jkrowling.hp&theorderofphenix-第22部分

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the　way　the　stile　swallowed　his　ticket）；　and　emerged　on　to　a　broad　street　lined　with　imposing…looking　buildings　and　already　full　of　traffic。
　　　〃Where　are　we？〃　said　Mr　Weasley　blankly；　and　for　one　heart…stopping　moment　Harry　thought　they　had　got　off　at　the　wrong　station　despite　Mr　Weasley's　continual　references　to　the　map；　but　a　second　later　he　said；　〃Ah　yes　。。。　this　way；　Harry；〃　and　led　him　down　a　side　road。
　　　〃Sorry；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　never　e　by　train　and　it　all　looks　rather　different　from　a　Muggle　perspective。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I've　never　even　used　the　visitors'　entrance　before。〃
　　　
　　　The　further　they　walked；　the　smaller　and　less　imposing　the　buildings　became；　until　finally　they　reached　a　street　that　contained　several　rather　shabby…looking　offices；　a　pub　and　an　overflowing　skip。　Harry　had　expected　a　rather　more　impressive　location　for　the　Ministry　of　Magic。
　　　〃Here　we　are；〃　said　Mr　Weasley　brightly；　pointing　at　an　old　red　telephone　box；　which　was　missing　several　panes　of　glass　and　stood　before　a　heavily　graffitied　wall。　〃After　you；　Harry。〃
　　　
　　　He　opened　the　telephone…box　door。
　　　Harry　stepped　inside；　wondering　what　on　earth　this　was　about。　Mr　Weasley　folded　himself　in　beside　Harry　and　closed　the　door。　It　was　a　tight　fit；　Harry　was　jammed　against　the　telephone　apparatus；　which　was　hanging　crookedly　from　the　wall　as　though　a　vandal　had　tried　to　rip　it　off。　Mr　Weasley　reached　past　Harry　for　the　receiver。
　　　〃Mr　Weasley；　I　think　this　might　be　out　of　order；　too；〃　Harry　said。
　　　〃No；　no；　I'm　sure　it's　fine；〃　said　Mr　Weasley；　holding　the　receiver　above　his　head　and　peering　at　the　dial。　〃Let's　see　。。。　six　。。。〃　he　dialled　the　number；　〃two　。。。　four　。。。　and　another　four　。。。　and　another　two　。。。〃
　　　
　　　As　the　dial　whirred　smoothly　back　into　place；　a　cool　female　voice　sounded　inside　the　telephone　box；　not　from　the　receiver　in　Mr　Weasley's　hand；　but　as　loudly　and　plainly　as　though　an　invisible　woman　were　standing　right　beside　them。
　　　〃Wele　to　the　Ministry　of　Magic。　Please　state　your　name　and　business。〃
　　　
　　　〃Er　。。。〃　said　Mr　Weasley；　clearly　uncertain　whether　or　not　he　should　talk　into　the　receiver。　He　promised　by　holding　the　mouthpiece　to　his　ear；　〃Arthur　Weasley；　Misuse　of　Muggle　Artefacts　Office；　here　to　escort　Harry　Potter；　who　has　been　asked　to　attend　a　disciplinary　hearing　。。。〃
　　　
　　　〃Thank　you；〃　said　the　cool　female　voice。　〃Visitor；　please　take　the　badge　and　attach　it　to　the　front　of　your　robes。〃
　　　
　　　There　was　a　click　and　a　rattle；　and　Harry　saw　something　slide　out　of　the　metal　chute　where　returned　coins　usually　appeared。　He　picked　it　up：　it　was　a　square　silver　badge　with　Harry　Potter；　Disciplinary　Hearing　on　it。　He　pinned　it　to　the　front　of　his　T…shirt　as　the　female　voice　spoke　again。
　　　〃Visitor　to　the　Ministry；　you　are　required　to　submit　to　a　search　and　present　your　wand　for　registration　at　the　security　desk；　which　is　located　at　the　far　end　of　the　Atrium。〃
　　　
　　　The　floor　of　the　telephone　box　shuddered。　They　were　sinking　slowly　into　the　ground。　Harry　watched　apprehensively　as　the　pavement　seemed　to　rise　up　past　the　glass　windows　of　the　telephone　box　until　darkness　closed　over　their　heads。　Then　he　could　see　nothing　at　all；　he　could　hear　only　a　dull　grinding　noise　as　the　telephone　box　made　its　way　down　through　the　earth。　After　about　a　minute；　though　it　felt　much　longer　to　Harry；　a　chink　of　golden　light　illuminated　his　feet　and；　widening；　rose　up　his　body；　until　it　hit　him　in　the　face　and　he　had　to　blink　to　stop　his　eyes　watering。
　　　〃The　Ministry　of　Magic　wishes　you　a　pleasant　day；〃　said　the　woman's　voice。
　　　The　door　of　the　telephone　box　sprang　open　and　Mr　Weasley　stepped　out　of　it；　followed　by　Harry；　whose　mouth　had　fallen　open。
　　　They　were　standing　at　one　end　of　a　very　long　and　splendid　hall　with　a　highly　polished；　dark　wood　floor。　The　peacock　blue　ceiling　was　inlaid　with　gleaming　golden　symbols　that　kept　moving　and　changing　like　some　enormous　heavenly　noticeboard。　The　walls　on　each　side　were　panelled　in　shiny　dark　wood　and　had　many　gilded　fireplaces　set　into　them。　Every　few　seconds　a　witch　or　wizard　would　emerge　from　one　of　the　left…hand　fireplaces　with　a　soft　whoosh。　On　the　right…hand　side；　short　queues　were　forming　before　each　fireplace；　waiting　to　depart。
　　　Halfway　down　the　hall　was　a　fountain。　A　group　of　golden　statues；　larger　than　life…size；　stood　in　the　middle　of　a　circular　pool。　Tallest　of　them　all　was　a　noble…looking　wizard　with　his　wand　pointing　straight　up　in　the　air。　Grouped　around　him　were　a　beautiful　witch；　a　centaur；　a　goblin　and　a　house…elf。　The　last　three　were　all　looking　adoringly　up　at　the　witch　and　wizard。　Glittering　jets　of　water　were　flying　from　the　ends　of　their　wands；　the　point　of　the　centaur's　arrow；　the　tip　of　the　goblins　hat　and　each　of　the　house…elf's　ears；　so　that　the　tinkling　hiss　of　falling　water　was　added　to　the　pops　and　cracks　of　the　Apparators　and　the　clatter　of　footsteps　as　hundreds　of　witches　and　wizards；　most　of　whom　were　wearing　glum；　early…morning　looks；　strode　towards　a　set　of　golden　gates　at　the　far　end　of　the　hall。
　　　〃This　way；〃　said　Mr　Weasley。
　　　They　joined　the　throng；　wending　their　way　between　the　Ministry　workers；　some　of　whom　were　carrying　tottering　piles　of　parchment；　others　battered　briefcases；　still　others　were　reading　the　Daily　Prophet　while　they　walked。　As　they　passed　the　fountain　Harry　saw　silver　Sickles　and　bronze　Knuts　glinting　up　at　him　from　the　bottom　of　the　pool。　A　small　smudged　sign　beside　it　read：
　　　
　　　ALL　PROCEEDS　FROM　THE　FOUNTAIN　OF　MAGICAL　BRETHREN　WILL　BE　GIVEN　TO　ST　MUNGO'S　HOSPITAL　FOR　MAGICAL　MALADIES　AND　INJURIES。
　　　If　I'm　not　expelled　from　Hogwarts；　I'll　put　in　ten　Galleons；　Harry　found　himself　thinking　desperately。
　　　〃Over　here；　Harry；〃　said　Mr　Weasley；　and　they　stepped　out　of　the　stream　of　Ministry　employees　heading　for　the　golden　gates。　Seated　at　a　desk　to　the　left；　beneath　a　sign　saying　Security；　a　badly…shaven　wizard　in　peacock　blue　robes　looked　up　as　they　approached　and　put　down　his　Daily　Prophet。
　　　〃I'm　escorting　a　visitor；〃　said　Mr　Weasley；　gesturing　towards　Harry。
　　　〃Step　over　here；〃　said　the　wizard　in　a　bored　voice。
　　　Harry　walked　closer　to　him　and　the　wizard　held　up　a　long　golden　rod；　thin　and　flexible　as　a　car　aerial；　and　passed　it　up　and　down　Harry's　front　and　back。
　　　〃Wand；〃　grunted　the　security　wizard　at　Harry；　putting　down　the　golden　instrument　and　holding　out　his　hand。
　　　Harry　produced　his　wand。　The　wizard　dropped　it　on　to　a　strange　brass　instrument；　which　looked　something　like　a　set　of　scales　with　only　one　dish。　It　began　to　vibrate。　A　narrow　strip　of　parchment　came　speeding　out　of　a　slit　in　the　base。　The　wizard　tore　this　off　and　read　the　writing　on　it。
　　　〃Eleven　inches；　phoenix…feather　core；　been　in　use　four　years。　That　correct？〃
　　　
　　　〃Yes；〃　said　Harry　nervously。
　　　〃I　keep　this；〃　said　the　wizard；　impaling　the　slip　of　parchment　on　a　small　brass　spike。　〃You　get　this　back；〃　he　added；　thrusting　the　wand　at　Harry。
　　　〃Thank　you。〃
　　　
　　　〃Hang　on　。。。〃　said　the　wizard　slowly。
　　　His　eyes　had　darted　from　the　silver　visitors　badge　on　Harry's　chest　to　his　forehead。
　　　〃Thank　you；　Eric；〃　said　Mr　Weasley　firmly；　and　grasping　Harry　by　the　shoulder　he　steered　him　away　from　the　desk　and　back　into　the　stream　of　wizards　and　witches　walking　through　the　golden　gates。
　　　Jostled　slightly　by　the　crowd；　Harry　followed　Mr　Weasley　through　the　gates　into　the　smaller　hall　beyond；　where　at　least　twenty　lifts　stood　behind　wrought　golden　grilles。　Harry　and　Mr　Weasley　joined　the　crowd　around　one　of　them。　Nearby；　stood　a　big　bearded　wizard　holding　a　large　cardboard　box　which　was　emitting　rasping　noises。
　　　〃All　right；　Arthur？〃　said　the　wizard；　nodding　at　Mr　Weasley。
　　　〃What've　you　got　there；　Bob？〃　asked　Mr　Weasley；　looking　at　the　box。
　　　〃We're　not　sure；〃　said　the　wizard　seriously。　'We　thought　it　was　a　bog…standard　chicken　until　it　started　breathing　fire。　Looks　like　a　serious　breach　of　the　Ban　on　Experimental　Breeding　to　me。〃
　　　
　　　With　a　great　jangling　and　clattering　a　lift　descended　in　front　of　them；　the　golden　grille　slid　back　and　Harry　and　Mr　Weasley　stepped　into　the　lift　with　the　rest　of　the　crowd　and　Harry　found　himself　jammed　against　the　back　wall。　Several　witches　and　wizards　were　looking　at　him　curiously；　he　stared　at　his　feet　to　avoid　catching　anyone's　eye；　flattening　his　fringe　as　he　did　so。　The　grilles　slid　shut　with　a　crash　and　the　lift　ascended　slowly；　chains　rattling；　while　the　same　cool　female　voice　Harry　had　heard　in　the　telephone　box　rang　out　again。
　　　〃Level　Seven；　Department　of　Magical　Games　and　Sports；　incorporating　the　British　and　Irish　Quidditch　League　Headquarters；　Official　Gobstones　Club　and　Ludicrous　Patents　Office。〃
　　　
　　　The　lift　doors　opened。　Harry　glimpsed　an　untidy…looking　corridor；　with　various　posters　of　Quidditch　teams　tacked　lopsidedly　on　the　walls。　One　of　the　wizards　in　the　lift；　who　was　carrying　an　armful　of　broomsticks；　extricated　himself　with　difficulty　and　disappeared　down　the　corridor。　The　doors　closed；　the　lift　juddered　upwards　again　and　the　woman's　voice　announced：
　　　
　　　〃Level　Six；　Department　of　Magical　Transportation；　incorporating　the　Floo　Network　Authority；　Broom　Regulatory　Control；　Portkey　Office　and　Apparation　Test　Centre。〃
　　　
　　　Once　again　the　lift　doors　opened　and　four　or　five　witches　and　wizards　got　out；　at　the　same　time；　several　paper　aeroplanes　swooped　into　the　lift。　Harry　stared　up　at　them　as　they　flapped　idly　around　above　his　head；　they　were　a　pale　violet　colour　and　he　could　see　Ministry　of　Magic　stamped　along　the　edge　of　their　wings。
　　　〃Just　inter…departmental　memos；〃　Mr　Weasley　muttered　to　him。　〃We　used　to　use　owls；　but　the　mess　was　unbelievable　。。。　droppings　all　over　the　desks　。。。〃
　　　
　　　As　they　clattered　upwards　again　the　memos　flapped　around　the　lamp　swaying　from　the　lift's　ceiling。
　　　〃Level　Five；　Department　of　International　Magical　Co…operation；　incorporating　the　International　Magical　Trading　Standards　Body；　the　International　Magical　Office　of　Law　and　the　International　Confederation　of　Wizards；　British　Seats。〃
　　　
　　　When　the　doors　opened；　two　of　the　memos　zoomed　out　with　a　few　more　of　the　witches　and　wizards；　but　several　more　memos　zoomed　in；　so　that　the　light　from　the　lamp　flickered　and　flashed　overhead　as　they　darted　a