Then something happened that made him jump about a foot in the air — several people behind him screamed.
他身后有几个人突然尖叫了起来，把他吓得蹦起一尺米高。
“What the — ?”
"你们搞什么——？"
He gasped. So did the people around him. About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall.
哈利屏住了呼吸，他身边的人也都同样如此。大约二十个鬼魂从后面穿墙而入。
Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years.
他们都像珍珠一样白，而且还是半透明的。他们一边说一边在房间里飘过，对这群新生不屑一顾.
They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was saying: “Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance”
他们像是正在争论着什么。其中一个矮胖小和尚模样的说："原谅他吧，忘记整件事吧。我觉得我们该再给他一次机会——"
“My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves?
"我亲爱的费艾尔先生，我们已经给了皮维斯够多的机会了。
He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost — I say, what are you all doing here?”
他让我们这些鬼都蒙上了恶名，真不是个好东西——嘿，你们在这里干什么？
A ghost wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first years.
说话的是一个戴着花圈、穿着裤袜的鬼魂。她突然发现了身下的这群孩子。
Nobody answered.
没人敢回答。

“New students!” said the Fat Friar, smiling around at them. “About to be Sorted, I suppose?”
"是些新生！"胖子费艾尔边笑边对他们说，"是快分配住处了吧？"
A few people nodded mutely.
一些孩子静静地点了点头。
“Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!” said the Friar. “My old house, you know.”
"祝你分到海夫巴夫，"费艾尔叫道，"你知道吗，我就是从那儿毕业的。"
“Move along now,” said a sharp voice. “The Sorting Ceremony's about to start.”
"现在向前走，"一个女高音喊道，"分配仪式要开始了。"
Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall.
麦康娜教授回来了，鬼魂们一个接一个地又穿过对面墙壁离开了。
“Now, form a line,” Professor McGonagall told the first years, “and follow me.”
"站成一队，"麦康娜教授告诉新生们，"现在跟我走！"