.Ron.laughed,.but.Hermione.frowned..Together,.they.traipsed.across.the.vegetable.patch..The.sky.still.appeared.unable.to.make.up.its.mind.whether.it.wanted.to.rain.or.not..
.I.just.wish.Hagrid.would.hurry.up.and.get.back,.that.s.all,..said.Harry.in.a.low.voice,.as.they.reached.the.greenhouses...And.don.t.say.that.Grubbly‐Plank.woman.s.a.better.teacher!..he.added.threateningly..
.I.wasn.t.going.to,..said.Hermione.calmly..
.Because.she.ll.never.be.as.good.as.Hagrid,..said.Harry.firmly,.fully.aware.that.he.had.just.experienced.an.exemplary.Care.of.Magical.Creatures.lesson.and.was.thoroughly.annoyed.about.it..
The.door.of.the.nearest.greenhouse.opened.and.some.fourth‐years.spilled.out.of.it,.including.Ginny..
.Hi,..she.said.brightly.as.she.passed..A.few.seconds.later,.Luna.Lovegood.emerged,.trailing.behind.the.rest.of.the.class,.a.smudge.of.earth.on.her.nose,.and.her.hair.tied.in.a.knot.on.the.top.of.her.head..When.she.saw.Harry,.her.prominent.eyes.seemed.to.bulge.excitedly.and.she.made.a.beeline.straight.for.him..Many.of.his.classmates.turned.curiously.to.watch..Luna.took.a.great.breath.and.then.said,.without.so.much.as.a.preliminary.hello,..I.believe.He.Who.Must.Not.Be.Named.is.back.and.I.believe.you.fought.him.and.escaped.from.him...
.Er.‐.right,..said.Harry.awkwardly..Luna.was.wearing.what.looked.like.a.pair.of.orange.radishes.for.earrings,.a.fact.that.Parvati.and.Lavender.seemed.to.have.noticed,.as.they.were.both.giggling.and.pointing.at.her.earlobes..
.You.can.laugh,..Luna.said,.her.voice.rising,.apparently.under.the.impression.that.Parvati.and.Lavender.were.laughing.at.what.she.had.said.rather.than.what.
she.was.wearing,..but.people.used.to.believe.there.were.no.such.things.as.the.Blibbering.Humdinger.or.the.Crumple‐Horned.Snorkack!..
.Well,.they.were.right,.weren.t.they?..said.Hermione.impatiently..There.weren.t.any.such.things.as.the.Blibbering.Humdinger.or.the.Crumple‐Horned.Snorkack...
Luna.gave.her.a.withering.look.and.flounced.away,.radishes.swinging.madly.Parvati.and.Lavender.were.not.the.only.ones.hooting.with.laughter.now..
.D.you.mind.not.offending.the.only.people.who.believe.me?..Harry.asked.Hermione.as.they.made.their.way.into.class..
.Oh,.for.heaven.s.sake,.Harry,.you.can.do.better.than.her,..said.Hermione.
.
.Ginny.s.told.me.all.about.her;.apparently,.she.ll.only.believe.in.things.as.long.as.there.s.no.proof.at.all..Well,.I.wouldn.t.expect.anything.else.from.someone.whose.father.runs.The.Quibbler...
Harry.thought.of.the.sinister.winged.horses.he.had.seen.on.the.night.he.had.arrived.and.how.Luna.had.said.she.could.see.them.to..His.spirits.sank.slightly.
.Had.she.been.lying?.But.before.he.could.devote.much.more.thought.to.the.matter,.Ernie.Macmillan.had.stepped.up.to.him..
.I.want.you.to.know,.Potter,..he.said.in.a.loud,.carrying.voice,..that.it.s.not.only.weirdos.who.support.you..I.personally.believe.you.one.hundred.per.cent..My.family.have.always.stood.firm.behind.Dumbledore,.and.so.do.I...
.Er.‐.thanks.very.much,.Ernie,..said.Harry,.taken.aback.but.pleased..Ernie.might.be.pompous.on.occasions.like.this,.but.Harry.was.in.a.mood.to.deeply.appreciate.a.vote.of.confidence.from.somebody.who.did.not.have.radishes.dangling.from.their.ars..Ernie.s.words.had.certainly.wiped.the.smile.from.Lavender.Brown.s.face.and.as.he.turned.to.talk.to.Ron.and.Hermione,.Harry.caught.Seamuss.expression,.which.looked.both.confused.and.defiant..