Their plans were made, their preparations complete; in the smallest bedroom a single long, coarse black hair (plucked from the sweater Hermione had been wearing at Malfoy Manor1) lay curled in a small glass phial on the mantelpiece.
“And you’ll be using her actual wand,” said Harry2, nodding toward the walnut3 wand, “so I reckon you’ll be pretty convincing.”
Hermione looked frightened that the wand might sting or bit her as she picked it up.
“I hate that thing,” she said in a low voice. “I really hate it. It feels all wrong, it doesn’t work properly for me… It’s like a bit of her.”
Harry could not help but remember how Hermione has dismissed his loathing4 of the blackthorn wand, insisting that he was imagining things when it did not work as well as his own, telling him to simply practice. He chose not to repeat her own advice back to her, however, the eve of their attempted assault on Gringotts felt like the wrong moment to antagonize her.
“It’ll probably help you get in character, though,” said Ron. “think what that wand’s done!”
“But that’s my point!” said Hermione. “This is the wand that tortured Neville’s mum and dad, and who knows how many other people? This is the wand that killed Sirius!”
Harry had not thought of that: He looked down at the wand and was visited by a brutal5 urge to snap it, to slice it in half with Gryffindor’s sword, which was propped6 against the wall beside him.
“I miss my wand,” Hermione said miserably7. “I wish Mr. Ollivander could have made me another one too.”
Mr. Ollivander had sent Luna a new wand that morning. She was out on the back lawn at that moment, testing its capabilities8 in the late afternoon sun. Dean, who had lost his wand to the Snatchers, was watching rather gloomily.
Harry looked down at the hawthorn9 wand that had once belonged to Draco Malfoy. He had been surprised, but pleased to discover that it worked for him at least as well as Hermione’s had done. Remembering what Ollivander had told them of the secret workings of wands, Harry thought he knew what Hermione’s problem was: She had not won the walnut wand’s allegiance by taking it personally from Bellatrix.
The door of the bedroom opened and Griphook entered. Harry reached instinctively10 for the hilt of the sword and drew it close to him, but regretted his action at once. He could tell that the goblin had noticed. Seeking to gloss11 over the sticky moment, he said, “We’ve just been checking the last-minute stuff, Griphook. We’ve told Bill and Fleur we’re leaving tomorrow, and we’ve told them not to get up to see us off.”
They had been firm on this point, because Hermione would need to transform in Bellatrix before they left, and the less that Bill and Fleur knew or suspected about what they were about to do, the better. They had also explained that they would not be returning. As they had lost Perkin’s old tent on the night that the Snatcher’s caught them, Bill had lent them another one. It was now packed inside the beaded bag, which, Harry was impressed to learn, Hermione had protected from the Snatchers by the simple expedient12 of stuffing it down her sock.
Though he would miss Bill, Fleur, Luna, and Dean, not to mention the home comforts they had enjoyed over the last few weeks, Harry was looking forward to escaping the confinement13 of Shell Cottage. He was tired of trying to make sure that they were not overheard, tired of being shut in the tiny, dark bedroom. Most of all, he longed to be rid of Griphook. However, precisely14 how and when they were to part from the goblin without handing over Gryffindor’s sword remained a question to which Harry had no answer. It had been impossible to decide how they were going to do it, because the goblin rarely left Harry, Ron, and Hermione alone together for more than five minutes at a time: “He could give my mother lessons,” growled15 Ron, as the goblin’s long fingers kept appearing around the edges of doors. With Bill’s warning in mind, Harry could not help suspecting that Griphook was on the watch for possible skullduggery. Hermione disapproved17 so heartily18 of the planned double-cross that Harry had given up attempting to pick her brains on how best to do it: Ron, on the rare occasions that they had been able to snatch a few Griphook-free moments, had come up with nothing better than “We’ll just have to wing it, mate.”
Harry slept badly that night. Lying away in the early hours, he thought back to the way he had felt the night before they had infiltrated19 the Ministry20 of Magic and remembered a determination, almost an excitement. Now he was experiencing jolts21 of anxiety nagging22 doubts: He could not shake off the fear that it was all going to go wrong. He kept telling himself that their plan was good, that Griphook knew what they were facing, that they were well-prepared for all the difficulties they were likely to encounter, yet still he felt uneasy. Once or twice he heard Ron stir and was sure that he too was awake, but they were sharing the sitting room with Dean, so Harry did not speak.
It was a relief when six o-clock arrived and they could slip out of their sleeping bags, dress in the semidarkness, then creep out into the garden, where they were to meet Hermione and Griphook. The dawn was chilly24, but there was little wind now that it was May. Harry looked up at the stars still glimmering25 palely in the dark sky and listened to the sea washing backward and forward against the cliff: He was going to miss the sound.
Small green shoots were forcing their way up through the red earth of Dobby’s grave now, in a year’s time the mound26 would be covered in flowers. The white stone that bore the elf’s name had already acquired a weathered look. He realized now that they could hardly have laid Dobby to rest in a more beautiful place, but Harry ached with sadness to think of leaving him behind. Looking down on the grave, he wondered yet again how the elf had known where to come to rescue them. His fingers moved absentmindedly to the little pouch28 still strung around his neck, thorough which he could feel the jagged mirror fragment in which he had been sure he had seen Dumbledore’s eye. Then the sound of a door opening made him look around.
Bellatrix Lestrange was striding across the lawn toward them, accompanied by Griphook. As she walked, she was tucking the small, beaded bag into the inside pocket of another set of the old robes they had taken from Grimmauld Place. Though Harry knew perfectly29 well that it was really Hermione, he could not suppress a shiver of loathing. She was taller than he was, her long black hair rippling30 down her back, her heavily lidded eyes disdainful as they rested upon him; but then she spoke31, and he heard Hermione through Bellatrix’s low voice.
“She tasted disgusting, worse than Gurdyroots! Okay, Ron, come here so I can do you…”
“Right, but remember, I don’t like the beard too long”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, this isn’t about looking handsome”
“It’s not that, it gets in the way! But I liked my nose a bit shorter, try and do it the way you did last time.”
Hermione sighed and set to work, muttering under her breath as she transformed various aspects of Ron’s appearance. He was to be given a completely fake identity, and they were trusting to the malevolent33 aura cast by Bellatrix to protect him. Meanwhile Harry and Griphook were to be concealed34 under the Invisibility Cloak.
“There,” said Hermione, “how does he look, Harry?”
It was just not possible to discern Ron under his disguise, but only, Harry thought because he knew him so well. Ron’s hair was now long and wavy35; he had a thick brown beard and mustache, no freckles36, a short, broad nose, and heavy eyebrows37.
“Well, he’s not my type, but he’ll do,” said Harry. “Shall we go, then?”
All three of them glanced back at Shell Cottage, lying dark and silent under the fading stars, then turned and began to walk toward the point, just beyond the boundary wall, where the Fidelius Chard stopped working and they would be able to Disapparate. Once past the gate, Griphook spoke.
“I should climb up now, Harry Potter, I think?”
Harry bent38 down and the goblin clambered onto his back, his hands linked on front of Harry’s throat. He was not heavy, but Harry disliked the feeling of the goblin and the surprising strength with which he clung on. Hermione pulled the Invisibility Cloak out of the beaded bag and threw it over them both.
“Perfect,” she said, bending down to check Harry’s feet. “I can’t see a thing. Let’s go.”
Harry turned on the spot, with Griphook on his shoulders, concentrating with all his might on the Leaky Cauldron, the inn that was the entrance to Diagon Alley39. The goblin clung even tighter as they moved into the compressing darkness, and seconds later Harry’s feet found pavement and he opened his eyes on Charing40 Cross Road. Muggles bustled41 past wearing the hangdog expressions of early morning, quite unconscious of the little inn’s existence.
The bar of the Leaky Cauldron was nearly deserted42. Ton, the stooped and toothless landlord, was polishing glasses behind the bar counter; a couple of warlocks having a muttered conversation in the far corner glanced at Hermione and drew back into the shadows.
“Madam Lestrange,” murmured Tom, and as Hermione paused he inclined his head subserviently43.
“Good morning,” said Hermione, and as Harry crept past, still carrying Griphook piggyback under the Cloak, he saw Tom look surprised.
“Too polite,” Harry whispered in Hermione’s ear as they passed out of the Inn into the tiny backyard. “You need to treat people like they’re scum!”
“Okay, okay!”
Hermione drew out Bellatrix’s wand and rapped a brick in the nondescript wall in front of them. At once the bricks began to whirl and spin: A hole appeared in the middle of them, which grew wider and wider, finally forming an archway onto the narrow cobbled street that was Diagon Alley.
It was quiet, barely time for the shops to open, and there were hardly and shoppers abroad. The crooked45, cobbled street was much altered now from the bustling46 place Harry had visited before his first team at Hogwarts so many years before. More shops than ever were boarded up, though several new establishments dedicated47 to the Dark Arts had been created since his last visit. Harry’s own face glared down at him from posters plastered over many windows, always captioned48 with the words UNDESIRABLE49 NUMBER ONE.
A number of ragged50 people sat huddled51 in doorways52. He heard them moaning to the few passersby53, pleading for gold, insisting that they were really wizards. One man had a bloody54 bandage over his eye.
As they set off along the street, the beggars glimpsed Hermione. they seemed to melt away before her, drawing hoods55 over their faces and fleeing as fast as they could. Hermione looked after them curiously56, until the man with the bloodied57 bandage came staggering right across her path.
“My children,” he bellowed58, pointing at her. His voice was cracked, high-pitched, he sounded distraught. “Where are my children? What has he done with them? You know, you know!”
“I–I really–” stammered59 Hermione.
The man lunged at her, reaching for her throat. Then, with a bang and a burst of red light he was thrown backward onto the ground, unconscious. Ron stood there, his wand still outstretched and a look of shock visible behind his beard. Faces appeared at the windows on either side of the street, while a little knot of prosperous-looking passerby60 gathered their robes about them and broke into gentle trots61, keen to vacate the scene. their entrance into Diagon Alley could hardly have been more conspicuous62; for a moment Harry wondered whether it might not be better to leave now and try to think of a different plan. Before they could move or consult one another, however, they heard a cry from behind them.
“Why, Madam Lestrange!”
Harry whirled around and Griphook tightened64 his hold around Harry’s neck: A tall, think wizard with a crown of bushy gray hair and a long, sharp nose was striding toward them.
“It’s Travers,” hissed65 the goblin into Harry’s ear, but at that moment Harry could not think who Travers was. Hermione had drawn66 herself up to full height and said with as much contempt as she could muster67:
“And what do you want?”
Travers stopped in his tracks, clearly affronted68.
“He’s another Death Eater!” breathed Griphook, and Harry sidled sideways to repeat the information into Hermione’s ear.
“I merely sought to greet you,” said Travers coolly, “but if my presence is not welcome…”
Harry recognized his voice now: Travers was one of the Death Eaters who had been summoned to Xenophilius’s house.
“No, no, not at all, Travers,” said Hermione quickly, trying to cover up her mistake. “How are you?”
“Well, I confess I am surprised to see you out and about, Bellatrix.”
“Really? Why?” asked Hermione.
“Well,” Travers coughed, “I heard that the Inhabitants of Malfoy Manor were confined to the house, after the… ah… escape.”
Harry willed Hermione to keep her head. If this was true, and Bellatrix was not supposed to be out in public– “The Dark Lord forgives those who have served him most faithfully in the past,” said Hermione in a magnificent imitation of Bellatrix’s most contemptuous manner. “Perhaps your credit is not as good with him as mine is, Travers.”
Though the Death Eater looked offended, he also seemed less suspicious. He glanced down at the man Ron had just Stunned69.
“How did it offend you?”
“It does not matter, it will not do so again,” said Hermione coolly.
“Some of these wandless can be troublesome,” said Travers. “While they do nothing but beg I have no objection, but one of them actually asked me to plead her case in the Ministry last week. ‘I’m a witch, sir, I’m a witch, let me prove it to you!” he said in a squeaky impersonation. “As if I was going to give her my wand–but whose wand,” said Travers curiously, “are you using at the moment, Bellatrix? I heard that your own was–”
“I have my wand here,” said Hermione coldly, holding up Bellatrix’s wand. “I don’t know what rumors70 you have been listening to, Travers, but you seem sadly misinformed.”
Travers seemed a little taken aback at that, and he turned instead to Ron.
“Who is your friend? I do not recognize him.”
“This is Dragomir Despard,” said Hermione; they had decided71 that a fictional72 foreigner was the safest cover for Ron to assume. “He speaks very little English, but he is in sympathy with the Dark Lord’s aims. He has traveled here from Transylvania to see our new regime.”
“Indeed? How do you do, Dragomir?”
“‘Ow you?” said Ron, holding out his hand.
Travers extended two fingers and shook Ron’s hand as though frightened of dirtying himself.
“So what brings you and your–ah–sympathetic friend to Diagon Alley this early?” asked Travers.
“I need to visit Gringotts,” said Hermione.
“Alas, I also,” said Travers. “Gold, filthy73 gold! We cannot live without it, yet I confess I deplore74 the necessity of consorting75 with our long-fingered friends.”
Harry felt Griphook’s clasped hands tighten63 momentarily around his neck.
“Shall we?” said Travers, gesturing Hermione forward.
Hermione had no choice but to fall into step beside him and head along the crooked, cobbled street toward the place where the snowy-white Gringotts stood towering over the other little shops. Ron sloped along beside them, and Harry and Griphook followed.
A watchful76 Death Eater was the very last thing they needed, and the worst of it was, with Travers matching at what he believed to be Bellatrix’s side, there was no means for Harry to communicate with Hermione or Ron. All too soon they arrived at the foot of the marble steps leading up to the great bronze doors. As Griphook had already warned them, the liveried goblins who usually flanked the entrance had been replaced by two wizards, both of whom were clutching long thin golden rods.
“Ah, Probity77 Probes,” signed Travers theatrically78, “so crude–but so effective!”
And he set off up the steps, nodding left and right to the wizards, who raised the golden rods and passed them up and down his body. The Probes, Harry knew, detected spells of concealment79 and hidden magical objects. Knowing that he had only seconds, Harry pointed80 Draco’s wand at each of the guards in turn and murmured, “Confundo” twice. Unnoticed by Travers, who was looking through the bronze doors at the inner hall, each of the guards gave a little start as the spells hit them.
Hermione’s long black hair rippled81 behind her as she climbed the steps.
“One moment, madam,” said the guard, raising his Probe.
“But you’ve just done that!” said Hermione in Bellatrix’s commanding, arrogant82 voice. Travers looked around, eyebrows raised. The guard was confused. He stared down at the thin golden Probe and then at his companion, who said in a slightly dazed voice, “Yeah, you’ve just checked them, Marius.”
Hermione swept forward. Ron by her side, Harry and Griphook trotting83 invisibly behind them. Harry glanced back as they crossed the threshold. The wizards were both scratching their heads.
Two goblins stood before the inner doors, which were made of silver and which carried the poem warning of dire84 retribution to potential thieves. Harry looked up at it, and all of a sudden a knife-sharp memory came to him: standing85 on this very spot on the day that he had turned eleven, the most wonderful birthday of his life, and Hagrid standing beside him saying, “Like I said, yeh’d be mad ter try an’ rob it.” Gringotts had seemed a place of wonder that day, the enchanted86 repository of a trove87 of gold he had never known he possessed88, and never for an instant could he have dreamed that he would return to steal… But within seconds they were standing in the vast marble hall of the bank.
The long counter was manned by goblins sitting on high stools serving the first customers of the day. Hermione, Ron, and Travers headed toward an old goblin who was examining a thick gold coin through an eyeglass. Hermione allowed Travers to step ahead of her on the pretext89 of explaining features of the hall to Ron.
The goblin tossed the coin he was holding aside, said to nobody in particular, “Leprechaun,” and then greeted Travers, who passed over a tiny golden key, which was examined and given back to him.
Hermione stepped forward.
“Madam Lestrange!” said the goblin, evidently startled. “Dear me! How–how may I help you today?”
“I wish to enter my vault90,” said Hermione.
The old goblin seemed to recoil91 a little. Harry glanced around. Not only was Travers hanging back, watching, but several other goblins had looked up from their work to stare at Hermione.
“You have… identification?” asked the goblin.
“Identification? I–I have never been asked for identification before!” said Hermione.
“They know!” whispered Griphook in Harry’s ear, “They must have been warned there might be an imposter!”
“Your wand will do, madam,” said the goblin. He held out a slightly trembling hand, and in a dreadful blast of realization92 Harry knew that the goblins of Gringotts were aware that Bellatrix’s wand had been stolen.
“Act now, act now,” whispered Griphook in Harry’s ear, “the Imperious Curse!”
Harry raised the hawthorn wand beneath the cloak, pointed it at the old goblin, and whispered, for the first time in his life, “Imperio!”
A curious sensation shot down Harry’s arm, a feeling of tingling93, warmth that seemed to flow from his mind, down the sinews and veins94 connecting him to the wand and the curse it had just cast. The goblin took Bellatrix’s wand, examined it closely, and then said, “Ah, you have had a new wand made, Madam Lestrange!”
“What?” said Hermione, “No, no, that’s mine–”
“A new wand?” said Travers, approaching the counter again; still the goblins all around were watching. “But how could you have done, which wandmaker did you use?”
Harry acted without thinking. Pointing his wand at Travers, he muttered, “Imperio!” once more.
“Oh yes, I see,” said Travers, looking down at Bellatrix’s wand, “yes, very handsome. and is it working well? I always think wands require a little breaking in, don’t you?”
Hermione looked utterly95 bewildered, but to Harry’s enormous relief she accepted the bizarre turn of events without comment.
The old goblin behind the counter clapped his hands and a younger goblin approached.
“I shall need the Clankers,” he told the goblin, who dashed away and returned a moment later with a leather bag that seemed to be full of jangling metal, which he handed to his senior. “Good, good! S, if you will follow me, Madam Lestrange,” said the old goblin, hopping96 down off his stool and vanishing from sight. “I shall take you to your vault.”
He appeared around the end of the counter, jogging happily toward them, the contents of the leather bag still jingling97. Travers was now standing quite still with his mouth hanging wide open. Ron was drawing attention to this odd phenomenon by regarding Travers with confusion.
“Wait – Bogrod!”
Another goblin came scurrying98 around the counter.
“We have instructions,” he said with a bow to Hermione. “Forgive me, Madam, but there have been special orders regarding the vault of Lestrange.”
He whispered urgently in Bogrod’s ear, but the Imperiused goblin shook him off.
“I am aware of the instructions, Madam Lestrange wishes to visit her vault … Very old family … old clients … This way, please …”
And, still clanking, he hurried toward one of the many doors leading off the hall. Harry looked back at Travers , who was still rooted to the spot looking abnormally vacant, and made his decision. With a flick99 of his wand he made Travers come with them, walking meekly100 in their wake as they reached the door and passed into the rough stone passageway beyond, which was lit with flaming torches.
“We’re in trouble; they suspect,” said Harry as the door slammed behind them and he pulled off the Invisibility Cloak. Griphook jumped down from his shoulders: neither Travers nor Bogrod showed the slightest surprise at the sudden appearance of Harry Potter in their midst. “They’re Imperiused,” he added, in response to Hermione and Ron’s confused queries101 about Travers and Bogrod, who were both now standing there looking blank. “I don’t think I did it strongly enough, I don’t know …”
And another memory darted102 through his mind, of the real Bellatrix Lestrange shrieking104 at him when he had first tried to use an Unforgivable Curse: “You need to mean them, Potter!”
“What do we do?” asked Ron. “Shall we get out now, while we can?”
“If we can,” said Hermione, looking back toward the door into the main hall, beyond which who knew what was happening.
“We’ve got this far, I say we go on,” said Harry.
“Good!” said Griphook. “So, we need Bogrod to control the cart; I no long have the authority. But there will not be room for the wizard.”
Harry pointed his wand at Travers.
“Imperio!”
The wizard turned and set off along the dark track at a smart pace.
“What are you making him do?”
“Hide,” said Harry as he pointed his wand at Bogrod, who whistled to summon a little cart that came trundling along the tracks toward them out of the darkness. Harry was sure he could hear shouting behind them in the main hall as they all clambered into it, Bogrod in front of Griphook, Harry, Ron, and Hermione crammed105 together in the back.
With a jerk the cart moved off, gathering106 speed: They hurried past Travers, who was wriggling107 into a crack in the wall, then the cart began twisting and turning through the labyrinthine108 passages, sloping downward all the time. Harry could not hear anything over the rattling109 of the cart on the tracks: His hair flew behind him as they swerved110 between stalactites, flying ever deeper into the earth, but he kept glancing back. They might as well have left enormous footprints behind them; the more he thought about it, the more foolish it seemed to have disguised Hermione as Bellatrix, to have brought along Bellatrix’s wand, when the Death Eaters knew who had stolen it –
There were a deeper than Harry had ever penetrated111 within Gringotts; they took a hairpin112 bend at speed and saw ahead of them, with seconds to spare, a waterfall pounding over the track. Harry heard Griphook shout, “No!” but there was no braking. They zoomed113 through it. Water filled Harry’s eyes and mouth: He could not see or breathe: Then, with an awful lurch114, the cart flipped115 over and they were all thrown out of it. Harry heard the cart smash into pieces against the passage wall, heard Hermione shriek103 something, and felt himself glide116 back toward the ground as though weightless, landing painlessly on the rocky passage floor.
“C-Cushioning Charm,” Hermione spluttered, as Ron pulled her to her feet, but to Harry’s horror he saw that she was no longer Bellatrix; instead she stood there in overlarge robes, sopping117 wet and completely herself; Ron was red-haired and beardless again. They were realizing it as they looked at each other, feeling their own faces.
“The Thief’s Downfall!” said Griphook, clambering to his feet and looking back the deluge118 onto the tracks, which, Harry knew now, had been more than water. “It washes away all enchantment119, all magical concealment! They know there are imposers in Gringotts, they have set off defenses against us!”
Harry saw Hermione checking that she still had the beaded bag, and hurriedly thrust his own hand under his jacket to make sure he had not lost the Invisibility Cloak. Then he turned to see Bogrod shaking his head in bewilderment: The Thief’s Downfall seemed to have lifted his Imperius Curse.
“We need him,” said Griphook, “we cannot enter the vault without a Gringott’s goblin. And we need the clankers!”
“Imperio!” Harry said again; his voice echoed through the stone passage as he felt again the sense of heady control that flowed from brain to wand. Bogrod submitted once more to his will, his befuddled120 expression changing to one of polite indifference121, as Ron hurried to pick up the leather bag of metal tools.
“Harry, I think I can hear people coming!” said Hermione, and she pointed Bellatrix’s wand at the waterfall and cried, “Protego!” They saw the Shield Charm break the flow of enchanted water as it flew up the passageway.
“Good thinking,” said Harry. “Lead the way, Griphook!”
“How are we going to get out again?” Ron asked as they hurried on foot into the darkness after the goblin, Bogrod panting in their wake like an old dog.
“Let’s worry about that when we have to,” said Harry. He was trying to listen: He thought he could hear something clanking and moving around nearby. “Griphook, how much farther?”
“Not far, Harry Potter, not far …”
And they turned a corner and saw the thing for which Harry had been prepared, but which still brought all of them to a halt.
A gigantic dragon was tethered to the ground in front of them, barring access to four or five of the deepest vaults122 in the place. The beast’s scales had turned pale and flaky during its long incarceration123 under the ground, its eyes were milkily pink; both rear legs bore heavy cuffs124 from which chains led to enormous pegs125 driven deep into the rocky floor. Its great spiked126 wings, folded close to its body, would have filled the chamber127 if it spread them, and when it turned its ugly head toward them, it roared with a noise that made the rock tremble, opened its mouth, and spat128 a jet of fire that sent them running back up the passageway.
“It is partially129 blind,” panted Griphook, “but even more savage130 for that. However, we have the means to control it. It has learned what to expect when the Clankers come. Give them to me.”
Ron passed the bag to Griphook, and the goblin pulled out a number of small metal instruments that when shaken made a long ringing noise like miniature hammers on anvils131. Griphook handed them out: Bogrod accepted his meekly.
“You know what to do,” Griphook told Harry, Ron, and Hermione. “It will expect pain when it hears the noise. It will retreat, and Bogrod must place his palm upon the door of the vault.”
They advanced around the corner again, shaking the Clankers, and the noise echoed off the rocky walls, grossly magnified, so that the inside of Harry’s skull16 seemed to vibrate with the den23. The dragon let out another hoarse132 roar, then retreated. Harry could see it trembling, and as they drew nearer he saw the scars made by vicious slashes133 across its face, and guess that it had been taught to fear hot swords when it heard the sound of the Clankers.
“Make him press his hand to the door!” Griphook urged Harry, who turned his wand again upon Bogrod. The old goblin obeyed, pressing his palm to the wood, and the door of the vault melted away to reveal a cavelike opening crammed from floor to ceiling with golden coins and goblets135, silver armor, the skins of strange creatures – some with long spines136, other with drooping137 wings – potions in jeweled flasks138, and a skull still wearing a crown. “Search, fast!” said Harry as they all hurried inside the vault. He had described Hufflepuff’s cap to Ron and Hermione, but if it was the other, unknown Horcrux that resided in this vault, he did not know what it looked like. He barely had time to glance around, however, before there was a muffled139 clunk from behind them: The door had reappeared, sealing them inside the vault, and they were plunged140 into total darkness.
“No matter, Bogrod will be able to release us!” said Griphook as Ron gave a shout of surprise. “Light your wands, can’t you? And hurry, we have little time!”
“Lumos!”
Harry shone his lit wand around the vault: Its beam fell upon glittering jewels; he saw the fake sword of Gryffindor lying on a high shelf amongst a jumble141 of chains. Ron and Hermione had lit their wands too, and were now examining the piles of objects surrounding them.
“Harry, could this be –? Aargh!”
Hermione screamed in pain, and Harry turned his wand on her in time to see a jeweled goblet134 tumbling from her grip. But as it fell, it split, became a shower of goblets, so that a second later, with a great clatter142, the floor was covered in identical cups rolling in every direction, the original impossible to discern amongst them.
“It burned me!” moaned Hermione, sucking her blistered143 fingers.
“They have added Germino and Flagrante Curses!” said Griphook.
“Everything you touch will burn and multiply, but the copies are worthless – and if you continue to handle the treasure, you will eventually be crushed to death by the weight of expanding gold!”
“Okay, don’t touch anything!” said Harry desperately144, but even as he said it, Ron accidentally nudged one of the fallen goblets with his foot, and twenty more exploded into being while Ron hopped145 on the spot, part of his shoe burned away by contact with the hot metal.
“Stand still, don’t move!” said Hermione, clutching at Ron.
“Just look around!” said Harry. “Remember, the cup’s small and gold, it’s got a badger146 engraved147 on it, two handles – otherwise see if you can spot Ravenclaw’s symbol anywhere, the eagle – ”
They directed their wands into every nook and crevice148, turning cautiously on the spot. It was impossible not to brush up against anything; Harry sent a great cascade149 of fake Galleons150 onto the ground where they joined the goblets, and now there was scarcely room to place their feet, and the glowing gold blazed with heat, so that the vault felt like a furnace. Harry’s wandlight passed over shields and goblin-made helmets set on shelves rising to the ceiling; higher and higher he raised the beam, until suddenly it found an object that made his heart skip and his hand tremble.
“It’s there, it’s up there!”
Ron and Hermione pointed there wands at it too, so that the little golden cup sparkled in a three-way spotlight151: the cup that had belonged to Helga Hufflepuff, which had passed into the possession of Hepzibah Smith, from whom it had been stolen by Tom Riddle152.
“And how the hell are we going to get up there without touching153 anything?” asked Ron.
“Accio Cup!” cried Hermione, who had evidently forgotten in her desperation what Griphook had told them during their planning sessions.
“No use, no use!” snarled154 the goblin.
“Then what do we do?” said Harry, glaring at the goblin. “If you want the sword, Griphook, then you’ll have to help us more than – wait! Can I touch stuff with the sword? Hermione, give it here!”
Hermione fumbled155 insider her robes, drew out a beaded bag, rummaged156 for a few seconds, then removed the shining sword. Harry seized it by its rubied hilt and touched the tip of the blade to a silver flagon nearby, which did not multiply.
“If I can just poke32 the sword through a handle – but how am I going to get up there?”
The shelf on which the cup reposed157 was out of reach for any of them, even Ron, who was tallest. The heat from the enchanted treasure rose in waves, and sweat ran down Harry’s face and back as he struggled to think of a way up to the cup; and then he heard the dragon roar on the other side of the vault door, and the sound of clanking growing louder and louder.
They were truly trapped now: There was no way out except through the door, and a horde158 of goblins seemed to be approaching on the other side. Harry looked at Ron and Hermione and saw terror in their faces.
“Hermione,” said Harry, as the clanking grew louder, “I’ve got to get up there, we’ve got to get rid of it – ”
She raised her wand, pointed it at Harry, and whispered, “Levicorpus.”
Hoisted159 into the air by his ankle, Harry hit a suit of armor and replicas160 burst out of it like white-hot bodies, filling the cramped161 space. With screams of pain, Ron, Hermione, and the two goblins were knocked aside into other objects, which also began to replicate162. Half buried in a rising tide of red-hot treasure, they struggled and yelled has Harry thrust the sword through the handle of Hufflepuff’s cup, hooking it onto the blade.
“Impervius!” screeched163 Hermione in an attempt to protect herself, Ron, and the goblins from the burning metal.
Then the worst scream yet made Harry look down: Ron and Hermione were waist deep in treasure, struggling to keep Bogrod from slipping beneath the rising tide, but Griphook had sunk out of sight; and nothing but the tips of a few long fingers were left in view.
Harry seized Griphook’s fingers and pulled. The blistered goblin emerged by degrees, howling.
“Liberatocorpus!” yelled Harry, and with a crash he and Griphook landed on the surface of the swelling165 treasure, and the sword flew out of Harry’s hand.
“Get it!” Harry yelled, fighting the pain of the hot metal on his skin, as Griphook clambered onto his shoulders again, determined166 to avoid the swelling mass of red-hot objects. “Where’s the sword? It had the cup on it!”
The clanking on the other side of the door was growing deafening167 – it was too late –
“There!”
It was Griphook who had seen it and Griphook who lunged, and in that instant Harry knew that the goblin had never expected them to keep their word. One hand holding tightly to a fistful of Harry’s hair, to make sure he did not fall into the heaving sea of burning gold, Griphook seized the hilt of the sword and swung it high out of Harry’s reach. The tiny golden cup, skewered168 by the handle on the sword’s blade was flung into the air. The goblin astride him, Harry dived and caught it, and although he could feel it scalding his flesh he did not relinquish169 it, even while countless170 Hufflepuff cups burst from his fist, raining down upon him as the entrance of the vault opened up again and he found himself sliding uncontrollably on an expanding avalanche171 of fiery172 gold and silver that bore him, Ron, Hermione into the outer chamber.
Hardly aware of the pain from the burns covering his body, and still borne along the swell164 of replicating173 treasure, Harry shoved the cup into his pocket and reached up to retrieve174 the sword, but Griphook was gone. Sliding from Harry’s shoulders the moment he could, he had sprinted175 for cover amongst the surrounding goblins, brandishing176 the sword and crying, “Thieves! Thieves! Help! Thieves!” He vanished into the midst of the advancing crowd, all of whom were holding daggers177 and who accepted him without question.
Slipping on the hot metal, Harry struggled to his feet and knew that the only way out was through.
“Stupefy!” he bellowed, and Ron and Hermione joined in: Jets of red light flew into the crowd of goblins, and some toppled over, but others advanced, and Harry saw several wizard guards running around the corner.
The tethered dragon let out a roar, and a gush178 of flame flew over the goblins; The wizards fled, doubled-up, back the way they had come, and inspiration, or madness, came to Harry. Pointing his wand at the thick cuffs chaining the beast to the floor, he yelled, “Relashio!”
The cuffs broken open with loud bangs.
“This way!” Harry yelled, and still shooting Stunning179 Spells at the advancing goblins, he sprinted toward the blind dragon.
“Harry – Harry – what are you doing?” cried Hermione.
“Get up, climb up, come on – ”
The dragon had not realized that it was free: Harry’s foot found the crook44 of its hind27 leg and he pulled himself up onto its back. The scales were hard as steel; it did not even seem to feel him. He stretched out an arm; Hermione hoisted herself up; Ron climbed on behind them, and a second later the dragon became aware that it was untethered.
With a roar it reared: Harry dug in his knees, clutching as tightly as he could to the jagged scales as the wings opened, knocking the shrieking goblins aside like skittles, and it soared into the air. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, flat on its back, scraped against the ceiling as it dived toward the passage opening, while the pursuing goblins hurled180 daggers that glanced off its flanks.
“We’ll never get out, it’s too big!” Hermione screamed, but the dragon opened its mouth and belched181 flame again, blasting the tunnel, whose floors and ceiling cracked and crumbled182. By sheer force, the dragon clawed and fought its way through. Harry’s eyes were shut tight against the heat and dust: Deafened183 by the crash of rock and the dragon’s roars, he could only cling to its back, expecting to be shaken off at any moment; then he heard Hermione yelling, “Defodio!”
She was helping184 the dragon enlarge the passageway, carving185 out the ceiling as it struggled upward toward the fresher air, away from the shrieking and clanking goblins: Harry and Ron copied her, blasting the ceiling apart with more gouging186 spells. They passed the underground lake, and the great crawling, snarling187 beast seemed to sense freedom and space ahead of it, and behind them the passage was full of the dragon’s thrashing, spiked tail, of great lumps of rock, gigantic fractured stalactites, and the clanking of the goblins seemed to be growing more muffled, while ahead, the dragon’s fire kept their progress clear –
And then at last, by the combined force of their spells and the dragon’s brute188 strength, they had blasted their way out of the passage into the marble hallway. Goblins and wizards shrieked189 and ran for cover, and finally the dragon had room to stretch its wings: Turning its horned head toward the cool outside air it could smell beyond the entrance, it took off, and with Harry, Ron, and Hermione still clinging to its back, it forced its way through the metal doors, leaving them buckled190 and hanging from their hinges, as it staggered into Diagon Alley and launched itself into the sky.
他们的计划定好了，并且也准备完毕了；在那间最小的卧室里,一条长长的、粗粗的黑头发（从赫敏在马尔夫庄园里穿过的毛衣上扯下来的）被卷曲着塞进了壁炉架上的小玻璃瓶里。
“那时，你会用她的魔杖，”哈利说，冲着前面的核桃木魔杖点了点头，“所以我认为伪装会相当成功。”
赫敏惊恐的看着那根魔杖，好像她一拿起它，那根魔杖就会蜇她打她一样。
“我讨厌这玩意儿，”她低声说，“我真的讨厌这玩意儿。这感觉全不对，它完全不适合我……这上面有她的感觉”
哈利忍不住想起了当时赫敏是怎样消除他对那根刺李树魔杖的厌恶的。她坚持认为他觉得那根魔杖没有自己那根的好用是因为他在想着其他的事情，并且告诉只要多多练习就好了。他选择不把她的建议原句奉还，毕竟在攻击古灵阁的前夜打击她并不是个好机时。
“这应该可以帮你很快进入角色，”罗恩说，“想想这根魔杖原来干过什么啊！”
“这恰恰就是问题所在，”赫敏说，“折磨纳威父母的就是这支魔杖，天晓得它还对谁干过这些事儿。况且小天狼星就是被它杀死的！”
哈利原来没有想到这些：现在，他有一种强烈的欲望，就是用靠在他旁边墙上的格兰芬多宝剑把它砍断劈成碎片。
“我想念我的魔杖，”赫敏痛苦的说，“我希望奥利凡德先生可以再给我做一根新的魔杖。”
奥利凡德先生早上才给卢娜寄来了一支新的魔杖。这会儿，在午后的阳光下，她正在后院的草地上测试它的性能。迪安很郁闷的看着她，因为他的魔杖被抢夺者们搞丢了。
哈利朝下看着那根曾经属于德拉科·马尔福的山楂木魔杖。他即惊奇又高兴地发现他使用马尔福的魔杖挺顺手的，就像赫敏从前一样。他想起奥利凡德先生曾经告诉他的关于魔杖工作的秘密，他想他明白了现在赫敏的问题所在：她还没有赢得魔杖的忠诚是因为她没有亲手从贝拉特里克斯手中夺过它。
这时卧室的门开了，拉环走了进来。哈利下意识地握住剑柄把荐朝身边拉近了点，但他马上对自己的这一反应感到后悔。他发现了妖精注意到了他的举动，为了掩盖这个尴尬的时刻，他说：”拉环，我们正在做最后的准备，我们明天离开的事情已经告诉了比尔和芙蓉，并告诉他们不用起来送我们了。”
他们已经达成共识：让比尔和芙蓉对这件事情知道得越少越好。因为赫敏在离开之前要变成贝拉特里克斯时的样子。比尔和芙蓉对他们要干的事知道或猜到得越少越好。而且他们也解释说他们不会再回来了。由于他们在被掠夺者追捕的时候把珀金斯的旧帐篷弄丢了，比尔又借给他们了一个。它现在放进了珠绣袋里——当时赫敏把它塞进袜子里躲开了掠夺者的搜查，哈利对此印象深刻。
尽管他会非常想念比尔、芙蓉、卢娜和迪安，更不用说这个几星期以来他们没有享受过的舒适的家居生活，他还是现在非常想逃离这个囚禁他的贝壳小屋。他厌倦了总是要确认是否有人偷听的日子，也厌倦了被关在狭小黑暗的卧室里。更重要的是他渴望摆脱拉环。无论无何，在不交出给兰芬多宝剑的前提下，如何、何时摆脱妖精的控制，确实已经成为了一个哈利无法解决问题。他们几乎不可能决定下一步应该做什么，因为妖精每次把哈利、罗恩和赫敏三人单独留下的时间都不超过五分钟。”他简直可以给我妈妈上课了！”罗恩咆哮着，这时妖精的长手指总是不断的在门边晃悠。有了比尔诚心的提醒，哈利不得不怀疑拉环在时刻监视着他们任何可能采取的诡计。赫敏打心眼里不同意哈利使用欺骗的手段，所以哈利也不想去了解赫敏认为怎么样做最妥当的尝试。而罗恩呢，总是趁着极少数拉环不在的空当，除了说一些”伙计们，要是我们能插上翅膀多好啊”之类的话以后，再也没有其它更好的主意。
那一晚，哈利睡得很不好。整个前半夜他都在辗转反侧，找到了他们偷偷潜入魔法部前一晚的那种感觉：记起了那种决心，甚至还带点兴奋的感觉。他现在正在经历着由于持续不断的怀疑所带来的焦虑的困扰：他不能摆脱担心情况会变糟的那种恐惧。他不断地告诉自己他们的计划很棒，拉环知道他们将要面对的是什么，他们已经完全准备好了去面对他们可能会遇到的任何困难，然而他还是感觉不安。有那么一两次，哈利听到罗恩在翻身，知道他也醒着，但是由于和迪安共用一间卧室，所以哈里没有说什么。
六点钟终于到时对他们是一种解脱。他们钻出睡袋，趁着朦胧的光线穿好衣服，蹑手蹑脚地进到花园里，他们在那里与赫敏和拉环回合。虽然拂晓有些寒冷，但是因为是五月，风很小。他抬起头，看到星星还在漆黑的夜空里闪烁着微光；他聆听着潮来潮去冲刷着岩壁的声音——他会想念这个声音的。
这个时候嫩绿的小草芽正努力地从多比坟墓上的红土间钻出来，一年之内小土堆就会被鲜花所覆盖。刻着多比的名字的白色石头看起来已经历了风吹雨打。他明白他们现在找不到比这个更好的地方来让多比长眠，但是每当哈利想起他们要把多比留在这里的时候他即伤心又难受。低头看着这个坟墓，他还在想多比是怎么知道到哪儿去营救他们的。他的手指下意识的揪着依然挂在他脖子上的小袋子，透过袋子他感觉到了破碎镜子参差不齐的边沿，在那上面他确信他曾看到了是邓布利多的眼睛。然后，传来一阵开门的声音，他抬头，环顾四方。
贝拉特里克斯·莱斯特兰奇在拉环的陪伴下穿过草地大步的向他们走来。在走路的同时，她把一个小的珠绣包塞进他们从格里莫广场带来的旧袍子的内口袋里。虽然哈利明确地知道这其实是赫敏，但是还是情不自禁生出一阵反感。她比哈利要高，长长的黑头发在脑袋后面飘舞，她那有着厚眼皮的眼睛轻蔑地盯着她，然后她说话了，他听见赫敏用贝拉特里克斯的声音在说话。
“她看起来比戈迪根还恶心！好吧，罗恩，到这来，让我为你……”
“好吧，但是记住，我讨厌太长的胡子。”
“哦，看在上帝的份上，现在不是讨论英俊的时候。”
“不是那样，它挡住我的嘴了！我希望我的鼻子能短点，再试试吧好吗，最后一次就好。”
赫敏叹了口气开始施咒，一边为罗恩的脸部变形一边低声嘀咕。他会被完全伪装起来的，而且他们相信贝拉特里克斯身上的邪恶气息会保护他的。而哈利和拉环将要藏到隐形衣下面。
“咳，”赫敏说，“他看起来怎么样，哈利？”
罗恩在伪装下几乎让人认不出来了，只留下了一点点影子。哈利想，那是因为他太了解他了。罗恩的头发现在变得有长又卷，脸上是满是的棕色胡子，雀斑消失了，还有一个又短又胖的鼻子和一对粗粗的眉毛。
“呃，他不是我喜欢的类型，但别人肯定认不出他了，”哈利说，“现在我们可以走了吗？”
他们三个回头看了一眼贝壳小屋，在繁星闪烁的夜空下它显得又暗又静。接着他们转身走向围栏外面尖角，在那儿赤胆忠心咒就失效了，他们可以幻影移形。一走过那个门，拉环就说：
“我想我得爬到你肩上去了，哈利·波特。”
哈利弯下腰，妖精爬到了他背上，他的手伸到前面环住了哈利的喉咙。他并不重，但是哈利不喜欢妖精，不喜欢妖精大力紧紧地贴在他身上。赫敏从绣珠包中拉出隐形衣，掀起来把他俩罩住。
“太完美了，”她说着弯腰去检查哈利的脚步，“我什么也看不见。出发吧。”
拉环在他的肩上，把自己所有的精力集中到破斧酒吧——对角巷的入口——开始了幻影移形。随着他们慢慢遁入黑暗时，妖精也在哈利身上越贴越紧。过了不久，哈利感觉脚碰到了人行道，他睁开眼睛，发现他在查林十字街上。麻瓜们步履匆匆，脸上带着清晨特有急急忙忙的表情，对这个酒店毫无觉察。
破斧酒吧几乎已经荒废掉了。那个驼背、无齿的老板汤姆，正在吧台的后擦着玻璃杯，一对巫师正在远处的角落里嘀嘀咕咕地说着什么，瞥见赫敏后又回到阴影中去了。
“莱斯特兰奇夫人，”汤姆低声说道，当他看到赫敏停下脚步时，谦恭的低下了头。
“早上好，”赫敏说，此时的哈利正背着拉环在隐身衣的保护下从他们身边悄悄地溜过去，他看见汤姆听了赫敏的话后露出了吃惊的表情。
“你对他太友善了”哈利在他们穿过酒吧走到那个小后院的时候，在赫敏耳边低声说，“你应该像对待一堆垃圾一样对待他们。”
“好的，好的！”
赫敏掏出贝拉特里克斯的魔杖，在他们面前那看似平淡无奇的墙上轻敲了一下。上面的砖块马上开始振动旋转，一个小洞出现在了墙壁中央，越变越大，最后一个拱门出现在了他们面前，这座拱门通向一条由鹅卵石铺成的街道，那就是对角巷。
现在的对角巷太冷清了。店铺前门庭冷落，街上行人寥寥，一派萧条破败的景象。这条鹅卵石铺就的狭窄街道与哈利多年前第一次去霍格沃兹报道前比已经变得面目全非了——那时这条街道人头蹿动，热闹非常。就算和上一次来的时候比起来也变了不少，许多店铺都已经用木板封了店，而与之相对的几家专营黑魔法的商店却大模大样的冒了出来，哈利看到许多窗子上都贴着他的通缉令，上面的自己正对他怒目而视，而通缉令下面毫无疑问的是“头号不受欢迎人物”几个大字。
许多衣衫褴褛的人蜷缩在店铺门口，他听到他们不住的对寥寥无几的行人呻吟着，一面乞讨，一面强调着自己是个真正的巫师。其中一个人的眼睛上还缠着血迹斑斑的绷带。
当他们走在街上时，乞丐们一看到赫敏，恨不得马上从她面前消失，他们用头巾遮着脸四散躲避。赫敏正为眼前的景象纳着闷，突然，那个缠着血绷带的男人一瘸一拐的挡在了她面前。
“我的孩子，”他指着她，吼道，他的音调很高，声音嘶哑，听起来已经快要发狂了，“我的孩子在哪？他是怎么对待他们的？你知道的，你知道！！”
“我——我真的——”赫敏结结巴巴的申辩到。
那个男人喘着粗气，直扑她的喉咙。正在这时，随着一声巨响，一道红光把他击倒在地，不省人事。罗恩站在那里，手里还举着他的魔杖，而他胡子下所露出的表情说明，他显然是被眼前的景象吓坏了。街道两旁的窗户上探出几张脸，而街上聚集的看热闹的行人则抓紧身上的长袍小跑着想离开这个是非之地。
他们身后的对角巷入口快要看不到了，此时的哈利拿不准他们是不是该马上离开回去另想办法。正当他们举棋不定想要相互商量一下的时候，他们身后传来了一阵叫声。
“啊，莱斯特兰奇夫人！”
哈利急忙转身，拉环把哈利的脖子勒得更紧了。一个高高瘦瘦的巫师大步向他们走来——他的头发乱糟糟的，鼻子又尖又长。
“那是特莱维尔”，这个妖精在哈利耳边耳语道，但是这个时候哈利根本无心去想特莱维尔是谁。赫敏站直了身子，尽可能轻蔑地说道：
“你想干什么？”
特莱维尔停下脚步，显然是被激怒了。
“他是另一个食死徒！”拉环轻声说，哈利往侧面挪过去，把这句话跟赫敏重复了一遍。
“只是和你打个招呼，”特莱维尔冷冷的说，”但是如果我的出现不受欢迎的话……”
这时哈利听出他的声音了：特莱维尔是被召唤到西诺费利家的那群食死徒之一。
“不，不，才不是呢，特莱维尔。”赫敏很快反应过来，想要掩饰刚才的错误。”你好吗？”
“我承认看见你在外面到处跑我很惊讶，贝拉特里克斯。”
“真的？为什么？”赫敏问道。
“是这样，”特莱维尔咳嗽一声，“我听说住在马尔夫庄园的那些人都被关在房子里呢，在……厄……逃脱之后。”
哈利希望赫敏能够冷静思考。如果这是真的，那么贝拉特里克斯就不应该在大庭广众之前到处跑——
“黑魔王原谅了那些过去曾经最虔诚地效忠他的仆人。”赫敏惟妙惟肖的模仿着贝拉特里克斯那种目空一切的神态，“也许他对你的信任不如对我的多，特莱维尔。”
虽然那个食死徒看上去很不快，但还疑心没那么重了。他低头看了看被罗恩击倒的那个人。
“他怎么惹到你了？”
“没什么，已经没事了。”赫敏冷冷地说。
“这些手里没魔杖的家伙很麻烦。”特莱维尔说道，”他们求我时我真没法拒绝，但是上周其中有个人真的求我在魔法部替她的案子说话。‘我是个女巫，先生，我是个女巫，让我证明给你看！’”他装出尖声尖气的语调，“好像我打算给她我的魔杖——不过你现在用的，”特莱维尔诧异道，“是谁的魔杖，贝拉特里克斯？我听说你自己的魔杖被——”
“我的魔杖在这儿。”赫敏镇定的举起了贝拉特里克斯的魔杖说道，”我不知道你听到了什么谣言，特莱维尔，但是你显然是错误消息误导了。”
特莱维尔看起来对此有一点迷惑，他把目光转向罗恩。
“你这位朋友是谁？我认不出来。”
“他是德拉克米尔·迪斯帕。”赫敏说道，他们已经想好了，一个编造出来的外国人是罗恩最安全的伪装。”他几乎不会说英语，不过他对黑魔王的大业很支持。他从特兰西瓦尼亚到这儿来，等着看我们的新政权建立。”
“真的吗？你好啊，德拉克米尔。”
“哦，你好。”罗恩伸出一只手。
特莱维尔伸出两根手指和罗恩握了手，好像是害怕弄脏自己似的。
“那么你和你的——支持者朋友这么早到对角巷来干什么？”特莱维尔问道。
“我要去古灵阁。”赫敏说。
“唉，我也要去那儿呢。”特莱维尔说，”金子，肮脏的金子！离了它我们活不下去，不过我得承认，不得不跟咱们那些长手指的朋友们搅在一起让我很难过。”
哈利感觉到拉环扣住自己脖子的双手在瞬间收紧了。
“一起去吧？”特莱维尔说道，冲赫敏摆了个您先请的手势。
赫敏只好和他并着肩，沿着曲折的鹅卵石街道，走向那雪白的矗立在许多小商店之间的古灵阁。罗恩歪斜着走在他们旁边，哈利和拉环跟在后面。
碰到一个警觉的食死徒是他们碰到的最新难题，最糟糕的是，特莱维尔走在他以为的贝拉特里斯身边，这样哈利就没办法跟赫敏或者罗恩说话了。很快他们就来到了通向高大铜门的大理石台阶下面。正如拉环事先警告的那样，通常守在入口处两侧的穿制服的妖精们被两名巫师取代了，他们每人手中都攥着细长的金棒。
“啊，正直探针！”特莱维尔表情生动的说，”多么粗劣的仪器——但又是那么管用！”
他迈步走上前去，朝左右两个巫师点了点头，后者举起金棒在他身上上下移动。哈利知道那探针可以探测出隐藏的咒语和魔法物品。他知道自己只有几秒钟时间，于是用德拉科的魔杖依次指着那两名守卫咕哝了两遍“迷魂乱心”。特莱维尔正透过铜大门看着里面的大厅，所以没有发现，那两个守卫被咒语击中时都稍稍呆了一下。
赫敏从台阶往上走时她的黑色长发在背后起伏不定。
“等一下，夫人。”一个守卫举起探针说道。
“但是你们刚检查完了啊！”赫敏装着贝拉特里克斯那种居高临下的傲慢语气说道，特莱维尔双眉挑起四下环顾。那个守卫不解其意，他低头看了看手中那根细细的金棒，然后又去看自己那位头昏眼花的同事。
“是啊，你已经查过他们了，马里乌斯。”
赫敏一阵风般的走过去了。罗恩跟着她，哈利和拉环在隐身衣里面紧紧相随。他们跨进门内时哈利回头看了一眼，两名守卫都在抓头。
内厅门口站着两个妖精，那门是银质的，门上刻着富有诗意的警告语，提醒有歹意的盗贼们偷窃的严重后果。哈利抬头看去，突然之间他脑海中电光一闪：在他一生中最美妙的十一岁生日那天，他就站在这个地方，他身边的海格说道，“就像我说的，你要是来这儿打劫会被搞得崩溃的。”那天古灵阁看上去像是个仙境，是个储藏着他从未知晓的一大笔财产的魔法金库，那个时候他从来没想过有天会来这里偷东西……但是片刻工夫，他们就站在银行敞亮的大理石大厅之中了。
妖精们坐在长长的柜台后面的凳子上，为当天的第一批客人服务。赫敏罗恩和特莱维尔走向一个正带着眼镜察看一枚厚厚金币的老妖精。赫敏借口给罗恩讲解银行大厅里怎么办公，让特莱维尔走在自己前面。
那个老妖精把手中的金币往旁边一扔，不知道对着谁喊了一声：“矮妖！”然后向特莱维尔打招呼，特莱维尔递过去一枚小金钥匙，妖精察看之后还给了他。
赫敏向前走去。
“莱斯特兰奇夫人！”那妖精喊道，显然很是震惊。”我的天啊！我——我今天能为您做点什么？”
“我要去我的金库看看。”赫敏说道。
老妖精似乎有点畏缩的样子。哈利四下环视，不光是特莱维尔正在犹豫的观察着，其他几个妖精们也从手头的工作中抬起头来盯着赫敏看。
“您有……证件吗？”妖精问道。
“证件？——从来没人找我查过证件！！”赫敏说。
“他们知道了！”拉环在哈利耳边悄悄说道，“一定有人警告他们会有人冒名顶替！”
“用您的魔杖就行，夫人。”妖精说道。他微微颤抖着伸出手，哈利脑海中闪过一个可怕的念头，他觉得古灵阁的妖精们已经获悉贝拉特里克斯的魔杖被偷了。
“快动手！快动手！”拉环在哈利耳边小声说，“用夺魂咒！”
哈利在隐身衣下面举起了山楂木制的魔杖，指向那个老妖精，在他一生中头一次轻轻的说道：“灵魂出窍！”
一种奇怪的感觉从哈利的手臂中射出来，他大脑里好像趟出一股麻痒的暖流，通过杖芯和纹理将他和魔杖与发出去的咒语连在了一起。那妖精接过贝拉特里克斯的魔杖细细查看了一番，然后说道：“啊，您换了一只新的魔杖啊，莱斯特兰奇夫人！”
“什么？”赫敏说，“不，不，那是我的——”
“新魔杖？”特莱维尔又凑到柜台跟前，周围所有的妖精们仍旧在看他们。”但是你怎么买到的呢，哪个制杖人帮你做的？”
哈利想也没想就动手了。他把魔杖指向特莱维尔，又一次念出“灵魂出窍！”
“哦，是的，我明白了。”特莱维尔低头看着贝拉特里克斯的魔杖说道，“是的，很漂亮，它好用吗？我总认为魔杖需要一点磨合，你说呢？”
赫敏看上去十分困惑，然而面对骤变她并没说什么，这让哈利长长松了口气。
柜台后面的老妖精拍了下手，一个年轻妖精走了过来。
“把钥匙给我拿来，”他告诉那个年轻妖精，后者一阵风跑开了，不大功夫拎来一只装满了叮当响的金属工具的羽毛口袋，并将这口袋递给自己的上司。”好，好！S，请跟我来，莱斯特兰奇夫人。”老妖精从凳子上跳下来，消失在视野中。”我带您到您的金库那儿去！”
他出现在柜台尽头，快活的小跑过来，羽毛袋中的东西还在叮当乱响。特莱维尔一动不动的站着，嘴巴大张。特莱维尔的奇怪样子让罗恩感到百思不解。
“等等——博格！”
又一个妖精匆忙转过柜台走了过来。
“我们有规定。”他向赫敏鞠了一躬说道，“请原谅，夫人，莱斯特兰奇家的金库还有一些特殊规定。”
他急切地跟博格耳语了几句，然而被夺魂的妖精把他推开。
“我知道规矩，莱斯特兰奇夫人要到她的金库那儿去……很古老的家族呢……老主顾了……请这边走……”
然后，他带着那些叮当作响的东西，匆匆走向大厅尽头很多扇门之一。哈利回头去看特莱维尔，只见他仍旧站在原地茫然无措，哈利下了决心。他轻点魔杖，叫特莱维尔温顺的跟在后面，他们穿过那扇门走入了一条粗糙的石路，两旁有燃烧着的火炬来照明。
“我们有麻烦了，他们起疑心了。”当门在身后关闭，哈利脱下隐身衣说道。拉环跳下他的肩膀，特莱维尔和博格都没有对哈利·波特突然出现在他们中间感到丝毫惊讶。“他们被我施了夺魂咒。”他解释说，因为赫敏和罗恩都对站在那儿眼神空洞的特莱维尔和博格提出了疑问。“我觉得那咒施得不够厉害，我不知道……”
另一缕记忆飞速穿过他的脑海，他第一次试图使用不可饶恕咒语时真正的贝拉特里克斯对他尖声喊道：”你得真的想干掉我，波特！”
“我们
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manor
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| n.庄园，领地 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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walnut
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| n.胡桃，胡桃木，胡桃色，茶色 | |
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loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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propped
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| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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capabilities
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| n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力 | |
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hawthorn
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| 山楂 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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gloss
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| n.光泽，光滑；虚饰；注释；vt.加光泽于；掩饰 | |
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expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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disapproved
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| v.不赞成( disapprove的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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infiltrated
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| adj.[医]浸润的v.（使）渗透，（指思想）渗入人的心中( infiltrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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jolts
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的名词复数 ) | |
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nagging
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| adj.唠叨的，挑剔的；使人不得安宁的v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的现在分词 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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mound
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| n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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malevolent
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| adj.有恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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wavy
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| adj.有波浪的，多浪的，波浪状的，波动的，不稳定的 | |
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freckles
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| n.雀斑，斑点( freckle的名词复数 ) | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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charing
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| n.炭化v.把…烧成炭，把…烧焦( char的现在分词 )；烧成炭，烧焦；做杂役女佣 | |
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bustled
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| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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subserviently
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crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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captioned
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| a.标题项下的； 标题所说的 | |
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undesirable
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| adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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doorways
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| n.门口，门道( doorway的名词复数 ) | |
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passersby
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| n. 过路人(行人,经过者) | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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hoods
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| n.兜帽( hood的名词复数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩v.兜帽( hood的第三人称单数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩 | |
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56
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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57
bloodied
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| v.血污的( bloody的过去式和过去分词 )；流血的；屠杀的；残忍的 | |
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58
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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59
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
passerby
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| n.过路人，行人 | |
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61
trots
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| 小跑，急走( trot的名词复数 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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62
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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63
tighten
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| v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧 | |
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64
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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65
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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66
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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67
muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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68
affronted
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| adj.被侮辱的，被冒犯的v.勇敢地面对( affront的过去式和过去分词 )；相遇 | |
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69
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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70
rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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71
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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72
fictional
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| adj.小说的，虚构的 | |
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73
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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74
deplore
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| vt.哀叹，对...深感遗憾 | |
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75
consorting
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| v.结伴( consort的现在分词 )；交往；相称；调和 | |
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76
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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77
probity
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| n.刚直；廉洁，正直 | |
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78
theatrically
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| adv.戏剧化地 | |
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79
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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80
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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81
rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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82
arrogant
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
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83
trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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84
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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85
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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86
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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87
trove
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| n.被发现的东西，收藏的东西 | |
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88
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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89
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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90
vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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91
recoil
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| vi.退却，退缩，畏缩 | |
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92
realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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93
tingling
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
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94
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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95
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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96
hopping
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| n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式 | |
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97
jingling
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| 叮当声 | |
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98
scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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99
flick
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| n.快速的轻打，轻打声，弹开；v.轻弹，轻轻拂去，忽然摇动 | |
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100
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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101
queries
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| n.问题( query的名词复数 )；疑问；询问；问号v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 )；询问 | |
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102
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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103
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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104
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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105
crammed
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| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
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106
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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107
wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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108
labyrinthine
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| adj.如迷宫的；复杂的 | |
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109
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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110
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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111
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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112
hairpin
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| n.簪,束发夹，夹发针 | |
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113
zoomed
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| v.（飞机、汽车等）急速移动( zoom的过去式 )；（价格、费用等）急升，猛涨 | |
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114
lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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115
flipped
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| 轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥 | |
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116
glide
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| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
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117
sopping
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| adj. 浑身湿透的 动词sop的现在分词形式 | |
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118
deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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119
enchantment
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| n.迷惑，妖术，魅力 | |
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120
befuddled
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| adj.迷糊的，糊涂的v.使烂醉( befuddle的过去式和过去分词 )；使迷惑不解 | |
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121
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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122
vaults
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| n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴 | |
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123
incarceration
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| n.监禁，禁闭；钳闭 | |
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124
cuffs
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| n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 ) | |
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125
pegs
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| n.衣夹( peg的名词复数 )；挂钉；系帐篷的桩；弦钮v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的第三人称单数 )；使固定在某水平 | |
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126
spiked
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| adj.有穗的；成锥形的；有尖顶的 | |
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127
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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128
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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129
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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130
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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131
anvils
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| n.（铁）砧( anvil的名词复数 )；砧骨 | |
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132
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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133
slashes
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| n.（用刀等）砍( slash的名词复数 )；（长而窄的）伤口；斜杠；撒尿v.挥砍( slash的第三人称单数 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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134
goblet
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| n.高脚酒杯 | |
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135
goblets
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| n.高脚酒杯( goblet的名词复数 ) | |
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136
spines
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| n.脊柱( spine的名词复数 )；脊椎；（动植物的）刺；书脊 | |
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137
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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138
flasks
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| n.瓶，长颈瓶， 烧瓶( flask的名词复数 ) | |
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139
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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140
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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141
jumble
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| vt.使混乱，混杂；n.混乱；杂乱的一堆 | |
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142
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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143
blistered
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| adj.水疮状的，泡状的v.（使）起水泡( blister的过去式和过去分词 )；（使表皮等）涨破，爆裂 | |
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144
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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145
hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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146
badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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147
engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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148
crevice
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| n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口 | |
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149
cascade
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| n.小瀑布，喷流；层叠；vi.成瀑布落下 | |
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150
galleons
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| n.大型帆船( galleon的名词复数 ) | |
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151
spotlight
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| n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目 | |
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152
riddle
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| n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜 | |
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153
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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154
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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155
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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156
rummaged
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| 翻找，搜寻( rummage的过去式和过去分词 )； 已经海关检查 | |
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157
reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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158
horde
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| n.群众，一大群 | |
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159
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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160
replicas
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| n.复制品( replica的名词复数 ) | |
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161
cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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162
replicate
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| v.折叠，复制，模写；n.同样的样品；adj.转折的 | |
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163
screeched
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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164
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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165
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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166
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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167
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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168
skewered
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| v.（用串肉扦或类似物）串起，刺穿( skewer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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169
relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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170
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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171
avalanche
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| n.雪崩，大量涌来 | |
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172
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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173
replicating
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| 复制( replicate的现在分词 )； 重复； 再造； 再生 | |
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174
retrieve
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| vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索 | |
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175
sprinted
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| v.短距离疾跑( sprint的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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176
brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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177
daggers
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| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
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178
gush
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| v.喷，涌；滔滔不绝(说话)；n.喷，涌流；迸发 | |
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179
stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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180
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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181
belched
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| v.打嗝( belch的过去式和过去分词 )；喷出，吐出；打（嗝）；嗳（气） | |
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182
crumbled
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| （把…）弄碎， （使）碎成细屑( crumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 衰落； 坍塌； 损坏 | |
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183
deafened
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| 使聋( deafen的过去式和过去分词 )； 使隔音 | |
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184
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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185
carving
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| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
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186
gouging
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| n.刨削[槽]v.凿( gouge的现在分词 )；乱要价；（在…中）抠出…；挖出… | |
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187
snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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188
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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189
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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190
buckled
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| a. 有带扣的 | |
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