Harry1 didn't have a very clear idea of how he had managed to get back into the Honeydukes cellar, through the tunnel, and into the castle once more. All he knew was that the return trip seemed to take no time at all, and that he hardly noticed what he was doing, because his head was still pounding with the conversation he had just heard.
Why had nobody ever told him? Dumbledore, Hagrid, Mr. Weasley, Cornelius Fudge…why hadn't anyone ever mentioned the fact that Harry's parents had died because their best friend had betrayed them?
Ron and Hermione watched Harry nervously2 all through dinner, not daring to talk about what they'd overheard, because Percy was sitting close by them. When they went upstairs to the crowded common room, it was to find Fred and George had set off half a dozen Dungbombs in a fit of end-of-term high spirits. Harry, who didn't want Fred and George asking him whether he'd reached Hogsmeade or not, sneaked4 quietly up to the empty dormitory and headed straight for his bedside cabinet. He pushed his books aside and quickly found what he was looking for — the leather-bound photo album Hagrid had given him two years ago, which was full of wizard pictures of his mother and father. He sat down on his bed, drew the hangings around him, and started turning the pages, searching, until …
He stopped on a picture of his parents’ wedding day. There was his father waving up at him, beaming, the untidy black hair Harry had inherited standing6 up in all directions. There was his mother, alight with happiness, arm in arm with his dad. And there…that must be him. Their best man…Harry had never given him a thought before.
If he hadn't known it was the same person, he would never have guessed it was Black in this old photograph. His face wasn't sunken and waxy7, but handsome, full of laughter. Had he already been working for Voldemort when this picture had been taken? Was he already planning the deaths of the two people next to him? Did he realize he was facing twelve years in Azkaban, twelve years that would make him unrecognizable?
But the Dementors don't affect him, Harry thought, staring into the handsome, laughing face. He doesn't have to hear my Mum screaming if they get too close —
Harry slammed the album shut, reached over and stuffed it back into his cabinet, took off his robe and glasses and got into bed, making sure the hangings were hiding him from view.
The dormitory door opened.
“Harry?” said Ron's voice uncertainly.
But Harry lay still, pretending to be asleep. He heard Ron leave again, and rolled over on his back, his eyes wide open.
A hatred8 such as he had never known before was coursing through Harry like poison. He could see Black laughing at him through the darkness, as though somebody had pasted the picture from the album over his eyes. He watched, as though somebody was playing him a piece of film, Sirius Black blasting Peter Pettigrew (who resembled Neville Longbottom) into a thousand pieces. He could hear (though having no idea what Black's voice might sound like) a low, excited mutter. “It has happened, My Lord…the Potters have made me their Secret-Keeper” and then came another voice, laughing shrilly10, the same laugh that Harry heard inside his head whenever the Dementors drew near….
“Harry, you — you look terrible.”
Harry hadn't gotten to sleep until daybreak. He had awoken to find the dormitory deserted11, dressed, and gone down the spiral staircase to a common room that was completely empty except for Ron, who was eating a Peppermint12 Toad13 and massaging14 his stomach, and Hermione, who had spread her homework over three tables.
“Where is everyone?” said Harry.
“Gone! It's the first day of the holidays, remember?” said Ron, watching Harry closely. “It's nearly lunchtime; I was going to come and wake you up in a minute.”
Harry slumped15 into a chair next to the fire. Snow was still falling outside the windows. Crookshanks was spread out in front of the fire like a large, ginger16 rug.
“You really don't look well, you know,” Hermione said, peering anxiously into his face.
“I'm fine,” said Harry.
“Harry, listen,” said Hermione, exchanging a look with Ron, “you must be really upset about what we heard yesterday. But the thing is, you mustn't go doing anything stupid.”
“Like what?” said Harry.
“Like trying to go after Black,” said Ron sharply.
Harry could tell they had rehearsed this conversation while he had been asleep. He didn't say anything.
“You won't, will you, Harry?” said Hermione.
“Because Black's not worth dying for,” said Ron.
Harry looked at them. They didn't seem to understand at all.
“D'you know what I see and hear every time a Dementor gets too near me?” Ron and Hermione shook their heads, looking apprehensive17. “I can hear my mum screaming and pleading with Voldemort. And if you'd heard your mum screaming like that, just about to be killed, you wouldn't forget it in a hurry. And if you found out someone who was supposed to be a friend of hers betrayed her and sent Voldemort after her —”
“There's nothing you can do!” said Hermione, looking stricken. “The Dementors will catch Black and he'll go back to Azkaban and — and serve him right!”
“You heard what Fudge said. Black isn't affected18 by Azkaban like normal people are. It's not a punishment for him like it is for the others.”
“So what are you saying?” said Ron, looking very tense. “You want to — to kill Black or something?”
“Don't be silly,” said Hermione in a panicky voice. “Harry doesn't want to kill anyone, do you, Harry?”
Again, Harry didn't answer. He didn't know what he wanted to do. All he knew was that the idea of doing nothing, while Black was at liberty, was almost more than he could stand.
“Malfoy knows,” he said abruptly19. “Remember what he said to me in Potions? ‘If it was me, I'd hunt him down myself…I'd want revenge.'”
“You're going to take Malfoy's advice instead of ours?” said Ron furiously. “Listen…you know what Pettigrew's mother got back after Black had finished with him? Dad told me — the Order of Merlin, First Class, and Pettigrew's finger in a box. That was the biggest bit of him they could find. Black's a madman, Harry, and he's dangerous —”
“Malfoy's dad must have told him,” said Harry, ignoring Ron. “He was right in Voldemort's inner circle —”
“Say You-Know-Who, will you?” interjected Ron angrily.
“— so obviously, the Malfoys knew Black was working for Voldemort —”
“— and Malfoy'd love to see you blown into about a million pieces, like Pettigrew! Get a grip. Malfoy's just hoping you'll get yourself killed before he has to play you at Quidditch.”
“Harry, please,” said Hermione, her eyes now shining with tears, “Please be sensible. Black did a terrible, terrible thing, but d-don't put yourself in danger, it's what Black wants…Oh, Harry, you'd be playing right into Black's hands if you went looking for him. Your mum and dad wouldn't want you to get hurt, would they? They'd never want you to go looking for Black!”
“I'll never know what they'd have wanted, because thanks to Black, I've never spoken to them,” said Harry shortly.
There was a silence in which Crookshanks stretched luxuriously22 flexing23 his claws. Ron's pocket quivered.
“Look,” said Ron, obviously casting around for a change of subject, “it's the holidays! It's nearly Christmas! Let's — let's go down and see Hagrid. We haven't visited him for ages!”
“No!” said Hermione quickly. “Harry isn't supposed to leave the castle, Ron —”
“Yeah, let's go,” said Harry, sitting up, “and I can ask him how come he never mentioned Black when he told me all about my parents!”
Further discussion of Sirius Black plainly wasn't what Ron had had in mind.
“Or we could have a game of chess,” he said hastily, “or Gobstones. Percy left a set —”
“No, let's visit Hagrid,” said Harry firmly.
So they got their cloaks from their dormitories and set off through the portrait hole (“Stand and fight, you yellow-bellied mongrels!”), down through the empty castle and out through the oak front doors.
They made their way slowly down the lawn, making a shallow trench24 in the glittering, powdery snow, their socks and the hems25 of their cloaks soaked and freezing. The Forbidden Forest looked as though it had been enchanted26, each tree smattered with silver, and Hagrid's cabin looked like an iced cake.
Ron knocked, but there was no answer.
“He's not out, is he?” said Hermione, who was shivering under her cloak.
Ron had his ear to the door.
“There's a weird27 noise,” he said. “Listen — is that Fang28?”
Harry and Hermione put their ears to the door too. From inside the cabin came a series of low, throbbing29 moans.
“Think we'd better go and get someone?” said Ron nervously.
“Hagrid!” called Harry, thumping30 the door. “Hagrid, are you in there?”
There was a sound of heavy footsteps, then the door creaked open. Hagrid stood there with his eyes red and swollen31, tears splashing down the front of his leather vest.
“You've heard?” he bellowed32, and he flung himself onto Harry's neck.
Hagrid being at least twice the size of a normal man, this was no laughing matter. Harry, about to collapse33 under Hagrid's weight, was rescued by Ron and Hermione, who each seized Hagrid under an arm and heaved him back into the cabin. Hagrid allowed himself to be steered34 into a chair and slumped over the table, sobbing36 uncontrollably, his face glazed37 with tears that dripped down into his tangled38 beard.
“Hagrid, what is it?” said Hermione, aghast.
Harry spotted39 an official-looking letter lying open on the table.
“What's this, Hagrid?”
Hagrid's sobs40 redoubled, but he shoved the letter toward Harry, who picked it up and read aloud:
Dear Mr. Hagrid,
Further to our inquiry41 into the attack by a Hippogriff on a student in your class, we have accepted the assurances of Professor Dumbledore that you bear no responsibility for the regrettable incident.
“Well, that's okay then, Hagrid!” said Ron, clapping Hagrid on the shoulder. But Hagrid continued to sob35, and waved one of his gigantic hands, inviting42 Harry to read on.
However, we must register our concern about the Hippogriff in question. We have decided43 to uphold the official complaint of Mr. Lucius Malfoy, and this matter will therefore be taken to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. The hearing will take place on April 20th, and we ask you to present yourself and your Hippogriff at the Committee's offices in London on that date. In the meantime, the Hippogriff should be kept tethered and isolated44.
Yours in fellowship …
There followed a list of the school governors.
“Oh,” said Ron. “But you said Buckbeak isn't a bad Hippogriff, Hagrid. I bet he'll get off.”
“Yeh don’ know them gargoyles45 at the Committee fer the Disposal o’ Dangerous Creatures!” choked Hagrid, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. “They've got it in fer interestin’ creatures!”
A sudden sound from the corner of Hagrid's cabin made Harry, Ron, and Hermione whip around. Buckbeak the Hippogriff was lying in the corner, chomping46 on something that was oozing47 blood all over the floor.
“I couldn’ leave him tied up out there in the snow!” choked Hagrid. “All on his own! At Christmas.”
Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at one another. They had never seen eye to eye with Hagrid about what he called ‘interesting creatures’ and other people called ‘terrifying monsters.’ On the other hand, there didn't seem to be any particular harm in Buckbeak. In fact, by Hagrid's usual standards, he was positively48 cute.
“You'll have to put up a good strong defense49, Hagrid,” said Hermione, sitting down and laying a hand on Hagrid's massive forearm. “I'm sure you can prove Buckbeak is safe.”
“Won’ make no diff'rence!” sobbed50 Hagrid. “Them Disposal devils, they're all in Lucius Malfoy's pocket! Scared o’ him! Ad if I lose the case, Buckbeak —”
Hagrid drew his finger swiftly across his throat, then gave a great wail51 and lurched forward, his face in his arms.
“What about Dumbledore, Hagrid?” said Harry.
“He's done more'n enough fer me already,” groaned52 Hagrid. “Got enough on his plate what with keepin’ them Dementors outta the castle, an’ Sirius Black lurkin’ around.”
Ron and Hermione looked quickly at Harry, as though expecting him to start berating53 Hagrid for not telling him the truth about Black. But Harry couldn't bring himself to do it, not now that he saw Hagrid so miserable54 and scared.
“Listen, Hagrid,” he said, “you can't give up. Hermione's right, You just need a good defense. You can call us as witnesses —”
“I'm sure I've read about a case of Hippogriff-baiting,” said Hermione thoughtfully, “where the Hippogriff got off. I'll look it up for you, Hagrid, and see exactly what happened.”
Hagrid howled still more loudly. Harry and Hermione looked at Ron to help them.
“Er — shall I make a cup of tea?” said Ron.
Harry stared at him.
“It's what my mum does whenever someone's upset,” Ron muttered, shrugging.
At last, after many more assurances of help, with a steaming mug of tea in front of him, Hagrid blew his nose on a handkerchief the size of a tablecloth55 and said, “Yer right. I can’ afford to go ter pieces. Gotta pull meself together…”
Fang the boarhound came timidly out from under the table and laid his head on Hagrid's knee.
“I've not bin5 meself lately,” said Hagrid, stroking Fang with one hand and mopping his face with the other. “Worried abou’ Buckbeak, an’ no one likin’ me classes —”
“We do like them!” lied Hermione at once.
“Yeah, they're great!” said Ron, crossing his fingers under the table. “Er — how are the flobberworms?”
“Dead,” said Hagrid gloomily. “Too much lettuce56.”
“Oh no!” said Ron, his lip twitching57.
“An’ them Dementors make me feel ruddy terrible an’ all,” said Hagrid, with a sudden shudder58. “Gotta walk past ‘em ev'ry time I want a drink in the Three Broomsticks. ‘S like bein’ back in Azkaban —”
He fell silent, gulping59 his tea. Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched him breathlessly. They had never heard Hagrid talk about his brief spell in Azkaban before. After a pause, Hermione said timidly, “Is it awful in there, Hagrid?”
“Yeh've no idea,” said Hagrid quietly. “Never bin anywhere like it. Thought I was goin’ mad. Kep’ goin’ over horrible stuff in me mind…the day I got expelled from Hogwarts…day me dad died…day I had ter let Norbert go …”
His eyes filled with tears. Norbert was the baby dragon Hagrid had once won in a game of cards.
“Yeh can’ really remember who yeh are after a while. An’ yeh can’ really see the point o’ livin’ at all. I used ter hope I'd jus’ die in me sleep. When they let me out, it was like bein’ born again, ev'rythin’ came floodin’ back, it was the bes’ feelin’ in the world. Mind, the Dementors weren't keen on lettin’ me go.”
“But you were innocent!” said Hermione.
Hagrid snorted.
“Think that matters to them? They don’ care. Long as they've got a couple o’ hundred humans stuck there with ‘em, so they can leech60 all the happiness out of ‘em, they don’ give a damn who's guilty an’ who's not.”
Hagrid went quiet for a moment, staring into his tea. Then he said quietly, “Thought o’ jus’ letting Buckbeak go …tryin’ ter make him fly away…but how d'yeh explain ter a Hippogriff it's gotta go inter20 hidin'? An’ — an’ I'm scared o’ breakin’ the law…” He looked up at them, tears leaking down his face again. “I don’ ever want ter go back ter Azkaban.”
* * * * * *
The trip to Hagrid's, though far from fun, had nevertheless had the effect Ron and Hermione had hoped. Though Harry had by no means forgotten about Black, he couldn't brood constantly on revenge if he wanted to help Hagrid win his case against the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. He, Ron, and Hermione went to the library the next day and returned to the empty common room laden61 with books that might help prepare a defense for Buckbeak. The three of them sat in front of the roaring fire, slowly turning the pages of dusty volumes about famous cases of marauding beasts, speaking occasionally when they ran across something relevant.
“Here's something…there was a case in 1722…but the Hippogriff was convicted — ugh, look what they did to it, that's disgusting —”
“This might help, look — a Manticore savaged62 someone in 1296, and they let the Manticore off — oh — no, that was only because everyone was too scared to go near it…”
Meanwhile, in the rest of the castle, the usual magnificent Christmas decorations had been put up, despite the fact that hardly any of the students remained to enjoy them. Thick streamers of holly63 and mistletoe were strung along the corridors, mysterious lights shone from inside every suit of armor, and the Great Hall was filled with its usual twelve Christmas trees, glittering with golden stars. A powerful and delicious smell of cooking pervaded64 the corridors, and by Christmas Eve, it had grown so strong that even Scabbers poked65 his nose out of the shelter of Ron's pocket to sniff66 hopefully at the air.
On Christmas morning, Harry was woken by Ron throwing his pillow at him.
“Oy! Presents!”
Harry reached for his glasses and put them on, squinting67 through the semi-darkness to the foot of his bed, where a small heap of parcels had appeared. Ron was already ripping the paper off his own presents.
“Another sweater from Mum…maroon68 again…see if you've got one.”
Harry had. Mrs. Weasley had sent him a scarlet69 sweater with the Gryffindor lion knitted on the front, also a dozen home-baked mince70 pies, some Christmas cake, and a box of nut brittle71. As he moved all these things aside, he saw a long, thin package lying underneath72.
“What's that?” said Ron, looking over, a freshly unwrapped pair of maroon socks in his hand.
“Dunno…”
Harry ripped the parcel open and gasped73 as a magnificent, gleaming broomstick rolled out onto his bedspread. Ron dropped his socks and jumped off his bed for a closer look.
“I don't believe it,” he said hoarsely74.
It was a Firebolt, identical to the dream broom Harry had gone to see every day in Diagon Alley75. Its handle glittered as he picked it up. He could feel it vibrating and let go; it hung in midair, unsupported, at exactly the right height for him to mount it. His eyes moved from the golden registration76 number at the top of the handle, right down to the perfectly77 smooth, streamlined birch twigs78 that made up the tail.
“Who sent it to you?” said Ron in a hushed voice.
“Look and see if there's a card,” said Harry.
Ron ripped apart the Firebolt's wrappings.
“Nothing! Blimey, who'd spend that much on you?”
“Well,” said Harry, feeling stunned79, “I'm betting it wasn't the Dursleys.”
“I bet it was Dumbledore,” said Ron, now walking around and around the Firebolt, taking in every glorious inch. “He sent you the Invisibility Cloak anonymously…”
“That was my dad's, though,” said Harry. “Dumbledore was just passing it on to me. He wouldn't spend hundreds of Galleons80 on me. He can't go giving students stuff like this —”
“That's why he wouldn't say it was from him!” said Ron. “In case some git like Malfoy said it was favoritism. Hey, Harry —” Ron gave a great whoop81 of laughter — “Malfoy! Wait ‘til he sees you on this! He'll be sick as a pig! This is an international standard broom, this is!”
“I can't believe this,” Harry muttered, running a hand along the Firebolt, while Ron sank onto Harry's bed, laughing his head off at the thought of Malfoy. “Who—?”
“I know,” said Ron, controlling himself, “I know who it could've been — Lupin!”
“What?” said Harry, now starting to laugh himself “Lupin? Listen, if he had this much gold, he'd be able to buy himself some new robes.”
“Yeah, but he likes you,” said Ron. “And he was away when your Nimbus got smashed, and he might've heard about it and decided to visit Diagon Alley and get this for you —”
“What d'you mean, he was away?” said Harry. “He was ill when I was playing in that match.”
“Well, he wasn't in the hospital wing,” said Ron. “I was there, cleaning out the bedpans on that detention82 from Snape, remember?”
Harry frowned at Ron.
“I can't see Lupin affording something like this.”
“What're you two laughing about?”
Hermione had just come in, wearing her dressing83 gown and carrying Crookshanks, who was looking very grumpy, with a string of tinsel tied around his neck.
“Don't bring him in here!” said Ron, hurriedly snatching Scabbers from the depths of his bed and stowing him in his pajama pocket.
But Hermione wasn't listening. She dropped Crookshanks onto Seamus's empty bed and stared, open-mouthed, at the Firebolt.
“Oh, Harry! Who sent you that?”
“No idea,” said Harry. “There wasn't a card or anything with it.”
To his great surprise, Hermione did not appear either excited or intrigued84 by the news. On the contrary, her face fell, and she bit her lip.
“What's the matter with you?” said Ron.
“I don't know,” said Hermione slowly, “but it's a bit odd, isn't it? I mean, this is supposed to be quite a good broom, isn't it?”
Ron sighed exasperatedly.
“It's the best broom there is, Hermione,” he said.
“So it must've been really expensive…”
“Probably cost more than all the Slytherins’ brooms put together,” said Ron happily.
“Well…who'd send Harry something as expensive as that, and not even tell him they'd sent it?” said Hermione.
“Who cares?” said Ron impatiently. “Listen, Harry, can I have a go on it? Can I?”
“I don't think anyone should ride that broom just yet!” said Hermione shrilly.
Harry and Ron looked at her.
“What d'you think Harry's going to do with it — sweep the floor?” said Ron.
But before Hermione could answer, Crookshanks sprang from Seamus's bed, right at Ron's chest.
“GET — HIM — OUT — OF — HERE!” Ron bellowed as Crookshanks's claws ripped his pajamas85 and Scabbers attempted a wild escape over his shoulder. Ron seized Scabbers by the tail and aimed a misjudged kick at Crookshanks that hit the trunk at the end of Harry's bed, knocking it over and causing Ron to hop21 up and down, howling with pain.
Crookshanks's fur suddenly stood on end. A shrill9, tinny, whistling was filling the room. The Pocket Sneakoscope had become dislodged from Uncle Vernon's old socks and was whirling and gleaming on the floor.
“I forgot about that!” Harry said, bending down and picking up the Sneakoscope. “I never wear those socks if I can help it…”
The Sneakoscope whirled and whistled in his palm. Crookshanks was hissing86 and spitting at it.
“You'd better take that cat out of here, Hermione,” said Ron furiously, sitting on Harry's bed nursing his toe. “Can't you shut that thing up?” he added to Harry as Hermione strode out of the room, Crookshanks's yellow eyes still fixed87 maliciously88 on Ron.
Harry stuffed the Sneakoscope back inside the socks and threw it back into his trunk. All that could be heard now were Ron's stifled89 moans of pain and rage. Scabbers was huddled90 in Ron's hands. It had been a while since Harry had seen him out of Ron's pocket, and he was unpleasantly surprised to see that Scabbers, once so fat, was now very skinny; patches of fur seemed to have fallen out too.
“He's not looking too good, is he?” Harry said.
“It's stress!” said Ron. “He'd be fine if that big stupid furball left him alone!”
But Harry, remembering what the woman at the Magical Menagerie had said about rats living only three years, couldn't help feeling that unless Scabbers had powers he had never revealed, he was reaching the end of his life. And despite Ron's frequent complaints that Scabbers was both boring and useless, he was sure Ron would be very miserable if Scabbers died.
Christmas spirit was definitely thin on the ground in the Gryffindor common room that morning. Hermione had shut Crookshanks in her dormitory, but was furious with Ron for trying to kick him; Ron was still fuming91 about Crookshanks's fresh attempt to eat Scabbers. Harry gave up trying to make them talk to each other and devoted92 himself to examining the Firebolt, which he had brought down to the common room with him. For some reason this seemed to annoy Hermione as well; she didn't say anything, but she kept looking darkly at the broom as though it too had been criticizing her cat.
At lunchtime they went down to the Great Hall, to find that the House tables had been moved against the walls again, and that a single table, set for twelve, stood in the middle of the room. Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sprout93, and Flitwick were there, along with Filch94, the caretaker, who had taken off his usual brown coat and was wearing a very old and rather moldy-looking tailcoat. There were only three other students, two extremely nervous-looking first years and a sullen-faced Slytherin fifth year.
“Merry Christmas!” said Dumbledore as Harry, Ron, and Hermione approached the table. “As there are so few of us, it seemed foolish to use the House tables…Sit down, sit down!”
Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down side by side at the end of the table.
“Crackers!” said Dumbledore enthusiastically, offering the end of a large silver noisemaker to Snape, who took it reluctantly and tugged96. With a bang like a gunshot, the cracker95 flew apart to reveal a large, pointed97 witches hat topped with a stuffed vulture.
Harry, remembering the Boggart, caught Ron's eye and they both grinned; Snape's mouth thinned and he pushed the hat toward Dumbledore, who swapped98 it for his wizard's hat at once.
“Dig in!” he advised the table, beaming around.
As Harry was helping99 himself to roast potatoes, the doors of the Great Hall opened again. It was Professor Trelawney, gliding100 toward them as though on wheels. She had put on a green sequined dress in honor of the occasion, making her look more than ever like a glittering, oversized dragonfly.
“Sibyll, this is a pleasant surprise!” said Dumbledore, standing up.
“I have been crystal gazing, Headmaster,” said Professor Trelawney in her mistiest101, most faraway voice, “and to my astonishment102, I saw myself abandoning my solitary103 luncheon104 and coming to join you. Who am I to refuse the promptings of fate? I at once hastened from my tower, and I do beg you to forgive my lateness…”
“Certainly, certainly,” said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. “Let me draw you up a chair —”
And he did indeed draw a chair in midair with his wand, which revolved105 for a few seconds before falling with a thud between Professors Snape and McGonagall. Professor Trelawney, however, did not sit down; her enormous eyes had been roving around the table, and she suddenly uttered a kind of soft scream.
“I dare not, Headmaster! If I join the table, we shall be thirteen! Nothing could be more unlucky! Never forget that when thirteen dine together, the first to rise will be the first to die!”
“We'll risk it, Sibyll,” said Professor McGonagall impatiently. “Do sit down, the turkey's getting stone cold.”
Professor Trelawney hesitated, then lowered herself into the empty chair, eyes shut and mouth clenched106 tight, as though expecting a thunderbolt to hit the table. Professor McGonagall poked a large spoon into the nearest tureen.
“Tripe, Sibyll?”
Professor Trelawney ignored her. Eyes open again, she looked around once more and said, “But where is dear Professor Lupin?”
“I'm afraid the poor fellow is ill again,” said Dumbledore, indicating that everybody should start serving themselves. “Most unfortunate that it should happen on Christmas Day.”
“But surely you already knew that, Sibyll?” said Professor McGonagall, her eyebrows107 raised.
Professor Trelawney gave Professor McGonagall a very cold look.
“Certainly I knew, Minerva,” she said quietly. “But one does not parade the fact that one is All-Knowing. I frequently act as though I am not possessed108 of the Inner Eye, so as not to make others nervous.”
“That explains a great deal,” said Professor McGonagall tartly109.
Professor Trelawney's voice suddenly became a good deal less misty110.
“If you must know, Minerva, I have seen that poor Professor Lupin will not be with us for very long. He seems aware, himself, that his time is short. He positively fled when I offered to crystal gaze for him —”
“Imagine that,” said Professor McGonagall dryly.
“I doubt,” said Dumbledore, in a cheerful but slightly raised voice, which put an end to Professor McGonagall and Professor Trelawney's conversation, “that Professor Lupin is in any immediate111 danger. Severus, you've made the potion for him again?”
“Yes, Headmaster,” said Snape.
“Good,” said Dumbledore. “Then he should be up and about in no time…Derek, have you had any of the chipolatas? They're excellent.”
The first-year boy went furiously red on being addressed directly by Dumbledore, and took the platter of sausages with trembling hands.
Professor Trelawney behaved almost normally until the very end of Christmas dinner, two hours later. Full to bursting with Christmas dinner and still wearing their cracker hats, Harry and Ron got up first from the table and she shrieked112 loudly.
“My dears! Which of you left his seat first? Which?”
“Dunno,” said Ron, looking uneasily at Harry.
“I doubt it will make much difference,” said Professor McGonagall coldly, “unless a mad axe-man is waiting outside the doors to slaughter113 the first into the Entrance Hall.”
Even Ron laughed. Professor Trelawney looked highly affronted114.
“Coming?” Harry said to Hermione.
“No,” Hermione muttered. “I want a quick word with Professor McGonagall.”
“Probably trying to see if she can take any more classes,” yawned Ron as they make their way into the Entrance Hall, which was completely devoid115 of mad axe-men.
When they reached the portrait hole they found Sir Cadogan enjoying a Christmas part with a couple of monks116, several previous headmasters of Hogwarts and his fat pony117. He pushed up his visor toasted them with a flagon of mead3.
“Merry — hic — Christmas! Password?”
“Scurvy cur,” said Ron.
“And the same to you, sir! roared Sir Cadogan, as the painting swung forward to admit them.
Harry went straight up to the dormitory, collected his Firebolt and the Broomstick Servicing Kit118 Hermione had given him for his birthday, brought them downstairs and tried to find something to do with the Firebolt; however, there where no bent119 twigs to clip, and the handle was so shiny already it seemed pointless to polish it. He and Ron simply sat admiring it from every angle, until the portrait hole opened, and Hermione came in, accompanied by Professor McGonagall.
Though Professor McGonagall was Head of Gryffindor House, Harry had only seen her in the common room once before, and that had been to make a very grave announcement. He and Ron stared at her, both holding the Firebolt. Hermione walked around them, sat down, picked up the nearest book and hid her face behind it.
“So that's it, is it?” said Professor McGonagall beadily, walking over to the fireside and staring at the Firebolt. “Miss Granger has just informed me that you have been sent a broomstick, Potter.”
Harry and Ron looked around at Hermione. They could see her forehead reddening over the top of her book, which was upside-down.
“May I?” said Professor McGonagall, but she didn't wait for an answer before pulling the Firebolt out of their hands. She examined it carefully from handle to twig-ends. “Hmm. And there was no note at all, Potter? No card? No message of any kind?”
“No,” said Harry blankly.
“I see…” said Professor McGonagall. “Well, I'm afraid I will have to take this, Potter.”
“W — what?” said Harry, scrambling120 to his feet. “Why?”
“It will need to be checked for jinxes,” said Professor McGonagall. “Of course, I'm no expert, but I daresay Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick will strip it down —”
“Strip it down?” repeated Ron, as though Professor McGonagall was mad.
“It shouldn't take more than a few weeks,” said Professor McGonagall. “You will have it back if we are sure it is jinx-free.”
“There's nothing wrong with it!” said Harry, his voice shaking slightly. “Honestly, Professor —”
“You can't know that, Potter,” said Professor McGonagall, quite kindly121, “not until you've flown it, at any rate, and I'm afraid that is out of the question until we are certain that it has not been tampered122 with. I shall keep you informed.”
Professor McGonagall turned on her heel and carried the Firebolt out of the portrait hole, which closed behind her. Harry stood staring after her, the tin of High-Finish Polish still clutched in his hands. Ron, however, rounded on Hermione.
“What did you go running to McGonagall for?”
Hermione threw her book aside. She was still pink in the face, but stood up and faced Ron defiantly123.
“Because I thought — and Professor McGonagall agrees with me — that that broom was probably sent to Harry by Sirius Black!”
哈利的记忆很模糊，隐隐约约好像他走到甜鸭的地下室里，又穿过那通道回到城堡里去了。他只记得回来的路程好像特别短，他几乎不知道他在干什么，只觉得脑海里全都是他听到的对话。
为什么没有人告诉过他？丹伯多、哈格力、威斯里先生，可尼斯。
法治……为什么他们都不说他父母是由于被他们的好朋友背叛而遇害的呢？
罗恩和荷米恩吃饭时都紧张地看着哈利，因为伯希正坐在他们旁边，所以不敢提及他们听到的对话。他们上楼到了拥挤的公共休息室，弗来德和乔治在公共休息室里放了几个小地雷以增加学期结束的情趣。哈利不希望弗来德和乔治问他是否去了霍格马得，偷偷地回到空空的宿舍里。他径直走近床边的书橱。他把书推到一旁，立即找到他想要的用皮革捆着的照片集，那是两年前哈格力给他的，里面有很多他爸爸和妈妈的照片。他坐在床上，把皮革绳子解开，开始翻开，一直地搜索着。
过了一会儿他在他父母结婚那天拍的照片停下来了。他爸爸微笑着向他挥手，他那哈利家族所遗传下来的黑头发向各个方向散开。
还有他妈妈，拉着他爸爸的手很高兴地笑着，还有一个，一定是他了，那个伴郎，哈利从来没有见过的。
如果他不知道是同一个人，哈利会永远都没想到旧照片上的他就是巴拉克。他的脸并不是冷漠的蜡黄的，而是一张英俊，充满笑意的脸，当照这张照片的时候，他已经开始帮福尔得摩特工作了吗？他已经在谋划着杀害他身边这两个人的吗？他会意识到他将面临在阿兹克班度过，让他完全改变模样的十二年吗？
但是得蒙特对他没有影响，哈利盯着那张英俊的笑脸，如果他们再靠近，他可以不用再听到他妈妈的尖叫——哈利把相本合上，顺手把它塞进抽屉里。然脱下衣服，摘下眼镜上床了，把床帘弄好，好在没有人看到他。
宿舍门开了。
“哈利？”罗恩不大肯定地叫了一声。
但是哈利直直地躺着，假装睡着了。听到罗恩的脚步声远去了，他转过身，睁开双眼。
一阵空前强烈的很像监狱一样包围着哈利，他好像在黑夜中看到巴拉克在对着他笑，好像谁把那照片放在他眼前。他看着，好像有谁给他放电影一样，西里斯。
巴拉克在炸彼德吉雷（他就像尼维尔），把他炸成一块一块的，他好像听到（他想像不出巴拉克的声音是怎么样的）一把低沉而又兴奋的声音：“成功了，大王，波特家族已经让我做他们的保密者……”然后是阴森的笑声，跟哈利每次见到得蒙特时听到的笑声一模一样。
哈利直到天亮才睡着，他醒来时看到宿舍已经没人了。他立即穿好衣服，下到公共休息室里，那里是空荡荡的，只见罗恩正在一边按摩胃部一边吃着癞蛤蟆薄荷糖，还有荷米恩，她的功课本撂满了三张桌子。
“其他人去那里了？”哈利问。
“喂，现在是放假的第一天，还记得吗？”罗恩细细地看着哈利说。
“现在差不多中午了，我正准备上去叫醒你。”
“哈利，你的脸色很难看。”
哈利在火炉旁边一张桌子上猛地坐下去。窗外仍然下着大雪。
克路殊克在火炉前地躺着，活像一张大毛毯。
“你的脸色真的不大好，知道吗？”荷米恩看着他的脸忧虑地说。
“我没事。”哈利说。
“哈利，你听着，”荷米恩跟罗恩交换眼光说，“你一定是为了我们昨天听到的话而难过，但是，你千万不要做任何蠢事。”
“做什么蠢事？”哈利问。
“例如去找巴拉克。”罗恩尖锐地说。
哈利可以看出来，他睡觉的时候他们是排练过这段对话的，但是他没有说些什么。
“哈利，你不会的，对吗？”荷米恩说。
“因为巴拉克不值得你去给他送死。”罗恩说。
哈利看着他们，他们有点糊涂了。
“你们知道每次那得蒙特靠近我的时候，我看到什么，听到什么吗？”罗恩和荷米恩迷惑地摇摇头。“我听到我妈妈的尖叫声，她还向福尔得摩特求情，如果你听到你妈妈那样尖叫，在临死之前的尖叫，你不会轻易地忘掉的。并且如果你知道这是因为她的好朋友背叛她——”
“但是你并不能够做些什么！”罗恩惊恐地说，“得蒙特会抓住巴拉克，并把他送回阿兹克班的，去受他该受的罪。”
“你听到法治说吗，巴拉克不像一般的人，他不受得蒙特的影响。
他并不像其他人一样在那里受罪。“”那你要干什么？“罗恩紧张地看着他，”你想去——想去杀了巴拉克还是干别的事？“
“别傻了，”荷米恩惊恐地说，“哈利不想去杀任何人，对吗，哈利？”
哈利没有回答，他不知道他想怎么样。他只想到让巴拉克逍遥法外，而自己什么都不做，这是不能忍受的。
“马尔夫知道，”他唐突地说，“还记得上药剂课时他跟我说了什么？如果我是你，我会自己去找他的，我要报仇。”
“你准备听马尔夫的话而不听我们的？”罗恩愤怒地说，“听着，你知道彼德吉雷死了后，他妈妈从那里得到什么？爸爸告诉我——在一级的墓园里葬着的是装有彼德吉雷的手指的盒子，那是他们能找到的最大一块了，巴拉克是疯子，哈利，他很危险——”
“马尔夫的爸爸肯定已经告诉他了。”哈利不理会罗恩说，“福尔得摩特，他永远是对的。”
“说‘那个人’好吗？”罗恩反驳他说。
“——因此，很明显，马尔夫一家子知道巴拉克为福尔得摩特干活的。”
“——而且，马尔夫很想见到你跟彼德吉雷一样被炸成一百万块！你清醒一点，马尔夫想你在跟他在打快迪斯之前被杀了。”
“哈利，求求你了，”荷米恩说，她的眼里面闪着泪花，“求求你理智一点。
巴拉克已经做了很恐怖很恐怖的事了，你自己不要去冒险，否则正中巴拉克下怀…
…哦，哈利如果你去找他的话，等于送死，你爸爸妈妈不会让你这样做的，好吗？
他们永远不会让你去找巴拉克的。“
“多亏了巴拉克了，否则我永远都不会知道我父母想我怎么样。
我还没有跟他们说过话。“然后是一阵沉默，克路殊克懒懒地伸长身子，动动他的爪子，罗恩的衣袋颤动了一下。
“看，‘罗恩看看周围，很直接地找另外的话题，”今天放假了，也差不多到圣诞节了，我们——我们去探望一下哈格力吧，我们很久没有去了。“”不！“荷米恩急忙一说，”哈利不应该离开城堡的，罗恩——“
“对，我们去吧，”哈利站起来说，“我也可以问问他为什么跟我说我父母时从来没有提及过巴拉克！”
很明显，罗恩不想再讨论西里斯。巴拉克的事了。
“也许我们可以玩一盘棋，”他犹豫地说，“伯希留下了一套——”
“不，我们去探望哈格力。‘哈利坚决地说。
于是他们回宿舍里拿起大衣，来到那画像口前说了暗语，（“站在这里决斗，你这黄色肚皮的狗杂种！”），门开了，他们经过空空的城堡，从一个橡木门前出来。
他们在草地上慢慢向下走，在粉末一般白亮的雪地上留下浅浅的脚印，他们的袜子和大衣的缝边都湿了，冷冰冰的。禁忌森林很迷人，每棵树都挂满了雪，而哈格力的小屋就像一块冰糕。
罗恩敲敲门，但是没有人应。
“他不是出去了吧？”荷米恩在大衣里打着冷战站着说。
罗思把耳朵贴在门上。
“里面有混浊的声音，”他说，“听——那是不是弗兰？”
哈利和行米恩也把耳朵贴在门上，小屋里面有连续的颤抖的呻吟声。
“我想我们最好是叫人来看看。”罗恩紧张地说。
“哈格力！”哈利大声喊，他敲着门，“哈格力，有人吗？”
里面传来沉沉的脚步声，门打开了，哈格力站在那里，眼睛又红又肿，泪水掉在他的皮背心上打湿了一大片。
“你听到了！”他咕噜了一声，然后扑到哈利身上楼着他的脖子。
这不是说笑的，哈格力的身形是一般人的两倍，哈利在哈格力的重压下决要倒下去了，罗恩和荷米恩立即捉住哈格力的手臂扶着他，他们走进小屋里。哈格力坐在一张椅子上，趴在桌子上，情不自禁的哭着，他的脸都被泪水打湿了，泪水淌到他乱蓬蓬的胡子上。
“哈格力，什么事了？”荷米恩惊呆地问。
哈利看到桌子上有一封开了口的公事信。
“那是什么，哈格力？”
哈格力的哭声更大了，他把信推到哈刮面前，哈利读了起来来。
亲爱的哈格力先生：经过对河马鹿袭击你班一名学生一事的详细调查，我们接受了丹伯多教授的担保，你对这遗憾的事完全没有责任。
“哇，那没事了，哈格力！”罗恩拍着哈格力的肩膀说，但是哈格力继续哭，并挥挥他的大手示意哈利读下去。
但是，我们已经讨论过河马鹿这问题了，我们已经决定支持露布斯。马尔夫先生的投诉，把这件事交给消灭危险动物委员会处理，审讯会在四月二十日进行，届时请你带着你的河马鹿到伦敦的委员会办公室去，同时那只河马鹿必须有人管制。
敬礼全体成员然后跟着的是一大串政府人员的名单。
“哦，”罗恩说，“但是你说毕克碧并不是坏的河马鹿的，哈格力，我敢肯定它会没事的……”
“你根本就不熟悉消灭危险动物委员会里的那些怪人！”哈格力抽噎着说，他用袖子擦擦眼泪，“他们对动物特别有兴趣！”
突然从哈格力小屋的一角传来一个声音，哈利、罗恩和荷米思都转过去看。那河马鹿毕克碧正在在墙角那里躺着，正在努力地咬着什么，那东西的血滴落到地板上。
“我不能把他绑在那雪地里。”哈格力吞着泪水说，“一个人孤单在那里！在圣诞节这天。”
哈利，罗恩和荷米恩对望一下，他们对他所称的“有趣的动物”和称那些人为“恐怖的怪兽”有着前所未有的同感，另一方面，毕克碧看上去一点都不危险，事实上，就像哈格力平时所说的，它简直是十分可爱。
“你可要说出有力的证据，哈格力。”荷米恩坐下来，把手放在哈格力强壮的手臂上，“我敢肯定你能够证明毕克碧是安全的动物的。”
“没用的！”哈格力哭着说，“他们那些坏蛋，都是马尔夫那伙人，对他都很害怕的，如果我输了，毕克碧就会——”
哈格力用手指在他喉咙快速划了一下，然后又痛哭起来，向前一俯，把脸埋在手臂上。
“那么，丹伯多怎么样，哈格力？”哈利问。
“他已经帮我做了很多了，”哈格力呻吟着，“他自己的事也够多了，又要保
持不让得蒙特进来，又要到处找巴拉克……“
罗恩和荷米恩迅速望向哈利，好像知道他会责问哈格力为什么没有把巴拉克的真相告诉他了，但是哈利没有这样做，他看到哈格力现在已经够难过够恐惧的了。
“听着，哈格力，”他说，“你不能放弃，荷米恩是对的，你要找一个很好的理由，我们可以做证人——”
“我读过一个关于河马鹿的案件，”荷米恩想着说，“河马鹿胜了。
我会帮你找找的，看看究竟是什么回事。“哈格力哭得更大声了。哈格力和荷米恩示意罗恩帮帮忙。
“嗯——你要不要倒一杯茶呢？”罗恩说。
哈利瞪着他。
“我妈妈看到人伤心的时候总是这样做的。”罗恩咕啃着，耸耸肩。
最后，经过反反复复保证了几次要帮他，还有他面前一杯冒着气的茶，哈格力才用一块跟桌布一般大的手帕擦擦鼻子，说，“你们说对了，我不能一蹶不振的，我要重新努力……”
哈格力挺着身子，一边擦脸一边说：“在担心毕克碧之余还有一件伤心事，班里都没有人喜欢我——”
“我们都喜欢你。”荷米思立即说。
“对呀！”罗恩把交叉的手指放在桌子上，“嗯——你养的那些小动物怎么样了？”
“死了。”哈格力伤心地说，“吃得太多莴苣了。”
“哦，不！‘罗恩说，他的嘴唇抽搐着。
“还有得蒙特他们让我觉得很沮丧，”哈格力突然抱怨起来，“每次去‘三扫帚’喝酒都要从他们身边经过，好像从阿兹克班回来一样。”
他沉默了，慢慢地喝着茶，哈利。罗恩和荷米恩屏着呼吸看着他，他们从来没有听过哈格力说过半句有关阿兹克班的话，停顿了一会儿后，荷米恩小心地问：“那里很恐怖，是吗，哈格力？”
“你不能想象的。”哈格力冷静地说，“没有地方像那里的。我好像要发疯了，脑海里总是涌现各种各样恐怖的东西……被霍格瓦彻开除那天……我爸爸去死的那天……我要放弃诺贝特那天……”
他的眼睛充满泪水，诺贝特是他在玩扑克时赢来的龙宝宝。
“过一会儿你就记不起你是谁，不知道为什么活着，我以前希望我睡着的时候死去……当他们放我出来时，好像获得重生，所有的事又再次记起，那是世界上最好的感觉，知道吗，得蒙特不大喜欢让我走。”
“但你是清白的呀。”荷米恩说。
哈格力哼了一声。
“那跟他们有什么关系？他们是不在乎的，只要有几百个人在他们那里，他们就可以把他们的快乐吸出来，根本不理会是否清白的。”
哈格力盯着他的茶，静下来一会儿，然后又低声地说，“我想过让毕克碧走，让它飞走……但是我怎么解释我把一只河马鹿放走呢？
而且——我怕违反纪律……“他抬起头看着他们，泪水又到他的脸上，”我不想再去阿兹克班了。“对哈格力的探望一点都不好玩，但却达到了罗恩和荷米恩所希望的效果。虽然哈利无论如何也忘不了巴拉克的事，但如果他要帮哈格力在案件中赢消灭危险动物委员会，他就不能总是想报仇的事。
他、罗恩和荷米恩第二天去了图书馆，然后带着一大堆书回到空荡荡的公共休息室里，这些书可能对毕克碧的辩护有帮助的。他们三个坐在红红的大火前慢慢地翻着关系到杀掠动物的著名案件。当他们看到涉及的章节就讨论。
“这里有一些……是1722年的案件……但是那河马鹿被判决了——唉，看他们做了些什么，真让人讨厌——”
“这可能有帮助，看——一只人面狮身怪物，攻击一个人，但他们放了那人面狮身怪物——嗯，不，那只是因为人们太害怕而不敢得罪它……”
这时候，城堡的其它地方，已经用美丽的圣诞节饰物装饰得很漂亮了，虽然去玩的只有那寥寥无儿的留校学生。走廊上挂满了彩旗和各种各样的树枝，而每套盔甲都发出神秘的光。大厅里有十二棵圣诞树，树上的金星闪闪发亮。走廊上飘着扑鼻的菜香味，香味尤其诱人，就连斯卡伯斯都从罗思的口袋里伸出鼻子在空气中闻个够。
在圣诞节早上，哈利被罗思推醒。
“喂！礼物！”
哈利伸手取出眼镜并戴上它，在半亮的房间里向他床下面看，下面有一堆包裹，罗恩正在乐滋滋地打开自己那份礼物。
“妈妈又送了一条棉裤……嗯……又是茶色的，看你有没有。”
哈利也有，威斯里太太送了他一条深红色的棉裤，前面打了一只格林芬顿狮子，还有一打自己烤的馅饼，一些圣诞糕，还有一盒脆栗子。他把这些礼物推到一边时，他看到一包又长又窄的包裹躺在下面。
“那是什么？”罗恩看过来，手里还拿着刚刚拆开的茶色的袜子。
“不知道。”
哈利把包裹撕开，看到一条很漂亮的，闪闪发亮的扫帚滚到床上。罗恩扔下袜子从他的床上跳下去仔细看看。
“难以令人相信。‘他几乎尖叫说。
这是霹雳扫帚，跟哈利在戴河宫道时天天都去看的那条一模一样。他拿起它时，它的手柄闪亮着，他可以感觉到它的震动，放开它时，它便停在半空，用很适合的高度让哈利骑上去，他的视线从手把柄上的金色的注册号码移到那圆滑的流线的禅树梢做成的扫帚尾上。
“谁送给你的？”罗恩细声地问。
“看看是否有卡片。”哈利说。
罗恩撕开霹雳的包装纸。
“没有！啊呀，是谁在你身上花那么多钱？”
“哦，”哈利感到很惊愕，“我敢保证不是杜斯利家里的人。”
“我敢打赌是丹伯多。”罗恩说，他在霹雳旁边走来走去，观赏着扫帚的每一寸地方。“他连隐形斗篷也不留名送给你了……”
“但是，那可是我爸爸的。”哈和说，“丹怕多只是转手给我。他不会在我身上花几百个金币的，他总不会送给学生这些礼物……”
“那就是他不肯说是他送的了！”罗恩说，“怕让马尔夫这样的人说他偏心，唉，哈利——”罗恩大声地笑起来。“马尔夫，等着瞧，让他看到这扫帚，他肯定病得像猪一样！这可是国际标准的，看这里！”
“我几乎不能相信，”哈利细声说，他的手在霹雳上下地摩挲着，而罗思则躺在哈利的床上想象着马尔夫的病样子大笑。
“我知道，”罗恩说，他控制着自己，“我知道，可能是——露平。”
“什么？”哈利说，他自己也开始笑起来，“露平？听着，如果他也有这么多的金币的话，他肯定会去买一些新的衣服了！”
“对呀，但是他喜欢你嘛。”罗思说，“而且你的灵光2000毁坏的时候，他在外面，可能他听到了，就决定去戴阿宫道买这个给你——”
“你这是什么意思呀，他在外面？”哈利说，“我打那场比赛的时候他病了。”
“嗯，总之他不在医院里，”罗恩说，“我在那里，史纳皮让我把医院的床单都洗一遍，记得吗？”
哈利向罗恩皱皱眉头。
“我认为露平不够钱买这样的东西。”
“你们俩在笑什么呀？”
荷米恩刚进来，她穿上了连衣裙，还抱着克路殊克。那猫看上去特别乖，颈上还系着一串金属链。
“不要带它到这里来！”罗恩说，他急忙从床上抓住斯卡伯斯，并放到他的睡衣袋里面。但荷米思没有听他的。她把克路殊克放到谢默斯的空床上，然后半张开口盯着霹雳。
“哦，哈利，谁送那给你的？”
“不知道。”哈利说，“那里没有卡片或别的东西。”
让他奇怪的是，这次荷米恩没有表现得很兴奋或者报忧虑，相反，她的脸很平静，而她在咬着嘴唇。
“怎么啦你？”罗恩说。
“我不知道。”荷米恩慢慢地说，“但是这有点奇怪，不觉得吗？我的意思是，这可是很好的扫帚，不是吗！”
罗恩兴奋地叹了口气。
“这是那里最好的扫帚了，荷米恩。”他说。
“因此它肯定非常贵了……”
“可能比所有史林德林他们的扫帚加起来还要贵。”罗恩高兴地说。
“嗯……谁送哈利这么贵重的礼物呢，而且连名字都不肯留？”荷米恩说。
“管他呢？”罗恩不耐烦地说，“听着，哈利，我可以坐上去试试吗？
可以吗？“
“我想我们现在还不应该骑上那扫帚！”荷米恩激动地说。
哈利和罗恩都看着她。
“那你想哈利用它来干什么，——用来扫地？”罗恩说。
但荷米恩还没来得及回答，克路殊克从谢默斯的床上起来，直冲罗恩胸部。
“让它滚开！”罗恩大声喊，这时克路殊克的爪已经撕破他的睡衣，而斯卡伯斯则疯狂地逃，爬过他的肩膀。罗恩抓住了斯卡伯斯的尾巴，并向着克路殊克踢过去，但是却踢到哈利的床脚上，狠狠地撞了一下，罗恩当场跳起来，痛得大声嚎叫。
克路殊克的毛突然竖起来，一声又长又细的声音在房间里响起来。那个史尼卡可袋从维能姨丈的旧袜子里跳出来，在地上发着光盘旋着。
“我都忘了那个了！”哈利说，他弯下腰捡起史尼卡可，“我从没有穿过那双袜子。”
那史尼卡可在他手掌中旋转着，发出尖叫声，而克路殊克则对着它嘶嘶地叫着。
“你最好把那猫赶出去，荷米恩。”罗恩气愤地说，他正坐在哈利的床上，翘起鼻子。“你不可以把那东西关起来吗？”他对着荷米恩插上一句，这时荷米恩正迈出房间，克路殊克的黄眼睛还是充满敌意地看着罗恩。
哈利把史尼卡可塞回到袜子里，扔回到他的皮箱里，房间里只剩下罗恩的呻吟声和牢骚声。斯卡伯斯躲在罗恩的手里，哈利看到它从罗恩的衣袋里出来好一阵子了，他惊奇地发觉斯卡伯斯变了，曾经那么胖现在已经是皮包骨的样子了，身上有好几处的毛都跌下来了。
“它看上去不太好了，是吗？”哈利问。
“紧张呀！”罗恩说，“如果那块笨东西不搞它，它就好了。”
但是哈利记得那间魔法动物商店的妇女说老鼠只能活三年，他禁不住想除非斯卡伯斯有不为人知的本领，否则它已经接近生命的终点了。虽然罗恩经常埋怨斯卡伯斯又无聊又没用，但如果它死了，他肯定会很伤心的。
那天在格林芬顿的公共休息室里，圣诞的节日气氛很淡。荷米恩已把克路殊克关在她宿舍里，但她因为罗恩想踢它而感到很气愤，罗恩仍在埋怨克路殊克想吃掉斯卡伯斯。哈利不再理会他们的对骂，而是埋头看他的霹雳，他把它带到公共休息室来，但是这也某程度上惹怒了荷米恩，她没有说些什么，只是默不作声地看着那扫帚，好像它也冒犯了她的猫一样。
在午餐时间，他们下去大厅，发现大厅里的桌子又被移到墙边。
大厅中间放着一张坐十二个人的桌子，丹伯多教授，麦康娜、史纳皮和费立维克都在，还有费驰，那个管理员，他已经换去平时穿的那件褐色的大衣，穿上了一只很旧的看上去发霉的大衣，还有三个学生，两个很紧张的一年级生，还有一个阴沉着脸的史林德林的五年级学生。
“圣诞快乐！”丹伯多谈看到哈利，罗恩和荷米恩走近桌子时说，“因为我们只有几个人，用那么多桌子显得很局促……坐下，坐下！”
哈利、罗恩和荷米恩在桌子的末端并排坐下来。
“鞭炮！”丹伯多热情地说，把一串银色的东西递过去给史纳皮，史纳皮好像很不情愿地接过去。然后“砰”的一声响，如同枪声，鞭炮便飞开了，露出一项很大的巫婆的帽子，上面还有一支秃鹰的毛。
哈利想起了布格特，看到罗恩的眼睛，他们都列开嘴笑了。史纳皮扁扁嘴，把帽推过去给丹伯多，他立即把它变成了一项巫师用的帽子。
“来吃吧。”他对在场人笑笑说。
当哈利正在吃烤土豆的时候，大厅的门又开了。是特雷络尼教授，她好像站在轮子上一般滑过来，为了庆祝节日，她今天穿上了一件有绿盔甲的衣服，看起来比精蜒还多姿多彩。
“哎呀，这可真是一个惊喜。”丹伯多站起来说。
“我在着晶球，校长，”特雷络尼教授用她那最柔和缥缈的声音说，“让我奇怪的是，我放弃了我的团圆饭来这里加入你们，我怎么会拒绝命运的安排呢？我在塔上已经很急忙地下来了，我真希望你们可以原谅我的迟到……”
“当然，当然，”丹伯多眨着眼睛说，“我给你这椅子——”
他真的用魔杖在空中拉出一张椅子，它在空中转了几秒钟后“砰”后～声落在史纳皮教授和麦康娜教授之间。但是特雷络尼教授并没有坐下来，她的大眼睛在桌于周围扫着，然后突然间发出一声温柔的尖叫声。
“我不敢，校长！如果我再加入这张桌子，我们就会有十三个人！
没有比这更不吉祥的了！不要忘记如果十三个人一起吃饭，第一个站起来的人会最先死！“”我们试一试吧，“麦康娜教授不耐烦地说，”请坐下吧，那火腿快要像石头一样冷了。“
特雷络尼教授还有犹豫，然后在那空椅上坐下来，闭着眼睛，紧闭着嘴，好像地雷将要在桌子上炸开一样，麦康娜教授把一个大舀子放在最靠近的锅盖上。
“试一下吧。”
特雷络尼教授没有理会她。她的眼睛又睁开，又看看四周然后说，“但是，露平教授在哪？”
“我估计那可怜的家伙又病了。”丹伯多说着向大家示意动筷吃，“最不幸的竟然在圣诞节这天。”
“看上去你好像很清楚，教授。”麦康娜教授抬起眉毛说。
特雷络尼教授冷冷地看了麦康娜教授一眼。
“我当然知道了，”她平静地说，“但如果一个人什么都知道的时候，他通常都不会炫耀出来的，我经常假装我没有心灵之眼，好让大家都不用紧张。”
“那已经解释够多了。”麦康娜教授酸酸地说。
特雷络尼教授的声音突然变得没有那么朦胧了。
“你应该知道，我已经看出可怜的露平教授不会与我们在一起多久了。他好像也知道自己的时日无多了。当我说把晶球给他看的时候，他逃开了……”
“可以想象。”麦康娜教授干冷地说。
“我怀疑，”丹伯多激动而稍为高音地说，这样使到麦康娜教授和特雷络尼教授的对话结束了，“那露平教授是否有危险了，西摩斯，你又制药给他吃了？”
“是的，校长。”史纳皮说。
“好，”丹伯多说，“那么他很快就会没事了，迪瑞可，你有没有吃这种香肠？
好吃极了。“
那个一年级的男孩因为校长直接跟他说话而脸红起来了，便用颤抖的手把那小碟香肠拿过去。
特雷络尼教授安静地吃着，直到两小时后，到了圣诞餐结束的时刻，哈利和罗思仍然戴着那鞭炮帽子，他们都在圣诞大赛上吃得饱饱的，于是都在桌子旁站起来，特雷络尼教授大声地尖叫。
“天啊，你们中谁先站起来的，谁？”
“不知道。”罗恩紧张地看着哈
收听单词发音 |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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mead
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| n.蜂蜜酒 | |
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sneaked
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| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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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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waxy
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| adj.苍白的；光滑的 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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shrilly
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| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
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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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peppermint
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| n.薄荷，薄荷油，薄荷糖 | |
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toad
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| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆 | |
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massaging
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| 按摩，推拿( massage的现在分词 ) | |
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slumped
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| 大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下] | |
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ginger
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| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
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apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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inter
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| v.埋葬 | |
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hop
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| n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过 | |
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luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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flexing
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| n.挠曲，可挠性v.屈曲( flex的现在分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌 | |
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trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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hems
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| 布的褶边，贴边( hem的名词复数 )； 短促的咳嗽 | |
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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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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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fang
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| n.尖牙，犬牙 | |
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throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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thumping
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| adj.重大的，巨大的；重击的；尺码大的；极好的adv.极端地；非常地v.重击(thump的现在分词)；狠打；怦怦地跳；全力支持 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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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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collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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glazed
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| adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
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tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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44
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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45
gargoyles
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| n.怪兽状滴水嘴( gargoyle的名词复数 ) | |
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46
chomping
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| v.切齿，格格地咬牙，咬响牙齿( chomp的现在分词 ) | |
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47
oozing
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| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的现在分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
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48
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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49
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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50
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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51
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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52
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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53
berating
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| v.严厉责备，痛斥( berate的现在分词 ) | |
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54
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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55
tablecloth
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| n.桌布，台布 | |
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56
lettuce
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| n.莴苣；生菜 | |
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57
twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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58
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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59
gulping
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的现在分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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60
leech
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| n.水蛭，吸血鬼，榨取他人利益的人；vt.以水蛭吸血；vi.依附于别人 | |
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61
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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62
savaged
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| （动物）凶狠地攻击（或伤害）( savage的过去式和过去分词 )； 残害； 猛烈批评； 激烈抨击 | |
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63
holly
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| n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
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64
pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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66
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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67
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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68
maroon
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| v.困住，使（人）处于孤独无助之境；n.逃亡黑奴；孤立的人；酱紫色，褐红色；adj.酱紫色的，褐红色的 | |
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69
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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70
mince
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| n.切碎物；v.切碎，矫揉做作地说 | |
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71
brittle
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| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 | |
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72
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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73
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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74
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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75
alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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76
registration
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| n.登记，注册，挂号 | |
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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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78
twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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79
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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80
galleons
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| n.大型帆船( galleon的名词复数 ) | |
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81
whoop
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| n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息 | |
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82
detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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83
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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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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85
pajamas
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| n.睡衣裤 | |
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86
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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87
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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88
maliciously
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| adv.有敌意地 | |
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89
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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90
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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91
fuming
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| 愤怒( fume的现在分词 )； 大怒； 发怒； 冒烟 | |
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92
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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93
sprout
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| n.芽，萌芽；vt.使发芽，摘去芽；vi.长芽，抽条 | |
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94
filch
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| v.偷窃 | |
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95
cracker
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| n.（无甜味的）薄脆饼干 | |
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96
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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97
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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98
swapped
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| 交换（工作）( swap的过去式和过去分词 )； 用…替换，把…换成，掉换（过来） | |
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99
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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100
gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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101
mistiest
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| misty（多雾的，被雾笼罩的）的最高级形式 | |
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102
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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103
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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104
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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105
revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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106
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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107
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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108
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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109
tartly
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| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
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110
misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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111
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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112
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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113
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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114
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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115
devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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116
monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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117
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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118
kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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119
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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120
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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121
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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122
tampered
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| v.窜改( tamper的过去式 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄 | |
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123
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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