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哈利·波特与凤凰社
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

英文中文双语对照双语交替

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CHAPTER TWO - A Peck of Owls

第二章　一群猫头鹰

'What?' said Harry blankly.

“什么？”哈利迷惑地问。

'He left!' said Mrs Figg, wringing her hands. 'Left to see someone about a batch of cauldrons that fell off the back of a broom! I told him I'd flay him alive if he went, and now look! Dementors! It's just lucky I put Mr Tibbles on the case! But we haven't got time to stand around! Hurry, now, we've got to get you back! Oh, the trouble this is going to cause! I will kill him!'

“他去了！”费格太太绞着自己的两只手说，“去见一个人，去谈一批从飞天扫帚上掉下来的坩埚！我对他说，如果他敢去，我就活剥他的皮，结果你看看现在！摄魂怪！幸亏我叫踢踢给我通风报信！哎呀，我们没有时间在这里闲站着了！哈利，我们得赶紧把你送回去！哦，这会惹来多大的麻烦啊！我非宰了他不可！”

'But - ' The revelation that his batty old cat-obsessed neighbour knew what Dementors were was almost as big a shock to Harry as meeting two of them down the alleyway. 'You're - you're a witch?'

“可是——”哈利突然得知这位脾气古怪、喜欢养猫的老邻居居然知道摄魂怪，这份惊讶不亚于他刚才在小巷里碰见两个摄魂怪。“你——你是个巫师？”

'I'm a Squib, as Mundungus knows full well, so how on earth was I supposed to help you fight off Dementors? He left you completely without cover when I'd warned him - '

“我是个哑炮，蒙顿格斯什么都知道，所以我怎么可能帮你赶跑摄魂怪呢？他自个儿跑了，留下你毫无掩护，我还提醒过他——”

This Mundungus has been following me? Hang on - it was him! He Disapparated from the front of my house!'

“这个蒙顿格斯一直在跟踪我？慢着——原来是他！他在我家门口幻影移形了！”

'Yes, yes, yes, but luckily I'd stationed Mr Tibbles under a car just in case, and Mr Tibbles came and warned me, but by the time I got to your house you'd gone - and now - oh, what's Dumbledore going to say? You!' she shrieked at Dudley, still supine on the alley floor. 'Get your fat bottom off the ground, quick!'

“是啊，是啊，是啊，幸亏我安排踢踢躲在一辆汽车下面以防万一，踢踢跑过来告诉了我，可是等我赶到你家时你已经走了——结果现在——哦，邓布利多会怎么说呢？你！”她尖着嗓子冲着仍然躺在小巷里的达力嚷道，“把你的肥屁股从地上抬起来，快点！”

'You know Dumbledore?' said Harry, staring at her.

“你认识邓布利多？”哈利吃惊地瞪着她问道。

'Of course I know Dumbledore, who doesn't know Dumbledore? But come on - I'll be no help if they come back, I've never so much as Transfigured a teabag.'

“我当然认识邓布利多，谁不认识邓布利多呢？可是快点吧——如果他们再回来，我可帮不上什么忙。我没有多少本事，连给一只茶叶包变形都不会。”

She stooped down, seized one of Dudley's massive arms in her wizened hands and tugged.

她弯下腰，用皱巴巴的手抓住达力一只肥粗的胳膊使劲拉着。

'Get up, you useless lump, get up!'

“站起来，你这个没用的傻大个儿。快站起来！”

But Dudley either could not or would not move. He remained on the ground, trembling and ashen-faced, his mouth shut very tight.

可是达力不知是动不了还是压根儿就不愿意动弹，他还是躺在地上，浑身发抖，脸如死灰，嘴巴闭得紧紧的。

'I'll do it.' Harry took hold of Dudley's arm and heaved. With an enormous effort he managed to hoist him to his feet. Dudley seemed to be on the point of fainting. His small eyes were rolling in their sockets and sweat was beading his face; the moment Harry let go of him he swayed dangerously.

“我来吧。”哈利抓住达力的胳膊用力拽着。他费了九牛二虎之力，总算把达力拖得站了起来。达力似乎随时都会昏倒，他的小眼睛在眼窝里转来转去，脸上沁出粒粒汗珠。哈利刚松开手，他就摇晃起来，好像要摔倒的样子。

'Hurry up!' said Mrs Figg hysterically.

“快走！”费格太太心急火燎地说。

Harry pulled one of Dudley's massive arms around his own shoulders and dragged him towards the road, sagging slightly under the weight. Mrs Figg tottered along in front of them, peering anxiously around the corner.

哈利抓起达力一只粗大无比的胳膊，搭在自己的肩膀上，拖着他往前走去。达力的重量把他压得连腰都直不起来了。费格太太跌跌撞撞地走在他们前面，警惕地注视着拐角里的动静。

'Keep your wand out,' she told Harry, as they entered Wisteria Walk. 'Never mind the Statute of Secrecy now, there's going to be hell to pay anyway, we might as well be hanged for a dragon as an egg. Talk about the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery . . . this was exactly what Dumbledore was afraid of - What's that at the end of the street? Oh, it's just Mr Prentice . . . don't put your wand away, boy, don't I keep telling you I'm no use?'

“把你的魔杖拿在外面，”他们走进紫藤路时，她对哈利说，“现在别管什么《保密法》啦，反正是免不了受罚，为一条龙是一死，为一个蛋也是一死。说到《对未成年巫师加以合理约束法》——这正是邓布利多一直担心的——路口那儿是什么？噢，是普伦提斯先生——别把魔杖收起来，孩子，我不是一直跟你说吗，我是不管用的！”

It was not easy to hold a wand steady and haul Dudley along at the same time. Harry gave his cousin an impatient dig in the ribs, but Dudley seemed to have lost all desire for independent movement. He was slumped on Harry's shoulder, his large feet dragging along the ground.

既要稳稳地举着魔杖，同时又要拖着达力往前走，这真不是一件容易的事。哈利不耐烦地捅了捅表哥的肋骨，可是达力似乎完全丧失了自己行动的愿望。他瘫倒在哈利的肩膀上，两只大脚拖在地上。

'Why didn't you tell me you're a Squib, Mrs Figg?' asked Harry, panting with the effort to keep walking. 'All those times I came round your house - why didn't you say anything?'

“你以前为什么没有告诉我你是个哑炮，费格太太？”哈利问道，他不敢停脚，累得气喘吁吁。“我那么多次到你家去——你为什么一字不提呢？”

'Dumbledore's orders. I was to keep an eye on you but not say anything, you were too young. I'm sorry I gave you such a miserable time, Harry, but the Dursleys would never have let you come if they'd thought you enjoyed it. It wasn't easy, you know . . . but oh my word,' she said tragically, wringing her hands once more, 'when Dumbledore hears about this - how could Mundungus have left, he was supposed to be on duty until midnight - where is he? How am I going to tell Dumbledore what's happened? I can't Apparate.'

“邓布利多吩咐的，要我留心照看你，但什么也不能说，你当时还太小呢。对不起，我那时弄得你很不开心，哈利，但如果德思礼家的人觉得你喜欢上我家来，他们就再也不会让你来了。这挺不容易的，你知道——可是，哎呀，”她悲痛地说，又一次把双手紧紧地绞在一起，“如果邓布利多听说了这件事——蒙顿格斯怎么能离开呢，他应该值班到午夜的——他去了哪儿？我怎么去向邓布利多汇报这件事呢？我不会幻影显形。”

'I've got an owl, you can borrow her.' Harry groaned, wondering whether his spine was going to snap under Dudley's weight.

“我有一只猫头鹰，可以借给你。”哈利嘴里直哼哼，怀疑他的脊椎骨都要被达力压断了。

'Harry, you don't understand! Dumbledore will need to act as quickly as possible, the Ministry have their own ways of detecting underage magic, they'll know already, you mark my words.'

“哈利，你不明白！邓布利多需要尽快采取行动，因为魔法部自己有一套办法侦察未成年人使用魔法的情况，他们恐怕已经知道了，信不信由你。”

'But I was getting rid of Dementors, I had to use magic - they're going to be more worried about what Dementors were doing floating around Wisteria Walk, surely?'

“但我要摆脱摄魂怪呀，我不得不使用魔法——他们肯定更关心为什么摄魂怪总是在紫藤路飘来飘去，是不是？”

'Oh, my dear, I wish it were so, but I'm afraid - MUNDUNGUS FLETCHER, I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!'

“哦，我亲爱的，我也巴不得是这样呢，但我担心——蒙顿格斯弗莱奇，我要宰了你！”

There was a loud crack and a strong smell of drink mingled with stale tobacco filled the air as a squat, unshaven man in a tattered overcoat materialised right in front of them. He had short, bandy legs, long straggly ginger hair and bloodshot, baggy eyes that gave him the doleful look of a basset hound. He was also clutching a silvery bundle that Harry recognised at once as an Invisibility Cloak.

啪，随着一声刺耳的爆响，空气里升起一股烟酒混合的强烈臭味，一个胡子拉碴、身穿一件破烂外套的矮胖子突然出现在他们面前。两条短短的罗圈腿，一头又长又乱的姜黄色头发，一双肿胀充血的眼睛，使得他看上去像一只短腿猎狗那样愁苦。他手里还抓着一包银色的东西，哈利一眼认出那是一件隐形衣。

' 'S'up, Figgy?' he said, staring from Mrs Figg to Harry and Dudley. 'What 'appened to staying undercover?'

“出什么事了，费格？”他问道，眼睛望望费格太太，望望哈利，又望望达力，“不是说不暴露身份的吗？”

'I'll give you undercover!' cried Mrs Figg. 'Dementors, you useless, skiving sneak thief!'

“去你的不暴露身份！”费格太太嚷道，“摄魂怪，你这个逃避责任的没用的大骗子！”

'Dementors?' repeated Mundungus, aghast. 'Dementors, 'ere?'

“摄魂怪？”蒙顿格斯重复了一句，吓坏了，“摄魂怪，在这儿？”

'Yes, here, you worthless pile of bat droppings, here!' shrieked Mrs Figg. 'Dementors attacking the boy on your watch!'

“没错，就在这儿，你这堆一无是处的臭大粪，就在这儿！”费格太太尖声嚷道，“摄魂怪袭击了你负责监护的孩子！”

'Blimey,' said Mundungus weakly, looking from Mrs Figg to Harry, and back again. 'Blimey, I - '

“天哪——”蒙顿格斯轻声叫道，看看费格太太，看看哈利，又看看费格太太，“天哪，我——”

'And you off buying stolen cauldrons! Didn't I tell you not to go? Didn't I?'

“你去买那些偷来的坩埚了！我不是叫你别去的吗？是不是？”

'I - well, I -' Mundungus looked deeply uncomfortable. 'It - it was a very good business opportunity see - '

“我——唉，我——”蒙顿格斯显得心烦意乱，“这——这笔生意可是机会难得啊，你看——”

Mrs Figg raised the arm from which her string bag dangled and whacked Mundungus around the lace and neck with it; judging by the clanking noise it made it was full of cat food.

费格太太举起拎着网袋的胳膊，用网袋使劲抽打蒙顿格斯的脸和脖子。从丁丁当当的声音来推测，网袋里肯定装满了猫食。

'Ouch - gerroff - gerroff, you mad old bat! Someone's gotta tell Dumbledore!'

“哎哟——够了——够了，你这只发疯的老蝙蝠！可得派人去告诉邓布利多呀！”

'Yes - they - have!' yelled Mrs Figg, swinging the bag of cat food at every bit of Mundungus she could reach. 'And - it - had - better - be - you - and - you - can - tell - him - why - you - weren't - there - to - help!'

“是的——他们——去了！”费格太太一边嚷，一边把那袋猫食没头没脑地砸向蒙顿格斯。“最好——你自己去——你可以——告诉他——你为什么——没在这里——解围！”

'Keep your 'airnet on!' said Mundungus, his arms over his head, cowering. 'I'm going, I'm going!'

“把你的发网戴好了！”蒙顿格斯用胳膊护住脑袋，往后退缩着说，“我这就去，我这就去！”

And with another loud crack, he vanished.

啪，又是一声刺耳的爆响，他消失了。

'I hope Dumbledore murders him!' said Mrs Figg furiously. 'Now come on, Harry, what are you waiting for?'

“真希望邓布利多取了他的小命！”费格太太气呼呼地说道，“好了，快走吧，哈利，你还等什么呀？”

Harry decided not to waste his remaining breath on pointing out that he could barely walk under Dudley's bulk. He gave the semi-conscious Dudley a heave and staggered onwards.

哈利已经累得气都喘不匀了，心想还是不要浪费口舌去向费格太太解释说达力压得他几乎走不动路了吧。他使劲拉了一下半昏半醒的达力，继续踉踉跄跄地往前走。

'I'll take you to the door,' said Mrs Figg, as they turned into Privet Drive. 'Just in case there are more of them around . . . oh my word, what a catastrophe . . . and you had to fight them off yourself . . . and Dumbledore said we were to keep you from doing magic at all costs . . . well, it's no good crying over spilt potion, I suppose . . . but the cat's among the pixies now.'

“我送你们到门口，”他们拐进女贞路时，费格太太说，“以防附近还有摄魂怪——哎呀呀，真是一场大祸啊——你不得不独自把他们赶跑——而邓布利多说我们要不惜一切代价阻止你使用魔法——唉，得啦，药水已经洒了，哭也没有用——不过那只猫这会儿已经到了小精灵那儿了。”

'So,' Harry panted, 'Dumbledore's . . . been having . . . me followed?'

“这么说，”哈利喘着气说，“邓布利多——一直在——派人跟踪我？”

'Of course he has,' said Mrs Figg impatiently. 'Did you expect him to let you wander around on your own after what happened in June? Good Lord, boy, they told me you were intelligent . . . right . . . get inside and stay there,' she said, as they reached number four. 'I expect someone will be in touch with you soon enough.'

“当然是这样，”费格太太不耐烦地说，“六月份发生了那件事之后，你难道还指望他让你一个人四处乱逛？孩子，他们告诉我说你很聪明——好了——进去吧，待着别出来。”这时他们已经到了四号门前。“我想很快就会有人跟你联系的。”

'What are you going to do?' asked Harry quickly.

“你准备做什么？”哈利赶紧问道。

'I'm going straight home,' said Mrs Figg, staring around the dark street and shuddering. 'I'll need to wait for more instructions. Just stay in the house. Goodnight.'

“我直接回家，”费格太太说着，朝漆黑的街道张望了一下，打了个冷战，“我需要等候新的指令。待在家里别出来。晚安。”

'Hang on, don't go yet! I want to know - '

“等等，先别走！我还想知道——”

But Mrs Figg had already set off at a trot, carpet slippers flopping, string bag clanking.

但是费格太太已经一溜小跑走远了，厚拖鞋啪嗒啪嗒，网袋丁丁当当。

'Wait!' Harry shouted after her. He had a million questions to ask anyone who was in contact with Dumbledore; but within seconds Mrs Figg was swallowed by the darkness. Scowling, Harry readjusted Dudley on his shoulder and made his slow, painful way up number four's garden path.

“等一下！”哈利对着她的背影喊道。他心里有数不清的问题要问任何一个与邓布利多有联系的人，但是一眨眼的工夫，费格太太的身影就被黑暗吞没了。哈利紧锁着眉头，重新调整了一下瘫在他肩膀上的达力，拖着沉重的脚步，慢慢走上女贞路四号的花园小径。

The hall light was on. Harry stuck his wand back inside the waistband of his jeans, rang the bell and watched Aunt Petunia's outline grow larger and larger, oddly distorted by the rippling glass in the front door.

客厅里亮着灯。哈利把魔杖重新插进牛仔裤的腰带，摁响了门铃。佩妮姨妈的身影越来越大，被前门上起着波纹的玻璃折射得奇形怪状。

'Diddy! About time too, I was getting quite - quite - Diddy, what's the matter?'

“达达！回来得正是时候，我正感到非常——非常——达达，怎么回事？”

Harry looked sideways at Dudley and ducked out from under his arm just in time. Dudley swayed on the spot for a moment, his face pale green . . . then he opened his mouth and vomited all over the doormat.

哈利侧脸望着达力，及时地从他胳膊下脱出身来。达力原地摇晃了一会儿，脸色发青——然后他张开大嘴，哇的一口，全吐在门垫子上了。

'DIDDY! Diddy, what's the matter with you? Vernon? VERNON!'

“达达，达达，你怎么啦？弗农？弗农！”

Harry's uncle came galumphing out of the living room, walrus moustache blowing hither and thither as it always did when he was agitated. He hurried forwards to help Aunt Petunia negotiate a weak-kneed Dudley over the threshold while avoiding stepping in the pool of sick.

哈利的姨父拖着笨重的身体从起居室赶来，他的海象胡子乱七八糟地飘了起来，每当他激动不安时总是这样。他三步两步赶上来，和佩妮姨妈一起搀扶着膝盖发软的达力跨过门槛，同时小心别踩着达力吐出来的那堆脏东西。

'He's ill, Vernon!'

“他病了，弗农！”

'What is it, son? What's happened7 Did Mrs Polkiss give you something foreign for tea?'

“怎么回事，儿子？出了什么事？波奇斯太太在茶点上给你吃什么不合适的东西了？”

'Why are you all covered in dirt, darling? Have you been lying on the ground?'

“你怎么身上都是土，亲爱的？你一直躺在地上吗？”

'Hang on - you haven't been mugged, have you, son?'

“慢着——你没有挨打吧，儿子，嗯？”

Aunt Petunia screamed.

佩妮姨妈尖叫起来。

'Phone the police, Vernon! Phone the police! Diddy, darling, speak to Mummy! What did they do to you?'

“给警察打电话，弗农！给警察打电话！达达，亲爱的，跟妈妈说说！他们把你怎么样啦？”

In all the kerfuffle nobody seemed to have noticed Harry, which suited him perfectly. He managed to slip inside just before Uncle Vernon slammed the door and, while the Dursleys made their noisy progress down the hall towards the kitchen, Harry moved carefully and quietly towards the stairs.

在一片混乱中，似乎谁也没有注意哈利，这正合他的心意。他正好赶在弗农姨父重重关上房门前溜进来。当德思礼一家闹哄哄地穿过客厅，走向厨房时，哈利小心地、蹑手蹑脚地朝楼梯走去。

'Who did it, son? Give us names. We'll get them, don't worry.'

“这是谁干的，儿子？快告诉我们他们的名字。我们会抓住他们的，不用担心。”

'Shh! He's trying to say something, Vernon! What is it, Diddy? Tell Mummy!'

“嘘！他正要说话呢，弗农！怎么回事，达达？快告诉妈妈！”

Harry's foot was on the bottom-most stair when Dudley found his voice.

哈利的脚刚踏上第一级楼梯，达力终于发出了声音。

'Him.'

“他。”

Harry froze, foot on the stair, face screwed up, braced for the explosion.

哈利怔住了，一只脚踏在楼梯上，脸扭成一团，鼓起勇气准备迎接这场大爆炸。

'BOY! COME HERE!'

“小子！你给我过来！”

With a feeling of mingled dread and anger, Harry removed his foot slowly from the stair and turned to follow the Dursleys.

哈利怀着恐惧和愤怒交织的心情，慢慢地把脚从楼梯上撤了下来，转身跟着德思礼一家。

The scrupulously clean kitchen had an oddly unreal glitter after the darkness outside. Aunt Petunia was ushering Dudley into a chair; he was still very green and clammy-looking. Uncle Vernon was standing in front of the draining board, glaring at Harry through tiny, narrowed eyes.

刚从外面的夜色中进来，觉得擦洗得一尘不染的厨房明晃晃的，怪异而不真实。佩妮姨妈领达力坐到一张椅子上。达力仍然脸色发青，一副病恹恹的样子。弗农姨父站在滴水板前面，眯起一对小眼睛，狠狠地瞪着哈利。

'What have you done to my son?' he said in a menacing growl.

“你对我儿子做了什么？”他气势汹汹地吼道。

'Nothing,' said Harry, knowing perfectly well that Uncle Vernon wouldn't believe him.

“什么也没做。”哈利说，他很清楚弗农姨父根本不会相信他的话。

'What did he do to you. Diddy?' Aunt Petunia said in a quavering voice, now sponging sick from the front of Dudley's leather jacket. 'Was it - was it you-know-what, darling? Did he use - his thing?'

“他对你做了什么，达达？”佩妮姨妈一边用湿海绵擦去达力皮夹克上的脏东西，一边用发抖的声音问道，“是——是那玩意儿吗，亲爱的？他用了——他的家伙？”

Slowly, tremulously, Dudley nodded.

达力颤抖着慢慢地点了点头。

'I didn't!' Harry said sharply, as Aunt Petunia let out a wail and Uncle Vernon raised his fists. 'I didn't do anything to him, it wasn't me, it was - '

“我没有！”哈利急切地说，佩妮姨妈发出一声号啕，弗农姨父举起两个拳头。“我没有把他怎么样，那不是我，那是——”

But at that precise moment a screech owl swooped in through the kitchen window. Narrowly missing the top of Uncle Vernon's head, it soared across the kitchen, dropped the large parchment envelope it was carrying in its beak at Harry's feet, turned gracefully, the tips of its wings just brushing the top of the fridge, then zoomed outside again and off across the garden.

就在这个时候，一只长耳猫头鹰忽地从窗户飞进了厨房，既而擦着弗农姨父的头顶，轻盈地从厨房那头飞过来，把嘴里叼着的一个羊皮纸大信封丢在哈利脚边，然后优雅地一转身，翅膀尖正好扫过冰箱顶，嗖的一声飞了出去，掠过花园上空消失了。

'OWLS!' bellowed Uncle Vernon, the well-worn vein in his temple pulsing angrily as he slammed the kitchen window shut. 'OWLS AGAIN! I WILL NOT HAVE ANY MORE OWLS IN MY HOUSE!'

“猫头鹰！”弗农姨父气得大吼。他狠狠地把厨房窗户砰的一声关上了。他太阳穴上的那根经常暴起的血管又在突突跳动。“又是猫头鹰！再也不许猫头鹰进我的家里！”

But Harry was already ripping open the envelope and pulling out the letter inside, his heart pounding somewhere in the region of his Adam's apple.

哈利已经扯开信封，抽出了里面的信，他的心怦怦狂跳，已经快要跳到嗓子眼了。

Dear Mr Potter,

亲爱的波特先生：

We have received intelligence that you performed the Patronus Charm at twenty-three minutes past nine this evening in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of a Muggle.

我们接到情报，你于今晚九点二十三分在一个麻瓜居住区，当着一个麻瓜的面施用了守护神魔咒。这一行为严重违反了《对未成年巫师加以合理约束法》，因此你已被霍格沃茨魔法学校开除。魔法部将很快派代表前往你的住所，销毁你的魔杖。鉴于你此前已因违反《国际魔法师联合会保密法》的第十三条而受到正式警告，我们很遗憾地通知你，你必须在8月12日上午九时前往魔法部受审。

The severity of this breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery has resulted in your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ministry representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand.

希望你多多保重。

As you have already received an official warning for a previous offence under Section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that your presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9 a.m. on the twelfth of August.

你忠实的马法尔达霍普柯克

Hoping you are well,

魔法部禁止滥用魔法司

Yours sincerely,

哈利把这封信连读了两遍。他只模模糊糊地意识到弗农姨父和佩妮姨妈在那儿说着什么。他的脑海里一片冰冷，一片空白。一个事实像一把致人瘫痪的飞镖扎进了他的意识。他被霍格沃茨开除了。一切都完了。他再也回不去了。

Mafalda Hopkirk

他抬头望着德思礼一家。弗农姨父的脸涨成了猪肝色，他大声吼叫着，两只拳头仍然高高地举着。佩妮姨妈用两只胳膊搂着又在干呕不止的达力。

Improper Use of Magic Office

哈利暂时麻木的思维似乎慢慢苏醒了过来。魔法部将很快派代表前往你的住所，销毁你的魔杖。只有一个办法。他必须逃走——事不宜迟。究竟去哪儿呢，哈利并不知道，但有一点是肯定的：不管在霍格沃茨校内还是校外，他都离不开他的魔杖。在一种几乎是半梦半醒的状态中，他抽出魔杖，转身想离开厨房。

Ministry of Magic

“你打算上哪儿去？”弗农姨父嚷道。看到哈利没有回答，他嗵嗵嗵地从厨房那头走过来，挡在了通往客厅的门口。“我跟你的事情还没完呢，小子！”

Harry read the letter through twice. He was only vaguely aware of Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia talking. Inside his head, all was icy and numb. One fact had penetrated his consciousness like a paralysing dart. He was expelled from Hogwarts. It was all over. He was never going back.

“闪开！”哈利轻声说。

He looked up at the Dursleys. Uncle Vernon was purple-faced, shouting, his fists still raised; Aunt Petunia had her arms around Dudley who was retching again.

“你必须待在这里，老实交代我的儿子怎么会——”

Harry's temporarily stupefied brain seemed to reawaken. Ministry representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand. There was only one thing for it. He would have to run - now. Where he was going to go, Harry didn't know but he was certain of one thing: at Hogwarts or outside it, he needed his wand. In an almost dreamlike state, he pulled his wand out and turned to leave the kitchen.

“如果你不闪开，我就给你念一个恶咒。”哈利说着举起了魔杖。

'Where d'you think you're going?' yelled Uncle Venon. When Harry didn't reply, he pounded across the kitchen to block the doorway into the hall. 'I haven't finished with you, boy!'

“你别想用它来对付我！”弗农姨父恶狠狠地说，“我知道，你出了那所你称为学校的疯人院，是不允许摆弄它的！”

'Get out of the way,' said Harry quietly.

“疯人院已经把我赶出来了，”哈利说，“所以我愿意干什么就干什么。现在给你三秒钟。一……二……”

'You're going to stay here and explain how my son - '

厨房里发出一声爆响，回音不绝。佩妮姨妈失声尖叫，弗农姨父吼叫着弯腰躲避，而哈利呢，他在寻找一场不是由他造成的混乱的源头，这已经是这个晚上的第三次了。他立刻发现了：一只昏头昏脑、羽毛蓬乱的谷仓猫头鹰正蹲在厨房外面的窗台上，刚才它撞在关着的窗户玻璃上了。

'If you don't get out of the way I'm going to jinx you,' said Harry, raising the wand.

弗农姨父痛苦地嚷道：“猫头鹰！”哈利没有理睬他，径直跑到厨房那头，猛地打开窗户。猫头鹰伸出一条腿，上面拴着一小卷羊皮纸。它抖了抖羽毛，哈利一把信取下来它就飞走了。哈利颤抖着双手，展开这第二封信，上面用黑墨水草草地写着几行字，纸上污渍斑斑。

'You can't pull that one on me!' snarled Uncle Vernon. 'I know

哈利：邓布利多刚赶到魔法部，正在调查整个事件。不要离开你姨妈和姨父的家。不要再施魔法。不要交出你的魔杖。

'You're not allowed to use it outside that madhouse you call a school!'

亚瑟韦斯莱邓布利多正在调查整个事情——这是什么意思呢？邓布利多有多大能耐，能够凌驾于魔法部之上？这么说，他还有可能重新回到霍格沃茨？一线小小的希望在哈利心中迅速升起，但几乎立刻就被惊慌的情绪扼杀了——他不施魔法，怎么可能拒绝交出魔杖呢？他必须与魔法部的代表展开较量。如果他那么做了，能够逃脱阿兹卡班监狱已算侥幸，更别说给学校开除了。

The madhouse has chucked me out,' said Harry. 'So I can do whatever I like. You've got three seconds. One - two - '

他脑子飞快地转着——他可以赶快逃走，冒着被魔法部抓到的危险，也可以待在原地，等着他们来这里找到他。他觉得第一条路更有吸引力，但他知道韦斯莱先生肯定考虑过怎样对他最有利——而且，邓布利多以前处理过比这糟糕得多的事情呢。

A resounding CRACK filled the kitchen. Aunt Petunia screamed, Uncle Vernon yelled and ducked, but for the third time that night Harry was searching for the source of a disturbance he had not made. He spotted it at once: a dazed and ruffled-looking barn owl was sitting outside on the kitchen sill, having just collided with the closed window.

“好吧，”哈利说，“我改变主意了，我不走了。”

Ignoring Uncle Vernon's anguished yell of 'OWLS!' Harry crossed the room at a run and wrenched the window open. The owl stuck out its leg, to which a small roll of parchment was tied, shook its feathers, and took off the moment Harry had taken the letter. Hands shaking, Harry unfurled the second message, which was written very hastily and blotchily in black ink.

他飞快地扑到厨房桌子旁，面对着达力和佩妮姨妈。德思礼一家似乎对他这样突然改变主意吃惊不小。佩妮姨妈绝望地望着弗农姨父。他紫红色太阳穴上的血管跳得比以前更厉害了。

Harry -

“这些讨厌透顶的猫头鹰是谁派来的？”他凶狠地吼道。

Dumbledore's just arrived at the Ministry and he's trying to sort it all out. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE. DO NOT DO ANY MORE MAGIC. DO NOT SURRENDER YOUR WAND.

“第一只是魔法部派来的，把我开除了。”哈利平静地说道。他竖起两只耳朵，专心地听着外面的动静，生怕魔法部的代表已经来了。现在与其让弗农姨父大发雷霆，怒吼咆哮，还不如回答他的问题更容易，也更安静。“第二只是我朋友罗恩的爸爸派来的，他在魔法部工作。”

Arthur Weasley

“魔法部？”弗农姨父恶声恶气地说道，“你们这样的人也能在政府工作？哦，我总算都明白了，都明白了，怪不得这个国家如今一天不如一天呢。”

Dumbledore was trying to sort it all out . . . what did that mean? how much power did Dumbledore have to override the Ministry of Magic? Was there a chance that he might be allowed back to Hogwarts, then? A small shoot of hope burgeoned in Harry's chest, almost immediately strangled by panic - how was he supposed to refuse to surrender his wand without doing magic? He'd have to duel with the Ministry representatives, and if he did that, he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban, let alone expulsion.

哈利没有回答。

His mind was racing . . . he could run for it and risk being captured by the Ministry, or stay put and wait for them to find him here. He was much more tempted by the former course, but he mew Mr Weasley had his best interests at heart . . . and after all, Dumbledore had sorted out much worse than this before.

弗农姨父气呼呼地瞪着他，然后厉声问：“你为什么会被开除？”

'Right,' Harry said, 'I've changed my mind, I'm staying.'

“因为我使用了魔法。”

He flung himself down at the kitchen table and faced Dudley and Aunt Petunia. The Dursleys appeared taken aback at his abrupt change of mind. Aunt Petunia glanced despairingly at Uncle Vernon. The vein in his purple temple was throbbing worse than ever.

“啊哈！”弗农姨父吼道，拳头重重地砸在冰箱顶上，冰箱的门忽地弹开，达力的几包低脂肪小食品掉了出来，散落在地上。“这么说你承认了！你对达力做了——”

'Who are all these ruddy owls from?' he growled.

“什么也没有，”哈利说，不像刚才那么平静了，“那不是我——”

'The first one was from the Ministry of Magic, expelling me,' said Harry calmly. He was straining his ears to catch any noises outside, in case the Ministry representatives were approaching, and it was easier and quieter to answer Uncle Vernon's questions than to have him start raging and bellowing. The second one was from my friend Ron's dad, who works at the Ministry.'

“是！”达力出人意料地蹦出了一句，弗农姨父和佩妮姨妈立刻朝哈利挥舞着胳膊让他闭嘴，然后两人都俯身看着达力。

'Ministry of Magic?' bellowed Uncle Vernon. 'People like you in government? Oh, this explains everything, everything, no wonder the country's going to the dogs.'

“说下去，儿子，”弗农姨父说，“他做了什么？”

When Harry did not respond, Uncle Vernon glared at him, then spat out, 'And why have you been expelled?'

“告诉我们，亲爱的。”佩妮姨妈小声说。

'Because I did magic.'

“他用魔杖指着我。”达力含混不清地说。

'AHA!' roared Uncle Vernon, slamming his fist down on top of the fridge, which sprang open; several of Dudley's low-fat snacks toppled out and burst on the floor. 'So you admit it! What did you do to Dudley?'

“是啊，我指着他，但并没有用——”哈利气愤地说，然而——

'Nothing,' said Harry, slightly less calmly. That wasn't me - '

“闭嘴！”弗农姨父和佩妮姨妈异口同声地吼道。

'Was,' muttered Dudley unexpectedly, and Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia instantly made flapping gestures at Harry to quieten him while they both bent low over Dudley.

“说下去，儿子。”弗农姨父又说了一遍，小胡子上下乱舞。

'Go on, son,' said Uncle Vernon, 'what did he do?'

“全黑了，”达力打着激灵，声音嘶哑地说，“四下里一片漆黑。然后我听——听见——有东西。在我——我的脑袋里。”

Tell us, darling,' whispered Aunt Petunia.

弗农姨父和佩妮姨妈交换了一个惊恐万状的眼神。如果说在这个世界上他们最不喜欢的东西是魔法——其次就是邻居在禁用浇水软管的问题上弄虚作假，做得比他们更过分——那么听到自己的脑子里有人说话，肯定也是最糟糕的事情之一。他们显然认为达力已经精神错乱了。

'Pointed his wand at me,' Dudley mumbled.

“你听见什么样的话了，宝贝儿？”佩妮姨妈压低声音问道，她脸色白得吓人，眼里含着泪水。

'Yeah, I did, but I didn't use - ' Harry began angrily, but - '

可是达力似乎不会说话了。他又打了个寒噤，摇了摇那颗亚麻色头发的大脑袋。尽管第一只猫头鹰到来后，哈利的内心因恐惧而近乎麻木了，但此刻他也感到有些好奇。摄魂怪能使人重新经历一生中最痛苦的时刻。那么，这个被溺爱的养尊处优的、横行霸道的达力，会被迫听到什么呢？

'SHUT UP!' roared Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia in unison.

“你是怎么摔倒的，儿子？”弗农姨父问道，用的是一种很不自然的轻声细语，就像在一个病入膏肓的病人床边说话。

'Go on, son,' repeated Uncle Vernon, moustache blowing about furiously.

“绊——绊了一跤，”达力发着抖说道，“后来——”他指了指他肥阔的胸脯。

'All went dark,' Dudley said hoarsely, shuddering 'Everything dark. And then I h-heard . . . things. Inside m-my head.'

哈利明白了。达力想起了他的希望和快乐被吸取时灌满他肺部的那股阴森森的寒气。

Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia exchanged looks of utter horror. If their least favourite thing in the world was magic - closely followed by neighbours who cheated more than they did on the hosepipe ban - people who heard voices were definitely in the bottom ten. They obviously thought Dudley was losing his mind.

“可怕，”达力声音嘶哑地说，“冷。冷极了。”

'What sort of things did you hear, Popkin?' breathed Aunt Petunia, very white-faced and with tears in her eyes.

“好吧，”弗农姨父说，尽量使声音显得平静，“接下来发生了什么事，达力？”佩妮姨妈焦急地把手放在达力的额头上，试试他发不发烧。

But Dudley seemed incapable of saying. He shuddered again and shook his large blond head, and despite the sense of numb dread that had settled on Harry since the arrival of the first owl, he felt a certain curiosity. Dementors caused a person to relive the worst moments of their life. What would spoiled, pampered, bullying Dudley have been forced to hear?

“觉得——觉得——觉得——好像——好像——”

'How come you fell over, son?' said Uncle Vernon, in an unnaturally quiet voice, the kind of voice he might adopt at the Bedside of a very ill person.

“好像你再也不会感到快乐了。”哈利干巴巴地替他说道。

'T-tripped,' said Dudley shakily. 'And then - '

“就是这样！”达力小声说，仍然抖个不停。

He gestured at his massive chest. Harry understood. Dudley was remembering the clammy cold that filled the lungs as hope and happiness were sucked out of you.

“知道了！”弗农姨父直起身，重新扯开了嗓子，声音震耳欲聋，“你给我儿子念了一个古怪的咒语，害得他听见自己脑子里有人说话，还以为自己——自己一辈子也快活不起来了，是不是？”

'Horrible,' croaked Dudley. 'Cold. Really cold.'

“我还要告诉你们多少遍？”哈利说道，他的声音和火气同时上升，“不是我。是两个摄魂怪！”

'OK,' said Uncle Vernon, in a voice of forced calm, while Aunt Petunia laid an anxious hand on Dudley's forehead to feel his temperature. 'What happened then, Dudders?'

“两个——什么乱七八糟的玩意儿？”

'Felt . . . felt . . . felt . . . as if . . . as if . . .'

“摄－魂－怪，”哈利慢慢地一字一句地说，“两个。”

'As if you'd never be happy again,' Harry supplied dully.

“这摄魂怪又是什么古怪玩意儿？”

'Yes,' Dudley whispered, still trembling.

“他们看守阿兹卡班巫师监狱。”佩妮姨妈说。

'So!' said Uncle Vernon, voice restored to full and considerable volume as he straightened up. 'You put some crackpot spell on my on so he'd hear voices and believe he was - was doomed to misery, or something, did you?'

话一出口，是两秒钟的死寂，然后佩妮姨妈猛地用手捂住嘴巴，似乎刚才一不小心说了一句令人恶心的脏话。弗农姨父瞪大眼睛看着她。哈利的脑子里一片混乱。费格太太倒也罢了——可是佩妮姨妈——

'How many times do I have to tell you?' said Harry, temper and voice both rising. 'It wasn't me! It was a couple of Dementors!'

“你怎么知道？”他惊讶极了，问道。

'A couple of - what's this codswallop?'

佩妮姨妈似乎被自己吓坏了。她战战兢兢带着歉意地看了一眼弗农姨父，手微微下垂，露出嘴里的长牙。

'De - men - tors,' said Harry slowly and clearly. Two of them.'

“好多年前——我听见——那个可怕的男孩——对她说起过他们。”她断断续续地说。

'And what the ruddy hell are Dementors?'

“如果你是指我的妈妈和爸爸，你为什么不说他们的名字呢？”哈利大声问道，但佩妮姨妈没有理睬他。她似乎惊慌失措到了极点。

'They guard the wizard prison, Azkaban,' said Aunt Petunia.

哈利感到非常震惊。几年前有一次佩妮姨妈情绪爆发，尖叫着说哈利的妈妈是个怪物，除此之外，哈利从没听她提起过自己的妹妹。而她居然记得魔法世界的这点细节，这么长时间都没有忘记。哈利真是惊讶极了，平常她总是竭尽全力假装魔法世界并不存在的呀。

Two seconds of ringing silence followed these words before Aunt Petunia clapped her hand over her mouth as though she had let slip a disgusting swear word. Uncle Vernon was goggling at her. Harry's brain reeled. Mrs Figg was one thing - but Aunt Petunia?

弗农姨父张了张嘴又闭上了，接着又张了张又闭上了，然后，显然是在挣扎着回忆怎样说话。他第三次把嘴张开，声音嘶哑地说：“这么说——这么说——他们——嗯——他们——嗯——真的存在，他们——嗯——这些死魂怪？”

'How d'you know that?' he asked her, astonished.

佩妮姨妈点了点头。

Aunt Petunia looked quite appalled with herself. She glanced at Uncle Vernon in fearful apology, then lowered her hand slightly to reveal her horsy teeth.

弗农姨父的目光从佩妮姨妈身上转向达力，又转向哈利，似乎希望有人大喊一声：“愚人节！”看到没有人这么做，他又把嘴巴张开了，而就在这时，今晚的第三只猫头鹰飞来了，他也就不用费力地再说些什么了。猫头鹰像一枚长着羽毛的炮弹，嗖的一声飞进仍然开着的窗户，啪嗒嗒地落在厨房的桌子上，吓得德思礼一家三口都跳了起来。哈利从猫头鹰嘴里扯下第二封公函样的信封，撕开封口，这时猫头鹰腾身飞回了外面的夜色中。

'I heard - that awful boy - telling her about them - years ago,' she said jerkily.

“够了——粗鲁的？——猫头鹰。”弗农姨父心烦意乱地说，噔噔噔地走到窗口，又把窗户重重地关上了。

'If you mean my mum and dad, why don't you use their names?' said Harry loudly but Aunt Petunia ignored him. She seemed horribly flustered.

亲爱的波特先生：

Harry was stunned. Except for one outburst years ago, in the course of which Aunt Petunia had screamed that Harry's mother had been a freak, he had never heard her mention her sister. He was astounded that she had remembered this scrap of information about the magical world for so long, when she usually put all her energies, into pretending it didn't exist.

我们约二十二分钟前曾致函于你，之后魔法部改变了立即销毁你的魔杖的决定。你可以保留魔杖，直到8月12日受审的时候再做正式决定。

Uncle Vernon opened his mouth, closed it again, opened it once more, shut it, then, apparently struggling to remember how to talk, opened it for a third time and croaked, 'So - so - they - er - they - er - they actually exist, do they - er - Dementy-whatsits?'

经与霍格沃茨魔法学校校长商量，魔法部同意将开除你学籍的问题也留到那时再做决定。因此，你可以认为自己是暂时停学，等候进一步调查。顺致问候。

Aunt Petunia nodded.

你忠实的马法尔达霍普柯克

Uncle Vernon looked from Aunt Petunia to Dudley to Harry as if hoping somebody was going to shout 'April Fool!' When nobody did, he opened his mouth yet again, but was spared the struggle to find more words by the arrival of the third owl of the evening. It zoomed through the still-open window like a feathery cannon-ball and landed with a clatter on the kitchen table, causing all three of the Dursleys to jump with fright. Harry tore a second official-looking envelope from the owl's beak and ripped it open as the owl swooped back out into the night.

魔法部禁止滥用魔法司

'Enough - effing - owls,' muttered Uncle Vernon distractedly, stomping over to the window and slamming it shut again.

哈利飞快地将信连看了三遍。知道自己还没有肯定被开除，他心头那个令人难受的疙瘩总算解开了一点儿，但他的担心丝毫没有消除。似乎所有的事情都取决于8月12日的受审。

Dear Mr Potter,

“怎么了？”弗农姨父说道，把哈利一下子拉回到了现实中，“现在又怎么啦？他们给你判决了没有？”他突然想起了一个很有希望的念头，跟着问了这一句，“你们那类人有没有死刑啊？”

Further to our letter of approximately twenty-two minutes ago, the Ministry of Magic has revised its decision to destroy your wand forthwith. You may retain your wand until your disciplinary hearing on the twelfth of August, at which time an official decision will be taken.

“我要去受审。”哈利说。

Following discussions with the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Ministry has agreed that the question of your expulsion will also be decided at that time. You should therefore consider yourself suspended from- school pending further enquiries.

“他们在那儿给你判决？”

With best wishes,

“我想是吧。”

Yours sincerely,

“我不会放弃希望的。”弗农姨父满脸凶相地说。

Mafalda Hopkirk

“好吧，如果完事了的话——”哈利说着站了起来。他迫不及待地想清静一会儿，好好想一想，也许还要给罗恩、赫敏或小天狼星写一封信呢。

Improper Use of Magic Office

“没有，事情还没有完！”弗农姨父吼道，“坐下去！”

Ministry of Magic

“还有什么？”哈利不耐烦地问。

Harry read this letter through three times in quick succession. The miserable knot in his chest loosened slightly with the relief of knowing he was not yet definitely expelled, though his fears were by no means banished. Everything seemed to hang on this hearing on the twelfth of August.

“达力！”弗农姨父咆哮着说，“我想知道我的儿子到底出了什么事！”

'Well?' said Uncle Vernon, recalling Harry to his surroundings. 'What now? Have they sentenced you to anything? Do your lot have the death penalty?' he added as a hopeful afterthought.

“很好！”哈利大喊一声。他气坏了，手里仍然攥着的魔杖顶上冒出红色和金色的火星。德思礼一家三口纷纷后退，一副大惊失色的样子。

'I've got to go to a hearing,' said Harry.

“达力和我走在木兰花新月街和紫藤路之间的小巷里，”哈利语速极快地说道，拼命克制着自己的火气，“达力跟我斗嘴，我抽出了魔杖，但并没有用它。这时两个摄魂怪出现了——”

'And they'll sentence you there?'

“摄魂怪是什么东西？”弗农姨父狂怒地问，“他们是做什么的？”

'I suppose so.'

“我告诉过你了——它们吸光你内心所有的快乐，”哈利说，“如果它们逮着机会还会亲吻你——”

'I won't give up hope, then,' said Uncle Vernon nastily.

“亲吻？”弗农姨父说，眼珠子微微凸了出来，“亲吻？”

'Well, if that's all,' said Harry, getting to his feet. He was desperate to be alone, to think, perhaps to send a letter to Ron, Hermione or Sirius.

“把灵魂从你的嘴里吸出来，他们管这叫亲吻。”

'NO, IT RUDDY WELL IS NOT ALL!' bellowed Uncle Vernon. 'SIT BACK DOWN!'

佩妮姨妈发出一声低低的惊叫。

'What now?' said Harry impatiently.

“他的灵魂？他们没有吸走——他的灵魂没有被吸——”她抓住达力的两个肩膀拼命摇晃，好像要试试能不能听见他的灵魂在身体里哗啦啦作响似的。

'DUDLEY!' roared Uncle Vernon. 'I want to know exactly what happened to my son!'

“他们当然没有吸走他的灵魂，如果真是那样，你们会知道的。”哈利气恼地说。

'FINE!' yelled Harry, and in his temper, red and gold sparks shot out of the end of his wand, still clutched in his hand. All three Dursleys flinched, looking terrified.

“你把他们打跑了，是吗，儿子？”弗农姨父大声说，看他那模样，似乎正挣扎着把谈话拖回到一个他能理解的水平上，“你给了它们一个‘左直拳接右直拳’，是不是？”

'Dudley and I were in the alleyway between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk,' said Harry, speaking fast, fighting to control his temper. 'Dudley thought he'd be smart with me, I pulled out my wand but didn't use it. Then two Dementors turned up - '

“你不可能给摄魂怪一个左直拳接右直拳。”哈利从牙缝里说道。

'But what ARE Dementoids?' asked Uncle Vernon furiously. 'What do they DO?'

“那他怎么会没事？”弗农姨父气势汹汹地问道，“他怎么会没有被吸空，嗯？”

'I told you - they suck all the happiness out of you,' said Harry, 'and if they get the chance, they kiss you - '

“因为我念了守护神——”

'Kiss you?' said Uncle Vernon, his eyes popping slightly. 'Kiss you?'

呼呼。随着一阵撞击声、翅膀的扇动声，以及灰尘轻轻落下的声音，第四只猫头鹰从厨房的壁炉里冲了出来。

'It's what they call it when they suck the soul out of your mouth.'

“看在老天的分儿上！”弗农姨父大叫，把一撮撮胡子连根拔了下来。他已经很长时间没有被逼到这份儿上了，“不许猫头鹰到这里来，我受不了啦，你给我听着！”

Aunt Petunia uttered a soft scream.

可是哈利已经从猫头鹰脚上扯下了一卷羊皮纸。他相信这封信肯定是邓布利多寄来的，而且把所有的事情都解释清楚了——摄魂怪、费格太太、魔法部的勾当，还有他邓布利多打算怎样把事情摆平——因此，平生第一次，他看到小天狼星的笔迹后感到非常失望。他没有理睬弗农姨父继续对猫头鹰的事情大叫大嚷，刚来的猫头鹰扑扇着翅膀从烟囱里飞出去时又卷起一片灰尘，他只好眯起眼睛，读着小天狼星的来信。

'His soul? They didn't take - he's still got his - '

亚瑟刚刚把事情告诉了我们。无论如何，你千万别再离开那所房子。

She seized Dudley by the shoulders and shook him, as though testing to see whether she could hear his soul rattling around inside hint.

哈利觉得，对今晚发生的事情做出这样的反应实在是太不够意思了。他把羊皮纸翻了过来，以为反面还有话，但什么也没有。

'Of course they didn't get his soul, you'd know if they had,' said Harry, exasperated.

他的火气又上来了。他只身一人打跑了两个摄魂怪，难道就没有一个人对他说一声“干得漂亮”？看韦斯莱先生和小天狼星的反应就好像他做了什么错事，他们要等到弄清他造成了多大的破坏，再好好地训斥他一顿。

'Fought 'em off, did you, son?' said Uncle Vernon loudly, with the appearance of a man struggling to bring the conversation back on to a plane he understood. 'Gave 'em the old one-two, did you?'

“——一堆，我的意思是，一群猫头鹰在我的家里飞出飞进。我不允许，小子，我不——”

'You can't give a Dementor the old one-two,' said Harry through clenched teeth.

“猫头鹰要来，我也没有办法。”哈利没好气地说，使劲把小天狼星的来信捏在手心里。

'Why's he all right, then?' blustered Uncle Vernon. 'Why isn't e all empty, then?'

“我想知道今晚事情的真相！”弗农姨父厉声吼道，“如果是摄魂怪伤害了达力，为什么你会被开除呢？你干了那事儿，你已经承认了！”

'Because I used the Patronus - '

哈利深深吸了口气，镇定了一下情绪。他的头又开始疼了。他最渴望的就是离开厨房，离开德思礼一家三口。

WHOOSH. With a clattering, a whirring of wings and a soft fall of dust, a fourth owl came shooting out of the kitchen fireplace.

“为了摆脱摄魂怪我念了守护神魔咒，”他说，竭力使自己保持平静，“对付他们只有这个办法管用。”

'FOR GOD'S SAKE!' roared Uncle Vernon, pulling great clumps of hair out of his moustache, something he hadn't been driven to do in a long time. 'I WILL NOT HAVE OWLS HERE, I WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS, I TELL YOU!'

“可是摄魂鬼跑到小惠金区来做什么？”弗农姨父怒不可遏地问。

But Harry was already pulling a roll of parchment from the owl's leg. He was so convinced that this letter had to be from Dumbledore, explaining everything - the Dementors, Mrs Figg, what the Ministry was up to, how he, Dumbledore, intended to sort everything out - that for the first time in his life he was disappointed to see Sirius's handwriting. Ignoring Uncle Vernons ongoing rant about owls, and narrowing his eyes against a second cloud of dust as the most recent owl took off back up the chimney, Harry read Sirius's message.

“没法告诉你。”哈利疲倦地说，“不知道。”现在他的脑袋突突作响，眼前好像闪过一道道耀眼的强光。他的愤怒逐渐消退，人觉得特别疲倦，浑身一点力气也没有。德思礼一家三口都在瞪着他。

Arthur has just told us what's happened. Don't leave the house again, whatever you do.

“是你，”弗农姨父恶狠狠地说道，“肯定跟你有点关系，小子，我知道。不然它们为什么会出现在这儿？不然它们为什么会跑到那条小巷子里去？方圆多少里内，你是惟一的一个——惟一的——”显然，他没有勇气说出“巫师”这个词。“一个你知道是什么的东西。”

Harry found this such an inadequate response to everything that had happened tonight that he turned the piece of parchment over, looking for the rest of the letter, but there was nothing else.

“我也不知道它们为什么会上这儿来。”

And now his temper was rising again. Wasn't anybody going to say 'well done' for fighting off two Dementors single-handed? Both Mr Weasley and Sirius were acting as though he'd misbehaved, and were saving their tellings-off until they could ascertain how much damage had been done.

但是听了弗农姨父的话，哈利已经极度疲劳的大脑又开始吱吱嘎嘎地运转起来。摄魂怪为什么到小惠金区来？它们正好落在哈利所在的那条小巷里，这怎么可能是巧合呢？它们是被派来的吗？难道魔法部失去了对摄魂怪的控制？难道摄魂怪擅自逃离了阿兹卡班，加入了伏地魔一伙，就像邓布利多曾经预言的那样？

'. . . a peck, I mean, pack of owls shooting in and out of my house. I won't have it, boy, I won't - '

“这些死魂灵是看守一家古怪监狱的？”弗农姨父问，吃力地紧跟着哈利的思路。

'I can't stop the owls coming,' Harry snapped, crushing Sirius's letter in his fist.

“是的。”哈利说。只希望脑袋能够不疼，只希望能够离开厨房，回到黑暗的卧室，好好想想——

'I want the truth about what happened tonight!' barked Uncle Vernon. 'If it was Demenders who hurt Dudley, how come you've been expelled? You did you-know-what, you've admitted, it!'

“啊哈！它们是来抓你的！”弗农姨父一脸得意地说，像是得出了一个不容辩驳的结论，“就是这么回事，对不对，小子？你想逃脱法律的制裁！”

Harry took a deep, steadying breath. His head was beginning to ache again. He wanted more than anything to get out of the kitchen, and away from the Dursleys.

“当然不是这样。”哈利说，使劲晃晃脑袋，像要赶走一只苍蝇，现在他的脑子在快速运转了。

'I did the Patronus Charm to get rid of the Dementors,' he said, forcing himself to remain calm. 'It's the only thing that works against them.'

“那么为什么——？”

'But what were Dementoids doing in Little Whinging?' said Uncle Vernon in an outraged tone.

“一定是他派它们来的。”哈利轻声道，与其说他在对弗农姨父说话，还不如说是他在自言自语。

'Couldn't tell you,' said Harry wearily. 'No idea.'

“什么意思？一定是淮派它们来的？”

His head was pounding in the glare of the strip-lighting now. His anger was ebbing away. He felt drained, exhausted. The Dursleys were all staring at him.

“伏地魔。”哈利说。

'It's you,' said Uncle Vernon forcefully. 'It's got something to do with you, boy, I know it. Why else would they turn up here? Why else would they be down that alleyway? You've got to be the only - the only - ' Evidently, he couldn't bring himself to say the word 'wizard'. The only you-know-what for miles.'

他模模糊糊地意识到眼前的情景是多么奇怪：德思礼一家人听到“巫师”、“魔法”和“魔杖”这样的词都会吓得连连退缩，失声尖叫，而听到有史以来最邪恶的恶魔的名字，居然能没有一丝一毫的惊慌。

'I don't know why they were here.'

“伏——慢着，”弗农姨父说，他的脸皱成一团，猪眼似的小眼睛里慢慢露出恍然大悟的神情，“我听说过这个名字——他就是那个——”

But at Uncle Vernon's words, Harry's exhausted brain had ground back into action. Why had the Dementors come to Little Whinging? How could it be coincidence that they had arrived in the alleyway where Harry was? Had they been sent? Had the Ministry of Magic lost control of the Dementors? Had they deserted Azkaban and joined Voldemort, as Dumbledore had predicted they would?

“杀死我爸爸妈妈的人，没错。”哈利干巴巴地说。

'These Demembers guard some weirdo prison?' asked Uncle Vernon, lumbering along in the wake of Harry's train of thought.

“可是他走了，”弗农姨父不耐烦地说，丝毫没有显示出哈利父母被害是一个痛苦的话题，“那个大块头说的。他走了。”

'Yes,' said Harry.

“他又回来了。”哈利语气沉重地说。

If only his head would stop hurting, if only he could just leave the kitchen and get to his dark bedroom and think . . .

他站在佩妮姨妈那像手术室一样整洁干净的厨房里，挨着最高档的冰箱和超宽屏幕电视机，心平气和地跟弗农姨父谈论伏地魔，这感觉真是非常怪异。今晚摄魂怪光临小惠金区，似乎打破了一堵挡在女贞路这个冷漠的非魔法世界和另一个世界之间的无形高墙。哈利的两种不同的生活好像交融在了一起，一切都乱了套。德思礼夫妇在询问魔法世界的详细情况，费格太太居然认识阿不思·邓布利多，摄魂怪在小惠金区上空飘来荡去，而他恐怕再也不能回到霍格沃茨去了。哈利的脑袋一跳一跳地疼得厉害。

'Oho! They were coming to arrest you!' said Uncle Vernon, with the triumphant air of a man reaching an unassailable conclusion. That's it, isn't it, boy? You're on the run from the law!'

“回来了？”佩妮姨妈压低声音问。

'Of course I'm not,' said Harry, shaking his head as though to scare off a fly, his mind racing now.

她望着哈利，那目光是以前从未有过的。突然之间，哈利有生以来第一次充分意识到佩妮姨妈是他妈妈的姐姐。他说不出来为什么此刻这样强烈地感受到了这一点。他只知道，这个屋子里不止他一个人模糊地意识到伏地魔的复出意味着什么。佩妮姨妈这辈子从未用这种目光看过他。她那双浅色的大眼睛（与她妹妹的眼睛如此不同）不再因厌恶和愤怒而眯起，而是睁得大大的，充满恐惧。哈利有生以来一直看着佩妮姨妈在很激烈地维护一种假相——魔法根本不存在，除了她和弗农姨父共同生活的这个世界，根本不存在另一个世界——而现在这种假相似乎消失了。

Then why - ?'

“是的，”哈利说，现在他直接对佩妮姨妈说话了，“他一个月前回来的。我看见过他。”

'He must have sent them,' said Harry quietly, more to himself than to Uncle Vernon.

佩妮姨妈的手摸索着抓住达力那穿着皮夹克的肥阔肩膀，紧紧地抓着。

'What's that? Who must have sent them?'

“慢着，”弗农姨父望望妻子，望望哈利，然后又望望妻子，似乎被他们之间突然出现的前所未有的相互理解弄糊涂了，“慢着。你是说，那个叫伏地魔的家伙回来了？”

'Lord Voldemort,' said Harry.

“是的。”

He registered dimly how strange it was that the Dursleys, who flinched, winced and squawked if they heard words like 'wizard', 'magic' or 'wand', could hear the name of the most evil wizard of all time without the slightest tremor.

“就是杀死你父母的那个人？”

'Lord - hang on,' said Uncle Vernon, his face screwed up, a look of dawning comprehension coming into his piggy eyes. 'I've heard that name . . . that was the one who - '

“是的。”

'Murdered my parents, yes,' Harry said dully.

“现在他派摄魂怪来追杀你？”

'But he's gone,' said Uncle Vernon impatiently, without the slightest sign that the murder of Harry's parents might be a painful topic. That giant bloke said so. He's gone.'

“看来是这样。”哈利说。

'He's back,' said Harry heavily.

“我明白了。”弗农姨父说，目光从面色苍白的妻子脸上转向哈利，然后把裤子往上拉了拉。他整个人似乎正在膨胀，那张紫红色的大脸膛在哈利眼前拉长了。

It felt very strange to be standing here in Aunt Petunia's surgically clean kitchen, beside the top'-of-the-range fridge and the wide-screen television, talking calmly of Lord Voldemort to Uncle Vernon. The arrival of the Dementors in Little Whinging seemed to have breached the great, invisible wall that divided the relentlessly non-magical world of Privet Drive and the world beyond. Harry's two lives had somehow become fused and everything had been turned upside-down; the Dursleys were asking for details about the magical world, and Mrs Figg knew Albus Dumbledore; Dementors were soaring around Little Whinging, and he might never return to Hogwarts. Harry's head throbbed more painfully.

“好了，这下子全解决了，”他吸足了气，衬衫的前胸绷得紧紧的，“你可以从这个家中滚出去了，小子！”

'Back?' whispered Aunt Petunia.

“什么？”哈利问。

She was looking at Harry as she had never looked at him before. And all of a sudden, for the very first time in his life, Harry fully appreciated that Aunt Petunia was his mother's sister. He could not have said why this hit him so very powerfully at this moment. All he knew was that he was not the only person in the room who had an inkling of what Lord Voldemort being back might mean. Aunt Petunia had never in her life looked at him like that before. Her large, pale eyes (so unlike her sisters) were not narrowed in dislike or anger, they were wide and fearful. The furious pretence that Aunt Petunia had maintained all Harry's life - that there was no magic and no world other than the world she inhabited with Uncle Vernon - seemed to have fallen away.

“我说过了——出去！”弗农姨父吼道，就连佩妮姨妈和达力也吓得跳了起来。“出去！出去！我好多年前就应该这么做了！猫头鹰把这里当成了疗养所，布丁炸开了花，半个起居室被糟蹋得不成样子，达力长出了尾巴，玛姬在天花板上飘来飘去，还有那辆会飞的福特安格里亚车——出去！出去！你玩够了！你该退出了！如果有疯子正在追杀你，你就不能留在这里，不能威胁到我的妻子和儿子，不能给我们带来麻烦。如果你要跟你那没用的父母走同一条路，我受够了！出去！”

'Yes,' Harry said, talking directly to Aunt Petunia now. ;He came back a month ago. I saw him.'

哈利站在原地，脚底像生了根。魔法部、韦斯莱先生和小天狼星的来信都捏在他的左手里。无论如何，你千万别再离开那所房子。不要离开你姨妈和姨父的家。

Her hands found Dudley's massive leather-clad shoulders and clutched them.

“你听见我的话了！”弗农姨父这时向前探过身子，那张紫红色的大阔脸凑近了哈利的脸，哈利都能感觉到他的唾沫星子喷到了自己脸上。“快走！你半小时前不是急着要离开吗？我支持你！滚出去，永远不要再玷污我们家的门槛！我真不明白当初我们怎么会把你留下？玛姬说得对，应该把你送到孤儿院去。我们心肠太软了，到头来自己倒霉，我们以为能铲除你身上的孽根，以为能把你变成一个正常人，没想到你从一开始就不可救药，我受够了——猫头鹰！”

'Hang on,' said Uncle Vernon, looking from his wife to Harry and back again, apparently dazed and confused by the unprecedented understanding that seemed to have sprung up between them. 'Hang on. This Lord Voldything's back, you say.'

第五只猫头鹰嗖的一声从烟囱里蹿了下来，因速度太快，一头撞在地上，它尖厉地叫了一声，又忽地腾空飞起。哈利举起一只手去抓那个鲜红色的信封，可猫头鹰掠过他的头顶，径直朝佩妮姨妈飞去。佩妮姨妈尖叫一声，抬起两只胳膊护住脸，闪身躲避。猫头鹰把红信封扔在她头上，转身又从烟囱里飞了出去。

'Yes.'

哈利冲过去捡那封信，但佩妮姨妈抢先把信拿在了手里。

The one who murdered your parents.'

“如果你愿意，你可以打开，”哈利说，“反正我能听见里面说些什么。这是一封吼叫信。”

'Yes.'

“扔掉它，佩妮！”弗农姨父大声吼道，“别碰它，可能会有危险的！”

'And now he's sending Dismembers after you?'

“信是写给我的，”佩妮姨妈声音颤抖地说道，“写着我的名字，弗农，你看！女贞路四号，厨房，佩妮德思礼夫人——”她喘不过气来，完全吓坏了。

'Looks like it,' said Harry.

这时红信封开始冒烟了。

T see,' said Uncle Vernon, looking from his white-faced wife to Harry and hitching up his trousers. He seemed to be swelling, his

“快打开！”哈利催促道，“让它快点结束！你逃不过去的。”

great purple face stretching before Harry's eyes. 'Well, that settles it,' he said, his shirt front straining as he inflated himself, 'you can get out of this house, boy!'

“不。”

'What?' said Harry.

佩妮姨妈的手在颤抖着。她惊慌失措地环顾着厨房，似乎在寻找一条逃生之路，可是来不及了——信封蹿出了火苗。佩妮姨妈失声尖叫，扔掉了信封。一个可怕的声音从落在桌上的那封燃烧的信里传了出来，充满了整个厨房，在有限的空间里回荡着。

'You heard me - OUT!' Uncle Vernon bellowed, and even Aunt Petunia and Dudley jumped. 'OUT! OUT! I should've done this years ago! Owls treating the place like a rest home, puddings exploding, half the lounge destroyed, Dudley's tail, Marge bobbing around on the ceiling and that flying Ford Anglia - OUT! OUT! You've had it! You're history! You're not staying here if some loony's after you, you're not endangering my wife and son, you're not bringing trouble down on us. It you're going the same way as your useless parents, I've had it! OUT!'

记住我最后的，佩妮。

Harry stood rooted to the spot. The letters from the Ministry, Mr Weasley and Sirius were all crushed in his left hand. Don't leave the house again, whatever you do. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE.

佩妮姨妈看上去似乎要晕倒了。她跌坐在达力旁边的椅子上，用两只手捂着脸。信封剩下来的残片在寂静中化成了灰烬。

'You heard me!' said Uncle Vernon, bending forwards now, his massive purple face coming so close to Harry's, he actually felt flecks of spit hit his face. 'Get going! You were all keen to leave half an hour ago! I'm right behind you! Get out and never darken our doorstep again! Why we ever kept you in the first place, I don't know, Marge was right, it should have been the orphanage. We were too damn soft for our own good, thought we could squash it out of you, thought we could turn you normal, but you've been rotten from the beginning and I've had enough - owls!'

“这是什么？”弗农姨父声音嘶哑地说，“什么——我不明——佩妮？”

The fifth owl zoomed down the chimney so fast it actually hit the floor before zooming into the air again with a loud screech. Harry raised his hand to seize the letter, which was in a scarlet envelope, but it soared straight over his head, flying directly at Aunt Petunia, who let out a scream and ducked, her arms over her face. The owl dropped the red envelope on her head, turned, and flew straight back up the chimney.

佩妮姨妈什么也投说。达力呆呆地瞪着他母亲，嘴巴张得大大的。寂静在可怕地升级。哈利无比惊愕地望着姨妈，脑袋疼得像要裂开一般。

Harry darted forwards to pick up the letter, but Aunt Petunia beat him to it.

“佩妮，亲爱的？”弗农姨父怯生生地问，“佩——佩妮？”

'You can open it if you like,' said Harry, 'but I'll hear what it says anyway. That's a Howler.'

佩妮姨妈抬起头。她仍然抖个不停，费力地咽了口唾沫。

'Let go of it, Petunia!' roared Uncle Vernon. 'Don't touch it, it could be dangerous!'

“那孩子——那孩子必须留在这里，弗农。”她有气无力地说。

'It's addressed to me,' said Aunt Petunia in a shaking voice. 'It's addressed to me, Vernon, look! Mrs Petunia Dursley, The Kitchen, Number Four, Privet Drive - '

“什——什么？”

She caught her breath, horrified. The red envelope had begun to smoke.

“他留在这里。”她说，但眼睛没有望着哈利。她重新站了起来。

'Open it!' Harry urged her. 'Get it over with! It'll happen anyway.'

“他——可是佩妮——”

'No.'

“如果我们把他赶出去，邻居们会说闲话的。”她说。她很快恢复了平日里那种精干、严厉的傲派，尽管脸色仍然十分苍白，“他们会问一些令人尴尬的问题，他们会打听他上哪儿去了。我们必须把他留下。”

Aunt Petunia's hand was trembling. She looked wildly around the kitchen as though looking for an escape route, but too late - the envelope burst into flames. Aunt Petunia screamed and dropped it.

弗农姨父像只旧轮胎一样泄了气。“可是佩妮。亲爱的——”

An awful voice filled the kitchen, echoing in the confined space, issuing from the burning letter on the table.

佩妮姨妈没有理睬他，而是转向了哈利。“你必须待在自己的房间里，”她说，“不许离开这所房子。现在上床去吧。”

'Remember my last, Petunia.'

哈利没有动弹，“那封吼叫信是谁寄来的？”

Aunt Petunia looked as though she might faint. She sank into the chair beside Dudley, her face in her hands. The remains of the envelope smouldered into ash in the silence.

“别问东问西了。”佩妮姨妈厉声呵斥道。

'What is this?' Uncle Vernon said hoarsely. 'What - I don't - 'Petunia?'

“你跟巫师有联系？”

Aunt Petunia said nothing. Dudley was staring stupidly at his mother, his mouth hanging open. The silence spiralled horribly. Harry was watching his aunt, utterly bewildered, his head throbbing fit to burst.

“我叫你上床去！”

'Petunia, dear?' said Uncle Vernon timidly. 'P-Petunia?'

“那句话是什么意思？记住最后的什么？”

She raised her head. She was still trembling. She swallowed.

“上床去！”

'The boy - the boy will have to stay, Vernon,' she said weakly.

“怎么会——？”

'W-what?'

“听见你姨妈的话了吗！快上床去！”

'He stays,' she said. She was not looking at Harry. She got to her feet again.

'He . . . but Petunia . . .'

'If we throw him out, the neighbours will talk,' she said. She was rapidly regaining her usual brisk, snappish manner, though she was still very pale. 'They'll ask awkward questions, they'll want to know where he's gone. We'll have to keep him.'

Uncle Vernon was deflating like an old tyre.

'But Petunia, dear - '

Aunt Petunia ignored him. She turned to Harry.

'You're to stay in your room,' she said. 'You're not to leave the house. Now get to bed.'

Harry didn't move.

'Who was that Howler from?'

'Don't ask questions,' Aunt Petunia snapped.

'Are you in touch with wizards?'

'I told you to get to bed!'

'What did it mean? Remember the last what?'

'Go to bed!'

'How come - ?'

'YOU HEARD YOUR AUNT, NOW GO UP TO BED!'