Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка

           HehadremainedspeechlessthroughoutFudge’skindlyexplanationthattherewerewitchesandwizardsstilllivinginsecretallovertheworldandhisreassurancesthathewasnottobotherhisheadaboutthemastheMinistryofMagictookresponsibilityforthewholeWizardingcommunityandpreventedthenon-magicalpopulationfromgettingwindofthem.Itwas,saidFudge,adifficultjobthatencompassedeverythingfromregulationsonresponsibleuseofbroomstickstokeepingthedragonpopulationundercontrol(thePrimeMinisterrememberedclutchingthedeskforsupportatthispoint).Fudgehadthenpattedtheshoulderofthestill-dumbstruckPrimeMinisterinafatherlysortofway.

           "Nottoworry,"hehadsaid,"it’sodds-onyou’llneverseemeagain.I’llonlybotheryouifthere’ssomethingreallyseriousgoingonourend,somethingthat’slikelytoaffecttheMuggles—thenon-magicalpopulation,Ishouldsay.Otherwise,it’sliveandletlive.AndImustsay,you’retakingitalotbetterthanyourpredecessor.Hetriedtothrowmeoutthewindow,thoughtIwasahoaxplannedbytheopposition."

           Atthis,thePrimeMinisterhadfoundhisvoiceatlast.

           "You’re—you’renotahoax,then?"

           Ithadbeenhislast,desperatehope.

           "No,"saidFudgegently."No,I’mafraidI’mnot.Look."

           AndhehadturnedthePrimeMinister’steacupintoagerbil.