.Zacharias.‐.had.signed,.Hermione.took.the.parchment.back.and.slipped.it.carefully.into.her.bag..There.was.an.odd.feeling.in.the.group.now..It.was.as.though.they.had.just.signed.some.kind.of.contract..
.Well,.time.s.ticking.on,..said.Fred.briskly,.getting.to.his.feet...George,.Lee.and.I.have.got.items.of.a.sensitive.nature.to.purchase,.we.ll.be.seeing.you.all.later...
In.twos.and.threes.the.rest.of.the.group.took.their.leave,.too..
Cho.made.rather.a.business.of.fastening.the.catch.on.her.bag.before.leaving,.her.long.dark.curtain.of.hair.swinging.forwards.to.hide.her.face,.but.her.friend.stood.beside.her,.arms.folded,.clicking.her.tongue,.so.that.Cho.had.little.choice.but.to.leave.with.her..As.her.friend.ushered.her.through.the.door,.Cho.looked.back.and.waved.at.Harry..
.Well,.I.think.that.went.quite.well,..said.Hermione.happily,.as.she,.Harry.and.Ron.walked.out.of.the.Hog.s.Head.into.the.bright.sunlight.a.few.moments.later.
.Harry.and.Ron.were.clutching.their.bottles.of.Butterbeer..
That.Zacharias.bloke.s.a.wart,..said.Ron,.who.was.glowering.after.the.figure.of.Smith,.just.discernible.in.the.distance..
.I.don.t.like.him.much,.either,..admitted.Hermione,..but.he.overheard.me.talking.to.Ernie.and.Hannah.at.the.Hufflepuff.table.and.he.seemed.really.interested.in.coming,.so.what.could.I.say?.But.the.more.people.the.better.really.‐.I.mean,
.Michael.Corner.and.his.friends.wouldn.t.have.come.if.he.hadn.t.been.going.out.with.Ginny.‐..
Ron,.who.had.been.draining.the.last.few.drops.from.his.Butterbeer.bottle,
.gagged.and.sprayed.Butterbeer.down.his.front..
.He.s.WHAT?..spluttered.Ron,.outraged,.his.ears.now.resembling.curls.of.raw.beef...She.s.going.out.with.‐.my.sister.s.going.‐.what.d.you.mean,.Michael.Corner?..
.Well,.that.s.why.he.and.his.friends.came,.I.think.‐.well,.they.re.obviously.interested.in.learning.defence,.but.if.Ginny.hadn.t.told.Michael.what.was.going.on.‐..
When.did.this.‐.when.did.she.‐?..
They.met.at.the.Yule.Ball.and.got.together.at.the.end.of.last.year,..said.Hermione.composedly..They.had.turned.into.the.High.Street.and.she.paused.outside.Scrivenshaft.s.Quill.Shop,.where.there.was.a.handsome.display.of.pheasant.feather.quills.in.the.window...Hmm….I.could.do.with.a.new.quill...
She.turned.into.the.shop..Harry.and.Ron.followed.her..
Which.one.was.Michael.Corner?..Ron.demanded.furiously..
The.dark.one,..said.Hermione..
.I.didn.t.like.him,..said.Ron.at.once..
.Big.surprise,..said.Hermione.under.her.breath..
.But,..said.Ron,.following.Hermione.along.a.row.of.quills.in.copper.pots,..1.thought.Ginny.fancied.Harry!..
Hermione.looked.at.him.rather.pityingly.and.shook.her.head..
.Ginny.used.to.fancy.Harry,.but.she.gave.up.on.him.months.ago..Not.that.she.doesn.t.like.you,.of.course,..she.added.kindly.to.Harry.while.she.examined.a.long.black.and.gold.quill..
Harry,.whose.head.was.still.full.of.Cho.s.parting.wave,.did.not.find.this.subject.quite.as.interesting.as.Ron,.who.was.positively.quivering.with.indignation,.but.it.did.bring.something.home.to.him.that.until.now.he.had.not.really.registered..