Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка
A very frosty Christmas
Hekepthisvoiceaspleasantashecould,andScrimgeour’stone,too,waslightandfriendlyashesaid,"Oh,ofcourse,ifit’saquestionofconfidences,Iwouldn’twantyoutodivulge...no,no...andinanycase,doesitreallymatterwhetheryouaretheChosenOneornot?"
Harryhadtomullthatoneoverforafewsecondsbeforeresponding.
"Idon’treallyknowwhatyoumean,Minister."
"Well,ofcourse,toyouitwillmatterenormously,"saidScrimgeourwithalaugh."Buttothewizardingcommunityatlarge...it’sallperception,isn’tit?It’swhatpeoplebelievethat’simportant."
Harrysaidnothing.Hethoughthesaw,dimly,wheretheywereheading,buthewasnotgoingtohelpScrimgeourgetthere.Thegnomeundertherhododendronwasnowdiggingforwormsatitsroots,andHarrykepthiseyesfixeduponit.
"PeoplebelieveyouaretheChosenOne,yousee,"saidScrimgeour."Theythinkyouquitethehero—which,ofcourse,youarc,Harry,chosenornot!HowmanytimeshaveyoufacedHe-Who-Must-Not-Be-Namednow?Well,anyway,"hepressedon,withoutwaitingforareply,"thepointis,youareasymbolofhopeformany,Harry.Theideathatthereissomebodyouttherewhomightbeable,whomightevenbedestined,todestroyHe-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named—well,naturally,itgivespeoplealift.AndIcan’thelpbutfeelthat,onceyourealizethis,youmightconsiderit,well,almostaduty,tostandalongsidetheMinistry,andgiveeveryoneaboost."
Thegnomehadjustmanagedtogetholdofaworm.
