原文赏析

“You know, I think the ends of Scabbers' whiskers are a bit lighter,” said Harry, trying to take Ron's mind off houses. “So what do your oldest brothers do now that they've left, anyway?”
"你看，我觉得斯卡伯斯胡须尖的颜色好像变谈了些，"哈利想把罗恩的注意力从学院问题上转移开，"你那两个已经毕业的大哥现在在干什么呢？"

Harry was wondering what a wizard did once he'd finished school.
他很想知道魔法师从学校毕业后能做些什么。

“Charlie's in Romania studying dragons, and Bill's in Africa doing something for Gringotts,” said Ron. “Did you hear about Gringotts? It's been all over the Daily Prophet, but I don't suppose you get that with the Muggles — someone tried to rob a high security vault.”Harry stared.“Really? What happened to them?”
"查理在罗马尼亚研究龙，比尔在非洲为格林高斯办事。"罗恩说，"你听说过格林高斯吗？《先知日报》上有详细介绍。不过，你和马格人住在一起是看不到的——有人想打劫一家高度设防的保险库。""是真的吗？后来呢？"

“Nothing, that's why it's such big news. They haven't been caught. My dad says it must've been a powerful Dark wizard to get round Gringotts, but they don't think they took anything, that's what's odd. ‘Course, everyone gets scared when something like this happens in case You-Know-Who's behind it.”
"什么都没发现，因此这事成为头条新闻，这伙人至今仍遥逍法外。我爸说一定有一个法力高强的邪恶魔法师在为格林高斯效力。但他们认为他们什么都没有取走，这便是问题所在。因为发生类似事件的时候，人们会十分害怕，担心是'那个人'在幕后操纵。"

Harry turned this news over in his mind. He was starting to get a prickle of fear every time You-Know-Who was mentioned. He supposed this was all part of entering the magical world, but it had been a lot more comfortable saying “Voldemort” without worrying.
哈利心中琢磨着整件事，每当提及'那个人'，他都感到一种恐惧。他想这也许是进入魔法世界的必经阶段，但过去那种提及"福尔得摩特"这个名字时无需害怕的感觉还是舒服多了。

“What's your Quidditch team?” Ron asked.
"你的魁地奇队是什么？"罗恩问。

“Er — I don't know any.” Harry confessed.
"呃，我不知道。"

“What!” Ron looked dumbfounded. “Oh, you wait, it's the best game in the world — ” And he was off, explaining all about the four balls and the positions of the seven players, describing famous games he'd been to with his brothers and the broomstick he'd like to get if he had the money. He was just taking Harry through the finer points of the game when the compartment door slid open yet again, but it wasn't Neville the toadless boy, or Hermione Granger this time.
"什么？！"罗恩目瞪口呆，"这可是最好玩的游戏呀。"于是，他便开始讲解游戏的四个用球和七个参与游戏者所站的位置，讲述他和哥哥们一起观看过的著名的比赛和他如果有钱一定会买的飞行扫帚的型号。当他正准备向哈利解释一下游戏的细则的时候，包厢房门又开了，这回不是尼维尔和荷米思了。

重点讲解

once的用法总结

1. once用作连词时，意为“一旦……就……”，用于连接时间状语从句，相当于as soon as。
如： 　　
Once you start, you will never give up. 一旦你开始了，你就不要放弃。 　　
　　
注意：once引导的是时间状语从句，从句要用一般现在时代替将来时。
　　
2. once用作副词时，意为“曾经；一度；从前”。它是一个不确定的时间副词，其位置一般是在行为动词之前，系动词之后。
如：
Once he lived in America, but now he lives in England.他曾经生活在美国，但现在他生活在英国。
　　
3. once用作副词，也可意为“一次”的意思。两次是“twice”，三次是“three times”，四次是“four times”。

The old professor comes to see us once a week.那个老教授一周来看我们一次。
　　
4. 注意once用作副词时，在句中的位置不同表示的意思也不同，所以要特别注意。
如：
I once went to Shanghai. 我曾经去过上海。 　　
I went to Shanghai once. 我去过上海一次。

关于hear about 与 hear of

hear of与hear about的意义相近，这两个词组在英语中有时可以通用。它们含有“听人说起”，“从书报上看到关于”等意义。例如：

I've never heard of him. 我从来没有听说过他。
Have you heard about him from anywhere?你从什么地方听到过他吗？

hear + sth / 宾语从句: 听说或得知（某事物）:
Do you hear the sound? 你听到声音吗?
I heard (that) Tom would leave here. 我听说Tom会离开这里.
注意: 上句是宾语从句,当that在宾语从句中作连词引导从句时,that可省略。

hear of + sb./sth: 听到或知道某人[某事物]的情况

I have never heard of him since he left. 自从他离开后，我再没听到过他的消息。
I have heard of the song. 我曾听说过这首歌。（注意：这里提及的不是听到这首歌，而是听说过这首歌）

hear about + sth. : 听到关於某事物的消息
I've just heard about his promotion. 我刚刚听到了他被提升的事。