Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Дж. К. Роулинг

his teacup, rather like an uncle surveying a favourite nephew. Harry, who couldn’t believe his ears, opened his mouth to speak, couldn’t think of anything to say, and closed it again.

      ‘Ah, you’re worrying about the reaction of your aunt and uncle?’ said Fudge. ‘Well, I won’t deny that they are extremely angry, Harry, but they are prepared to take you back next summer as long as you stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas and Easter holidays.’

      Harry unstuck his throat.

      ‘I always stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas and Easter holidays,’ he said, ‘and I don’t ever want to go back to Privet Drive.’

      ‘Now, now, I’m sure you’ll feel differently once you’ve calmed down,’ said Fudge in a worried tone. ‘They are your family, after all, and I’m sure you are fond of each other – er – very deep down.’

      It didn’t occur to Harry to put Fudge right. He was still waiting to hear what was going to happen to him now.

      ‘So all that remains,’ said Fudge, now buttering himself a second crumpet, ‘is to decide where you’re going to spend the last three weeks of your holidays. I suggest you take a room here at the Leaky Cauldron and —’

      ‘Hang on,’ blurted Harry, ‘what about my punishment?’

      Fudge blinked.

      ‘Punishment?’

      ‘I broke the law!’ Harry said. ‘The Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry!’

      ‘Oh, my dear boy, we’re not going to punish you for a little thing like that!’ cried Fudge, waving his crumpet impatiently. ‘It was an accident! We don’t send people to Azkaban just for blowing up their aunts!’

      But this didn’t tally at all with Harry’s past dealings with the Ministry of Magic.

      ‘Last year, I got an official warning just because a house-elf smashed a pudding in my uncle’s house!’ said Harry, frowning. ‘The Ministry of Magic said I’d be expelled from Hogwarts if there was any more magic there!’

      Unless Harry’s eyes were deceiving him, Fudge was suddenly looking awkward.

      ‘Circumstances change, Harry … we have to take into account … in the present climate … surely you don’t want to be expelled?’

      ‘Of course I don’t,’ said Harry.

      ‘Well then, what’s all the fuss about?’ laughed Fudge airily. ‘Now, have a crumpet, Harry, while I go and see if Tom’s got a room for you.’

      Fudge strode out of the parlour and Harry stared after him. There was something extremely odd going on. Why had Fudge been waiting for him at the Leaky Cauldron, if not to punish him for what he’d done? And now Harry came to think of it, surely it wasn’t usual for the Minister for Magic himself to get involved in matters of underage magic?

      Fudge came back, accompanied by Tom the innkeeper.

      ‘Room eleven’s free, Harry,’ said Fudge. ‘I think you’ll be very comfortable. Just one thing, and I’m sure you’ll understand: I don’t want you wandering off into Muggle London, all right? Keep to Diagon Alley. And you’re to be back here before dark each night. Sure you’ll understand. Tom will be keeping an eye on you for me.’