jkrowling.harrypotterandgf-第71节

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t　of　Fire〃…he　glanced　at　Harry…〃was　a　little　unfortunate；　of　course；　but　it　seems　to　have　gone　very　smoothly　since；　don't　you　think？〃
　　　〃Oh　yes；〃　Bagman　said　cheerfully；　〃it's　all　been　enormous　fun。　How's　old　Barty　doing？　Shame　he　couldn't　e。〃
　　　〃Oh　I'm　sure　Mr。　Crouch　will　be　up　and　about　in　no　time；〃　said　Percy　importantly；　〃but　in　the　meantime；　I'm　more　than　willing　to　take　up　the　slack。　Of　course；　it's　not　all　attending　balls〃…he　laughed　airily…〃oh　no；　I've　had　to　deal　with　all　sorts　of　things　that　have　cropped　up　in　his　absence…you　heard　Ali　Bashir　was　caught　smuggling　a　consignment　of　flying　carpets　into　the　country？　And　then　we've　been　trying　to　persuade　the　Transylvanians　to　sign　the　International　Ban　on　Dueling。　I've　got　a　meeting　with　their　Head　of　Magical　Cooperation　in　the　new　year…〃
　　　〃Let's　go　for　a　walk；〃　Ron　muttered　to　Harry；　〃get　away　from　Percy。。。〃
　　　Pretending　they　wanted　more　drinks。　Harry　and　Ron　left　the　table；　edged　around　the　dance　floor；　and　slipped　out　into　the　entrance　hall。　The　front　doors　stood　open；　and　the　fluttering　fairy　lights　in　the　rose　garden　winked　and　twinkled　as　they　went　down　the　front　steps；　where　they　found　themselves　surrounded　by　bushes；　winding；　ornamental　paths；　and　large　stone　statues。　Harry　could　hear　splashing　water；　which　sounded　like　a　fountain。　Here　and　there；　people　were　sitting　on　carved　benches。　He　and　Ron　set　off　along　one　of　the　winding　paths　through　the　rosebushes；　but　they　had　gone　only　a　short　way　when　they　heard　an　unpleasantly　familiar　voice。
　　　〃。。。don't　see　what　there　is　to　fuss　about；　Igor。〃
　　　〃Severus；　you　cannot　pretend　this　isn't　happening！〃　Karkaroffs　voice　sounded　anxious　and　hushed；　as　though　keen　not　to　be　overheard。　〃It's　been　getting　clearer　and　clearer　for　months。　I　am　being　seriously　concerned；　I　can't　deny　it　〃
　　　〃Then　flee；〃　said　Snapes　voice　curtly。　〃Flee…I　will　make　your　excuses。　I；　however；　am　remaining　at　Hogwarts。〃
　　　Snape　and　Karkaroff　came　around　the　corner。　Snape　had　his　wand　out　and　was　blasting　rosebushes　apart；　his　expression　most　ill…natured。　Squeals　issued　from　many　of　the　bushes；　and　dark　shapes　emerged　from　them。
　　　〃Ten　points　from　Ravenclaw；　Fawcett！〃　Snape　snarled　as　a　girl　ran　past　him。　〃And　ten　points　from　Hufflepuff　too；　Stebbins！〃　as　a　boy　went　rushing　after　her。　〃And　what　are　you　two　doing？〃　he　added；　catching　sight　of　Harry　and　Ron　on　the　path　ahead。　Karkaroff；　Harry　saw；　looked　slightly　disposed　to　see　them　standing　there。　His　hand　went　nervously　to　his　goatee；　and　he　began　winding　it　around　his　finger。
　　　〃We　re　walking；〃　Ron　told　Snape　shortly。　〃Not　against　the　law；　is　it？〃
　　　〃Keep　walking；　then！〃　Snape　snarled；　and　he　brushed　past　them；　his　long　black　cloak　billowing　out　behind　him。　Karkaroff　hurried　away　after　Snape。　Harry　and　Ron　continued　down　the　path。
　　　〃What's　got　Karkaroff　all　worried？〃　Ron　muttered。
　　　〃And　since　when　have　he　and　Snape　been　on　first…name　terms？〃said　Harry　slowly。
　　　They　had　reached　a　large　stone　reindeer　now；　over　which　they　could　see　the　sparkling　jets　of　a　tall　fountain。　The　shadowy　outlines　of　two　enormous　people　were　visible　on　a　stone　bench；　watching　the　water　in　the　moonlight。　And　then　Harry　heard　Hagrid　speak。
　　　〃Momen'　I　saw　yeh；　I　knew；〃　he　was　saying；　in　an　oddly　husky　voice。
　　　Harry　and　Ron　froze。　This　didn't　sound　like　the　sort　of　scene　they　ought　to　walk　in　on；　somehow。。。　Harry　looked　around；　back　up　the　path；　and　saw　Fleur　Delacour　and　Roger　Davies　standing　half…concealed　in　a　rosebush　nearby。　He　tapped　Ron　on　the　shoulder　and　jerked　his　head　toward　them；　meaning　that　they　could　easily　sneak　off　that　way　without　being　noticed　（Fleur　and　Davies　looked　very　busy　to　Harry）；　but　Ron；　eyes　widening　in　horror　at　the　sight　of　Fleur；　shook　his　head　vigorously；　and　pulled　Harry　deeper　into　the　shadows　behind　the　reindeer。
　　　〃What　did　you　know；　'Agrid？〃　said　Madame　Maxime；　a　purr　in　her　low　voice。
　　　Harry　definitely　didn't　want　to　listen　to　this；　he　knew　Hagrid　would　hate　to　be　overheard　in　a　situation　like　this　（he　certainly　would　have）…if　it　had　been　possible　he　would　have　put　his　fingers　in　his　ears　and　hummed　loudly；　but　that　wasn't　really　an　option。　Instead　he　tried　to　interest　himself　in　a　beetle　crawling　along　the　stone　reindeer's　back；　but　the　beetle　just　wasn't　interesting　enough　to　block　out　Hagrid's　next　words。
　　　〃I　jus'　knew。。。　knew　you　were　like　me。。。　Was　it　yer　mother　or　yer　father？〃
　　　〃I…I　don't　know　what　you　mean；　'Agrid。。。〃
　　　〃It　was　my　mother；〃　said　Hagrid　quietly。　〃She　was　one　o'　the　las'　ones　in　Britain。　'Course；　I　can'　remember　her　too　well。。。　she　left；　see。　When　I　was　abou'　three。　She　wasn'　really　the　maternal　sort。　Well。。。　it's　not　in　their　natures；　is　it？　Dunno　what　happened　to　her。。。　might　be　dead　fer　all　I　know。。。〃
　　　Madame　Maxime　didn't　say　anything。　And　Harry；　in　spite　of　himself；　took　his　eyes　off　the　beetle　and　looked　over　the　top　of　the　reindeer's　antlers；　listening。。。　He　had　never　heard　Hagrid　talk　about　his　childhood　before。
　　　〃Me　dad　was　broken…hearted　when　she　wen'。　Tiny　little　bloke；　my　dad　was。　By　the　time　I　was　six　I　could　lift　him　up　an'　put　him　on　top　o'　the　dresser　if　he　annoyed　me。　Used　ter　make　him　laugh。。。〃　Hagrid's　deep　voice　broke。　Madame　Maxime　was　listening；　motionless；　apparently　staring　at　the　silvery　fountain。　〃Dad　raised　me。。。　but　he　died；　o'　course；　jus'　after　I　started　school。　Sorta　had　ter　make　me　own　way　after　that。　Dumbledore　was　a　real　help；　mind。　Very　kind　ter　me；　he　was。。。〃
　　　Hagrid　pulled　out　a　large　spotted　silk　handkerchief　and　blew　his　nose　heavily。
　　　〃So　。。。anyway。。。　enough　abou'　me。　What　about　you？　Which　side　you　got　it　on？〃
　　　But　Madame　Maxime　had　suddenly　got　to　her　feet。
　　　〃It　is　chilly；〃　she　said…but　whatever　the　weather　was　doing；　it　was　nowhere　near　as　cold　as　her　voice。　〃I　think　I　will　go　in　now。〃
　　　〃Eh？〃　said　Hagrid　blankly。　〃No；　don　go！　I've…I've　never　met　another　one　before！〃
　　　〃Anuzzer　what；　precisely？〃　said　Madame　Maxime；　her　tone　icy。
　　　Harry　could　have　told　Hagrid　it　was　best　not　to　answer；　he　stood　there　in　the　shadows　gritting　his　teeth；　hoping　against　hope　he　wouldn't…but　it　was　no　good。　〃Another　half…giant；　o'　course！〃　said　Hagrid。
　　　〃'Ow　dare　you！〃　shrieked　Madame　Maxime。　Her　voice　exploded　through　the　peaceful　night　air　like　a　foghorn；　behind　him。　Harry　heard　Fleur　and　Roger　fall　out　of　their　rosebush。　〃I　'ave　nevair　been　more　insulted　in　my　life！　'Alf…giant？　Moi？　I　'ave…I　'ave　big　bones！〃
　　　She　stormed　away；　great　multicolored　swarms　of　fairies　rose　into　the　air　as　she　passed；　angrily　pushing　aside　bushes。　Hagrid　was　still　sitting　on　the　bench；　staring　after　her。　It　was　much　too　dark　to　make　out　his　expression。　Then；　after　about　a　minute；　he　stood　up　and　strode　away；　not　back　to　the　castle；　but　off　out　into　the　dark　grounds　in　the　direction　of　his　cabin。
　　　〃C'mon；〃　Harry　said；　very　quietly　to　Ron。　〃Let's　go。。。〃
　　　But　Ron　didn't　move。
　　　〃What's　up？〃　said　Harry；　looking　at　him。
　　　Ron　looked　around　at　Harry；　his　expression　very　serious　indeed。
　　　〃Did　you　know？〃　he　whispered。　〃About　Hagrid　being　half…giant？〃
　　　〃No；〃　Harry　said；　shrugging。　〃So　what？〃
　　　He　knew　immediately；　from　the　look　Ron　was　giving　him；　that　he　was　once　again　revealing　his　ignorance　of　the　wizarding　world。　Brought　up　by　the　Dursleys；　there　were　many　things　that　wizards　took　for　granted　that　were　revelations　to　Harry；　but　these　surprises　had　bee　fewer　with　each　successive　year。　Now；　however；　he　could　tell　that　most　wizards　would　not　have　said　〃So　what？〃　upon　finding　out　that　one　of　their　friends　had　a　giantess　for　a　mother。
　　　〃I'll　explain　inside；〃　said　Ron　quietly；　〃c'mon。。。〃
　　　Fleur　and　Roger　Davies　had　disappeared；　probably　into　a　more　private　clump　of　bushes。　Harry　and　Ron　returned　to　the　Great　Hall。　Parvati　and　Padma　were　now　sitting　at　a　distant　table　with　a　whole　crowd　of　Beauxbatons　boys；　and　Hermione　was　once　more　dancing　with　Krum。　Harry　and　Ron　sat　down　at　a　table　far　removed　from　the　dance　floor。
　　　〃So？〃　Harry　prompted　Ron。　〃What's　the　problem　with　giants？〃
　　　〃Well；　they're。。。　they're。。。〃　Ron　struggled　for　words。　〃。。。　not　very　nice；〃　he　finished　lamely。
　　　〃Who　cares？〃　Harry　said。　〃There's　nothing　wrong　with　Hagrid！〃
　　　〃I　know　there　isn't；　but。。。　blimey；　no　wonder　he　keeps　it　quiet；〃　Ron　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃I　always　thought　he'd　got　in　the　way　of　a　bad　Engorgement　Charm　when　he　was　a　kid　or　something。　Didn't　like　to　mention　it。。。〃
　　　〃But　what's　it　matter　if　his　mother　was　a　giantess？〃　said　Harry。
　　　〃Well。。。　no　one　who　knows　him　will　care；　'cos　they'll　know　he's　not　dangerous；〃　said　Ron　slowly。　〃But。。。　Harry；　they're　just　vicious；　giants。　It's　like　Hagrid　said；　it's　in　their　natures；　they're　like　trolls。。。　they　just　like　killing；　everyone　knows　that。　There　aren't　any　left　in　Britain　now；　though。〃
　　　〃What　happened　to　them？〃
　　　〃Well；　they　were　dying　out　anyway；　and　then　loads　got　themselves　killed　by　Aurors。　There're　supposed　to　be　giants　abroad；　though。。。　They　hide　out　in　mountains　mostly。。。〃
　　　〃I　don't　know　who　Maxime　thinks　she's　kidding；〃　Harry　said；　watching　Madame　Maxime　sitting　alone　at　the　judges'　table；　looking　very　somber。　〃If　Hagrid's　half…giant；　she　definitely　is。　Big　bones。。。　the　only　thing　that's　got　bigger　bones　than　her　is　a　dinosau