jkrowling.harrypotterandgf-第23部分

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　　　〃There's　something　I　haven't　told　you；〃　Harry　said。　〃On　Saturday　morning；　I　woke　up　with　my　scar　hurting　again。〃
　　　Ron's　and　Hermione's　reactions　were　almost　exactly　as　Harry　had　imagined　them　back　in　his　bedroom　on　Privet　Drive。　Hermione　gasped　and　started　making　suggestions　at　once；　mentioning　a　number　of　reference　books；　and　everybody　from　Albus　Dumbledore　to　Madam　Pomfrey；　the　Hogwarts　nurse。　Ron　simply　looked　dumbstruck。
　　　〃But…he　wasn't　there；　was　he？　You…Know…Who？　I　mean…last　time　your　scar　kept　hurting；　he　was　at　Hogwarts；　wasn't　he？〃
　　　〃I'm　sure　he　wasn't　on　Privet　Drive；〃　said　Harry。　〃But　I　was　dreaming　about　him。。。　him　and　Peter…you　know；　Wormtail。　I　can't　remember　all　of　it　now；　but　they　were　plotting　to　kill。。。　someone。〃
　　　He　had　teetered　for　a　moment　on　the　verge　of　saying　〃me；〃　but　couldn't　bring　himself　to　make　Hermione　look　any　more　horrified　than　she　already　did。
　　　〃It　was　only　a　dream；〃　said　Ron　bracingly。　〃Just　a　nightmare。〃
　　　〃Yeah；　but　was　it；　though？〃　said　Harry；　turning　to　look　out　of　the　window　at　the　brightening　sky。　〃It's　weird；　isn't　it？。。。　My　scar　hurts；　and　three　days　later　the　Death　Eaters　are　on　the　march；　and　Voldemort's　sign's　up　in　the　sky　again。〃
　　　〃Don't…say…his…name！〃　Ron　hissed　through　gritted　teeth。
　　　〃And　remember　what　Professor　Trelawney　said？〃　Harry　went　on；　ignoring　Ron。　〃At　the　end　of　last　year？〃
　　　Professor　Trelawney　was　their　Divination　teacher　at　Hogwarts。　Hermione's　terrified　look　vanished　as　she　let　out　a　derisive　snort。
　　　〃Oh　Harry；　you　aren't　going　to　pay　attention　to　anything　that　old　fraud　says？〃
　　　〃You　weren't　there；〃　said　Harry。　〃You　didn't　hear　her。　This　time　was　different。　I　told　you；　she　went　into　a　trance…a　real　one。　And　she　said　the　Dark　Lord　would　rise　again。。。　greater　and　more　terrible　than　ever　before。。。　and　he'd　manage　it　because　his　servant　was　going　to　go　back　to　him。。。　and　that　night　Wormtail　escaped。〃
　　　There　was　a　silence　in　which　Ron　fidgeted　absentmindedly　with　a　hole　in　his　Chudley　Cannons　bedspread。
　　　〃Why　were　you　asking　if　Hedwig　had　e；　Harry？〃　Hermione　asked。　〃Are　you　expecting　a　letter？〃
　　　〃I　told　Sirius　about　my　scar；〃　said　Harry；　shrugging。　〃I'm　waiting　for　his　answer。〃
　　　〃Good　thinking！〃　said　Ron；　his　expression　clearing。　〃I　bet　Sirius'll　know　what　to　do！〃
　　　〃I　hoped　he'd　get　back　to　me　quickly；〃　said　Harry。
　　　〃But　we　don't　know　where　Sirius　is。。。　he　could　be　in　Africa　or　somewhere；　couldn't　he？〃　said　Hermione　reasonably。　〃Hedwig's　not　going　to　manage　that　journey　in　a　few　days。〃
　　　〃Yeah；　I　know；〃　said　Harry；　but　there　was　a　leaden　feeling　in　his　stomach　as　he　looked　out　of　the　window　at　the　Hedwig…free　sky。
　　　〃e　and　have　a　game　of　Quidditch　in　the　orchard；　Harry〃　said　Ron。　〃e　on…three　on　three；　Bill　and　Charlie　and　Fred　and　George　will　play。。。　You　can　try　out　the　Wronski　Feint。。。〃
　　　〃Ron；〃　said　Hermione；　in　an　I…don't…think…you're…being…very…sensitive　sort　of　voice；　〃Harry　doesn't　want　to　play　Quidditch　right　now。。。　He's　worried；　and　he's　tired。。。　We　all　need　to　go　to　bed。。。〃
　　　〃Yeah；　I　want　to　play　Quidditch；〃　said　Harry　suddenly。　〃Hang　on；　I'll　get　my　Firebolt。〃
　　　Hermione　left　the　room；　muttering　something　that　sounded　very　much　like　〃Boys。〃
　　　
　　　Neither　Mr。　Weasley　nor　Percy　was　at　home　much　over　the　following　week。　Both　left　the　house　each　morning　before　the　rest　of　the　family　got　up；　and　returned　well　after　dinner　every　night。
　　　〃It's　been　an　absolute　uproar；〃　Percy　told　them　importantly　the　Sunday　evening　before　they　were　due　to　return　to　Hogwarts。　〃I've　been　putting　out　fires　all　week。　People　keep　sending　Howlers；　and　of　course；　if　you　don't　open　a　Howler　straight　away；　it　explodes。　Scorch　marks　all　over　my　desk　and　my　best　quill　reduced　to　cinders。〃
　　　〃Why　are　they　all　sending　Howlers？〃　asked　Ginny；　who　was　mending　her　copy　of　One　Thousand　Magical　Herbs　and　Fungi　with　Spellotape　on　the　rug　in　front　of　the　living　room　fire。
　　　〃plaining　about　security　at　the　World　Cup；〃　said　Percy。　〃They　want　pensation　for　their　ruined　property。　Mundungus　Fletcher's　put　in　a　claim　for　a　twelve…bedroomed　tent　with　en…suite　Jacuzzi；　but　I've　got　his　number。　I　know　for　a　fact　he　was　sleeping　under　a　cloak　propped　on　sticks。〃
　　　Mrs。　Weasley　glanced　at　the　grandfather　clock　in　the　corner。　Harry　liked　this　clock。　It　was　pletely　useless　if　you　wanted　to　know　the　time；　but　otherwise　very　informative。　It　had　nine　golden　hands；　and　each　of　them　was　engraved　with　one　of　the　Weasley　family's　names。　There　were　no　numerals　around　the　face；　but　descriptions　of　where　each　family　member　might　be。　〃Home；〃　〃school；〃　and　〃work〃　were　there；　but　there　was　also　〃traveling；〃　〃lost；〃　〃hospital；〃　〃prison；〃　and；　in　the　position　where　the　number　twelve　would　be　on　a　normal　clock；　〃mortal　peril。〃
　　　Eight　of　the　hands　were　currently　pointing　to　the　〃home〃　position；　but　Mr。　Weasley's；　which　was　the　longest；　was　still　pointing　to　〃work。〃　Mrs。　Weasley　sighed。
　　　〃Your　father　hasn't　had　to　go　into　the　office　on　weekends　since　the　days　of　You…Know…Who；〃　she　said。　〃They're　working　him　far　too　hard。　His　dinner's　going　to　be　ruined　if　he　doesn't　e　home　soon。〃
　　　〃Well；　Father　feels　he's　got　to　make　up　for　his　mistake　at　the　match；　doesn't　he？〃　said　Percy。　〃If　truth　be　told；　he　was　a　tad　unwise　to　make　a　public　statement　without　clearing　it　with　his　Head　of　Department　first…〃
　　　〃Don't　you　dare　blame　your　father　for　what　that　wretched　Skeeter　woman　wrote！〃　said　Mrs。　Weasley；　flaring　up　at　once。
　　　〃If　Dad　hadn't　said　anything；　old　Rita　would　just　have　said　it　was　disgraceful　that　nobody　from　the　Ministry　had　mented；〃　said　Bill；　who　was　playing　chess　with　Ron。　〃Rita　Skeeter　never　makes　anyone　look　good。　Remember；　she　interviewed　all　the　Gringotts'　Charm　Breakers　once；　and　called　me　'a　long…haired　pillock'？〃
　　　〃Well；　it　is　a　bit　long；　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Weasley　gently。　〃If　you'd　just　let　me…〃
　　　〃No；　Mum。〃
　　　Rain　lashed　against　the　living　room　window。　Hermione　was　immersed　in　The　Standard　Book　of　Spells；　Grade　4；　copies　of　which　Mrs。　Weasley　had　bought　for　her；　Harry；　and　Ron　in　Diagon　Alley。　Charlie　was　darning　a　fireproof　balaclava。　Harry　was　polishing　his　Firebolt；　the　broomstick　servicing　kit　Hermione　had　given　him　for　his　thirteenth　birthday　open　at　his　feet。　Fred　and　George　were　sitting　in　a　far　corner；　quills　out；　talking　in　whispers；　their　heads　bent　over　a　piece　of　parchment。
　　　〃What　are　you　two　up　to？〃　said　Mrs。　Weasley　sharply；　her　eyes　on　the　twins。
　　　〃Homework；〃　said　Fred　vaguely。
　　　〃Don't　be　ridiculous；　you're　still　on　holiday；〃　said　Mrs。　Weasley。
　　　〃Yeah；　we've　left　it　a　bit　late；〃　said　George。
　　　〃You're　not　by　any　chance　writing　out　a　new　order　form；　are　you？〃　said　Mrs。　Weasley　shrewdly。　〃You　wouldn't　be　thinking　of　restarting　Weasleys'　Wizard　Wheezes；　by　any　chance？〃
　　　〃Now；　Mum；〃　said　Fred；　looking　up　at　her；　a　pained　look　on　his　face。　〃If　the　Hogwarts　Express　crashed　tomorrow；　and　George　and　I　died；　how　would　you　feel　to　know　that　the　last　thing　we　ever　heard　from　you　was　an　unfounded　accusation？〃
　　　Everyone　laughed；　even　Mrs。　Weasley。
　　　〃Oh　your　father's　ing！〃　she　said　suddenly；　looking　up　at　the　clock　again。
　　　Mr。　Weasley's　hand　had　suddenly　spun　from　〃work〃　to　〃traveling〃；　a　second　later　it　had　shuddered　to　a　halt　on　〃home〃　with　the　others；　and　they　heard　him　calling　from　the　kitchen。
　　　〃ing；　Arthur！〃　called　Mrs。　Weasley；　hurrying　out　of　the　room。
　　　A　few　moments　later；　Mr。　Weasley　came　into　the　warm　living　room　carrying　his　dinner　on　a　tray。　He　looked　pletely　exhausted。
　　　〃Well；　the　fat's　really　in　the　fire　now；〃　he　told　Mrs。　Weasley　as　he　sat　down　in　an　armchair　near　the　hearth　and　toyed　unenthusiastically　with　his　somewhat　shriveled　cauliflower。　〃Rita　Skeeter's　been　ferreting　around　all　week；　looking　for　more　Ministry　mess…ups　to　report。　And　now　she's　found　out　about　poor　old　Bertha　going　missing；　so　that'll　be　the　headline　in　the　Prophet　tomorrow。　I　told　Bagman　he　should　have　sent　someone　to　look　for　her　ages　ago。〃
　　　〃Mr。　Crouch　has　been　saying　it　for　weeks　and　weeks；〃　said　Percy　swiftly。
　　　〃Crouch　is　very　lucky　Rita　hasn't　found　out　about　Winky；〃　said　Mr。　Weasley　irritably。　〃There'd　be　a　week's　worth　of　headlines　in　his　house…elf　being　caught　holding　the　wand　that　conjured　the　Dark　Mark。〃
　　　〃I　thought　we　were　all　agreed　that　that　elf；　while　irresponsible；　did　not　conjure　the　Mark？〃　said　Percy　hotly。
　　　〃If　you　ask　me；　Mr。　Crouch　is　very　lucky　no　one　at　the　Daily　Prophet　knows　how　mean　he　is　to　elves！〃　said　Hermione　angrily。
　　　〃Now　look　here；　Hermione！〃　said　Percy。　〃A　high…ranking　Ministry　official　like　Mr。　Crouch　deserves　unswerving　obedience　from　his　servants…〃
　　　〃His　slave；　you　mean！〃　said　Hermione；　her　voice　rising　passionately；　〃because　he　didn't　pay　Winky；　did　he？〃
　　　〃I　think　you'd　all　better　go　upstairs　and　check　that　you've　packed　properly！〃　said　Mrs。　Weasley；　breaking　up　the　argument。　〃e　on　now；　all　of　you。。。〃
　　　Harry　repacked　his　broomstick　servicing　kit；　put　his　Firebolt　over　his　shoulder；　and　went　back　upstairs　with　Ron。　The　rain　sounded　even　louder　at　the　top　of　the　house；　acpanied　by　loud　whistlings　and　moans　from　the　wind；　not　to　mention　sporadic　howls　from　the　ghoul　who　lived　in　the　attic。　Pigwidgeon　began　twittering　and　zooming　around　his　cage　when　they　entered。　The　sight　of　the　half…packed　trunks　seemed　to　have　sent　him　into　a　frenzy　of　excitement。
　　　〃Bung　him　some　Owl　Treats；〃　said　Ron；　throwing　a　packet　across　to　Harry。　〃It　might　shut　him　up。〃
　　　Harry　poked　a　few　Owl　Treats　through　the　bars　of　Pigwidgeon's　cage；　then　turned　to　his　trunk。　Hedwig's　cage　stood　next　to　it；　still　empty。
　　　〃It's　been　over　a　week；〃　Harry　said；　looking　at　Hedwig's　deserted　perch。　〃Ron；　you　don't　reckon　Sirius　has　been　caught；　do　you？〃
　　　〃Nah；　it　would've　been　in　the　Daily　Prophet；〃　said　Ron。　〃The　Ministry　would　want　to　show　they'd　caught　someone；　wouldn't　they？〃
　　　〃Yeah；　I　suppose。。。〃
　　　〃Look；　here's　the　stuff　Mum　got　for　you　in　Diagon　Alley。　And　she's　got　some　gold　out　of　your　vault　for　you。。。　and　she's　washed　all　your　socks。〃
　　　He　heaved　a　pile　of　parcels　onto　Harry's　camp　bed　and　dropped　the　money　bag　and　a　load　of　socks　next　to　it。　Harry　started　unwrapping　the　shopping。　Apart　from　The　Standard　Book　of　Spells；　Grade　4；　by　Miranda　Goshawk；　he　had　a　handful　of　new　quills；