jkrowling.hp&theorderofphenix-第69部分

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ing　a　lively　interest　in　the　oute；　for　they；　of　course；　would　be　playing　both　teams　over　the　ing　year；　and　the　Heads　of　House　of　the　peting　teams；　though　they　attempted　to　disguise　it　under　a　decent　pretence　of　sportsmanship；　were　determined　to　see　their　own　side　victorious。　Harry　realised　how　much　Professor　McGonagall　cared　about　beating　Slytherin　when　she　abstained　from　giving　them　homework　in　the　week　leading　up　to　the　match。
　　　'I　think　you've　got　enough　to　be　getting　on　with　at　the　moment；'　she　said　loftily。　Nobody　could　quite　believe　their　ears　until　she　looked　directly　at　Harry　and　Ron　and　said　grimly；　'I've　bee　accustomed　to　seeing　the　Quidditch　Cup　in　my　study；　boys；　and　I　really　don't　want　to　have　to　hand　it　over　to　Professor　Snape；　so　use　the　extra　time　to　practise；　won't　you？'
　　　
　　　Snape　was　no　less　obviously　partisan；　he　had　booked　the　Quidditch　pitch　for　Slytherin　practice　so　often　that　the　Gryffindors　had　difficulty　getting　on　it　to　play。　He　was　also　turning　a　deaf　ear　to　the　many　reports　of　Slytherin　attempts　to　hex　Gryffindor　players　in　the　corridors。　When　Alicia　Spinnet　turned　up　in　the　hospital　wing　with　her　eyebrows　growing　so　thick　and　fast　they　obscured　her　vision　and　obstructed　her　mouth；　Snape　insisted　that　she　must　have　attempted　a　Hair…thickening　Charm　on　herself　and　refused　to　listen　to　the　fourteen　eye…witnesses　who　insisted　they　had　seen　the　Slytherin　Keeper；　Miles　Bletchley；　hit　her　from　behind　with　a　jinx　while　she　worked　in　the　library。
　　　Harry　felt　optimistic　about　Gryffindor's　chances；　they　had；　after　all；　never　lost　to　Malfoy's　team。　Admittedly；　Ron　was　still　not　performing　to　Wood's　standard；　but　he　was　working　extremely　hard　to　improve。　His　greatest　weakness　was　a　tendency　to　lose　confidence　after　he'd　made　a　blunder；　if　he　let　in　one　goal　he　became　flustered　and　was　therefore　likely　to　miss　more。　On　the　other　hand；　Harry　had　seen　Ron　make　some　truly　spectacular　saves　when　he　was　on　form；　during　one　memorable　practice　he　had　hung　one…handed　from　his　broom　and　kicked　the　Quaffle　so　hard　away　from　the　goalhoop　that　it　soared　the　length　of　the　pitch　and　through　the　centre　hoop　at　the　other　end；　the　rest　of　the　team　felt　this　save　pared　favourably　with　one　made　recently　by　Barry　Ryan；　the　Irish　International　Keeper；　against　Poland's　top　Chaser；　Ladislaw　Zamojski。　Even　Fred　had　said　that　Ron　might　yet　make　him　and　George　proud；　and　that　they　were　seriously　considering　admitting　he　was　related　to　them；　something　they　assured　him　they　had　been　trying　to　deny　for　four　years。
　　　The　only　thing　really　worrying　Harry　was　how　much　Ron　was　allowing　the　tactics　of　the　Slytherin　team　to　upset　him　before　they　even　got　on　to　the　pitch。　Harry；　of　course；　had　endured　their　snide　ments　for　over　four　years；　so　whispers　of；　'Hey；　Potty；　I　heard　Warrington's　sworn　to　knock　you　off　your　broom　on　Saturday'；　far　from　chilling　his　blood；　made　him　laugh。　'Warrington's　aim's　so　pathetic　I'd　be　more　worried　if　he　was　aiming　for　the　person　next　to　me；'　he　retorted；　which　made　Ron　and　Hermione　laugh　and　wiped　the　smirk　off　Pansy　Parkinsons　face。
　　　But　Ron　had　never　endured　a　relentless　campaign　of　insults；　jeers　and　intimidation。　When　Slytherins；　some　of　them　seventh…years　and　considerably　larger　than　he　was；　muttered　as　they　passed　in　the　corridors；　'Got　your　bed　booked　in　the　hospital　wing；　Weasley？'　he　didn't　laugh；　but　turned　a　delicate　shade　of　green。　When　Draco　Malfoy　imitated　Ron　dropping　the　Quaffle　（which　he　did　whenever　they　came　within　sight　of　each　other）；　Ron's　ears　glowed　red　and　his　hands　shook　so　badly　that　he　was　likely　to　drop　whatever　he　was　holding　at　the　time；　too。
　　　October　extinguished　itself　in　a　rush　of　howling　winds　and　driving　rain　and　November　arrived；　cold　as　frozen　iron；　with　hard　irosts　every　morning　and　icy　draughts　that　bit　at　exposed　hands　and　faces。　The　skies　and　the　ceiling　of　the　Great　Hall　turned　a　pale；　pearly　grey；　the　mountains　around　Hogwarts　were　snowcapped；　and　the　temperature　in　the　castle　dropped　so　low　that　many　students　wore　their　thick　protective　dragonskin　gloves　in　the　corridors　between　lessons。
　　　The　morning　of　the　match　dawned　bright　and　cold。　When　Harry　awoke　he　looked　round　at　Ron's　bed　and　saw　him　sitting　bolt　upright；　his　arms　around　his　knees；　staring　fixedly　into　space。
　　　'You　all　right？'　said　Harry。
　　　Ron　nodded　but　did　not　speak。　Harry　was　reminded　forcibly　of　the　time　Ron　had　accidentally　put　a　Slug…vomiting　Charm　on　himself；　he　looked　just　as　pale　and　sweaty　as　he　had　done　then；　not　to　mention　as　reluctant　to　open　his　mouth。
　　　'You　just　need　some　breakfast；'　Harry　said　bracingly。　'C'mon。'
　　　
　　　The　Great　Hall　was　filling　up　fast　when　they　arrived；　the　talk　louder　and　the　mood　more　exuberant　than　usual。　As　they　passed　the　Slytherin　table　there　was　an　upsurge　of　noise。　Harry　looked　round　and　saw　that；　in　addition　to　the　usual　green　and　silver　scarves　and　hats；　every　one　of　them　was　wearing　a　silver　badge　in　the　shape　of　what　seemed　to　be　a　crown。　For　some　reason　many　of　them　waved　at　Ron；　laughing　uproariously。　Harry　tried　to　see　what　was　written　on　the　badges　as　he　walked　by；　but　he　was　too　concerned　to　get　Ron　past　their　table　quickly　to　linger　long　enough　to　read　them。
　　　They　received　a　rousing　wele　at　the　Gryffindor　table；　where　everyone　was　wearing　red　and　gold；　but　far　from　raising　Ron's　spirits　the　cheers　seemed　to　sap　the　last　of　his　morale；　he　collapsed　on　to　the　nearest　bench　looking　as　though　he　were　facing　his　final　meal。
　　　'I　must've　been　mental　to　do　this；'　he　said　in　a　croaky　whisper。　'Mental。'
　　　
　　　'Don't　be　thick；'　said　Harry　firmly；　passing　him　a　choice　of　cereals；　'you're　going　to　be　fine。　It's　normal　to　be　nervous。'
　　　
　　　'I'm　rubbish；'　croaked　Ron。　'I'm　lousy。　I　can't　play　to　save　my　life。　What　was　I　thinking？'
　　　
　　　'Get　a　grip；'　said　Harry　sternly。　'Look　at　that　save　you　made　with　your　foot　the　other　day；　even　Fred　and　George　said　it　was　brilliant。'
　　　
　　　Ron　turned　a　tortured　face　to　Harry。
　　　That　was　an　accident；'　he　whispered　miserably。　'I　didn't　mean　to　do　it　…　I　slipped　off　my　broom　when　none　of　you　were　looking　and　when　I　was　trying　to　get　back　on　I　kicked　the　Quaffle　by　accident。'
　　　
　　　'Well；'　said　Harry；　recovering　quickly　from　this　unpleasant　surprise；　'a　few　more　accidents　like　that　and　the　game's　in　the　bag；　isn't　it？'
　　　
　　　Hermione　and　Ginny　sat　down　opposite　them　wearing　red　and　gold　scarves；　gloves　and　rosettes。
　　　'How're　you　feeling？'　Ginny　asked　Ron；　who　was　now　staring　into　the　dregs　of　milk　at　the　bottom　of　his　empty　cereal　bowl　as　though　seriously　considering　attempting　to　drown　himself　in　them。
　　　'He's　just　nervous；'　said　Harry。
　　　'Well；　that's　a　good　sign；　I　never　feel　you　perform　as　well　in　exams　if　you're　not　a　bit　nervous；'　said　Hermione　heartily。
　　　'Hello；'　said　a　vague　and　dreamy　voice　from　behind　them。　Harry　looked　up：　Luna　Lovegood　had　drifted　over　from　the　Ravenclaw　table。　Many　people　were　staring　at　her　and　a　few　were　openly　laughing　and　pointing；　she　had　managed　to　procure　a　hat　shaped　like　a　life…size　lion's　head；　which　was　perched　precariously　on　her　head。
　　　'I'm　supporting　Gryffindor；'　said　Luna；　pointing　unnecessarily　at　her　hat。　'Look　what　it　does：'
　　　
　　　She　reached　up　and　tapped　the　hat　with　her　wand。　It　opened　its　mouth　wide　and　gave　an　extremely　realistic　roar　that　made　everyone　in　the　vicinity　jump。
　　　'It's　good；　isn't　it？'　said　Luna　happily。　'I　wanted　to　have　it　chewing　up　a　serpent　to　represent　Slytherm；　you　know；　but　there　wasn't　time。　Anyway：　good　luck；　Ronald！'
　　　
　　　She　drifted　away。　They　had　not　quite　recovered　from　the　shock　of　Luna's　hat　before　Angelina　came　hurrying　towards　them；　acpanied　by　Katie　and　Alicia；　whose　eyebrows　had　mercifully　been　returned　to　normal　by　Madam　Pomfrey。
　　　'When　you're　ready'　she　said；　'we're　going　to　go　straight　down　to　the　pitch；　check　out　conditions　and　change。'
　　　
　　　'We'll　be　there　in　a　bit；'　Harry　assured　her。　'Ron's　just　got　to　have　some　breakfast。'
　　　
　　　It　became　clear　after　ten　minutes；　however；　that　Ron　was　not　capable　of　eating　anything　more　and　Harry　thought　it　best　to　get　him　down　to　the　changing　rooms。　As　they　rose　from　the　table；　Hermione　got　up；　too；　and　taking　Harry's　arm　she　drew　him　to　one　side。
　　　'Don't　let　Ron　see　what's　on　those　Slytherins'　badges；'　she　whispered　urgently。
　　　Harry　looked　questioningly　at　her；　but　she　shook　her　head　warn…ingly；　Ron　had　just　ambled　over　to　them；　looking　lost　and　desperate。
　　　'Good　luck；　Ron；'　said　Hermione；　standing　on　tiptoe　and　kissing　him　on　the　cheek。　'And　you；　Harry　…'
　　　
　　　Ron　seemed　to　e　to　himself　slightly　as　they　walked　back　across　the　Great　Hall。　He　touched　the　spot　on　his　face　where　Hermione　had　kissed　him；　looking　puzzled；　as　though　he　was　not　quite　sure　what　had　just　happened。　He　seemed　too　distracted　to　notice　much　around　him；　but　Harry　cast　a　curious　glance　at　the　crown…shaped　badges　as　they　passed　the　Slytherin　table；　and　this　time　he　made　out　the　words　etched　on　to　them：
　　　
　　　Weasley　is　our　King
　　　
　　　With　an　unpleasant　feeling　that　this　could　mean　nothing　good；　he　hurried　Ron　across　the　Entrance　Hall；　down　the　stone　steps　and　out　into　the　icy　air。
　　　The　frosty　grass　crunched　under　their　feet　as　they　hurried　down　the　sloping　lawns　towards　the　stadium。　There　was　no　wind　at　all　and　the　sky　was　a　uniform　pearly　white；　which　meant　that　visibility　would　be　good　without　the　drawback　of　direct　sunlight　in　the　eyes。　Harry　pointed　out　these　encouraging　factors　to　Ron　as　they　walked；　but　he　was　not　sure　that　Ron　was　listening。
　　　Angelina　had　changed　already　and　was　talking　to　the　rest　of　the　team　when　they　entered。　Harry　and　Ron　pulled　on　their　robes　（Ron　attempted　to　do　his　up　back…to…front　for　several　minutes　before　Alicia　took　pity　on　him　and　went　to　help）；　then　sat　down　to　listen　to　the　pre…match　talk　while　the　babble　of　voices　outside　grew　steadily　louder　as　the　crowd　came　pouring　out　of　the　castle　towards　the　pitch。
　　　'OK；　I've　only　just　found　out　the　final　line…up　for　Slytherin；'　said　Angelina；　consulting　a　piece　of　parchment。　'Last　year's　Beaters；
　　　
　　　Derrick　and　Bole；　have　left；　but　it　looks　as　though　Montague's　replaced　them　with　the　usual　gorillas；　rather　than　anyone　who　can　fly　particularly　well。　They're