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！
merged； which was carried to the very top of the jar； but as it fell on the draught its feathers became bedraggled and damp again； and by the time it had been borne back to the bottom of the jar it had been enclosed once more in its egg。
'Keep going！' said Harry sharply； because Ginny showed signs of wanting to stop and watch the egg's progress back into a bird。
'You dawdled enough by that old arch！' she said crossly； but followed him past the bell jar to the only door behind it。
This is it；' Harry said again； and his heart was now pumping so hard and fast he felt it must interfere with his speech； 'it's through here …'
He glanced around at them all； they had their wands out and looked suddenly serious and anxious。 He looked back at the door and pushed。 It swung open。
They were there； they had found the place： high as a church and full of nothing but towering shelves covered in small； dusty； glass orbs。 They glimmered dully in the light issuing from more candle…brackets set at intervals along the shelves。 Like those in the circular room behind them； their flames were burning blue。 The room was very cold。
Harry edged forward and peered down one of the shadowy aisles between two rows of shelves。 He could not hear anything or see the slightest sign of movement。
'You said it was row ninety…seven；' whispered Hermione。
'Yeah；' breathed Harry； looking up at the end of the closest row。 Beneath the branch of blue…glowing candles protruding from it glimmered the silver figure fifty…three。
'We need to go right； I think；' whispered Hermione； squinting to the next row。 'Yes： that's fifty…four：'
'Keep your wands ready；' Harry said softly。
They crept forward； glancing behind them as they went on down the long alleys of shelves； the further ends of which were in near…total darkness。 Tiny； yellowing labels had been stuck beneath each glass orb on the shelves。 Some of them had a weird； liquid glow； others were as dull and dark within as blown light bulbs。
They passed row eighty…four： eighty…five： Harry was listening hard for the slightest sound of movement； but Sirius might be gagged now； or else unconscious： or； said an unbidden voice inside his head； he might already be dead：
I'd have felt it； he told himself； his heart now hammering against his Adam's apple； I'd already know：
'Ninety…seven！' whispered Hermione。
They stood grouped around the end of the row； gazing down the alley beside it。 There was nobody there。
'He's right down at the end；' said Harry； whose mouth had bee slightly dry。 'You can't see properly from here。'
And he led them between the towering rows of glass balls； some of which glowed softly as they passed：
'He should be near here；' whispered Harry； convinced that every step was going to bring the ragged form of Sirius into view on the darkened floor。 'Anywhere here： really close：'
'Harry？' said Hermione tentatively； but he did not want to respond。 His mouth was very dry。
'Somewhere about： here：' he said。
They had reached the end of the row and emerged into more dim candlelight。 There was nobody there。 All was echoing； dusty silence。
'He might be：' Harry whispered hoarsely； peering down the next alley。 'Or maybe：' He hurried to look down the one beyond that。
'Harry？' said Hermione again。
'What？' he snarled。
'I： I don't think Sirius is here。'
Nobody spoke。 Harry did not want to look at any of them。 He felt sick。 He did not understand why Sirius was not here。 He had to be here。 This was where he； Harry； had seen him：
He ran up the space at the end of the rows； staring down them。 Empty aisle after empty aisle flickered past。 He ran the other way； back past his staring panions。 There was no sign of Sirius anywhere； nor any hint of a struggle。
'Harry？' Ron called。
'What？'
He did not want to hear what Ron had to say； did not want to hear Ron tell him he had been stupid or suggest that they ought to go back to Hogwarts； but the heat was rising in his face and he felt as though he would like to skulk down here in the darkness for a long while before facing the brightness of the Atrium above and the others' accusing stares：
'Have you seen this？' said Ron；
'What？' said Harry； but eagerly this time … it had to be a sign that Sirius had been there； a clue。 He strode back to where they were all standing； a little way down row ninety…seven； but found nothing except Ron staring at one of the dusty glass spheres on the shelf。
What？' Harry repeated glumly。
'It's … it's got your name on；' said Ron。
Harry moved a little closer。 Ron was pointing at one of the small glass spheres that glowed with a dull inner light； though it was very dusty and appeared not to have been touched for many years。
'My name？' said Harry blankly。
He stepped forwards。 Not as tall as Ron； he had to crane his neck to read the yellowish label affixed to the shelf right beneath j^^^ ^^^H
the dusty glass ball。 In spidery writing was written a date of some sixteen years previously； and below that：
S。P。T。 to A。P。W。B。D。
Dark Lord and （？）Harry Potter
Harry stared at it。
'What is it？' Ron asked； sounding unnerved。 'What's your name doing down here？'
He glanced along at the other labels on that stretch of shelf。
'I'm not here；' he said； sounding perplexed。 'None of the rest of us are here。'
'Harry； I don't think you should touch it；' said Hermione sharply； as he stretched out his hand。
'Why not？' he said。 'It's something to do with me； isn't it？'
'Don't； Harry；' said Neville suddenly。 Harry looked at him。 Neville's round face was shining slightly with sweat。 He looked as though he could not take much more suspense。
'It's got my name on；' said Harry。
And feeling slightly reckless； he closed his fingers around the dusty ball's surface。 He had expected it to feel cold； but it did not。 On the contrary； it felt as though it had been lying in the sun for hours； as though the glow of light within was warming it。 Expecting； even hoping； that something dramatic was going to happen； something exciting that might make their long and dangerous journey worthwhile after all； Harry lifted the glass ball down from its shelf and stared at it。
Nothing whatsoever happened。 The others moved in closer around Harry； gazing at the orb as he brushed it free of the clogging dust。
And then； from right behind them； a drawling voice spoke。
'Very good； Potter。 Now turn around； nice and slowly； and give that to me。'
… CHAPTER THIRTY…FIVE …
Beyond the Veil
Black shapes were emerging out of thin air all around them； blocking their way left and right； eyes glinted through slits in hoods； a dozen lit wand tips were pointing directly at their hearts； Ginny gave a gasp of horror。
To me； Potter；' repeated the drawling voice of Lucius Malfoy as he held out his hand； palm up。
Harry's insides plummeted sickeningly。 They were trapped； and outnumbered two to one。
To me；' said Malfoy yet again。
'Where's Sirius？' Harry said。
Several of the Death Eaters laughed； a harsh female voice from the midst of the shadowy figures to Harry's left said triumphantly； The Dark Lord always knows！'
'Always；' echoed Malfoy softly。 'Now； give me the prophecy Potter。'
'I want to know where Sirius is！'
'I want to know where Sirius is！' mimicked the woman to his left。
She and her fellow Death Eaters had closed in so that they were mere feet away from Harry and the others； the light from their wands dazzling Harry's eyes。
'You've got him；' said Harry； ignoring the rising panic in his chest； the dread he had been fighting since they had first entered the ninety…seventh row。 'He's here。 I know he is。'
The little baby woke up fwightened and fort what it dweamed was twoo；' said the woman in a horrible； mock baby voice。 Harry felt Ron stir beside him。
'Don't do anything；' Harry muttered。 'Not yet …'
The woman who had mimicked him let out a raucous scream of laughter。
'You hear him？ You hear him？ Giving instructions to the other children as though he thinks