jkrowling.hp&theorderofphenix-第117部分

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　　　…　CHAPTER　THIRTY　…
　　　
　　　Grawp
　　　
　　　The　story　of　Fred　and　George's　flight　to　freedom　was　retold　so　often　over　the　next　few　days　that　Harry　could　tell　it　would　soon　bee　the　stuff　of　Hogwarts　legend：　within　a　week；　even　those　who　had　been　eye…witnesses　were　half…convinced　they　had　seen　the　twins　dive…bomb　Umbridge　on　their　brooms　and　pelt　her　with　Dungbombs　before　zooming　out　of　the　doors。　In　the　immediate　aftermath　of　their　departure　there　was　a　great　wave　of　talk　about　copying　them。　Harry　frequently　heard　students　saying　things　like；　'Honestly　some　days　I　just　feel　like　jumping　on　my　broom　and　leaving　this　place；'　or　else；　'One　more　lesson　like　that　and　I　might　just　do　a　Weasley。'
　　　
　　　Fred　and　George　had　made　sure　nobody　was　likely　to　forget　them　too　soon。　For　one　thing；　they　had　not　left　instructions　on　how　to　remove　the　swamp　that　now　filled　the　corridor　on　the　fifth　floor　of　the　east　wing。　Umbridge　and　Filch　had　been　observed　trying　different　means　of　removing　it　but　without　success。　Eventually　the　area　was　roped　off　and　Filch；　gnashing　his　teeth　furiously；　was　given　the　task　of　punting　students　across　it　to　their　classrooms。　Harry　was　certain　that　teachers　like　McGonagall　or　Flitwick　could　have　removed　the　swamp　in　an　instant　but；　just　as　in　the　case　of　Fred　and　George's　Wildfire　Whiz…bangs；　they　seemed　to　prefer　to　watch　Umbridge　struggle。
　　　Then　there　were　the　two　large　broom…shaped　holes　in　Umbridge's　office　door；　through　which　Fred　and　George's　Cleansweeps　had　smashed　to　rejoin　their　masters。　Filch　fitted　a　new　door　and　removed　Harry's　Firebolt　to　the　dungeons　where；　it　was　rumoured；　Umbridge　had　set　an　armed　security　troll　to　guard　it。　However；　her　troubles　were　far　from　over。
　　　Inspired　by　Fred　and　George's　example；　a　great　number　of　students　were　now　vying　for　the　newly　vacant　positions　of　Troublemakers…in…Chief。　In　spite　of　the　new　door；　somebody　managed　to　slip　a　hairy…snouted　Niffler　into　Umbridge's　office；　which　promptly　tore　the　place　apart　in　its　search　for　shiny　objects；　leapt　on　Umbridge　when　she　entered　and　tried　to　gnaw　the　rings　off　her　stubby　fingers。　Dungbombs　and　Stink　Pellets　were　dropped　so　frequently　in　the　corridors　that　it　became　the　new　fashion　for　students　to　perform　Bubble…Head　Charms　on　themselves　before　leaving　lessons；　which　ensured　them　a　supply　of　fresh　air；　even　though　it　gave　them　all　the　peculiar　appearance　of　wearing　upside…down　goldfish　bowls　on　their　heads。
　　　Filch　prowled　the　corridors　with　a　horsewhip　ready　in　his　hands；　desperate　to　catch　miscreants；　but　the　problem　was　that　there　were　now　so　many　of　them　he　never　knew　which　way　to　turn。　The　Inquisitorial　Squad　was　attempting　to　help　him；　but　odd　things　kept　happening　to　its　members。　Warrington　of　the　Slytherin　Quidditch　team　reported　to　the　hospital　wing　with　a　horrible　skin　plaint　that　made　him　look　as　though　he　had　been　coated　in　cornflakes；　Pansy　Parkinson；　to　Hermione's　delight；　missed　all　her　lessons　the　following　day　as　she　had　sprouted　antlers。
　　　Meanwhile；　it　became　clear　just　how　many　Skiving　Snackboxes　Fred　and　George　had　managed　to　sell　before　leaving　Hogwarts。　Umbridge　only　had　to　enter　her　classroom　for　the　students　assembled　there　to　faint；　vomit；　develop　dangerous　fevers　or　else　spout　blood　from　both　nostrils。　Shrieking　with　rage　and　frustration；　she　attempted　to　trace　the　mysterious　symptoms　to　their　source；　but　the　students　told　her　stubbornly　they　were　suffering　from　'Umbridge　…itis'。　After　putting　four　successive　classes　in　detention　and　failing　to　discover　their　secret；　she　was　forced　to　give　up　and　allow　the　bleeding；　swooning；　sweating　and　vomiting　students　to　leave　her　classes　in　droves。
　　　But　not　even　the　users　of　the　Snackboxes　could　pete　with　that　master　of　chaos；　Peeves；　who　seemed　to　have　taken　Fred's　parting　words　deeply　to　heart。　Cackling　madly；　he　soared　through　the　school；　upending　tables；　bursting　out　of　blackboards；　toppling　statues　and　vases；　twice　he　shut　Mrs　Norris　inside　a　suit　of　armour；　from　which　she　was　rescued；　yowling　loudly；　by　the　furious　caretaker。　Peeves　smashed　lanterns　and　snuffed　out　candles；　juggled　burning　torches　over　the　heads　of　screaming　students；　caused　neatly　stacked　piles　of　parchment　to　topple　into　fires　or　out　of　windows；　flooded　the　second　floor　when　he　pulled　off　all　the　taps　in　the　bathrooms；　dropped　a　bag　of　tarantulas　in　the　middle　of　the　Great　Hall　during　breakfast　and；　whenever　he　fancied　a　break；　spent　hours　at　a　time　floating　along　after　Umbridge　and　blowing　loud　raspberries　every　time　she　spoke。
　　　None　of　the　staff　but　Filch　seemed　to　be　stirring　themselves　to　help　her。　Indeed；　a　week　after　Fred　and　George's　departure　Harry　witnessed　Professor　McGonagall　walking　right　past　Peeves；　who　was　determinedly　loosening　a　crystal　chandelier；　and　could　have　sworn　he　heard　her　tell　the　poltergeist　out　of　the　corner　of　her　mouth；　'It　unscrews　the　other　way。'
　　　
　　　To　cap　matters；　Montague　had　still　not　recovered　from　his　sojourn　in　the　toilet；　he　remained　confused　and　disorientated　and　his　parents　were　to　be　observed　one　Tuesday　morning　striding　up　the　front　drive；　looking　extremely　angry。
　　　'Should　we　say　something？'　said　Hermione　in　a　worried　voice；　pressing　her　cheek　against　the　Charms　window　so　that　she　could　see　Mr　and　Mrs　Montague　marching　inside。　'About　what　happened　to　him？　In　case　it　helps　Madam　Pomfrey　cure　him？'
　　　
　　　'Course　not；　he'll　recover；'　said　Ron　indifferently。
　　　'Anyway；　more　trouble　for　Umbridge；　isn't　it？'　said　Harry　in　a　satisfied　voice。
　　　He　and　Ron　both　tapped　the　teacups　they　were　supposed　to　be　charming　with　their　wands。　Harry's　spouted　four　very　short　legs　that　could　not　reach　the　desk　and　wriggled　pointlessly　in　midair。　Ron's　grew　four　very　thin　spindly　legs　that　hoisted　the　cup　off　the　desk　with　great　difficulty；　trembled　for　a　few　seconds；　then　folded；　causing　the　cup　to　crack　into　two。
　　　'Reparo；'　said　Hermione　quickly；　mending　Ron's　cup　with　a　wave　of　her　wand。　That's　all　very　well；　but　what　if　Montague's　permanently　injured？'
　　　
　　　'Who　cares？'　said　Ron　irritably；　while　his　teacup　stood　up　drunkenly　again；　trembling　violently　at　the　knees。　'Montague　shouldn't　have　tried　to　take　all　those　points　from　Gryffindor；　should　he？　If　you　want　to　worry　about　anyone；　Hermione；　worry　about　me！'
　　　
　　　'You？'　she　said；　catching　her　teacup　as　it　scampered　happily　away　across　the　desk　on　four　sturdy　little　willow…patterned　legs；　and　replacing　it　in　front　of　her。　'Why　should　I　be　worried　about　you？'
　　　
　　　'When　Mum's　next　letter　finally　gets　through　Umbridge's　screening　process；'　said　Ron　bitterly；　now　holding　his　cup　up　while　its　frail　legs　tried　feebly　to　support　its　weight；　'I'm　going　to　be　in　deep　trouble。　I　wouldn't　be　surprised　if　she's　sent　another　Howler。'
　　　
　　　'But　…'
　　　
　　　'It'll　be　my　fault　Fred　and　George　left；　you　wait；'　said　Ron　darkly。　'She'll　say　I　should've　stopped　them　leaving；　I　should've　grabbed　the　ends　of　their　brooms　and　hung　on　or　something：　yeah；　it'll　be　all　my　fault。'
　　　
　　　'Well；　if　she　does　say　that　it'll　be　very　unfair；　you　couldn't　have　done　anything！　But　I'm　sure　she　won't；　I　mean；　if　it's　really　true　they've　got　premises　in　Diagon　Alley；　they　must　have　been　planning　this　for　ages。'
　　　
　　　'Yeah；　but　that's　another　thing；　how　did　they　get　premises？'　said　Ron；　hitting　his　teacup　so　hard　with　his　wand　that　its　legs　collapsed　again　and　it　lay　twitching　before　him。　'It's　a　bit　dodgy　isn't　it？　They'll　need　loads　of　Galleons　to　afford　the　rent　on　a　place　in　Diagon　Alley。　She'll　want　to　know　what　they've　been　up　to；　to　get　their　hands　on　that　sort　of　gold。'
　　　
　　　'Well；　yes；　that　occurred　to　me；　too；'　said　Hermione；　allowing　her　teacup　to　jog　in　neat　little　circles　around　Harry's；　whose　stubby　little　legs　were　still　unable　to　touch　the　desktop；　'I've　been　wondering　whether　Mundungus　has　persuaded　them　to　sell　stolen　goods　or　something　awful。'
　　　
　　　'He　hasn't；'　said　Harry　curtly。
　　　'How　do　you　know？'　said　Ron　and　Hermione　together。
　　　'Because　…'　Harry　hesitated；　but　the　moment　to　confess　finally　seemed　to　have　e。　There　was　no　good　to　be　gained　in　keeping　silent　if　it　meant　anyone　suspected　that　Fred　and　George　were　criminals。　'Because　they　got　the　gold　from　me。　I　gave　them　my　Triwizard　winnings　last　June。'
　　　
　　　There　was　a　shocked　silence；　then　Hermione's　teacup　jogged　right　over　the　edge　of　the　desk　and　smashed　on　the　floor。
　　　'Oh；　Harry；　you　didn't！'　she　said。
　　　'Yes；　I　did；'　said　Harry　mutinously。　'And　I　don't　regret　it；　either。　I　didn't　need　the　gold　and　they'll　be　great　at　running　a　joke　shop。'
　　　
　　　'But　this　is　excellent！'　said　Ron；　looking　thrilled。　'It's　all　your　fault；　Harry　…　Mum　can't　blame　me　at　all！　Can　I　tell　her？'
　　　
　　　'Yeah；　I　suppose　you'd　better；'　said　Harry　dully；　〃specially　if　she　thinks　they're　receiving　stolen　cauldrons　or　something。'
　　　
　　　Hermione　said　nothing　at　all　for　the　rest　of　the　lesson；　but　Harry　had　a　shrewd　suspicion　that　her　self…restraint　was　bound　to　crack　before　long。　Sure　enough；　once　they　had　left　the　castle　for　break　and　were　standing　around　in　the　weak　May　sunshine；　she　fixed　Harry　with　a　beady　eye　and　opened　her　mouth　with　a　determined　air。
　　　Harry　interrupted　her　before　she　had　even　started。
　　　'It's　no　good　nagging　me；　it's　done；'　he　said　firmly。　'Fred　and　George　have　got　the　gold　…　spent　a　good　bit　of　it；　too；　by　the　sounds　of　it　…　and　I　can't　get　it　back　from　them　and　I　don't　want　to。　So　save　your　breath；　Hermione。'
　　　
　　　'I　wasn't　going　to　say　anything　about　Fred　and　George！'　she　said　in　an　injured　voice。
　　　Ron　snorted　disbelievingly　and　Hermione　threw　him　a　very　dirty　look。
　　　'No；　I　wasn't！'　she　said　angrily。　'As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　was　going　to　ask　Harry　when　he's　going　to　go　back　to　Snape　and　ask　for　more　Occlumency　lessons！'
　　　
　　　Harry's　heart　sank。　Once　they　had　exhausted　the　subject　of　Fred　and　George's　dramatic　departure；　which　admittedly　had　taken　many　hours；　Ron　and　Hermione　had　wanted　to　hear　news　of　Sirius。　As　Harry　had　not　confided　in　them　the　reason　he　had　wanted　to　talk　to　Sirius　in　the　first　place；　it　had　been　hard　to　think　of　what　to　tell　them；　he　had　ended　up　saying；　truthfully；　that　Sirius　wanted　Harry　to　resume　Occlumency　lessons。　He　had　been　regretting　this　ever　si