jkrowling.harrypotterandgf-第58节
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d; pretending to think that Harry wanted things thrown at him; started chucking chairs across the room。 Harry and Hermione left in a hurry before the noise attracted Filch; and went back to the Gryffindor mon room; which was now mercifully empty。
At two o'clock in the morning; Harry stood near the fireplace; surrounded by heaps of objects: books; quills; several upturned chairs; an old set of Gobstones; and Neville's toad; Trevor。 Only in the last hour had Harry really got the hang of the Summoning Charm。
〃That's better; Harry; that's loads better;〃 Hermione said; looking exhausted but very pleased。
〃Well; now we know what to do next time I can't manage a spell;〃 Harry said; throwing a rune dictionary back to Hermione; so he could try again; 〃threaten me with a dragon。 Right。。。〃 He raised his wand once more。 〃Accio Dictionary!〃
The heavy book soared out of Hermione's hand; flew across the room; and Harry caught it。
〃Harry; I really think you've got it!〃 said Hermione delightedly。
〃Just as long as it works tomorrow;〃 Harry said。 〃The Firebolt's going to be much farther away than the stuff in here; it's going to be in the castle; and I'm going to be out there on the grounds。。。〃
〃That doesn't matter;〃 said Hermione firmly。〃 Just as long as you're concentrating really; really hard on it; it'll e。 Harry; we'd better get some sleep。。。 you're going to need it。〃
Harry had been focusing so hard on learning the Summoning Charm that evening that some of his blind panic had heft him。 It returned in full measure; however; on the following morning。 The atmosphere in the school was one of great tension and excitement。 Lessons were to stop at midday; giving all the students time to get down to the dragons' enclosure…though of course; they didn't yet know what they would find there。
Harry felt oddly separate from everyone around him; whether they were wishing him good luck or hissing 〃We'll have a box of tissues ready; Potter〃 as he passed。 It was a state of nervousness so advanced that he wondered whether he mightn't just lose his head when they tried to lead him out to his dragon; and start trying to curse everyone in sight。 Time was behaving in a more peculiar fashion than ever; rushing past in great dollops; so that one moment he seemed to be sitting down in his first lesson; History of Magic; and the next; walking into lunch。。。 and then (where had the morning gone? the last of the dragon…free hours?); Professor McGonagall was hurrying over to him in the Great Hall。 Lots of people were watching。
〃Potter; the champions have to e down onto the grounds now。。。 You have to get ready for your first task。〃
〃Okay;〃 said Harry; standing up; his fork falling onto his plate with a clatter。
〃Good luck; Harry;〃 Hermione whispered。 〃You'll be fine!〃
〃Yeah;〃 said Harry in a voice that was most unlike his own。
He heft the Great Hall with Professor McGonagall。 She didn't seem herself either; in fact; she looked nearly as anxious as Hermione。 As she walked him down the stone steps and out into the cold November afternoon; she put her hand on his shoulder。
〃Now; don't panic;〃 she said; 〃just keep a cool head。。。 We've got wizards standing by to control the situation if it gets out of hand。。。 The main thing is just to do your best; and nobody will think any the worse of you。。。 Are you all right?〃
〃Yes;〃 Harry heard himself say。 〃Yes; I'm fine。〃
She was leading him toward the place where the dragons were; around the edge of the forest; but when they approached the clump of trees behind which the enclosure would be clearly visible; Harry saw that a tent had been erected; its entrance facing them; screening the dragons from view。
〃You're to go in here with the other champions;〃 said Professor McGonagall; in a rather shaky sort of voice; 〃and wait for your turn; Potter。 Mr。 Bagman is in there。。。 he'll be telling you the…the procedure。。。 Good luck。〃
〃Thanks;〃 said Harry; in a flat; distant voice。 She left him at the entrance of the tent。 Harry went inside。
Fleur Delacour was sitting in a corner on a how wooden stool。 She didn't look nearly as posed as usual; but rather pale and clammy。 Viktor Krum looked even surlier than usual; which Harry supposed was his way of showing nerves。 Cedric was pacing up and down。 When Harry entered; Cedric gave him a small smile; which Harry returned; feeling the muscles in his face working rather hard; as though they had forgotten how to do it。
〃Harry! Good…o!〃 said Bagman happily; looking around at him。 〃e in; e in; make yourself at home!〃
Bagman looked somehow like a slightly overblown cartoon figure; standing amid all the pale…faced champions。 He was wearing his old Wasp robes again。
〃Well; now we're all here…time to fill you in!〃 said Bagman brightly。 〃When the audience has assembled; I'm going to be offering each of you this bag〃…he held up a small sack of purple silk and shook it at them…〃from which you will each select a small model of the thing you are about to face! There are different…er…varieties; you see。 And I have to tell you something else too。。。 ah; yes。。。 your task is to collect the golden egg!〃
Harry glanced around。 Cedric had nodded once; to show that he understood Bagman's words; and then started pacing around the tent again; he looked slightly green。 Fleur Delacour and Krum hadn't reacted at all。 Perhaps they thought they might be sick if they opened their mouths; that was certainly how Harry felt。 But they; at least; had volunteered for this。。
And in no time at all; hundreds upon hundreds of pairs of feet could be heard passing the tent; their owners talking excitedly; laughing; joking。。。 Harry felt as separate from the crowd as though they were a different species。 And then…it seemed like about a second later to Harry…Bagman was opening the neck of the purple silk sack。
〃Ladies first;〃 he said; offering it to Fleur Delacour。
She put a shaking hand inside the bag and drew out a tiny; perfect model of a dragon…a Welsh Green。 It had the number two around its neck And Harry knew; by the fact that Fleur showed no sign of surprise; but rather a determined resignation; that he had been right: Madame Maxime had told her what was ing。
The same held true for Krum。 He pulled out the scarlet Chinese Fireball。 It had a number three around its neck。 He didn't even blink; just sat back down and stared at the ground。
Cedric put his hand into the bag; and out came the blueish…gray Swedish Short…Snout; the number one tied around its neck。 Knowing what was left; Harry put his hand into the silk bag and pulled out the Hungarian Horntail; and the number four。 It stretched its wings as he looked down at it; and bared its minuscule fangs。
〃Well; there you are!〃 said Bagman。 〃You have each pulled out the dragon you will face; and the numbers refer to the order in which you are to take on the dragons; do you see? Now; I'm going to have to leave you in a moment; because I'm mentating。 Mr。 Diggory; you're first; just go out into the enclosure when you hear a whistle; all right? Now。。。 Harry。。。 could I have a quick word? Outside?〃
〃Er。。。 yes;〃 said Harry blankly; and he got up and went out of the tent with Bagman; who walked him a short distance away; into the trees; and then turned to him with a fatherly expression on his face。
〃Feeling all right; Harry? Anything I can get you?〃
〃What?〃 said Harry。 〃I…no; nothing。〃
〃Got a plan?〃 said Bagman; lowering his voice conspiratorially。 〃Because I don't mind sharing a few pointers; if you'd like them; you know。 I mean;〃 Bagman continued; lowering his voice still further; 〃you're the underdog here; Harry。。。 Anything I can do to help。。。〃
〃No;〃 said Harry so quickly he knew he had sounded rude; 〃no…I…I know what I'm going to do; thanks。〃
〃Nobody would know; Harry;〃 said Bagman; winking at him。
〃No; I'm fine;〃 said Harry; wondering why he kept telling people this; and wondering whether he had ever been less fine。 〃I've got a plan worked out; I…〃
A whistle had blown somewhere。
〃Good lord; I've got to run!〃 said Bagman in alarm; and he hurried off。
Harry walked back to the tent and saw Cedric emerging from it; greener than ever。 Harry tried to wish him luck as he walked past; but all that came out of his mouth was a sort of hoarse grunt。
Harry went back inside to Fleur and Krum。 Seconds hater; they heard the roar of the crowd; which meant Cedric had entered the enclosure and was now face…to…face with the living counterpart of his model。
It was worse than Harry could ever have imagined; sitting there and listening。 The crowd screamed。。。 yelled。。。 gasped like a single many…headed entity; as Cedric did whatever he was doing to get past the Swedish Short…Snout。 Krum was still staring at the ground。 Fleur had now taken to retracing Cedric's steps; around and around the tent。 And Bagman's mentary made everything much; much worse。。。 Horrible pictures formed in Harry's mind as he heard: 〃Oooh; narrow miss there; very narrow〃。。。 〃He's taking risks; this one!〃。。。 〃Clever move…pity it didn't work!〃
And then; after about fifteen minutes; Harry heard the deafening roar that could mean only one thing: Cedric had gotten past his dragon and captured the go