they　saw　it。　They　all　Disapparated　before　we'd　got　near　enough　to　unmask　any　of　them。　We　caught　the　Robertses　before　they　hit　the　ground；　though。　They're　having　their　memories　modified　right　now。〃
　　　〃Death　Eaters？〃　said　Harry。　〃What　are　Death　Eaters？〃
　　　〃It's　what　You…Know…Who's　supporters　called　themselves；〃　said　Bill。　〃I　think　we　saw　what's　left　of　them　tonight…the　ones　who　managed　to　keep　themselves　out　of　Azkaban；　anyway。〃
　　　〃We　can't　prove　it　was　them；　Bill；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley。　〃Though　it　probably　was；〃　he　added　hopelessly。
　　　〃Yeah；　I　bet　it　was！〃　said　Ron　suddenly　。　〃Dad；　we　met　Draco　Malfoy　in　the　woods；　and　he　as　good　as　told　us　his　dad　was　one　of　those　nutters　in　masks！　And　we　all　know　the　Malfoys　were　right　in　with　You…Know…Who！〃
　　　〃But　what　were　Voldemort's　supporters…〃　Harry　began。　Everybody　flinched…like　most　of　the　wizarding　world；　the　Weasleys　always　avoided　saying　Voldemort's　name。　〃Sorry；〃　said　Harry　quickly。　〃What　were　You…Know…Who's　supporters　up　to；　levitating　Muggles？　I　mean；　what　was　the　point？〃
　　　〃The　point？〃　said　Mr。　Weasley　with　a　hollow　laugh。　〃Harry；　that's　their　idea　of　fun。　Half　the　Muggle　killings　back　when　You…Know…Who　was　in　power　were　done　for　fun。　I　suppose　they　had　a　few　drinks　tonight　and　couldn't　resist　reminding　us　all　that　lots　of　them　are　still　at　large。　A　nice　little　reunion　for　them；〃　he　finished　disgustedly。
　　　〃But　if　they　were　the　Death　Eaters；　why　did　they　Disapparate　when　they　saw　the　Dark　Mark？〃　said　Ron。　〃They'd　have　been　pleased　to　see　it；　wouldn't　they？〃
　　　〃Use　your　brains；　Ron；〃　said　Bill。　〃If　they　really　were　Death　Eaters；　they　worked　very　hard　to　keep　out　of　Azkaban　when　You…Know…Who　lost　power；　and　told　all　sorts　of　lies　about　him　forcing　them　to　kill　and　torture　people。　I　bet　they'd　be　even　more　frightened　than　the　rest　of　us　to　see　him　e　back。　They　denied　they'd　ever　been　involved　with　him　when　he　lost　his　powers；　and　went　back　to　their　daily　lives。。。　I　don't　reckon　he'd　be　over…pleased　with　them；　do　you？〃
　　　〃So。。。　whoever　conjured　the　Dark　Mark。。。〃　said　Hermione　slowly；　〃were　they　doing　it　to　show　support　for　the　Death　Eaters；　or　to　scare　them　away？〃
　　　〃Your　guess　is　as　good　as　ours；　Hermione；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley。　〃But　I'll　tell　you　this。。。　it　was　only　the　Death　Eaters　who　ever　knew　how　to　conjure　it。　I'd　be　very　surprised　if　the　person　who　did　it　hadn't　been　a　Death　Eater　once；　even　if　they're　not　now。。　Listen；　it's　very　late；　and　if　your　mother　hears　what's　happened　she'll　be　worried　sick。　We'll　get　a　few　more　hours　sleep　and　then　try　and　get　an　early　Portkey　out　of　here。〃
　　　Harry　got　back　into　his　bunk　with　his　head　buzzing。　He　knew　he　ought　to　feel　exhausted：　It　was　nearly　three　in　the　morning；　but　he　felt　wide…awake…wide…awake；　and　worried。
　　　Three　days　ago…it　felt　like　much　longer；　but　it　had　only　been　three　days…he　had　awoken　with　his　scar　burning。　And　tonight；　for　the　first　time　in　thirteen　years；　Lord　Voldemort's　mark　had　appeared　in　the　sky。　What　did　these　things　mean？
　　　He　thought　of　the　letter　he　had　written　to　Sirius　before　leaving　Privet　Drive。　Would　Sirius　have　gotten　it　yet？　When　would　he　reply？　Harry　lay　looking　up　at　the　canvas；　but　no　flying　fantasies　came　to　him　now　to　ease　him　to　sleep；　and　it　was　a　long　time　after　Charlie's　snores　filled　the　tent　that　Harry　finally　dozed　off。
　　　
　　　
　　　CHAPTER　TEN
　　　MAYHEM　AT　THE　MINISTRY
　　　
　　　Mr。　Weasley　woke　them　after　only　a　few　hours　sleep。　He　used　magic　to　pack　up　the　tents；　and　they　left　the　campsite　as　quickly　as　possible；　passing　Mr。　Roberts　at　the　door　of　his　cottage。　Mr。　Roberts　had　a　strange；　dazed　look　about　him；　and　he　waved　them　off　with　a　vague　〃Merry　Christmas。〃
　　　〃He'll　be　all　right；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley　quietly　as　they　marched　off　onto　the　moor。　〃Sometimes；　when　a　person's　memory's　modified；　it　makes　him　a　bit　disorientated　for　a　while。。。　and　that　was　a　big　thing　they　had　to　make　him　forget。〃
　　　They　heard　urgent　voices　as　they　approached　the　spot　where　the　Portkeys　lay；　and　when　they　reached　it；　they　found　a　great　number　of　witches　and　wizards　gathered　around　Basil；　the　keeper　of　the　Portkeys；　all　clamoring　to　get　away　from　the　campsite　as　quickly　as　possible。　Mr。　Weasley　had　a　hurried　discussion　with　Basil；　they　joined　the　queue；　and　were　able　to　take　an　old　rubber　tire　back　to　Stoatshead　Hill　before　the　sun　had　really　risen。　They　walked　back　through　Ottery　St。　Catchpole　and　up　the　damp　lane　toward　the　Burrow　in　the　dawn　light；　talking　very　little　because　they　were　so　exhausted；　and　thinking　longingly　of　their　breakfast。　As　they　rounded　the　corner　and　the　Burrow　came　into　view；　a　cry　echoed　along　the　lane。
　　　〃Oh　thank　goodness；　thank　goodness！〃
　　　Mrs。　Weasley；　who　had　evidently　been　waiting　for　them　in　the　front　yard；　came　running　toward　them；　still　wearing　her　bedroom　slippers；　her　face　pale　and　strained；　a　rolled…up　copy　of　the　Daily　Prophet　clutched　in　her　hand。
　　　〃Arthur…I've　been　so　worried…so　worried…〃
　　　She　flung　her　arms　around　Mr。　Weasley's　neck；　and　the　Daily　Prophet　fell　out　of　her　limp　hand　onto　the　ground。　Looking　down；　Harry　saw　the　headline：　SCENES　OF　TERROR　AT　THE　QUIDDITCH　WORLD　CUP；　plete　with　a　twinkling　black…and…white　photograph　of　the　Dark　Mark　over　the　treetops。
　　　〃You're　all　right；〃　Mrs。　Weasley　muttered　distractedly；　releasing　Mr。　Weasley　and　staring　around　at　them　all　with　red　eyes；　〃you're　alive。。。　Oh　boys。。
　　　And　to　everybody's　surprise；　she　seized　Fred　and　George　and　pulled　them　both　into　such　a　tight　hug　that　their　heads　banged　together。
　　　〃Ouch！　Mum…you're　strangling　us…〃
　　　〃I　shouted　at　you　before　you　left！〃　Mrs。　Weasley　said；　starting　to　sob。　〃It's　all　I've　been　thinking　about！　What　if　You…Know…Who　had　got　you；　and　the　last　thing　I　ever　said　to　you　was　that　you　didn't　get　enough　OW。　L。　s？　Oh　Fred。。。　George。。〃
　　　〃e　on；　now；　Molly；　we're　all　perfectly　okay；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley　soothingly；　prising　her　off　the　twins　and　leading　her　back　toward　the　house。　〃Bill；〃　he　added　in　an　undertone；　〃pick　up　that　paper；　I　want　to　see　what　it　says。。。〃
　　　When　they　were　all　crammed　into　the　tiny　kitchen；　and　Hermione　had　made　Mrs。　Weasley　a　cup　of　very　strong　tea；　into　which　Mr。　Weasley　insisted　on　pouring　a　shot　of　Ogdens　Old　Firewhiskey；　Bill　handed　his　father　the　newspaper。　Mr。　Weasley　scanned　the　front　page　while　Percy　looked　over　his　shoulder。
　　　〃I　knew　it；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley　heavily。　〃Ministry　blunders。。。　culprits　not　apprehended。。。　lax　security。。。　Dark　wizards　running　unchecked。。。　national　disgrace。。。　Who　wrote　this？　Ah。。。　of　course。。。　Rita　Skeeter。〃
　　　〃That　woman's　got　it　in　for　the　Ministry　of　Magic！〃　said　Percy　furiously。　〃Last　week　she　was　saying　we're　wasting　our　time　quibbling　about　cauldron　thickness；　when　we　should　be　stamping　out　vampires！　As　if　it　wasn't　specifically　stated　in　paragraph　twelve　of　the　Guidelines　for　the　Treatment　of　Non…Wizard　Part…Humans…〃
　　　〃Do　us　a　favor；　Perce；〃　said　Bill；　yawning；　〃and　shut　up。〃
　　　〃I'm　mentioned；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley；　his　eyes　widening　behind　his　glasses　as　he　reached　the　bottom　of　the　Daily　Prophet　article。
　　　〃Where？〃　spluttered　Mrs。　Weasley；　choking　on　her　tea　and　whiskey。　〃If　I'd　seen　that；　I'd　have　known　you　were　alive！〃
　　　〃Not　by　name；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley。　〃Listen　to　this：　'If　the　terrified　wizards　and　witches　who　waited　breathlessly　for　news　at　the　edge　of　the　wood　expected　reassurance　from　the　Ministry　ofMagic；　they　were　sadly　disappointed。　A　Ministry　official　emerged　some　time　after　the　appearance　of　the　Dark　Mark　alleging　that　nobody　had　been　hurt；　but　reflising　to　give　any　more　information。　Whether　this　statement　will　be　enough　to　quash　the　rumors　that　several　bodies　were　removed　from　the　woods　an　hour　later；　remains　to　be　seen。　'　Oh　really；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley　in　exasperation；　handing　the　paper　to　Percy。　〃Nobody　was　hurt。　What　was　I　supposed　to　say？　Rumors　that　several　bodies　were　removed　from　the　woods。。。　well；　there　certainly　will　be　rumors　now　she's　printed　that。〃
　　　He　heaved　a　deep　sigh。　〃Molly；　I'm　going　to　have　to　go　into　the　office；　this　is　going　to　take　some　smoothing　over。〃
　　　〃I'll　e　with　you；　Father；〃　said　Percy　importantly。　〃Mr。　Crouch　will　need　all　hands　on　deck。　And　I　can　give　him　my　cauldron　report　in　person。〃
　　　He　bustled　out　of　the　kitchen。　Mrs。　Weasley　looked　most　upset。　〃Arthur；　you're　supposed　to　be　on　holiday！　This　hasn't　got　anything　to　do　with　your　office；　surely　they　can　handle　this　without　you？〃
　　　〃I've　got　to　go；　Molly；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley。　〃I've　made　things　worse。　I'll　just　change　into　my　robes　and　I'll　be　off。。。〃
　　　〃Mrs。　Weasley；〃　said　Harry　suddenly；　unable　to　contain　himself；　〃Hedwig　hasn't　arrived　with　a　letter　for　me；　has　she？〃
　　　〃Hedwig；　dear？〃　said　Mrs。　Weasley　distractedly。　〃No。。。　no；　there　hasn't　been　any　post　at　all。〃
　　　Ron　and　Hermione　looked　curiously　at　Harry。　With　a　meaningful　look　at　both　of　them　he　said；　〃All　right　if　I　go　and　dump　my　stuff　in　your　room；　Ron？〃
　　　〃Yeah。。。　think　I　will　too；〃　said　Ron　at　once。　〃Hermione？〃
　　　〃Yes；〃　she　said　quickly；　and　the　three　of　them　marched　out　of　the　kitchen　and　up　the　stairs。
　　　〃What's　up；　Harry？〃　said　Ron；　the　moment　they　had　closed　the　door　of　the　attic　room　behind　them。
　　　〃There's　something　I　haven't　told　you；〃　Harry　said。　〃On　Saturday　morning；　I　woke　up　with　my　scar　hurting　again。〃
　　　Ron's　and　Hermi