Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка
Birthday surprises
ItwasnotananswertotheGolpalottproblem,andhadSnapestillbeentheirteacher,Harrywouldnothavedareddoit,butthiswasamomentfordesperatemeasures.Hehastenedtowardsthestorecupboardandrummagedwithinit,pushingasideunicornhornsandtanglesofdriedherbsuntilhefound,attheveryback,asmallcardboxonwhichhadbeenscribbledtheword’Bezoars’.
HeopenedtheboxjustasSlughorncalled,"Twominutesleft,everyone!"Insidewerehalfadozenshrivelledbrownobjects,lookingmorelikedried-upkidneysthanrealstones.Harryseizedone,puttheboxbackinthecupboardandhurriedbacktohiscauldron.
"Time’s...UP!"calledSlughorngenially."Well,let’sseehowyou’vedone!Blaise...whathaveyougotforme?"
Slowly,Slughornmovedaroundtheroom,examiningthevariousantidotes.Nobodyhadfinishedthetask,althoughHermionewastryingtocramafewmoreingredientsintoherbottlebeforeSlughornreachedher.Ronhadgivenupcompletely,andwasmerelytryingtoavoidbreathingintheputridfumesissuingfromhiscauldron.Harrystoodtherewaiting,thebezoarclutchedinaslightlysweatyhand.
Slughornreachedtheirtablelast.HesniffedErnie’spotionandpassedontoRon’swithagrimace.HedidnotlingeroverRon’scauldron,butbackedawayswiftly,retchingslightly.
"Andyou,Harry,"hesaid."Whathaveyougottoshowme?"
Harryheldouthishand,thebezoarsittingonhispalm.
Slughornlookeddownatitforafulltenseconds.Harrywondered,foramoment,whetherhewasgoingtoshoutathim.
