jkrowling.harrypotterandgf-第78节

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rect；　law…abiding　Mr。　Crouch　to　be　sneaking　around　somebody　else's　office　this　late　at　night。。。
　　　And　then；　halfway　down　the　staircase；　not　thinking　about　what　he　was　doing；　not　concentrating　on　anything　but　the　peculiar　behavior　of　Mr。　Crouch；　Harrys　leg　suddenly　sank　right　through　the　trick　step　Neville　always　forgot　to　jump。　He　gave　an　ungainly　wobble；　and　the　golden　egg；　still　damp　from　the　bath；　slipped　from　under　his　arm。　He　lurched　forward　to　try　and　catch　it；　but　too　late；　the　egg　fell　down　the　long　staircase　with　a　bang　as　loud　as　a　bass　drum　on　every　step…the　Invisibility　Cloak　slipped…Harry　snatched　at　it；　and　the　Marauder　s　Map　fluttered　out　of　his　hand　and　slid　down　six　stairs；　where；　sunk　in　the　step　to　above　his　knee；　he　couldn't　reach　it。
　　　The　golden　egg　fell　through　the　tapestry　at　the　bottom　of　the　staircase；　burst　open；　and　began　wailing　loudly　in　the　corridor　below。　Harry　pulled　out　his　wand　and　struggled　to　touch　the　Marauder　s　Map；　to　wipe　it　blank；　but　it　was　too　far　away　to　reach…
　　　Pulling　the　cloak　back　over　himself　Harry　straightened　up；　listening　hard　with　his　eyes　screwed　up　with　fear。。。　and；　almost　immediately…
　　　〃PEEVES！〃
　　　It　was　the　unmistakable　hunting　cry　of　Filch　the　caretaker。　Harry　could　hear　his　rapid；　shuffling　footsteps　ing　nearer　and　nearer；　his　wheezy　voice　raised　in　fury。
　　　〃What's　this　racket？　Wake　up　the　whole　castle；　will　you？　I'll　have　you；　Peeves；　I'll　have　you；　you'll。。。　and　what　is　this？〃
　　　Filch's　footsteps　halted；　there　was　a　clink　of　metal　on　metal　and　the　wailing　stopped…Filch　had　picked　up　the　egg　and　closed　it。　Harry　stood　very　still；　one　leg　still　Jammed　tightly　in　the　magical　step；　listening。　Any　moment　now；　Filch　was　going　to　pull　aside　the　tapestry；　expecting　to　see　Peeves。。。　and　there　would　be　no　Peeves　。。。but　if　he　came　up　the　stairs；　he　would　spot　the　Marauder's　Map。。。　and　Invisibility　Cloak　or　not；　the　map　would　show　〃Harry　Potter〃　standing　exactly　where　he　was。
　　　〃Egg？〃　Filch　said　quietly　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs。　〃My　sweet！〃…Mrs。　Norris　was　obviously　with　him…〃This　is　a　Triwizard　clue！　This　belongs　to　a　school　champion！〃
　　　Harry　felt　sick；　his　heart　was　hammering　very　fast…
　　　〃PEEVES！〃　Filch　roared　gleefully。　〃You've　been　stealing！〃
　　　He　ripped　back　the　tapestry　below；　and　Harry　saw　his　horrible；　pouchy　face　and　bulging；　pale　eyes　staring　up　the　dark　and　（to　Filch）　deserted　staircase。
　　　〃Hiding；　are　you？〃　he　said　softly。　〃I'm　ing　to　get　you；　Peeves。。。　You've　gone　and　stolen　a　Triwizard　clue；　Peeves。。。　Dumbledore'll　have　you　out　of　here　for　this；　you　filthy；　pilfering　poltergeist。。。〃
　　　Filch　started　to　climb　the　stairs；　his　scrawny；　dust…colored　cat　at　his　heels。　Mrs。　Morris's　lamp…like　eyes；　so　very　like　her　masters；　were　fixed　directly　upon　Harry。　He　had　had　occasion　before　now　to　wonder　whether　the　Invisibility　Cloak　worked　on　cats。。。　Sick　with　apprehension；　he　watched　Filch　drawing　nearer　and　nearer　in　his　old　flannel　dressing　gown…he　tried　desperately　to　pull　his　trapped　leg　free；　but　it　merely　sank　a　few　more　inches…any　second　now；　Filch　was　going　to　spot　the　map　or　walk　right　into　him…
　　　〃Filch？　Whats　going　on？〃
　　　Filch　stopped　a　few　steps　below　Harry　and　turned。　At　the　foot　of　the　stairs　stood　the　only　person　who　could　make　Harry's　situation　worse：　Snape。　He　was　wearing　a　long　gray　nightshirt　and　he　looked　livid。
　　　〃Its　Peeves；　Professor；〃　Filch　whispered　malevolently。　〃He　threw　this　egg　down　the　stairs。〃
　　　Snape　climbed　up　the　stairs　quickly　and　stopped　beside　Filch。　Harry　gritted　his　teeth；　convinced　his　loudly　thumping　heart　would　give　him　away　at　any　second。。。
　　　〃Peeves？〃　said　Snape　softly；　staring　at　the　egg　in　Filch's　hands。　〃But　Peeves　couldn't　get　into　my　office。。。〃
　　　〃This　egg　was　in　your　office。　Professor？〃
　　　〃Of　course　not；〃　Snape　snapped。　〃I　heard　banging　and　wailing…〃
　　　〃Yes；　Professor；　that　was　the　egg…〃
　　　〃…　I　was　ing　to　investigate…〃
　　　〃Peeves　threw　it。　Professor…〃
　　　〃and　when　I　passed　my　office；　I　saw　that　the　torches　were　lit　and　a　cupboard　door　was　ajar！　Somebody　has　been　searching　it！〃
　　　But　Peeves　couldn't…〃
　　　〃I　know　he　couldn't；　Filch！〃　Snape　snapped　again。　〃I　seal　my　office　with　a　spell　none　but　a　wizard　could　break！〃　Snape　looked　up　the　stairs；　straight　through　Harry；　and　then　down　into　the　corridor　below。　〃I　want　you　to　e　and　help　me　search　for　the　intruder；　Filch。〃
　　　〃I…yes；　Professor…but…〃
　　　Filch　looked　yearningly　up　the　stairs；　right　through　Harry；　who　could　see　that　he　was　very　reluctant　to　forgo　the　chance　of　cornering　Peeves。　Go；　Harry　pleaded　with　him　silently；　go　with　Snape。。。　go。。。　Mrs。　Norris　was　peering　around　Filch's　legs。。。　Harry　had　the　distinct　impression　that　she　could　smell　him。。。　Why　had　he　filled　that　bath　with　so　much　perfumed　foam？
　　　〃The　thing　is；　Professor；〃　said　Filch　plaintively；　〃the　headmaster　will　have　to　listen　to　me　this　time。　Peeves　has　been　stealing　from　a　student；　it　might　be　my　chance　to　get　him　thrown　out　of　the　castle　once　and　for　all…〃
　　　〃Filch；　I　don't　give　a　damn　about　that　wretched　poltergeist；　it's　my　office　that's…〃
　　　Clunk。　Clunk。　Clunk。
　　　Snape　stopped　talking　very　abruptly。　He　and　Filch　both　looked　down　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs。　Harry　saw　Mad…Eye　Moody　limp　into　sight　through　the　narrow　gap　between　their　heads。　Moody　was　wearing　his　old　traveling　cloak　over　his　nightshirt　and　leaning　on　his　staff　as　usual。
　　　〃Pajama　party；　is　it？〃　he　growled　up　the　stairs。
　　　〃Professor　Snape　and　I　heard　noises；　Professor；〃　said　Filch　at　once。　〃Peeves　the　Poltergeist；　throwing　things　around　as　usual…and　then　Professor　Snape　discovered　that　someone　had　broken　into　his　off…〃
　　　〃Shut　up！〃　Snape　hissed　to　Filch。
　　　Moody　took　a　step　closer　to　the　foot　of　the　stairs。　Harry　saw　Moodys　magical　eye　travel　over　Snape；　and　then；　unmistakably；　onto　himself。
　　　Harrys　heart　gave　a　horrible　jolt。　Moody　could　see　through　Invisibility　Cloaks。。。　he　alone　could　see　the　full　strangeness　of　the　scene：
　　　Snape　in　his　nightshirt；　Filch　clutching　the　egg；　and　he；　Harry；　trapped　in　the　stairs　behind　them。　Moody's　lopsided　gash　of　a　mouth　opened　in　surprise。　For　a　few　seconds；　he　and　Harry　stared　straight　into　each　other's　eyes。　Then　Moody　closed　his　mouth　and　turned　his　blue　eye　upon　Snape　again。
　　　〃Did　I　hear　that　correctly；　Snape？〃　he　asked　slowly。　〃Someone　broke　into　your　office？〃
　　　〃It　is　unimportant；〃　said　Snape　coldly。　〃On　the　contrary；〃　growled　Moody；　〃it　is　very　important。　Who'd　want　to　break　into　your　office？〃
　　　〃A　student；　I　daresay；〃　said　Snape。　Harry　could　see　a　vein　flickering　horribly　on　Snape's　greasy　temple。　〃It　has　happened　before。　Potion　ingredients　have　gone　missing　from　my　private　store　cupboard　。。。students　attempting　illicit　mixtures；　no　doubt。。。〃
　　　〃Reckon　they　were　after　potion　ingredients；　eh？〃　said　Moody。　〃Not　hiding　anything　else　in　your　office；　are　you？〃
　　　Harry　saw　the　edge　of　Snapes　sallow　face　turn　a　nasty　brick　color；　the　vein　in　his　temple　pulsing　more　rapidly。
　　　〃You　know　I'm　hiding　nothing；　Moody；〃　he　said　in　a　soft　and　dangerous　voice；　〃as　you've　searched　my　office　pretty　thoroughly　yourself。〃
　　　Moodys　face　twisted　into　a　smile。　〃Auror's　privilege；　Snape。　Dumbledore　told　me　to　keep　an　eye…〃
　　　〃Dumbledore　happens　to　trust　me；〃　said　Snape　through　clenched　teeth。　〃I　refuse　to　believe　that　he　gave　you　orders　to　search　my　office！〃
　　　〃Course　Dumbledore　trusts　you；〃　growled　Moody。　〃Hes　a　trusting　man；　isn't　he？　Believes　in　second　chances。　But　me…I　say　there　are　spots　that　don't　e　off；　Snape。　Spots　that　never　e　off；　d'you　know　what　I　mean？〃
　　　Snape　suddenly　did　something　very　strange。　He　seized　his　left　forearm　convulsively　with　his　right　hand；　as　though　something　on　it　had　hurt　him。
　　　Moody　laughed。　〃Get　back　to　bed；　Snape。〃
　　　〃You　don't　have　the　authority　to　send　me　anywhere！〃　Snape　hissed；　letting　go　of　his　arm　as　though　angry　with　himself。　〃I　have　as　much　right　to　prowl　this　school　after　dark　as　you　do！〃
　　　〃Prowl　away；〃　said　Moody；　but　his　voice　was　full　of　menace。　〃I　look　forward　to　meeting　you　in　a　dark　corridor　some　time。。。　You've　dropped　something；　by　the　way。。。〃
　　　With　a　stab　of　horror。　Harry　saw　Moody　point　at　the　Marauders　Map；　still　lying　on　the　staircase　six　steps　below　him。　As　Snape　and　Filch　both　turned　to　look　at　it；　Harry　threw　caution　to　the　winds；　he　raised　his　arms　under　the　cloak　and　waved　furiously　at　Moody　to　attract　his　attention；　mouthing　〃It's　mine！　Mine！〃
　　　Snape　had　reached　out　for　it；　a　horrible　expression　of　dawning　prehension　on　his　face…
　　　〃Accio　Parchment！〃
　　　The　map　flew　up　into　the　air；　slipped　through　Snapes　outstretched　fingers；　and　soared　down　the　stairs　into　Moodys　hand。
　　　〃My　mistake；〃　Moody　said　calmly。　〃It's　mine…must've　dropped　it　earlier…〃
　　　But　Snape's　black　eyes　were　darting　from　the　egg　in　Filch's　arms　to　the　map　in　Moodys　hand；　and　Harry　could　tell　he　was　putting　two　and　two　together；　as　only　Snape　could。。。
　　　〃Potter；〃　he　said　quietly。
　　　〃What's　that？〃　said　Moody　calmly；　folding　up　the　map　and　pocketing　it。
　　　〃Potter！〃　Snape　snarled；　and　he　actually　turned　his　head　and　stared　right　at　the　place　where　Harry　was；　as　though　he　could　suddenly　see　him。　〃That　egg　is　Potters　egg。　That　piece　of　parchment　belongs　to　Potter。　I　have　seen　it　before；　I　rec