Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка

           HarryturnedawayfromRon,whodidnotlooklikehewouldbesurfacingsoon,justastheportraitholewasclosing.Withasinkingfeeling,hethoughthesawamaneofbushybrownhairwhippingoutofsight.

           Hedartedforward,sidesteppedRomildaVaneagain,andpushedopentheportraitoftheFatLady.Thecorridoroutside,seemedtobedeserted.

           "Hermione?"

           Hefoundherinthefirstunlockedclassroomhetried.Shewassittingontheteacher’sdesk,aloneexceptforasmallringoftwitteringyellowbirdscirclingherhead,whichshehadclearlyjustconjuredoutofmidair.Harrycouldnothelpadmiringherspell-workatatimelikethis.

           "Oh,hello,Harry,"shesaidinabrittlevoice."Iwasjustpracticing."

           "Yeah...they’re—er—reallygood..."saidHarry.

           Hehadnoideawhattosaytoher.HewasjustwonderingwhethertherewasanychancethatshehadnotnoticedRon,thatshehadmerelylefttheroombecausethepartywasalittletoorowdy,whenshesaid,inanunnaturallyhigh-pitchedvoice,"Ronseemstobeenjoyingthecelebrations."

           "Er...doeshe?"saidHarry.

           "Don’tpretendyoudidn’tseehim,"saidHermione."Hewasn’texactlyhidingit,was—?"

           Thedoorbehindthemburstopen.ToHarry’shorror,Roncamein,laughing,pullingLavenderbythehand.

           "Oh,"hesaid,drawingupshortatthesightofHarryandHermione.

           "Oops!"saidLavender,andshebackedoutoftheroom,giggling.Thedoorswungshutbehindher.

           Therewasahorrible,swelling,billowingsilence