jkrowling.hp&theorderofphenix-第76部分

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mountain　of　homework　had　reached　an　alarming　height　again；　so　they　remained　grudgingly　in　the　mon　room；　trying　to　ignore　the　gleeful　shouts　drifting　up　from　the　grounds　outside；　where　students　were　enjoying　themselves　skating　on　the　frozen　lake；　tobogganing　and；　worst　of　all；　bewitching　snowballs　to　zoom　up　to　Gryffindor　Tower　and　rap　hard　on　the　windows。
　　　'Oi！'　bellowed　Ron；　finally　losing　patience　and　sticking　his　head　out　of　the　window；　'I　am　a　prefect　and　if　one　more　snowball　hits　this　window　…　OUCH！'
　　　
　　　He　withdrew　his　head　sharply；　his　face　covered　in　snow。
　　　'It's　Fred　and　George；'　he　said　bitterly；　slamming　the　window　behind　him。　'Gits：'
　　　
　　　Hermione　returned　from　Hagrid's　just　before　lunch；　shivering　slightly；　her　robes　damp　to　the　knees。
　　　'So？'　said　Ron；　looking　up　when　she　entered。　'Got　all　his　lessons　planned　for　him？'
　　　
　　　'Well；　I　tried；'　she　said　dully；　sinking　into　a　chair　beside　Harry。　She　pulled　out　her　wand　and　gave　it　a　plicated　little　wave　so　that　hot　air　streamed　out　of　the　tip；　she　then　pointed　this　at　her　robes；　which　began　to　steam　as　they　dried　out。　'He　wasn't　even　there　when　I　arrived；　I　was　knocking　for　at　least　half　an　hour。　And　then　he　came　stumping　out　of　the　Forest　…'
　　　
　　　Harry　groaned。　The　Forbidden　Forest　was　teeming　with　the　kind　of　creatures　most　likely　to　get　Hagrid　the　sack。　'What's　he　keeping　in　there？　Did　he　say？'　he　asked。
　　　'No；'　said　Hermione　miserably。　'He　says　he　wants　them　to　be　a　surprise。　I　tried　to　explain　about　Umbridge；　but　he　just　doesn't　get　it。　He　kept　saying　nobody　in　their　right　mind　would　rather　study　Knarls　than　Chimaeras　…　oh；　I　don't　think　he's　got　a　Chimaera；'　she　added　at　the　appalled　look　on　Harry　and　Ron's　faces；　'but　that's　not　for　lack　of　trying；　from　what　he　said　about　how　hard　it　is　to　get　eggs。　I　don't　know　how　many　times　I　told　him　he'd　be　better　off　following　Grubbly…Plank's　plan；　I　honestly　don't　think　he　listened　to　half　of　what　I　said。　He's　in　a　bit　of　a　funny　mood；　you　know。　He　still　won't　say　how　he　got　all　those　injuries。'
　　　
　　　Hagrid's　reappearance　at　the　staff　table　at　breakfast　next　day　was　not　greeted　by　enthusiasm　from　all　students。　Some；　like　Fred；　George　and　Lee；　roared　with　delight　and　sprinted　up　the　aisle　between　the　Gryffindor　and　Hufflepuff　tables　to　wring　Hagrid's　enormous　hand；　others；　like　Parvati　and　Lavender；　exchanged　gloomy　looks　and　shook　their　heads。　Harry　knew　that　many　of　them　preferred　Professor　Grubbly…Plank's　lessons；　and　the　worst　of　it　was　that　a　very　small；　unbiased　part　of　him　knew　that　they　had　good　reason：　Grubbly…Plank's　idea　of　an　interesting　class　was　not　one　where　there　was　a　risk　that　somebody　might　have　their　head　ripped　off。
　　　It　was　with　a　certain　amount　of　apprehension　that　Harry；　Ron　and　Hermione　headed　down　to　Hagrid's　on　Tuesday；　heavily　muffled　against　the　cold。　Harry　was　worried；　not　only　about　what　Hagrid　might　have　decided　to　teach　them；　but　also　about　how　the　rest　of　the　class；　particularly　Malfoy　and　his　cronies；　would　behave　if　Umbridge　was　watching　them。
　　　However；　the　High　Inquisitor　was　nowhere　to　be　seen　as　they　struggled　through　the　snow　towards　Hagrid；　who　stood　waiting　for　them　on　the　edge　of　the　Forest。　He　did　not　present　a　reassuring　sight；　the　bruises　that　had　been　purple　on　Saturday　night　were　now　tinged　with　green　and　yellow　and　some　of　his　cuts　still　seemed　to　be　bleeding。　Harry　could　not　understand　this：　had　Hagrid　perhaps　been　attacked　by　some　creature　whose　venom　prevented　the　wounds　it　inflicted　from　healing？　As　though　to　plete　the　ominous　picture；　Hagrid　was　carrying　what　looked　like　half　a　dead　cow　over　his　shoulder。
　　　'We're　workin'　in　here　today！'　Hagrid　called　happily　to　the　approaching　students；　jerking　his　head　back　at　the　dark　trees　behind　him。　'Bit　more　sheltered！　Anyway；　they　prefer　the　dark。'
　　　
　　　'What　prefers　the　dark？'　Harry　heard　Malfoy　say　sharply　to　Crabbe　and　Goyle；　a　trace　of　panic　in　his　voice。　'What　did　he　say　prefers　the　dark　…　did　you　hear？'
　　　
　　　Harry　remembered　the　only　other　occasion　on　which　Malfoy　had　entered　the　Forest　before　now；　he　had　not　been　very　brave　then；　either。　He　smiled　to　himself；　after　the　Quidditch　match　anything　that　caused　Malfoy　disfort　was　all　right　with　him。
　　　'Ready？'　said　Hagrid　cheerfully；　looking　around　at　the　class。　'Right；　well；　I've　bin　savin'　a　trip　inter　the　Forest　fer　yer　fifth　year。　Thought　we'd　go　an'　see　these　creatures　in　their　natural　habitat。　Now；　what　we're　studyin'　today　is　pretty　rare；　I　reckon　I'm　probably　the　on'y　person　in　Britain　who's　managed　ter　train　'em。'
　　　
　　　'And　you're　sure　they're　trained；　are　you？'　said　Malfoy；　the　panic　in　his　voice　even　more　pronounced。　'Only　it　wouldn't　be　the　first　time　you'd　brought　wild　stuff　to　class；　would　it？'
　　　
　　　The　Slytherins　murmured　agreement　and　a　few　Gryffindors　looked　as　though　they　thought　Malfoy　had　a　fair　point；　too。
　　　'Course　they're　trained；'　said　Hagrid；　scowling　and　hoisting　the　dead　cow　a　little　higher　on　his　shoulder。
　　　'So　what　happened　to　your　face；　then？'　demanded　Malfoy。
　　　'Mind　yer　own　business！'　said　Hagrid；　angrily。　'Now；　if　yeh've　finished　askin'　stupid　questions；　follow　me！'
　　　
　　　He　turned　and　strode　straight　into　the　Forest。　Nobody　seemed　much　disposed　to　follow。　Harry　glanced　at　Ron　and　Hermione；　who　sighed　but　nodded；　and　the　three　of　them　set　off　after　Hagrid；　leading　the　rest　of　the　class。
　　　They　walked　for　about　ten　minutes　until　they　reached　a　place　where　the　trees　stood　so　closely　together　that　it　was　as　dark　as　twilight　and　there　was　no　snow　at　all　on　the　ground。　With　a　grunt；　Hagrid　deposited　his　half　a　cow　on　the　ground；　stepped　back　and　turned　to　face　his　class；　most　of　whom　were　creeping　from　tree　to　tree　towards　him；　peering　around　nervously　as　though　expecting　to　be　set　upon　at　any　moment。
　　　'Gather　roun'；　gather　roun'；'　Hagrid　encouraged。　'Now；　they'll　be　attracted　by　the　smell　o'　the　meat　but　I'm　goin'　ter　give　'em　a　call　anyway；　'cause　they'll　like　ter　know　it's　me。'
　　　
　　　He　turned；　shook　his　shaggy　head　to　get　the　hair　out　of　his　face　and　gave　an　odd；　shrieking　cry　that　echoed　through　the　dark　trees　like　the　call　of　some　monstrous　bird。　Nobody　laughed：　most　of　them　looked　too　scared　to　make　a　sound。
　　　Hagrid　gave　the　shrieking　cry　again。　A　minute　passed　in　which　the　class　continued　to　peer　nervously　over　their　shoulders　and　around　trees　for　a　first　glimpse　of　whatever　it　was　that　was　ing。　And　then；　as　Hagrid　shook　his　hair　back　for　a　third　time　and　expanded　his　enormous　chest；　Harry　nudged　Ron　and　pointed　into　the　black　space　between　two　gnarled　yew　trees。
　　　A　pair　of　blank；　white；　shining　eyes　were　growing　larger　through　the　gloom　and　a　moment　later　the　dragonish　face；　neck　and　then　skeletal　body　of　a　great；　black；　winged　horse　emerged　from　the　darkness。　It　surveyed　the　class　for　a　few　seconds；　swishing　its　long　black　tail；　then　bowed　its　head　and　began　to　tear　flesh　from　the　dead　cow　with　its　pointed　fangs。
　　　A　great　wave　of　relief　broke　over　Harry。　Here　at　last　was　proof　that　he　had　not　imagined　these　creatures；　that　they　were　real：　Hagrid　knew　about　them　too。　He　looked　eagerly　at　Ron；　but　Ron　was　still　staring　around　into　the　trees　and　after　a　few　seconds　he　whispered；　'Why　doesn't　Hagrid　call　again？'
　　　
　　　Most　of　the　rest　of　the　class　were　wearing　expressions　as　confused　and　nervously　expectant　as　Ron's　and　were　still　gazing　everywhere　but　at　the　horse　standing　feet　from　them。　There　were　only　two　other　people　who　seemed　to　be　able　to　see　them：　a　stringy　Slytherin　boy　standing　just　behind　Goyle　was　watching　the　horse　eating　with　an　expression　of　great　distaste　on　his　face；　and　Neville；　whose　eyes　were　following　the　swishing　progress　of　the　long　black　tail。
　　　'Oh；　an'　here　es　another　one！'　said　Hagrid　proudly；　as　a　second　black　horse　appeared　out　of　the　dark　trees；　folded　its　leathery　wings　closer　to　its　body　and　dipped　its　head　to　gorge　on　the　meat。　'Now：　put　yer　hands　up；　who　can　see　'em？'
　　　
　　　Immensely　pleased　to　feel　that　he　was　at　last　going　to　understand　the　mystery　of　these　horses；　Harry　raised　his　hand。　Hagrid　nodded　at　him。
　　　'Yeah：　yeah；　I　knew　you'd　be　able　ter；　Harry；'　he　said　seriously。　'An'　you　too；　Neville；　eh？　An'　…'
　　　
　　　'Excuse　me；'　said　Malfoy　in　a　sneering　voice；　'but　what　exactly　are　we　supposed　to　be　seeing？'
　　　
　　　For　an　answer；　Hagrid　pointed　at　the　cow　carcass　on　the　ground。　The　whole　class　stared　at　it　for　a　few　seconds；　then　several　people　gasped　and　Parvati　squealed。　Harry　understood　why：　bits　of　flesh　stripping　themselves　away　from　the　bones　and　vanishing　into　thin　air　had　to　look　very　odd　indeed。
　　　'What's　doing　it？'　Parvati　demanded　in　a　terrified　voice；　retreating　behind　the　nearest　tree。　'What's　eating　it？'
　　　
　　　Thestrals；'　said　Hagrid　proudly　and　Hermione　gave　a　soft　'Oh！'　of　prehension　at　Harry's　shoulder。　'Hogwarts　has　got　a　whole　herd　of　'em　in　here。　Now；　who　knows　…？'
　　　
　　　'But　they're　really；　really　unlucky！'　interrupted　Parvati；　looking　alarmed。　They're　supposed　to　bring　all　sorts　of　horrible　misfortune　on　people　who　see　them。　Professor　Trelawney　told　me　once　…'
　　　
　　　'No；　no；　no；'　said　Hagrid；　chuckling；　'tha's　jus'　superstition；　that　is；　they　aren'　unlucky；　they're　dead　clever　an'　useful！　Course；　this　lot　don'　get　a　lot　o'　work；　it's　mainly　jus'　pullin'　the　school　carriages　unless　Dumbledore's　takin'　a　long　journey　an'　don'　want　ter　Apparate　…　an'　here's　another　couple；　look　…'
　　　
　　　Two　more　horses　came　quietly　out　of　the　trees；　one　of　them　passing　very　close　。to　Parvati；　who　shivered　and　pressed　herself　closer　to　the　tree；　saying；　'I　think　I　felt　something；　I　think　it's　near　me！'
　　　
　　　'Don'　worry；　it　won'　hurt　yen；'　said　Hagrid　patiently。　'Righ'；　now；　who　can　tell　me　why　some　o'　yeh　can　see　'em　an'　some　can't？'
　　　
　　　Hermione　raised　her　hand。
　　　'Go　on　then；'　said　Hagrid；　beaming　at　her。
　　　The　only　people　who　can　see　Thestrals；'　she　said；　'are　people　who　have　seen　death。'
　　　
　　　Tha's　exactly　right；'　said　Hagrid　solemnly；　'ten　points　ter　Gryffindor。　Now；　Thestrals　…'
　　　
　　　'Hem；　hem。'
　　　
　　　Professor　Umbridge　had　arrived。　She　was　standing　a　few　feet　away　from　Harry；　wearing　her　green　hat　and　cloak　again；　her　clipboard　at　the　ready。　Hagrid；　who　had　never　heard　Umbridge's　f