按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Some of the wizards and witches around her were muttering again； a few nodded； but others were frowning and shaking their heads。
'It's not a question of how impressive the magic was；' said Fudge in a testy voice； 'in fact； the more impressive the worse it is； I would have thought； given that the boy did it in plain view of a Muggle！'
Those who had been frowning now murmured in agreement； but it was the sight of Percy's sanctimonious little nod that goaded Harry into speech。
'I did it because of the Dementors！' he said loudly； before anyone could interrupt him again。
He had expected more muttering； but the silence that fell seemed to be somehow denser than before。
'Dementors？' said Madam Bones after a moment； her thick eyebrows rising until her monocle looked in danger of falling out。 'What do you mean； boy？'
'I mean there were two Dementors down that alleyway and they went for me and my cousin！'
'Ah；' said Fudge again； smirking unpleasantly as he looked around at the Wizengamot； as though inviting them to share the joke。 'Yes。 Yes； I thought we'd be hearing something like this。'
'Dementors in Little Whinging？' Madam Bones said； in a tone of great surprise。 'I don't understand …'
'Don't you； Amelia？' said Fudge； still smirking。 'Let me explain。 He's been thinking it through and decided Dementors would make a very nice little cover story； very nice indeed。 Muggles can't see Dementors； can they； boy？ Highly convenient； highly convenient： so it's just your word and no witnesses：'
'I'm not lying！' said Harry loudly； over another outbreak of muttering from the court。 There were two of them； ing from opposite ends of the alley； everything went dark and cold and my cousin felt them and ran for it …'
'Enough； enough！' said Fudge； with a very supercilious look on his face。 'I'm sorry to interrupt what I'm sure would have been a very well…rehearsed story …'
Dumbledore cleared his throat。 The Wizengamot fell silent again。
'We do； in fact； have a witness to the presence of Dementors in that alleyway；' he said； 'other than Dudley Dursley； I mean。'
Fudge's plump face seemed to slacken； as though somebody had let air out of it。 He stared down at Dumbledore for a moment or two； then； with the appearance of a man pulling himself back together； said； 'We haven't got time to listen to more tarradiddles； I'm afraid； Dumbledore。 I want this dealt with quickly …'
'I may be wrong；' said Dumbledore pleasantly； 'but I am sure that under the Wizengamot Charter of Rights； the accused has the right to present witnesses for his or her case？ Isn't that the policy of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement； Madam Bones？' he continued； addressing the witch in the monocle。
'True；' said Madam Bones。 'Perfectly true。'
'Oh； very well； very well；' snapped Fudge。 'Where is this person？'
'I brought her with me；' said Dumbledore。 'She's just outside the door。 Should I …？'
'No … Weasley； you go；' Fudge barked at Percy； who got up at once； ran down the stone steps from the judge's balcony and hurried past Dumbledore and Harry without glancing at them。
A moment later； Percy returned； followed by Mrs Figg。 She looked scared and more batty than ever。 Harry wished she had thought to change out of her carpet slippers。
Dumbledore stood up and gave Mrs Figg his chair； conjuring a second one for himself。
'Full name？' said Fudge loudly； when Mrs Figg had perched herself nervously on the very edge of her seal。
'Arabella Doreen Figg；' said Mrs Figg in her quavery voice。
'And who exactly are you？' said Fudge； in a bored and lofty voice。
'I'm a resident of Little Whinging； close to where Harry Potter lives；' said Mrs Figg。
'We have no record of any witch or wizard living in Little Whinging； other than Harry Potter；' said Madam Bones at once。 That situation has always been closely monitored； given： given past events。'
'I'm a Squib；' said Mrs Figg。 'So you wouldn't have me registered； would you？'
'A Squib； eh？' said Fudge； eyeing her closely。 'We'll be checking that。 You'll leave details of your parentage with my assistant Weasley。 Incidentally； can Squibs see Dementors？' he added； looking left and right along the bench。
'Yes； we can！' said Mrs Figg indignantly。
Fudge looked back down at her； his eyebrows raised。 'Very well；' he said aloofly。 'What is your story？'
'I had gone out to buy cat food from the corner shop at the end of Wisteria Walk； around about nine o'clock； on the evening of the second of August；' gabbled Mrs Figg at once； as though she had learned what she was saying by heart； 'when I heard a disturbance down the alleyway between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk。 On approaching the mouth of the alleyway I saw Dementors running …'
'Running？' said Madam Bones sharply。 'Dementors don't run； they glide。'
That's what I meant to say；' said Mrs Figg quickly； patches of pink appearing in her withered cheeks。 'Gliding along the alley towards what looked like two boys。'
'What did they look like？' said Madam Bones； narrowing her eyes so that the edge of the monocle disappeared into her flesh。
'Well； one was very large and the other one rather skinny …'
'No； no；' said Madam Bones impatiently。 'The Dementors： describe them。'
'Oh；I said Mrs Figg； the pink flush creeping up her neck now。 They were big。 Big and wearing cloaks。'
Harry felt a horrible sinking in the pit of his stomach。 Whatever Mrs Figg might say； it sounded to him as though the most she had ever seen was a picture of a Dementor； and a picture could never convey the truth of what these beings were like： the eerie way they moved； hovering inches over the ground； or the rotting smell of them； or that terrible rattling noise they made as they sucked on the surrounding air：
In the second row； a dumpy wizard with a large black moustache leaned close to whisper in the ear of his neighbour； a frizzy…haired witch。 She smirked and nodded。
'Big and wearing cloaks；' repeated Madam Bones coolly； while Fudge snorted derisively。 'I see。 Anything else？'
'Yes；' said Mrs Figg。 'I felt them。 Everything went cold； and this was a very warm summer's night； mark you。 And I felt： as though all happiness had gone from the world： and I remembered： dreadful things：'
Her voice shook and died。
Madam Bones's eyes widened slightly。 Harry could see red marks under her eyebrow where the monocle had dug into it。
'What did the Dementors do？' she asked； and Harry felt a rush of hope。
They went for the boys；' said Mrs Figg； her voice stronger and more confident now； the pink flush ebbing away from her face。 'One of them had fallen。 The other was backing away； trying to repel the Dementor。 That was Harry。 He tried twice and produced only silver vapour。 On the third attempt； he produced a Patronus； which charged down the first Dementor and then； with his encouragement； chased the second one away from his cousin。 And that that is what happened；' Mrs Figg finished； somewhat lamely。
Madam Bones looked down at Mrs Figg in silence。 Fudge was not look