"J .K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rowling J. K)

"That's because he's a wizard," said Scrimgeour, without a flicker of a smile. "A
highly trained Auror, who has been assigned to you for your protection."
"Now, wait a moment!" declared the Prime Minister. "You can't just put your
people into my office, I decide who works for me тАФ "
"I thought you were happy with Shacklebolt?" said Scrimgeour coldly.
"I am тАФ that's to say, I was тАФ "
"Then there's no problem, is there?" said Scrimgeour.
"I... well, as long as Shacklebolt's work continues to be... er... excellent," said
the Prime Minister lamely, but Scrimgeour barely seemed to hear him.
"Now, about Herbert Chorley, your Junior Minister," he continued. "The one

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who has been entertaining the public by impersonating a duck."
"What about him?" asked the Prime Minister.
"He has clearly reacted to a poorly performed Imperius Curse," said Scrim-
geour. "It's addled his brains, but he could still be dangerous."
"He's only quacking!" said the Prime Minister weakly. "Surely a bit of a rest...
Maybe go easy on the drink..."
"A team of Healers from St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries
are examining him as we speak. So far he has attempted to strangle three of
them," said Scrimgeour. "I think it best that we remove him from Muggle soci-
ety for a while."
"I... well... He'll be all right, won't he?" said the Prime Minister anxiously.
Scrimgeour merely shrugged, already moving back toward the fireplace.
"Well, that's really all I had to say. I will keep you posted of developments,
Prime Minister тАФ or, at least, I shall probably be too busy to come personally,
in which case I shall send Fudge here. He has consented to stay on in an advi-
sory capacity."
Fudge attempted to smile, but was unsuccessful; he merely looked as though
he had a toothache. Scrimgeour was already rummaging in his pocket for the
mysterious powder that turned the fire green. The Prime Minister gazed hope-
lessly at the pair of them for a moment, then the words he had fought to sup-
press all evening burst from him at last.
"But for heaven's sake тАФ you're wizards! You can do magic! Surely you can sort
out тАФ well тАФ anything!"
Scrimgeour turned slowly on the spot and exchanged an incredulous look with
Fudge, who really did manage a smile this time as he said kindly, "The trouble
is, the other side can do magic too, Prime Minister."
And with that, the two wizards stepped one after the other into the bright
green fire and vanished.



Chapter 2: Spinner's End
Many miles away the chilly mist that had pressed against the Prime Minister's
windows drifted over a dirty river that wound between overgrown, rubbish-
strewn banks. An immense chimney, relic of a disused mill, reared up, shadowy
and ominous. There was no sound apart from the whisper of the black water
and no sign of life apart from a scrawny fox that had slunk down the bank to
nose hopefully at some old fish-and-chip wrappings in the tall grass.