.And.it.wants.all.the.houses.to.be.friends?..said.Harry,.looking.over.at.the.Slytherin.table,.where.Draco.Malfoy.was.holding.court...Fat.chance...
.Well,.now,.you.shouldn.t.take.that.attitude,..said.Nick.reprovingly...Peaceful.co‐
operation,.that.s.the.key..We.ghosts,.though.we.belong.to.separate.houses,
.maintain.links.of.friendship..In.spite.of.the.competitiveness.between.Gryffindor.and.Slytherin,.1.would.never.dream.of.seeking.an.argument.with.the.Bloody.Baron...
.Only.because.you.re.terrified.of.him,..said.Ron..
Nearly.Headless.Nick.looked.highly.affronted..
Terrified?.I.hope.I,.Sir.Nicholas.de.Mimsy‐Porpington,.have.never.been.guilty.of.cowardice.in.my.life!.The.noble.blood.that.runs.in.my.veins.‐..
.What.blood?..asked.Ron...Surely.you.haven.t.still.got.‐?..
.Its.a.figure.of.speech!..said.Nearly.Headless.Nick,.now.so.annoyed.his.head.was.trembling.ominously.on.his.partially.severed.neck...I.assume.I.am.still.allowed.to.enjoy.the.use.of.whichever.words.I.like,.even.if.the.pleasures.of.eating.and.drinking.are.denied.me!.But.I.am.quite.used.to.students.poking.fun.at.my.death,
.I.assure.you!..
.Nick,.he.wasn.t.really.laughing.at.you!..said.Hermione,.throwing.a.furious.look.at.Ron..
Unfortunately,.Ron.s.mouth.was.packed.to.exploding.point.again.and.all.he.could.manage.was..Node.iddum.eentup.sechew,..which.Nick.did.not.seem.to.think.constituted.an.adequate.apology..Rising.into.the.air,.he.straightened.his.feathered.hat.and.swept.away.from.them.to.the.other.end.of.the.table,.coming.to.rest.between.the.Creevey.brothers,.Colin.and.Dennis..
.Well.done,.Ron,..snapped.Hermione..
.What?..said.Ron.indignantly,.having.managed,.finally,.to.swallow.his.tood...I.m.not.allowed.to.ask.a.simple.question?..
.Oh,.forget.it,..said.Hermione.irritably,.and.the.pair.of.them.spent.the.rest.of.the.meal.in.huffy.silence..
Harry.was.too.used.to.their.bickering.to.bother.trying.to.reconcile.them;.he.felt.it.was.a.better.use.of.his.time.to.eat.his.way.steadily.through.his.steak.and.kidney.pie,.then.a.large.plateful.of.his.favourite.treacle.tart..
When.all.the.students.had.finished.eating.and.the.noise.level.in.the.Hall.was.starting.to.creep.upwards.again,.Dumbledore.got.to.his.feet.once.more..Talking.ceased.immediately.as.all.turned.to.lace.the.Headmaster..Harry.was.feeling.pleasantly.drowsy.now..His.lour‐poster.bed.was.waiting.somewhere.above,
.wonderfully.warm.and.soft….
.Well,.now.that.we.are.all.digesting.another.magnificent.feast,.1.beg.a.few.moments.of.your.attention.for.the.usual.start‐of‐term.notices,..said.Dumbledore.
.
.First‐years.ought.to.know.that.the.Forest.in.the.grounds.is.out‐of‐bounds.to.students.‐.and.a.few.of.our.older.students.ought.to.know.by.now,.too...(Harry,
.Ron.and.Hermione.exchanged.smirks.).
.Mr.Filch,.the.caretaker,.has.asked.me,.for.what.he.tells.me.is.the.lour‐hundred‐
and‐sixty‐second.time,.to.remind.you.all.that.magic.is.not.permitted.in.corridors.between.classes,.nor.are.a.number.of.other.things,.all.of.which.can.be.checked.on.the.extensive.list.now.fastened.to.Mr.Filch.s.office.door..