.You.all.right?..said.Harry..
Ron.nodded.but.did.not.speak..Harry.was.reminded.forcibly.of.the.time.Ron.had.accidentally.put.a.Slug‐vomiting.Charm.on.himself;.he.looked.just.as.pale.and.sweaty.as.he.had.done.then,.not.to.mention.as.reluctant.to.open.his.mouth..
.You.just.need.some.breakfast,..Harry.said.bracingly...C.mon...
The.Great.Hall.was.filling.up.fast.when.they.arrived,.the.talk.louder.and.the.mood.more.exuberant.than.usual..As.they.passed.the.Slytherin.table.there.was.an.upsurge.of.noise..Harry.looked.round.and.saw.that,.in.addition.to.the.usual.green.and.silver.scarves.and.hats,.every.one.of.them.was.wearing.a.silver.badge.in.the.shape.of.what.seemed.to.be.a.crown..For.some.reason.many.of.them.waved.at.Ron,.laughing.uproariously..Harry.tried.to.see.what.was.written.on.the.badges.as.he.walked.by,.but.he.was.too.concerned.to.get.Ron.past.their.table.quickly.to.linger.long.enough.to.read.them..
They.received.a.rousing.welcome.at.the.Gryffindor.table,.where.everyone.was.wearing.red.and.gold,.but.far.from.raising.Ron.s.spirits.the.cheers.seemed.to.sap.the.last.of.his.morale;.he.collapsed.on.to.the.nearest.bench.looking.as.though.he.were.facing.his.final.meal..
.I.must.ve.been.mental.to.do.this,..he.said.in.a.croaky.whisper...Mental...
.Don.t.be.thick,..said.Harry.firmly,.passing.him.a.choice.of.cereals,..you.re.going.to.be.fine..It.s.normal.to.be.nervous...
.I.m.rubbish,..croaked.Ron...I.m.lousy..I.can.t.play.to.save.my.life..What.was.I.thinking?..
.Get.a.grip,..said.Harry.sternly...Look.at.that.save.you.made.with.your.foot.the.other.day,.even.Fred.and.George.said.it.was.brilliant...
Ron.turned.a.tortured.face.to.Harry..
That.was.an.accident,..he.whispered.miserably...I.didn.t.mean.to.do.it.‐.I.slipped.off.my.broom.when.none.of.you.were.looking.and.when.I.was.trying.to.get.back.on.I.kicked.the.Quaffle.by.accident...
.Well,..said.Harry,.recovering.quickly.from.this.unpleasant.surprise,..a.few.more.accidents.like.that.and.the.game.s.in.the.bag,.isn.t.it?..
Hermione.and.Ginny.sat.down.opposite.them.wearing.red.and.gold.scarves,
.gloves.and.rosettes..
.How.re.you.feeling?..Ginny.asked.Ron,.who.was.now.staring.into.the.dregs.of.milk.at.the.bottom.of.his.empty.cereal.bowl.as.though.seriously.considering.attempting.t.drown.himself.in.them..
.He.s.just.nervous,..said.Harry..
.Well,.that.s.a.good.sign,.I.never.feel.you.perform.as.well.in.exams.if.you.re.not.a.bit.nervous,..said.Hermione.heartily..
.Hello,..said.a.vague.and.dreamy.voice.from.behind.them..Harry.looked.up:
.Luna.Lovegood.had.drifted.over.from.the.Ravenclaw.table..Many.people.were.staring.at.her.and.a.few.were.openly.laughing.and.pointing;.she.had.managed.to.procure.a.hat.shaped.like.a.life‐size.lion.s.head,.which.was.perched.precariously.on.her.head..
.I.m.supporting.Gryffindor,..said.Luna,.pointing.unnecessarily.at.her.hat...Look.what.it.does…..
She.reached.up.and.tapped.the.hat.with.her.wand..It.opened.its.mouth.wide.and.gave.an.extremely.realistic.roar.that.made.everyone.in.the.vicinity.jump..