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！
too。。。
〃But how to get at Harry Potter？ For he has been better protected than I think even he knows； protected in ways devised by Dumbledore long ago； when it fell to him to arrange the boy's future。 Dumbledore invoked an ancient magic； to ensure the boy's protection as long as he is in his relations' care。 Not even I can touch him there。。。 Then； of course； there was the Quidditch World Cup。。。 I thought his protection might be weaker there； away from his relations and Dumbledore； but I was not yet strong enough to attempt kidnap in the midst of a horde of Ministry wizards。 And then； the boy would return to Hogwarts； where he is under the crooked nose of that Muggle…loving fool from morning until night。 So how could I take him？
〃Why 。。。by using Bertha Jorkins's information； of course。 Use my one faithful Death Eater； stationed at Hogwarts； to ensure that the boy's name was entered into the Goblet of Fire。 Use my Death Eater to ensure that the boy won the tournament…that he touched the Triwizard Cup first…the cup which my Death Eater had turned into a Portkey； which would bring him here； beyond the reach of Dumbledore's help and protection； and into my waiting arms。 And here he is 。。。the boy you all believed had been my downfall。。。〃
Voldemort moved slowly forward and turned to face Harry。 He raised his wand。
〃Crucio！〃
It was pain beyond anything Harry had ever experienced； his very bones were on fire； his head was surely splitting along his scar； his eyes were rolling madly in his head； he wanted it to end 。。。to black out。。。 to die 。。。
And then it was gone。 He was hanging limply in the ropes binding him to the headstone of Voldemort's father； looking up into those bright red eyes through a kind of mist。 The night was ringing with the sound of the Death Eaters' laughter。
〃You see； I think； how foolish it was to suppose that this boy could ever have been stronger than me；〃 said Voldemort。 〃But I want there to be no mistake in anybody's mind。 Harry Potter escaped me by a lucky chance。 And I am now going to prove my power by killing him； here and now； in front of you all； when there is no Dumbledore to help him； and no mother to die for him。 I will give him his chance。 He will be allowed to fight； and you will be left in no doubt which of us is the stronger。 Just a little longer； Nagini；〃 he whispered； and the snake glided away through the grass to where the Death Eaters stood watching。
〃Now untie him； Wormtail； and give him back his wand。〃
CHAPTER THIRTY…FOUR
PRIORI INCANTATEM
Wormtail approached Harry； who scrambled to find his feet； to support his own weight before the ropes were untied。 Wormtail raised his new silver hand； pulled out the wad of material gagging Harry； and then； with one swipe； cut through the bonds tying Harry to the gravestone。
There was a split second； perhaps； when Harry might have considered running for it； but his injured leg shook under him as he stood on the overgrown grave； as the Death Eaters closed ranks； forming a tighter circle around him and Voldemort； so that the gaps where the missing Death Eaters should have stood were filled。 Wormtail walked out of the circle to the place where Cedric's body lay and returned with Harry's wand； which he thrust roughly into Harry's hand without looking at him。 Then Wormtail resumed his place in the circle of watching Death Eaters。
〃You have been taught how to duel。 Harry Potter？〃 said Voldemort softly； his red eyes glinting through the darkness。
At these words Harry remembered； as though from a former life； the dueling club at Hogwarts he had attended briefly two years ago。。。 All he had learned there was the Disarming Spell； 〃Expelliarmus〃。。。 and what use would it be to deprive Voldemort of his wand； even if he could； when he was surrounded by Death Eaters； outnumbered by at least thirty to one？ He had never learned anything that could possibly fit him for this。 He knew he was facing the thing against which Moody had always warned。。。 the unblockable Avada Kedavra curse…and Voldemort was right…his mother was not here to die for him this time。。。 He was quite unprotected。。。
〃We bow to each other。 Harry；〃 said Voldemort； bending a little； but keeping his snakelike face upturned to Harry。 〃e； the niceties must be observed。。。 Dumbledore would like you to show manners。。。 Bow to death； Harry。。。〃
The Death Eaters were laughing again。 Voldemorts lipless mouth was smiling。 Harry did not bow。 He was not going to let Voldemort play with him before killing him 。。。he was not going to give him that satisfaction。。。
〃I said； bow；〃 Voldemort said； raising his wand…and Harry felt his spine curve as though a huge； invisible hand were bending him ruthlessly forward； and the Death Eaters laughed harder than ever。
〃Very good；〃 said Voldemort softly； and as he raised his wand the pressure bearing down upon Harry lifted too。 〃And now you face me； like a man。。。 straight…backed and proud； the way your father died。。。
〃And now…we duel。〃
Voldemort raised his wand； and before Harry could do anything to defend himself； before he could even move； he had been hit again by the Cruciatus Curse。 The pain was so intense； so all…consuming； that he no longer knew where he was。。。 White…hot knives were piercing every inch of his skin； his head was surely going to burst with pain； he was screaming more loudly than he'd ever screamed in his life…
And then it stopped。 Harry rolled over and scrambled to his feet； he was shaking as uncontrollably as Wormtail had done when his hand had been cut off； he staggered sideways into the wall of watching Death Eaters； and they pushed him away； back toward Voldemort。
〃A little break；〃 said Voldemort； the slit…like nostrils dilating with excitement； 〃a little pause。。。 That hurt； didn't it。 Harry？ You don't want me to do that again； do you？〃
Harry didn't answer。 He was going to die like Cedric； those pitiless red eyes were telling him so 。。。he was going to die； and there was nothing he could do about it。。。 but he wasn't going to play along。 He wasn't going to obey Voldemort。。。 he wasn't going to beg。。。
〃I asked you whether you want me to do that again；〃 said Voldemort softly。 〃Answer me！ Imperial〃
And Harry felt； for the third time in his life； the sensation that his mind had been wiped of all thought。。。 Ah； it was bliss； not to think； it was as though he were floating； dreaming 。。。just answer no 。。。say no 。。。just answer no。。。
I will not； said a stronger voice； in the back of his head； I won't answer。。。
Just answer no。。。
I won't do it； I won't say it。。。
Just answer no。。。
〃I WON'T！〃
And these words burst from Harry's mouth； they echoed through the graveyard； and the dream state was lifted as suddenly as though cold water had been thrown over him…back rushed the aches that the Cruciatus Curse had left all over his body…back rushed the realization of where he was； and what he was facing。。。
〃You won't？〃 said Voldemort quietly； and the Death Eaters were not laughing now。 〃You won't say no？ Harry； obedience is a virtue I need to teach you before you die。。。 Perhaps another little dose of pain？〃
Voldemort raised his wand； but this time Harry was ready； with the reflexes born of his Quidditch training； he flung himself sideways onto the ground； he rolled behind the marble headstone of Voldemort s father； and he heard it crack as the curse missed him。
〃We are not playing hide…and…seek； Harry；〃 said Voldemort's soft； cold voice； drawing nearer； as the Death Eaters laughed。 〃You cannot hide from me。 Does this mean you are tired of our duel？ Does this mean that you would prefer me to finish it now； Harry？ e out； Harry。。。 e out and play； then 。。。it will be quick 。。。it might even be painless 。。。I would not know。。。 I have never died。。。〃
Harry crouched behind the headstone and knew the end had e。 There was no hope 。。。no help to be had。 And as he heard Voldemort draw nearer still； he knew one thing only； and it was beyond fear or reason： He was not going to die crouching here like a child playing hide…and…seek； he was not going to die kneeling at Voldemort s feet。。。 he was going to die upright like his father； and he was going to die trying to de