Гарри Поттер и тайная комната
The Deathday Party
YouwillappreciatethatitwouldbeimpossibleotherwiseformemberstoparticipateinhuntactivitiessuchasHorsebackHead-JugglingandHeadPolo. Itiswiththegreatestregret,therefore,thatImustinformyouthatyoudonotfulfillourrequirements. Withverybestwishes,SirPatrickDelaney-Podmore.’"
Fuming,NearlyHeadlessNickstuffedtheletteraway.
"Halfaninchofskinandsinewholdingmyneckon,Harry!Mostpeoplewouldthinkthat’sgoodandbeheaded,butoh,no,it’snotenoughforSirProperlyDecapitated-Podmore."
NearlyHeadlessNicktookseveraldeepbreathsandthensaid,inafarcalmertone,"So-what’sbotheringyou?AnythingIcando?"
"No,"saidHarry."NotunlessyouknowwherewecangetsevenfreeNimbusTwoThousandandOnesforourmatchagainstSly-"
TherestofHarry’ssentencewasdrownedoutbyahigh-pitchedmewlingfromsomewherenearhisankles.Helookeddownandfoundhimselfgazingintoapairoflamp-likeyelloweyes. ItwasMrs.Norris,theskeletalgraycatwhowasusedbythecaretaker,ArgusFilch,asasortofdeputyinhisendlessbattleagainststudents.
"You’dbettergetoutofhere,Harry,"saidNickquickly."Filchisn’tinagoodmood-he’sgotthefluandsomethirdyearsaccidentallyplasteredfrogbrainsallovertheceilingindungeonfive. He’sbeencleaningallmorning,andifheseesyoudrippingmudallovertheplace—"
"Right,"saidHarry,backingawayfromtheaccusingstareofMrs.Norris,butnotquicklyenough.
