哈利·波特与混血王子 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 英文  中文  双语对照  双语交替 首页  目录  上一章   下一章

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CHAPTER TWO SPINNER’S END	第二章　蜘蛛尾巷
Many miles away the chilly mist that had pressed against the Prime Minister’s windows drifted over a dirty river that wound between overgrown, rubbish-strewn banks. An immense chimney, relic of a disused mill, reared up, shadowy and ominous. There was no sound apart from the whisper of the black water and no sign of life apart from a scrawny fox that had slunk down the bank to nose hopefully at some old fish-and-chip wrappings in the tall grass.	许多英里之外，曾经在首相的窗户外游荡的雾气，此刻正在一条肮脏的河流上飘浮。这条河蜿蜒曲折，两岸杂草蔓生，垃圾成堆。一根巨大的烟囱，那是一个废弃的磨坊留下的遗物，高高地耸立着，阴森森的，透着不祥。四下里没有声音，只有黑黢黢的河水在呜咽，也没有任何生命的迹象，只有一只精瘦的狐狸偷偷溜下河岸，满怀希望地嗅着深深的杂草丛中几只炸鱼和炸土豆片的包装纸。
But then, with a very faint pop, a slim, hooded figure appeared out of thin air on the edge of the river. The fox froze, wary eyes fixed upon this strange new phenomenon. The figure seemed to take its bearings for a few moments, then set off with light, quick strides, its long cloak rustling over the grass.	这时，随着噗的一声轻响，河边凭空出现了一个戴着兜帽的细长身影。狐狸惊呆了，一双警觉的眼睛盯着这个新出现的奇怪身影。那身影似乎在弄清自己的方位，过了片刻，便迈着轻快的大步往前走去，长长的斗篷拂过草地沙沙作响。
With a second and louder pop, another hooded figure materialized.	又是噗的一声，比刚才那声更响，又一个戴兜帽的身影显形了。
“Wait!”	“等等！”
The harsh cry startled the fox, now crouching almost flat in the undergrowth. It leapt from its hiding place and up the bank. There was a flash of green light, a yelp, and the fox fell back to the ground, dead.	狐狸此刻几乎是趴在低矮的灌木丛里，听到这声沙哑的喊叫，更是吓坏了。它嗖地从藏身的地方蹿了出来，往岸上跑去。一道绿光，一声尖叫，狐狸跌倒在地上，死了。
The second figure turned over the animal with its toe.	第二个身影用脚尖踢了踢狐狸，把它翻了过来。
“Just a fox,” said a woman’s voice dismissively from under the hood. “I thought perhaps an Auror — Cissy, wait!”	“原来只是一只狐狸，”兜帽下传出一个女人不屑的声音，“我还以为是傲罗呢——西茜，等一等！”
But her quarry, who had paused and looked back at the flash of light, was already scrambling up the bank the fox had just fallen down.	可是，被她追赶的那个人刚才只是停下来看了看那道闪光，这时正往狐狸刚才摔下来的河岸上爬去。
“Cissy — Narcissa — listen to me —”	“西茜——纳西莎——你听我说——”
The second woman caught the first and seized her arm, but the other wrenched it away.	第二个女人赶上第一个女人，抓住她的胳膊，但被她挣脱开了。
“Go back, Bella!”	“回去，贝拉！”
“You must listen to me!”	“你必须听我说！”
“I’ve listened already. I’ve made my decision. Leave me alone!”	“我已经听过了。我的决心已定，你别来管我！”
The woman named Narcissa gained the top of the bank, where a line of old railings separated the river from a narrow, cobbled street. The other woman, Bella, followed at once. Side by side they stood looking across the road at the rows and rows of dilapidated brick houses, their windows dull and blind in the darkness.	那个叫纳西莎的女人爬到了河岸上，一道旧栏杆把河流和一条窄窄的卵石巷隔开了。另一个女人，贝拉，立刻跟了上来。她们并排站在那里，望着小巷那边一排排破旧的砖房，房子上的窗户在夜色中显得黑洞洞的，毫无生气。
“He lives here?” asked Bella in a voice of contempt. “Here? In this Muggle dunghill? We must be the first of our kind ever to set foot —”	“他就住在这儿？”贝拉用轻蔑的口气问，“这儿？这麻瓜的垃圾堆里？我们的人以前肯定没有光顾过——”
But Narcissa was not listening; she had slipped through a gap in the rusty railings and was already hurrying across the road.	可是纳西莎并没有听。她已经从锈迹斑斑的栏杆的一处豁口钻了过去，正匆匆地穿过小巷。
“Cissy, wait!”	“西茜，等一等！”
Bella followed, her cloak streaming behind, and saw Narcissa darting through an alley between the houses into a second, almost identical street. Some of the streetlamps were broken; the two women were running between patches of light and deep darkness. The pursuer caught up with her prey just as she turned another corner, this time succeeding in catching hold of her arm and swinging her around so that they faced each other.	贝拉跟了过去，她的斗篷在身后飘摆着。她看见纳西莎飞快地穿过房屋之间的一条小巷，拐进另一条几乎一模一样的街道。有几盏路灯已经坏了，两个奔跑的女人时而被灯光照亮，时而被黑暗笼罩。就在前面的那个女人拐过另一个街角时，后面的那个追上了她，这次总算一把抓住了她的胳膊，把她拽得转过身来，两个人面对面站住了。
“Cissy, you must not do this, you can’t trust him —”	“西茜，你千万不能这么做，你不能相信他——”
“The Dark Lord trusts him, doesn’t he?”	“连黑魔王都相信他，不是吗？”
“The Dark Lord is . . . I believe . . . mistaken,” Bella panted, and her eyes gleamed momentarily under her hood as she looked around to check that they were indeed alone. “In any case, we were told not to speak of the plan to anyone. This is a betrayal of the Dark Lord’s —”	“黑魔王准是……我相信……准是弄错了。”贝拉气喘吁吁地说。她左右看看是不是有人，两只眼睛在兜帽下一闪一闪的。“不管怎么说，我们不能把计划透露给任何人。那意味着出卖了黑魔王的——”
“Let go, Bella!” snarled Narcissa, and she drew a wand from beneath her cloak, holding it threateningly in the other’s face. Bella merely laughed.	“放开我，贝拉！”纳西莎吼道，从斗篷里面抽出一根魔杖，威胁地举在对方面前。
“Cissy, your own sister? You wouldn’t —”	贝拉只是笑了笑。“西茜，对你亲姐姐这样？你不会——”
“There is nothing I wouldn’t do anymore!” Narcissa breathed, a note of hysteria in her voice, and as she brought down the wand like a knife, there was another flash of light. Bella let go of her sister’s arm as though burned.	“现在没有什么事情是我做不出来的！”纳西莎压低声音说，语气里透着一丝歇斯底里，她把魔杖像刀子似的往下一砍，又是一道闪光，贝拉像是被火烧着了一样，顿时松开了妹妹的胳膊。
“Narcissa!”	“纳西莎！”
But Narcissa had rushed ahead. Rubbing her hand, her pursuer followed again, keeping her distance now, as they moved deeper into the deserted labyrinth of brick houses. At last, Narcissa hurried up a street named Spinner’s End, over which the towering mill chimney seemed to hover like a giant admonitory finger. Her footsteps echoed on the cobbles as she passed boarded and broken windows, until she reached the very last house, where a dim light glimmered through the curtains in a downstairs room.	可是纳西莎已经往前冲去。贝拉揉了揉手，再次跟了上去，不过现在她跟纳西莎保持着一段距离，两人就这样走进了那些迷宫般的废砖房的更深处。最后，纳西莎快步走上一条名叫蜘蛛尾巷的街道，那根高高的磨坊烟囱耸立在天空，就像一根举起的表示警告的巨大手指。她走过一扇扇用木板钉着的破旧的窗户，踏在鹅卵石上的脚步发出阵阵回音。她来到最后一幢房子跟前，楼下一个房间的窗帘缝里透出昏暗的灯光。
She had knocked on the door before Bella, cursing under her breath, had caught up. Together they stood waiting, panting slightly, breathing in the smell of the dirty river that was carried to them on the night breeze. After a few seconds, they heard movement behind the door and it opened a crack. A sliver of a man could be seen looking out at them, a man with long black hair parted in curtains around a sallow face and black eyes.	当贝拉骂骂咧咧地赶上来时，她已经敲响了门。她们一起站在门外等着，微微喘着粗气，嗅着被晚风吹过来的那条污水河的气味。过了几秒钟，她们听见门后面有了动静，接着门被打开了一条缝，一个男人朝她们张望着，乌黑的长发像帘子一样披在两边，中间是一张灰黄色的脸和一双乌黑的眼睛。
Narcissa threw back her hood. She was so pale that she seemed to shine in the darkness; the long blonde hair streaming down her back gave her the look of a drowned person.	纳西莎把兜帽掀到脑后。她的脸色十分苍白，在夜色中仿佛泛着白光，一头金色的长发披散在背后，使她看上去像一个溺水而死的人。
“Narcissa!” said the man, opening the door a little wider, so that the light fell upon her and her sister too. “What a pleasant surprise!	“纳西莎！”男人说着把门缝开得大了一些，灯光不仅照到了她，也照到了她的姐姐。“真是令人又惊又喜！”
“Severus,” she said in a strained whisper. “May I speak to you? It’s urgent.”	“西弗勒斯，”纳西莎紧张地小声说道，“我可以跟你谈谈吗？事情非常紧急。”
“But of course.”	“当然。”
He stood back to allow her to pass him into the house. Her stillhooded sister followed without invitation.	他退后一步，把她让进了屋里。她那仍然戴着兜帽的姐姐也跟了进来，尽管没有受到邀请。
“Snape,” she said curtly as she passed him.	“斯内普。”经过他身边时，她简单地招呼了一声。
“Bellatrix,” he replied, his thin mouth curling into a slightly mocking smile as he closed the door with a snap behind them.	“贝拉特里克斯。”斯内普回道，薄薄的嘴唇扭曲成一个略带讥讽的微笑，咔哒一声在她们身后关上了门。
They had stepped directly into a tiny sitting room, which had the feeling of a dark, padded cell. The walls were completely covered in books, most of them bound in old black or brown leather; a threadbare sofa, an old armchair, and a rickety table stood grouped together in a pool of dim light cast by a candle-filled lamp hung from the ceiling. The place had an air of neglect, as though it was not usually inhabited.	她们直接走进了一间小小的客厅，这里给人的感觉像是一间昏暗的软壁牢房①。几面墙都是书，其中大部分是古旧的黑色或褐色的皮封面；一盏点着蜡烛的灯从天花板上垂落下来，投下一道昏暗的光圈，光圈里挤挤挨挨地放着一张磨损起毛的沙发、一把旧扶手椅和一张摇摇晃晃的桌子。这地方有一种荒凉冷清的气息，似乎平常没有人居住。
Snape gestured Narcissa to the sofa. She threw off her cloak, cast it aside, and sat down, staring at her white and trembling hands clasped in her lap. Bellatrix lowered her hood more slowly. Dark as her sister was fair, with heavily lidded eyes and a strong jaw, she did not take her gaze from Snape as she moved to stand behind Narcissa.	斯内普示意纳西莎坐在沙发上。纳西莎脱掉斗篷扔到一边，坐了下来，眼睛盯着自己那双交叉在膝盖上的苍白颤抖的手。贝拉特里克斯慢慢地放下兜帽。她妹妹白得惊人，她的皮肤却很黑，厚厚的眼皮，宽宽的下巴。她走过去站在纳西莎身后，目光一刻也没有离开斯内普。
“So, what can I do for you?” Snape asked, settling himself in the armchair opposite the two sisters.	“那么，我能为你做什么呢？”斯内普在姐妹俩对面的扶手椅上坐了下来，问道。
“We . . . we are alone, aren’t we?” Narcissa asked quietly.	“这里……这里没有别人吧？”纳西莎轻声问。
“Yes, of course. Well, Wormtail’s here, but we’re not counting vermin, are we?”	“当然没有。噢，对了，虫尾巴在这里，不过我们不把害虫计算在内，是不是？”
He pointed his wand at the wall of books behind him and with a bang, a hidden door flew open, revealing a narrow staircase upon which a small man stood frozen.	他用魔杖一指他身后那面书墙，砰的一声，一扇暗门打开了，露出一道窄窄的楼梯，一个小个子男人呆若木鸡地站在上面。
“As you have clearly realized, Wormtail, we have guests,” said Snape lazily.	“想必你已经很清楚，虫尾巴，我们来客人了。”斯内普懒洋洋地说。
The man crept, hunchbacked, down the last few steps and moved into the room. He had small, watery eyes, a pointed nose, and wore an unpleasant simper. His left hand was caressing his right, which looked as though it was encased in a bright silver glove.	那个男人弓着腰走下最后几级楼梯，来到房间里。他长着一双水汪汪的小眼睛，尖鼻子，脸上堆着不自然的假笑。他用左手抚摸着右手，右手看上去像是戴着一只银亮的白手套。
“Narcissa!” he said, in a squeaky voice. “And Bellatrix! How charming —”	“纳西莎！”他用吱吱的声音说，“贝拉特里克斯！多么迷人——”
“Wormtail will get us drinks, if you’d like them,” said Snape. “And then he will return to his bedroom.”	“如果你们愿意的话，虫尾巴会给我们端来饮料，”斯内普说，“然后他就会回到他自己的卧室去。”
Wormtail winced as though Snape had thrown something at him.	虫尾巴闪身一躲，好像斯内普朝他扔出了什么东西。
“I am not your servant!” he squeaked, avoiding Snape’s eye.	“我不是你的仆人！”他躲闪着斯内普的目光，用吱吱的声音说。
“Really? I was under the impression that the Dark Lord placed you here to assist me.”	“是吗？我以为黑魔王把你安排在这里是为了帮助我的。”
“To assist, yes — but not to make you drinks and — and clean your house!”	“帮助，没错——但不是给你端饮料，也不是——给你打扫房间！”
“I had no idea, Wormtail, that you were craving more dangerous assignments,” said Snape silkily. “This can be easily arranged: I shall speak to the Dark Lord —”	“虫尾巴，没想到你还渴望得到更危险的任务。”斯内普用油滑的腔调说，“这很容易办到，我去跟黑魔王说——”
“I can speak to him myself if I want to!”	“如果我愿意，我自己会跟他说的！”
“Of course you can,” said Snape, sneering. “But in the meantime, bring us drinks. Some of the elf-made wine will do.”	“你当然可以。”斯内普讥笑着说道，“至于眼下嘛，你还是给我们端饮料吧。来一点儿小精灵酿的葡萄酒就行。”
Wormtail hesitated for a moment, looking as though he might argue, but then turned and headed through a second hidden door. They heard banging and a clinking of glasses. Within seconds he was back, bearing a dusty bottle and three glasses upon a tray. He dropped these on the rickety table and scurried from their presence, slamming the book-covered door behind him.	虫尾巴迟疑了片刻，似乎还想争辩一番，但他还是转过身，从另一道暗门出去了。她们听见了砰砰的声音，还听见了玻璃杯丁当的碰撞声。几秒钟后他回来了，用托盘端着一只脏兮兮的酒瓶和三只玻璃杯。他把托盘放在那张摇摇晃晃的桌子上，立刻三步并作两步地离开了，重重地关上了那扇被书隐藏的门。
Snape poured out three glasses of bloodred wine and handed two of them to the sisters. Narcissa murmured a word of thanks, whilst Bellatrix said nothing, but continued to glower at Snape. This did not seem to discompose him; on the contrary, he looked rather amused.	斯内普倒出三杯红色的葡萄酒，递了两杯给姐妹俩。纳西莎嘟哝了一句“谢谢”，贝拉特里克斯什么也没说，继续狠狠地瞪着斯内普。但这似乎并没有让斯内普感到局促不安，他好像觉得这挺好笑的。
“The Dark Lord,” he said, raising his glass and draining it.	“为了黑魔王。”他说着举起杯子，一饮而尽。
The sisters copied him. Snape refilled their glasses. As Narcissa took her second drink she said in a rush, “Severus, I’m sorry to come here like this, but I had to see you. I think you are the only one who can help me —”	姐妹俩也举起杯子一口喝干了。斯内普又把她们的杯子斟满。
Snape held up a hand to stop her, then pointed his wand again at the concealed staircase door. There was a loud bang and a squeal, followed by the sound of Wormtail scurrying back up the stairs.	纳西莎接过第二杯酒，一口气说开了：“西弗勒斯，真对不起，这个样子来打扰你，可是我必须来见你。我想，只有你一个人能帮助我——”
“My apologies,” said Snape. “He has lately taken to listening at doors, I don’t know what he means by it. . . . You were saying, Narcissa?”	斯内普举起一只手制止了她，然后再次用魔杖一指那道楼梯暗门。只听砰的一声巨响和一声尖叫，接着便是虫尾巴慌忙逃上楼去的声音。
She took a great, shuddering breath and started again.	“抱歉，”斯内普说，“他最近养成了爱偷听的毛病，真不明白他这么做是什么意思……你刚才说到哪儿了，纳西莎？”
“Severus, I know I ought not to be here, I have been told to say nothing to anyone, but —”	纳西莎颤抖着深深吸了口气，又开始说了起来。
“Then you ought to hold your tongue!” snarled Bellatrix. “Particularly in present company!”	“西弗勒斯，我知道我不该来这儿，我被告知，对什么人也不能说的，可是——”
“ ‘Present company’?” repeated Snape sardonically. “And what am I to understand by that, Bellatrix?”	“那你就应该管住你的舌头！”贝拉特里克斯吼道，“特别是当着眼前这个人！”
“That I don’t trust you, Snape, as you very well know!”	“‘眼前这个人’？”斯内普讥讽地重复道，“这话我该作何理解，贝拉特里克斯？”
Narcissa let out a noise that might have been a dry sob and covered her face with her hands. Snape set his glass down upon the table and sat back again, his hands upon the arms of his chair, smiling into Bellatrix’s glowering face.	“就是我不相信你，斯内普，其实你心里很明白！”
“Narcissa, I think we ought to hear what Bellatrix is bursting to say; it will save tedious interruptions. Well, continue, Bellatrix,” said Snape. “Why is it that you do not trust me?”	纳西莎发出了一点声音，像是无泪的抽泣，然后用手捂住了脸。斯内普把杯子放在桌上，身体往椅背上一靠，两只手搭在椅子的扶手上，笑眯眯地看着贝拉特里克斯那张怒气冲冲的脸。
“A hundred reasons!” she said loudly, striding out from behind the sofa to slam her glass upon the table. “Where to start! Where were you when the Dark Lord fell? Why did you never make any attempt to find him when he vanished? What have you been doing all these years that you’ve lived in Dumbledore’s pocket? Why did you stop the Dark Lord procuring the Sorcerer’s Stone? Why did you not return at once when the Dark Lord was reborn? Where were you a few weeks ago when we battled to retrieve the prophecy for the Dark Lord? And why, Snape, is Harry Potter still alive, when you have had him at your mercy for five years?”	“纳西莎，我认为我们最好听听贝拉特里克斯迫不及待地想说些什么，免得她没完没了地打搅我们。好了，你接着说吧，贝拉特里克斯，”斯内普说，“你为什么不相信我？”
She paused, her chest rising and falling rapidly, the color high in her cheeks. Behind her, Narcissa sat motionless, her face still hidden in her hands.	“有一百个理由！”贝拉特里克斯一边大声说着一边从沙发后面大步走了过来，把杯子重重地放在桌子上。“从哪儿说起呢？黑魔王失势时，你在哪儿？他消失后，你为什么不做任何努力去寻找他？这些年来，你在邓布利多手下苟且偷生，究竟做了些什么？你为什么阻止黑魔王得到魔法石？黑魔王复活后，你为什么没有立刻回来？几个星期前，我们奋勇战斗，为黑魔王夺取预言球时，你又在哪儿？还有，斯内普，哈利·波特为什么还活着？他有五年时间可以随你任意处置！”
Snape smiled.	她停了下来，胸脯剧烈地起伏着，面颊涨得通红。在她身后，纳西莎一动不动地坐着，脸仍然埋在双手里。
“Before I answer you — oh yes, Bellatrix, I am going to answer! You can carry my words back to the others who whisper behind my back, and carry false tales of my treachery to the Dark Lord! Before I answer you, I say, let me ask a question in turn. Do you really think that the Dark Lord has not asked me each and every one of those questions? And do you really think that, had I not been able to give satisfactory answers, I would be sitting here talking to you?”	斯内普笑了。
She hesitated.	“在我回答你之前——噢，没错，贝拉特里克斯，我是要回答你的！你可以把我的话转告给那些在背后议论我的人，可以把关于我叛变的不实之词汇报给黑魔王！但在我回答你之前，先让我问你一个问题。你真的认为黑魔王没有问过我这每一个问题吗？你真的认为，如果我没有给出令人满意的答案，我还能坐在这儿跟你说话吗？”
“I know he believes you, but . . .”	她迟疑着。
“You think he is mistaken? Or that I have somehow hoodwinked him? Fooled the Dark Lord, the greatest wizard, the most accomplished Legilimens the world has ever seen?”	“我知道他相信你，但——”
Bellatrix said nothing, but looked, for the first time, a little discomfited. Snape did not press the point. He picked up his drink again, sipped it, and continued, “You ask where I was when the Dark Lord fell. I was where he had ordered me to be, at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, because he wished me to spy upon Albus Dumbledore. You know, I presume, that it was on the Dark Lord’s orders that I took up the post?”	“你认为他弄错了？或者我竟然骗过了他？竟然捉弄了黑魔王——人类有史以来最伟大的巫师，世界上最有成就的摄神取念高手？”
She nodded almost imperceptibly and then opened her mouth, but Snape forestalled her.	贝拉特里克斯没有说话，但她的神情第一次显得有点困惑。斯内普没有抓住不放。他重新端起杯子，喝了一小口，继续说道：“你刚才问，黑魔王失势时，我在哪儿。我在他命令我去的地方，在霍格沃茨魔法学校，因为他希望我在那儿暗中监视阿不思·邓布利多。我猜你肯定知道，我是听从黑魔王的吩咐才接受那个教职的吧？”
“You ask why I did not attempt to find him when he vanished. For the same reason that Avery, Yaxley, the Carrows, Greyback, Lucius” — he inclined his head slightly to Narcissa — “and many others did not attempt to find him. I believed him finished. I am not proud of it, I was wrong, but there it is. . . . If he had not forgiven we who lost faith at that time, he would have very few followers left.”	她几乎不易察觉地点了点头，张开嘴想说话，但斯内普抢先阻止了她。
“He’d have me!” said Bellatrix passionately. “I, who spent many years in Azkaban for him!”	“你还问，当他消失后，我为什么没有努力去寻找他。我没有去寻找他的原因，跟埃弗利、亚克斯利、卡罗夫妇、格雷伯克、卢修斯，”他朝纳西莎微微偏了偏脑袋，“以及其他许多人一样。我以为他完蛋了。我并不为此感到自豪，我做错了，但情况就是这样……如果他不能原谅我们在那个时候失去信心，他的追随者就所剩无几了。”
“Yes, indeed, most admirable,” said Snape in a bored voice. “Of course, you weren’t a lot of use to him in prison, but the gesture was undoubtedly fine —”	“他还有我！”贝拉特里克斯激动地说，“为了他，我在阿兹卡班蹲了许多年！”
“Gesture!” she shrieked; in her fury she looked slightly mad. “While I endured the dementors, you remained at Hogwarts, comfortably playing Dumbledore’s pet!”	“是啊，是啊，精神可嘉。”斯内普用干巴巴的声音说，“当然啦，你在监狱里待着，对他并没有多大用处，但这种姿态无疑是很好的——”
“Not quite,” said Snape calmly. “He wouldn’t give me the Defense Against the Dark Arts job, you know. Seemed to think it might, ah, bring about a relapse . . . tempt me into my old ways.”	“姿态！”她尖叫起来，盛怒之下的她，看上去有点疯狂。“我忍受摄魂怪的折磨时，你却躲在霍格沃茨，舒舒服服地扮演邓布利多的宠儿！”
“This was your sacrifice for the Dark Lord, not to teach your favorite subject?” she jeered. “Why did you stay there all that time, Snape? Still spying on Dumbledore for a master you believed dead?”	“并不尽然，”斯内普心平气和地说道，“他不肯把黑魔法防御术的教职给我，你知道的。他似乎认为那会使我重新堕落……引诱我重走过去的老路。”
“Hardly,” said Snape, “although the Dark Lord is pleased that I never deserted my post: I had sixteen years of information on Dumbledore to give him when he returned, a rather more useful welcome-back present than endless reminiscences of how unpleasant Azkaban is. . . .”	“那就是你为黑魔王所做的牺牲吗？不能教你最喜欢的科目？”她讥笑道，“你为什么一直待在那儿，斯内普？仍然在暗中监视邓布利多，为了一个你相信已经死去的主人？”
“But you stayed —”	“也许不是，”斯内普说道，“不过黑魔王很高兴我没有放弃教职：他回来时，我可以向他提供十六年来关于邓布利多的情报，比起没完没了地回忆阿兹卡班的悲惨境况来，这可是一件更有价值的见面礼……”
“Yes, Bellatrix, I stayed,” said Snape, betraying a hint of impatience for the first time. “I had a comfortable job that I preferred to a stint in Azkaban. They were rounding up the Death Eaters, you know. Dumbledore’s protection kept me out of jail; it was most convenient and I used it. I repeat: The Dark Lord does not complain that I stayed, so I do not see why you do.	“可是你留下来了——”
“I think you next wanted to know,” he pressed on, a little more loudly, for Bellatrix showed every sign of interrupting, “why I stood between the Dark Lord and the Sorcerer’s Stone. That is easily answered. He did not know whether he could trust me. He thought, like you, that I had turned from faithful Death Eater to Dumbledore’s stooge. He was in a pitiable condition, very weak, sharing the body of a mediocre wizard. He did not dare reveal himself to a former ally if that ally might turn him over to Dumbledore or the Ministry. I deeply regret that he did not trust me. He would have returned to power three years sooner. As it was, I saw only greedy and unworthy Quirrell attempting to steal the stone and, I admit, I did all I could to thwart him.”	“是的，贝拉特里克斯，我留下来了。”斯内普说，第一次流露出不耐烦。“我有一份舒适的工作，何苦到阿兹卡班去坐牢呢？你知道，他们当时在围捕食死徒。邓布利多的保护使我免受牢狱之苦，这么便利的条件，我不用白不用。我再重复一遍：黑魔王都没有埋怨我留下来，我不明白你凭什么说三道四。
Bellatrix’s mouth twisted as though she had taken an unpleasant dose of medicine.	“我想，接下来你想知道的是，”他步步紧逼，并略微提高了嗓音，因为贝拉特里克斯明显表示出要打断他的话，“我为什么阻止黑魔王得到魔法石。这个问题很容易回答。他不知道他可不可以相信我。他和你一样以为，我已经从一个忠实的食死徒变成了邓布利多的走狗。他当时的处境很可怜，非常虚弱，跟一个平庸的巫师共用一具身体。他不敢把自己暴露给一个昔日的支持者，万一那个支持者向邓布利多或魔法部告发他呢？他没有相信我，我感到非常遗憾。不然，他可以早三年东山再起。当时，我看见的只是贪婪、无能的奇洛想要偷取魔法石，我承认，我尽我的力量阻止了他。”
“But you didn’t return when he came back, you didn’t fly back to him at once when you felt the Dark Mark burn —”	贝拉特里克斯的嘴唇嚅动着，似乎吞下了一剂特别难吃的药。
“Correct. I returned two hours later. I returned on Dumbledore’s orders.”	“可是当他复出时，你没有立刻回来，当你感觉到黑魔标记在烧灼时，也没有火速跑到他身边——”
“On Dumbledore’s — ?” she began, in tones of outrage.	“不错。我是两个小时之后才回去的。我是听从邓布利多的吩咐回去的。”
“Think!” said Snape, impatient again. “Think! By waiting two hours, just two hours, I ensured that I could remain at Hogwarts as a spy! By allowing Dumbledore to think that I was only returning to the Dark Lord’s side because I was ordered to, I have been able to pass information on Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix ever since! Consider, Bellatrix: The Dark Mark had been growing stronger for months. I knew he must be about to return, all the Death Eaters knew! I had plenty of time to think about what I wanted to do, to plan my next move, to escape like Karkaroff, didn’t I?	“听从邓布利多的——”她怒不可遏地说。
“The Dark Lord’s initial displeasure at my lateness vanished entirely, I assure you, when I explained that I remained faithful, although Dumbledore thought I was his man. Yes, the Dark Lord thought that I had left him forever, but he was wrong.”	“想想吧！”斯内普又一次显露出了不耐烦，“想想吧！就等了那么两个小时，短短的两个小时，我保证了我可以继续留在霍格沃茨做密探！我让邓布利多以为，我回到黑魔王身边是听从他的吩咐才这么做的，这样我就能源源不断地汇报邓布利多和凤凰社的情报！你考虑一下，贝拉特里克斯，在那几个月里，黑魔标记越来越清晰，我就知道他肯定要复出了，所有的食死徒都知道了！我有足够的时间考虑我该何去何从，计划我下一步该做什么，比如像卡卡洛夫那样逃之夭夭，不是吗？
“But what use have you been?” sneered Bellatrix. “What useful information have we had from you?”	“我向黑魔王解释，我一直对他忠心耿耿，尽管邓布利多以为我是他的人。听了我的解释，黑魔王因为我晚去而产生的不满就消失得无影无踪了。是的，黑魔王本以为我永远离开了他，但是他错了。”
“My information has been conveyed directly to the Dark Lord,” said Snape. “If he chooses not to share it with you —”	“但是你起过什么作用呢？”贝拉特里克斯讥讽地问，“我们从你那儿得到过什么有用的情报呢？”
“He shares everything with me!” said Bellatrix, firing up at once. “He calls me his most loyal, his most faithful —”	“我的情报是直接传给黑魔王的，”斯内普说，“既然他没有把它们告诉你——”
“Does he?” said Snape, his voice delicately inflected to suggest his disbelief. “Does he still, after the fiasco at the Ministry?”	“他什么都会告诉我的！”贝拉特里克斯立刻火冒三丈，“他说我是他最忠诚、最可靠的——”
“That was not my fault!” said Bellatrix, flushing. “The Dark Lord has, in the past, entrusted me with his most precious — if Lucius hadn’t —”	“是吗？”斯内普说，微微变了声调，表示不相信，“在遭遇了魔法部的那场失败之后，他仍然这么说吗？”
“Don’t you dare — don’t you dare blame my husband!” said Narcissa, in a low and deadly voice, looking up at her sister.	“那不是我的错！”贝拉特里克斯红着脸说，“过去，黑魔王把他最宝贵的东西都托我保管——如果不是卢修斯——”
“There is no point apportioning blame,” said Snape smoothly. “What is done, is done.”	“你怎么敢——你怎么敢说是我丈夫的错！”纳西莎用低沉的、恶狠狠的声音说，抬头望着她姐姐。
“But not by you!” said Bellatrix furiously. “No, you were once again absent while the rest of us ran dangers, were you not, Snape?”	“追究是谁的过错已经没有用了，”斯内普不动声色地说，“该做的已经做了。”
“My orders were to remain behind,” said Snape. “Perhaps you disagree with the Dark Lord, perhaps you think that Dumbledore would not have noticed if I had joined forces with the Death Eaters to fight the Order of the Phoenix? And — forgive me — you speak of dangers . . . you were facing six teenagers, were you not?”	“但你什么都没做！”贝拉特里克斯气愤地说，“是啊，我们其他人都在冒着危险，出生入死，你却又一次不在场，是不是，斯内普？”
“They were joined, as you very well know, by half of the Order before long!” snarled Bellatrix. “And, while we are on the subject of the Order, you still claim you cannot reveal the whereabouts of their headquarters, don’t you?”	“我得到的命令是留在后方。”斯内普说，“莫非你不赞同黑魔王的想法，莫非你以为，如果我加入食死徒的阵营，跟凤凰社作战，邓布利多会毫无察觉？还有——请原谅——你说冒着危险……实际上你面对的只是六个十几岁的孩子，不是吗？”
“I am not the Secret-Keeper; I cannot speak the name of the place. You understand how the enchantment works, I think? The Dark Lord is satisfied with the information I have passed him on the Order. It led, as perhaps you have guessed, to the recent capture and murder of Emmeline Vance, and it certainly helped dispose of Sirius Black, though I give you full credit for finishing him off.”	“你明明知道，很快半个凤凰社的人都加入进来了！”贝拉特里克斯吼道，“还有，既然说到了凤凰社，你仍然声称你不能透露他们的总部在什么地方，是不是？”
He inclined his head and toasted her. Her expression did not soften.	“我不是保密人，不能说出那个地方的名字。我想，你应该明白那个魔法是怎么起作用的吧？黑魔王对我传递给他的凤凰社的情报非常满意。你大概也猜到了，我的情报导致了爱米琳·万斯最近的被捕和被杀，无疑还帮助解决了小天狼星布莱克，不过，结果他性命的功劳还是非你莫属。”
“You are avoiding my last question, Snape. Harry Potter. You could have killed him at any point in the past five years. You have not done it. Why?”	他偏偏脑袋，举杯向她致意。她的表情没有丝毫缓和。
“Have you discussed this matter with the Dark Lord?” asked Snape.	“你在回避我的最后一个问题，斯内普。哈利·波特。在过去的五年里，你随时都能把他置于死地。你却没有动手，为什么？”
“He . . . lately, we . . . I am asking you, Snape!”	“你跟黑魔王讨论过这个问题吗？”斯内普问。
“If I had murdered Harry Potter, the Dark Lord could not have used his blood to regenerate, making him invincible —”	“他……最近，我们……我问的是你，斯内普！”
“You claim you foresaw his use of the boy!” she jeered.	“如果我杀死了哈利·波特，黑魔王就不能用他的血获得新生，使自己变得不可战胜——”
“I do not claim it; I had no idea of his plans; I have already confessed that I thought the Dark Lord dead. I am merely trying to explain why the Dark Lord is not sorry that Potter survived, at least until a year ago. . . .”	“你敢说你当时就预见到他要利用那个男孩？”她讽刺道。
“But why did you keep him alive?”	“我没有这么说。我对他的计划一无所知。我刚才已经坦言，我以为黑魔王已经死了。我只是想解释为什么黑魔王看到波特还活着并不感到遗憾，至少直到一年之前……”
“Have you not understood me? It was only Dumbledore’s protection that was keeping me out of Azkaban! Do you disagree that murdering his favorite student might have turned him against me? But there was more to it than that. I should remind you that when Potter first arrived at Hogwarts there were still many stories circulating about him, rumors that he himself was a great Dark wizard, which was how he had survived the Dark Lord’s attack. Indeed, many of the Dark Lord’s old followers thought Potter might be a standard around which we could all rally once more. I was curious, I admit it, and not at all inclined to murder him the moment he set foot in the castle.	“可是你为什么让他活着呢？”
“Of course, it became apparent to me very quickly that he had no extraordinary talent at all. He has fought his way out of a number of tight corners by a simple combination of sheer luck and more talented friends. He is mediocre to the last degree, though as obnoxious and self-satisfied as was his father before him. I have done my utmost to have him thrown out of Hogwarts, where I believe he scarcely belongs, but kill him, or allow him to be killed in front of me? I would have been a fool to risk it with Dumbledore close at hand.”	“你还没有明白我的意思吗？多亏了邓布利多的保护，我才没有被关进阿兹卡班！你以为我杀害了他的得意门生，他不会和我反目成仇吗？不过事情比这复杂得多。我不妨提醒你，当波特刚进入霍格沃茨时，仍然流传着许多关于他的谣言，说他本人就是一名了不起的黑巫师，所以才能从黑魔王的袭击中死里逃生。确实，黑魔王昔日的许多追随者都认为波特可能成为一面旗帜，我们可以在他周围再一次团结起来。我承认，在他踏进城堡的时候，我很好奇，根本没有想到要去谋杀他。
“And through all this we are supposed to believe Dumbledore has never suspected you?” asked Bellatrix. “He has no idea of your true allegiance, he trusts you implicitly still?”	“当然，我很快就发现，他根本就没有什么超常的天赋。他只是靠了运气，靠了比他更有天赋的朋友才勉强摆脱了许多困境。他平庸到了极点，却跟他的父亲一样自鸣得意，惹人讨厌。我用尽各种办法想把他赶出霍格沃茨，我觉得他根本就不配进来，至于杀死他，或让他在我面前丧命？只有傻瓜才会冒这种风险，因为邓布利多就在近旁。”
“I have played my part well,” said Snape. “And you overlook Dumbledore’s greatest weakness: He has to believe the best of people. I spun him a tale of deepest remorse when I joined his staff, fresh from my Death Eater days, and he embraced me with open arms — though, as I say, never allowing me nearer the Dark Arts than he could help. Dumbledore has been a great wizard — oh yes, he has,” (for Bellatrix had made a scathing noise), “the Dark Lord acknowledges it. I am pleased to say, however, that Dumbledore is growing old. The duel with the Dark Lord last month shook him. He has since sustained a serious injury because his reactions are slower than they once were. But through all these years, he has never stopped trusting Severus Snape, and therein lies my great value to the Dark Lord.”	“就凭你说的这些，我们就应该相信邓布利多从来没有怀疑过你？”贝拉特里克斯问，“他不知道你实际上为谁效忠？他仍然毫无保留地相信你？”
Bellatrix still looked unhappy, though she appeared unsure how best to attack Snape next. Taking advantage of her silence, Snape turned to her sister.	“我的角色扮演得很出色。”斯内普说道，“你忽视了邓布利多的一个最大的弱点：他总是把别人往好处想。我刚离开食死徒、加入他的教师队伍时，编造了一番追悔莫及的谎言说给他听，之后他就张开双臂欢迎我了——不过，他尽可能不让我接近黑魔法。邓布利多曾经是一位伟大的巫师——没错，不可否认，”（因为贝拉特里克斯轻蔑地哼了一声）“黑魔王也承认这一点。可是，说来让我高兴的是，邓布利多已经老了。上个月跟黑魔王的那场较量让他大伤元气。他受了重伤，因为他的反应比以前慢了。但是这么多年来，他从来没有停止过对西弗勒斯·斯内普的信任，这就使我对黑魔王具有很大的价值。”
“Now . . . you came to ask me for help, Narcissa?”	贝拉特里克斯仍然显得很不高兴，但似乎拿不准接下来该怎么攻击斯内普才最有效果。斯内普趁她沉默不语，转向了她的妹妹。
Narcissa looked up at him, her face eloquent with despair.	“好了……纳西莎，你是来请求我的帮助的？”
“Yes, Severus. I — I think you are the only one who can help me, I have nowhere else to turn. Lucius is in jail and . . .”	纳西莎抬头看着他，满脸绝望的神情。
She closed her eyes and two large tears seeped from beneath her eyelids.	“是的，西弗勒斯。我——我想，也只有你能够帮助我了，我现在是走投无路了。卢修斯在监狱里，而且……”
“The Dark Lord has forbidden me to speak of it,” Narcissa continued, her eyes still closed. “He wishes none to know of the plan. It is . . . very secret. But —”	她闭上眼睛，两颗大大的泪珠从眼皮下渗了出来。
“If he has forbidden it, you ought not to speak,” said Snape at once. “The Dark Lord’s word is law.”	“黑魔王不许我说这件事，”纳西莎继续说，眼睛仍然闭着，“他不希望任何人知道那个计划。那是……非常机密的。可是——”
Narcissa gasped as though he had doused her with cold water. Bellatrix looked satisfied for the first time since she had entered the house.	“既然他不许你说，你就不应该说。”斯内普立刻说道，“黑魔王的话就是法律。”
“There!” she said triumphantly to her sister. “Even Snape says so: You were told not to talk, so hold your silence!”	纳西莎倒抽了一口冷气，好像被他兜头浇了一瓢冷水。贝拉特里克斯自从踏进这幢房子之后，脸上第一次露出满意的神色。
But Snape had gotten to his feet and strode to the small window, peered through the curtains at the deserted street, then closed them again with a jerk. He turned around to face Narcissa, frowning.	“怎么样！”她得意地对她妹妹说道，“就连斯内普也这么说，既然不许你说，你就保持沉默吧！”
“It so happens that I know of the plan,” he said in a low voice. “I am one of the few the Dark Lord has told. Nevertheless, had I not been in on the secret, Narcissa, you would have been guilty of great treachery to the Dark Lord.”	可是斯内普已经站起身，大步走到那扇小窗户前，透过窗帘朝荒凉的街道上望了望，然后猛地重新拉上了窗帘。他转过身面对着纳西莎，眉头皱了起来。
“I thought you must know about it!” said Narcissa, breathing more freely. “He trusts you so, Severus. . . .”	“我碰巧知道那个计划。”他压低声音说，“黑魔王把计划透露给了很少几个人，我是其中之一。不过，如果我不知道这个秘密，纳西莎，你就会犯下严重背叛黑魔王的大罪。”
“You know about the plan?” said Bellatrix, her fleeting expression of satisfaction replaced by a look of outrage. “You know?”	“我就猜到你肯定是知道的！”纳西莎说道，呼吸自如多了，“他这么信任你，西弗勒斯……”
“Certainly,” said Snape. “But what help do you require, Narcissa? If you are imagining I can persuade the Dark Lord to change his mind, I am afraid there is no hope, none at all.”	“你知道那个计划？”贝拉特里克斯说，刚才满意的表情迅速换成了满脸的怒气，“你会知道？”
“Severus,” she whispered, tears sliding down her pale cheeks. “My son . . . my only son . . .”	“当然。”斯内普说，“可是你需要什么帮助呢，纳西莎？如果你幻想我能说服黑魔王改变主意，恐怕那是没有希望的，一点儿希望也没有。”
“Draco should be proud,” said Bellatrix indifferently. “The Dark Lord is granting him a great honor. And I will say this for Draco: He isn’t shrinking away from his duty, he seems glad of a chance to prove himself, excited at the prospect —”	“西弗勒斯，”纳西莎说道，眼泪顺着她苍白的面颊滚落下来，“我的儿子……我惟一的儿子……”
Narcissa began to cry in earnest, gazing beseechingly all the while at Snape.	“德拉科应该感到骄傲，”贝拉特里克斯冷漠地说，“黑魔王给了他极高的荣誉。而且我要替德拉科说一句：他面对责任没有退缩，他似乎很高兴能有机会证明自己的能力，他对即将发生的事情非常兴奋——”
“That’s because he is sixteen and has no idea what lies in store! Why, Severus? Why my son? It is too dangerous! This is vengeance for Lucius’s mistake, I know it!”	纳西莎伤心地哭了起来，乞求地盯着斯内普。
Snape said nothing. He looked away from the sight of her tears as though they were indecent, but he could not pretend not to hear her.	“那是因为他才十六岁，根本不知道等待他的是什么！为什么，斯内普？为什么是我的儿子？太危险了！这是为了报复卢修斯的失误，我知道！”
“That’s why he’s chosen Draco, isn’t it?” she persisted. “To punish Lucius?”	斯内普什么也没说。他避开了她的目光，不去看她的眼泪，似乎觉得那是不雅观的，但他不能假装没有听见她的话。
“If Draco succeeds,” said Snape, still looking away from her, “he will be honored above all others.”	“所以他才选中了德拉科，是不是？”她逼问道，“就为了惩罚卢修斯，是不是？”
“But he won’t succeed!” sobbed Narcissa. “How can he, when the Dark Lord himself — ?”	“如果德拉科成功了，”斯内普说，眼睛仍然望着别处，“他就能获得比其他所有人更高的荣誉。”
Bellatrix gasped; Narcissa seemed to lose her nerve.	“可是他不会成功的！”纳西莎哭着说，“他怎么可能呢，就连黑魔王自己——”
“I only meant . . . that nobody has yet succeeded. . . . Severus . . . please . . . You are, you have always been, Draco’s favorite teacher. . . . You are Lucius’s old friend. . . . I beg you. . . . You are the Dark Lord’s favorite, his most trusted advisor. . . . Will you speak to him, persuade him — ?”	贝拉特里克斯倒抽了一口冷气，纳西莎似乎顿时失去了勇气。
“The Dark Lord will not be persuaded, and I am not stupid enough to attempt it,” said Snape flatly. “I cannot pretend that the Dark Lord is not angry with Lucius. Lucius was supposed to be in charge. He got himself captured, along with how many others, and failed to retrieve the prophecy into the bargain. Yes, the Dark Lord is angry, Narcissa, very angry indeed.”	“我的意思是……既然没有一个人成功过……西弗勒斯……求求你……你一直是，现在也是德拉科最喜欢的老师……你是卢修斯的老朋友……我求求你……你是黑魔王最得意的亲信，最信任的顾问……你能不能跟他谈谈，说服他——”
“Then I am right, he has chosen Draco in revenge!” choked Narcissa. “He does not mean him to succeed, he wants him to be killed trying!”	“黑魔王是不可能被说服的，我不会愚蠢到去做这种尝试。”斯内普干巴巴地说，“我不能假装说黑魔王没有生卢修斯的气。当时卢修斯应该在那里守着，结果他自己被抓住了，还搭上了那么多人，而且预言球也没能取回来。是的，黑魔王很生气，纳西莎，确实非常生气。”
When Snape said nothing, Narcissa seemed to lose what little self-restraint she still possessed. Standing up, she staggered to Snape and seized the front of his robes. Her face close to his, her tears falling onto his chest, she gasped, “You could do it. You could do it instead of Draco, Severus. You would succeed, of course you would, and he would reward you beyond all of us —”	“看来我说的没错，他是为了报复才挑选德拉科的！”纳西莎哽咽着说道，“他根本就不想让他成功，只想让他去送命！”
Snape caught hold of her wrists and removed her clutching hands. Looking down into her tearstained face, he said slowly, “He intends me to do it in the end, I think. But he is determined that Draco should try first. You see, in the unlikely event that Draco succeeds, I shall be able to remain at Hogwarts a little longer, fulfilling my useful role as spy.”	看到斯内普没有说话，纳西莎似乎失去了最后的一点自制。她站了起来，踉踉跄跄地走向斯内普，抓住他长袍的前襟，把脸靠近了他的脸，眼泪滚落到他的胸前。她喘着气说：“你能办到的。德拉科办不到，你能办到，西弗勒斯。你会成功的，你肯定会成功的，他给你的奖赏会超过我们所有的人——”
“In other words, it doesn’t matter to him if Draco is killed!”	斯内普抓住她的手腕，扳开她紧紧攥住他长袍的手。他低头望着她泪痕斑斑的脸，慢慢地说道：“我想，他打算最后再派我去办。但他决定先让德拉科试一试。你知道，万一德拉科成功了，我就能够在霍格沃茨多待一阵子，把我作为一个密探的有用角色扮演到最后。”
“The Dark Lord is very angry,” repeated Snape quietly. “He failed to hear the prophecy. You know as well as I do, Narcissa, that he does not forgive easily.”	“换句话说，他根本就不在乎德拉科是否会送命！”
She crumpled, falling at his feet, sobbing and moaning on the floor.	“黑魔王非常生气。”斯内普轻轻地又说了一遍，“他没能听到预言。你和我一样清楚，纳西莎，他不是轻易能够原谅人的。”
“My only son . . . my only son . . .”	她瘫倒在他脚下，在地板上抽泣着、呻吟着。
“You should be proud!” said Bellatrix ruthlessly. “If I had sons, I would be glad to give them up to the service of the Dark Lord!”	“我惟一的儿子……我惟一的儿子啊……”
Narcissa gave a little scream of despair and clutched at her long blonde hair. Snape stooped, seized her by the arms, lifted her up, and steered her back onto the sofa. He then poured her more wine and forced the glass into her hand.	“你应该感到骄傲！”贝拉特里克斯冷酷地说，“如果我有儿子，我巴不得牺牲他们去为黑魔王效忠呢！”
“Narcissa, that’s enough. Drink this. Listen to me.”	纳西莎绝望地叫了一声，揪着自己金色的长发。斯内普弯下腰，抓住她的手臂把她扶了起来，让她重新在沙发上坐好。然后他又给她倒了一些红酒，把杯子硬塞进她的手里。
She quieted a little; slopping wine down herself, she took a shaky sip.	“纳西莎，行了。把这个喝了，听我说。”
“It might be possible . . . for me to help Draco.”	她略微平静了一点儿，颤抖着喝了一小口酒，有一些洒到了身上。
She sat up, her face paper-white, her eyes huge.	“也许我有可能……帮助德拉科。”
“Severus — oh, Severus — you would help him? Would you look after him, see he comes to no harm?”	她腾地坐直了身子，脸白得像纸一样，眼睛睁得滚圆。
“I can try.”	“西弗勒斯——哦，西弗勒斯——你愿意帮助他？你愿意照顾他，保证他安然无恙？”
She flung away her glass; it skidded across the table as she slid off the sofa into a kneeling position at Snape’s feet, seized his hand in both of hers, and pressed her lips to it.	“我可以试一试。”
“If you are there to protect him . . . Severus, will you swear it? Will you make the Unbreakable Vow?”	她一扬手扔掉了杯子，杯子滑到了桌子的那头。她从沙发上出溜下去，跪在斯内普的脚边，用两只手抓着他的手，把嘴唇贴了上去。
“The Unbreakable Vow?”	“如果你会在那里保护他……西弗勒斯，你能保证吗？你能立一个牢不可破的誓言吗？”
Snape’s expression was blank, unreadable. Bellatrix, however, let out a cackle of triumphant laughter.	“牢不可破的誓言？”斯内普脸上的表情变得不可捉摸了，贝拉特里克斯发出一串得意的笑声。
“Aren’t you listening, Narcissa? Oh, he’ll try, I’m sure. . . . The usual empty words, the usual slithering out of action . . . oh, on the Dark Lord’s orders, of course!”	“你没听明白吗，纳西莎？哦，他会试一试的，我相信……又是那套空话，又是那样临阵脱逃……噢，当然啦，都是听从了黑魔王的吩咐！”
Snape did not look at Bellatrix. His black eyes were fixed upon Narcissa’s tear-filled blue ones as she continued to clutch his hand.	斯内普没有看贝拉特里克斯。他乌黑的眼睛紧紧盯着纳西莎那双沾满泪水的蓝眼睛，而她继续攥着他的手。
“Certainly, Narcissa, I shall make the Unbreakable Vow,” he said quietly. “Perhaps your sister will consent to be our Bonder.”	“当然，纳西莎，我可以立一个牢不可破的誓言，”他轻声说，“也许你姐姐同意做我们的见证人。”
Bellatrix’s mouth fell open. Snape lowered himself so that he was kneeling opposite Narcissa. Beneath Bellatrix’s astonished gaze, they grasped right hands.	贝拉特里克斯吃惊地张大了嘴巴。西弗勒斯矮下身子，跪在纳西莎的对面。在贝拉特里克斯惊愕的目光下，他们互相握住了对方的右手。
“You will need your wand, Bellatrix,” said Snape coldly.	“你需要拿着魔杖，贝拉特里克斯。”斯内普冷冷地说。
She drew it, still looking astonished.	她抽出魔杖，脸上仍是一副吃惊的样子。
“And you will need to move a little closer,” he said.	“你需要再靠近一点儿。”他说。
She stepped forward so that she stood over them, and placed the tip of her wand on their linked hands.	她走上前，站在两人身边，把魔杖头点在他们相握的两只手上。
Narcissa spoke.	纳西莎说话了：“西弗勒斯，在我儿子德拉科试图完成黑魔王的意愿时，你愿意照看他吗？”
“Will you, Severus, watch over my son, Draco, as he attempts to fulfill the Dark Lord’s wishes?”	“我愿意。”斯内普说。
“I will,” said Snape.	一道细细的、耀眼的火舌从魔杖里喷了出来，就像一根又红又热的金属丝，缠绕在他们相握的两只手上。
A thin tongue of brilliant flame issued from the wand and wound its way around their hands like a red-hot wire.	“你愿意尽你最大的能力，保护他不受伤害吗？”
“And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?”	“我愿意。”斯内普说。
“I will,” said Snape.	第二道火舌从魔杖里喷了出来，与第一道缠绕在一起，构成一根细细的、闪着红光的链条。
A second tongue of flame shot from the wand and interlinked with the first, making a fine, glowing chain.	“还有，如果必要的话……如果德拉科眼看就要失败……”纳西莎低声说道（斯内普的手在她的手里抖动，但他没有把手抽出来），“你愿意把黑魔王吩咐德拉科完成的事情进行到底吗？”
“And, should it prove necessary . . . if it seems Draco will fail . . .” whispered Narcissa (Snape’s hand twitched within hers, but he did not draw away), “will you carry out the deed that the Dark Lord has ordered Draco to perform?”	片刻的沉默。贝拉特里克斯注视着他们，她的魔杖悬在他们紧攥的两只手上方，她的眼睛瞪得大大的。
There was a moment’s silence. Bellatrix watched, her wand upon their clasped hands, her eyes wide.	“我愿意。”斯内普说。
“I will,” said Snape.	贝拉特里克斯的脸被第三道火舌的光映得通红，火舌从魔杖里喷出，与前面那两道交织在一起，紧密地缠绕在他们相握的两只手周围，像一根绳索，像一条喷火的蛇。
Bellatrix’s astounded face glowed red in the blaze of a third tongue of flame, which shot from the wand, twisted with the others, and bound itself thickly around their clasped hands, like a rope, like a fiery snake.	①精神病院或监狱中墙上装有衬垫以防被监禁者自伤的房间。

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