按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
Everyone stared at him。 Professor Lupin crumpled up the empty chocolate wrapper and put it in his pocket。
〃Eat;〃 he repeated。 〃It'll help。 I need to speak to the driver; excuse me。。。
He strolled past Harry and disappeared into the corridor。
〃Are you sure you're okay; Harry?〃 said Hermione; watching Harry anxiously。
〃I Don't get it。。。。 What happened?〃 said Harry; wiping more sweat off his face。
〃Well that thing the dementor stood there and looked around (I mean; I think it did; I couldn't see its face) and you you
〃I thought you were having a fit or something;〃 said Ron; who still looked scared。 〃You went sort of rigid and fell out of your seat and started twitching 11
〃And Professor Lupin stepped over you; and walked toward the dementor; and pulled out his wand;〃 said Hermione; 〃and he said; 'None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks。 Go。' But the dementor didn't move; so Lupin muttered something; and a silvery thing shot out of his wand at it; and it turned around and sort of glided away。。。。 〃
〃It was horrible;〃 said Neville; in a higher voice than usual。 〃Did YOU feel how cold it got when it came in?〃
I felt weird;〃 said Ron; shifting his shoulders unfortably。 〃Like I'd never be cheerful again。。。。〃
Ginny; who was huddled in her corner looking nearly as bad as Harry felt; gave a small sob; Hermione went over and put a forting arm around her。
〃But didn't any of you fall off your seats?〃 said Harry awkwardly。
〃No;〃 said Ron; looking anxiously at Harry again。 〃Ginny was shaking like mad; though。。。。〃
Harry didn't understand。 He felt weak and shivery; as though he were recovering from a bad bout of flu; he also felt the beginnings of shame。 Why had he gone to pieces like that; when no one else had?
Professor Lupin had e back。 He paused as he entered; looked around; and said; with a small smile; 〃I haven't poisoned that chocolate; you know。。。。〃
Harry took a bite and to his great surprise felt warmth spread suddenly to the tips of his fingers and toes。
〃We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes;〃 said Professor Lupin。 〃Are you all right; Harry?〃
Harry didn't ask how Professor Lupin knew his name。
〃Fine;〃 he muttered; embarrassed。
They didn't talk much during the remainder of the journey。 At long last; the train stopped at Hogsmeade station; and there was a great scramble to get outside; owls hooted; cats meowed; and Neville's pet toad croaked loudly from under his hat。 It was freezing on the tiny platform; rain was driving down in icy sheets。
〃Firs' years this way!〃 called a familiar voice。 Harry; Ron; and Hermione turned and saw the gigantic outline of Hagrid at the other end of the platform; beckoning the terrified…looking new students forward for their traditional journey across the lake。
〃All right; you three?〃 Hagrid yelled over the heads of the crowd。 They waved at him; but had no chance to speak to him because the mass of people around them was shunting them away along the platform。 Harry; Ron; and Hermione followed the rest of the school along the platform and out onto a rough mud track; where at least a hundred stagecoaches awaited the remaining students; each pulled; Harry could only assume; by an invisible horse; because when they climbed inside and shut the door; the coach set off all by itself; bumping and swaying in procession。
The coach smelled faintly of mold and straw。 Harry felt better since the chocolate; but still weak。 Ron and Hermione kept looking at him sideways; as though frightened he might collapse again。
As the carriage trundled toward a pair of magnificent wrought iron gates; flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars;
Harry saw two more towering; hooded dementors; standing guard on either side。 A wave of cold sickness threatened to engulf him again; he leaned back into the lumpy seat and closed his eyes until they had passed the gates。 The carriage picked up speed on the long; sloping drive up to the castle; Hermione was leaning out of the tiny window; watching the many turrets and towers draw nearer。 At last; the carriage swayed to a halt; and Hermione and Ron got out。
As Harry stepped down; a drawling; delighted voice sounded in his ear。
〃You fainted; Potter? Is Longbottorn telling the truth? You actualy fainted?〃
Malfoy elbowed past Hermione to block Harry's way up the stone steps to the castle; his face gleeful and his pale eyes glinting maliciously。 〃Shove off; Malfoy;〃 said Ron; whose jaw was clenched。
〃Did you faint as well; Weasley?〃 said Malfoy loudly。 〃Did the scary old dementor frighten you too; Weasley?〃
〃Is there a problem?〃 said a mild voice。 Professor Lupin had just gotten out of the next carriage。
Malfoy gave Professor Lupin an insolent stare; which took in the patches on his robes and the delapidated suitcase。 With a tiny hint of sarcasm in his voice; he said; 〃Oh; no er Professor;〃 then he smirked at Crabbe and Goyle and led them up the steps into the castle。
Hermione prodded Ron in the back to make him hurry; and the three of them joined the crowd swarming up the steps; through the giant oak front doors; into the cavernous entrance hall; which was lit with flaming torches; and housed a magnificent marble staircase that led to the upper floors。
The door into the Great Hall stood open at the right; Harry followed the crowd toward it; but had barely glimpsed the enchanted ceiling; which was black and cloudy tonight; when a voice called; 〃Potter! Granger! I want to see you both!〃
Harry and Hermione turned around; surprised。 Professor McGonagall; Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor House; was calling over the heads of the crowd。 She was a sternlooking witch who wore her hair in a tight bun; her sharp eyes were framed with square spectacles。 Harry fought his way over to her with a feeling of foreboding: Professor McGonagall had a way of making him feel he must have done something wrong。
〃There's no need to look so worried I just want a word in MY office;〃 she told them。 〃Move along there; Weasley。〃
Ron stared as Professor McGonagall ushered Harry and Hermione away from the chattering