.We.were.just.wondering.who.set.the.Slinkhard.book,..said.Fred.conversationally..
.Because.it.means.Dumbledore.s.found.a.new.Defence.Against.the.Dark.Arts.teacher,..said.George..
.And.about.time.too,..said.Fred..
.What.d.you.mean?..Harry.asked,.jumping.down.beside.them..
.Well,.we.overheard.Mum.and.Dad.talking.on.the.Extendable.Ears.a.few.weeks.back,..Fred.told.Harry,..and.from.what.they.were.saying,.Dumbledore.was.having.real.trouble.finding.anyone.to.do.the.job.this.year..
.Not.surprising,.is.it,.when.you.look.at.what.s.happened.to.the.last.four?..said.George..
.One.sacked,.one.dead,.one.s.memory.removed.and.one.locked.in.a.trunk.for.nine.months,..said.Harry,.counting.them.off.on.his.fingers...Yeah,.I.see.what.you.mean...
.What.s.up.with.you,.Ron?..asked.Fred..
Ron.did.not.answer..Harry.looked.round..Ron.was.standing.very.still.with.his.mouth.slightly.open,.gaping.at.his.letter.from.Hogwarts..
.What.s.the.matter?..said.Fred.impatiently,.moving.around.Ron.to.look.over.his.shoulder.at.the.parchment..
Fred.s.mouth.fell.open,.too..
.Prefect?..he.said,.staring.incredulously.at.the.letter...Prefect?..
George.leapt.forwards,.seized.the.envelope.in.Ron.s.other.hand.and.turned.it.upside‐down..Harry.saw.something.scarlet.and.gold.fall.into.George.s.palm..
.No.way,..said.George.in.a.hushed.voice..
There.s.been.a.mistake,..said.Fred,.snatching.the.letter.out.of.Ron.s.grasp.and.holding.it.up.to.the.light.as.though.checking.for.a.watermark...No.one.in.their.right.mind.would.make.Ron.a.prefect...
The.twins..heads.turned.in.unison.and.both.of.them.stared.at.Harry..
.We.thought.you.were.a.cert!..said.Fred,.in.a.tone.that.suggested.Harry.had.tricked.them.in.some.way..
.We.thought.Dumbledore.was.bound.to.pick.you!..said.George.indignantly..
.Winning.the.Triwizard.and.everything!..said.Fred..
.I.suppose.all.the.mad.stuff.must.ve.counted.against.him,..said.George.to.Fred..
.Yeah,..said.Fred.slowly...Yeah,.you.ve.caused.too.much.trouble,.mate..Well,.at.least.one.of.you.s.got.their.priorities.right...
He.strode.over.to.Harry.and.clapped.him.on.the.back.while.giving.Ron.a.scathing.look..
.Prefect….ickle.Ronnie.the.Prefect...
.Ohh,.Mum.s.going.to.be.revolting,..groaned.George,.thrusting.the.prefect.badge.back.at.Ron.as.though.it.might.contaminate.him..
Ron,.who.still.had.not.said.a.word,.took.the.badge,.stared.at.it.for.a.moment,
.then.held.it.out.to.Harry.as.though.asking.mutely.for.confirmation.that.it.was.genuine..Harry.took.it..A.large.T..was.superimposed.on.the.Gryffindor.lion..He.had.seen.a.badge.just.like.this.on.Percys.chest.on.his.very.first.day.at.Hogwarts..
The.door.banged.open..Hermione.came.tearing.into.the.room,.her.cheeks.flushed.and.her.hair.flying..There.was.an.envelope.in.her.hand..
.Did.you.‐.did.you.get.‐?..
She.spotted.the.badge.in.Harry.s.hand.and.let.out.a.shriek..
.].knew.it!..she.said.excitedly,.brandishing.her.letter...Me.too,.Harry,.me.too!..
.No,..said.Harry.quickly,.pushing.the.badge.back.into.Ron.s.hand...It.s.Ron,.not.me...: