Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка
The secret riddle
ThisyoungerAlbusDumbledore’slonghairandbeardwereauburn.Havingreachedtheirsideofthestreet,hestrodeoffalongthepavement,drawingmanycuriousglancesduetotheflamboyantlycutsuitofplumvelvetthathewaswearing.
"Nicesuit,sir,"saidHarry,beforehecouldstophimself,butDumbledoremerelychuckledastheyfollowedhisyoungerselfashortdistance,finallypassingthroughasetofirongatesintoabarecourtyardthatfrontedarathergrim,squarebuildingsurroundedbyhighrailings.Hemountedthefewstepsleadingtothefrontdoorandknockedonce.Afteramomentortwo,thedoorwasopenedbyascruffygirlwearinganapron.
"Goodafternoon.IhaveanappointmentwithaMrs.Cole,who,Ibelieve,isthematronhere?"
"Oh,"saidthebewildered-lookinggirl,takinginDumbledore’seccentricappearance."Um...justamo...MRS.COLE!"shebellowedoverhershoulder.
Harryheardadistantvoiceshoutingsomethinginresponse.ThegirlturnedbacktoDumbledore.
"Comein,she’son’erway."
Dumbledoresteppedintoahallwaytiledinblackandwhite;thewholeplacewasshabbybutspotlesslyclean.HarryandtheolderDumbledorefollowed.Beforethefrontdoorhadclosedbehindthem,askinny,harassed-lookingwomancamescurryingtowardthem.Shehadasharp-featuredfacethatappearedmoreanxiousthanunkind,andshewastalkingoverhershouldertoanotherapronedhelperasshewalkedtowardDumbledore.
