.What.are.Nargles?..
.No.idea,..said.Harry..She.had.moved.closer..His.brain.seemed.to.have.been.Stunned...You.d.have.to.ask.Loony..Luna,.I.mean...
Cho.made.a.funny.noise.halfway.between.a.sob.and.a.laugh..She.was.even.nearer.to.him.now..He.could.have.counted.the.freckles.on.her.nose..
.I.really.like.you,.Harry...
He.could.not.think..A.tingling.sensation.was.spreading.through.him,.paralysing.his.arms,.legs.and.brain..
She.was.much.too.close..He.could.see.every.tear.clinging.to.her.eyelashes….
He.returned.to.the.common.room.half.an.hour.later.to.find.Hermione.and.Ron.in.the.best.seats.by.the.fire;.nearly.everybody.else.had.gone.to.bed..Hermione.was.writing.a.very.long.letter;.she.had.already.filled.half.a.roll.of.parchment,.which.was.dangling.from.the.edge.of.the.table..Ron.was.lying.on.the.hearthrug,.trying.to.finish.his.Transfiguration.homework..
.What.kept.you?..he.asked,.as.Harry.sank.into.the.armchair.next.to.Hermione.s..
Harry.didn.t.answer..He.was.in.a.state.of.shock..Half.of.him.wanted.to.tell.Ron.and.Hermione.what.had.just.happened,.but.the.other.half.wanted.to.take.the.secret.with.him.to.the.grave..
.Are.you.all.right,.Harry?..Hermione.asked,.peering.at.him.over.the.tip.of.her.quill..
Harry.gave.a.half‐hearted.shrug..In.truth,.he.didn.t.know.whether.he.was.all.right.or.not...What.s.up?..said.Ron,.hoisting.himself.up.on.his.elbow.to.get.a.clearer.view.of.Harry...What.s.happened?..
Harry.didn.t.quite.know.how.to.set.about.telling.them,.and.still.wasn.t.sure.whether.he.wanted.to..Just.as.he.had.decided.not.to.say.anything,.Hermione.took.matters.out.of.his.hands..
.Is.it.Cho?..she.asked.in.a.businesslike.way...Did.she.corner.you.after.the.meeting?..
Numbly.surprised,.Harry.nodded..Ron.sniggered,.breaking.off.when.Hermione.caught.his.eye..
.So.‐.er.‐.what.did.she.want?..he.asked.in.a.mock.casual.voice..
.She.‐..Harry.began,.rather.hoarsely;.he.cleared.his.throat.and.tried.again...She.‐
.er.‐..
.Did.you.kiss?..asked.Hermione.briskly..
Ron.sat.up.so.fast.he.sent.his.ink.bottle.flying.all.over.the.rug..Disregarding.this.completely,.he.stared.avidly.at.Harry..
.Well?..he.demanded..
Harry.looked.from.Ron.s.expression.of.mingled.curiosity.and.hilarity.to.Hermione.s.slight.frown,.and.nodded..
.HA!..
Ron.made.a.triumphant.gesture.with.his.fist.and.went.into.a.raucous.peal.of.laughter.that.made.several.timid‐looking.second‐years.over.beside.the.window.jump..A.reluctant.grin.spread.over.Harry.s.face.as.he.watched.Ron.rolling.around.on.the.hearthrug..
Hermione.gave.Ron.a.look.of.deep.disgust.and.returned.to.her.letter..
.Well?..Ron.said.finally,.looking.up.at.Harry...How.was.it?..
Harry.considered.for.a.moment..
.Wet,..he.said.truthfully..
Ron.made.a.noise.that.might.have.indicated.jubilation.or.disgust,.it.was.hard.to.tell..
.Because.she.was.crying,..Harry.continued.heavily..
.Oh,..said.Ron,.his.smile.fading.slightly...Are.you.that.bad.at.kissing?..
.Dunno,..said.Harry,.who.hadn.t.considered.this,.and.immediately.felt.rather.worried...Maybe.I.am...