October arrived, spreading a damp chill over the grounds and into the castle. Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, was kept busy by a sudden spate1 of colds among the staff and students. Her Pepperup potion worked instantly, though it left the drinker smoking at the ears for several hours afterward2. Ginny Weasley, who had been looking pale, was bullied3 into taking some by Percy. The steam pouring from under her vivid hair gave the impression that her whole head was on fire. Raindrops the size of bullets thundered on the castle windows for days on end; the lake rose, the flower beds turned into muddy streams, and Hagrid's pumpkins4 swelled5 to the size of garden sheds.
Oliver Wood's enthusiasm for regular training sessions, however, was not dampened, which was why Harry6 was to be found, late one stormy Saturday afternoon a few days before Halloween, returning to Gryffindor Tower, drenched7 to the skin and splattered with mud.
Even aside from the rain and wind it hadn't been a happy practice session. Fred and George, who had been spying on the Slytherin team, had seen for themselves the speed of those new Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones. They reported that the Slytherin team was no more than seven greenish blurs8, shooting through the air like missiles. As Harry squelched9 along the deserted10 corridor he came across somebody who looked just as preoccupied11 as he was. Nearly Headless Nick, the ghost of Gryffindor Tower, was staring morosely12 out of a window, muttering under his breath, “…don't fulfill13 their requirements… half an inch, if that…”
“Hello, Nick,” said Harry.
“Hello, hello,” said Nearly Headless Nick, starting and looking round. He wore a dashing, plumed14 hat on his long curly hair, and a tunic15 with a ruff, which concealed16 the fact that his neck was almost completely severed17. He was pale as smoke, and Harry could see right through him to the dark sky and torrential rain outside.
“You look troubled, young Potter,” said Nick, folding a transparent18 letter as he spoke19 and tucking it inside his doublet.
“So do you,” said Harry.
“Ah,” Nearly Headless Nick waved an elegant hand, “a matter of no importance… It's not as though I really wanted to join… Thought I'd apply, but apparently20 I don't fulfill requirements’-”
In spite of his airy tone, there was a look of great bitterness on his face.
“But you would think, wouldn't you,” he erupted suddenly, pulling the letter back out of his pocket, “that getting hit forty-five times in the neck with a blunt axe21 would qualify you to join the Headless Hunt?”
“Oh - yes,” said Harry, who was obviously supposed to agree.
“I mean, nobody wishes more than I do that it had all been quick and clean, and my head had come off properly, I mean, it would have saved me a great deal of pain and ridicule22. However -” Nearly Headless Nick shook his letter open and read furiously:
“We can only accept huntsmen whose heads have parted company with their bodies. You will appreciate that it would be impossible otherwise for members to participate in hunt activities such as Horseback Head-Juggling and Head Polo. It is with the greatest regret, therefore, that I must inform you that you do not fulfill our requirements. With very best wishes, Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore.'”
Fuming, Nearly Headless Nick stuffed the letter away.
“Half an inch of skin and sinew holding my neck on, Harry! Most people would think that's good and beheaded, but oh, no, it's not enough for Sir Properly Decapitated-Podmore.”
Nearly Headless Nick took several deep breaths and then said, in a far calmer tone, “So - what's bothering you? Anything I can do?”
“No,” said Harry. “Not unless you know where we can get seven free Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones for our match against Sly-”
The rest of Harry's sentence was drowned out by a high-pitched mewling from somewhere near his ankles. He looked down and found himself gazing into a pair of lamp-like yellow eyes. It was Mrs. Norris, the skeletal gray cat who was used by the caretaker, Argus Filch23, as a sort of deputy in his endless battle against students.
“You'd better get out of here, Harry,” said Nick quickly. “Filch isn't in a good mood - he's got the flu and some third years accidentally plastered frog brains all over the ceiling in dungeon24 five. He's been cleaning all morning, and if he sees you dripping mud all over the place—”
“Right,” said Harry, backing away from the accusing stare of Mrs. Norris, but not quickly enough. Drawn25 to the spot by the mysterious power that seemed to connect him with his foul26 cat, Argus Filch burst suddenly through a tapestry27 to Harry's right, wheezing28 and looking wildly about for the rule-breaker. There was a thick tartan scarf bound around his head, and his nose was unusually purple.
“Filth!” he shouted, his jowls aquiver, his eyes popping alarmingly as he pointed29 at the muddy puddle30 that had dripped from Harry's Quidditch robes. “Mess and muck everywhere! I've had enough of it, I tell you! Follow me, Potter!”
So Harry waved a gloomy good-bye to Nearly Headless Nick and followed Filch back downstairs, doubling the number of muddy footprints on the floor. Harry had never been inside Filch's office before; it was a place most students avoided. The room was dingy31 and windowless, lit by a single oil lamp dangling32 from the low ceiling. A faint smell of fried fish lingered about the place. Wooden filing cabinets stood around the walls; from their labels, Harry could see that they contained details of every pupil Filch had ever punished. Fred and George Weasley had an entire drawer to themselves. A highly polished collection of chains and manacles hung on the wall behind Filch's desk. It was common knowledge that he was always begging Dumbledore to let him suspend students by their ankles from the ceiling.
Filch grabbed a quill33 from a pot on his desk and began shuffling34 around looking for parchment.
“Dung,” he muttered furiously, “great sizzling dragon bogies… frog brains… rat intestines… I've had enough of it… make an example… where's the form… yes…”
He retrieved35 a large roll of parchment from his desk drawer and stretched it out in front of him, dipping his long black quill into the ink pot.
“Name… Harry Potter. Crime…”
“It was only a bit of mud!” said Harry.
“It's only a bit of mud to you, boy, but to me it's an extra hour scrubbing!” shouted Filch, a drip shivering unpleasantly at the end of his bulbous nose. ” Crime… befouling the castle… suggested sentence…”
Dabbing at his streaming nose, Filch squinted36 unpleasantly at Harry who waited with bated breath for his sentence to fall.
But as Filch lowered his quill, there was a great BANG! on the ceiling of the office, which made the oil lamp rattle37.
“PEEVES38!” Filch roared, flinging down his quill in a transport of rage. “I'll have you this time, I'll have you!”
And without a backward glance at Harry, Filch ran flat-footed from the office, Mrs. Norris streaking39 alongside him.
Peeves was the school poltergeist, a grinning, airborne menace who lived to cause havoc40 and distress41. Harry didn't much like Peeves, but couldn't help feeling grateful for his timing42. Hopefully, whatever Peeves had done (and it sounded as though he'd wrecked43 something very big this time) would distract Filch from Harry.
Thinking that he should probably wait for Filch to come back, Harry sank into a moth-eaten chair next to the desk. There was only one thing on it apart from his half-completed form: a large, glossy44, purple envelope with silver lettering on the front. With a quick glance at the door to check that Filch wasn't on his way back, Harry picked up the envelope and read:
Kwikspell
A Correspondence Course in Beginners'Magic.
Intrigued45, Harry flicked46 the envelope open and pulled out the sheaf of parchment inside. More curly silver writing on the front page said:
Feel out of step in the world of modern magic? Find yourself making excuses not to perform simple spells? Ever been taunted47 for your woeful wandwork?
There is an answer!
Kwikspell is an all-new, fail-safe, quick-result, easy-learn course. Hundreds of witches and wizards have benefited from the Kwikspell method!
Madam Z. Nettles48 of Topsham writes:
“I had no memory for incantations and my potions were a family joke! Now, after a Kwikspell course, I am the center of attention at parties and friends beg for the recipe of my Scintillation Solution!”
Warlock D. J. Prod49 of Didsbury says:
“My wife used to sneer50 at my feeble charms, but one month into your fabulous51 Kwikspell course and I succeeded in turning her into a yak52! Thank you, Kwikspell!”
Fascinated, Harry thumbed through the rest of the envelope's contents. Why on earth did Filch want a Kwikspell course? Did this mean he wasn't a proper wizard? Harry was just reading “Lesson One: Holding Your Wand (Some Useful Tips)” when shuffling footsteps outside told him Filch was coming back. Stuffing the parchment back into the envelope, Harry threw it back onto the desk just as the door opened.
Filch was looking triumphant53.
“That vanishing cabinet was extremely valuable!” he was saying gleefully to Mrs. Norris. “We'll have Peeves out this time, my sweet—”
His eyes fell on Harry and then darted54 to the Kwikspell envelope, which, Harry realized too late, was lying two feet away from where it had started.
Filch's pasty face went brick red. Harry braced55 himself for a tidal wave of fury. Filch hobbled across to his desk, snatched up the envelope, and threw it into a drawer.
“Have you - did you read -?” he sputtered56.
“No,” Harry lied quickly.
Filch's knobbly hands were twisting together.
“If I thought you'd read my private -not that it's mine - for a friend - be that as it may - however—”
Harry was staring at him, alarmed; Filch had never looked madder. His eyes were popping, a tic was going in one of his pouchy57 cheeks, and the tartan scarf didn't help.
“Very well - go - and don't breathe a word - not that - however, if you didn't read - go now, I have to write up Peeves'report - go—”
Amazed at his luck, Harry sped out of the office, up the corridor, and back upstairs. To escape from Filch's office without punishment was probably some kind of school record.
“Harry! Harry! Did it work?”
Nearly Headless Nick came gliding58 out of a classroom. Behind him, Harry could see the wreckage59 of a large black-and-gold cabinet that appeared to have been dropped from a great height.
“I persuaded Peeves to crash it right over Filch's office,” said Nick eagerly. “Thought it might distract him—”
“Was that you?” said Harry gratefully. “Yeah, it worked, I didn't even get detention60. Thanks, Nick!”
They set off up the corridor together. Nearly Headless Nick, Harry noticed, was still holding Sir Patrick's rejection61 letter…
“I wish there was something I could do for you about the Headless Hunt,” Harry said. Nearly Headless Nick stopped in his tracks and Harry walked right through him. He wished he hadn't; it was like stepping through an icy shower.
“But there is something you could do for me,” said Nick excitedly. “Harry - would I be asking too much - but no, you wouldn't want—”
“What is it?” said Harry. “Well, this Halloween will be my five hundredth deathday,” said Nearly Headless Nick, drawing himself up and looking dignified62.
“Oh,” said Harry, not sure whether he should look sorry or happy about this. “Right.”
“I'm holding a party down in one of the roomier dungeons63. Friends will be coming from all over the country. It would be such an honor if you would attend. Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger would be most welcome, too, of course - but I daresay you'd rather go to the school feast?” He watched Harry on tenterhooks64.
“No,” said Harry quickly, “I'll come—”
“My dear boy! Harry Potter, at my deathday party! And -” he hesitated, looking excited “- do you think you could possibly mention to Sir Patrick how very frightening and impressive you find me?”
“Of - of course,” said Harry.
Nearly Headless Nick beamed at him.
“A deathday party?” said Hermione keenly when Harry had changed at last and joined her and Ron in the common room. “I bet there aren't many living people who can say they've been to one of those - it'll be fascinating!”
“Why would anyone want to celebrate the day they died?” said Ron, who was halfway65 through his Potions homework and grumpy. “Sounds dead depressing to me…”
Rain was still lashing66 the windows, which were now inky black, but inside all looked bright and cheerful. The firelight glowed over the countless67 squashy armchairs where people sat reading, talking, doing homework or, in the case of Fred and George Weasley, trying to find out what would happen if you fed a Filibuster68 firework to a salamander. Fred had “rescued” the brilliant orange, fire-dwelling lizard69 from a Care of Magical Creatures class and it was now smouldering gently on a table surrounded by a knot of curious people.
Harry was at the point of telling Ron and Hermione about Filch and the Kwikspell course when the salamander suddenly whizzed into the air, emitting loud sparks and bangs as it whirled wildly round the room. The sight of Percy bellowing70 himself hoarse71 at Fred and George, the spectacular display of tangerine72 stars showering from the salamander's mouth, and its escape into the fire, with accompanying explosions, drove both Filch and the Kwikspell envelope from Harry's mind.
By the time Halloween arrived, Harry was regretting his rash promise to go to the deathday party. The rest of the school was happily anticipating their Halloween feast; the Great Hall had been decorated with the usual live bats, Hagrid's vast pumpkins had been carved into lanterns large enough for three men to sit in, and there were rumors73 that Dumbledore had booked a troupe74 of dancing skeletons for the entertainment.
“A promise is a promise,” Hermione reminded Harry bossily75. “You said you'd go to the deathday party.”
So at seven o'clock, Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked straight past the doorway76 to the packed Great Hall, which was glittering invitingly77 with gold plates and candles, and directed their steps instead toward the dungeons.
The passageway leading to Nearly Headless Nick's party had been lined with candles, too, though the effect was far from cheerful: These were long, thin, jet-black tapers78, all burning bright blue, casting a dim, ghostly light even over their own living faces. The temperature dropped with every step they took. As Harry shivered and drew his robes tightly around him, he heard what sounded like a thousand fingernails scraping an enormous blackboard.
“Is that supposed to be music?” Ron whispered. They turned a corner and saw Nearly Headless Nick standing79 at a doorway hung with black velvet80 drapes.
“My dear friends,” he said mournfully. “Welcome, welcome… so pleased you could come…”
He swept off his plumed hat and bowed them inside.
It was an incredible sight. The dungeon was full of hundreds of pearly-white, translucent81 people, mostly drifting around a crowded dance floor, waltzing to the dreadful, quavering sound of thirty musical saws, played by an orchestra on a raised, black-draped platform. A chandelier overhead blazed midnight-blue with a thousand more black candles. Their breath rose in a mist before them; it was like stepping into a freezer.
“Shall we have a look around?” Harry suggested, wanting to warm up his feet.
“Careful not to walk through anyone,” said Ron nervously82, and they set off around the edge of the dance floor. They passed a group of gloomy nuns83, a ragged84 man wearing chains, and the Fat Friar, a cheerful Hufflepuff ghost, who was talking to a knight85 with an arrow sticking out of his forehead. Harry wasn't surprised to see that the Bloody86 Baron87, a gaunt, staring Slytherin ghost covered in silver bloodstains, was being given a wide berth88 by the other ghosts.
“Oh, no,” said Hermione, stopping abruptly89. “Turn back, turn back, I don't want to talk to Moaning Myrtle—”
“Who?” said Harry as they backtracked quickly.
“She haunts one of the toilets in the girls'bathroom on the first floor,” said Hermione.
“She haunts a toilet?”
“Yes.It's been out-of-order all year because she keeps having tantrums and flooding the place. I never went in there anyway if I could avoid it; it's awful trying to have a pee with her wailing90 at you—”
“Look, food!” said Ron.
On the other side of the dungeon was a long table, also covered in black velvet. They approached it eagerly but next moment had stopped in their tracks, horrified91. The smell was quite disgusting. Large, rotten fish were laid on handsome silver platters; cakes, burned charcoal-black, were heaped on salvers; there was a great maggoty haggis, a slab92 of cheese covered in furry93 green mold and, in pride of place, an enormous gray cake in the shape of a tombstone, with tar-like icing forming the words,
SIR NICHOLAS DE MIMSY-PORPINGTON
DIED 31ST OCTOBER, 1492
Harry watched, amazed, as a portly ghost approached the table, crouched94 low, and walked through it, his mouth held wide so that it passed through one of the stinking95 salmon96.
“Can you taste it if you walk though it?” Harry asked him.
“Almost,” said the ghost sadly, and he drifted away.
“I expect they've let it rot to give it a stronger flavor,” said Hermione knowledgeably97, pinching her nose and leaning closer to look at the putrid98 haggis.
“Can we move? I feel sick,” said Ron.
They had barely turned around, however, when a little man swooped99 suddenly from under the table and came to a halt in midair before them.
“Hello, Peeves,” said Harry cautiously.
Unlike the ghosts around them, Peeves the Poltergeist was the very reverse of pale and transparent. He was wearing a bright orange party hat, a revolving100 bow tie, and a broad grin on his wide, wicked face.
“Nibbles?” he said sweetly, offering them a bowl of peanuts covered in fungus101.
“No thanks,” said Hermione.
“Heard you talking about poor Myrtle,” said Peeves, his eyes dancing. ” Rude you was about poor Myrtle.” He took a deep breath and bellowed102, “OY! MYRTLE!”
“Oh, no, Peeves, don't tell her what I said, she'll be really upset,” Hermione whispered frantically103. “I didn't mean it, I don't mind her - er, hello, Myrtle.”
The squat104 ghost of a girl had glided105 over. She had the glummest106 face Harry had ever seen, half-hidden behind lank107 hair and thick, pearly spectacles.
“What?” she said sulkily.
“How are you, Myrtle?” said Hermione in a falsely bright voice. “It's nice to see you out of the toilet.”
Myrtle sniffed108.
“Miss Granger was just talking about you -” said Peeves slyly in Myrtle's ear. “Just saying—”
“Just saying - saying - how nice you look tonight,” said Hermione, glaring at Peeves.
Myrtle eyed Hermione suspiciously.
“You're making fun of me,” she said, silver tears welling rapidly in her small, see-through eyes.
“No - honestly - didn't I just say how nice Myrtle's looking?” said Hermione, nudging Harry and Ron painfully in the ribs109.
“Oh, yeah—”
“She did—”
“Don't lie to me,” Myrtle gasped111, tears now flooding down her face, while Peeves chuckled112 happily over her shoulder. “D'you think I don't know what people call me behind my back? Fat Myrtle! Ugly Myrtle! Miserable113, moaning, moping Myrtle!”
“You've forgotten pimply114,” Peeves hissed115 in her ear.
Moaning Myrtle burst into anguished116 sobs117 and fled from the dungeon. Peeves shot after her, pelting118 her with moldy119 peanuts, yelling, ” Pimply! Pimply! ”
“Oh, dear,” said Hermione sadly.
Nearly Headless Nick now drifted toward them through the crowd.
“Enjoying yourselves?”
“Oh, yes,” they lied.
“Not a bad turnout,” said Nearly Headless Nick proudly. “The Wailing Widow came all the way up from Kent… It's nearly time for my speech, I'd better go and warn the orchestra…”
The orchestra, however, stopped playing at that very moment. They, and everyone else in the dungeon, fell silent, looking around in excitement, as a hunting horn sounded.
“Oh, here we go,” said Nearly Headless Nick bitterly.
Through the dungeon wall burst a dozen ghost horses, each ridden by a headless horseman. The assembly clapped wildly; Harry started to clap, too, but stopped quickly at the sight of Nick's face.
The horses galloped120 into the middle of the dance floor and halted, rearing and plunging121. At the front of the pack was a large ghost who held his bearded head under his arm, from which position he was blowing the horn. The ghost leapt down, lifted his head high in the air so he could see over the crowd (everyone laughed), and strode over to Nearly Headless Nick, squashing his head back onto his neck.
“Nick!” he roared. “How are you? Head still hanging in there?”
He gave a hearty122 guffaw123 and clapped Nearly Headless Nick on the shoulder.
“Welcome, Patrick,” said Nick stiffly.
“Live uns!” said Sir Patrick, spotting Harry, Ron, and Hermione and giving a huge, fake jump of astonishment124, so that his head fell off again (the crowd howled with laughter).
“Very amusing,” said Nearly Headless Nick darkly.
“Don't mind Nick!” shouted Sir Patrick's head from the floor. “Still upset we won't let him join the Hunt! But I mean to say - look at the fellow—”
“I think,” said Harry hurriedly, at a meaningful look from Nick, “Nick's very - frightening and - er—”
“Ha!” yelled Sir Patrick's head.
“Bet he asked you to say that!”
“If I could have everyone's attention, it's time for my speech!” said Nearly Headless Nick loudly, striding toward the podium and climbing into an icy blue spotlight125.
“My late lamented126 lords, ladies, and gentlemen, it is my great sorrow…”
But nobody heard much more. Sir Patrick and the rest of the Headless Hunt had just started a game of Head Hockey and the crowd were turning to watch. Nearly Headless Nick tried vainly to recapture his audience, but gave up as Sir Patrick's head went sailing past him to loud cheers.
Harry was very cold by now, not to mention hungry.
“I can't stand much more of this,” Ron muttered, his teeth chattering128, as the orchestra ground back into action and the ghosts swept back onto the dance floor.
“Let's go,” Harry agreed.
They backed toward the door, nodding and beaming at anyone who looked at them, and a minute later were hurrying back up the passageway full of black candles.
“Pudding might not be finished yet,” said Ron hopefully, leading the way toward the steps to the entrance hall.
And then Harry heard it.
“… rip… tear… kill…”
It was the same voice, the same cold, murderous voice he had heard in Lockhart's office.
He stumbled to a halt, clutching at the stone wall, listening with all his might, looking around, squinting129 up and down the dimly lit passageway.
“Harry, what're you -?”
“It's that voice again - shut up a minute—”
“… soo hungry… for so long…”
“Listen!” said Harry urgently, and Ron and Hermione froze, watching him.
“… kill… time to kill…”
The voice was growing fainter. Harry was sure it was moving away - moving upward. A mixture of fear and excitement gripped him as he stared at the dark ceiling; how could it be moving upward? Was it a phantom130, to whom stone ceilings didn't matter?
“This way,” he shouted, and he began to run, up the stairs, into the entrance hall. It was no good hoping to hear anything here, the babble131 of talk from the Halloween feast was echoing out of the Great Hall. Harry sprinted132 up the marble staircase to the first floor, Ron and Hermione clattering133 behind him.
“Harry, what're we—”
“SHH!”
Harry strained his ears. Distantly, from the floor above, and growing fainter still, he heard the voice: “… I smell blood… I SMELL BLOOD!”
His stomach lurched—
“It's going to kill someone!” he shouted, and ignoring Ron's and Hermione's bewildered faces, he ran up the next flight of steps three at a time, trying to listen over his own pounding footsteps - Harry hurtled around the whole of the second floor, Ron and Hermione panting behind him, not stopping until they turned a corner into the last, deserted passage.
“Harry, what was that all about?” said Ron, wiping sweat off his face. “I couldn't hear anything…”
But Hermione gave a sudden gasp110, pointing down the corridor.
“Look! ”
Something was shining on the wall ahead. They approached slowly, squinting through the darkness. Foot-high words had been daubed on the wall between two windows, shimmering134 in the light cast by the flaming torches.
THE CHAMBER135 OF SECRETS HAS BEEN
OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE
“What's that thing - hanging underneath136?” said Ron, a slight quiver in his voice.
As they edged nearer, Harry almost slipped - there was a large puddle of water on the floor; Ron and Hermione grabbed him, and they inched toward the message, eyes fixed137 on a dark shadow beneath it. All three of them realized what it was at once, and leapt backward with a splash.
Mrs. Norris, the caretaker's cat, was hanging by her tail from the torch bracket. She was stiff as a board, her eyes wide and staring.
For a few seconds, they didn't move. Then Ron said, “Let's get out of here.”
“Shouldn't we try and help -” Harry began awkwardly.
“Trust me,” said Ron. “We don't want to be found here.”
But it was too late. A rumble138, as though of distant thunder, told them that the feast had just ended. From either end of the corridor where they stood came the sound of hundreds of feet climbing the stairs, and the loud, happy talk of well-fed people; next moment, students were crashing into the passage from both ends.
The chatter127, the bustle139, the noise died suddenly as the people in front spotted140 the hanging cat. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood alone, in the middle of the corridor, as silence fell among the mass of students pressing forward to see the grisly sight.
Then someone shouted through the quiet.
“Enemies of the Heir, beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods!”
It was Draco Malfoy. He had pushed to the front of the crowd, his cold eyes alive, his usually bloodless face flushed, as he grinned at the sight of the hanging, immobile cat.
十月来临了，冰冷潮湿的山风吹拂着整个城堡。波姆弗雷夫人城堡的医生，突然发现患上感冒的人越来越多了，使她忙得抽不出身来。于是她特意地研制了一味辣椒药水。虽然喝了这药水后，耳朵会连续几小时地喷出烟雾来，但是确是药到病除，非常灵验。金妮。
威斯里身子一向瘦弱，她哥哥伯希硬是逼她喝下了一些药水。之后的几小时她鲜红的头发下不断地冒出烟来，不明原由的人还以为她整个头都着火了。
一连几天，雨点像一颗颗子弹似的昼夜不停地打在城堡的窗户上。湖水涨了起来，花基的泥土被冲去了不少，整条路变得泥泞不堪。哈格力的南瓜在雨水的滋润下一个劲地疯长，全都长得像小花棚一般大小。但是奥立弗。伍德对快迪斯的训练热情没因为天气造成影响，这就是为什么哈利在万圣节前几天的一个风雨交加的周末傍晚，弄得浑身湿淋淋，满身泥泞的原因了。
即使在平时，练习快迪斯球也不是一件什么舒服的事。弗来德和乔治负责去侦探史林德林队，他们亲眼见识了灵光Zbol的厉害，回来报告说，速度是很快，但是史林德林不会运用战术，只会在空中像盲头苍蝇一样飞来飞去。
哈利走在空荡荡的过道上，沉思着。他发现另外有一个人也和他一样。心事重重。他是无头的尼克——格林芬顿的鬼魂，这时他悲哀地双眼直盯着窗外，口里喃喃地说：“……不合他们的要求……半英寸，如果……”
“你好，尼克。”哈利说道。
“你好，你好。”无头的尼克回答。他戴着一项浮华的羽毛帽子，长着长长的卷发，穿一件环领的长大衣，刚好盖住了他严重损伤的颈部，他像烟雾一样苍白透明，哈利几乎可以看到他身后的漆黑的天空和澎沱的大雨。
“你看起来好像遇到了什么麻烦事吧，小波特？”尼克说着把一封透明的信塞进农服里。
“你也是吧。”哈利说道。
“啊，”无头尼克优雅地挥了挥手，“小事情而已……只不过我想参加……以为我会被录取的，可是来信说我不合要求。”
虽然他说得好像很轻松，但从脸上的表情看出，他很痛苦。
“本来你也会这样以为的，是吧？”他突然说，然后把信从口袋里取出来，“我被一把钝斧子连劈45下脖子，头才被砍了下来，这样应该符合要求了吧？”
“哦，是的。”哈利觉得他应该表示同意。
“我是说，那时，我多么盼望他能砍得又快又难，头可以一下子掉下来。我是说，这样我就不用挨这么多斧子，简直是活受罪。但是……”无头的尼克把信再次打开，愤恨地读道。
“我们只能接纳死时头和身体没有分开的猎手。你应该能理解即使你加入了我们的协会，你无法参加我们的马背魔法头术和水上头球的活动。因此，我只能很遗憾地通知你你不符合我们的要求。
此致，敬礼。德兰尼。勃德莫先生。“尼克怒气冲冲地把信再次塞回口袋中。
“我只有一丁点皮肉把我的头和身子连起来，哈利！大多数人都以为这样，可是不是这样的，至少对于德兰尼。勃德莫先生来说不是这样。”
无头的尼克深深吸了几口气，语气平缓下来。“那——你为什么烦心啊？我能不能帮上忙？”
“不用了，”哈利说。“除非你知道在哪里我们能搞到灵光20001……”
一阵尖声的猫叫把哈利的话盖过了。他低头一看，看到一双灯笼般的大眼睛在他的膝盖旁。这是诺丽丝夫人，管理员费驰的一只皮包骨的灰猫。在费驰长期地与学生作斗争的日子里，它算得上是一个得力的副手。
“你最好马上离开这里，哈利。”尼克急忙说。“费驰这几天心情不好。他得了感冒。一些三年级的学生在五号旁的天花板上抹了些青蛙脑浆，害得他清理了一上午，如果他看到你浑身泥泞的走在这里”知道了。“哈利不顾诺丽丝夫人带着责备的凝视，急忙拔腿往外跑去。但是太迟了。费弛好像与他的猫有某种神秘的感应一样，他披着一张毯子冲了出来，四处张望着寻找违规者。他头顶包着一块格子布，鼻子红得发紫。
“脏鬼！”他大叫道，脸颊兴奋得通红，眼睛盯着哈利的快迪斯球衣上淌下的泥泞。“到处都是脏东西！我可受够了！波特，跟我来！”
哈利神情暗淡地向尼克挥一挥再见，跟着费驰走下楼梯，地板上的脏脚印更多了。
哈利从来没进过费驰的办公室，这是大多学生不愿意进去的地方。房间里只有一盏油灯吊在天花板上，没有窗户，还伴随有一股煎鱼的味道。几个大木柜靠在墙边，那是用来装违反纪律的学生的档案的，里面详细地写明了谁干了什么坏事被处罚干什么。弗来德和乔治的档案就占了整整一个抽屉。一副闪亮的锁链和手铐就挂在费驰桌子的墙后面。学校人人都知道他经常恳求丹伯多校长允许他把学生倒挂在天花板上。
费驰取出一支羽毛笔，开始找羊皮纸。
“龙粪，”他一面气冲冲地说道，“那只喷火的怪物……青蛙脑浆……老鼠尿……我实在受够了……表格哪去了……在这……”
他在抽屉里取出一大卷羊皮纸，在桌面上铺平，把笔染了些墨水。
“姓名……哈利。波特。案件……”
“不过是一点点泥罢了！”哈利说。
“对于你来说是这样，对于我来说，那可是又一个小时的清洁工作了！”费驰大叫道。一滴鼻水在他那球状的鼻孔处，摇晃了一下，掉了下来。“案件：弄脏城堡……建议处罚是……”
一面拿纸捂着鼻子，他一面斜眼打量着哈利。哈利屏住呼吸听着……
费驰正要下笔写时，天花板上传来一声巨响，把煤油灯给震得一晃一晃的。
“皮维斯！”费驰怒吼着，摔下笔奔了出去。“我这次一定得抓住你，你可跑不掉了。”
费驰头也不回地一阵风似的冲出了办公室，诺丽丝夫人紧跟在后。
皮维斯是学校专门搞恶作剧的鬼，他天生就爱捣乱。哈利一向不大喜欢他，不过现在对他恶作剧的及时性感到很感激。无论皮维斯这回是干了什么（从声音判断，砸在天花板上的东西可不小），他暗暗祈祷费驰会忘了处罚自己。
哈利坐在费驰书桌前的那张椅子上等待费她回来。桌面上除了那张填了半张的表格，还有一个光滑的紫色信封，上面有些闪亮的银字。哈利向门口望了望，然后迅速的拿起信封。上面写着：“克拉咒语初学魔法者函授课程”
哈利感到很奇怪，于是打开信封把里面的羊皮纸抽了出来。里面的那张纸写着：“觉得与现代魔法脱节吗？发觉自己常找借口不练习简单的魔法吗？为自己可怜的巫术而不安吗？
这就是你们所需要的答案！
克拉咒语是一门全新的，快见效的，简单易学的课程。成千上万的巫师从这门课程得益不浅！
托森的塞尼托太太写道：我对变身一窍不通，经常被家人笑话。在学习了克拉咒语后，我成为了晚会的中心人物，朋友们还求我要火花溶液的秘方。
得布里的华诺芙说道：过去，我妻子常常取笑我的咒语，可是学了您们的神奇的克拉课程一个月后，我成功地把她变成了一头牦牛！谢谢你，克拉咒语。“哈利很有兴趣地把信从头到尾看了一遍。究竟费驰为什么要这些课程呢？是不是说他不是一个正式的巫师呢？哈利正读着第一课”拿魔杖的正确方法“（一些有用的小秘诀）时，门外传来急促的脚步声，哈利知道费驰回来了。哈利马上把羊皮纸塞进信封。哈利刚把信封扔回书桌上，门就被打开了。
费弛一脸胜利的得意笑容。
“那个自动消失的衣柜可真有用！”他高兴地对着诺丽丝夫人说。
“我们这次可把皮维斯弄走掉了，我的宝贝。”
他的眼睛转向了哈利，然后转到了桌子上的尼克咒语的信封。
哈利意识到的时候已经太迟了，信封比刚才移动了起码两英尺。
费驰苍白的脸变成了砖红色。哈利准备好受一顿臭骂了。费驰脚步蹒跚地走到桌子前，一把抓起信封放进了抽屉里。
“你——你有没有——读过？”他结结巴巴地问道。
“没有。”哈利马上撒了个谎。
费驰那双指节突出的手扭在了一起。
“如果我猜想你读过我的……这可不是我的……是给一个朋友的……也许看起来……但是……”
哈利警觉地瞪着他看；费驰再没比现在更激动了。他的眼睛往外突出，胖胖的脸颊抽搐着。
“好，很好……走吧……不要跟别人说起……不要说……不过，如果你真的没读过……走吧，我现在要写皮维斯的报告……走……”
哈利几乎不敢相信自己的好运气，他快步走出办公室，穿过走道，走上楼梯。
能从费弛的办公室出来而不受惩罚可真算是一条学校的记录。
“哈利，哈利，有效吗？”
无头尼克从一间教室里滑出来，在他身后，哈利看到一个黑色和金色相间的大柜子的残骸，毫无疑问，那应该是从高空摔下来造成的。
“我劝服了皮维斯把这从费驰的办公室上扔下去，”尼克急切地说，“我想这样可能会分开他的注意力……”
“真是你啊？”哈利感激地说道。“是的，很有效。我不用留堂罚劳动。谢谢，尼克！”
他们一起沿着过道走着。哈利注意到，无头的尼克一直紧握着勃德莫先生的回信。
“我真希望我可以帮你进无头猎队。”哈利说道。
无头的尼克停住了脚步，哈利穿过了他的身体。他真希望他没这样做，因为那感觉就像在冰水里洗了个澡。
“不过你可以为我做些其它的事，”尼克兴奋地说。“哈利——我不知道是不是要求太过分了——算了，你不会想去——”
“去哪？”哈利问道。
“是这样的，今年的万圣节是我500周年忌日。”无头的尼克挺直了腰杆，庄严地说道。
“哦，”哈利说道，他不清楚该表示高兴还是悲哀，“是这样的。”
“我将在一个大房子里开一个晚会。全国的朋友都会参加。如果你能来的话，我将不胜荣幸。我很欢迎威斯里先生和格兰佐小姐来。当然了——不过我知道你们得去学校的餐宴吧？”他注意到哈利有点难为的样子。
“不，”哈利马上说道，“我会来——”
“我亲爱的朋友！哈利。波特，来我的忌日晚会！还有，”他犹豫了一会，兴奋地说，“你能不能在勃德莫先生的面前稍稍提及一下你看到我时是多么毛骨悚然呢？”
“当——当然了。”哈利说。
无头的尼克向他展露了微笑。
“忌日晚会？”荷米恩表现出极大的兴趣。哈利换过衣服，在大厅看到了罗恩和荷米恩。“我敢打赌没几个活人去过这样的一个忌日晚会——肯定会是很好玩的。”
“为什么有人想庆祝死的那天呢？”罗恩说，他没做完药剂作业，脾气很暴躁。
“听起来让人蛮沮丧的……”
雨点仍旧拍打着窗户，外面漆黑一团，可里面既明亮又愉快。烟花发出美丽的光彩，飘落在椅子上。弗来德和乔治想看看如果把烟花喷到火蜥蜴上会有什么后果。
弗来德刚刚从魔法动物医疗班上“解救”出一条橘黄色的火渐蝎。他现在悄悄地躲在一张桌子下，四周围满了好奇的人群。
哈利正想告诉罗恩和荷米恩关于弗来德和克拉咒语课程，那条火蜥蜴一下子飞到半空，绕着房间疯狂地转着，还喷射出火花和发出巨大的响声。伯希朝着费驰和乔治大叫；火晰蝎口中喷出
橘黄色的火焰，然后逃进了火堆，发出爆炸声。这一切让哈利忘了弗来德和克拉咒语的信封。
随着万圣节一天一天地临近，哈利开始后悔他太仓促地作出了去忌日晚会的决定。学校的同学都在猜万圣节宴上的美味；大厅用活蝙蝠装饰了一番，哈格力的大南瓜被做成了灯笼，足足够三个人坐进去。还有传言说丹伯多预约了一个骷髅跳舞剧团来表演。
“你可是先答应别人的，”荷米恩权威似的提醒哈利。“你可说过你要去忌日晚会的。”
于是，七点整，哈利，罗恩和荷米恩径直走出门口，来到拥挤的大厅，大厅里金碟子和蜡烛闪闪发光地向他们发出了邀请。他们走向了办公室。
通向无头的尼克的晚会的过道上也摆着蜡烛，但是这些就没那么令人愉快了。
细细长长的黑色的蜡烛，烛火是亮蓝色的，在他们脸上投下暗淡的幽灵般的影子。
他们每往下走一步。温度都会下降一点。哈利战抖着，把魔袍紧紧地围住身体。这时，他听到了一种好像上千只指甲抓着一面巨大的黑板的声音。
“这该不是音乐吧？”罗恩低声说。他们转过一个角落，看见无头的尼克站在挂着黑紫色门帘的门口旁。
“我亲爱的朋友们，”他悲哀地说，“欢迎，欢迎……真高兴你们能来……”
他拿下羽毛帽子，向他们鞠了一躬，让了他们进去。
里面的情景让人难以置信。房子里上百个苍白透明的人在舞池上漂浮着，跟着可怕的令人毛骨悚然的乐声在跳华尔兹舞。在黑幕下的平台上，一个交响乐团在起劲地拉动着三十根电锯。头顶的树枝形吊灯发出蓝色的光。他们呼出的气都变成雾气；就好像走进了一个雪柜。
“咱们到周围走走看？”哈利建议道，他想活动活动一下冻麻了的脚。
“小心不要穿过别人，”罗恩紧张地说，他们沿着舞台边走。他们看见一群神情暗淡的修女；一个衣衫褴楼的戴着手镣的人；还有胖胖的法莱尔——一个快乐的海夫巴夫鬼魂。他正跟一个眉心插着箭的骑士在说话。哈利毫不惊奇地看到了浑身是血的拜罗——一个憔悴的史林德林鬼魂。
“噢，不是吧，”荷米恩突然说道。“回来，把头扭过来，我可不想和呻吟的麦托勒说话——”
“谁？”哈利问道。他们马上转了回来。
“她老在一楼的女厕里吓人。”
“她在厕所里吓人？”
“是的，她在那大发脾气，水淹厕所，那儿整年都乱了套了。如果可能的话，我怎么也不上那儿。上厕所时，听到她的哭叫声可真可怕——”
“瞧，食物来了！”罗恩说道。
在房子的另一端有一张盖着紫黑色桌布的长桌子。他们热切地走过去，一看都吓呆了。一大条腐烂的鱼放在银色的盘子上，烧得像煤炭似的蛋糕摆在托盘上，一大块长满绿毛的爬着蛀虫的芝士还有一个巨大的墓碑形的灰色蛋糕，蛋糕上用焦油写着：尼克拉斯。德米斯。波平格顿先生死于1492年10月31日哈利惊奇地看着一个健壮的鬼魂走近桌子，弯下腰，穿过食物，他的嘴张得大大地穿过一条发臭的三文鱼。
“你穿过食物的时候，能尝到什么味道吗？”哈利问道。
“有一点吧！”鬼魂悲哀地回答，然后飘走了。
“我想他们是特意让食物腐烂而要那些味道的。”荷米恩恍然大悟地说。她捏着鼻子凑近一盘腐烂的动物肝脏。
“我们走吧，我觉得不舒服。”罗恩说。
他们刚转过身，一个小人从桌子底飘了出来，悬浮在半空，停在他们前面。
“你好，皮维斯。”哈利小心地打招呼。
这个爱捣乱的鬼戴着一项鲜黄色的晚会帽子，一个不断旋转的领结，宽宽的脸上带着微笑。比起来，他是最不苍白透明的。
“吃一口吗？”他拿起一碟发霉的花生米甜甜地问道。
“不，谢谢了。”荷米恩马上说。
“我听到你说可怜的麦托勒的坏话了，”皮维斯眼睛发着光。“你对麦托勒可不够礼貌啊。”他深呼吸了一口大喊道：“啊，麦托勒！”
“不，不要，皮维斯，不要跟她说我说过的话，她会很不高兴的，”
荷米恩急忙低声说。“我不是有意的，我不在乎她会——啊，你好，麦托勒。”
一个女鬼蹲着飘了过来，她的脸是哈利看到过的最忧郁的。半遮在稀稀疏疏的头发下，戴着一双厚厚的珍珠眼镜。
“什么？”她抑郁地问。
“你好吗，麦托勒？”荷米恩假装高兴地问。“看到你走出厕所真高兴。”
麦托勒鼻孔喷了一下气。
“格兰佐小姐在说你——”皮维斯悄悄在麦托勒耳边说道。
“说，说——你今天晚上很漂亮。”荷米恩用眼睛瞪着皮维斯。
麦托勒怀疑地望着荷米恩。
“你在取笑我。”银色的泪珠从她那小小的几乎完全透明的眼睛里掉落下来。
“不——我是说真的——我说过麦托勒很漂亮吧？”荷米恩用手肘推了推哈利和罗恩的肋骨。
“哦是的……”
“她确实……”
“不要撒谎，”麦托勒喘着气，泪水哗啦哗啦地往下滑。皮维斯在她背后偷笑。
“你以为我不知道别人是怎么说我的吗？胖胖的麦托勒！丑陋的麦托勒！哀号的麦托勒！”
“你可漏了‘肮脏的’。”皮维斯在她耳边低声说。
哀号的麦托勒放声大哭起来，悲切的哭声充满的整个大厅。皮维斯跟在她后面，一边用花生扔她，一边喊：“肮脏鬼，肮脏鬼！”
“天啊。”荷米恩悲哀地说道。
这时，无头的尼克从人群中飘向他们。
“玩得开心吧？”
“哦，是的。”他们撒谎说。
“不错，”无头的尼克自豪地说。“号哭寡妇老远地从肯特跑来……我要去发表一下演说了，得先把交响乐队喊停……”
在这时，交响乐队已经停止了弹奏。狩猎的号角声响了起来。
于是，他们和屋子的每个鬼魂都静了下来，神情兴奋。
“啊，我们去瞧瞧。”无头的尼克痛苦地说。
十二匹鬼马冲进了屋子，每只上都坐着一个无头骑士。大家都疯狂地拍起手来，哈利也拍起了手掌，不过，他一看到尼克的表情就停住了手。
马疾奔到舞池中央，前腿往上抬起，用后脚站立着停了下来。一只体形高大的的鬼站在前面，他那满脸络腮胡子的头夹在胳膊底下，吹起号角，然后向前跨了一步，把头高高地举了起来。这样他可以看到人群了。（人群中爆发出笑声。）他走向无头的尼克，把头放回脖子上。
“尼克，”他大叫道。“你好吗？头还在吧？”
他中气十足地大笑着拍了拍尼克的肩膀。
“欢迎，勃德莫。”尼克僵硬地回答道。
“活人啊！”敖德莫看到哈利、罗恩和荷术思，假装惊奇地跳了起来，头再次掉了下来。（人群里又发出了一阵笑声）
“很有趣，精彩。”无头的尼克脸色阴暗地说。
“不要介意啊，尼克。”勃德莫和其他的无头骑士开始了投头冰棍球，把人群的注意力吸引了过去。当勃德莫的头欢呼着飞过他身边时，无头的尼克徒劳地放弃了演说的希望。
哈利浑身冰冷，更不用说已经饿得饥肠始辆了。
“我可不能再忍受下去了。”罗恩低声说，交响乐队开始演奏，人们再次来到舞池时，他的上下牙都开始打架了。
“咱们走吧。”哈利表示同意。
他们走向门口，朝着每个看着他们的人都微笑点头，一分钟后，他们急急忙忙地走回了摆满黑蜡烛的过道。
“也许布丁还没吃完。”罗恩满怀希望地向大厅的石级走去。
接着，哈利听到了那把声音。
“……撕开……咬碎……杀死……”
是同一个声音，就是他在罗克哈特的办公室里听到的那把冰冷得让人毛骨惊然的声音。
他绊了一下，停下来，手扶着石墙，全神贯注地听着，两眼凝视着昏暗的过道。
“哈利，你在干——”
“又是那个声音——不要说话——”
“我好饿……等了好久……”
“听！”哈利急切地说。罗恩和荷米恩僵立在一旁，盯着哈利。
“……杀……是时候杀……”
声音越来越弱。哈利肯定它朝着哪里去了——朝着上面去了。
他盯着黑色的天花板，一股既恐惧又兴奋的感情充斥着全身：为什么它会升了上去呢？难道这是个幽灵，能够穿过石墙？
“这边。”他一边叫，一边朝着楼梯跑上去，进入了大堂。万圣节宴上人们卿卿喳喳的谈话声回荡在大堂里，哈利无法听到那个声音。
哈利疾步跑上一楼的花岗石阶上，罗恩和荷米恩紧紧地跟着。
“哈利，我们在干——”
“嘘！”
哈利竖起了耳朵。遥远的，在头顶的地板上，而且越来越弱，他还是听到了那把声音：“……我闻到了血腥味……我闻到了血腥味！”
他的胃开始不断的搅动着。“它想去杀人！”他大叫着，顾不得罗恩和荷米恩疑惑的神情，一步三级地冲了上楼，在他“噔”的脚步声响下，耳朵还在仔细地辨认着声音。
哈利飞跑上二楼，罗恩和荷米恩在后面气喘吁吁地跟着。在最末一个空荡荡过道中停了下来。
“哈利，究竟是怎么一回事啊？”罗恩用手把脸上的汗抹掉。“我什么都听不到……”
突然，荷米恩指着走廊，倒吸了一口冷气。
“看！”
前面的墙上闪着光。他们一步一步，慢慢地走进了昏暗的走廊，瞪大了眼睛。
在两扇窗户的那堵墙上，涂抹在上面的脚掌大小的字在忽明忽暗的火把照耀下，发出微光。
“神秘的秘室已被开启。
敌人的后代，当心了。”“这是什么——吊在下面？“罗恩声音发颤地说。
他们缓缓地移动着脚步，哈利几乎滑倒了：地板上有一大滩的水。罗恩和荷米恩把他扶住。他们走近那些字，眼睛盯着下面的一团黑色的东西。他们马上认出了是什么，同时迅速地往后跳开。
诺丽丝夫人，管理员的那只猫，她的尾巴吊在火把桶上，身体像木板一样僵硬，眼睛瞪得大大的。
他们僵住在那好几秒种。然后罗恩说，“我们离开这吧。”
“我们应该试着去帮帮——”哈利结巴着说。
“相信我吧，”罗恩说道。“我们不能被发现在这。”
但是已经太晚了。远处几声雷鸣般的响声告诉他们餐宴结束了。他们所在的走廊的两端同时响起了上楼梯的脚步声。吃得饱饱的人们快乐地大声说话。一会儿，同学们从两端涌了进来。
当大家一看到那只倒吊着的猫时，卿卿喳喳的谈话声、脚步声，一切的声响都停住了、哈利，罗恩和荷米恩站在走廊的中央。大家静静地靠上前看墙上的恐怖的字。
寂静中，一个人喊了起来。
“敌人的后代，当心了！你就是下一个目标，马尼血统的人！”
杰高。马尔夫在人群中走了出来。他冷冷的眼睛发着光，平常毫无血色的脸涨得通红，盯着吊着不动的猫咧开嘴笑了。
收听单词发音 |
1
spate
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| n.泛滥，洪水，突然的一阵 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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bullied
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| adj.被欺负了v.恐吓，威逼( bully的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pumpkins
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| n.南瓜( pumpkin的名词复数 )；南瓜的果肉，南瓜囊 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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blurs
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| n.模糊( blur的名词复数 )；模糊之物；（移动的）模糊形状；模糊的记忆v.（使）变模糊( blur的第三人称单数 )；（使）难以区分 | |
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squelched
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| v.发吧唧声，发扑哧声( squelch的过去式和过去分词 )；制止；压制；遏制 | |
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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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preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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morosely
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| adv.愁眉苦脸地，忧郁地 | |
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fulfill
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| vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意 | |
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plumed
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| 饰有羽毛的 | |
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tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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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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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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filch
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| v.偷窃 | |
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dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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25
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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26
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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tapestry
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| n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面 | |
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28
wheezing
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| v.喘息，发出呼哧呼哧的喘息声( wheeze的现在分词 )；哮鸣 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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puddle
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| n.(雨)水坑，泥潭 | |
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dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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32
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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33
quill
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| n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶 | |
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shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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35
retrieved
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| v.取回( retrieve的过去式和过去分词 )；恢复；寻回；检索（储存的信息） | |
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36
squinted
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| 斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
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37
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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38
peeves
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| n.麻烦的事物，怨恨，触怒( peeve的名词复数 ) | |
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streaking
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| n.裸奔（指在公共场所裸体飞跑）v.快速移动( streak的现在分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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40
havoc
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| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
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41
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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42
timing
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| n.时间安排，时间选择 | |
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43
wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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44
glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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45
intrigued
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| adj.好奇的，被迷住了的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的过去式)；激起…的兴趣或好奇心；“intrigue”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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46
flicked
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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47
taunted
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| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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48
nettles
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| n.荨麻( nettle的名词复数 ) | |
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49
prod
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| vt.戳，刺；刺激，激励 | |
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50
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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51
fabulous
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| adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的 | |
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52
yak
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| n.牦牛 | |
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53
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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54
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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55
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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56
sputtered
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| v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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57
pouchy
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| adj.多袋的，袋状的，松垂的 | |
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58
gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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59
wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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60
detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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61
rejection
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| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
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62
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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63
dungeons
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| n.地牢( dungeon的名词复数 ) | |
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64
tenterhooks
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| n.坐立不安 | |
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halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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66
lashing
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| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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67
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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68
filibuster
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| n.妨碍议事，阻挠；v.阻挠 | |
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69
lizard
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| n.蜥蜴，壁虎 | |
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70
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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71
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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72
tangerine
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| n.橘子，橘子树 | |
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73
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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74
troupe
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| n.剧团，戏班；杂技团；马戏团 | |
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75
bossily
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| 黄铜地，似黄铜地，低廉而华丽地 | |
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76
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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77
invitingly
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| adv. 动人地 | |
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78
tapers
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| （长形物体的）逐渐变窄( taper的名词复数 )； 微弱的光； 极细的蜡烛 | |
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79
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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80
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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81
translucent
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| adj.半透明的；透明的 | |
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82
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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83
nuns
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| n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 ) | |
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84
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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85
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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86
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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87
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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88
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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89
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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90
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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91
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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92
slab
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| n.平板，厚的切片；v.切成厚板，以平板盖上 | |
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93
furry
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| adj.毛皮的；似毛皮的；毛皮制的 | |
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94
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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95
stinking
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| adj.臭的，烂醉的，讨厌的v.散发出恶臭( stink的现在分词 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透 | |
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96
salmon
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| n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的 | |
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97
knowledgeably
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| adj.知识渊博地，有见识地 | |
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98
putrid
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| adj.腐臭的；有毒的；已腐烂的；卑劣的 | |
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99
swooped
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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100
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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101
fungus
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| n.真菌，真菌类植物 | |
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102
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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103
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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104
squat
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| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
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105
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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106
glummest
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| adj.闷闷不乐的，忧郁的( glum的最高级 ) | |
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107
lank
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| adj.瘦削的；稀疏的 | |
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108
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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109
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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110
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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111
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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112
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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113
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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114
pimply
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| adj.肿泡的；有疙瘩的；多粉刺的；有丘疹的 | |
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115
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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116
anguished
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| adj.极其痛苦的v.使极度痛苦(anguish的过去式) | |
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117
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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118
pelting
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| 微不足道的，无价值的，盛怒的 | |
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119
moldy
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| adj.发霉的 | |
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120
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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121
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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122
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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123
guffaw
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| n.哄笑；突然的大笑 | |
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124
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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125
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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126
lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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127
chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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128
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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129
squinting
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| 斜视( squint的现在分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
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130
phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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131
babble
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| v.含糊不清地说，胡言乱语地说，儿语 | |
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132
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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133
clattering
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的现在分词形式） | |
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134
shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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135
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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136
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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137
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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138
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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139
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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140
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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