jkrowling.harrypotterandgf-第67节

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　　　〃I　can't；〃　said　Ginny；　and　she　went　scarlet　too。　〃I'm　going　with…with　Neville。　He　asked　me　when　Hermione　said　no；　and　I　thought。。。　well。。。　I'm　not　going　to　be　able　to　go　otherwise；　I'm　not　in　fourth　year。〃　She　looked　extremely　miserable。　〃I　think　I'll　go　and　have　dinner；〃　she　said；　and　she　got　up　and　walked　off　to　the　portrait　hole；　her　head　bowed。
　　　Ron　goggled　at　Harry。
　　　〃What's　got　into　them？〃　he　demanded。
　　　But　Harry　had　just　seen　Parvati　and　Lavender　e　in　through　the　portrait　hole。　The　time　had　e　for　drastic　action。
　　　〃Wait　here；〃　he　said　to　Ron；　and　he　stood　up；　walked　straight　up　to　Parvati；　and　said；　〃Parvati？　Will　you　go　to　the　ball　with　me？〃
　　　Parvati　went　into　a　fit　of　giggles。　Harry　waited　for　them　to　subside；　his　fingers　crossed　in　the　pocket　of　his　robes。
　　　〃Yes；　all　right　then；〃　she　said　finally；　blushing　furiously。
　　　〃Thanks；〃　said　Harry；　in　relief。　〃Lavender…will　you　go　with　Ron？〃
　　　〃She's　going　with　Seamus；〃　said　Parvati；　and　the　pair　of　them　giggled　harder　than　ever。
　　　Harry　sighed。
　　　〃Can't　you　think　of　anyone　who'd　go　with　Ron？〃　he　said；　lowering　his　voice　so　that　Ron　wouldn't　hear。
　　　〃What　about　Hermione　Granger？〃　said　Parvati。
　　　〃She's　going　with　someone　else。〃
　　　Parvati　looked　astonished。
　　　〃Ooooh…who？〃　she　said　keenly。
　　　Harry　shrugged。　〃No　idea；〃　he　said。　〃So　what　about　Ron？〃
　　　〃Well。。。〃　said　Parvati　slowly；　〃I　suppose　my　sister　might。。。　Padma；　you　know　。。。in　Ravenclaw。　I'll　ask　her　if　you　like。〃
　　　〃Yeah；　that　would　be　great；〃　said　Harry。　〃Let　me　know；　will　you？〃
　　　And　he　went　back　over　to　Ron；　feeling　that　this　ball　was　a　lot　more　trouble　than　it　was　worth；　and　hoping　very　much　that　Padma　Patil's　nose　was　dead　center。
　　　
　　　
　　　CHAPTER　TWENTY…THREE
　　　THE　YULE　BALL
　　　
　　　Despite　the　very　heavy　load　of　homework　that　the　fourth　years　had　been　given　for　the　holidays。　Harry　was　in　no　mood　to　work　when　term　ended；　and　spent　the　week　leading　up　to　Christmas　enjoying　himself　as　fully　as　possible　along　with　everyone　else。　Gryffindor　Tower　was　hardly　less　crowded　now　than　during　term…time；　it　seemed　to　have　shrunk　slightly　too；　as　its　inhabitants　were　being　so　much　rowdier　than　usual。　Fred　and　George　had　had　a　great　success　with　their　Canary　Creams；　and　for　the　first　couple　of　days　of　the　holidays；　people　kept　bursting　into　feather　all　over　the　place。　Before　long；　however；　all　the　Gryffindors　had　learned　to　treat　food　anybody　else　offered　them　with　extreme　caution；　in　case　it　had　a　Canary　Cream　concealed　in　the　center；　and　George　confided　to　Harry　that　he　and　Fred　were　now　working　on　developing　something　else。　Harry　made　a　mental　note　never　to　accept　so　much　as　a　crisp　from　Fred　and　George　in　future。　He　still　hadn't　forgotten　Dudley　and　the　Ton…Tongue　Toffee。
　　　Snow　was　falling　thickly　upon　the　castle　and　its　grounds　now。　The　pale　blue　Beauxbatons　carriage　looked　like　a　large；　chilly；　frosted　pumpkin　next　to　the　iced　gingerbread　house　that　was　Hagrid's　cabin；　while　the　Durmstrang　ship's　portholes　were　glazed　with　ice；　the　rigging　white　with　frost。　The　house…elves　down　in　the　kitchen　were　outdoing　themselves　with　a　series　of　rich；　warming　stews　and　savory　puddings；　and　only　Fleur　Delacour　seemed　to　be　able　to　find　anything　to　plain　about。
　　　〃It　is　too　'eavy；　all　zis　'Ogwarts　food；〃　they　heard　her　saying　grumpily　as　they　left　the　Great　Hall　behind　her　one　evening　（Ron　skulking　behind　Harry；　keen　not　to　be　spotted　by　Fleur）。　〃I　will　not　fit　into　my　dress　robes！〃
　　　〃Oooh　there's　a　tragedy；〃　Hermione　snapped　as　Fleur　went　out　into　the　entrance　hall。　〃She　really　thinks　a　lot　of　herself；　that　one；　doesn't　she？〃
　　　〃Hermione…who　are　you　going　to　the　ball　with？〃　said　Ron。
　　　He　kept　springing　this　question　on　her；　hoping　to　startle　her　into　a　response　by　asking　it　when　she　least　expected　it。　However；　Hermione　merely　frowned　and　said；　〃I'm　not　telling　you；　you'll　just　make　fun　of　me。〃
　　　〃You're　joking；　Weasley！〃　said　Malfoy；　behind　them。　〃You're　not　telling　me　someone's　asked　that　to　the　ball？　Not　the　long…molared　Mudblood？〃；
　　　Harry　and　Ron　both　whipped　around；　but　Hermione　said　loudly；　waving　to　somebody　over　Malfoys　shoulder；　〃Hello；　Professor　Moody！〃
　　　Malfoy　went　pale　and　jumped　backward；　looking　wildly　around　for　Moody；　but　he　was　still　up　at　the　staff　table；　finishing　his　stew。
　　　〃Twitchy　little　ferret；　aren't　you；　Malfoy？〃　said　Hermione　scathingly；　and　she；　Harry；　and　Ron　went　up　the　marble　staircase　laughing　heartily。
　　　〃Hermione；〃　said　Ron；　looking　sideways　at　her；　suddenly　frowning；　〃your　teeth　。。。〃
　　　〃What　about　them？〃　she　said。
　　　〃Well；　they're　different。。。　I've　just　noticed。。。〃
　　　〃Of　course　they　are…did　you　expect　me　to　keep　those　fangs　Malfoy　gave　me？〃
　　　〃No；　I　mean；　they're　different　to　how　they　were　before　he　put　that　hex　on　you。。。　They're　all。。。　straight　and…and　normal…sized。〃
　　　Hermione　suddenly　smiled　very　mischievously；　and　Harry　noticed　it　too：　It　was　a　very　different　smile　from　the　one　he　remembered。
　　　〃Well。。。　when　I　went　up　to　Madam　Pomfrey　to　get　them　shrunk；　she　held　up　a　mirror　and　told　me　to　stop　her　when　they　were　back　to　how　they　normally　were；〃　she　said。　〃And　I　just。。。　let　her　carry　on　a　bit。〃　She　smiled　even　more　widely。　〃Mum　and　Dad　won't　be　too　pleased。　I've　been　trying　to　persuade　them　to　let　me　shrink　them　for　ages；　but　they　wanted　me　to　carry　on　with　my　braces。　You　know；　they're　dentists；　they　just　don't　think　teeth　and　magic　should…look！　Pigwidgeons　back！〃
　　　Ron's　tiny　owl　was　twittering　madly　on　the　top　of　the　icicle…laden　banisters；　a　scroll　of　parchment　tied　to　his　leg。　People　passing　him　were　pointing　and　laughing；　and　a　group　of　third…year　girls　paused　and　said；　〃Oh　look　at　the　weeny　owl！　Isn't　he　cute？〃
　　　Stupid　little　feathery　git！〃　Ron　hissed；　hurrying　up　the　stairs　and　snatching　up　Pigwidgeon。　〃You　bring　letters　to　the　addressee！　You　don't　hang　around　showing　off！〃
　　　Pigwidgeon　hooted　happily；　his　head　protruding　over　Ron's　fist。　The　third…year　girls　all　looked　very　shocked。
　　　〃Clear　off！〃　Ron　snapped　at　them；　waving　the　fist　holding　Pigwidgeon；　who　hooted　more　happily　than　ever　as　he　soared　through　the　air。　〃Here…take　it；　Harry；〃　Ron　added　in　an　undertone　as　the　third…year　girls　scuttled　away　looking　scandalized。　He　pulled　Sirius's　reply　off　Pigwidgeons　leg。　Harry　pocketed　it；　and　they　hurried　back　to　Gryffindor　Tower　to　read　it。
　　　Everyone　in　the　mon　room　was　much　too　busy　in　letting　off　more　holiday　steam　to　observe　what　anyone　else　was　up　to。　Ron；　Harry；　and　Hermione　sat　apart　from　everyone　else　by　a　dark　window　that　was　gradually　filling　up　with　snow；　and　Harry　read　out：
　　　
　　　Dear　Harry；
　　　Congratulations　on　getting　past　the　Horntail。　Whoever　put　your　name　in　that　goblet　shouldn't　be　feeling　too　happy　right　now！　I　was　going　to　suggest　a　Conjunctivitus　Curse；　as　a　dragon's　eyes　are　its　weakest　point…〃That's　what　Krum　did！〃　Hermione　whispered…but　your　way　was　better；　I'm　impressed。
　　　Don't　get　placent；　though。　Harry。　You've　only　done　one　task；　whoever　put　you　in　for　the　tournament's　got　plenty　more　opportunity　if　they're　trying　to　hurt　you。　Keep　your　eyes　open　…particularly　when　the　person　we　discussed　is　around　and　concentrate　on　keeping　yourself　out　of　trouble。
　　　Keep　in　touch；　I　still　want　to　hear　about　anything　unusual。
　　　Sirius
　　　
　　　〃He　sounds　exactly　like　Moody；〃　said　Harry　quietly；　tucking　the　letter　away　again　inside　his　robes。　〃'Constant　vigilance！'　You'd　think　I　walk　around　with　my　eyes　shut；　banging　off　the　walls。。。〃
　　　〃But　he's　right；　Harry；〃　said　Hermione；　〃you　have　still　got　two　tasks　to　do。　You　really　ought　to　have　a　look　at　that　egg；　you　know；　and　start　working　out　what　it　means。。。〃
　　　〃Hermione；　he's　got　ages！〃　snapped　Ron。　〃Want　a　game　of　chess；　Harry？〃
　　　〃Yeah；　okay；〃　said　Harry。　Then；　spotting　the　look　on　Hermione's　face；　he　said；　〃e　on；　how'm　I　supposed　to　concentrate　with　all　this　noise　going　on？　I　won't　even　be　able　to　hear　the　egg　over　this　lot。〃
　　　〃Oh　I　suppose　not；〃　she　sighed；　and　she　sat　down　to　watch　their　chess　match；　which　culminated　in　an　exciting　checkmate　of　Ron's；　involving　a　couple　of　recklessly　brave　pawns　and　a　very　violent　bishop。
　　　Harry　awoke　very　suddenly　on　Christmas　Day。　Wondering　what　had　caused　his　abrupt　return　to　consciousness；　he　opened　his　eyes；　and　saw　something　with　very　large；　round；　green　eyes　staring　back　at　him　in　the　darkness；　so　close　they　were　almost　nose　to　nose。
　　　〃Dobby！〃　Harry　yelled；　scrambling　away　from　the　elf　so　fast　he　almost　fell　out　of　bed。　〃Don't　do　that！〃
　　　〃Dobby　is　sorry；　sir！〃　squeaked　Dobby　anxiously；　jumping　backward　with　his　long　fingers　over　his　mouth。　〃Dobby　is　only　wanting　to　wish　Harry　Potter　'Merry　Christmas'　and　bring　him　a　present；　Sir！　Harry　Potter　did　say　Dobby　could　e　and　see　him　sometimes；　sir！〃
　　　It's　okay；〃　said　Harry；　still　breathing　rather　faster　than　usual；　while　his　heart　rate　returned　to　normal。　〃Just…just　prod　me　or　something　in　future；　all　right；　don't　bend　over　me　like　that。。。〃
　　　Harry　pulled　back　the　curtains　around　his　four…poster；　took　his　glasses　from　his　bedside　table；　and　put　them　on。　His　yell　had　awoken　Ron；　Seamus；　Dean；　and　Neville。　All　of　them　were　peering　through　the　gaps　in　their　own　hangings；　heavy…eyed　and　tousle…haired。
　　　〃Someone　attacking　you；　Ha