Гарри Поттер и философский камень
The Vanishing Glass
HewascarefultowalkalittlewayapartfromtheDursleys sothatDudleyandPiers, whowerestartingtogetboredwiththeanimalsbylunchtime,wouldn’tfallbackontheirfavoritehobby ofhittinghim. Theyateinthezoorestaurant, andwhenDudleyhadatantrumbecausehisknickerbockerglorydidn’thaveenoughicecreamontop, UncleVernonboughthimanotherone andHarrywasallowedtofinishthefirst.
Harryfelt,afterward,thatheshouldhaveknownitwasalltoogoodtolast.
Afterlunchtheywenttothereptilehouse. Itwascoolanddarkinthere,withlitwindowsallalongthewalls. Behindtheglass,allsortsoflizardsandsnakeswerecrawlingandslitheringoverbitsofwoodandstone. DudleyandPierswantedtoseehuge,poisonouscobras andthick,man-crushingpythons. Dudleyquicklyfoundthelargestsnakeintheplace. ItcouldhavewrappeditsbodytwicearoundUncleVernon’scar andcrusheditintoatrashcan —butatthemomentitdidn’tlookinthemood. Infact,itwasfastasleep.
Dudleystoodwithhisnosepressedagainsttheglass, staringattheglisteningbrowncoils.
"Makeitmove,"hewhinedathisfather. UncleVernontappedontheglass,butthesnakedidn’tbudge.
"Doitagain,"Dudleyordered. UncleVernonrappedtheglasssmartlywithhisknuckles, butthesnakejustsnoozedon.
"Thisisboring,"Dudleymoaned. Heshuffledaway.
Harrymovedinfrontofthetank andlookedintentlyatthesnake.
