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第118节

jkrowling.hp&theorderofphenix-第118节

小说: jkrowling.hp&theorderofphenix 字数: 每页4000字

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   'I think you'll find you're wrong there; Dolores;' said Dumbledore quietly; peering at her over the half…moon spectacles perched halfway down his crooked nose。
   Harry stared at him。 He could not see how Dumbledore was going to talk him out of this one; if Willy Widdershins had indeed heard every word he had said in the Hog's Head there was simply no escaping it。
   'Oho!' said Fudge; bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet again。 'Yes; do let's hear the latest cock…and…bull story designed to pull Potter out of trouble! Go on; then; Dumbledore; go on …
   
   Willy Widdershins was lying; was he? Or was it Potters identical twin in the Hog's Head that day? Or is there the usual simple explanation involving a reversal of time; a dead man ing back to life and a couple of invisible Dementors?'
   
   Percy Weasley let out a hearty laugh。
   'Oh; very good; Minister; very good!'
   
   Harry could have kicked him。 Then he saw; to his astonishment; that Dumbledore was smiling gently; too。
   'Cornelius; I do not deny … and nor; I am sure; does Harry … …that he was in the Hog's Head that day; nor that he was trying to recruit students to a Defence Against the Dark Arts group。 I am merely pointing out that Dolores is quite wrong to suggest that such a group was; at that time; illegal。 If you remember; the Ministry Decree banning all student societies was not put into effect until two days after Harry's Hogsmeade meeting; so he was not breaking any rules at all in the Hog's Head。'
   
   Percy looked as though he had been struck in the face by something very heavy。 Fudge remained motionless in mid…bounce; his mouth hanging open。
   Umbridge recovered first。:
   
   'That's all very fine; Headmaster;' she said; smiling sweetly; 'but we are now nearly six months on from the introduction of Educational Decree Number Twenty…four。 If the first meeting was not illegal; all those that have happened since most certainly are。'
   
   'Well;' said Dumbledore; surveying her with polite interest over the top of his interlocked fingers; 'they certainly would be; if they had continued after the Decree came into effect。 Do you have any evidence that any such meetings continued?'
   
   As Dumbledore spoke; Harry heard a rustle behind him and rather thought Kingsley whispered something。 He could have sworn; too; that he felt something brush against his side; a gentle something like a draught or bird wings; but looking down he saw nothing there。
   'Evidence?' repeated Umbridge; with that horrible wide toad…like smile。 'Have you not been listening; Dumbledore? Why do you think Miss Edgebe is here?'
   
   'Oh; can she tell us about six months' worth of meetings?' said
   
   Dumbledore; raising his eyebrows。 'I was under the impression that she was merely reporting a meeting tonight。'
   
   'Miss Edgebe;' said Umbridge at once; 'tell us how long these meetings have been going on; dear。 You can simply nod or shake your head; I'm sure that won't make the spots worse。 Have they been happening regularly over the last six months?'
   
   Harry felt a horrible plummeting in his stomach。 This was it; they had hit a dead end of solid evidence that not even Dumbledore would be able to shift aside。
   'Just nod or shake your head; dear;' Umbridge said coaxingly to Marietta; 'e on; now; that won't re…activate the jinx。'
   
   Everyone in the room was gazing at the top of Marietta's face。 Only her eyes were visible between the pulled…up robes and her curly fringe。 Perhaps it was a trick of the firelight; but her eyes looked oddly blank。 And then … to Harry's utter amazement …Marietta shook her head。
   Umbridge looked quickly at Fudge; then back at Marietta。
   'I don't think you understood the question; did you; dear? I'm asking whether you've been going to these meetings for the past six months? You have; haven't you?'
   
   Again; Marietta shook her head。
   'What do you mean by shaking your head; dear?' said Umbridge in a testy voice。
   'I would have thought her meaning was quite clear;' said Professor McGonagall harshly; 'there have been no secret meetings for the past six months。 Is that correct; Miss Edgebe?'
   
   Marietta nodded。
   'But there was a meeting tonight!' said Umbridge furiously。 'There was a meeting; Miss Edgebe; you told me about it; in the Room of Requirement! And Potter was the leader; was he not; Potter organised it; Potter … why are you shaking your head; girl?'
   
   'Well; usually when a person shakes their head;' said McGonagall coldly; 'they mean 〃no〃。 So unless Miss Edgebe is using a form of sign…language as yet unknown to humans …'
   
   Professor Umbridge seized Marietta; pulled her round to face her and began shaking her very hard。 A split second later Dumbledore was on his feet; his wand raised; Kingsley started forwards and
   
   Umbridge leapt back from Marietta; waving her hands in the air as though they had been burned。
   'I cannot allow you to manhandle my students; Dolores;' said Dumbledore and; for the first time; he looked angry。
   'You want to calm yourself; Madam Umbridge;' said Kingsley; in his deep; slow voice。 'You don't want to get yourself into trouble; now。'
   
   'No;' said Umbridge breathlessly; glancing up at the towering figure of Kingsley。 'I mean; yes … you're right; Shacklebolt … I … I forgot myself。'
   
   Marietta was standing exactly where Umbridge had released her。 She seemed neither perturbed by Umbridge's sudden attack; nor relieved by her release; she was still clutching her robe up to her oddly blank eyes and staring straight ahead of her。
   A sudden suspicion; connected to Kingsley's whisper and the thing he had felt shoot past him; sprang into Harry's mind。
   'Dolores;' said Fudge; with the air of trying to settle something once and for all; 'the meeting tonight … the one we know definitely happened …'
   
   'Yes;' said Umbridge; pulling herself together; 'yes: well; Miss Edgebe tipped me off and I proceeded at once to the seventh floor; acpanied by certain trustworthy students; so as to catch those in the meeting red…handed。 It appears that they were forewarned of my arrival; however; because when we reached the seventh floor they were running in every direction。 It does not matter; however。 I have all their names here; Miss Parkinson ran into the Room of Requirement for me to see if they had left anything behind。 We needed evidence and the room provided。'
   
   And to Harry's horror; she withdrew from her pocket the list of names that had been pinned upon the Room of Requirement's wall and handed it to Fudge。
   The moment I saw Potter's name on the list; I knew what we were dealing with;' she said softly。
   'Excellent;' said Fudge; a smile spreading across his face; 'excellent; Dolores。 And: by thunder:'
   
   He looked up at Dumbledore; who was still standing beside Marietta; his wand held loosely in his hand。
   'See what they've named themselves?' said Fudge quietly。 'Dumbledore's Army。'
   
   Dumbledore reached out and took the piece of parchment from Fudge。 He gazed at the heading scribbled by Hermione months before and for a moment seemed unable to speak。 Then he looked up; smiling。
   'Well; the game is up;' he said simply。 'Would you like a written confession from me; Cornelius … or will a statement before these witnesses suffice?'
   
   Harry saw McGonagall and Kingsley look at each other。 There was fear in both faces。 He did not understand what was going on; and nor; apparently; did Fudge。
   'Statement?' said Fudge slowly。 'What … I don't …?'
   
   'Dumbledore's Army; Cornelius;' said Dumbledore; still smiling as he waved the list of names before Fudge's face。 'Not Potter's Army。 Dumbledore's Army。'
   
   'But … but …'
   
   Understanding blazed suddenly in Fudges face。 He took a horrified step backwards; yelped; and jumped out of the fire again。
   'You?' he whispered; stamping again on his smouldering cloak。
   That's right;' said Dumbledore pleasantly。
   'You organised this?'
   
   'I did;' said Dumbledore。
   'You recruited these students for … for your army?'
   
   Tonight was supposed to be the first meeting;' said Dumbledore; nodding。 'Merely to see whether they would be interested in joining me。 I see now that it was a mistake to invite Miss Edgebe; of course。'
   
   Marietta nodded。 Fudge looked from her to Dumbledore; his chest swelling。
   Then you have been plotting against me!' he yelled。
   That's right;' said Dumbledore cheerfully。
   'NO!' shouted Harry。
   Kingsley flashed a look of warning at him; McGonagall widened her eyes threateningly; but it had suddenly dawned on Harry what Dumbledore was about to do; and he could not let it happen。
   'No … Professor Dumbledore …!'
   
   'Be quiet; Harry; or I am afraid you will have to leave my office;' said Dumbledore calmly。
   'Yes; shut up; Potter!' barked Fudge; who was still ogling Dumbledore with a kind of horrified delight。 'Well; well; well … I came here tonight expecting to expel Potter and instead …'
   
   'Instead you get to arrest me;' said Dumbledore; smiling。 'It's like losing a Knut and finding a Galleon; isn't it?'
   
   'Weasley!' cried Fudge; now positively quivering with delig

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