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！
Harry； pletely hidden beneath the Invisibility Cloak； emerged into the sunlight outside Honeydukes and prodded Ron in the back。
It's me；〃 he muttered。
〃What kept you？〃 Ron hissed。
〃Snape was hanging around。〃
They set off up the High Street。
〃Where are you？〃 Ron kept muttering out of the corner of his mouth。 〃Are you still there？ This feels weird。。。〃
They went to the post office； Ron pretended to be checking the price of an owl to Bill in Egypt so that Harry could have a good look around。 The owls sat hooting softly down at him； at least three hundred of them； from Great Grays right down to tiny little Scops owls （〃Local Deliveries Only〃）； which were so small they could have sat in the palm of Harry's hand。
Then they visited Zonko's； which was so packed with students Harry had to exercise great care not to tread on anyone and cause a panic。 There were jokes and tricks to fulfill even Fred's and George's wildest dreams； Harry gave Ron whispered orders and passed him some gold from under the cloak。 They left Zonko's with their money bags considerably lighter than they had been on entering； but their pockets bulging with Dungbombs； Hiccup Sweets； Frog Spawn Soap； and a Nose…Biting Teacup apiece。
The day was fine and breezy； and neither of them felt like staying indoors； so they walked past the Three Broomsticks and climbed a slope to visit the Shrieking Shack； the most haunted dwelling in Britain。 It stood a little way above the rest of the village； and even in daylight was slightly creepy； with its boarded windows and dank overgrown garden。
〃Even the Hogwarts ghosts avoid it；〃 said Ron as they leaned on the fence； looking up at it。 〃I asked Nearly Headless Nick。。。 he says he's heard a very rough crowd lives here。 No one can get in。 Fred and George tried； obviously； but all the entrances are sealed shut。。。〃
Harry； feeling hot from their climb； was just considering taking off the cloak for a few minutes when they heard voices nearby。 Someone was climbing toward the house from the other side of the hill； moments later； Malfoy had appeared； followed closely by Crabbe and Goyle。 Malfoy was speaking。
〃。。。should have an owl from Father any time now。 He had to go to the hearing to tell them about my arm。。。 about how I couldn't use it for three months。。。〃
Crabbe and Goyle sniggered。
〃I really wish I could hear that great hairy moron trying to defend himself。。。 'There's no 'arm in 'im； 'onest that hippogriff's as good as dead …〃
Malfoy suddenly caught sight of Ron。 His pale face split in a malevolent grin。
〃What are you doing； Weasley？〃
Malfoy looked up at the crumbling house behind Ron。
〃Suppose You'd love to live here； wouldn't you； Weasley？ Dreaming about having your own bedroom？ I heard your family all sleep in one room…is that true？〃
Harry seized the back of Ron's robes to stop him from leaping on Malfoy。 〃Leave him to me；〃 he hissed in Ron's ear。
The opportunity was too perfect to miss。 Harry crept silently around behind Malfoy； Crabbe； and Goyle； bent down； and scooped a large handful of mud out of the path。
〃We were just discussing your friend Hagrid；〃 Malfoy said to Ron。 〃Just trying to imagine what he's saying to the mittee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures。 D'you think he'll cry when they cut off his hippogriff's
SPLAT。
Malfoy's head jerked forward as the mud hit him； his silverblond hair was suddenly dripping in muck。
〃What the …？〃
Ron had to hold onto the fence to keep himself standing； he was laughing so hard。 Malfoy； Crabbe； and Goyle spun stupidly on the spot； staring wildly around； Malfoy trying to wipe his hair clean。
〃What was that？ 'Who did that？〃
〃Very haunted up here； isn't it？〃 said Ron； with the air of one menting on the weather。
Crabbe and Goyle were looking scared。 Their bulging muscles were no use against ghosts。 Malfoy was staring madly around at the deserted landscape。
Harry sneaked along the path； where a particularly sloppy puddle yielded some foul…smelling； green sludge。
SPLATTER。
Crabbe and Goyle caught some this time。 Goyle hopped furiously on the spot； trying to rub it out of his small； dull eyes。
〃It came from over there！〃 said Malfoy； wiping his face； and staring at a spot some six feet to the left of Harry。
Crabbe blundered forward； his long arms outstretched like a zombie。 Harry dodged around him； picked up a stick； and lobbed it at Crabbe's back。 Harry doubled up with silent laughter as Crabbe did a kind of pirouette in midair； trying to see who had thrown it。 As Ron was the only person Crabbe could see； it was Ron he started toward； but Harry stuck out his leg。 Crabbe stumbled…and his huge； flat foot caught the hem of Harry's cloak。 Harry felt a great tug； then the cloak slid off his face。
For a split second； Malfoy stared at him。
〃AAARGH！〃 he yelled； pointing at Harry's head。 Then he turned tail and ran； at breakneck speed； back down the hill； Crabbe and Goyle behind him。
Harry tugged the cloak up again； but the damage was done。
〃Harry！〃 Ron said； stumbling forward and staring hopelessly at the point where Harry had disappeared； 〃you'd better run for it！ If Malfoy tells anyone…you'd better get back to the castle； quick …〃 〃See you later；〃 said Harry； and without another word； he tore back down the path toward Hogsmeade。
Would Malfoy believe what he had seen？ Would anyone believe
Malfoy？ Nobody knew about the Invisibility Cloak…nobody except Dumbledore。 Harry's stomach turned over…Dumbledore would know exactly what had happened； if Malfoy said anything …
Back into Honeydukes； back down the cellar steps； across the stone floor； through the trapdoor…Harry pulled off the cloak； tucked it under his arm； and ran； flat out； along the passage。。。 Malfoy would get back first。。。 how long would it take him to find a teacher？ Panting； a sharp pain in his side； Harry didn't slow down until he reached the stone slide。 He would have to leave the cloak where it was； it was too much of a giveaway in case Malfoy had tipped off a teacher…he hid it in a shadowy corner； then started to climb； fast as he could； his sweaty hands slipping on the sides of the chute。 He reached the inside of the witch's hump； tapped it with his wand； stuck his head through； and hoisted himself out； the hump closed； and just as Harry jumped out from behind the statue； he heard quick footsteps approaching。
It was Snape。 He approached Harry at a swift walk； his black robes swishing； then stopped in front of him。
〃So；〃 he said。
There was a look of surpressed triumph about him。 Harry tried to look innocent； all too aware of his sweaty face and his muddy hands； which he quickly hid in his pockets。
〃e with me； Potter；〃 said Snape。
Harry followed him downstairs； trying to wipe his hands clean on the inside of his robes without Snape noticing。 They walked down the stairs to the dungeons and then into Snape's office。
Harry had been in here only once before； and he had been in very serious trouble then too。 Snape had aquired a few more slimy horrible things in jars since last time； all standing on shelves behind his desk； glinting in the firelight and adding to the threa