Гарри Поттер и узник Азкабана

           "Sh-shesaidI’dfailedeverything!"

           IttookalittlewhiletocalmHermionedown.Whenatlastshehadregainedagriponherself,she,Harry,andRonwentbacktothecastle.RonwasstillslightlyinclinedtolaughatHermione’sBoggart,butanargumentwasavertedbythesightthatmetthemonthetopofthesteps.

           CorneliusFudge,sweatingslightlyinhispinstripedcloak,wasstandingtherestaringoutatthegrounds.HestartedatthesightofHarry.

           "Hellothere,Harry!"hesaid."Justhadanexam,Iexpect?Nearlyfinished?"

           "Yes,"saidHarry.HermioneandRon,notbeingonspeakingtermswiththeMinisterofMagic,hoveredawkwardlyinthebackground.

           "Lovelyday,"saidFudge,castinganeyeoverthelake.

           "Pity...pity..."

           HesigheddeeplyandlookeddownatHarry.

           "I’mhereonanunpleasantmission,Harry.TheCommitteefortheDisposalofDangerousCreaturesrequiredawitnesstotheexecutionofamadHippogriff.AsIneededtovisitHogwartstocheckontheBlacksituation,Iwasaskedtostepin."

           "Doesthatmeantheappeal’salreadyhappened?"Roninterrupted,steppingforward.

           "No,no,it’sscheduledforthisafternoon,"saidFudge,lookingcuriouslyatRon.

           "Thenyoumightnothavetowitnessanexecutionatall!"saidRonstoutly."TheHippogriffmightgetoff!"

           BeforeFudgecouldanswer,twowizardscamethroughthecastledoorsbehindhim.Onewassoancientheappearedtobewitheringbeforetheirveryeyes;theotherwastallandstrapping,withathinbackmustache.