Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка

           Andthisgirl,notmucholderthanIwasmyselfatthetime,camestaggeringupthefrontsteps.Well,shewasn’tthefirst.Wetookherin,andshehadthebabywithinthehour.Andshewasdeadinanotherhour."

           Mrs.Colenoddedimpressivelyandtookanothergenerousgulpofgin.

           "Didshesayanythingbeforeshedied?"askedDumbledore."Anythingabouttheboy’sfather,forinstance?"

           "Now,asithappens,shedid,"saidMrs.Cole,whoseemedtoberatherenjoyingherselfnow,withthegininherhandandaneageraudienceforherstory."Iremembershesaidtome,’Ihopehelookslikehispapa,’andIwon’tlie,shewasrighttohopeit,becauseshewasnobeauty—andthenshetoldmehewastobenamedTom,forhisfather,andMarvolo,forherfather—yes,Iknow,funnyname,isn’tit?Wewonderedwhethershecamefromacircus—andshesaidtheboy’ssurnamewastobeRiddle.Andshediedsoonafterthatwithoutanotherword.

           "Well,wenamedhimjustasshe’dsaid,itseemedsoimportanttothepoorgirl,butnoTomnorMarvolonoranykindofRiddleevercamelookingforhim,noranyfamilyatall,sohestayedintheorphanageandhe’sbeenhereeversince."

           Mrs.Colehelpedherself,almostabsent-mindedly,toanotherhealthymeasureofgin.Twopinkspotshadappearedhighonhercheekbones.Thenshesaid,"He’safunnyboy."

           "Yes,"saidDumbledore."Ithoughthemightbe."

           "Hewasafunnybabytoo.Hehardlyevercried,youknow.Andthen,whenhegotalittleolder,hewas...odd."

           "Oddinwhatway?"askedDumbledoregently.