.
.you.don.t.want.to.wave.it,.it.s.more.a.sharp.jab...
.Ravens.are.harder.than.frogs,..said.Ron.through.clenched.teeth..
.Fine,.let.s.swap,..said.Hermione,.seizing.Rons.raven.and.replacing.it.with.her.own.fat.bullfrog...Silencio!..The.raven.continued.to.open.and.close.its.sharp.beak,
.but.no.sound.came.out..
.Very.good,.Miss.Granger!..said.Professor.Flitwick.s.squeaky.little.voice,.making.Harry,.Ron.and.Hermione.all.jump...Now,.let.me.see.you.try,.Mr.Weasley...
.Wha—?.Oh.‐.oh,.right,..said.Ron,.very.flustered...Er.‐.silendo!..
He.jabbed.at.the.bullfrog.so.hard.he.poked.it.in.the.eye:.the.frog.gave.a.deafening.croak.and.leapt.off.the.desk..
It.came.as.no.surprise.to.any.of.them.that.Harry.and.Ron.were.given.additional.practice.of.the.Silencing.Charm.for.homework..
They.were.allowed.to.remain.inside.over.break.due.to.the.downpour.outside.
.They.found.seats.in.a.noisy.and.overcrowded.classroom.on.the.first.floor.in.which.Peeves.was.floating.dreamily.up.near.the.chadelier,.occasionally.blowing.an.ink.pellet.at.the.top.of.somebody.s.head..They.had.barely.sat.down.when.Angelina.came.struggling.towards.them.through.the.groups.of.gossiping.students..
.I.ve.got.permission!..she.said..To.re‐form.the.Quidditch.team!..
.Excellent!..said.Ron.and.Harry.together..
.Yeah,..said.Angelina,.beaming...I.went.to.McGonagall.and.I.think.she.might.have.appealed.to.Dumbledore..Anyway,.Umbridge.had.to.give.in..Ha!.So.I.want.you.down.at.the.pitch.at.seven.o.clock.tonight,.all.right,.because.we.ve.got.to.make.up.time..You.realise.we.re.only.three.weeks.away.from.our.first.match?..
She.squeezed.away.from.them,.narrowly.dodged.an.ink.pellet.from.Peeves,
.which.hit.a.nearby.first‐year.instead,.and.vanished.from.sight..
Ron.s.smile.slipped.slightly.as.he.looked.out.of.the.window,.which.was.now.opaque.with.hammering.rain..
.Hope.this.clears.up..What.s.up.with.you,.Hermione?..
She,.too,.was.gazing.at.the.window,.but.not.as.though.she.really.saw.it..Her.eyes.were.unfocused.and.there.was.a.frown.on.her.face..
.Just.thinking…..she.said,.still.frowning.at.the.rain‐washed.window..
.About.Siri—.Snuffles?..said.Harry..
.No….not.exactly…..said.Hermione.slowly...More….wondering….1.suppose.we.re.doing.the.right.thing….I.think….aren.t.we?..
Harry.and.Ron.looked.at.each.other..
.Well,.that.clears.that.up,..said.Ron...It.would.ve.been.really.annoying.if.you.hadn.t.explained.yourself.properly...
Hermione.looked.at.him.as.though.she.had.only.just.realised.he.was.there..
.I.was.just.wondering,..she.said,.her.voice.stronger.now,..whether.we.re.doing.the.right.thing,.starting.this.Defence.Against.the.Dark.Arts.group...
.What?..said.Harry.and.Ron.together..
.Hermione,.it.was.your.idea.in.the.first.place!..said.Ron.indignantly..
.I.know,..said.Hermione,.twisting.her.fingers.together...But.after.talking.to.Snuffles…..
.But.he.s.all.for.it,..said.Harry..
.Yes,..said.Hermione,.staring.at.the.window.again...Yes,.that.s.what.made.me.think.maybe.it.wasn.t.a.good.idea.after.all…..