.enjoying.what.might.well.be.some.of.the.last.sunshine.that.year..By.the.evening,
.Harry.felt.as.though.somebody.had.been.beating.his.brain.against.the.inside.of.his.skull..
.You.know,.we.probably.should.try.and.get.more.homework.done.during.the.week,..Harry.muttered.to.Ron,.as.they.finally.laid.aside.Professor.McGonagall.s.long.essay.on.the.Inanimatus.Conjurus.Spell.and.turned.miserably.to.Professor.Sinistra.s.equally.long.and.difficult.essay.about.Jupiter.s.many.moons..
.Yeah,..said.Ron,.rubbing.slightly.bloodshot.eyes.and.throwing.his.fifth.spoiled.bit.of.parchment.into.the.fire.beside.them...Listen….shall.we.just.ask.Hermione.if.we.can.have.a.look.at.what.she.s.done?..
Harry.glanced.over.at.her;.she.was.sitting.with.Crookshanks.on.her.lap.and.chatting.merrily.to.Ginny.as.a.pair.of.knitting.needles.flashed.in.midair.in.font.of.her,.now.knitting.a.pair.of.shapeless.elf.socks..
.No,..he.said.heavily,..you.know.she.won.t.let.us...
And.so.they.worked.on.while.the.sky.outside.the.windows.became.steadily.darker..Slowly,.the.crowd.in.the.common.room.began.to.thin.again..At.half.past.eleven,.Hermione.wandered.over.to.them,.yawning..
.Nearly.done?..
.No,..said.Ron.shortly..
.Jupiter.s.biggest.moon.is.Ganymede,.not.Callisto,..she.said,.pointing.over.Ron.s.shoulder.at.a.line.in.his.Astronomy.essay,..and.it.s.lo.that.s.got.the.volcanoes...
Thanks,..snarled.Ron,.scratching.out.the.offending.sentences..
.Sorry,.I.only.‐..
.Yeah,.well,.if.you.ve.just.come.over.here.to.criticise.‐..
.Ron.‐..
.I.haven.t.got.time.to.listen.to.a.sermon,.all.right,.Hermione,.I.m.up.to.my.neck.in.it.here.‐..
.No.‐.look!..
Hermione.was.pointing.to.the.nearest.window..Harry.and.Ron.both.looked.over.
.A.handsome.screech.owl.was.standing.on.the.windowsill,.gazing.into.the.room.at.Ron..
.Isn.t.that.Hermes?..said.Hermione,.sounding.amazed..
.Blimey,.it.is!..said.Ron.quietly,.throwing.down.his.quill.and.getting.to.his.feet.
.
.What.s.Percy.writing.to.me.for?..
He.crossed.to.the.window.and.opened.it;.Hermes.flew.inside,.landed.on.Ron.s.essay.and.held.out.a.leg.to.which.a.letter.was.attached..Ron.took.the.letter.off.it.and.the.owl.departed.at.once,.leaving.inky.footprints.across.Ron.s.drawing.of.the.moon.lo..
That.s.definitely.Percy.s.handwriting,..said.Ron,.sinking.back.into.his.chair.and.staring.at.the.words.on.the.outside.of.the.scroll:.Ronald.Weasley,.Gryffindor.House,
.Hogwarts..He.looked.up.at.the.other.two...What.d.you.reckon?..
.Open.it!..said.Hermione.eagerly,.and.Harry.nodded..
Ron.unrolled.the.scroll.and.began.to.read..The.further.down.the.parchment.his.eyes.travelled,.the.more.pronounced.became.his.scowl..When.he.had.finished.reading,.he.looked.disgusted..He.thrust.the.letter.at.Harry.and.Hermione,.who.leaned.towards.each.other.to.read.it.together:.
Dear.Ron,
I.have.only.just.heard.(from.no.less.a.person.than.the.Minister.for.Magic.himself,.who.has.it.from.your.new.teacher,.Professor.Umbridge).that.you.have.become.a.Hogwarts.prefect.
was.most.pleasantly.surprised.when.I.heard.this.news.and.must.firstly.offer.my.congratulations..1.must.admit.that.I.have.always.been.afraid.that.you.would.take.what.we.might.call.the..Fred.and.George..route,.rather.than.following.in.my.footsteps,.so.you.can.imagine.my.feelings.on.hearing.you.have.stopped.flouting.authority.and.have.decided.to.shoulder.some.real.responsiblity.