"J. K. Rowling - 6 - Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince(1)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rowling J. K)

Harry Potter
and
The Half-Blood Prince
by
J. K. Rowling
Chapter 1- The Funeral
УGotta go to the bathroomЕ gotta go to the bathroomЕФ Harry Potter repeated over and over in his mind until the words lost all meaning. He and Dudley had just spent the past two hours celebrating their graduation from their fifth years at school by having a soda drinking contest, which Harry won. Sadly, it was a pyrrhic victory. Harry had set a personal record by chugging down fifty-three cans of soda, and now he had to let it outЕ but where?
The restaurant in which the two of them had held the contest was just a small diner, it had no bathrooms, and it was on a busy street, with very few other businesses. All there was were houses, and Harry had to resist the urge to barge into one and demand to use the bathroom. The closest place they could seek refuge was DudleyТs house, but that was a little more than a mile awayЕ could they make it?
УWhy donТt you just use some magic and teleport us back home or something?Ф asked Dudley, looking extremely red in the face, and almost in pain.
УI canТtЕ I left my wand at home,Ф said Harry, wanting to hit himself in the head for doing so. He had been so used to just having his wand with him wherever he went that he forgot that he actually had to bring it with him in order to have it. Back at Hogwarts, it was normal to have his wand with him wherever he went.
Of course, nothing like that would be normal to us, only to Harry and the rest of the wizarding world. You see, despite what you may think from the contest, Harry Potter is not a normal boy. He is a fifteen year old, going on sixteen, wizard student at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, he among many other students learn how to perform fabulous magic, and gain powers that could help them in dangerous situations, everyday lifeЕ or situations much like the one Harry was in now.
УArg, if I had my wand I could just summon us a toilet or something,Ф groaned Harry and he walked slowly forward, the pain growing with each step.
УOh, there has to be a place somewhere around here,Ф said Dudley, gripping his stomach and desperately turning his head in all directions.
Harry couldnТt help but smile. This was his and DudleyТs first time out doing something together, and actually enjoying each otherТs company. For the past five years during summer vacations at Hogwarts, and for ten years before then, DudleyТs family, the DursleyТs, watched Harry. His parents were killed by the most terrible and vicious dark wizard in over a century: Voldemort. He attacked their house one night, to try and steal Harry from his parents. Both of his parents died in the attack, but Harry managed to survive due to his mother sacrificing her life for his. When Voldemort performed the killing curse on Harry, like he had done on hundreds of others, it just rebounded off of the invisible shield of love, and gave Harry only a small scar on his forehead.
When the curse rebounded back to Voldemort, it nearly killed him, turning him into a feeble spirit that wandered the world for thirteen years, trying to regain his former power. At the end of HarryТs fourth year at Hogwarts, Voldemort managed to resurrect himself, and rose to become even more horrible than before. Now, instead of trying to kill Harry, he has been trying to recruit him into his army of darkness.
Up until now, Harry hadnТt stopped worrying about Voldemort. But, at this moment, he had more pressing matters at hand; like his exploding bladder.
УOh man, weТve got to find a place quick!Ф yelled Dudley and Harry at the same time, surprising each other. After a quick laugh, they returned to their previous states, and continued looking.
Suddenly, a place appeared before them. It was the most glorious place in the world. It shone its magnificent light, becoming the greatest building of all. It was like a mirage in a desert, it was salvation in a city. It wasЕ
УA funeral home!Ф exclaimed Harry, pointing it out to Dudley. His face suddenly perked up.
УOh yeah, they have to have СfacilitiesТ in there!Ф he said, looking happier than Harry had ever seen him. With every ounce of energy in them, the two boys ran toward the building, gritting their teeth, and trying to stop their eyes from watering. Finally, after what felt like hours, they reached the front door and burst inside.
УMay I help youЕ gentlemen?Ф asked a man at a desk in front of them. At first, he had a pleasant tone, but then once he saw the condition of Harry and DudleyТs clothes (not at all appropriate for the place they were in) he immediately stuck his massive nose high in the air, stood up, and put on a snobbish attitude.
УYes, do you have a bathroom anywhere?Ф gasped Harry.
УWell yes, but they are only for people visiting the deceased,Ф said the man, sticking his nose, if it was possible, higher into the air. УAre you here to pay your respects?Ф
УUmЕФ stuttered Harry.
УYesЕ yes of course,Ф interjected Dudley. УWeТre here toЕ umЕ see grandma! Yeah, right! Grandma!Ф The man put his nose down slightly.
УOh really? Well, Mrs. Perenelle is still accepting visitors,Ф he said, sitting down and pointing his arm in the direction of a long hallway. УYou may go see her.Ф
УThanks,Ф groaned Harry and Dudley together quickly, running off as fast as they could.
УWhat did you think you were doing?Ф demanded Harry, elbowing Dudley in the side. УWhat if they didnТt have any dead women? What then? Where would СgrandmaТ be?Ф
УI dunno,Ф shrugged Dudley. УWeТd just run away I guess. Sometimes youТve got to take a chance. I did, and it paid off!Ф
УWeТre lucky it did,Ф said Harry. УNow whereТs the bathroom?Ф Both of them turned their heads in every direction, scanning the hallway, trying to find the familiar signs of a lavatory. Suddenly, Dudley tapped Harry on the back, gasping that he saw one. They ran over to it, faster than they had ever run in their lives; even faster, for Harry, than when he was trying to get away from Voldemort.
After several minutes, both boys left the bathroom, their tongues hanging out, feeling greatly relieved. Harry put his hand on DudleyТs shoulder.
УLetТs never do that again,Ф he said.
УWell, just donТt forget your wand next time and weТll be okay.Ф
УHey Dudley, what should we do aboutЕ her?Ф asked Harry, pointing to the room that the woman was in that they were supposed to be seeing as they walked by it.
УWhat about her?Ф
УWell, itТs thanks to her that we were able to use the bathroom. The least we could do is thank her.Ф
УI guess soЕ letТs just make it quick.Ф
The two of them quickly popped into the small, slightly decorated room. Harry was surprised, however, at the lack of flowers or pictures. It was as if no one had been there, as if no one cared that she had died.
УLook at this,Ф said Dudley, reading the guest book. УNo oneТs been here yet, and according to this, the wake ends in just a few minutes. Where is everyone?Ф
УMaybe she didnТt have any friends or family,Ф suggested Harry, walking over to the open coffin. He looked in, and saw an extremely old woman inside. Her hair was pure white, with a small golden crown, and she looked at least one hundred years old, if not more. Her face was just a peach colored prune, and there were so many wavy wrinkles in her arms and hands, it was not hard to imagine someone surfing on them.
УWellЕ thanks,Ф whispered Harry to her, backing away slowly. УHeh, you saved our livesЕ. Ready to go Dudley?Ф
УYep,Ф he said, putting down a pen.
УWhat were you doing with that?Ф asked Harry.
УI just put down our names in the guest book,Ф he responded. УTo make our story more believable..Ф
УGood thinking. Alright, letТs go.Ф
Both of them walked out of the home, trying to look like they were mourning. The man at the front appeared to have been satisfied with their look, he just nodded and went back to his work as they passed by.
УI hope you found your visitЕ relieving,Ф said the man.
УOh yes, it was very relieving,Ф said Harry, trying not to burst out laughing as they walked out of the door.
The two of them walked the rest of the way back to DudleyТs house, still laughing and reminiscing about their little adventure. Just when they were reliving the best part, Mrs. Figg, their old neighbor (who happened to be a witch and a teacher at Hogwarts) shouted out to them.
УHello Harry!Ф she yelled from her door, walking outside.