jkrowling.hp&theorderofphenix-第23部分

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ore　memos　zoomed　in；　so　that　the　light　from　the　lamp　flickered　and　flashed　overhead　as　they　darted　around　it。
　　　〃Level　Four；　Department　for　the　Regulation　and　Control　of　Magical　Creatures；　incorporating　Beast；　Being　and　Spirit　Divisions；　Goblin　Liaison　Office　and　Pest　Advisory　Bureau。〃
　　　
　　　〃S'cuse；〃　said　the　wizard　carrying　the　fire…breathing　chicken　and　he　left　the　lift　pursued　by　a　little　flock　of　memos。　The　doors　clanged　shut　yet　again。
　　　〃Level　Three；　Department　of　Magical　Accidents　and　Catastrophes；　including　the　Accidental　Magic　Reversal　Squad；　Obliviator　Headquarters　and　Muggle…Worthy　Excuse　mittee。〃
　　　
　　　Everybody　left　the　lift　on　this　floor　except　Mr　Weasley；　Harry　and　a　witch　who　was　reading　an　extremely　long　piece　of　parchment　that　was　trailing　on　the　floor。　The　remaining　memos　continued　to　soar　around　the　lamp　as　the　lift　juddered　upwards　again；　then　the　doors　opened　and　the　voice　made　its　announcement。
　　　〃Level　Two；　Department　of　Magical　Law　Enforcement；　including　the　Improper　Use　of　Magic　Office；　Auror　Headquarters　and　Wizengamot　Administration　Services。〃
　　　
　　　〃This　is　us；　Harry；〃　said　Mr　Weasley；　and　they　followed　the　witch　out　of　the　lift　into　a　corridor　lined　with　doors。　〃My　office　is　on　the　other　side　of　the　floor。〃
　　　
　　　〃Mr　Weasley〃　said　Harry；　as　they　passed　a　window　through　which　sunlight　was　streaming；　〃aren't　we　still　underground？〃
　　　
　　　〃Yes；　we　are；〃　said　Mr　Weasley。　〃Those　are　enchanted　windows。　Magical　Maintenance　decide　what　weather　we'll　get　every　day。　We　had　two　months　of　hurricanes　last　time　they　were　angling　for　a　pay　rise　。。。　Just　round　here；　Harry。〃
　　　
　　　They　turned　a　corner；　walked　through　a　pair　of　heavy　oak　doors　and　emerged　in　a　cluttered　open　area　divided　into　cubicles；　which　was　buzzing　with　talk　and　laughter。　Memos　were　zooming　in　and　out　of　cubicles　like　miniature　rockets。　A　lopsided　sign　on　the　nearest　cubicle　read：　Auror　Headquarters。
　　　Harry　looked　surreptitiously　through　the　doorways　as　they　passed。　The　Aurors　had　covered　their　cubicle　walls　with　everything　from　pictures　of　wanted　wizards　and　photographs　of　their　families；　to　posters　of　their　favourite　Quidditch　teams　and　articles　from　the　Daily　Prophet。　A　scarlet…robed　man　with　a　ponytail　longer　than　Bill's　was　sitting　with　his　boots　up　on　his　desk；　dictating　a　report　to　his　quill。　A　little　further　along；　a　witch　with　a　patch　over　one　eye　was　talking　over　the　top　of　her　cubicle　wall　to　Kingsley　Shacklebolt。
　　　〃Morning；　Weasley；〃　said　Kingsley　carelessly；　as　they　drew　nearer。　〃I've　been　wanting　a　word　with　you；　have　you　got　a　second？〃
　　　
　　　〃Yes；　if　it　really　is　a　second；〃　said　Mr　Weasley；　〃I'm　in　rather　a　hurry。〃
　　　
　　　They　were　talking　as　though　they　hardly　knew　each　other　and　when　Harry　opened　his　mouth　to　say　hello　to　Kingsley；　Mr　Weasley　stood　on　his　foot。　They　followed　Kingsley　along　the　row　and　into　the　very　last　cubicle。
　　　Harry　received　a　slight　shock；　blinking　down　at　him　from　every　direction　was　Sirius's　face。　Newspaper　cuttings　and　old　photographs　…　even　the　one　of　Sirius　being　best　man　at　the　Potters'　wedding　…papered　the　walls。　The　only　Sirius…free　space　was　a　map　of　the　world　in　which　little　red　pins　were　glowing　like　jewels。
　　　〃Here；〃　said　Kingsley　brusquely　to　Mr　Weasley；　shoving　a　sheaf　of　parchment　into　his　hand。　〃I　need　as　much　information　as　possible　on　flying　Muggle　vehicles　sighted　in　the　last　twelve　months。　We've　received　information　that　Black　might　still　be　using　his　old　motorcycle。〃
　　　
　　　Kingsley　tipped　Harry　an　enormous　wink　and　added；　in　a　whisper；　〃Give　him　the　magazine；　he　might　find　it　interesting。〃　Then　he　said　in　normal　tones；　〃And　don't　take　too　long；　Weasley；　the　delay　on　that　firelegs　report　held　our　investigation　up　for　a　month。〃
　　　
　　　〃If　you　had　read　my　report　you　would　know　that　the　term　is　firearms；〃　said　Mr　Weasley　coolly。　〃And　I'm　afraid　you'll　have　to　wait　for　information　on　motorcycles；　we're　extremely　busy　at　the　moment。〃　He　dropped　his　voice　and　said；　〃If　you　can　get　away　before　seven；　Molly's　making　meatballs。〃
　　　
　　　He　beckoned　to　Harry　and　led　him　out　of　Kingsley's　cubicle；　through　a　second　set　of　oak　doors；　into　another　passage；　turned　left；　marched　along　another　corridor；　turned　right　into　a　dimly　lit　and　distinctly　shabby　corridor；　and　finally　reached　a　dead　end；　where　a　door　on　the　left　stood　ajar；　revealing　a　broom　cupboard；　and　a　door　on　the　right　bore　a　tarnished　brass　plaque　reading：　Misuse　of　Muggle　Artefacts。
　　　Mr　Weasley's　dingy　office　seemed　to　be　slightly　smaller　than　the　broom　cupboard。　Two　desks　had　been　crammed　inside　it　and　there　was　barely　space　to　move　around　them　because　of　all　the　overflowing　filing　cabinets　lining　the　walls；　on　top　of　which　were　tottering　piles　of　files。　The　little　wall　space　available　bore　witness　to　Mr　Weasley's　obsessions：　several　posters　of　cars；　including　one　of　a　dismantled　engine；　two　illustrations　of　postboxes　he　seemed　to　have　cut　out　of　Muggle　children's　books；　and　a　diagram　showing　how　to　wire　a　plug。
　　　Sitting　on　top　of　Mr　Weasley's　overflowing　in…tray　was　an　old　toaster　that　was　hiccoughing　in　a　disconsolate　way　and　a　pair　of　empty　leather　gloves　that　were　twiddling　their　thumbs。　A　photograph　of　the　Weasley　family　stood　beside　the　in…tray。　Harry　noticed　that　Percy　appeared　to　have　walked　out　of　it。
　　　〃We　haven't　got　a　window；〃　said　Mr　Weasley　apologetically；　taking　off　his　bomber　jacket　and　placing　it　on　the　back　of　his　chair。　〃We've　asked；　but　they　don't　seem　to　think　we　need　one。　Have　a　seat；　Harry；　doesn't　look　as　if　Perkins　is　in　yet。〃
　　　
　　　Harry　squeezed　himself　into　the　chair　behind　Perkins's　desk　while　Mr　Weasley　riffled　through　the　sheaf　of　parchment　Kingsley　Shacklebolt　had　given　him。
　　　〃Ah；〃　he　said；　grinning；　as　he　extracted　a　copy　of　a　magazine　entitled　The　Quibbler　from　its　midst；　〃yes　。。。〃　He　flicked　through　it。　〃Yes；　he's　right；　I'm　sure　Sirus　will　find　that　very　amusing　…　oh　dear；　what's　this　now？〃
　　　
　　　A　memo　had　just　zoomed　in　through　the　open　door　and　fluttered　to　rest　on　top　of　the　hiccoughing　toaster。　Mr　Weasley　unfolded　it　and　read　it　aloud。
　　　〃'Third　regurgitating　public　toilet　reported　in　Bethnal　Green；　kindly　investigate　immediately。'　This　is　getting　ridiculous　。。。〃
　　　
　　　〃A　regurgitating　toilet？〃
　　　
　　　〃Anti…Muggle　pranksters；〃　said　Mr　Weasley；　frowning。　〃We　had　two　last　week；　one　in　Wimbledon；　one　in　Elephant　and　Castle。　Muggles　are　pulling　the　flush　and　instead　of　everything　disappearing　…　well；　you　can　imagine。　The　poor　things　keep　calling　in　those　…　pumbles；　I　think　they're　called　…　you　know；　the　ones　who　mend　pipes　and　things。〃
　　　
　　　〃Plumbers？〃
　　　
　　　〃Exactly；　yes；　but　of　course　they're　flummoxed。　I　only　hope　we　can　catch　whoever's　doing　it。〃
　　　
　　　〃Will　it　be　Aurors　who　catch　them？〃
　　　
　　　〃Oh　no；　this　is　too　trivial　for　Aurors；　it'll　be　the　ordinary　Magical　Law　Enforcement　Patrol　…　ah；　Harry；　this　is　Perkins。〃
　　　
　　　A　stooped；　timid…looking　old　wizard　with　fluffy　white　hair　had　just　entered　the　room；　panting。
　　　〃Oh；　Arthur！〃　he　said　desperately；　without　looking　at　Harry。　〃Thank　goodness；　I　didn't　know　what　to　do　for　the　best；　whether　to　wait　here　for　you　or　not。　I've　just　sent　an　owl　to　your　home　but　you've　obviously　missed　it　…　an　urgent　message　came　ten　minutes　ago　…〃
　　　
　　　〃I　know　about　the　regurgitating　toilet；〃　said　Mr　Weasley。
　　　〃No；　no；　it's　not　the　toilet；　it's　the　Potter　boy's　hearing　…　they've　changed　the　time　and　venue　…　it　starts　at　eight　o'clock　now　and　it's　down　in　old　Courtroom　Ten　…〃
　　　
　　　〃Down　in　old　…　but　they　told　me　…　Merlin's　beard！〃
　　　
　　　Mr　Weasley　looked　at　his　watch；　let　out　a　yelp　and　leapt　from　his　chair。
　　　〃Quick；　Harry；　we　should　have　been　there　five　minutes　ago！〃
　　　
　　　Perkins　flattened　himself　against　the　filing　cabinets　as　Mr　Weasley　left　the　office　at　a　run；　Harry　close　on　his　heels。
　　　〃Why　have　they　changed　the　time？〃　Harry　said　breathlessly；　as　they　hurtled　past　the　Auror　cubicles；　people　poked　out　their　heads　and　stared　as　they　streaked　past。　Harry　felt　as　though　he'd　left　all　his　insides　back　at　Perkins's　desk。
　　　〃I've　no　idea；　but　thank　goodness　we　got　here　so　early；　if　you'd　missed　it；　it　would　have　been　catastrophic！〃
　　　
　　　Mr　Weasley　skidded　to　a　halt　beside　the　lifts　and　jabbed　impatiently　at　the　'down'　button。
　　　〃e　ON！〃
　　　
　　　The　lift　clattered　into　view　and　they　hurried　inside。　Every　time　it　stopped　Mr　Weasley　cursed　furiously　and　pummelled　the　number　nine　button。
　　　Those　courtrooms　haven't　been　used　in　years；〃　said　Mr　Weasley　angrily。　〃I　can't　think　why　they're　doing　it　down　there　…　unless　…but　no　…〃
　　　
　　　A　plump　witch　carrying　a　smoking　goblet　entered　the　lift　at　that　moment；　and　Mr　Weasley　did　not　elaborate。
　　　〃The　Atrium；〃　said　the　cool　female　voice　and　the　golden　grilles　slid　open；　showing　Harry　a　distant　glimpse　of　the　golden　statues　in　the　fountain。　The　plump　witch　got　out　and　a　sallow…skinned　wizard　with　a　very　mournful　face　got　in。
　　　〃Morning；　Arthur；〃　he　said　in　a　sepulchral　voice　as　the　lift　began　to　descend。　〃Don't　often　see　you　down　here。〃
　　　
　　　〃Urgent　business；　Bode；〃　said　Mr　Weasley；　who　was　bouncing　on　the　balls　of　his　feet　and　throwing　anxious　looks　over　at　Harry。
　　　〃Ah；　yes；〃　said　Bode；　surveying　Harry　unblinkingly。　〃Of　course。〃
　　　
　　　Harry　barely　had　emotion　to　spare　for　Bode；　but　his　unfaltering　gaze　did　not　make　him　feel　any　more　fortable。
　　　〃Department　of　Mysteries；〃　said　the　cool　female　voice；　and　left　it　at　that。
　　　〃Quick；　Harry；〃　said　Mr　Weasley　as　the　lift　doors　rattled　open；　and　they　sped　up　a　corridor　that　was　quite　different　from　those　above。　The　walls　were　bare；　there　were　no　windows　and　no　doors　apart　from　a　plain　black　one　set　at　the　very　end　of　the　corridor。　Harry　expected　them　to　go　through　it；　but　instead　Mr　Weasley　seized　him　by　the　arm　and　dragged　him　to　the　left；　where　there　was　an　opening　leading　to　a　flight　of　steps。
　　　〃Down　here；　down　here；〃　panted　Mr　Weasley；　taking　two　steps　at　a　time。　The　lift　doesn't　even　e　down　this　far　。。。　why　they're　doing　it　down　there　I　。。。〃
　　　
　　　They　reached　the　bottom　of　the　steps　and　ran　along　yet　another　corridor；　which　bore　a　great　resemblance　to　the　one　that　led　to　Snape's　dungeon　at　Hogwarts；　with　rough　stone　walls　and　torches　in　brackets。　The　door