《[HP]Thirty-Five Owls》言茗

2、13.10.1951

　　亲爱的盖勒特：

　　感谢你的来信。回想起来，我似乎记得你曾评断，这个世界上没有什么能够阻止我成为——我想你的原话就是——“一个自以为是的混球”。恐怕我还是一如既往地无可救药。自我们的决斗起我就盼着会被一只猫头鹰造访，而当我真正收到它的时候很难感到惊讶。实际上，如果要继续等上一两年，我就该开始着急了。
　　我给了你的猫头鹰一个干燥咒，一块靠近福克斯火焰的栖木，以及三只小白鼠。她的脾气难以置信地好，尤其是刚经历完这样一场堪比灾难的飞行。（福克斯也不错，他很难真正被伤害，盖勒特，就算是你这样善于杀戮的熟手都不行。）我确实还在霍格沃茨，教授变形课，担任着格兰芬多学院的院长和副校长。和我们初遇时相比，我或许已经没那么出类拔萃了。不过我确实乐在其中。学期伊始，我忙得不可开交，耽搁了回信。好在十月十三日是如此安静祥和的一天，真是令人高兴。
　　所以，没错，盖勒特，我并不惊讶。而我接下来要说的事，说不定会反过来让你惊讶吧？但我真的并不恨你。我记得我早就说过这件事——就在我们决斗的时候——我现在要再重复一次。我没想蔑视你，也不打算嘲笑你。你觉得这很难理解吗？恐怕我自己也很难解释清楚。这可能只是我这自以为是的混球的另一个症状吧。
　　（说到决斗，你大可以放心，我把“它”保管得很好。）
　　在无法和自然接触的情况下，你是怎么打发时间的呢？我希望你过得挺舒适的。鉴于你能通信，我猜大概也可以读书吧？随信附上一本你或许会喜欢的书。它是二十年代出自威尔士的一些对变形术理论的有趣修订——当时你正忙着准备征服欧洲，所以估计正好错过了它。

　　致以问候，
　　阿不思·邓布利多*

　　[附：Of Mice and Matriculation Gwalchmai Gwartney & Ianto ap Madog]

　　.

　　[原文]

　　October 13th, 1951

　　Dear Gellert,

　　Thank you for your letter. When I think on it, I seem to recall you commenting once that no power in the world could stop me from being—I believe your words were—"a smug bastard." I'm afraid I remain as incorrigible as ever. I've been expecting an owl ever since our duel, and was hardly surprised to receive one. Indeed, I would have begun to worry in another year or two.

　　I gave your owl a drying charm, a perch by Fawkes' fire, and three white mice. She's wonderfully well-tempered after such a flight. (And Fawkes himself is quite well. Not even you, adept as you are at such things, could kill him enough to be a problem, Gellert.) I am indeed still at Hogwarts, teaching Transfiguration, head of Gryffindor House, and Assistant Headmaster. I am perhaps somewhat less of an overachiever than I was when we first met. Still, I am indeed enjoying myself. The beginning of term has been quite busy, hence my slow response. It is a peculiar delight that October the 13th has been a quiet and peaceful day.

　　So, yes, Gellert, I am not surprised. And this might, in turn, come as a surprise to you, but I do not hate you. I have said it before, I know, during our duel, and I say it again. Nor do I look down my nose at you, nor do I laugh at you. Do you find this difficult to understand I'm afraid I might find it difficult to explain. And it might simply be another symptom of being a s|mug bastard.

　　(Rest assured, speaking of said duel, that I am taking good care of It.)

　　How are you spending your hours, when not contemplating nature You are, I hope, comfortable, and allowed books as well as correspondence. Along those lines, actually, I have enclosed a book you might enjoy. Some fascinating refinements of Transfiguration theory came out of Wales in the twenties—you might well have missed it while you were off preparing to conquer Europe.

　　Regards,
　　AD

　　[enclosure: Of Mice and Matriculation, Gwalchmai Gwartney & Ianto ap Madog]

作者有话说

　　*原文的落款是手写体的签名（Albus Dumbledore）。GG的落款则是他自己设计的与死亡圣器的结合版。