In the second week of December Professor McGonagall came around as usual, collecting names of those who would be staying at school for Christmas.
十二月的第二个星期,麦格教授像往常一样过来收集留校过圣诞节的同学名单。
Harry, Ron, and Hermione signed her list;
哈利、罗恩和赫敏在名单上签了字;
they had heard that Malfoy was staying, which struck them as very suspicious.
他们听说马尔福准备留下,觉得很值得怀疑。
The holidays would be the perfect time to use the Polyjuice Potion and try to worm a confession out of him.
过节期间正好可以使用复方汤剂,把马尔福的真话套出来。
Unfortunately, the potion was only half finished.
不幸的是,汤剂还没有完全熬好。
They still needed the bicorn horn and the boomslang skin, and the only place they were going to get them was from Snape's private stores.
他们还需要双角兽的角和非洲树蛇的皮,而这些东西只有在斯内普的私人储藏室里才能弄到。
Harry privately felt he'd rather face Slytherins legendary monster than let Snape catch him robbing his office.
哈利暗地里觉得,他宁愿面对斯莱特林的神奇的怪物,也不愿在斯内普办公室里偷东西时被斯内普抓住。
What we need, said Hermione briskly as Thursday afternoon's double Potions lesson loomed nearer, is a diversion.
我们需要声东击西,赫敏干脆地说,这时离星期四下午的两节魔药课越来越近了,有人打掩护,
Then one of us can sneak into Snape's office and take what we need.
然后某个人就可以溜进斯内普的办公室,拿到我们想要的东西。
Harry and Ron looked at her nervously.
哈利和罗恩紧张地看着她。
I think I'd better do the actual stealing, Hermione continued in a matter-of-fact tone.
我认为最好由我着手去偷,赫敏用公事公办的口吻接着说,
You two will be expelled if you get into any more trouble, and I've got a clean record.
你们俩如果再惹麻烦,就要被开除了,而我没有前科记录。
So all you need to do is cause enough mayhem to keep Snape busy for five minutes or so.
所以,你们只要把课堂搅得一阵大乱,让斯内普有五分钟时间忙得脱不开身。
Harry smiled feebly.
哈利勉强地笑了一下,
Deliberately causing mayhem in Snape's Potions class was about as safe as poking a sleeping dragon in the eye.
在斯内普的魔药课上故意捣乱生事,就像去捅一只熟睡的巨龙的眼睛,真是太危险了。