jkrowling.hp&theorderofphenix-第88部分

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te　teeth。
　　　'Blimey！'　said　Ron；　also　staring　at　the　man。
　　　'Oh；　my　goodness；'　said　Hermione　suddenly；　sounding　breathless。　'Professor　Lockhart！'
　　　
　　　Their　ex…Defence　Against　the　Dark　Arts　teacher　pushed　open　the　doors　and　moved　towards　them；　wearing　a　long　lilac　dressing　gown。
　　　'Well；　hello　there！'　he　said。　'I　expect　you'd　like　my　autograph；　would　you？'
　　　
　　　'Hasn't　changed　much；　has　he？'　Harry　muttered　to　Ginny；　who　grinned。
　　　'Er　…　how　are　you；　Professor？'　said　Ron；　sounding　slightly　guilty。　It　had　been　Ron's　malfunctioning　wand　that　had　damaged　Professor　Lockhart's　memory　so　badly　that　he　had　landed　in　St　Mungo's　in　the　first　place；　though　as　Lockhart　had　been　attempting　to　permanently　wipe　Harry　and　Ron's　memories　at　the　time；　Harry's　sympathy　was　limited。
　　　'I'm　very　well　indeed；　thank　you！'　said　Lockhart　exuberantly；　pulling　a　rather　battered　peacock…feather　quill　from　his　pocket。　'Now；　how　many　autographs　would　you　like？　I　can　do　joined…up　writing　now；　you　know！'
　　　
　　　'Er　…　we　don't　want　any　at　the　moment；　thanks；'　said　Ron；　raising　his　eyebrows　at　Harry；　who　asked；　'Professor；　should　you　be　wandering　around　the　corridors？　Shouldn't　you　be　in　a　ward？'
　　　
　　　The　smile　faded　slowly　from　Lockhart's　face。　For　a　few　moments　he　gazed　intently　at　Harry；　then　he　said；　'Haven't　we　met？'
　　　
　　　'Er：　yeah；　we　have；'　said　Harry。　'You　used　to　teach　us　at　Hogwarts；　remember？'
　　　
　　　Teach？'　repeated　Lockhart；　looking　faintly　unsettled。　'Me？　Did　I？'
　　　
　　　And　then　the　smile　reappeared　upon　his　face　so　suddenly　it　was　rather　alarming。
　　　Taught　you　everything　you　know；　I　expect；　did　I？　Well；　how　about　those　autographs；　then？　Shall　we　say　a　round　dozen；　you　can　give　them　to　all　your　little　friends　then　and　nobody　will　be　left　out！'
　　　
　　　But　just　then　a　head　poked　out　of　a　door　at　the　far　end　of　the　corridor　and　a　voice　called；　'Gilderoy；　you　naughty　boy；　where　have　you　wandered　off　to？'
　　　
　　　A　motherly…looking　Healer　wearing　a　tinsel　wreath　in　her　hair　came　bustling　up　the　corridor；　smiling　warmly　at　Harry　and　the　others。
　　　'Oh；　Gilderoy；　you've　got　visitors！　How　lovely；　and　on　Christmas　Day；　too！　Do　you　know；　he　never　gets　visitors；　poor　lamb；　and　I　can't　think　why；　he's　such　a　sweetie；　aren't　you？'
　　　
　　　'We're　doing　autographs！'　Gilderoy　told　the　Healer　with　another　glittering　smile。　They　want　loads　of　them；　won't　take　no　for　an　answer！　I　just　hope　we've　got　enough　photographs！'
　　　
　　　'Listen　to　him；'　said　the　Healer；　taking　Lockhart's　arm　and　beaming　fondly　at　him　as　though　he　were　a　precocious　two…year…old。　'He　was　rather　well　known　a　few　years　ago；　we　very　much　hope　that　this　liking　for　giving　autographs　is　a　sign　that　his　memory　might　be　starting　to　e　back。　Will　you　step　this　way？　He's　in　a　closed　ward；　you　know；　he　must　have　slipped　out　while　I　was　bringing　in　the　Christmas　presents；　the　door's　usually　kept　locked：　not　that　he's　dangerous！　But；'　she　lowered　her　voice　to　a　whisper；　'he's　a　bit　of　a　danger　to　himself；　bless　him：　doesn't　know　who　he　is；　you　see；　wanders　off　and　can't　remember　how　to　get　back：　it　is　nice　of　you　to　have　e　to　see　him。'
　　　
　　　'Er；'　said　Ron；　gesturing　uselessly　at　the　floor　above；　'actually；　we　were　just　…　er　…'
　　　
　　　But　the　Healer　was　smiling　expectantly　at　them；　and　Ron's　feeble　mutter　of　'going　to　have　a　cup　of　tea'　trailed　away　into　nothingness。　They　looked　at　each　other　helplessly；　then　followed　Lockhart　and　his　Healer　along　the　corridor。
　　　'Let's　not　stay　long；'　Ron　said　quietly。
　　　The　Healer　pointed　her　wand　at　the　door　of　the　Janus　Thickey　Ward　and　muttered；　'Alohomora。'　The　door　swung　open　and　she　led　the　way　inside；　keeping　a　firm　grasp　on　Gilderoys　arm　until　she　had　settled　him　into　an　armchair　beside　his　bed。
　　　This　is　our　long…term　residents'　ward；'　she　informed　Harry；　Ron；
　　　
　　　Hermione　and　Ginny　in　a　low　voice。　'For　permanent　spell　damage；　you　know。　Of　course；　with　intensive　remedial　potions　and　charms　and　a　bit　of　luck；　we　can　produce　some　improvement。　Gilderoy　does　seem　to　be　getting　back　some　sense　of　himself；　and　we've　seen　a　real　improvement　in　Mr　Bode；　he　seems　to　be　regaining　the　power　of　speech　very　well；　though　he　isn't　speaking　any　language　we　recognise　yet。　Well；　I　must　finish　giving　out　the　Christmas　presents；　I'll　leave　you　all　to　chat。'
　　　
　　　Harry　looked　around。　The　ward　bore　unmistakeable　signs　of　being　a　permanent　home　to　its　residents。　They　had　many　more　personal　effects　around　their　beds　than　in　Mr　Weasley's　ward；　the　wall　around　Gilderoy's　headboard；　for　instance；　was　papered　with　pictures　of　himself；　all　beaming　toothily　and　waving　at　the　new　arrivals。　He　had　autographed　many　of　them　to　himself　in　disjointed；　childish　writing。　The　moment　he　had　been　deposited　in　his　chair　by　the　Healer；　Gilderoy　pulled　a　fresh　stack　of　photographs　towards　him；　seized　a　quill　and　started　signing　them　all　feverishly。
　　　'You　can　put　them　in　envelopes；'　he　said　to　Ginny；　throwing　the　signed　pictures　into　her　lap　one　by　one　as　he　finished　them。　'I　am　not　forgotten；　you　know；　no；　I　still　receive　a　very　great　deal　of　fan　mail：　Gladys　Gudgeon　writes　weekly：　I　just　wish　I　knew　why　He　paused；　looking　faintly　puzzled；　then　beamed　again　and　returned　to　his　signing　with　renewed　vigour。　'I　suspect　it　is　simply　my　good　looks：'
　　　
　　　A　sallow…skinned；　mournful…looking　wizard　lay　in　the　bed　opposite　staring　at　the　ceiling；　he　was　mumbling　to　himself　and　seemed　quite　unaware　of　anything　around　him。　Two　beds　along　was　a　woman　whose　entire　head　was　covered　in　fur；　Harry　remembered　something　similar　happening　to　Hermione　during　their　second　year；　although　fortunately　the　damage；　in　her　case；　had　not　been　permanent。　At　the　far　end　of　the　ward　flowery　curtains　had　been　drawn　around　two　beds　to　give　the　occupants　and　their　visitors　some　privacy。
　　　'Here　you　are；　Agnes；'　said　the　Healer　brightly　to　the　furry…faced　woman；　handing　her　a　small　pile　of　Christmas　presents。　'See；　not　forgotten；　are　you？　And　your　son's　sent　an　owl　to　say　he's　visiting　tonight；　so　that's　nice；　isn't　it？'
　　　
　　　Agnes　gave　several　loud　barks。
　　　'And　look；　Broderick；　you've　been　sent　a　pot　plant　and　a　lovely　calendar　with　a　different　fancy　Hippogriff　for　each　month；　they'll　brighten　things　up；　won't　they？'　said　the　Healer；　bustling　along　to　the　mumbling　man；　setting　a　rather　ugly　plant　with　long；　swaying　tentacles　on　the　bedside　cabinet　and　fixing　the　calendar　to　the　wall　with　her　wand。　'And　…　oh；　Mrs　Longbottom；　are　you　leaving　already？'
　　　
　　　Harry's　head　span　round。　The　curtains　had　been　drawn　back　from　the　two　beds　at　the　end　of　the　ward　and　two　visitors　were　walking　back　down　the　aisle　between　the　beds：　a　formidable…looking　old　witch　wearing　a　long　green　dress；　a　moth…eaten　fox　fur　and　a　pointed　hat　decorated　with　what　was　unmistakeably　a　stuffed　vulture　and；　trailing　behind　her　looking　thoroughly　depressed　…　Neville。
　　　With　a　sudden　rush　of　understanding；　Harry　realised　who　the　people　in　the　end　beds　must　be。　He　cast　around　wildly　for　some　means　of　distracting　the　others　so　that　Neville　could　leave　the　ward　unnoticed　and　unquestioned；　but　Ron　had　also　looked　up　at　the　sound　of　the　name　'Longbottom'；　and　before　Harry　could　stop　him　had　called　out；　'Neville！'
　　　
　　　Neville　jumped　and　cowered　as　though　a　bullet　had　narrowly　missed　him。
　　　'It's　us；　Neville！'　said　Ron　brightly；　getting　to　his　feet。　'Have　you　seen　…？　Lockhart's　here！　Who've　you　been　visiting？'
　　　
　　　'Friends　of　yours；　Neville；　dear？'　said　Neville's　grandmother　graciously；　bearing　down　upon　them　all。
　　　Neville　looked　as　though　he　would　rather　be　anywhere　in　the　world　but　here。　A　dull　purple　flush　was　creeping　up　his　plump　face　and　he　was　not　making　eye　contact　with　any　of　them。
　　　'Ah；　yes；'　said　his　grandmother；　looking　closely　at　Harry　and　sticking　out　a　shrivelled；　clawlike　hand　for　him　to　shake。　'Yes；　yes；　I　know　who　you　are；　of　course。　Neville　speaks　most　highly　of　you。'
　　　
　　　'Er　…　thanks；'　said　Harry；　shaking　hands。　Neville　did　not　look　at　him；　but　surveyed　his　own　feet；　the　colour　deepening　in　his　face　all　the　while。
　　　'And　you　two　are　clearly　Weasleys；'　Mrs　Longbottom　continued；　proffering　her　hand　regally　to　Ron　and　Ginny　in　turn。　'Yes；　I　know　your　parents　…　not　well；　of　course　…　but　fine　people；　fine　people：　and　you　must　be　Hermione　Granger？'
　　　
　　　Hermione　looked　rather　startled　that　Mrs　Longbottom　knew　her　name；　but　shook　hands　all　the　same。
　　　'Yes；　Neville's　told　me　all　about　you。　Helped　him　out　of　a　few　sticky　spots；　haven't　you？　He's　a　good　boy；'　she　said；　casting　a　sternly　appraising　look　down　her　rather　bony　nose　at　Neville；　'but　he　hasn't　got　his　father's　talent；　I'm　afraid　to　say。'　And　she　jerked　her　head　in　the　direction　of　the　two　beds　at　the　end　of　the　ward；　so　that　the　stuffed　vulture　on　her　hat　trembled　alarmingly。
　　　'What？'　said　Ron；　looking　amazed。　（Harry　wanted　to　stamp　on　Ron's　foot；　but　that　sort　of　thing　is　much　harder　to　bring　off　unnoticed　when　you're　wearing　jeans　rather　than　robes。）　'Is　that　your　dad　down　the　end；　Neville？'
　　　
　　　'What's　this？'　said　Mrs　Longbottom　sharply。　'Haven't　you　told　your　friends　about　your　parents；　Neville？'
　　　
　　　Neville　took　a　deep　breath；　looked　up　at　the　ceiling　and　shook　his　head。　Harry　could　not　remember　ever　feeling　sorrier　for　anyone；　but　he　could　not　think　of　any　way　of　helping　Neville　out　of　the　situation。
　　　'Well；　it's　nothing　to　be　ashamed　of！'　said　Mrs　Longbottom　angrily。　'You　should　be　proud；　Neville；　proudl　They　didn't　give　their　health　and　their　sanity　so　their　only　son　would　be　ashamed　of　them；　you　know！'
　　　
　　　'I'm　not　ashamed；'　said　Neville；　very　faintly；　still　looking　anywhere　but　at　Harry　and　the　others。　Ron　was　now　standing　on　tiptoe　to　look　over　at　the　inhabitants　of　the　two　beds。
　　　'Well；　you've　got　a　funny　way　of　showing　it！'　said　Mrs　Longbottom。　'My　son　and　his　wife；'　she　said；　turning　haughtily　to　Harry；　Ron；　Hermione　and　Ginny；　'were　tortured　into　insanity　by　You…Know…Who's　followers。'
　　　
　　　Hermione　and　Ginny　both　clapped　their　hands　over　their　mouths。　Ron　stopped　craning　his　neck　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　Neville's　parents　and　looked　mortified。
　　　They　were　Aurors；　you　know；　and　very　well　respected　within　the　wizarding　munity'　Mrs　Longbottom　went　on。　'Highly　gifted；　the　pair