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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 TWENTY-FOUR - Occlumency

第二十四章　大脑封闭术

Kreacher, it transpired, had been lurking in the attic. Sirius said he had found him up there, covered in dust, no doubt looking for more relics of the Black family to hide in his cupboard. Though Sirius seemed satisfied with this story, it made Harry uneasy. Kreacher seemed to be in a better mood on his reappearance, his bitter muttering had subsided somewhat and he submitted to orders more docilely than usual, though once or twice Harry caught the house-elf staring at him avidly, but always looking quickly away whenever he saw that Harry had noticed.

克利切原来躲在阁楼上。小天狼星在那儿找到了他，他满身灰尘，无疑又在翻寻布莱克家的其他古董，想藏到他的柜子里。虽然小天狼星对这个说法感到很满意，哈利却有些不安。克利切出来后情绪似乎有所好转，他那怨恨的嘀咕减少了，也比平常听话了，但有一两次哈利发现这个小精灵在贪婪地盯着他，一见哈利发觉赶忙移开目光。

Harry did not mention his vague suspicions to Sirius, whose cheerfulness was evaporating fast now that Christmas was over. As the date of their departure back to Hogwarts drew nearer, he became more and more prone to what Mrs Weasley called 'fits of the sullens', in which he would become taciturn and grumpy, often withdrawing to Buckbeak's room for hours at a time. His gloom seeped through the house, oozing under doorways like some noxious gas, so that all of them became infected by it.

哈利没有把这隐隐的怀疑向小天狼星提起。圣诞节过完了，小天狼星的快乐在迅速挥发。随着众人离开之日临近，他越来越容易陷入被韦斯莱夫人称为“间歇性忧郁症”的状态：沉默寡言，脾气暴躁，经常躲到巴克比克的房间里一待就是几小时。他的忧郁在整所房子里蔓延，像毒气一样从门底下渗过去，所有的人都被感染了。

Harry didn't want to leave Sirius again with only Kreacher for company; in fact, for the first time in his life, he was not looking forward to returning to Hogwarts. Going back to school would mean placing himself once again under the tyranny of Dolores Umbridge, who had no doubt managed to force through another dozen decrees in their absence; there was no Quidditch to look forward to now that he had been banned, there was every likelihood that their burden of homework would increase as the exams drew even nearer; and Dumbledore remained as remote as ever. In fact, if it hadn't been for the DA, Harry thought he might have begged Sirius to let him leave Hogwarts and remain in Grimmauld Place.

哈利不想留下小天狼星一个人跟克利切做伴。事实上，他生平第一次不再盼望着回霍格沃茨。返校意味着回到乌姆里奇的专制之下，她一定又强行通过了十来条法令。再说又没有魁地奇球赛可盼。考试临近，作业量很可能又要增加。邓布利多还是那么遥远。要不是有D．A．，哈利觉得他可能会去求小天狼星让他离开霍格沃茨，留在格里莫广场。

Then, on the very last day of the holidays, something happened that made Harry positively dread his return to school.

假期最后一天发生了一件事，让哈利真正害怕返校了。

'Harry, dear,' said Mrs Weasley poking her head into his and Ron's bedroom, where the pair of them were playing wizard chess watched by Hermione, Ginny and Crookshanks, 'could you come down to the kitchen? Professor Snape would like a word with you.'

“哈利，亲爱的，”韦斯莱夫人把头伸进他和罗恩的卧室，他们俩在下巫师棋，赫敏、金妮和克鲁克山在旁边观看，“你到厨房来一下好吗？斯内普教授有话跟你说。”

Harry did not immediately register what she had said; one of his castles was engaged in a violent tussle with a pawn of Ron's and he was egging it on enthusiastically.

哈利一时没反应过来，他的车正在和罗恩的一个卒子激烈搏斗，他正兴奋地给它加油鼓劲呢。

'Squash him - squash him, he's only a pawn, you idiot. Sorry, Mrs Weasley, what did you say?'

“压扁它——压扁它，它不过是个小卒子，你这个笨蛋——对不起，韦斯莱夫人，你说什么？”

'Professor Snape, dear. In the kitchen. He'd like a word.'

“斯内普教授在厨房里，他想和你谈谈。”

Harry's mouth fell open in horror. He looked around at Ron, Hermione and Ginny, all of whom were gaping back at him. Crookshanks, whom Hermione had been restraining with difficulty for the past quarter of an hour, leapt gleefully on to the board and set the pieces running for cover, squealing at the top of their voices.

哈利惊恐地张大了嘴巴。他望望其他几人，他们都目瞪口呆地看着他。赫敏好不容易才管住了一刻钟的克鲁克山，此时欢喜地跳到棋盘上，棋子尖叫着四散奔逃。

'Snape?' said Harry blankly.

“斯内普？”哈利茫然地问。

'Professor Snape, dear,' said Mrs Weasley reprovingly. 'Now come on, quickly, he says he can't stay long.'

“斯内普教授，亲爱的，”韦斯莱夫人责备地说，“快来吧，他说他待不了多久。”

'What's he want with you?' said Ron, looking unnerved as Mrs Weasley withdrew from the room. 'You haven't done anything, have you?'

“他找你干吗？”韦斯莱夫人走了，罗恩忐忑地问，“你没干什么吧？”

'No!' said Harry indignantly, racking his brains to think what he could have done that would make Snape pursue him to Grimmauld Place. Had his last piece of homework perhaps earned a 'T'?

“没有！”哈利愤慨地说，一边拼命回想自己有什么过错会让斯内普追到格里莫广场来。莫非上次作业得了个“T”？

A minute or two later, he pushed open the kitchen door to find Sirius and Snape both seated at the long kitchen table, glaring in opposite directions. The silence between them was heavy with mutual dislike. A letter lay open on the table in front of Sirius.

一两分钟后，他推开了厨房的门，看到小天狼星和斯内普坐在长桌前，气呼呼地瞪着相反的方向，沉默中充满了对彼此的厌恶。小天狼星面前有一封打开的信。

'Er,' said Harry, to announce his presence.

“嗯。”哈利出声报告他的存在。

Snape looked around at him, his face framed between curtains of greasy black hair.

斯内普回过头来，一张脸镶在油油的黑发帘中。

'Sit down, Potter.'

“坐下，波特。”

'You know,' said Sirius loudly, leaning back on his rear chair legs and speaking to the ceiling, 'I think I'd prefer it if you didn't give orders here, Snape. It's my house, you see.'

“我说，”小天狼星往后一靠，翘起椅子，对着天花板大声说，“我希望你不要在这儿发号施令，斯内普，这是我的家。”

An ugly flush suffused Snape's pallid face. Harry sat down in a chair beside Sirius, facing Snape across the table.

斯内普苍白的脸上涌起一阵难看的红潮，哈利在小天狼星身边坐了下来，望着桌子对面的斯内普。

'I was supposed to see you alone, Potter,' said Snape, the familiar sneer curling his mouth, 'but Black - '

“我本该和你一个人谈，波特，”斯内普嘴角浮现出惯常的冷笑，“但布莱克——”

'I'm his godfather,' said Sirius, louder than ever.

“我是他的教父。”小天狼星嗓门更大了。

'I am here on Dumbledore's orders.' said Snape, whose voice, by contrast, was becoming more and more quietly waspish, 'but by all means stay, Black, I know you like lo feel . . . involved.'

“我是奉邓布利多之命来的，”斯内普说，声音则越来越阴毒，“不过请留下，布莱克，我知道你喜欢有……参与感。”

'What's that supposed to mean?' said Sirius, letting his chair fall back on to all four legs with a loud bang.

“这话什么意思？”小天狼星问，重重地把椅腿落回了地面。

'Merely that I am sure you must feel - ah - frustrated by the fact that you can do nothing useful,' Snape laid a delicate stress on the word, 'for the Order.'

“只是说，我想你一定挺——啊——挺心烦的，不能为凤凰社做任何有用的事。”斯内普故意强调“有用”一词。

It was Sirius's turn to flush. Snape's lip curled in triumph as he turned to Harry.

这下轮到小天狼星涨红了脸，斯内普嘴角带着胜利的笑容转向哈利。

The Headmaster has sent me to tell you, Potter, that it is his wish for you to study Occlumency this term.'

“校长让我来通知你，波特，他希望你这学期学习大脑封闭术。”

'Study what?' said Harry blankly.

“学习什么？”哈利愣愣地问。

Snape's sneer became more pronounced.

斯内普的冷笑更明显了。

'Occlumency, Potter. The magical defence of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one.'

“大脑封闭术，防止头脑受外来入侵的法术。是巫术中冷僻的一支，但非常有用。”

Harry's heart began to pump very fast indeed. Defence against external penetration? But he was not being possessed, they had all agreed on that . . .

哈利的心脏剧烈地跳了起来。防止外来入侵？可他没有被附身啊，大家都这么说……

'Why do I have to study Occlu - thing?' he blurted out.

“为什么我要学大——这玩意儿？”他问。

'Because the Headmaster thinks it a good idea,' said Snape smoothly. 'You will receive private lessons once a week, but you will not tell anybody what you are doing, least of all Dolores Umbridge. You understand?'

“因为校长认为有必要，”斯内普和缓地说，“你一周接受一次单独辅导，但不能告诉任何人，尤其是多洛雷斯·乌姆里奇。明白吗？”

'Yes,' said Harry. 'Who's going to be teaching me?'

“明白。”哈利说，“谁来教我？”

Snape raised an eyebrow.

斯内普扬起眉毛。

'I am,' he said.

“本人。”他说。

Harry had the horrible sensation that his insides were melting.

哈利感到他的五脏六腑在融化，由斯内普单独辅导——他到底做了什么要受到这种惩罚？他忙求助地看着小天狼星。

Extra lessons with Snape - what on earth had he done to deserve this? He looked quickly round at Sirius for support.

“为什么邓布利多不能教他？”小天狼星咄咄逼人地问，“为什么是你？”

'Why can't Dumbledore teach Harry?' asked Sirius aggressively. 'Why you?'

“我想是因为校长有权把不愉快的差使下放，”斯内普圆滑地说，“我向你保证这不是我要来的。”他站起身来，“我星期一晚上六点在我办公室等你，波特。如果有人问，就说是魔药课补习，见过你在我课上表现的人都不会否认有这个必要。”

'I suppose because it is a headmasters privilege to delegate less enjoyable tasks,' said Snape silkily. 'I assure you I did not beg for the job.' He got to his feet. 'I will expect you at six o'clock on Monday evening, Potter. My office. If anybody asks, you are taking remedial Potions. Nobody who has seen you in my classes could deny you need them.'

他转身离开了，黑色旅行斗篷旋起了一股风。

He turned to leave, his black travelling cloak billowing behind him.

“等一等。”小天狼星说着坐直了身子。

'Wait a moment,' said Sirius, sitting up straighter in his chair.

斯内普回身看着他冷笑着。

Snape turned back to face them, sneering.

“我很忙，布莱克……不像你。我没有无限的空闲……”

'I am in rather a hurry, Black. Unlike you, I do not have unlimited leisure time.'

“那我直话直说吧。”小天狼星站了起来。他比斯内普高得多，哈利注意到斯内普的手在斗篷口袋里攥紧了，他猜想一定是握住了魔杖柄。“如果我听到你借教哈利大脑封闭术来整他，我会找你算账。”

'I'll get to the point, then,' said Sirius, standing up. He was rather taller than Snape who, Harry noticed, balled his fist in the pocket of his cloak over what Harry was sure was the handle of his wand. 'If I hear you're using these Occlumency lessons to give Harry a hard time, you'll have me to answer to.'

“多么动人啊，”斯内普冷笑道，“但你一定发现波特很像他父亲吧？”

'How touching,' Snape sneered. 'But surely you have noticed that Potter is very like his father?'

“不错。”小天狼星自豪地说。

'Yes, I have,' said Sirius proudly.

“那你该知道他骄傲自大，批评对他就像耳旁风。”斯内普圆滑地说。

'Well then, you'll know he's so arrogant that criticism simply bounces off him,' Snape said sleekly.

小天狼星一把推开椅子，大步朝斯内普走去，一边抽出了魔杖。斯内普也亮出了魔杖。两人摆开架式，小天狼星脸色铁青，斯内普在算计，目光在小天狼星的脸和杖尖之间扫来扫去。

Sirius pushed his chair roughly aside and strode around the table towards Snape, pulling out his wand as he went. Snape whipped out his own. They were squaring up to each other, Sirius looking livid, Snape calculating, his eyes darting from Sirius's wand-tip to his face.

“小天狼星！”哈利叫道，但他好像没听见。

'Sirius!' said Harry loudly, but Sirius appeared not to hear him.

“我警告过你，鼻涕精，”小天狼星的脸离斯内普的脸不到一尺，“邓布利多或许认为你改造好了，可我不那么想——”

'I've warned you, Snivelus,' said Sirius, his face barely a foot from Snape's, 'I don't care if Dumbledore thinks you've reformed, I know better - '

“哦，那你为什么不对他说？”斯内普低声说，“是不是担心他不会把在老妈家躲了六个月的人的话当回事？”

'Oh, but why don't you tell him so?' whispered Snape. 'Or are you afraid he might not take very seriously the advice of a man who has been hiding inside his mother's house for six months?'

“告诉我，卢修斯·马尔福近来怎样？我想他一定很高兴他的哈巴狗在霍格沃茨任教吧？”

Tell me, how is Lucius Malfoy these days? I expect he's delighted his lapdog's working at Hogwarts, isn't he?'

“提到狗，”斯内普轻轻地说，“你知道吗，你上次冒险外出时，卢修斯·马尔福认出了你。很聪明啊，布莱克，在安全的站台上被人看到了……让你有铁打的理由以后不用出洞了，是不是？”

'Speaking of dogs,' said Snape softly, 'did you know that Lucius Malfoy recognised you last time you risked a little jaunt outside? Clever idea, Black, getting yourself seen on a safe station platform . . . gave you a cast-iron excuse not to leave your hidey-hole in future, didn't it?'

小天狼星举起了魔杖。

Sirius raised his wand.

“不要！”哈利叫了起来，从桌子上翻过去挡在他们中间，“小天狼星，别——”

'NO!' Harry yelled, vaulting over the table and trying to get in between them. 'Sirius, don't!'

“你说我是懦夫吗？”小天狼星咆哮道，想把哈利推开，但哈利坚决不动。

'Are you calling me a coward?' roared Sirius, trying to push Harry out of the way, but Harry would not budge.

“嗯，我想是吧。”斯内普说。

'Why, yes, I suppose I am,' said Snape.

“哈利——让开——！”小天狼星大吼一声，一掌把他推到旁边。

'Harry - get - out - of - it!' snarled Sirius, pushing him aside with his free hand.

厨房门开了，韦斯莱全家和赫敏一拥而入，个个兴高采烈，韦斯莱先生骄傲地走在中间，穿着条纹布的睡衣，外罩一件防水雨衣。

The kitchen door opened and the entire Weasley family, plus Hermione, came inside, all looking very happy, with Mr Weasley walking proudly in their midst dressed in a pair of striped pyjamas covered by a mackintosh.

“治好了！”他兴冲冲地向整个厨房宣布，“完全好了！”

'Cured!' he announced brightly to the kitchen at large. 'Completely cured!'

他们全都僵立在门口，瞪着眼前这幕定格的情景：小天狼星和斯内普都扭头望着门口，魔杖直指对方的面门，哈利张着手臂站在两人中间，想把他们推开。

He and all the other Weasleys froze on the threshold, gazing at the scene in front of them, which was also suspended in mid-action, both Sirius and Snape looking towards the door with their wands pointing into each other's faces and Harry immobile between them, a hand stretched out to each, trying to force them apart.

“我的天哪，”韦斯莱先生的笑容消失了，“这是怎么回事？”

'Merlins beard,' said Mr Weasley, the smile sliding off his face, 'what's going on here?'

小天狼星和斯内普都垂下了魔杖。哈利左右看看，两人脸上都带着极度的轻蔑，但突然进来这么多的目击者，似乎使他们恢复了理智。斯内普把魔杖插进口袋，大步走出厨房，没有理睬韦斯莱等人。走到门口，他又回过头来。

Both Sirius and Snape lowered their wands. Harry looked from one to the other. Each wore an expression of utmost contempt, yet the unexpected entrance of so many witnesses seemed to have brought them to their senses. Snape piocketed his wand, turned on his heel and swept back across the kitchen, passing the Weasleys without comment. At the door he looked back.

“星期一晚上六点，波特。”

'Six o'clock, Monday evening, Potter.'

他扬长而去，小天狼星瞪着他的背影，魔杖垂在一旁。

And he was gone. Sirius glared after him, his wand at his side.

“到底怎么回事？”韦斯莱先生又问。

'What's been going on?' asked Mr Weasley again.

“没什么，亚瑟，”小天狼星喘着粗气，像刚跑完长跑，“只是两个老同学叙叙旧……”他好像用了极大努力似的微笑着说道，“……你治好了？好，真好……”

'Nothing, Arthur,' said Sirius, who was breathing heavily as though he had just run a long distance. 'Just a friendly little chat between two old school friends.' With what looked like an enormous effort, he smiled. 'So . . . you're cured? That's great news, really great.'

“可不是！”韦斯莱夫人把她的丈夫领到一把椅子跟前，“斯梅绥克治疗师终于找到了蛇毒的解药，可以对付各种蛇毒，亚瑟也从捣鼓麻瓜医术中吸取了教训，是不是，亲爱的？”她威严地问。

'Yes, isn't it?' said Mrs Weasley, leading her husband forward to a chair. 'Healer Smethwyck worked his magic in the end, found an antidote to whatever that snake's got in its fangs, and Arthur's learned his lesson about dabbling in Muggle medicine, haven't you, dear?' she added, rather menacingly.

“是的，莫丽。”韦斯莱先生温顺地说。

'Yes, Molly dear,' said Mr Weasley meekly.

那天的晚餐本应是非常愉快的，哈利看得出小天狼星竭力想活跃气氛，他强迫自己为弗雷德和乔治的笑话而高声大笑，殷勤地给大家夹菜，但除此之外，他的脸就会阴沉下去，显得心事重重。他和哈利之间隔着来向韦斯莱先生道贺的蒙顿格斯和疯眼汉。哈利想对小天狼星说别把斯内普的话放在心上，斯内普是故意激他的，他们都不认为小天狼星听邓布利多的话待在格里莫广场是贪生怕死，可是没有找到机会。看着小天狼星那可怕的表情，哈利怀疑即使有机会他也未必敢讲。他只是小声对罗恩和赫敏说了要跟斯内普学大脑封闭术的事。

That nights meal should have been a cheerful one, with Mr Weasley back amongst them. Harry could tell Sirius was trying to make it so, yet when his godfather was not forcing himself to laugh loudly at Fred and George's jokes or offering everyone more food, his face fell back into a moody, brooding expression. Harry was separated from him by Mundungus and Mad-Eye, who had dropped in to offer Mr Weasley their congratulations. He wanted to talk to Sirius, to tell him he shouldn't listen to a word Snape said, that Snape was goading him deliberately and that the rest of them didn't think Sirius was a coward for doing as Dumbledore told him and remaining in Grimmauld Place. But he had no opportunity to do so, and, eyeing the ugly look on Sirius's face, Harry wondered occasionally whether he would have dared to mention it even if he had the chance. Instead, he told Ron and Hermione under his voice about having to take Occlumency lessons with Snape.

“邓布利多想让你不再做那些关于伏地魔的梦，”赫敏马上说，“你不会舍不得它们吧？”

'Dumbledore wants to stop you having those dreams about Voldemort,' said Hermione at once. Well, you won't be sorry not to have them any more, will you?'

“跟斯内普补课？”罗恩声音中充满了恐惧，“我宁可做噩梦。”

'Extra lessons with Snape?' said Ron, sounding aghast. 'I'd rather have the nightmares!'

第二天，他们准备乘坐骑士公共汽车回霍格沃茨，还是由唐克斯和卢平护送他们。哈利、罗恩和赫敏进厨房时，他俩正在吃早饭。大人们好像在小声交谈，但门一开他们马上回过头来不说了。

They were to return to Hogwarts on the Knight Bus the following day, escorted once again by Tonks and Lupin, both of whom were eating breakfast in the kitchen when Harry, Ron and Hermione came down next morning. The adults seemed to have been mid-

他们匆匆吃过了早饭，穿上外套，戴好围巾，准备上路。一月的清晨天色灰白，寒意袭人。哈利的胸口堵得难受，他不想跟小天狼星说再见，他对这次分别有一种不祥之感，不知道何时才能再见。他觉得自己有责任提醒小天狼星别做傻事——他担心小天狼星受了斯内普的刺激，可能现在就已盘算着贸然离开格里莫广场。但他还没想好怎么说，小天狼星就把他叫到了一边。

way through a whispered conversation as Harry opened the door; a I of them looked round hastily and fell silent.

“你带上这个。”他悄悄地说，塞给哈利一个包得很不像样的、平装书大小的东西。

After a hurried breakfast, they all pulled on jackets and scarves against the chilly grey January morning. Harry had an unpleasant constricted sensation in his chest; he did not want to say goodbye to Sirius. He had a bad feeling about this parting; he didn't know when they would next see each other and he felt it was incumbent upon him to say something to Sirius to stop him doing anything stupid - Harry was worried that Snape's accusation of cowardice had stung Sirius so badly he might even now be planning some foolhardy trip beyond Grimmauld Place. Before he could think of what to say, however, Sirius had beckoned him to his side.

“这是什么？”哈利问。

'I want you to take this,' he said quietly, thrusting a badly wrapped package roughly the size of a paperback book into Harry's hands.

“如果斯内普欺负你，它会让我知道的。别在这儿打开！”小天狼星提防地看了看韦斯莱夫人，她正在劝双胞胎戴上她自己织的手套，“我怀疑莫丽不赞成——但我希望你在需要我的时候用它，好吗？”

'What is it?' Harry asked.

“好的。”哈利答应着，把小包塞到上衣内侧的口袋里，但他知道他是不会用的。他决不会把小天狼星引出安全地带，无论斯内普在教他大脑封闭术时怎么虐待他。

'A way of letting me know if Snape's giving you a hard time. No, don't open it in here!' said Sirius, with a wary look at Mrs Weasley, who was trying to persuade the twins to wear hand-knitted mittens. 'I doubt Molly would approve - but I want you to use it if you need me, all right?'

“走吧。”小天狼星拍拍哈利的肩膀，强打笑容说。哈利还没来得及说话，他们已经上了楼，停在上了粗铁链和门闩的正门前，韦斯莱一家围在那里。

'OK,' said Harry, stowing the package away in the inside pocket of his jacket, but he knew he would never use whatever it was. It would not be he, Harry, who lured Sirius from his place of safety, no matter how foully Snape treated him in their forthcoming Occlumency classes.

“再见，哈利，多保重。”韦斯莱夫人拥抱了他一下。

'Let's go, then,' said Sirius, clapping Harry on the shoulder and smiling grimly, and before Harry could say anything else, they were heading upstairs, stopping before the heavily chained and bolted front door, surrounded by Weasleys.

“再见，哈利，替我看着点蛇！”韦斯莱先生握着他的手亲切地说。

'Goodbye, Harry, take care,' said Mrs Weasley, hugging him.

“好——好的。”哈利心不在焉地回答道。这是他提醒小天狼星的最后一个机会，他转身望着教父的脸，张嘴刚要说，但小天狼星用一只胳膊搂了他一下，粗声粗气地说：“照顾好自己，哈利。”然后哈利就被推进了凛冽的空气中，唐克斯追着他下了台阶（她今天扮成了一个身着粗花呢的高个女子，头发是铁灰色的）。

'See you, Harry, and keep an eye out for snakes for me!' said Mr Weasley genially, shaking his hand.

12号的门在身后关上了，他们跟着卢平下了台阶。走到人行道上时，哈利回头看了看，12号在迅速缩小，两边的房屋延伸过来挤着它，一眨眼的工夫它就不见了。

'Right - yeah,' said Harry distractedly; it was his last chance to tell Sirius to be careful; he turned, looked into his godfathers face and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could do so Sirius was giving him a brief, one-armed hug, and saying gruffly, 'Look after yourself, Harry.' Next moment, Harry found himself being shunted out into the icy winter air, with Tonks (today heavily disguised as a tall, tweedy woman with iron-grey hair) chivvying him down the steps.

“快点儿，越早上汽车越好。”唐克斯扫了一眼广场说，哈利觉得她眼神中有一些紧张。卢平挥起右手。

The door of number twelve slammed shut behind them. They followed Lupin down the front steps. As he reached the pavement, Harry looked round. Number twelve was shrinking rapidly as those on either side of it stretched sideways, squeezing it out of sight. One blink later, it had gone.

砰！

'Come on, the quicker we get on the bus the better,' said Tonks, and Harry thought there was nervousness in the glance she threw around the square. Lupin flung out his right arm.

一辆鲜艳的紫色三层公共汽车从天而降，差点撞到了路灯柱，但灯柱朝后一跳躲开了。

BANG.

一个穿着紫色制服，长着招风耳、满脸粉刺的瘦小伙跳下来说：“欢迎乘坐——”

A violently purple, triple-decker bus had appeared out of thin air in front of them, narrowly avoiding the nearest lamppost, which jumped backwards out of its way.

“我们知道了，谢谢你，”唐克斯迅速说，“上车，上车——”

A thin, pimply, jug-eared youth in a purple uniform leapt down on to the pavement and said, 'Welcome to the - '

她把哈利推向汽车踏板，售票员瞪眼看着哈利走过去。

'Yes, yes, we know, thank you,' said Tonks swiftly. 'On, on, get on - '

“哎——是哈——！”

And she shoved Harry forwards towards the steps, past the conductor, who goggled at Harry as he passed.

“你要喊他的名字我就咒你没人搭理。”唐克斯小声威胁道，一边把金妮和赫敏也推向前去。

"Ere - it's 'Any - '!'

“我一直想坐这个。”罗恩高兴地说，他也上了车，只顾东看西看。

'If you shout his name I will curse you into oblivion,' muttered Tonks menacingly, now shunting Ginny and Hermione forwards.

哈利上次乘骑士公共汽车是晚上，三层车厢里排满了铜床架。现在是清晨，车上摆着各式各样的椅子，也不讲搭配，胡乱地围在窗边，有的似乎是在汽车突然停在格里莫广场时翻倒的，几个巫师正在嘟嘟囔囔地爬起来。不知是谁的购物袋滑到了车厢那头，青蛙卵、蟑螂和蛋奶糊撒了一地。

'I've always wanted to go on this thing,' said Ron happily, joining Harry on board and looking around.

“看来我们得分开了，”唐克斯果断地说，一边寻找空座位，“弗雷德、乔治和金妮，你们坐到后面去吧……卢平可以跟你们一起……”

It had been evening the last time Harry had travelled by Knight Bus and its three decks had been full of brass bedsteads. Now, in the early morning, it was crammed with an assortment of mismatched chairs grouped haphazardly around windows. Some of these appeared to have fallen over when the bus stopped abruptly in Grimmauld Place; a few witches and wizards were still getting to their feet, grumbling, and somebody's shopping bag had slid the length of the bus: an unpleasant mixture of frogspawn, cockroaches and custard creams was scattered all over the floor.

她和哈利、罗恩和赫敏走到了顶上那一层，最前面和最后面各有两把椅子，售票员斯坦·桑帕克热心地跟着哈利和罗恩走到后面。哈利走过时许多人回头看他，当他坐下时，看到那些脑袋都赶忙转过去了。

'Looks like we'll have to split up,' said Tonks briskly, looking a.round for empty chairs. 'Fred, George and Ginny, if you just take those seats at the back . . . Remus can stay with you.'

哈利和罗恩每人递给斯坦十一个西可，汽车又开了起来，摇晃着绕过格里莫广场，车身扭来扭去，时而还会驶上人行道。然后又是砰的一声巨响，他们都往前一冲，罗恩的椅子翻了，他膝上的小猪从笼子里挣了出来，啾啾地飞到车厢前面，拍着翅膀落到赫敏的肩头。哈利抓住了蜡烛架才勉强没有摔倒，他朝窗外望去，他们好像正沿着一条高速公路疾驶。

She, Harry, Ron and Hermione proceeded up to the very top deck, where there were two unoccupied chairs at the very front of the bus and two at the back. Stan Shunpike, the conductor, followed Harry and Ron eagerly to the back. Heads turned as Harry passed and, when he sat down, he saw all the faces flick back to the front again.

“伯明翰城外。”斯坦愉快地回答了哈利心里的问题，罗恩努力从地上爬了起来，“你挺好的，哈利？我夏天老是在报上看到你的名字，可是没啥好话……我对厄恩说，我们见到他的时候他没那么怪啊，慢慢显出来的，是不是？”

As Harry and Ron handed Stan eleven Sickles each, the bus set off again, swaying ominously. It rumbled around Grimmauld Place, v/eaving on and off the pavement, then, with another tremendous BANG, they were all flung backwards; Ron's chair toppled right over and Pigwidgeon, who had been on his lap, burst out of his cage and flew twittering wildly up to the front of the bus where he fluttered down on to Hermione s shoulder instead. Harry, who had narrowly avoided falling by seizing a candle bracket, looked out of the window: they were now speeding down what appeared to be a motorway.

他把票递给他们，继续着迷地盯着哈利。斯坦显然不在乎一个人有多怪，只要他的名字能上报。骑士公共汽车吓人地倾斜着，超过了内侧的一溜小汽车。哈利望望前面，看到赫敏捂住了眼睛，小猪在她肩上快乐地摇摆着。

'Just outside Birmingham,' said Stan happily, answering Harry's unasked question as Ron struggled up from the floor. 'You keepin' well, then, 'Any? I seen your name in the paper loads over the sammer, but it weren't never nuflink very nice. I said to Ern, I said, 'e didn't seem like a nutter when we met 'im, just goes to siow, dunnit?'

砰！

He handed over their tickets and continued to gaze, enthralled, at Harry. Apparently, Stan did not care how nutty somebody was, if they were famous enough to be in the paper. The Knight Bus swayed alarmingly, overtaking a line of cars on the inside. Looking towards the front of the bus, Harry saw Hermione cover her eyes with her hands, Pigwidgeon swaying happily on her shoulder.

椅子都朝后滑去，骑士公共汽车从伯明翰公路跳到一条幽静的乡间小道上，一路尽是险弯。车子忽左忽右压上路边时，一道道树篱跳着闪开。他们又开上一条闹市区的主干道、一座崇山峻岭中的高架桥，然后是高楼间一条冷风飕飕的街道，每次都是砰的一声巨响。

BANG.

“我改主意了，”罗恩第六次从地上爬起来时嘟哝道，“我再也不想坐这玩意儿了。”

Chairs slid backwards again as the Knight Bus jumped from the Birmingham motorway to a quiet country lane full of hairpin bends. Hedgerows on either side of the road were leaping out of their way as they mounted the verges. From here they moved to a main street in the middle of a busy town, then to a viaduct surrounded by tall hills, then to a windswept road between high-rise flats, each time with a loud BANG.

“注意，下一站是霍格沃茨。”斯坦快活地说，摇摇晃晃地走过来，“前头那个霸道的女人给了点小费要让你们先下。不过我们得先让玛什夫人下去。”下层传来呕吐声和可怕的哗啦声，“她不舒服。”

'I've changed my mind,' muttered Ron, picking himself up from the floor for the sixth time, 'I never want to ride on this thing again.'

几分钟后骑士公共汽车在一个小酒吧外尖声刹住，小店闪身躲避，才没有被撞上。他们听到斯坦把可怜的玛什夫人扶下了车，二层乘客都嘀咕着舒了口气。汽车继续前行，加速，直到——

'Listen, it's 'Ogwarts stop after this,' said Stan brightly, swaying towards them. That bossy woman up front 'oo got on with you, she's given us a little tip to move you up the queue. We're just gonna let Madam Marsh off first, though - ' there was a retching sound from downstairs, followed by a horrible spattering noise - she's not feeling 'er best.'

砰！

A few minutes later, the Knight Bus screeched to a halt outside a small pub, which squeezed itself out of the way to avoid a collision. They could hear Stan ushering the unfortunate Madam Marsh out of the bus and the relieved murmurings of her fellow passengers on the second deck. The bus moved on again, gathering speed, until - '

他们已经行驶在白雪覆盖的霍格莫德村，哈利瞥见了小巷里的猪头酒吧，砍下的猪头招牌在寒风中吱嘎作响。片片雪花打在车前的大窗子上。车子终于摇摇晃晃地停在了霍格沃茨大门外。

BANG.

卢平和唐克斯帮他们把行李弄下车，然后下来说再见。哈利望了一眼三层的骑士公共汽车，见所有乘客都把鼻子贴在窗子上看着他们。

They were rolling through a snowy Hogsmeade. Harry caught a glimpse of the Hog's Head down its side street, the severed boar's head sign creaking in the wintry wind. Flecks of snow hit the large window at the front of the bus. At last they rolled to a halt outside the gates to Hogwarts.

“进学校就安全了。”唐克斯警惕地扫视了一眼僻静的街道，“过得愉快，啊？”

Lupin and Tonks helped them off the bus with their luggage, then got off to say goodbye. Harry glanced up at the three decks of the Knight Bus and saw all the passengers staring down at them, noses flat against the windows.

“保重。”卢平和每个人握手，最后轮到哈利时，“听着……”他低声说，其他人都在和唐克斯最后道别，“哈利，我知道你不喜欢斯内普，但他是高超的大脑封闭术师，我们——包括小天狼星都希望你学会保护自己，所以刻苦学习，好吗？”

'You'll be safe once you're in the grounds,' said Tonks, casting a careful eye around at the deserted road. 'Have a good term, OK?'

“好。”哈利沉重地说，抬眼望着卢平那过早显出皱纹的脸，“再见……”

'Look after yourselves,' said Lupin, shaking hands all round and reaching Harry last. 'And listen . . .' he lowered his voice while the rest of them exchanged last-minute goodbyes with Tonks, 'Harry, I know you don't like Snape, but he is a superb Occlumens and we all - Sirius included - want you to learn to protect yourself, so work hard, all right?'

六个人吃力地拖着箱子沿着结冰的车道往城堡走去，赫敏说要在睡觉前织出几顶小精灵帽子。来到橡木大门前，哈利回头看了一眼，骑士公共汽车已经不见了。想到明天晚上的事情，他倒有点希望自己还在车上。

'Yeah, all right,' said Harry heavily, looking up into Lupin's prematurely lined face. 'See you, then.'

第二天哈利大部分时间都在为晚上害怕。上午的魔药课丝毫没有消除他的恐惧，斯内普还是那么可恶。课间不断有D．A．的成员满怀希望地来问他晚上要不要聚会，令他的情绪更加低落。

The six of them struggled up the slippery drive towards the castle, dragging their trunks. Hermione was already talking about knitting a few elf hats before bedtime. Harry glanced back when they reached the oaken front doors; the Knight Bus had already gone and he half-wished, given what was coming the following evening, that he was still on board.

“我会通知你们的，”哈利一遍遍地说，“但今天晚上不行，我要——补魔药课……”

“你要补魔药课？”午饭后扎卡赖斯·史密斯把哈利堵在门厅里，挑起眉毛说，“老天，你一定糟透了，斯内普不经常给人补课，是不是？”

Harry spent most of the next day dreading the evening. His morning double-Potions lesson did nothing to dispel his trepidation, as Snape was as unpleasant as ever. His mood was further lowered by the DA members constantly approaching him in the corridors between classes, asking hopefully if there would be a meeting that night.

史密斯趾高气扬地走开了，罗恩气愤地瞪着他。

'I'll let you know in the usual way when the next one is,' Harry said over and over again, 'but I can't do it tonight, I've got to go to - er - remedial Potions.'

“要我咒他吗？我还能点中他。”他举起魔杖对准了史密斯的后背。

'You take remedial Potions?' asked Zacharias Smith superciliously, having cornered Harry in the Entrance Hall after lunch. 'Good Lord, you must be terrible. Snape doesn't usually give extra lessons, does he?'

“算了，”哈利沮丧地说，“谁都会这么想，是不是？觉得我笨——”

As Smith strode away in an annoyingly buoyant fashion, Ron g'.ared after him.

“嘿，哈利。”哈利身后一个声音叫道。他转过身，发现秋站在那儿。

'Shall I jinx him? I can still get him from here,' he said, raising his wand and taking aim between Smith's shoulder blades.

“嗯，”哈利的腹部揪紧了，“嘿。”

'Forget it,' said Harry dismally. 'It's what everyone's going to think, isn't it? That I'm really stup - '

“我们在图书馆，哈利。”赫敏果断地说，抓着罗恩的胳膊把他朝大理石楼梯拽去。

'Hi, Harry,' said a voice behind him. He turned round and found Cho standing there.

“圣诞节过得好吗？”秋问。

'Oh,' said Harry as his stomach leapt uncomfortably. 'Hi.'

“嗯，还不错。”哈利说。

'We'll be in the library, Harry,' said Hermione firmly as she seized Ron above the elbow and dragged him off towards the marble staircase.

“我过得挺安静。”不知为什么，秋似乎有些不好意思，“嗯……下个月又要去一次霍格莫德村，你看到通知了吗？”

'Had a good Christmas?' asked Cho.

“什么？哦，没有，我回来后还没看过布告栏呢。”

'Yeah, not bad,' said Harry.

“是在情人节……”

'Mine was pretty quiet,' said Cho. For some reason, she was looking rather embarrassed. 'Erm . . . there's another Hogsmeade trip next month, did you see the notice?'

“哦，”哈利不明白她为什么要跟他说这个，“你是不是想——？”

'What? Oh, no, I haven't checked the noticeboard since I got back.'

“要是你愿意。”她热切地说。

'Yes, it's on Valentines Day . . .'

哈利呆住了，他本想说：“你是不是想问下次D．A．活动的时间？”但她的回答好像对不上。“我——”他说。

'Right,' said Harry, wondering why she was telling him this. 'Well, I suppose you want to - ?'

“噢，你不愿意就算了，”她说，似乎有些屈辱，“没关系，回头见。”

'Only if you do,' she said eagerly.

她讪讪离去，哈利瞪着她的背影，脑子疯狂地转动，突然醒悟了过来。

Harry stared. He had been about to say, 'I suppose you want to know when the next DA meeting is?' but her response did not seem to fit.

“秋！嘿——秋！”他跑过去，在大理石楼梯上追到了她。“嗯——你想在情人节跟我去霍格莫德吗？”

'I - er - ' he said.

“哦，是的！”她羞红了脸，灿烂地一笑。

'Oh, it's OK if you don't,' she said, looking mortified. 'Don't worry. I - I'll see you around.'

“好……那么……就说定了。”

She walked away. Harry stood staring after her, his brain working frantically. Then something clunked into place.

哈利感到这一天还不算完全失败，他在下午上课前到图书馆去找罗恩和赫敏时，脚步不觉也抬得高了。

'Cho! Hey - CHO!'

但到了晚上六点钟，就连成功地约了秋·张也不足以减轻哈利的不祥之感，这感觉随着他朝斯内普办公室迈出的每一步而增强。

He ran after her, catching her halfway up the marble staircase.

他在门外停了一会儿，希望自己是在别处。只要不是在这里，在哪儿都行。然后他深深吸了口气，敲门进去。

'Er - d'you want to come into Hogsmeade with me on Valentine s Day?'

这是一间昏暗的屋子，架上放着几百只玻璃瓶，黏糊糊的动植物标本浮在五颜六色的药剂中。角落上一个柜子里装满了斯内普曾经——不无根据地——指责哈利盗取的药材。但哈利的注意力被吸引到书桌上，烛光里有一个刻着神秘符号的浅浅的石盆。哈利一下认出来了——邓布利多的冥想盆，正在纳闷它摆在这儿干什么，斯内普冷冰冰的声音从阴影处传来，把他吓了一跳。

'Oooh, yes!' she said, blushing crimson and beaming at him.

“把你身后的门关上，波特。”

'Right . . . well . . . that's settled then,' said Harry, and feeling that the day was not going to be a complete loss after all, he virtually bounced off to the library to pick up Ron and Hermione before their afternoon lessons.

哈利照办了，恐惧地感到他把自己关了起来。他转过身，斯内普已经走到亮处，无声地指指书桌对面的椅子。哈利过去坐了，斯内普也坐下来，冷酷的黑眼睛一眨不眨地盯着哈利，脸上每一道纹路都刻着厌恶。

By six o'clock that evening, however, even the glow of having successfully asked out Cho Chang could not lighten the ominous feelings that intensified with every step Harry took towards Snape's office.

“好，波特，你知道来这儿干什么。”他说，“校长要我教你大脑封闭术，我只能希望你比在魔药课上聪明一点儿。”

He paused outside the door when he reached it, wishing he were almost anywhere else, then, taking a deep breath, he knocked and entered.

“是。”哈利不敢多话地答道。

The shadowy room was lined with shelves bearing hundreds of glass jars in which slimy bits of animals and plants were suspended in variously coloured potions. In one corner stood the cupboard full of ingredients that Snape had once accused Harry - not without reason - of robbing. Harry's attention was drawn towards the desk, however, where a shallow stone basin engraved with runes and symbols lay in a pool of candlelight. Harry recognised it at once - it was Dumbledore's Pensieve. Wondering what on earth it was doing there, he jumped when Snape's cold voice came out of the shadows.

“这也许不是一般的课，波特，”斯内普的眼睛阴险地眯缝起来，“但我还是你的老师，你任何时候都要叫我‘先生’或‘教授’。”

'Shut the door behind you, Potter.'

“是……先生。”哈利说。

Harry did as he was told, with the horrible feeling that he was imprisoning himself. When he turned back into the room, Snape had moved into the light and was pointing silently at the chair opposite his desk. Harry sat down and so did Snape, his cold black eyes fixed unblinkingly upon Harry, dislike etched in every line of his face.

“好啦，大脑封闭术，在你教父的厨房里我告诉过你，这一支法术能够防止头脑受到魔法的入侵和影响。”

'Well, Potter, you know why you are here,' he said. 'The Headmaster has asked me to teach you Occlumency. I can only hope that you prove more adept at it than at Potions.'

“为什么邓布利多教授认为我需要它，先生？”哈利直视着斯内普冷酷的黑眼睛，不知他会不会回答。

'Right,' said Harry tersely.

斯内普瞪了他一会儿，轻蔑地说：“就是你到现在也该想通了吧，波特？黑魔头极其擅长摄神取念——”

This may not be an ordinary class, Potter,' said Snape, his eyes narrowed malevolently, 'but I am still your teacher and you will therefore call me "sir" or "Professor" at all times.'

“那是什么意思，先生？”

'Yes . . . sir,' said Harry.

“即从另一个人的头脑中提取感觉和记忆——”

Snape continued to survey him through narrowed eyes for a moment, then said, 'Now, Occlumency. As I told you back in your dear godfather's kitchen, this branch of magic seals the mind against magical intrusion and influence.'

“他能读人心吗？”哈利马上问，他最担心的事被证实了。

'And why does Professor Dumbledore think I need it, sir?' said Harry looking directly into Snape's eyes and wondering whether Snape would answer.

“你没用心，波特，”斯内普说，他的黑眼睛闪着冷光，“你不懂得微妙的区别，这是使你把药剂配得如此糟糕的缺陷之一。”

Snape looked back at him for a moment and then said contemptuously, 'Surely even you could have worked that out by now, Potter? The Dark Lord is highly skilled at Legilimency - '

斯内普停顿了一会儿，显然在品味着侮辱哈利的快感，然后继续说：“只有麻瓜才讲‘读人心’。人心不是一本书，不可以随意翻阅。思想也不是刻在脑壳里的，不可以让人钻进去读。人心是一种复杂的、多层次的东西，波特——至少多数头脑是……”他笑道，“然而，会摄神取念的人可以在某些情况下研究别人的头脑，并作出正确的解释。比如说，黑魔头几乎总能看出别人对他说谎。只有擅长大脑封闭术的人才能封住与谎话矛盾的感觉和记忆，在他面前说谎而不被发现。”

'What's that? Sir?'

不管斯内普怎么说，摄神取念在哈利听来还是像读人心，而且他一点也不喜欢它的读音。

'It is the ability to extract feelings and memories from another person's mind - '

“那他能知道我们现在想什么吗？先生？”

'He can read minds?' said Harry quickly, his worst fears confirmed.

“黑魔头离得很远，霍格沃茨的院墙和场地有许多古老的魔咒守护着，保证了校内人员的身心安全。”斯内普说，“时间和空间对魔法是有影响的，波特。目光接触对摄神取念往往很关键。”

'You have no subtlety, Potter,' said Snape, his dark eyes glit-te'ing. 'You do not understand fine distinctions. It is one of the shortcomings that makes you such a lamentable potion-maker.'

“那我为什么还要学大脑封闭术？”

Snape paused for a moment, apparently to savour the pleasure of insulting Harry, before continuing.

斯内普瞟着哈利，用一根细长的手指摸着嘴巴。

'Only Muggles talk of "mind-reading". The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be perused by any invader, ihe mind is a complex and many-layered thing, Potter - or at least, most minds are.' He smirked. 'It is true, however, that those who have mastered Legilimency are able, under certain conditions, to delve into the minds of their victims and to interpret their findings correctly. The Dark Lord, for instance, almost always knows when somebody is lying to him. Only those skilled at Occlumency are able to shut down those feelings and memories that contradict the lie, and so can utter falsehoods in his presence without detection.'

“常规似乎不适用于你，波特。那个没能杀死你的咒语似乎在你和黑魔头之间建立了某种联系。迹象表明，有些时候，当你的头脑最放松、最脆弱时——比如在睡梦中，你能感知黑魔头的思想和情绪。校长认为不应任其继续下去，他要我教你怎样对黑魔头封闭你的思想。”

Whatever Snape said, Legilimency sounded like mind-reading to Harry, and he didn't like the sound of it at all.

哈利的心咚咚直跳。这解释不通啊。

'So he could know what we're thinking right now? Sir?'

“可邓布利多教授为什么要制止呢？”他突然问，“我不大喜欢这感觉，可是它挺有用呀。我是说……我看到大蛇袭击韦斯莱先生，不然邓布利多教授可能救不了他，是不是？先生？”

The Dark Lord is at a considerable distance and the walls and grounds of Hogwarts are guarded by many ancient spells and charms to ensure the bodily and mental safety of those who dwell within them,' said Snape. Time and space matter in magic, Potter. Eye contact is often essential to Legilimency.'

斯内普看了哈利一会儿，依然用手指摸着嘴巴，然后缓缓开口，仿佛在斟酌每个字眼。

'Well then, why do I have to learn Occlumency?'

“黑魔头似乎直到最近才发觉你和他之间的这种联系。在此之前似乎是你能感知他的情绪和思想，他却浑然不知。但是，你圣诞节前的那个梦——”

Snape eyed Harry, tracing his mouth with one long, thin finger as he did so.

“韦斯莱先生和蛇？”

The usual rules do not seem to apply with you, Potter. The curse that failed to kill you seems to have forged some kind of connection between you and the Dark Lord. The evidence suggests that at times, when your mind is most relaxed and vulnerable - when you are asleep, for instance - you are sharing the Dark Lord's thoughts and emotions. The Headmaster thinks it inadvisable for this to continue. He wishes me to teach you how to close your mind to the Dark Lord.'

“别打断我，波特。”斯内普凶狠地说，“我说到……你圣诞节前的那个梦如此严重地侵入了黑魔头的思想——”

Harry's heart was pumping fast again. None of this added up.

“我是在蛇的脑子里，不是他的！”

'But why does Professor Dumbledore want to stop it?' he asked abruptly. 'I don't like it much, but it's been useful, hasn't it? I mean . . . I saw that snake attack Mr Weasley and if I hadn't, Professor Dumbledore wouldn't have been able to save him, would he? Sir?'

“我想我刚说过别打断我，波特！”

Snape stared at Harry for a few moments, still tracing his mouth with his finger. When he spoke again, it was slowly and deliberately, as though he weighed every word.

但哈利不在意斯内普发火，他终于抓到了根子。他身子往前探了过去，不知不觉已经坐在椅子的边缘，身体绷得紧紧的，就像随时准备逃跑一样。

'It appears that the Dark Lord has bee a unaware of the connection between you and himself until very recently. Up till now it seems that you have been experiencing his emotions, and sharing his thoughts, without his being any the wiser. However, the vision you had shortly before Christmas - '

“我感知的是伏地魔的思想，怎么又用蛇眼看东西呢？”

The one with the snake and Mr Weasley?'

“不要说黑魔头的名字！”斯内普喝道。

'Do not interrupt me, Potter,' said Snape in a dangerous voice. 'As I was saying, the vision you had shortly before Christmas represented such a powerful incursion upon the Dark Lord's thoughts -

一阵难堪的沉默，他们隔着冥想盆怒目相对。

'I saw inside the snake's head, not his!'

“邓布利多教授也说他的名字。”哈利小声说。

'I thought I just told you not to interrupt me, Potter?'

“邓布利多是本领高强的巫师，”斯内普阴沉地说，“他可能不讳言这个名字……但我们其他人……”他似乎是不自觉地摸了摸左胳膊，哈利知道那是曾经烙有黑魔标记的地方。

But Harry did not care if Snape was angry; at last he seemed to be getting to the bottom of this business; he had moved forwards in his chair so that, without realising it, he was perched on the very edge, tense as though poised for flight.

“我只是想知道，”哈利竭力使语气保持礼貌，“为什么——”

'How come I saw through the snake's eyes if it's Voldemort's thoughts I'm sharing?'

“看来是你进入了蛇的脑子，因为黑魔头当时正在那里，”斯内普咆哮道，“他正附在蛇的体内，所以你梦见你也在里面……”

'Do not say the Dark Lord's name!' spat Snape.

“那伏——他发现我了吗？”

There was a nasty silence. They glared at each other across the Pensieve.

“看来是的。”斯内普冷冷地说。

'Professor Dumbledore says his name.' said Harry quietly.

“你怎么知道？”哈利忙问，“这只是邓布利多教授的猜测，还是——？”

'Dumbledore is an extremely powerful wizard,' Snape muttered. 'While he may feel secure enough to use the name . . . the rest of us . . .' He rubbed his left forearm, apparently unconsciously, on the spot where Harry knew the Dark Mark was burned into his skin.

“我说过，”斯内普硬板板地坐在椅子上，眼睛像两条缝，“叫我先生。”

'I just wanted to know,' Harry began again, forcing his voice back to politeness, 'why - '

“是，先生，”哈利不耐烦地说，“可是你怎么知道——？”

'You seem to have visited the snake's mind because that was where the Dark Lord was at that particular moment,' snarled Snape. 'He was possessing the snake at the time and so you dreamed you were inside it, too.'

“我们知道就够了。”斯内普厉声道，“重要的是黑魔头现在已经察觉你能感知他的思想和感觉。他还推断出这种情况是可以反过来的，也就是说，他已想到他或许能感知你的思想和感觉——”

'And Vol - he - realised I was there?'

“他可能想操纵我？”哈利问，赶紧又补上一句，“先生？”

'It seems so,' said Snape coolly.

“可能。”斯内普冷淡地、漠不关心地说，“这就又回到了大脑封闭术。”

'How do you know?' said Harry urgently. 'Is this just Professor Dumbledore guessing, or - ?'

斯内普从袍子里抽出魔杖，哈利身体绷紧了。但斯内普只是把杖尖举到太阳穴上，插到油腻的发根中。当他拿开魔杖时，杖尖上连着一缕银色的东西，像粗粗的蛛丝。他把它扯断了，让它轻柔地落到了冥想盆里，在盆中旋转成银白色，既非气体又非液体。斯内普又两次把魔杖举到太阳穴上，把银色的物质加入石盆中。他没有解释，只是小心地把冥想盆捧到靠边的架子上，然后转过来手持魔杖对着哈利。

'I told you,' said Snape, rigid in his chair, his eyes slits, 'to call me "sir".

“站起来，拿出你的魔杖，波特。”

'Yes, sir,' said Harry impatiently, 'but how do you know - '?

哈利紧张地站了起来，两人隔着桌子对峙着。

'It is enough that we know,' said Snape repressively. The important point is that the Dark Lord is now aware that you are gaining access to his thoughts and feelings. He has also deduced that the process is likely to work in reverse; that is to say, he has realised that he might be able to access your thoughts and feelings in return - '

“你可以用魔杖解除我的武器，或者用你能想到的其他方式自卫。”斯内普说。

'And he might try and make me do things?' asked Harry. 'Sir?' he added hurriedly.

“你要做什么？”哈利害怕地看着斯内普的魔杖问。

'He might,' said Snape, sounding cold and unconcerned. 'Which brings us back to Occlumency.'

“我要进入你的大脑，”斯内普轻声说道，“我们要看看你的抵抗能力。我听说你已经显示出对夺魂咒的抵抗力……你会发现这里要用到类似的能力……现在，准备……摄神取念！”

Snape pulled out his wand from an inside pocket of his robes and Harry tensed in his chair, but Snape merely raised the wand to his temple and placed its tip into the greasy roots of his hair. When he withdrew it, some silvery substance came away, stretching from temple to wand like a thick gossamer strand, which broke as he pulled the wand away from it and fell gracefully into the Pensieve, where it swirled silvery-white, neither gas nor liquid. Twice more, Snape raised the wand to his temple and deposited the silvery substance into the stone basin, then, without offering any explanation of his behaviour, he picked up the Pensieve carefully, removed it to a shelf out of their way and returned to face Harry with his wand held at the ready.

斯内普突然出手，哈利还没来得及准备抵抗，办公室就在他眼前晃动着消失了，一幅幅画面像放电影般地在他脑海中闪过，他已看不到周围的东西。

'Stand up and take out your wand, Potter.'

五岁时他看着达力骑在红色的新自行车上，他心中充满了嫉妒……九岁时他被看家狗利皮赶到树上，德思礼一家在草坪上哈哈大笑……他戴着分院帽，听到它说他可以去斯莱特林……赫敏躺在校医院，满脸黑毛……一百个摄魂怪在黑暗的湖边把他包围了……秋在檞寄生下向他靠近……

Harry got to his feet, feeling nervous. They faced each other with the desk between them.

不，哈利脑子里有个声音叫道，你不能看这个，你不能看，这是私人的——

'You may use your wand to attempt to disarm me, or defend yourself in any other way you can think of,' said Snape.

他感到膝盖一阵剧痛，斯内普的办公室回来了，他发现自己倒在地上，一只膝盖在桌腿上重重地磕了一下。他抬头望望斯内普，见他在揉着手腕，那儿有一道红肿的鞭痕，像一个烙印。

'And what are you going to do?' Harry asked, eyeing Snape's wand apprehensively.

“你想使蜇人咒吗？”斯内普冷冷地问。

'I am about to attempt to break into your mind,' said Snape softly. 'We are going to see how well you resist. I have been told that you have already shown aptitude at resisting the Imperius Curse. You will find that similar powers are needed for this . . . brace yourself, now. Legilimens!'

“没有。”哈利怨恨地说，一边从地上爬了起来。

Snape had struck before Harry was ready, before he had even begun to summon any force of resistance. The office swam in front of his eyes and vanished; image after image was racing through his mind like a flickering film so vivid it blinded him to his surroundings.

“我想也是。”斯内普轻蔑地说，“你让我进得太深，你失去了控制。”

He was five, watching Dudley riding a new red bicycle, and his heart was bursting with jealousy . . . he was nine, and Ripper the bulldog was chasing him up a tree and the Dursleys were laughing below on the lawn . . . he was sitting under the Sorting Hat, and it was telling him he would do well in Slytherin . . . Hermione was lying in the hospital wing, her face covered with thick black hair . . . a hundred Dementors were closing in on him beside the dark lake . . . Cho Chang was drawing nearer to him under the mistletoe . . .

“你全看到了？”哈利不知自己想不想听到回答。

No, said a voice inside Harry's head, as the memory of Cho drew nearer, you're not watching that, you're not watching it, it's private - '

“一些片段。”斯内普说着撇了撇嘴，“那条狗是谁的？”

He felt a sharp pain in his knee. Snape's office had come back into view and he realised that he had fallen to the floor; one of his knees had collided painfully with the leg of Snape's desk. He looked up at Snape, who had lowered his wand and was rubbing his wrist. There was an angry weal there, like a scorch mark.

“玛姬姑妈的。”哈利小声说，心里恨透了斯内普。

'Did you mean to produce a Stinging Hex?' asked Snape coolly.

“不过，作为第一次，还不算太差。”斯内普又举起魔杖，“你终于阻止了我，尽管你浪费了时间和精力大喊大叫。你必须集中精神，用你的脑子抵抗我，不需要用魔杖。”

'No,' said Harry bitterly, getting up from the floor.

“我会努力的。”哈利愤怒地说，“但你没告诉我怎么做！”

'I thought not,' said Snape, watching him closely. 'You let me get in too far. You lost control.'

“礼貌，波特，”斯内普凶狠地说，“现在，我要你闭上眼睛。”

'Did you see everything I saw?' Harry asked, unsure whether he wanted to hear the answer.

哈利狠狠地瞪了他一眼才照办了。他不喜欢闭眼站在那儿，让斯内普拿着魔杖站在面前。

'Flashes of it,' said Snape, his lip curling. To whom did the dog belong?'

“排除杂念，波特，”斯内普冷冷的声音说，“丢开所有的感情……”

'My Aunt Marge,' Harry muttered, hating Snape.

但对斯内普的愤怒仍像毒液一样冲击着他的血管。丢开愤怒？还不如丢掉一条腿容易些……

'Well, for a first attempt that was not as poor as it might have been,' said Snape, raising his wand once more. 'You managed to stop me eventually, though you wasted time and energy shouting. You must remain focused. Repel me with your brain and you will not need to resort to your wand.'

“你没有做到，波特……你需要约束自己……集中思想，开始……”

'I'm trying,' said Harry angrily, 'but you're not telling me how!'

哈利努力清空头脑，不去思考，不去回忆，不去感觉……

'Manners, Potter,' said Snape dangerously. 'Now, I want you to close your eyes.'

“再来……我数到三……一……二……三……摄神取念！”

Harry threw him a filthy look before doing as he was told. He did not like the idea of standing there with his eyes shut while Snape faced him, carrying a wand.

一条黑色的巨龙在他面前张牙舞爪……他的父母在魔镜中向他招手……塞德里克·迪戈里躺在地上，两眼无神地瞪着他……

'Clear your mind, Potter,' said Snape's cold voice. 'Let go of all emotion . . .'

“不——！”他又跪在了地上，脸埋在手心里，脑子生疼，好像有人要把它从脑壳中抽出去一样。

But Harry's anger at Snape continued to pound through his veins like venom. Let go of his anger? He could as easily detach his legs . . .

“起来！”斯内普厉声说，“起来！你没有做，没有努力，你让我看到你所害怕的记忆，等于在给我武器！”

'You're not doing it, Potter . . . you will need more discipline than this . . . focus, now . . .'

哈利站了起来，心脏怦怦狂跳，好像真的刚看到塞德里克死在墓地里一样。斯内普看上去比平常更苍白，更愤怒，尽管远不如哈利愤怒。

Harry tried to empty his mind, tried not to think, or remember, or feel . . .

“我——努——力——了。”他咬着牙说。

'Let's go again . . . on the count of three . . . one - two - three - 'Legilimens!'

“我叫你丢开感情！”

A great black dragon was rearing in front of him . . . his father and mother were waving at him out of an enchanted mirror . . . Cedric Diggory was lying on the ground with blank eyes staring at him . . .

“是吗？我现在觉得很难做到。”哈利吼道。

'NOOOOOOO!'

“那你很容易被黑魔头利用！”斯内普残酷地说，“骄傲的、感情用事的傻瓜，不会控制自己的感情，沉溺在悲伤的回忆中，让自己那么容易受刺激——一句话，软弱的人，他们在他的魔力面前不堪一击！他要侵入你的思想易如反掌，波特！”

Harry was on his knees again, his face buried in his hands, his brain aching as though someone had been trying to pull it from his skull.

“我不软弱。”哈利低声说，他怒火中烧，觉得自己马上就有可能揍斯内普了。

'Get up!' said Snape sharply. 'Get up! You are not trying, you are making no effort. You are allowing me access to memories you fear, handing me weapons!'

“那就证明它！控制自己！”斯内普训斥道，“克制你的怒气，管好你的大脑！我们再来！准备！摄神取念！”

Harry stood up again, his heart thumping wildly as though he had really just seen Cedric dead in the graveyard. Snape looked paler than usual, and angrier, though not nearly as angry as Harry was.

他看着弗农姨父把信箱钉死……一百个摄魂怪从湖上朝他飘来……他和韦斯莱先生在一条没有窗户的走廊上疾行……离走廊尽头的黑门越来越近……哈利想进去……但韦斯莱先生把他领向左边，走下石阶……

'I - am - making - an - effort,' he said through clenched teeth.

“我知道了！我知道了！”

'I told you to empty yourself of emotion!'

他又扑倒在斯内普办公室的地上，伤疤针扎一般地痛，但从他嘴里发出的声音却是欢喜的。他撑起身子，看到斯内普手举魔杖瞪着他。这次斯内普好像没等哈利反抗就撤除了魔咒。

'Yeah? Well, I'm finding that hard at the moment,' Harry snarled.

“怎么回事，波特？”他盯着哈利问。

Then you will find yourself easy prey for the Dark Lord!' said Snape savagely. 'Fools who wear their hearts proudly on their sleeves, who cannot control their emotions, who wallow in sad memories and allow themselves to be provoked so easily - weak people, in other words - they stand no chance against his powers! He will penetrate your mind with absurd ease, Potter!'

“我看见——我想起，”哈利喘着气说，“我刚刚意识到……”

'I am not weak,' said Harry in a low voice, fury now pumping through him so that he thought he might attack Snape in a moment.

“意识到什么？”斯内普厉声问。

'Then prove it! Master yourself!' spat Snape. 'Control your anger, discipline your mind! We shall try again! Get ready, now! Legilimens!'

哈利没有马上回答，他揉着额头，还在回味那一刻令人目眩的顿悟……

He was watching Uncle Vernon hammering the letterbox shut . . . a hundred Dementors were drifting across the lake in the grounds towards him . . . he was running along a windowless passage with Mr Weasley . . . they were drawing nearer to the plain black door at the end of the corridor . . . Harry expected to go through it . . . but Mr Weasley led him off to the left, down a flight of stone steps . . .

他几个月来经常梦见一条没有窗户的走廊，尽头有扇上锁的门，但从未意识到它是个真实的地方。现在回忆起来，他发现那就是他和韦斯莱先生8月12日赶往审判室时经过的那条走廊，它通向神秘事务司，韦斯莱先生就是在那儿被伏地魔的蛇咬伤的……

'I KNOW! I KNOW!'

他抬头望着斯内普。

He was on all fours again on Snape's office floor, his scar was prickling unpleasantly, but the voice that had just issued from his mouth was triumphant. He pushed himself up again to find Snape storing at him, his wand raised. It looked as though, this time, Snape had lifted the spell before Harry had even tried to fight back.

“神秘事务司里有什么？”

'What happened then, Potter?' he asked, eyeing Harry intently.

“你说什么？”斯内普轻声问，哈利痛快地看到他有些慌张。

'I saw - I remembered,' Harry panted. 'I've just realised . . .'

“我说，神秘事务司里有什么，先生？”

'Realised what?' asked Snape sharply.

“你为什么问这个？”斯内普缓缓地问。

Harry did not answer at once; he was still savouring the moment of blinding realisation as he rubbed his forehead . . .

“因为，”哈利紧盯着斯内普，看他有什么反应，“我看到的那条走廊——我几个月来一直梦到它——我刚刚意识到，它通向神秘事务司……我想伏地魔渴望得到那——”

He had been dreaming about a windowless corridor ending in a locked door for months, without once realising that it was a real place. Now, seeing the memory again, he knew that all along he had been dreaming about the corridor down which he had run with Mr Weasley on the twelfth of August as they hurried to the courtrooms in the Ministry; it was the corridor leading to the Department of Mysteries and Mr Weasley had been there the night that he had been attacked by Voldemort's snake.

“我叫你别说黑魔头的名字！”

He looked up at Snape.

他们怒目相向，哈利的伤疤又灼痛起来，但他没有管它。斯内普似乎有些紧张，说话时却努力装出冷淡和漠不关心的样子。

'What's in the Department of Mysteries?'

“神秘事务司里有许多东西，波特，没有几样是你搞得懂的，而且哪样都不关你的事。我说清楚了吗？”

'What did you say?' Snape asked quietly and Harry saw, with deep satisfaction, that Snape was unnerved.

“清楚了。”哈利说，还在揉着伤疤，它越来越疼了。

'I said, what's in the Department of Mysteries, sir?' Harry said.

“我希望你星期三同一时间过来，我们继续练习。”

'And why,' said Snape slowly, 'would you ask such a thing?'

“好的。”哈利说。他迫不及待地想离开斯内普的办公室去找罗恩与赫敏。

'Because,' said Harry, watching Snape's face closely, 'that corridor I've just seen - I've been dreaming about it for montns - I've just recognised it - it leads to the Department of Mysteries . . . and I think Voldemort wants something from - '

“你每天晚上睡觉前要排除一切感情——使你的头脑保持空白而平静，明白吗？”

'I have told you not to say the Dark Lord's name!'

“明白。”哈利说，但他几乎没有听。

They glared at each other. Harry's scar seared again, but he did not care. Snape looked agitated; but when he spoke again he sounded as though he was trying to appear cool and unconcerned.

“小心，波特……我会知道你有没有练习……”

There are many things in the Department of Mysteries, Potter, few of which you would understand and none of which concern you. Do I make myself plain?'

“是。”哈利小声说。他把书包甩到肩上，快步朝门口走去。开门时他回头看了看斯内普，他正背对着哈利，用魔杖把他的思想从冥想盆里挑出来，小心地放回脑子里。哈利轻轻带上门，伤疤还在突突地痛着。

'Yes,' Harry said, still rubbing his prickling scar, which was becoming more painful.

他在图书馆找到了罗恩与赫敏，两人正在赶乌姆里奇新布置的一堆作业。其他学生，几乎全是五年级的，也都坐在点着灯的桌前，鼻子凑在书上，羽毛笔刷刷地狂写。窗外的天色越来越黑，惟一的声音就是平斯夫人的鞋子哒哒轻响。她在过道里威胁地来回巡视，把气呼到碰她那些宝贝图书的人的脖子上。

'I want you back here same time on Wednesday. We will continue work then.'

哈利有点哆嗦，伤疤还在痛，他觉得有点发烧。在罗恩与赫敏对面坐下时，他在窗户中照见了自己，十分苍白，伤疤似乎比平常更显眼了。

'Fine,' said Harry. He was desperate to get out of Snape's office and find Ron and Hermione.

“怎么样？”赫敏小声问，然后露出担心的表情，“你没事吧，哈利？”

'You are to rid your mind of all emotion every night before sleep; empty it, make it blank and calm, you understand?'

“嗯……没事……我不知道。”哈利烦躁地说，痛得皱了皱眉，“告诉你们……我刚发现了一件事……”

'Yes,' said Harry, who was barely listening.

他讲了刚才看到和推想的事。

'And be warned, Potter . . . I shall know if you have not practised . . .'

“你……你是说……”罗恩小声说，平斯夫人走了过去，带着哒哒的轻响，“那件武器——神秘人要找的东西——藏在魔法部？”

'Right,' Harry mumbled. He picked up his schoolbag, swung it over his shoulder and hurried towards the office door. As he opened it, he glanced back at Snape, who had his back to Harry and was scooping his own thoughts out of the Pensieve with the tip of his wand and replacing them carefully inside his own head. Harry left without another word, closing the door carefully behind him, his scar still throbbing painfully.

“神秘事务司，应该是。”哈利悄声道，“我跟你爸爸去审判室时看到过那扇门，跟他被蛇咬时看守的是同一扇。”

Harry found Ron and Hermione in the library, where they were working on Umbridge's most recent ream of homework. Other students, nearly all of them fifth-years, sat at lamp-lit tables nearby, noses close to books, quills scratching feverishly, while the sky outside the mullioned windows grew steadily blacker. The only other sound was the slight squeaking of one of Madam Pince's shoes, as the librarian prowled the aisles menacingly, breathing down the necks of those touching her precious books.

赫敏长长地吁了口气，“当然啦。”她说。

Harry felt shivery; his scar was still aching, he felt almost feverish.

“什么当然？”罗恩不耐烦地问。

When he sat down opposite Ron and Hermione, he caught sight of himself in the window opposite; he was very white and his scar seemed to be showing up more clearly than usual.

“罗恩，想想吧……斯多吉·波德摩企图闯入魔法部的一扇门……一定就是那一扇，不像是巧合！”

'How did it go?' Hermione whispered, and then, looking concerned. 'Are you all right, Harry?'

“为什么斯多吉要闯进去呢，他不是我们一边的吗？”

'Yeah . . . fine . . . I dunno,' said Harry impatiently, wincing as pain shot through his scar again. 'Listen . . . I've just realised something . . .'

“嗯，我不知道，”赫敏承认道，“是有点怪……”

And he told them what he had just seen and deduced.

“神秘事务司里到底有什么？”哈利问罗恩，“你爸爸提过什么吗？”

'So . . . so are you saying . . .' whispered Ron, as Madam Pince swept past, squeaking slightly 'that the weapon - the thing You-Know-Who's after - is in the Ministry of Magic?'

“我知道他们管在那儿工作的人叫‘缄默人’，”罗恩皱眉道，“因为好像没人知道他们在那儿干什么……那种地方会有武器可够怪的……”

'In the Department of Mysteries, it's got to be,' Harry whispered. 'I saw that door when your dad took me down to the courtrooms for my hearing and it's definitely the same one he was guarding when the snake bit him.'

“一点也不怪，合情合理，”赫敏说。“我想那是魔法部开发的什么绝密玩意儿……哈利，你真的没事吗？”

Hermione let out a long, slow sigh.

哈利两手搓着额头，像是要熨平它。

'Of course,' she breathed.

“嗯……没事……”他放下手，双手在颤抖，“只是有点……我不大喜欢大脑封闭术……”

'Of course what?' said Ron rather impatiently.

“脑子一次次地受到袭击，我想谁都会发虚的。”赫敏同情地说，“我们回公共休息室去吧，那儿会舒服一点儿……”

'Ron, think about it. . . Sturgis Podmore was trying to get through a door at the Ministry of Magic . . . it must have been that one, it's too much of a coincidence!'

但公共休息室里闹哄哄的，弗雷德和乔治在演示笑话商店的最新产品。

'How come Sturgis was trying to break in when he's on our side?' said Ron.

“无头帽！”乔治说道，弗雷德挥舞着一顶饰有粉红色羽毛的尖帽子，“两个加隆一顶……诸位请看！”

'Well, I don't know,' Hermione admitted. That is a bit odd . . .'

弗雷德笑嘻嘻地把帽子套到头上，一刹那间他显得很傻，然后帽子和头一起消失了。

'So what's in the Department of Mysteries?' Harry asked Ron. 'Has your dad ever mentioned anything about it?'

几个女生尖叫起来，其他人哄堂大笑。

'I know they call the people who work in there "Unspeakables",' said Ron, frowning. 'Because no one really seems to know what they do - weird place to have a weapon.'

“脱帽！”乔治大声喊道，弗雷德的手在肩膀上摸索了一阵，他的头重新出现了，粉红色羽毛的帽子被摘了下来。

'It's not weird at all, it makes perfect sense,' said Hermione. 'It will be something top secret that the Ministry has been developing, I expect . . . Harry, are you sure you're all right?'

“那帽子是怎么做的？”赫敏也分了神，仔细观察着弗雷德和乔治，“显然是一种隐形咒，但把隐形区域扩大到施了魔法的物体之外是蛮聪明的……但我想这魔法不会持续太久……”

For Harry had just run both his hands hard over his forehead as though trying to iron it.

哈利没有回答，他还是不舒服。

'Yeah . . . fine . . .' he said, lowering his hands, which were trembling. 'I just feel a bit . . . I don't like Occlumency much.'

“我明天再做吧。”他把刚从书包里拿出来的课本又塞了回去。

I expect anyone would feel snaky if they'd had their mind attacked over and over again,' said Hermione sympathetically. 'Look, let's get back to the common room, we'll be a bit more comfortable there.'

“记在你的家庭作业计划簿上！”赫敏建议道，“这样你就不会忘了！”

But the common room was packed and full of shrieks of laughter and excitement; Fred and George were demonstrating their latest bit of joke shop merchandise.

哈利和罗恩交换了一下眼色，他从书包里掏出计划簿，小心地打开了它。

'Headless Hats!' shouted George, as Fred waved a pointed hat decorated with a fluffy pink feather at the watching students. Two Galleons each, watch Fred, now!'

“不要说以后做，你这个二流货！”本子叱责道，哈利草草记下乌姆里奇的作业，赫敏满意地笑了。

Fred swept the hat on to his head, beaming. For a second he merely looked rather stupid; then both hat and head vanished.

“我去睡觉了。”哈利把作业计划簿塞进了书包，心想一有机会就把它丢到火里去。

Several girls screamed, but everyone else was roaring with laughter.

他穿过公共休息室，躲开想给他戴无头帽的乔治，走到通往男生宿舍的安静凉爽的石楼梯上。他感觉很难受，就像梦见蛇的那天晚上一样。但他想也许躺一会儿就好了。

'And off again!' shouted George, and Fred's hand groped for a moment in what seemed to be thin air over his shoulder; then his head reappeared as he swept the pink-feathered hat from it.

他打开宿舍的门，刚往里走了一步，脑袋就像被切开似的疼了起来。他不知道身在何处，站着还是躺着，甚至不知道自己的名字……

'How do those hats work, then?' said Hermione, distracted from her homework and watching Fred and George closely. 'I mean, obviously it's some kind of Invisibility Spell, but it's rather clever to have extended the field of invisibility beyond the boundaries of the charmed object . . . I'd imagine the charm wouldn't have a very long life though.'

疯狂的笑声在他耳中回响……他好久没有这么开心过了……兴高采烈，欣喜若狂，得意忘形……一件大大的好事发生了……

Harry did not answer; he was feeling ill.

“哈利？哈利！”

'I'm going to have to do this tomorrow,' he muttered, pushing the books he had just taken out of his bag back inside it.

有人打了他一个耳光。疯狂的笑声中插入一声疼痛的叫喊。快乐渐渐消失，但笑声还在持续着……

'Well, write it in your homework planner then!' said Hermione encouragingly. 'So you don't forget!'

他睁开眼睛，发现那疯狂的笑声是从他自己嘴里发出来的。他刚一意识到这点，笑声就消失了。哈利气喘吁吁地躺在地上，瞪着天花板，额头的伤疤可怕地跳动着。罗恩俯身看着他，看上去很担心。

Harry and Ron exchanged looks as he reached into his bag, withdrew the planner and opened it tentatively.

“你怎么啦？”

'Don't leave it till later, you big second-rater!' chided the book as Harry scribbled down Umbridge's homework. Hermione beamed at it.

“我……不知道……”哈利坐了起来，“他很高兴……很高兴……”

'I think I'll go to bed,' said Harry, stuffing the homework planner back into his bag and making a mental note to drop it in the fire the first opportunity he got.

“神秘人？”

He walked across the common room, dodging George, who tried to put a Headless Hat on him, and reached the peace and cool of the stone staircase to the boys' dormitories. He was feeling sick again, just as he had the night he had had the vision of the snake, but thought that if he could just lie down for a while he would be all right.

“有一件好事发生了，”哈利嘟哝道，他像梦见韦斯莱先生被蛇咬之后那样浑身发抖，非常难受，“他一直盼望的事情。”

He opened the door of his dormitory and was one step inside it when he experienced pain so severe he thought that someone must have sliced into the top of his head. He did not know where be was, whether he was standing or lying down, he did not even know his own name.

像在格兰芬多队更衣室那次一样，这些话仿佛是一个陌生人用哈利的嘴说出来的，但他知道这是实情。他深深地呼吸，不让自己吐在罗恩身上。他很庆幸迪安和西莫不在场。

Maniacal laughter was ringing in his ears . . . he was happier than he had been in a very long time . . . jubilant, ecstatic, triumphant . . . a wonderful, wonderful thing had happened . . .

“赫敏让我来看看你。”罗恩低声说道，一边把哈利拉了起来，“她说你这会儿的抵抗力很弱，斯内普折腾过你的脑子之后……但我想长远看会有用的，是吧？”

'Harry? HARRY!'

罗恩怀疑地看了看哈利，把他扶到床边。哈利没信心地点点头，瘫靠在枕头上，因为晚上摔的那些跤而浑身疼痛，他的伤疤还像针扎般地疼。他不禁怀疑第一次学习的大脑封闭术反而削弱了他的抵抗力。同时他怀着极大的恐惧揣测着，究竟是什么事让伏地魔感觉到十四年来从未有过的开心。

Someone had hit him around the face. The insane laughter was punctuated with a cry of pain. The happiness was draining out of him, but the laughter continued . . .

He opened his eyes and, as he did so, he became aware that the wild laughter was coming out of his own mouth. The moment he realised this, it died away; Harry lay panting on the floor, staring up at the ceiling, the scar on his forehead throbbing horribly. Ron was bending over him, looking very worried.

'What happened?' he said.

'I . . . dunno . . .' Harry gasped, sitting up again. 'He's really happy . . . really happy . . .'

'You-Know-Who is?'

'Something good's happened,' mumbled Harry. He was shaking as badly as he had done after seeing the snake attack Mr Weasley and felt very sick. 'Something he's been hoping for.'

The words came, just as they had back in the Gryffindor changing room, as though a stranger was speaking them through Harry's mouth, yet he knew they were true. He took deep breaths, willing himself not to vomit all over Ron. He was very glad that Dean and Seamus were not here to watch this time.

'Hermione told me to come and check on you,' said Ron in a low voice, helping Harry to his feet. 'She says your defences will be low at the moment, after Snape's been fiddling around with your mind . . . still, I suppose it'll help in the long run, won't it?' He looked doubtfully at Harry as he helped him towards his bed. Harry nodded without any conviction and slumped back on his pillows, aching all over from having fallen to the floor so often that evening, his scar still prickling painfully. He could not help feeling that his first foray into Occlumency had weakened his mind's resistance rather than strengthening it, and he wondered, with a feeling of great trepidation, what had happened to make Lord Voldemort the happiest he had been in fourteen years.