Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка
Birthday surprises
AsforthefactthatMalfoy,CrabbeandGoyleappearedtobegoingtheirdifferentwayswhentheywereusuallyinseparable,thesethingshappenedaspeoplegotolder—RonandHermione,Harryreflectedsadly,werelivingproof.
FebruarymovedtowardsMarchwithnochangeintheweatherexceptthatitbecamewindyaswellaswet.Togeneralindignation,asignwentuponallcommon-roomnoticeboardsthatthenexttripintoHogsmeadehadbeencancelled.Ronwasfurious.
"Itwasonmybirthday!"hesaid,"Iwaslookingforwardtothat!"
"Notabigsurprise,though,isit?"saidHarry."NotafterwhathappenedtoKatie."
ShehadstillnotreturnedfromSt.Mungo’s.Whatwasmore,furtherdisappearanceshadbeenreportedintheDailyProphet,includingseveralrelativesofstudentsatHogwarts.
"ButnowallI’vegottolookforwardtoisstupidApparition!"saidRongrumpily."Bigbirthdaytreat..."
Threelessonson,Apparitionwasprovingasdifficultasever,thoughafewmorepeoplehadmanagedtoSplinchthemselves.Frustrationwasrunninghighandtherewasacertainamountofill-feelingtowardsWilkieTwycrossandhisthreeDs,whichhadinspiredanumberofnicknamesforhim,thepolitestofwhichwereDog-breathandDung-head.
"Happybirthday,Ron,"saidHarry,whentheywerewokenonthefirstofMarchbySeamusandDeanleavingnoisilyforbreakfast."Haveapresent."
HethrewthepackageacrossontoRon’sbed,whereitjoinedasmallpileofthemthatmust,Harryassumed,havebeendeliveredbyhouse-elvesinthenight.
