jkrowling.hp&theorderofphenix-第6章
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n; I suppose: but the cat's among the pixies now。'
'So;' Harry panted; 'Dumbledore's: been having: me followed?'
'Of course he has;' said Mrs Figg impatiently。 'Did you expect him to let you wander around on your own after what happened in June? Good Lord; boy; they told me you were intelligent: right: get inside and stay there;' she said; as they reached number four。 'I expect someone will be in touch with you soon enough。'
'What are you going to do?' asked Harry quickly。
'I'm going straight home;' said Mrs Figg; staring around the dark street and shuddering。 'I'll need to wait for more instructions。 Just stay in the house。 Goodnight。'
'Hang on; don't go yet! I want to know …
But Mrs Figg had already set off at a trot; carpet slippers flopping; string bag clanking。
'Wait!' Harry shouted after her。 He had a million questions to ask anyone who was in contact with Dumbledore; but within seconds Mrs Figg was swallowed by the darkness。 Scowling; Harry readjusted Dudley on his shoulder and made his slow; painful way up number four's garden path。
The hall light was on。 Harry stuck his wand back inside the waistband of his jeans; rang the bell and watched Aunt Petunia's outline grow larger and larger; oddly distorted by the rippling glass in the front door。
'Diddy! About time too; I was getting quite … quite … Diddy; what's the matter!'
Harry looked sideways at Dudley and ducked out from under his arm just in time。 Dudley swayed on the spot for a moment; his face pale green: then he opened his mouth and vomited all over the doormat。
'DIDDY! Diddy; what's the matter with you? Vernon? VERNON!'
Harry's uncle came galumphing out of the living room; walrus moustache blowing hither and thither as it always did when he was agitated。 He hurried forwards to help Aunt Petunia negotiate a weak…kneed Dudley over the threshold while avoiding stepping in the pool of sick。
'He's ill; Vernon!'
'What is it; son? What's happened? Did Mrs Polkiss give you something foreign for tea?'
'Why are you all covered in dirt; darling? Have you been lying on the ground?'
'Hang on … you haven't been mugged; have you; son?'
Aunt Petunia screamed。
'Phone the police; Vernon! Phone the police! Diddy; darling; speak to Mummy! What did they do to you?'
In all the kerfuffle nobody seemed to have noticed Harry; which suited him perfectly。 He managed to slip inside just before Uncle Vernon slammed the door and; while the Dursleys made their noisy progress down the hall towards the kitchen; Harry moved carefully and quietly towards the stairs。
'Who did it; son? Give us names。 We'll get them; don't worry。'
'Shh! He's trying to say something; Vernon! What is it; Diddy? Tell Mummy!'
Harry's foot was on the bottom…most stair when Dudley found his voice。
'Him。'
Harry froze; foot on the stair; face screwed up; braced for the explosion。
'BOY! E HERE!'
With a feeling of mingled dread and anger; Harry removed his foot slowly from the stair and turned to follow the Dursleys。
The scrupulously clean kitchen had an oddly unreal glitter after the darkness outside。 Aunt Petunia was ushering Dudley into a chair; he was still very green and clammy…looking。 Uncle Vernon standing in front of the draining board; glaring at Harry through tiny; narrowed eyes。
'What have you done to my son?' he said in a menacing growl。
'Nothing;' said Harry; knowing perfectly well that Uncle Vernon wouldn't believe him。
'What did he do to you; Diddy?' Aunt Petunia said in a quavering voice; now sponging sick from the front of Dudley's leather jacket。 'Was it … was it you…know…what; darling? Did he use … his thing?'
Slowly; tremulously; Dudley nodded。
'I didn't!' Harry said sharply; as Aunt Petunia let out a wail and
Uncle Vernon raised his fists。 'I didn't do anything to him; it wasn't me; it was …
But at that precise moment a screech owl swooped in through the kitchen window。 Narrowly missing the top of Uncle Vernon's head; it soared across the kitchen; dropped the large parchment envelope it was carrying in its beak at Harry's feet; turned gracefully; the tips of its wings just brushing the top of the fridge; then zoomed outside again and off across the garden。
'OWLS!' bellowed Uncle Vernon; the well…worn vein in his temple pulsing angrily as he slammed the kitchen window shut。 'OWLS AGAIN! I WILL NOT HAVE ANY MORE OWLS IN MY HOUSE!'
But Harry was already ripping open the envelope and pulling out the letter inside; his heart pounding somewhere in the region of his Adam's apple。
Dear Mr Potter;
We have received intelligence that you performed the Patronus Charm at twenty…three minutes past nine this evening in a Muggle…inhabited area and in the presence of a Muggle。
The seventy of this breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery has resulted in your expulsion
from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry。 Ministry representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand。
As you have already received an official warning for a previous offence under Section I3 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy; we regret to inform you that your presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9 a。m。 on the twelfth of August。
Hoping you are well;
Yours sincerely;
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic
Harry read the letter through twice。 He was only vaguely aware of Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia talking。 Inside his head; all was icy and numb。 One fact had penetrated his consciousness like a paralysing dart。 He was expelled from Hogwarts。 It was all over。 He was never going back。
He looked up at the Dursleys。 Uncle Vernon was purple…faced; shouting; his fists still raised; Aunt Petunia had her arms around Dudley; who was retching again。
Harry's temporarily stupefied brain seemed to reawaken。 Ministry representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand。 There was only one thing for it。 He would have to run … now。 Where he was going to go; Harry didn't know; but he was certain of one thing: at Hogwarts or outside it; he needed his wand。 In an almost dreamlike state; he pulled his wand out and turned to leave the kitchen。
'Where d'you think you're going?' yelled Uncle Vernon。 When Harry didn't reply; he pounded across the kitchen to block the doorway into the hall。 'I haven't finished with you; boy!'
'Get out of the way;' said Harry quietly。
'You're going to stay here and explain how my son …'
'If you don't get out of the way I'm going to jinx you;' said Harry; raising the wand。
'You can't pull that one on me!' snarled Uncle Vernon。 'I know you're not allowed to use it outside that madhouse you call a school!'
The madhouse has chucked me out;' said Harry。 'So I can do whatever I like。 You've got three seconds。 One … two …'
A resounding CRACK filled the kitchen。 Aunt Petunia screamed;
I hide Vernon yelled and ducked; but for the third time that night Harry was searching for the source of a disturbance he had not made。 He spotted it at once: a dazed and ruffled…looking barn owl was sitting outside on the kitchen sill; having just collided with the closed window。
Ignoring Uncle Vernon's anguished yell of 'OWLS!' Harry crossed the room at a run and wrenched the window open。 The owl stuck out its leg; to which a small roll of parchment was tied; shook its leathers; and took off the moment Harry had taken the letter。 Hands shaking; Harry unfurled the second message; which was written very hastily and blotchily in black ink。
Harry …
Dumbledore's just arrived at the Ministry and he's trying to sort it all out。 DO NOT LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE。 DO NOT DO ANY MORE MAGIC。 DO NOT SURRENDER YOUR WAND。 Arthur Weasley
Dumbledore was trying to sort it all out: what did that mean? How much power did Dumbledore have to override the Minist