Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка
The secret riddle
"Well,hisnamehasbeendownforourschoolsincebirth—"
"Whoregisteredhim?Hisparents?"
TherewasnodoubtthatMrs.Colewasaninconvenientlysharpwoman.ApparentlyDumbledorethoughtsotoo,forHarrynowsawhimsliphiswandoutofthepocketofhisvelvetsuit,atthesametimepickingupapieceofperfectlyblankpaperfromMrs.Cole’sdesktop.
"Here,"saidDumbledore,wavinghiswandonceashepassedherthepieceofpaper,"Ithinkthiswillmakeeverythingclear."
Mrs.Cole’seyesslidoutoffocusandbackagainasshegazedintentlyattheblankpaperforamoment.
"Thatseemsperfectlyinorder,"shesaidplacidly,handingitback.Thenhereyesfelluponabottleofginandtwoglassesthathadcertainlynotbeenpresentafewsecondsbefore.
"Er—mayIofferyouaglassofgin?"shesaidinanextra-refinedvoice.
"Thankyouverymuch,"saidDumbledore,beaming.
ItsoonbecameclearthatMrs.Colewasnonovicewhenitcametogindrinking.Pouringbothofthemagenerousmeasure,shedrainedherownglassinonegulp.Smackingherlipsfrankly,shesmiledatDumbledoreforthefirsttime,andhedidn’thesitatetopresshisadvantage.
"IwaswonderingwhetheryoucouldtellmeanythingofTomRiddle’shistory?Ithinkhewasbornhereintheorphanage?"
"That’sright,"saidMrs.Cole,helpingherselftomoregin."Irememberitclearasanything,becauseI’djuststartedheremyself.NewYear’sEveandbittercold,snowing,youknow.Nastynight.
