"J. K. Rowling - 6 - Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince(2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rowling J. K)

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.
УHello Mrs. Figg,Ф said Harry, walking over to her.
УOhЕ hello there Dudley,Ф she said. УNot used to seeing you two together.Ф
УYeah, me and Harry have kind ofЕbecome friends since last summer.Ф
УOh, well thatТs nice.Ф
УWhat did you want to tell me, Mrs. Figg?Ф asked Harry.
УOh yes! Well, I wanted to tell you that I will not be teaching this year at
Hogwarts.Ф
УWhat? Why not?Ф asked Harry, feeling extremely upset. УYou were one of the
best Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers IТve ever hadЕ the entire school has ever
had!Ф
УWell, teaching just isnТt my thing, Harry. I much prefer actually being out there
fighting the dark forces than teaching how to do it. I only did it last year because there
were no others willing to do it, and I felt as though I owed that school something. But, you
donТt have to worry; someone just as good, if not better than me is taking my place.Ф


УOh I doubt that,Ф said Harry. УBut who is?Ф
УProfessor Quirrell.Ф
УWhat!?Ф yelled Harry, almost knocking himself and Mrs. Figg over. УBut, he died
five years ago! He was a servant to Voldemort!Ф
УOh no no no no no,Ф said Mrs. Figg, waving her arms. УThat was Larry Quirrell.