【英语原著】哈利·波特与魔法石 （23）

‘Hagrid,’ said Dumbledore, sounding relieved. ‘At last. And where did you get that motorbike?’
‘Borrowed it, Professor Dumbledore, sir,’ said the giant, climbing carefully off the motorbike as he spoke. ‘Young Sirius Black lent it me. I’ve got him, sir.’
‘No problems, were there?’
‘No, sir – house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin’ around. He fell asleep as we was flyin’ over Bristol.’
Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets. Inside, just visible, was a baby boy, fast asleep. Under a tuft of jet-black hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut, like a bolt of lightning.
‘Is that where –?’ whispered Professor McGonagall.
‘Yes,’ said Dumbledore. ‘He’ll have that scar for ever.’
‘Couldn’t you do something about it, Dumbledore?’
‘Even if I could, I wouldn’t. Scars can come in useful. I have one myself above my left knee which is a perfect map of the London Underground. Well – give him here, Hagrid – we’d better get this over with.’

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Rowling, J.K.. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone . Bloomsbury. Kindle Edition.

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Knowledge Point

• ‘Borrowed it, Professor Dumbledore, sir,’ said the giant, climbing carefully off the motorbike as he spoke. ‘Young Sirius Black lent it me. I’ve got him, sir.’
  ⇒ giant [noun]
  someone who is taller or larger than usual
  ⇒ climb off the motorbike

• ‘No, sir – house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin’ around. He fell asleep as we was flyin’ over Bristol.’
  ⇒ swarm [verb]
  When pelple swarm somewhere, they move there in a large group or in large numbers.
  ⇒ swarmin’ = swarming，flyin’ = flying
  （在接下来的对话中将出现越来越多的省略表达，看多了自然就习惯了。）
  ⇒ Bristol
  Bristol is a city and county in the Muggle world located in southwestern England, bordering the counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire, and is near to Chipping Sodbury and Bath. In 1981, little Harry Potter fell asleep when he and Hagrid were flying over the town on Sirius Black's motorcycle. （Refer to Harry Potter Wiki）

• Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets. Inside, just visible, was a baby boy, fast asleep. Under a tuft of jet-black hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut, like a bolt of lightning.
  ⇒ bend forward 稍微向前弯身
  ⇒ fast asleep [adjective] ~ sound asleep
  sleeping deeply
  ⇒ tuft [noun]
  a number of short pieces of hair, grass, etc. that grow closely together or are held together near the base
  ⇒ jet-black [adjective]
  very dark black
  ⇒ a bolt of lightning 一道闪电
  ⇒ scar [noun]
  a mark left on part of the body after an injury, such as a cut, has healed
  ⇒ 参见图片【Harry Potter's scars】

  
  Harry Potter's scars from Harry Potter Wiki

• ‘Even if I could, I wouldn’t. Scars can come in useful. I have one myself above my left knee which is a perfect map of the London Underground. Well – give him here, Hagrid – we’d better get this over with.’
  ⇒ come in useful
  to be useful for a particular purpose
  ⇒ get sth over with
  to do or finish an unpleasant but necessary piece of work or duty so that you do not have to worry about it in the future

地道口语

• Keep it, it might come in useful. （留着它，也许会有用。）
• Let's get this over with. （我们赶紧把这事了结了吧。）

知识星球——读英语原著