Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка
The Other Minister
"But,"saidthePrimeMinisterbreathlessly,watchinghisteacupchewingonthecornerofhisnextspeech,"butwhy—whyhasnobodytoldme—?"
"TheMinisterofMagiconlyrevealshim—orherselftotheMugglePrimeMinisteroftheday,"saidFudge,pokinghiswandbackinsidehisjacket."Wefinditthebestwaytomaintainsecrecy."
"Butthen,"bleatedthePrimeMinister,"whyhasn’taformerPrimeMinisterwarnedme—?"
Atthis,Fudgehadactuallylaughed.
"MydearPrimeMinister,areyouevergoingtotellanybody?"
Stillchortling,Fudgehadthrownsomepowderintothefireplace,steppedintotheemeraldflames,andvanishedwithawhooshingsound.ThePrimeMinisterhadstoodthere,quitemotionless,andrealizedthathewouldnever,aslongashelived,darementionthisencountertoalivingsoul,forwhointhewideworldwouldbelievehim?
Theshockhadtakenalittlewhiletowearoff.Foratime,hehadtriedtoconvincehimselfthatFudgehadindeedbeenahallucinationbroughtonbylackofsleepduringhisgruelingelectioncampaign.Inavainattempttoridhimselfofallremindersofthisuncomfortableencounter,hehadgiventhegerbiltohisdelightednieceandinstructedhisprivatesecretarytotakedowntheportraitoftheuglylittlemanwhohadannouncedFudge’sarrival.TothePrimeMinister’sdismay,however,theportraithadprovedimpossibletoremove.
