jkrowlingharrypotterandpa-第2章

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crash　that　had　killed　Harry's　parents；　because　Lily　and　James　Potter　had　not　died　in　a　car　crash。　They　had　been　murdered；　murdered　by　the　most　feared　Dark　wizard　for　a　hundred　years；　Lord　Voldemort。　Harry　had　escaped　from　the　same　attack　with　nothing　more　than　a　scar　on　his　forehead；　where　Voldemort's　curse；　instead　of　killing　him；　had　rebounded　upon　its　originator。　Barely　alive；　Voldemort　had　fled。。。
　　　But　Harry　had　e　face…to…face　with　him　at　Hogwarts。　Remembering　their　last　meeting　as　he　stood　at　the　dark　window；　Harry　had　to　admit　he　was　lucky　even　to　have　reached　his　thirteenth　birthday。
　　　He　scanned　the　starry　sky　for　a　sign　of　Hedwig；　perhaps　soaring
　　　back　to　him　with　a　dead　mouse　dangling　from　her　beak；　expecting　praise。　Gazing　absently　over　the　rooftops；　it　was　a　few　seconds　before　Harry　realized　what　he　was　seeing。
　　　Silhouetted　against　the　golden　moon；　and　growing　larger　every　moment；　was　a　large；　strangely　lopsided　creature；　and　it　was　flapping　in　Harry's　direction。　He　stood　quite　still；　watching　it　sink　lower　and　lower。　For　a　split　second　he　hesitated；　his　hand　on　the　window　latch；　wondering　whether　to　slam　it　shut。　But　then　the　bizarre　creature　soared　over　one　of　the　street　lamps　of　Privet　Drive；　and　Harry；　realizing　what　it　was；　leapt　aside。
　　　Through　the　window　soared　three　owls；　two　of　them　holding　up　the　third；　which　appeared　to　be　unconscious。　They　landed　with　a　soft　flump　on　Harry's　bed；　and　the　middle　owl；　which　was　large　and　gray；　keeled　right　over　and　lay　motionless。　There　was　a　large　package　tied　to　its　legs。
　　　Harry　recognized　the　unconscious　owl　at　once…his　name　was　Errol；　and　he　belonged　to　the　Weasley　family。　Harry　dashed　to　the　bed；　untied　the　cords　around　Errol's　legs；　took　off　the　parcel；　and　then　carried　Errol　to　Hedwig's　cage。　Errol　opened　one　bleary　eye；　gave　a　feeble　hoot　of　thanks；　and　began　to　gulp　some　water。
　　　Harry　turned　back　to　the　remaining　owls。　One　of　them；　the　large　snowy　female；　was　his　own　Hedwig。　She；　too；　was　carrying　a　parcel　and　looked　extremely　pleased　with　herself。　She　gave　Harry　an　affectionate　nip　with　her　beak　as　he　removed　her　burden；　then　flew　across　the　room　to　join　Errol。
　　　Harry　didn't　recognize　the　third　owl；　a　handsome　tawny　one；　but　he　knew　at　once　where　it　had　e　from；　because　in　addition　to　a　third　package；　it　was　carrying　a　letter　bearing　the　Hogwarts　crest。　When　Harry　relieved　this　owl　of　its　burden；　it　ruffled　its　feathers　importantly；　stretched　its　wings；　and　took　off　through　the　window　into　the　night。
　　　Harry　sat　down　on　his　bed　and　grabbed　Errol's　package；　ripped　off　the　brown　paper；　and　discovered　a　present　wrapped　in　gold；　and　his　first　ever　birthday　card。　Fingers　trembling　slightly；　he　opened　the　envelope。　Two　pieces　of　paper　fell　out…a　letter　and　a　newspaper　clipping。
　　　The　clipping　had　clearly　e　out　of　the　wizarding　newspaper；　the　Daily　Prophet；　because　the　people　in　the　black…and…white　picture　were　moving。　Harry　picked　up　the　clipping；　smoothed　it　out；　and　read：
　　　MINISTRY　OF　MAGIC　EMPLOYEE　SCOOPS　GRAND　PRIZE
　　　Arthur　Weasley；　Head　of　the　Misuse　of　Muggle　Artifacts　Office　at　the　Ministry　of　Magic；　has　won　the　annual　Daily　Prophet　Grand　Prize　Galleon　Draw。
　　　A　delighted　Mr。　Weasley　told　the　Daily　Prophet；　〃We　will　be　spending　the　gold　on　a　summer　holiday　in　Egypt；　where　our　eldest　son；　Bill；　works　as　a　curse　breaker　for　Gringotts　Wizarding　Bank。〃
　　　The　Weasley　family　will　be　spending　a　month　in　Egypt；　returning　for　the　start　of　the　new　school　year　at　Hogwarts；　which　five　of　the　Weasley　children　currently　attend。
　　　Harry　scanned　the　moving　photograph；　and　a　grin　spread　across　his　face　as　he　saw　all　nine　of　the　Weasleys　waving　furiously　at　him；　standing　in　front　of　a　large　pyramid。　Plump　little　Mrs。　Weasley；　tail；　balding　Mr。　Weasley；　six　sons；　and　one　daughter；　all　（though　the　black…and…white　picture　didn't　show　it）　with　flaming…red　hair。　Right　in　the　middle　of　the　picture　was　Ron；　tall　and　gangling；　with　his　pet　rat；　Scabbers；　on　his　shoulder　and　his　arm　around　his　little　sister；　Ginny。
　　　Harry　couldn't　think　of　anyone　who　deserved　to　win　a　large　pile　of　gold　more　than　the　Weasleys；　who　were　very　nice　and　extremely　poor。　He　picked　up　Ron's　letter　and　unfolded　it。
　　　Dear　Harry；
　　　Happy　birthday！
　　　Look；　I'　really　sorry　about　that　telephone　call。　I　hope　the　Muggles　didn't　give　you　a　hard　time。　I　asked　Dad；　and　he　reckons　I　shouldn't　have　shouted。
　　　It's　amazing　here　in　Egypt。　Bill's　taken　us　around　all　the　tombs　and　you　wouldn't　believe　the　curses　those　old　Egyptian　wizards　put　on　them。　Mum　wouldn't　let　Ginny　e　in　the　last　one。　There　were　all　these　mutant　skeletons　in　there；　of　Muggles　who'd　broken　in　and　grown　extra　heads　and　stuff。
　　　I　couldn't　believe　it　when　Dad　won　the　Daily　Prophet　Draw。　Seven　hundred　galleons！　Most　of　it's　gone　on　this　trip；　but　they're　going　to　buy　me　a　new　wand　for　next　year。
　　　Harry　remembered　only　too　well　the　occasion　when　Ron's　old　wand　had　snapped。　It　had　happened　when　the　car　the　two　of　them　had　been　flying　to　Hogwarts　had　crashed　into　a　tree　on　the　school　grounds。
　　　We'll　be　back　about　a　week　before　term　starts　and　we'll　be　going　up　to　London　to　get　my　wand　and　our　new　books。　Any　chance　of　meeting　you　there？
　　　Don't　let　the　Muggles　get　you　down！
　　　Try　and　e　to　London；
　　　Ron
　　　P。　S。　Percy's　Head　Boy。　He　got　the　letter　last　week。
　　　Harry　glanced　back　at　the　photograph。　Percy；　who　was　in　his　seventh　and　final　year　at　Hogwarts；　was　looking　particularly　smug。　He　had　pinned　his　Head　Boy　badge　to　the　fez　perched　jauntily　on　top　of　his　neat　hair；　his　horn…rimmed　glasses　flashing　in　the　Egyptian　sun。
　　　Harry　now　turned　to　his　present　and　unwrapped　it。　Inside　was　what　looked　like　a　miniature　glass　spinning　top。　There　was　another　note　from　Ron　beneath　it。
　　　Harry…this　is　a　Pocket　Sneakoscope。　If　there's　someone　untrustworthy　around；　it's　supposed　to　light　up　and　spin。　Bill　says　it's　rubbish　sold　for　wizard　tourists　and　isn't　reliable；　because　it　kept　lighting　up　at　dinner　last　night。　But　he　didn't　realize　Fred　and　George　had　put　beetles　in　his　soup。
　　　Bye　…
　　　Ron
　　　Harry　put　the　Pocket　Sneakoscope　on　his　bedside　table；　where　it　stood　quite　still；　balanced　on　its　point；　reflecting　the　luminous　hands　of　his　clock。　He　looked　at　it　happily　for　a　few　seconds；　then　picked　up　the　parcel　Hedwig　had　brought。
　　　Inside　this；　too；　there　was　a　wrapped　present；　a　card；　and　a　letter；　this　time　from　Hermione。
　　　Dear　Harry；
　　　Ron　wrote　to　me　and　told　me　about　his　phone　call　to　your　Uncle　Vernon。　I　do　hope　you're　all　right。
　　　I'm　on　holiday　in　France　at　the　moment　and　I　didn't　know　how　I　was　going　to　send　this　to　you…what　if　they'd　opened　it　at　customs？…but　then　Hedwig　turned　up！　I　think　she　wanted　to　make　sure　you　got　something　for　your　birthday　for　a　change。　I　bought　your　present　by　owl…order；　there　was　an　advertisement　in　the　Daily　Prophet　（I've　been　getting　it　delivered；　it's　so　good　to　keep　up　with　what's　going　on　in　the　wizarding　world）；　Did　you　see　that　picture　of　Ron　and　his　family　a　week　ago？　I　bet　he's　learning　loads。　I'm　really　jealous…the　ancient　Egyptian　wizards　were　fascinating。
　　　There's　some　interesting　local　history　of　witchcraft　here；　too。　I've　rewritten　my　whole　History　of　Magic　essay　to　include　some　of　the　things　I've　found　out；　I　hope　it's　not　too　long…it's　two　rolls　of　parchment　more　than　Professor　Binns　asked　for。
　　　Ron　says　he's　going　to　be　in　London　in　the　last　week　of　the　holidays。　Can　you　make　it？　Will　your　aunt　and　uncle　let　you　e？　I　really　hope　you　can。　If　not；　I'll　see　you　on　the　Hogwarts　Express　on　September　first！
　　　Love　from　Hermione
　　　P。　S。　Ron　says　Percy's　Head　Boy。　I'll　bet　Percy's　really　pleased　Ron　doesn't　seem　too　happy　about　it
　　　Harry　laughed　as　he　put　Herrmone's　letter　aside　and　picked　up　her　present。　It　was　very　heavy。　Knowing　Hermione；　he　was　sure　it　would　be　a　large　book　full　of　very　difficult　spells…but　it　wasn't。　His　heart　gave　a　huge　bound　as　he　ripped　back　the　paper　and　saw　a　sleek　black　leather　case；　with　silver　words　stamped　across　it；　reading　Broomstick　Servicing　Kit。
　　　〃Wow；　Hermione！〃　Harry　whispered；　unzipping　the　case　to　look　inside。
　　　There　was　a　large　jar　of　Fleetwood's　High…Finish　Handle　Polish；　a　pair　of　gleamin