were.the.only.person.last.year.who.could.throw.off.the.Imperius.Curse.completely,.you.can.produce.a.Patronus,.you.can.do.all.sorts.of.stuff.that.full‐
grown.wizards.can.t,.Viktor.always.said.‐..
Ron.looked.round.at.her.so.fast.he.appeared.to.crick.his.neck..Rubbing.it,.he.said,..Yeah?.What.did.Vicky.say?..
.Ho.ho,..said.Hermione.in.a.bored.voice...He.said.Harry.knew.how.to.do.stuff.even.he.didn.t,.and.he.was.in.the.final.year.at.Durmstrang...
Ron.was.looking.at.Hermione.suspiciously..
.You.re.not.still.in.contact.with.him,.are.you?..
.So.what.if.I.am?..said.Hermione.coolly,.though.her.face.was.a.little.pink...I.can.have.a.pen‐pal.if.I.‐..
.He.didn.t.only.want.to.be.your.pen‐pal,..said.Ron.accusingly..
Hermione.shook.her.head.exasperatedly.and,.ignoring.Ron,.who.was.continuing.to.watch.her,.said.to.Harry,..Well,.what.do.you.think?.Will.you.teach.us?..
.Just.you.and.Ron,.yeah?..
.Well,..said.Hermione,.looking.a.mite.anxious.again...Well….now,.don.t.fly.off.the.handle.again,.Harry,.please….but.I.really.think.you.ought.to.teach.anyone.who.wants.to.learn..I.mean,.we.re.talking.about.defending.ourselves.against.V‐
Voldemort..Oh,.don.t.be.pathetic,.Ron..It.doesn.t.seem.fair.if.we.don.t.offer.the.chance.to.other.people...
Harry.considered.this.for.a.moment,.then.said,..Yeah,.but.I.
doubt.anyone.except.you.two.would.want.to.be.taught.by.me..I.m.a.nutter,
.remember?..
.Well,.I.think.you.might.be.surprised.how.many.people.would.be.interested.in.hearing.what.you.ve.got.to.say..said.Hermione.seriously...Look,..she.leaned.towards.him.‐.Ron,.who.was.still.watching.her.with.a.frown.on.his.face,.leaned.forwards.to.listen.too.‐..you.know.the.first.weekend.in.October.s.a.Hogsmeade.weekend?.How.would.it.be.if.we.tell.anyone.who.s.interested.to.meet.us.in.the.village.and.we.can.talk.it.over?..
.Why.do.we.have.to.do.it.outside.school?..said.Ron..
.Because,..said.Hermione,.returning.to.the.diagram.of.the.Chinese.Chomping.Cabbage.she.was.copying,..I.don.t.think.Umbridge.would.be.very.happy.if.she.found.out.what.we.were.up.to...
*.
Harry.had.been.looking.forward.to.the.weekend.trip.into.Hogsmeade,.but.there.was.one.thing.worrying.him..Sirius.had.maintained.a.stony.silence.since.he.had.appeared.in.the.fire.at.the.beginning.of.September;.Harry.knew.they.had.made.him.angry.by.saying.they.didn.t.want.him.to.come.‐.but.he.still.worried.from.time.to.time.that.Sirius.might.throw.caution.to.the.winds.and.turn.up.anyway.
.What.were.they.going.to.do.if.the.great.black.dog.came.bounding.up.the.street.towards.them.in.Hogsmeade,.perhaps.under.the.nose.of.Draco.Malfoy?.
.Well,.you.can.t.blame.him.for.wanting.to.get.out.and.about,..said.Ron,.when.Harry.discussed.his.fears.with.him.and.Hermione...I.mean,.he.s.been.on.the.run.for.over.two.years,.hasn.t.he,.and.I.know.that.can.t.have.been.a.laugh,.but.at.least.he.was.free,.wasn.t.he?.And.now.he.s.just.shut.up.all.the.time.with.that.ghastly.elf...
Hermione.scowled.at.Ron,.but.otherwise.ignored.the.slight.on.Kreacher..