jkrowling.hp&theorderofphenix-第58部分

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　　　And　she　remained　deep　in　thought　all　the　way　into　the　outskirts　of　Hogsmeade。
　　　'Where　are　we　going；　anyway？'　Harry　asked。　The　Three　Broomsticks？'
　　　
　　　'Oh　…　no；'　said　Hermione；　ing　out　of　her　reverie；　'no；　it's　always　packed　and　really　noisy。　I've　told　the　others　to　meet　us　in　the　Hog's　Head；　that　other　pub；　you　know　the　one；　it's　not　on　the　main　road。　I　think　it's　a　bit：　you　know：　dodgy：　but　students　don't　normally　go　in　there；　so　I　don't　think　we'll　be　overheard。'
　　　
　　　They　walked　down　the　main　street　past　Zonko's　Wizarding　Joke　Shop；　where　they　were　not　surprised　to　see　Fred；　George　and　Lee　Jordan；　past　the　post　office；　from　which　owls　issued　at　regular　intervals；　and　turned　up　a　side…street　at　the　top　of　which　stood　a　small　inn。　A　battered　wooden　sign　hung　from　a　rusty　bracket　over　the　door；　with　a　picture　on　it　of　a　wild　boar's　severed　head；　leaking　blood　on　to　the　white　cloth　around　it。　The　sign　creaked　in　the　wind　as　they　approached。　All　three　of　them　hesitated　outside　the　door。
　　　'Well；　e　on；'　said　Hermione；　slightly　nervously。　Harry　led　the　way　inside。
　　　It　was　not　at　all　like　the　Three　Broomsticks；　whose　large　bar　gave　an　impression　of　gleaming　warmth　and　cleanliness。　The　Hog's　Head　bar　prised　one　small；　dingy　and　very　dirty　room　that　smelled　strongly　of　something　that　might　have　been　goats。　The　bay　windows　were　so　encrusted　with　grime　that　very　little　daylight　could　permeate　the　room；　which　was　lit　instead　with　the　stubs　of　candles　sitting　on　rough　wooden　tables。　The　floor　seemed　at　first　glance　to　be　pressed　earth；　though　as　Harry　stepped　on　to　it　he　realised　that　there　was　stone　beneath　what　seemed　to　be　the　accumulated　filth　of　centuries。
　　　Harry　remembered　Hagrid　mentioning　this　pub　in　his　first　year：　'Yeh　get　a　lot　o'　funny　folk　in　the　Hogs　Head'　he　had　said；　explaining　how　he　had　won　a　dragon's　egg　from　a　hooded　stranger　there。　At　the　time　Harry　had　wondered　why　Hagrid　had　not　found　it　odd　that　the　stranger　kept　his　face　hidden　throughout　their　encounter；　now　he　saw　that　keeping　your　face　hidden　was　something　of　a　fashion　in　the　Hog's　Head。　There　was　a　man　at　the　bar　whose　whole　head　was　wrapped　in　dirty　grey　bandages；　though　he　was　still　managing　to　gulp　endless　glasses　of　some　smoking；　fiery　substance　through　a　slit　over　his　mouth；　two　figures　shrouded　in　hoods　sat　at　a　table　in　one　of　the　windows；　Harry　might　have　thought　them　Dementors　if　they　had　not　been　talking　in　strong　Yorkshire　accents；　and　in　a　shadowy　corner　beside　the　fireplace　sat　a　witch　with　a　thick；　black　veil　that　fell　to　her　toes。　They　could　just　see　the　tip　of　her　nose　because　it　caused　the　veil　to　protrude　slightly。
　　　'I　don't　know　about　this；　Hermione；'　Harry　muttered；　as　they　crossed　to　the　bar。　He　was　looking　particularly　at　the　heavily　veiled　witch。　'Has　it　occurred　to　you　Umbridge　might　be　under　that？'
　　　
　　　Hermione　cast　an　appraising　eye　over　the　veiled　figure。
　　　'Umbridge　is　shorter　than　that　woman；'　she　said　quietly。　'And　anyway；　even　if　Umbridge　does　e　in　here　there's　nothing　she　can　do　to　stop　us；　Harry；　because　I've　double…　and　triple…checked　the　school　rules。　We're　not　out　of　bounds；　I　specifically　asked　Professor　Flitwick　whether　students　were　allowed　to　e　in　the　Hog's　Head；　and　he　said　yes；　but　he　advised　me　strongly　to　bring　our　own　glasses。　And　I've　looked　up　everything　I　can　think　of　about　study　groups　and　homework　groups　and　they're　definitely　allowed。　I　just　don't　think　it's　a　good　idea　if　we　parade　what　we're　doing。'
　　　
　　　'No；'　said　Harry　dryly；　'especially　as　it's　not　exactly　a　homework　group　you're　planning；　is　it？'
　　　
　　　The　barman　sidled　towards　them　out　of　a　back　room。　He　was　a　grumpy…looking　old　man　with　a　great　deal　of　long　grey　hair　and　beard。　He　was　tall　and　thin　and　looked　vaguely　familiar　to　Harry。
　　　
　　　
　　　'What？'　he　grunted。
　　　Three　Butterbeers；　please；'　said　Hermione。
　　　The　man　reached　beneath　the　counter　and　pulled　up　three　very　dusty；　very　dirty　bottles；　which　he　slammed　on　the　bar。
　　　'Six　Sickles；'　he　said。
　　　I'll　get　them；'　said　Harry　quickly；　passing　over　the　silver。　The　barman's　eyes　travelled　over　Harry；　resting　for　a　fraction　of　a　second　on　his　scar。　Then　he　turned　away　and　deposited　Harry's　money　in　an　ancient　wooden　till　whose　drawer　slid　open　automatically　to　receive　it。　Harry；　Ron　and　Hermione　retreated　to　the　furthest　table　from　the　bar　and　sat　down；　looking　around。　The　man　in　the　dirty　grey　bandages　rapped　the　counter　with　his　knuckles　and　received　another　smoking　drink　from　the　barman。
　　　'You　know　what？'　Ron　murmured；　looking　over　at　the　bar　with　enthusiasm。　'We　could　order　anything　we　liked　in　here。　I　bet　that　bloke　would　sell　us　anything；　he　wouldn't　care。　I've　always　wanted　to　try　Firewhisky　…'
　　　
　　　'You　…　are　…　a　…　prefect；'　snarled　Hermione。
　　　'Oh；'　said　Ron；　the　smile　fading　from　his　face。　'Yeah：'
　　　
　　　'So；　who　did　you　say　is　supposed　to　be　meeting　us？'　Harry　asked；　wrenching　open　the　rusty　top　of　his　Butterbeer　and　taking　a　swig。
　　　'Just　a　couple　of　people；'　Hermione　repeated；　checking　her　watch　and　looking　anxiously　towards　the　door。　'I　told　them　to　be　here　about　now　and　I'm　sure　they　all　know　where　it　is　…　oh；　look；　this　might　be　them　now。'
　　　
　　　The　door　of　the　pub　had　opened。　A　thick　band　of　dusty　sunlight　split　the　room　in　two　for　a　moment　and　then　vanished；　blocked　by　the　ining　rush　of　a　crowd　of　people。
　　　First　came　Neville　with　Dean　and　Lavender；　who　were　closely　followed　by　Parvati　and　Padma　Patil　with　（Harry's　stomach　did　a　back…flip）　Cho　and　one　of　her　usually…giggling　girlfriends；　then　（on　her　own　and　looking　so　dreamy　she　might　have　walked　in　by　accident）　Luna　Lovegood；　then　Katie　Bell；　Alicia　Spinnet　and　Angelina　Johnson；　Colin　and　Dennis　Creevey；　Ernie　Macmillan；　Justin　Finch…Fletchley；　Hannah　Abbott；　a　Hufflepuff　girl　with　a　long　plait　down　her　back　whose　name　Harry　did　not　know；　three　Ravenclaw　boys　he　was　pretty　sure　were　called　Anthony　Goldstein；　Michael　Corner　and　Terry　Boot；　Ginny；　closely　followed　by　a　tall　skinny　blond　boy　with　an　upturned　nose　whom　Harry　recognised　vaguely　as　being　a　member　of　the　Hufflepuff　Quidditch　team　and；　bringing　up　the　rear；　Fred　and　George　Weasley　with　their　friend　Lee　Jordan；　all　three　of　whom　were　carrying　large　paper　bags　crammed　with　Zonko's　merchandise。
　　　'A　couple　of　people？'　said　Harry　hoarsely　to　Hermione。　'A　couple　of　people？'
　　　
　　　'Yes；　well；　the　idea　seemed　quite　popular；'　said　Hermione　happily　'Ron；　do　you　want　to　pull　up　some　more　chairs？'
　　　
　　　The　barman　had　frozen　in　the　act　of　wiping　out　a　glass　with　a　rag　so　filthy　it　looked　as　though　it　had　never　been　washed。　Possibly；　he　had　never　seen　his　pub　so　full。
　　　'Hi；'　said　Fred；　reaching　the　bar　first　and　counting　his　panions　quickly；　'could　we　have：　twenty…five　Butterbeers；　please？'
　　　
　　　The　barman　glared　at　him　for　a　moment；　then；　throwing　down　his　rag　irritably　as　though　he　had　been　interrupted　in　something　very　important；　he　started　passing　up　dusty　Butterbeers　from　under　the　bar。
　　　'Cheers；'　said　Fred；　handing　them　out。　'Cough　up；　everyone；　I　haven't　got　enough　gold　for　all　of　these：'
　　　
　　　Harry　watched　numbly　as　the　large　chattering　group　took　their　beers　from　Fred　and　rummaged　in　their　robes　to　find　coins。　He　could　not　imagine　what　all　these　people　had　turned　up　for　until　the　horrible　thought　occurred　to　him　that　they　might　be　expecting　some　kind　of　speech；　at　which　he　rounded　on　Hermione。
　　　'What　have　you　been　telling　people？'　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　'What　are　they　expecting？'
　　　
　　　'I've　told　you；　they　just　want　to　hear　what　you've　got　to　say；'　said　Hermione　soothingly；　but　Harry　continued　to　look　at　her　so　furiously　that　she　added　quickly；　'you　don't　have　to　do　anything　yet；　I'll　speak　to　them　first。'
　　　
　　　'Hi；　Harry；'　said　Neville；　beaming　and　taking　a　seat　opposite　him。
　　　Harry　tried　to　smile　back；　but　did　not　speak；　his　mouth　was　exceptionally　dry。　Cho　had　just　smiled　at　him　and　sat　down　on　Ron's　right。　Her　friend；　who　had　curly　reddish…blonde　hair；　did　not　smile；　but　gave　Harry　a　thoroughly　mistrustful　look　which　plainly　told　him　that；　given　her　way；　she　would　not　be　here　at　all。
　　　In　twos　and　threes　the　new　arrivals　settled　around　Harry；　Ron　and　Hermione；　some　looking　rather　excited；　others　curious；　Luna　Lovegood　gazing　dreamily　into　space。　When　everybody　had　pulled　up　a　chair；　the　chatter　died　out。　Every　eye　was　upon　Harry。
　　　'Er；'　said　Hermione；　her　voice　slightly　higher　than　usual　out　of　nerves。　'Well　…　er　…　hi。'
　　　
　　　The　group　focused　its　attention　on　her　instead；　though　eyes　continued　to　dart　back　regularly　to　Harry。
　　　'Well：　erm：　well；　you　know　why　you're　here。　Erm：　well；　Harry　here　had　the　idea　…　I　mean'　（Harry　had　thrown　her　a　sharp　look）　'I　had　the　idea　…　that　it　might　be　good　if　people　who　wanted　to　study　Defence　Against　the　Dark　Arts　…　and　I　mean；　really　study　it；　you　know；　not　the　rubbish　that　Umbridge　is　doing　with　us　…'　（Hermione's　voice　became　suddenly　much　stronger　and　more　confident）　'…　because　nobody　could　call　that　Defence　Against　the　Dark　Arts　…'　（'Hear；　hear；'　said　Anthony　Goldstein；　and　Hermione　looked　heartened）　'…　Well；　I　thought　it　would　be　good　if　we；　well；　took　matters　into　our　own　hands。'
　　　
　　　She　paused；　looked　sideways　at　Harry；　and　went　on；　'And　by　that　I　mean　learning　how　to　defend　ourselves　properly；　not　just　in　theory　but　doing　the　real　spells　…'
　　　
　　　'You　want　to　pass　your　Defence　Against　the　Dark　Arts　OWL　too；　though；　I　bet？'　said　Michael　Corner；　who　was　watching　her　closely。
　　　'Of　course　I　do；'　said　Hermione　at　once。　'But　more　than　that；　I　want　to　be　properly　trained　in　defence　because：　because：〃　she　took　a　great　breath　and　finished；　'because　Lord　Voldemort　is　back。'
　　　
　　　The　reaction　was　immediate　and　predictable。　Cho's　friend　shrieked　and　slopped　Butterbeer　down　herself；　Terry　Boot　gave　a　kind　of　involuntary　twitch；　Padma　Patil　shuddered；　and　Neville　gave　an　odd　yelp　that　he　managed　to　turn　into　a　cough。　All　of　them；　however；　looked　fixedly；　even　eagerly；　at　Harry。
　　　'Well：　that's　the　plan；　anyway'　said　Hermione。　'If　you　want　to　join　us；　we　need　to　decide　how　we're　going　to　…'
　　　
　　　'Where's　the　proof　You…Know…Who's　back？'　said　the　blond　Hufflepuff　player　in　a　rather　aggressive　voice。
　　　'Well；　Dumbledore