jkrowling.harrypotterandgf-第66部分

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n　of　horrific　creatures。　While　Dumbledore　turns　a　blind　eye；　Hagrid　has　maimed　several　pupils　during　a　series　of　lessons　that　many　admit　to　being　〃very　frightening。〃
　　　'I　was　attacked　by　a　hippogriff；　and　my　friend　Vincent　Crabbe　got　a　bad　bite　off　a　flobberworm；〃　says　Draco　Malfoy；　a　fourth…year　student。　〃We　all　hate　Hagrid；　but　we're　just　too　scared　to　say　anything。〃
　　　Hagrid　has　no　intention　of　ceasing　his　campaign　of　intimidation；　however。　In　conversation　with　a　Daily　Prophet　reporter　last　month；　he　admitted　breeding　creatures　he　has　dubbed　〃Blast…Ended　Skrewts；〃　highly　dangerous　crosses　between　manti…cores　and　fire…crabs。　The　creation　of　new　breeds　of　magical　creature　is；　of　course；　an　activity　usually　closely　observed　by　the　Department　for　the　Regulation　and　Control　of　Magical　Creatures。　Hagrid；　however；　considers　himself　to　be　above　such　petty　restrictions。
　　　〃I　was　just　having　some　fun；〃　he　says；　before　hastily　changing　the　subject。
　　　As　if　this　were　not　enough；　the　Daily　Prophet　has　now　unearthed　evidence　that　Hagrid　is　not…as　he　has　always　pretended…a　pure…blood　wizard。　He　is　not；　in　fact；　even　pure　human。　His　mother；　we　can　exclusively　reveal；　is　none　other　than　the　giantess　Fridwulfa；　whose　whereabouts　are　currently　unknown。
　　　Bloodthirsty　and　brutal；　the　giants　brought　themselves　to　the　point　of　extinction　by　warring　amongst　themselves　during　the　last　century。　The　handful　that　remained　joined　the　ranks　of　He…Who…Must…Not…Be…Named；　and　were　responsible　for　some　of　the　worst　mass　Muggle　killings　of　his　reign　of　terror。
　　　While　many　of　the　giants　who　served　He…Who…Must…Not…Be…Named　were　killed　by　Aurors　working　against　the　Dark　Side；　Fridwulfa　was　not　among　them。　It　is　possible　she　escaped　to　one　of　the　giant　munities　still　existing　in　foreign　mountain　ranges。　If　his　antics　during　Care　of　Magical　Creatures　lessons　are　any　guide；　however；　Frid…wulfa's　son　appears　to　have　inherited　her　brutal　nature。
　　　In　a　bizarre　twist；　Hagrid　is　reputed　to　have　developed　a　close　friendship　with　the　boy　who　brought　around　You…Know…Who's　fall　from　power…thereby　driving　Hagrid's　own　mother；　like　the　rest　of　You…Know…Who's　supporters；　into　hiding。　Perhaps　Harry　Potter　is　unaware　of　the　unpleasant　truth　about　his　large　friend…but　Albus　Dumbledore　surely　has　a　duty　to　ensure　that　Harry　Potter；　along　with　his　fellow　students；　is　warned　about　the　dangers　of　associating　with　part…giants。
　　　
　　　Harry　finished　reading　and　looked　up　at　Ron；　whose　mouth　was　hanging　open。
　　　〃How　did　she　find　out？〃　he　whispered。
　　　But　that　wasn't　what　was　bothering　Harry。
　　　〃What　d'you　mean；　'we　all　hate　Hagrid'？〃　Harry　spat　at　Malfoy。　〃What's　this　rubbish　about　him〃…he　pointed　at　Crabbe…〃getting　a　bad　bite　off　a　flobberworm？　They　haven't　even　got　teeth！〃
　　　Crabbe　was　sniggering；　apparently　very　pleased　with　himself。
　　　〃Well；　I　think　this　should　put　an　end　to　the　oaf's　teaching　career；〃　said　Malfoy；　his　eyes　glinting。　〃Half…giant。。。　and　there　was　me　thinking　he'd　just　swallowed　a　bottle　of　Skele…Gro　when　he　was　young。。。　None　of　the　mummies　and　daddies　are　going　to　like　this　at　all。。。　They'll　be　worried　he'll　eat　their　kids；　ha；　ha。。。〃
　　　〃You…〃
　　　〃Are　you　paying　attention　over　there？〃
　　　Professor　Grubbly…Planks　voice　carried　over　to　the　boys；　the　girls　were　all　clustered　around　the　unicorn　now；　stroking　it。　Harry　was　so　angry　that　the　Daily　Prophet　article　shook　in　his　hands　as　he　turned　to　stare　unseeingly　at　the　unicorn；　whose　many　magical　properties　Professor　Grubbly…Plank　was　now　enumerating　in　a　loud　voice；　so　that　the　boys　could　hear　too。
　　　〃I　hope　she　stays；　that　woman！〃　said　Parvati　Patil　when　the　lesson　had　ended　and　they　were　all　heading　back　to　the　castle　for　lunch。　〃That's　more　what　I　thought　Care　of　Magical　Creatures　would　be　like。。。　proper　creatures　like　unicorns；　not　monsters。。。〃
　　　〃What　about　Hagrid？〃　Harry　said　angrily　as　they　went　up　the　steps。
　　　〃What　about　him？〃　said　Parvati　in　a　hard　voice。　〃He　can　still　be　gamekeeper；　can't　he？〃
　　　Parvati　had　been　very　cool　toward　Harry　since　the　ball。　He　supposed　that　he　ought　to　have　paid　her　a　bit　more　attention；　but　she　seemed　to　have　had　a　good　time　all　the　same。　She　was　certainly　telling　anybody　who　would　listen　that　she　had　made　arrangements　to　meet　the　boy　from　Beauxbatons　in　Hogsmeade　on　the　next　weekend　trip。
　　　〃That　was　a　really　good　lesson；〃　said　Hermione　as　they　entered　the　Great　Hall。　〃I　didn't　know　half　the　things　Professor　Grubbly…Plank　told　us　about　uni…〃
　　　〃Look　at　this！〃　Harry　snarled；　and　he　shoved　the　Daily　Prophet　article　under　Hermione's　nose。
　　　Hermione's　mouth　fell　open　as　she　read。　Her　reaction　was　exactly　the　same　as　Ron's。
　　　〃How　did　that　horrible　Skeeter　woman　find　out？　You　don't　think　Hagrid　told　her？〃
　　　〃No；〃　said　Harry；　leading　the　way　over　to　the　Gryffindor　table　and　throwing　himself　into　a　chair；　furious。　〃He　never　even　told　us；　did　he？　I　reckon　she　was　so　mad　he　wouldn't　give　her　loads　of　horrible　stuff　about　me；　she　went　ferreting　around　to　get　him　back。〃
　　　〃Maybe　she　heard　him　telling　Madame　Maxime　at　the　ball；〃　said　Hermione　quietly。
　　　〃We'd　have　seen　her　in　the　garden！〃　said　Ron。　〃Anyway；　she's　not　supposed　to　e　into　school　anymore；　Hagrid　said　Dumbledore　banned　her。。。〃
　　　〃Maybe　she's　got　an　Invisibility　Cloak；〃　said　Harry；　ladling　chicken　casserole　onto　his　plate　and　splashing　it　everywhere　in　his　anger。　〃Sort　of　thing　she'd　do；　isn't　it；　hide　in　bushes　listening　to　people。〃
　　　〃Like　you　and　Ron　did；　you　mean；〃　said　Hermione。
　　　〃We　weren't　trying　to　hear　him！〃　said　Ron　indignantly。　〃We　didn't　have　any　choice！　The　stupid　prat；　talking　about　his　giantess　mother　where　anyone　could　have　heard　him！〃
　　　〃We've　got　to　go　and　see　him；〃　said　Harry。　〃This　evening；　after　Divination。　Tell　him　we　want　him　back。。。　you　do　want　him　back？〃　he　shot　at　Hermione。
　　　〃I…well；　I'm　not　going　to　pretend　it　didn't　make　a　nice　change；　having　a　proper　Care　of　Magical　Creatures　lesson　for　once…but　I　do　want　Hagrid　back；　of　course　I　do！〃　Hermione　added　hastily；　quailing　under　Harry's　furious　stare。
　　　So　that　evening　after　dinner；　the　three　of　them　left　the　castle　once　more　and　went　down　through　the　frozen　grounds　to　Hagrid's　cabin。　They　knocked；　and　Fang's　booming　barks　answered。
　　　〃Hagrid；　it's　us！〃　Harry　shouted；　pounding　on　the　door。　〃Open　up！〃
　　　Hagrid　didn't　answer。　They　could　hear　Fang　scratching　at　the　door；　whining；　but　it　didn't　open。　They　hammered　on　it　for　ten　more　minutes；　Ron　even　went　and　banged　on　one　of　the　windows；　but　there　was　no　response。
　　　〃What's　he　avoiding　us　for？〃　Hermione　said　when　they　had　finally　given　up　and　were　walking　back　to　the　school。　〃He　surely　doesn't　think　we'd　care　about　him　being　half…giant？〃
　　　But　it　seemed　that　Hagrid　did　care。　They　didn't　see　a　sign　of　him　all　week。　He　didn't　appear　at　the　staff　table　at　mealtimes；　they　didn't　see　him　going　about　his　gamekeeper　duties　on　the　grounds；　and　Professor　Grubbly…Plank　continued　to　take　the　Care　of　Magical　Creatures　classes。　Malfoy　was　gloating　at　every　possible　opportunity。
　　　〃Missing　your　half…breed　pal？〃　he　kept　whispering　to　Harry　whenever　there　was　a　teacher　around；　so　that　he　was　safe　from　Harry's　retaliation。　〃Missing　the　elephant…man？〃
　　　There　was　a　Hogsmeade　visit　halfway　through　January。　Hermione　was　very　surprised　that　Harry　was　going　to　go。
　　　〃I　just　thought　you'd　want　to　take　advantage　of　the　mon　room　being　quiet；〃　she　said。　〃Really　get　to　work　on　that　egg。〃
　　　〃Oh　I…I　reckon　I've　got　a　pretty　good　idea　what　it's　about　now；〃　Harry　lied。
　　　〃Have　you　really？〃　said　Hermione；　looking　impressed。　〃Well　done！〃
　　　Harrys　insides　gave　a　guilty　squirm；　but　he　ignored　them。　He　still　had　five　weeks　to　work　out　that　egg　clue；　after　all；　and　that　was　ages。。。　whereas　if　he　went　into　Hogsmeade；　he　might　run　into　Hagrid；　and　get　a　chance　to　persuade　him　to　e　back。
　　　He；　Ron；　and　Hermione　left　the　castle　together　on　Saturday　and　set　off　through　the　cold；　wet　grounds　toward　the　gates。　As　they　passed　the　Durmstrang　ship　moored　in　the　lake；　they　saw　Viktor　Krum　emerge　onto　the　deck；　dressed　in　nothing　but　swimming　trunks。　He　was　very　skinny　indeed；　but　apparently　a　lot　tougher　than　he　looked；　because　he　climbed　up　onto　the　side　of　the　ship；　stretched　out　his　arms；　and　dived；　right　into　the　lake。
　　　〃He's　mad！〃　said　Harry；　staring　at　Krums　dark　head　as　it　bobbed　out　into　the　middle　of　the　lake。　〃It　must　be　freezing；　it's　January！〃
　　　〃It's　a　lot　colder　where　he　es　from；〃　said　Hermione。　〃I　suppose　it　feels　quite　warm　to　him。〃
　　　〃Yeah；　but　there's　still　the　giant　squid；〃　said　Ron。　He　didn't　sound　anxious…if　anything；　he　sounded　hopeful。　Hermione　noticed　his　tone　of　voice　and　frowned。
　　　〃He's　really　nice；　you　know；〃　she　said。　〃He's　not　at　all　like　you'd　think；　ing　from　Durmstrang。　He　likes　it　much　better　here；　he　told　me。〃
　　　Ron　said　nothing。　He　hadn't　mentioned　Viktor　Krum　since　the　ball；　but　Harry　had　found　a　miniature　arm　under　his　bed　on　Boxing　Day；　which　had　looked　very　much　as　though　it　had　been　snapped　off　a　small　model　figure　wearing　Bulgarian　Quidditch　robes。
　　　Harry　kept　his　eyes　skinned　for　a　sign　of　Hagrid　all　the　way　down　the　slushy　High　Street；　and　suggested　a　visit　to　the　Three　Broomsticks　once　he　had　ascertained　that　Hagrid　was　not　in　any　of　the　shops。
　　　The　pub　was　as　crowded　as　ever；　but　one　quick　look　around　at　all　the　tables　told　Harry　that　Hagrid　wasn't　there。　Heart　sinking；　he　went　up　to　the　bar　with　Ron　and　Hermione；　ordered　three　butterbeers　from　Madam　Rosmerta；　and　thought　gloomily　that　he　might　just　as　well　have　stayed　behind　and　listened　to　the　egg　wailing　after　all。
　　　〃Doesn't　he　ever　go　into　the　office？〃　Hermione　whispered　suddenly。　〃Look！〃
　　　She　pointed　into　the　mirror　behind　the　bar；　and　Harry　saw　Ludo　Bagman　reflected　there；　sitting　in　a　shadowy　corner　with　a　bunch　of　goblins。　Bagman　was　talking　very　fast　in　a　low　voice　to　the　goblins；　all　of　whom　had　their　arms　crossed　and　were　looking　rather　menacing。
　　　It　was　indeed　odd。　Harry　thought；　that　Bagman　was　here　at　the　Three　Broomsticks　on　a　weekend　when　there　was　no　Triwizard　event；　and　therefore　no　judging　to　be　done。　He　watched　Bagman　in　the　mirror。　He　was　looking　strained　again；　quite　as　strained　as　he　had　that　night　in　the　forest　before　the　Dark　Mark　had　appe