第4节

rnormalclothing.MostoftheLondonerswhopassedthemwereusedtoeccentricdressersａｎｄtooklittlenotice，thoughoccasionallyoneofthemmightglanceback，wonderingwhyanyonewouldwearcloaksinthisheat.

Thewatchersseemedtobegleaninglittlesatisfactionfromtheirvigil.Occasionallyoneofthemstartedforwardexcitedly，asiftheyhadseensomethinginterestingatlast，onlytofallbacklookingdisappointed.

OnthefirstdayofSeptemberthereweremorepeoplelurkinginthesquarethaneverbefore.Halfadozenmeninlongcloaksstoodsilentａｎｄwatchful，gazingaseverathouseselevenａｎｄthirteen，butthethingforwhichtheywerewaitingstillappearedelusive.Aseveningdrewin，bringingwithitanunexpectedgustofchillyrainforthefirsttimeinweeks，thereoccurredoneofthoseinexplicablemomentswhentheyappearedtohaveseensomethinginteresting.Themanwiththetwistedfacepointedａｎｄhisclosestcompanion，apodgy，pallidman，startedforward，butamomentlatertheyhadrelaxedintotheirpreviousstateofinactivity，lookingfrustratedａｎｄdisappointed.

Meanwhile，insidenumbertwelve，Harryhadjustenteredthehall.HehadnearlylosthisbalanceasheApparatedontothetopstepjustoutsidethefrontdoor，ａｎｄthoughtthattheDeathEatersmighthavecaughtaglimpseofhismomentarilyexposedelbow.Shuttingthefrontdoorcarefullybehindhim，hepulledofftheInvisibilityCloak，drapeditoverhisarm，ａｎｄhurriedalongthegloomyhallwaytowardthedoorthatledtothebasement，astolencopyoftheDailyProphetclutchedinhishａｎｄ.

Theusuallowwhisperof“SeverusSnape”greetedhim，thechillwindswepthim，ａｎｄhistonguerolledupforamoment.

“Ididn’tkillyou，”hesaid，onceithadunrolled，thenheldhisbreathasthedustyjinx-figureexploded.Hewaiteduntilhewashalfwaydownthestairstothekitchen，outofearshotofMrs.Blackａｎｄclearofthedustcloud，beforecalling，“I’vegotnews，ａｎｄyouwon’tlikeit.”

Thekitchenwasalmostunrecognizable.Everysurfacenowshone;Copperpotsａｎｄpanshadbeenburnishedtoarosyglow;thewoodentabletopgleamed;thegobletsａｎｄplatesalreadylaidfordinnerglintedinthelightfromamerrilyblazingfire，onwhichacauldronwassimmering.Nothingintheroom，however，wasmoredramaticallydifferentthanthehouse-elfwhonowcamehurryingtowardHarry，dressedinasnowy-whitetowel，hisearhairascleanａｎｄfluffyascottonwool，Regulus’slocketbouncingonhisthinchest.

“Shoesoff，ifyouplease，MasterHarry，ａｎｄhａｎｄswashedbeforedinner，”croakedKreacher，seizingtheInvisibilityCloakａｎｄslouchingofftohangitonahookonthewall，besideanumberofold-fashionedrobesthathadbeenfreshlylaundered.

“What’shappened?”Ronaskedapprehensively.HeareHermionehadbeenpouringoverasheafofscribblednotesａｎｄhａｎｄdrawnmapsthatlitteredtheendofthelongkitchentable，butnowtheywatchedHarryashestrodetowardthemａｎｄthrewdownthenewspaperontopoftheirscatteredparchment.

Alargepictureofafamiliar，hook-nosed，black-hairedmanstaredupatthemall，beneathaheadlinethatread:

SEVERUSSNAPECONFIRMEDASHOGWARTSHEADMASTER

“No!”saidRonａｎｄHermioneloudly.

Hermionewasquickest;shesnatchedupthenewspaperａｎｄbegantoreadtheaccompanyingstoryoutloud.

“SeverusSnape，long-stａｎｄingPotionsmasteratHogwartsSchoolofWitchcraftａｎｄwizardry，wastodayappointedheadmasterinthemostimportantofseveralstaffingchangesattheancientschool.FollowingtheresignationofthepreviousMuggleStudiesteacher，AlectoCarrowwilltakeoverthepostwhileherbrother，Amycus，fillsthepositionofDefenseAgainsttheDarkArtsprofessor.”

“‘IwelcometheopportunitytoupholdourfinestWizardingtraditionsａｎｄvalues–‘Likecommittingmurderａｎｄcuttingoffpeople’sears，Isuppose!Snape，headmaster!SnapeinDumbledore’sstudy–Merlin’spants!”sheshrieked，makingbothHarryａｎｄRonjump.Sheleaptupfromthetableａｎｄhurtledfromtheroom，shoutingasshewent，“I’llbebackinaminute!”

“’Merlin’spants’?”repeatedRon，lookingamused.“Shemustbeupset.”HepulledthenewspapertowardhimａｎｄperusedthearticleaboutSnape.

“Theotherteacherswon’tstａｎｄforthis，McGonagallａｎｄFlitwickａｎｄSproutallknowthetruth，theyknowhowDumbledoredied.Theywon’tacceptSnapeasheadmaster.AndwhoaretheseCarrows?”

“DeathEaters，”saidHarry.“Therearepicturesoftheminside.TheywereatthetopofthetowerwhenSnapekilledDumbledore，soit’sallfriendstogether.And，”Harrywentonbitterly，drawingupachair，“Ican’tseethattheotherteachershavegotanychoicebuttostay.IftheMinistryａｎｄVoldemortarebehindSnapeit’llbeachoicebetweenstayingａｎｄteaching，oranicefewyearsinAzkaban–ａｎｄthat’sifthey’relucky.Ireckonthey’llstaytotryａｎｄprotectthestudents.”

Kreachercamebustlingtothetablewithalargecurceninhishａｎｄs，ａｎｄladledoutsoupintopristinebowls，whistlingbetweenhisteethashedidso.

“Thanks，Kreacher，”saidHarry，flippingovertheProphetsoasnottohavetolookatSnape’sface.“Well，atleastweknowexactlywhereSnapeisnow.”

Hebegantospoonsoupintohismouth.ThequalityofKreacher’scookinghadimproveddramaticallyeversincehehadbeengivenRegulus’slocket:Today’sFrenchonionwasasgoodasHarryhadevertasted.

“TherearestillaloadofDeathEaterswatchingthishouse，”hetoldRonasheate，“morethanusual.It’slikethey’rehopingwe’llmarchoutcarryingourschooltrunksａｎｄheadofffortheHogwartsExpress.”

Ronglancedathiswatch.

“I’vebeenthinkingaboutthatallday.Itleftnearlysixhoursago.Weird，notbeingonit，isn’tit?”