17第17章 （2 / 2）

索菲亚鼓起勇气，说出了她的想法：“是这样的，海格。您看，您照顾这么多神奇又珍贵的动物，像火灰蛇、夜骐（Thestrals，索菲亚能看到，因为见过前世的飞机失事）、鹰头马身有翼兽巴克比克（Buckbeak，如果时间线允许，或者换成其他温和生物如独角兽）……它们总会自然脱落一些东西，比如鳞片、羽毛、毛发、换下来的角、甚至自然脱落的牙齿……这些东西在您看来可能只是需要打扫的‘垃圾’……”

Sophiatookadeepbreathandlaidoutheridea:"Well,Hagrid.Yousee,youcareforsomanyamazingandvaluablecreatures,liketheAshwinder,theThestralsSophiacouldseethem,havingwitnessedherpastlife'splanecrash,BuckbeaktheHippogriffiftimelineallows,orsubstituteothergentlecreatureslikeunicorns...Theynaturallyshedthingsallthetime?scales,feathers,fur,shedhorns,evennaturallylostteeth...Toyou,thesemightjustbe'mess'thatneedscleaningup..."

她顿了顿，观察着海格的表情，继续说道：“但是，这些东西在魔药学、炼金术甚至魔杖制作里，可能都是非常珍贵的材料！我知道您照顾它们是因为爱，不是为了这些东西。可是……可是我很需要钱，海格。”索菲亚的声音低了下去，带着一丝窘迫但很坦诚，“我的家人生活很困难，我也想自己能买些必要的学习用品……所以我在想……”

Shepaused,watchingHagrid'sexpression,thencontinued:"ButthesethingscouldbeveryvaluablematerialsforPotions,Alchemy,evenwandmaking!Iknowyoucareforthemoutoflove,notfortheseby-products.But...butIreallyneedthemoney,Hagrid."Sophia'svoicelowered,tingedwithembarrassmentbuthonest."Myfamilystruggles,andIneedtobuynecessaryschoolsupplies...SoIwaswondering..."

“如果……如果您允许的话，”索菲亚抬起头，眼神充满期待，“我可以定期来帮您打扫照顾这些动物！在确保它们安全舒适的前提下，收集那些自然脱落、不再需要的材料？比如扫走脱落的鳞片、收集掉落的羽毛、捡拾换下来的角……我保证，绝对！绝对不会伤害它们任何一根毛发！我只是想……嗯，废物利用？把这些本来会被扔掉的东西，变成一点有用的钱。赚到的钱，我们可以……可以分成？或者，您觉得怎么合适都行！这样我既能帮您分担点活儿，又能……嗯，发笔小财？”

"If...ifyou'dallowit,"Sophialookedup,hereyesfullofhopeandatouchofpleading,"Icouldcomeregularlytohelpyoucleanandcarefortheseanimals!Whileensuringtheyaresafeandcomfortable,collectthosenaturallyshed,no-longer-neededmaterials?Likesweepingupshedscales,collectingfallenfeathers,pickingupshedhorns...Ipromise,absolutely!Iwouldneverharmasinglehaironthem!Ijustwantto...well,recycle?Turnthingsthatwouldbethrownawayintoabitofusefulmoney.Anymoneyearned,wecould...split?Or,whateveryouthinkisfair!ThatwayIcanhelpyououtabit,and...well,makeabitofgold?"

海格瞪大了他那双甲壳虫般的黑眼睛，嘴巴微张，似乎被索菲亚这个提议惊到了。他看看笼子里还在呼噜的火灰蛇，又看看眼前这个瘦小但眼神无比认真和渴望的小姑娘，再看看角落里堆着的一小撮之前被他扫到一边、准备当垃圾处理的、牙牙掉的毛毛。

“梅林的老花镜啊！”海格猛地一拍大腿，发出“啪”的一声巨响，把牙牙都吓了一跳。“索菲亚！你这小脑袋瓜可真灵光！我怎么就没想到呢！”

"Merlin'soldspectacles!"Hagridslappedhisthighwithaloudsmack,startlingFang."Sophia!Youcleverlittlething!Whydidn'tIthinko'that!"

他激动地在屋子里踱步，巨大的身躯让地板都在呻吟：“对啊！对啊！弗立维教授上次还问我有没有多余的独角兽尾毛，说他的库存快用完了！禁林里那几只独角兽可喜欢在松针堆里打滚了，每次滚完都掉不少毛！还有巴克比克（或其他生物），它换羽期掉的羽毛，那光泽多漂亮啊！庞弗雷夫人总抱怨白鲜和龙肝精贵……要是能用这些自然掉的东西换点钱，给小家伙们买点更好的饲料或者玩具……”海格越想越兴奋，眼睛亮得像灯泡。

Hepacedexcitedly,hislargeframemakingthefloorboardsgroan:"Yeah!Yeah!ProfessorFlitwickaskedmejus'lastweekifIhadanyspareunicorntailhairs,saidhisstockwasrunnin'low!ThemunicornsintheForestloverollin'inthepineneedles,shedloadso'haireachtime!An'Buckbeakorothercreature,thefeathersitshedsduringmoltin'season,soshiny!MadamPomfrey'salwayscomplainin''boutthepriceo'Dittanyan'DragonLiver...Ifwecouldtradethesenaturallyshedbitsforabito'gold,getthecreaturesbetterfeedor