Гарри Поттер и философский камень
The Boy who lived
"Andfinally, bird-watcherseverywherehavereported thatthenation’sowlshavebeenbehavingveryunusuallytoday. Althoughowlsnormallyhuntatnight andarehardlyeverseenindaylight, therehavebeenhundredsofsightingsofthesebirds flyingineverydirectionsincesunrise. Expertsareunabletoexplain whytheowlshavesuddenlychangedtheirsleepingpattern." Thenewscasterallowedhimselfagrin. "Mostmysterious. Andnow,overtoJimMcGuffinwiththeweather. Goingtobeanymoreshowersofowlstonight,Jim?"
"Well,Ted,"saidtheweatherman, "Idon’tknowaboutthat, butit’snotonlytheowlsthathavebeenactingoddlytoday. ViewersasfarapartasKent,Yorkshire,andDundeehavebeenphoningintotellme thatinsteadoftherainIpromisedyesterday,they’vehadadownpourofshootingstars! PerhapspeoplehavebeencelebratingBonfireNightearly —it’snotuntilnextweek,folks! ButIcanpromiseawetnighttonight."
Mr.Dursleysatfrozeninhisarmchair. ShootingstarsalloverBritain? Owlsflyingbydaylight? Mysteriouspeopleincloaksallovertheplace? Andawhisper,awhisperaboutthePotters...
Mrs.Dursleycameintothelivingroomcarryingtwocupsoftea. Itwasnogood.He’dhavetosaysomethingtoher. Heclearedhisthroatnervously. "Er—Petunia,dear—youhaven’theardfromyoursisterlately,haveyou?"
Ashehadexpected,Mrs.Dursleylookedshockedandangry. Afterall,theynormallypretendedshedidn’thaveasister.
"No,"shesaidsharply."Why?"
