Гарри Поттер и тайная комната
The Deathday Party
TherestoftheschoolwashappilyanticipatingtheirHalloweenfeast;theGreatHallhadbeendecoratedwiththeusuallivebats,Hagrid’svastpumpkinshadbeencarvedintolanternslargeenoughforthreementositin,andtherewererumorsthatDumbledorehadbookedatroupeofdancingskeletonsfortheentertainment.
"Apromiseisapromise,"HermioneremindedHarrybossily."Yousaidyou’dgotothedeathdayparty."
Soatseveno’clock,Harry,Ron,andHermionewalkedstraightpastthedoorwaytothepackedGreatHall,whichwasglitteringinvitinglywithgoldplatesandcandles,anddirectedtheirstepsinsteadtowardthedungeons.
ThepassagewayleadingtoNearlyHeadlessNick’spartyhadbeenlinedwithcandles,too,thoughtheeffectwasfarfromcheerful: Thesewerelong,thin,jet-blacktapers,allburningbrightblue,castingadim,ghostlylightevenovertheirownlivingfaces.Thetemperaturedroppedwitheverysteptheytook. AsHarryshiveredanddrewhisrobestightlyaroundhim,heheardwhatsoundedlikeathousandfingernailsscrapinganenormousblackboard.
"Isthatsupposedtobemusic?"Ronwhispered. TheyturnedacornerandsawNearlyHeadlessNickstandingatadoorwayhungwithblackvelvetdrapes.
"Mydearfriends,"hesaidmournfully."Welcome,welcome...sopleasedyoucouldcome..."
Hesweptoffhisplumedhatandbowedtheminside.
Itwasanincrediblesight.
