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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.
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.
Harry didn't want to leave Sirius again with only K 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 decr 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 ex 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.
Then, on the very last day of the holidays, something happened that made Harry positively dread his return to school.
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。
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。
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，留在格里莫广常
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.'
Harry did not immediately regist one of his castles was engaged in a violent tussle with a pawn of Ron's and he was egging it on enthusiastically.
'Squash him - squash him, he's only a pawn, you idiot. Sorry, Mrs Weasley, what did you say？'
'Professor Snape, dear. In the kitchen. He'd like a word.'
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.
'Snape？' said Harry blankly.
'Professor Snape, dear,' said Mrs Weasley reprovingly. 'Now come on, quickly, he says he can't stay long.'
'What's he want with you？' said Ron, looking unnerved as Mrs Weasley withdrew from the room. 'You haven't done anything, have you？'
'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'？
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.
'Er,' said Harry, to announce his presence.
Snape looked around at him, his face framed between curtains of greasy black hair.
&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。&
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。
&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？&
&斯内普教授在厨房里，他想和你谈谈。&
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。
&斯内普？&哈利茫然地问。
&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。&
&他找你干吗？&韦斯莱夫人走了，罗恩忐忑地问，&你没干什么吧？&
&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&？
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。
&嗯。&哈利出声报告他的存在。
斯内普回过头来，一张脸镶在油油的黑发帘中。
'Sit down, Potter.'
'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.'
An ugly flush suffused Snape's pallid face. Harry sat down in a chair beside Sirius, facing Snape across the table.
'I was supposed to see you alone, Potter,' said Snape, the familiar sneer curling his mouth, 'but Black - '
'I'm his godfather,' said Sirius, louder than ever.
'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.'
'What's that supposed to mean？' said Sirius, letting his chair fall back on to all four legs with a loud bang.
'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.'
It was Sirius's turn to flush. Snape's lip curled in triumph as he turned to Harry.
The Headmaster has sent me to tell you, Potter, that it is his wish for you to study Occlumency this term.'
'Study what？' said Harry blankly.
Snape's sneer became more pronounced.
'Occlumency, Potter. The magical defence of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one.'
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 . . .
&坐下，波特。&
&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。&
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。
&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&&&
&我是他的教父。&小天狼星嗓门更大了。
&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。&
&这话什么意思？&小天狼星问，重重地把椅腿落回了地面。
&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。
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。
&校长让我来通知你，波特，他希望你这学期学习大脑封闭术。&
&学习什么？&哈利愣愣地问。
斯内普的冷笑更明显了。
&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。&
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.
'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？'
'Yes,' said Harry. 'Who's going to be teaching me？'
Snape raised an eyebrow.
'I am,' he said.
Harry had the horrible sensation that his insides were melting.
Extra lessons with Snape - what on earth had he done to deserve this？ He looked quickly round at Sirius for support.
'Why can't Dumbledore teach Harry？' asked Sirius aggressively. 'Why you？'
'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.'
He turned to leave, his black travelling cloak billowing behind him.
'Wait a moment,' said Sirius, sitting up straighter in his chair.
Snape turned back to face them, sneering.
'I am in rather a hurry, Black. Unlike you, I do not have unlimited leisure time.'
&为什么我要学大&&这玩意儿？&他问。
&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？&
&明白。&哈利说，&谁来教我？&
斯内普扬起眉毛。
&本人。&他说。
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。
&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？&
&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。&
他转身离开了，黑色旅行斗篷旋起了一股风。
&等一等。&小天狼星说着坐直了身子。
斯内普回身看着他冷笑着。
&我很忙，布莱克&&不像你。我没有无限的空闲&&&
'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.'
'How touching,' Snape sneered. 'But surely you have noticed that Potter is very like his father？'
'Yes, I have,' said Sirius proudly.
'Well then, you'll know he's so arrogant that criticism simply bounces off him,' Snape said sleekly.
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.
'Sirius！' said Harry loudly, but Sirius appeared not to hear him.
'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 - '
'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？'
Tell me, how is Lucius Malfoy these days？ I expect he's delighted his lapdog's working at Hogwarts, isn't he？'
'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？'
Sirius raised his wand.
&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。&
&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？&
&不错。&小天狼星自豪地说。
&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。
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。
&小天狼星！&哈利叫道，但他好像没听见。
&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&&&
&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？&
&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？&
&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？&
小天狼星举起了魔杖。
'NO！' Harry yelled, vaulting over the table and trying to get in between them. 'Sirius, don't！'
'Are you calling me a coward？' roared Sirius, trying to push Harry out of the way, but Harry would not budge.
'Why, yes, I suppose I am,' said Snape.
'Harry - get - out - of - it！' snarled Sirius, pushing him aside with his free hand.
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.
'Cured！' he announced brightly to the kitchen at large. 'Completely cured！'
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.
'Merlins beard,' said Mr Weasley, the smile sliding off his face, 'what's going on here？'
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.
'Six o'clock, Monday evening, Potter.'
And he was gone. Sirius glared after him, his wand at his side.
'What's been going on？' asked Mr Weasley again.
'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.'
&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&&&
&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。
&嗯，我想是吧。&斯内普说。
&哈利&&让开&&！&小天狼星大吼一声，一掌把他推到旁边。
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。
&治好了！&他兴冲冲地向整个厨房宣布，&完全好了！&
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。
&我的天哪，&韦斯莱先生的笑容消失了，&这是怎么回事？&
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。
&星期一晚上六点，波特。&
他扬长而去，小天狼星瞪着他的背影，魔杖垂在一旁。
&到底怎么回事？&韦斯莱先生又问。
&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&&&
'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.
'Yes, Molly dear,' said Mr Weasley meekly.
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.
'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？'
'Extra lessons with Snape？' said Ron, sounding aghast. 'I'd rather have the nightmares！'
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-way through a whispered conversation as H a I of them looked round hastily and fell silent.
After a hurried breakfast, they all pulled on jackets and scarves against the chilly grey January morning. Harry had an unpleasant constricted se he did not want to say goodbye to Sirius. He had a bad feelin 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.
&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。
&是的，莫丽。&韦斯莱先生温顺地说。
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。
&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？&
&跟斯内普补课？&罗恩声音中充满了恐惧，&我宁可做噩梦。&
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。
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常但他还没想好怎么说，小天狼星就把他叫到了一边。
'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.
'What is it？' Harry asked.
'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？'
'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.
'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.
'Goodbye, Harry, take care,' said Mrs Weasley, hugging him.
'See you, Harry, and keep an eye out for snakes for me！' said Mr Weasley genially, shaking his hand.
'Right - yeah,' said H it was his last chance to tell S 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.
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.
'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.
&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。
&这是什么？&哈利问。
&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？&
&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。
&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。
&再见，哈利，多保重。&韦斯莱夫人拥抱了他一下。
&再见，哈利，替我看着点蛇！&韦斯莱先生握着他的手亲切地说。
&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）。
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。
&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。
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.
A thin, pimply, jug-eared youth in a purple uniform leapt down on to the pavement and said, 'Welcome to the - '
'Yes, yes, we know, thank you,' said Tonks swiftly. 'On, on, get on - '
And she shoved Harry forwards towards the steps, past the conductor, who goggled at Harry as he passed.
&Ere - it's 'Any - '！'
'If you shout his name I will curse you into oblivion,' muttered Tonks menacingly, now shunting Ginny and Hermione forwards.
'I've always wanted to go on this thing,' said Ron happily, joining Harry on board and looking around.
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 P 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.
'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.'
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.
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。
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&&&
&我们知道了，谢谢你，&唐克斯迅速说，&上车，上车&&&
她把哈利推向汽车踏板，售票员瞪眼看着哈利走过去。
&哎&&是哈&&！&
&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。
&我一直想坐这个。&罗恩高兴地说，他也上了车，只顾东看西看。
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。
&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&&&
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。
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 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.
'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？'
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.
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.
'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.'
'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.'
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 - '
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。
&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？&
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。
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。
&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。&
&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。&
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&&
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.
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.
'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？'
'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？'
'Yeah, all right,' said Harry heavily, looking up into Lupin's prematurely lined face. 'See you, then.'
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 t the Knight Bus had already gone and he half-wished, given what was coming the following evening, that he was still on board.
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.
'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.'
'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？'
As Smith strode away in an annoyingly buoyant fashion, Ron g'.ared after him.
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。
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。
&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？&
&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？&
&好。&哈利沉重地说，抬眼望着卢平那过早显出皱纹的脸，&再见&&&
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。
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。
&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？&
史密斯趾高气扬地走开了，罗恩气愤地瞪着他。
'Shall I jinx him？ I can still get him from here,' he said, raising his wand and taking aim between Smith's shoulder blades.
'Forget it,' said Harry dismally. 'It's what everyone's going to think, isn't it？ That I'm really stup - '
'Hi, Harry,' said a voice behind him. He turned round and found Cho standing there.
'Oh,' said Harry as his stomach leapt uncomfortably. 'Hi.'
'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.
'Had a good Christmas？' asked Cho.
'Yeah, not bad,' said Harry.
'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？'
'What？ Oh, no, I haven't checked the noticeboard since I got back.'
'Yes, it's on Valentines Day . . .'
'Right,' said Harry, wondering why she was telling him this. 'Well, I suppose you want to - ？'
'Only if you do,' she said eagerly.
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.
&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。
&算了，&哈利沮丧地说，&谁都会这么想，是不是？觉得我笨&&&
&嘿，哈利。&哈利身后一个声音叫道。他转过身，发现秋站在那儿。
&嗯，&哈利的腹部揪紧了，&嘿。&
&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。
&圣诞节过得好吗？&秋问。
&嗯，还不错。&哈利说。
&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？&
&什么？哦，没有，我回来后还没看过布告栏呢。&
&是在情人节&&&
&哦，&哈利不明白她为什么要跟他说这个，&你是不是想&&？&
&要是你愿意。&她热切地说。
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。
'I - er - ' he said.
'Oh, it's OK if you don't,' she said, looking mortified. 'Don't worry. I - I'll see you around.'
She walked away. Harry stood staring after her, his brain working frantically. Then something clunked into place.
'Cho！ Hey - CHO！'
He ran after her, catching her halfway up the marble staircase.
'Er - d'you want to come into Hogsmeade with me on Valentine s Day？'
'Oooh, yes！' she said, blushing crimson and beaming at him.
'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.
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.
He paused outside the door when he reached it, wishing he were almost anywhere else, then, taking a deep breath, he knocked and entered.
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.
'Shut the door behind you, Potter.'
&噢，你不愿意就算了，&她说，似乎有些屈辱，&没关系，回头见。&
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。
&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？&
&哦，是的！&她羞红了脸，灿烂地一笑。
&好&&那么&&就说定了。&
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。
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。
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。
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。
&把你身后的门关上，波特。&
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.
'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.'
'Right,' said Harry tersely.
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.'
'Yes . . . sir,' said Harry.
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.'
'And why does Professor Dumbledore think I need it, sir？' said Harry looking directly into Snape's eyes and wondering whether Snape would answer.
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 - '
'What's that？ Sir？'
'It is the ability to extract feelings and memories from another person's mind - '
'He can read minds？' said Harry quickly, his worst fears confirmed.
'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.'
Snape paused for a moment, apparently to savour the pleasure of insulting Harry, before continuing.
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。
&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。&
&是。&哈利不敢多话地答道。
&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&。&
&是&&先生。&哈利说。
&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。&
&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。
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&&&
&那是什么意思，先生？&
&即从另一个人的头脑中提取感觉和记忆&&&
&他能读人心吗？&哈利马上问，他最担心的事被证实了。
&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。&
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：
'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.'
Whatever Snape said, Legilimency sounded like mind-reading to Harry, and he didn't like the sound of it at all.
'So he could know what we're thinking right now？ Sir？'
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.'
'Well then, why do I have to learn Occlumency？'
Snape eyed Harry, tracing his mouth with one long, thin finger as he did so.
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.'
Harry's heart was pumping fast again. None of this added up.
'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？'
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.
&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。&
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。
&那他能知道我们现在想什么吗？先生？&
&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。&
&那我为什么还要学大脑封闭术？&
斯内普瞟着哈利，用一根细长的手指摸着嘴巴。
&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。&
哈利的心咚咚直跳。这解释不通埃
&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？&
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。
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