jkrowling.harrypotterandgf-第84节

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ldn't　breathe；　he　needed　oxygen；　he　had　to　keep　going；　he　could　not　stop…
　　　And　then　he　felt　his　head　break　the　surface　of　the　lake；　wonderful；　cold；　clear　air　was　making　his　wet　face　sting；　he　gulped　it　down；　feeling　as　though　he　had　never　breathed　properly　before；　and；　panting；　pulled　Ron　and　the　little　girl　up　with　him。　All　around　him；　wild；　green…haired　heads　were　emerging　out　of　the　water　with　him；　but　they　were　smiling　at　him。
　　　The　crowd　in　the　stands　was　making　a　great　deal　of　noise；　shouting　and　screaming；　they　all　seemed　to　be　on　their　feet；　Harry　had　the　impression　they　thought　that　Ron　and　the　little　girl　might　be　dead；　but　they　were　wrong。。。　both　of　them　had　opened　their　eyes；　the　girl　looked　scared　and　confused；　but　Ron　merely　expelled　a　great　spout　of　water；　blinked　in　the　bright　light；　turned　to　Harry；　and　said；　〃Wet；　this；　isn't　it？〃　Then　he　spotted　Fleur's　sister。　〃What　did　you　bring　her　for？〃
　　　〃Fleur　didn't　turn　up；　I　couldn't　leave　her；〃　Harry　panted。
　　　〃Harry；　you　prat；〃　said　Ron；　〃you　didn't　take　that　song　thing　seriously；　did　you？　Dumbledore　wouldn't　have　let　any　of　us　drown！〃
　　　〃The　song　said…〃
　　　〃It　was　only　to　make　sure　you　got　back　inside　the　time　limit！〃　said　Ron。　〃I　hope　you　didn't　waste　time　down　there　acting　the　hero！〃
　　　Harry　felt　both　stupid　and　annoyed。　It　was　all　very　well　for　Ron；　he'd　been　asleep；　he　hadn't　felt　how　eerie　it　was　down　in　the　lake；　surrounded　by　spear…carrying　merpeople　who'd　looked　more　than　capable　of　murder。
　　　〃C'mon；〃　Harry　said　shortly；　〃help　me　with　her；　I　don't　think　she　can　swim　very　well。〃
　　　They　pulled　Fleur's　sister　through　the　water；　back　toward　the　bank　where　the　judges　stood　watching；　twenty　merpeople　acpanying　them　like　a　guard　of　honor；　singing　their　horrible　screechy　songs。
　　　Harry　could　see　Madam　Pomfrey　fussing　over　Hermione；　Krum；　Cedric；　and　Cho；　all　of　whom　were　wrapped　in　thick　blankets。
　　　Dumbledore　and　Ludo　Bagman　stood　beaming　at　Harry　and　Ron　from　the　bank　as　they　swam　nearer；　but　Percy；　who　looked　very　white　and　somehow　much　younger　than　usual；　came　splashing　out　to　meet　them。　Meanwhile　Madame　Maxime　was　trying　to　restrain　Fleur　Delacour；　who　was　quite　hysterical；　fighting　tooth　and　nail　to　return　to　the　water。
　　　〃Gabrielle！　Gabrielle！　Is　she　alive？　Is　she　'urt？〃
　　　〃She's　fine！〃　Harry　tried　to　tell　her；　but　he　was　so　exhausted　he　could　hardly　talk；　let　alone　shout。
　　　Percy　seized　Ron　and　was　dragging　him　back　to　the　bank　（〃Gerroff；　Percy；　I'm　all　right！〃）；　Dumbledore　and　Bagman　were　pulling　Harry　upright；　Fleur　had　broken　free　of　Madame　Maxime　and　was　hugging　her　sister。
　　　〃It　was　ze　grindylows。。。　zey　attacked　me　。。。oh　Gabrielle；　I　thought。。。　I　thought。。。〃
　　　〃e　here；　you；〃　said　Madam　Pomfrey。　She　seized　Harry　and　pulled　him　over　to　Hermione　and　the　others；　wrapped　him　so　tightly　in　a　blanket　that　he　felt　as　though　he　were　in　a　straitjacket；　and　forced　a　measure　of　very　hot　potion　down　his　throat。　Steam　gushed　out　of　his　ears。
　　　〃Harry；　well　done！〃　Hermione　cried。　〃You　did　it；　you　found　out　how　all　by　yourself！〃
　　　〃Well…〃　said　Harry。　He　would　have　told　her　about　Dobby；　but　he　had　just　noticed　Karkaroff　watching　him。　He　was　the　only　judge　who　had　not　left　the　table；　the　only　judge　not　showing　signs　of　pleasure　and　relief　that　Harry；　Ron；　and　Fleur's　sister　had　got　back　safely。　〃Yeah；　that's　right；〃　said　Harry；　raising　his　voice　slightly　so　that　Karkaroff　could　hear　him。
　　　〃You　haff　a　water　beetle　in　your　hair；　Herm…own…ninny；〃　said　Krum。　Harry　had　the　impression　that　Krum　was　drawing　her　attention　back　onto　himself；　perhaps　to　remind　her　that　he　had　just　rescued　her　from　the　lake；　but　Hermione　brushed　away　the　beetle　impatiently　and　said；　〃You're　well　outside　the　time　limit；　though；　Harry。。。　Did　it　take　you　ages　to　find　us？〃
　　　〃No　。。。I　found　you　okay。。。〃
　　　Harry's　feeling　of　stupidity　was　growing。　Now　he　was　out　of　the　water；　it　seemed　perfectly　clear　that　Dumbledores　safety　precautions　wouldn't　have　permitted　the　death　of　a　hostage　just　because　their　champion　hadn't　turned　up。　Why　hadn't　he　just　grabbed　Ron　and　gone？　He　would　have　been　first　back。。。　Cedric　and　Krum　hadn't　wasted　time　worrying　about　anyone　else；　they　hadn't　taken　the　mersong　seriously。。。
　　　Dumbledore　was　crouching　at　the　water's　edge；　deep　in　conversation　with　what　seemed　to　be　the　chief　merperson；　a　particularly　wild　and　ferocious…looking　female。　He　was　making　the　same　sort　of　screechy　noises　that　the　merpeople　made　when　they　were　above　water；　clearly；　Dumbledore　could　speak　Mermish。　Finally　he　straightened　up；　turned　to　his　fellow　judges；　and　said；　〃A　conference　before　we　give　the　marks；　I　think。〃
　　　The　judges　went　into　a　huddle。　Madam　Pomfrey　had　gone　to　rescue　Ron　from　Percy's　clutches；　she　led　him　over　to　Harry　and　the　others；　gave　him　a　blanket　and　some　Pepperup　Potion；　then　went　to　fetch　Fleur　and　her　sister。　Fleur　had　many　cuts　on　her　face　and　arms　and　her　robes　were　torn；　but　she　didn't　seem　to　care；　nor　would　she　allow　Madam　Pomfrey　to　clean　them。
　　　〃Look　after　Gabrielle；〃　she　told　her；　and　then　she　turned　to　Harry。　〃You　saved　'er；〃　she　said　breathlessly。　〃Even　though　she　was　not　your　'ostage。〃
　　　〃Yeah；〃　said　Harry；　who　was　now　heartily　wishing　he'd　left　all　three　girls　tied　to　the　statue。
　　　Fleur　bent　down；　kissed　Harry　twice　on　each　cheek　（he　felt　his　face　burn　and　wouldn't　have　been　surprised　if　steam　was　ing　out　of　his　ears　again）；　then　said　to　Ron；　〃And　you　too…you　'elped…〃
　　　〃Yeah；〃　said　Ron；　looking　extremely　hopeful；　〃yeah；　a　bit…〃
　　　Fleur　swooped　down　on　him　too　and　kissed　him。　Hermione　looked　simply　furious；　but　just　then；　Ludo　Bagman's　magically　magnified　voice　boomed　out　beside　them；　making　them　all　jump；　and　causing　the　crowd　in　the　stands　to　go　very　quiet。
　　　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　we　have　reached　our　decision。　Merchieftainess　Murcus　has　told　us　exactly　what　happened　at　the　bottom　of　the　lake；　and　we　have　therefore　decided　to　award　marks　out　of　fifty　for　each　of　the　champions；　as　follows。。。
　　　〃Fleur　Delacour；　though　she　demonstrated　excellent　use　of　the　Bubble…Head　Charm；　was　attacked　by　grindylows　as　she　approached　her　goal；　and　failed　to　retrieve　her　hostage。　We　award　her　twenty…five　points。〃
　　　Applause　from　the　stands。
　　　〃I　deserved　zero；〃　said　Fleur　throatily；　shaking　her　magnificent　head。
　　　〃Cedric　Diggory；　who　also　used　the　Bubble…Head　Charm；　was　first　to　return　with　his　hostage；　though　he　returned　one　minute　outside　the　time　limit　of　an　hour。〃　Enormous　cheers　from　the　Hufflepuffs　in　the　crowd；　Harry　saw　Cho　give　Cedric　a　glowing　look。　〃We　therefore　award　him　forty…seven　points。〃
　　　Harrys　heart　sank。　If　Cedric　had　been　outside　the　time　limit；　he　most　certainly　had　been。
　　　〃Viktor　Krum　used　an　inplete　form　of　Transfiguration；　which　was　nevertheless　effective；　and　was　second　to　return　with　his　hostage。　We　award　him　forty　points。〃
　　　Karkaroff　clapped　particularly　hard；　looking　very　superior。
　　　〃Harry　Potter　used　gillyweed　to　great　effect；〃　Bagman　continued。　〃He　returned　last；　and　well　outside　the　time　limit　of　an　hour。　However；　the　Merchieftainess　informs　us　that　Mr。　Potter　was　first　to　reach　the　hostages；　and　that　the　delay　in　his　return　was　due　to　his　determination　to　return　all　hostages　to　safety；　not　merely　his　own。〃
　　　Ron　and　Hermione　both　gave　Harry　half…exasperated；　half…miserating　looks。
　　　〃Most　of　the　judges；〃　and　here；　Bagman　gave　Karkaroff　a　very　nasty　look；　〃feel　that　this　shows　moral　fiber　and　merits　full　marks。　However。。。　Mr。　Potter's　score　is　forty…five　points。〃
　　　Harry's　stomach　leapt…he　was　now　tying　for　first　place　with　Cedric。　Ron　and　Hermione；　caught　by　surprise；　stared　at　Harry；　then　laughed　and　started　applauding　hard　with　the　rest　of　the　crowd。
　　　〃There　you　go。　Harry！〃　Ron　shouted　over　the　noise。　〃You　weren't　being　thick　after　all…you　were　showing　moral　fiber！〃
　　　Fleur　was　clapping　very　hard　too；　but　Krum　didn't　look　happy　at　all。　He　attempted　to　engage　Hermione　in　conversation　again；　but　she　was　too　busy　cheering　Harry　to　listen。
　　　〃The　third　and　final　task　will　take　place　at　dusk　on　the　twenty…fourth　of　June；〃　continued　Bagman。　〃The　champions　will　be　notified　of　what　is　ing　precisely　one　month　beforehand。　Thank　you　all　for　your　support　of　the　champions。〃
　　　It　was　over。　Harry　thought　dazedly；　as　Madam　Pomfrey　began　herding　the　champions　and　hostages　back　to　the　castle　to　get　into　dry　clothes　。。。it　was　over；　he　had　got　through　。。。he　didn't　have　to　worry　about　anything　now　until　June　the　twenty…fourth。。。
　　　Next　time　he　was　in　Hogsmeade；　Harry　decided　as　he　walked　back　up　the　stone　steps　into　the　castle；　he　was　going　to　buy　Dobby　a　pair　of　socks　for　every　day　of　the　year。
　　　
　　　
　　　CHAPTER　TWENTY…SEVEN
　　　PADFOOT　RETURNS
　　　
　　　One　of　the　best　things　about　the　aftermath　of　the　second　task　was　that　everybody　was　very　keen　to　hear　details　of　what　had　happened　down　in　the　lake；　which　meant　that　Ron　was　getting　to　share　Harry's　limelight　for　once。　Harry　noticed　that　Ron's　version　of　events　changed　subtly　with　every　retelling。　At　first；　he　gave　what　seemed　to　be　the　truth；　it　tallied　with　Hermione's　story；　anyway…Dumbledore　had　put　all　the　hostages　into　a　bewitched　sleep　in　Professor　McGonagall's　office；　first　assuring　them　that　they　would　be　quite　safe；　and