Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка
A sluggish memory
HarrylookedaroundasDumbledoreappearedbesidehimandsawthattheywerestandinginSlughorn’soffice.HalfadozenboysweresittingaroundSlughorn,allonharderorlowerseatsthanhis,andallintheirmid-teens.HarryrecognizedVoldemortatonce.Hiswasthemosthandsomefaceandhelookedthemostrelaxedofalltheboys.Hisrighthandlaynegligentlyuponthearmofhischair;withajolt,HarrysawthathewaswearingMarvolo’sgold-and-blackring;hehadalreadykilledhisfather.
"Sir,isittruethatProfessorMerrythoughtisretiring?"heasked.
"Tom,Tom,ifIknewIcouldn’ttellyou,"saidSlughorn,waggingareproving,sugar-coveredfingeratRiddle,thoughruiningtheeffectslightlybywinking."Imustsay,I’dliketoknowwhereyougetyourinformation,boy;moreknowledgeablethanhalfthestaff,youare."
Riddlesmiled;theotherboyslaughedandcasthimadmiringlooks.
"Whatwithyouruncannyabilitytoknowthingsyoushouldn’t,andyourcarefulflatteryofthepeoplewhomatter—thankyouforthepineapple,bytheway,you’requiteright,itismyfavorite—"
Asseveraloftheboystittered,somethingveryoddhappened.Thewholeroomwassuddenlyfilledwithathickwhitefog,sothatHarrycouldseenothingbutthefaceofDumbledore,whowasstandingbesidehim.ThenSlughorn’svoicerangoutthroughthemist,unnaturallyloudly:"—you’llgowrong,boy,markmywords."
