【英语原著】哈利·波特与魔法石 （21）

‘Yes,’ said Professor McGonagall. ‘And I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me why you’re here, of all places?’
‘I’ve come to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle. They’re the only family he has left now.’
‘You don’t mean – you can’t mean the people who live here?’ cried Professor McGonagall, jumping to her feet and pointing at number four. ‘Dumbledore – you can’t. I’ve been watching them all day. You couldn’t find two people who are less like us. And they’ve got this son – I saw him kicking his mother all the way up the street, screaming for sweets. Harry Potter come and live here!’
‘It’s the best place for him,’ said Dumbledore firmly. ‘His aunt and uncle will be able to explain everything to him when he’s older. I’ve written them a letter.’
‘A letter?’ repeated Professor McGonagall faintly, sitting back down on the wall. ‘Really, Dumbledore, you think you can explain all this in a letter? These people will never understand him! He’ll be famous – a legend – I wouldn’t be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter Day in future – there will be books written about Harry – every child in our world will know his name!’
‘Exactly,’ said Dumbledore, looking very seriously over the top of his half-moon glasses. ‘It would be enough to turn any boy’s head. Famous before he can walk and talk! Famous for something he won’t even remember! Can’t you see how much better off he’ll be, growing up away from all that until he’s ready to take it?’

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

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Knowledge Point

⇒ of all places
used to say that it is unusual or surprising that something happened in or is true about a particular place
例句：And why did you choose Iceland for a holiday, of all places?
（那么多的地方，你为什么偏偏要去冰岛度假？）

• ‘You don’t mean – you can’t mean the people who live here?’ cried Professor McGonagall, jumping to her feet and pointing at number four.
  ⇒ jump to one's feet
  to stand up very quickly

• You couldn’t find two people who are less like us.
  ⇒ 定语从句
  ⇒ 翻译：您找不到比他们更不像你我这样的人了。

• ‘A letter?’ repeated Professor McGonagall faintly, sitting back down on the wall.
  ⇒ faintly [adverb]
  slightly or not strongly

• He’ll be famous – a legend – I wouldn’t be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter Day in future – there will be books written about Harry – every child in our world will know his name!
  ⇒ legend
  someone very famous and admired, usually because of their ability in a particular area
  ⇒ known as sth 被称作…的；以…闻名的
  If someone or something is known as a particular name, that person or thing is called by that name.

• ‘Exactly,’ said Dumbledore, looking very seriously over the top of his half-moon glasses.
  ⇒ 这里的“over”把Dumbledore认真严肃程度展现的淋漓尽致。戴着眼镜都阻挡不了这股气势，越过了“the top of his half-moon glasses”。

• ‘It would be enough to turn any boy’s head. Famous before he can walk and talk! Famous for something he won’t even remember! Can’t you see how much better off he’ll be, growing up away from all that until he’s ready to take it?’
  ⇒ turn sb's head 冲昏头脑
  If something turns someone's head, it has an influence on how that person behaves, especially by making them too proud.
  例句：Success has never turned her head. （成功并没有让她冲昏头脑。）
  ⇒ better off
  to be in a better situation, if or after something happens
  ⇒ Dumbledore希望哈利在远离这些足以令人冲昏头脑的“名声”之外长大成人，直到他准备好接受这一切。（睿智！）

• 定语从句：
  They’re the only family he has left now.
  you can’t mean the people who live here?
  You couldn’t find two people who are less like us.

知识星球——读英语原著