Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка
The Other Minister
"You—er—your—Imeantosay,someofyourpeoplewere—wereinvolvedinthose—thosethings,werethey?"
FudgefixedthePrimeMinisterwitharathersternlook.
"Ofcoursetheywere,"hesaid,"Surelyyou’verealizedwhat’sgoingon?"
"I..."hesitatedthePrimeMinister.
ItwaspreciselythissortofbehaviorthatmadehimdislikeFudge’svisitssomuch.Hewas,afterall,thePrimeMinisteranddidnotappreciatebeingmadetofeellikeanignorantschoolboy.Butofcourse,ithadbeenlikethisfromhisveryfirstmeetingwithFudgeonhisveryfirsteveningasPrimeMinister.Heremembereditasthoughitwereyesterdayandknewitwouldhaunthimuntilhisdyingday.
Hehadbeenstandingaloneinthisveryoffice,savoringthetriumphthatwashisaftersomanyyearsofdreamingandscheming,whenhehadheardacoughbehindhim,justliketonight,andturnedtofindthatuglylittleportraittalkingtohim,announcingthattheMinisterofMagicwasabouttoarriveandintroducehimself
Naturally,hehadthoughtthatthelongcampaignandthestrainoftheelectionhadcausedhimtogomad.Hehadbeenutterlyterrifiedtofindaportraittalkingtohim,thoughthishadbeennothingtohowhefeltwhenaself-proclaimedwizardhadbouncedoutofthefireplaceandshakenhishand.
