A.sallow‐skinned,.mournful‐looking.wizard.lay.in.the.bed.opposite.staring.at.the.ceiling;.he.was.mumbling.to.himself.and.seemed.quite.unaware.of.anything.around.him..Two.beds.along.was.a.woman.whose.entire.head.was.covered.in.fur;.Harry.remembered.something.similar.happening.to.Hermione.during.their.second.year,.although.fortunately.the.damage,.in.her.case,.had.not.been.permanent..At.the.far.end.of.the.ward.flowery.curtains.had.been.drawn.around.two.beds.to.give.the.occupants.and.their.visitors.some.privay..
.Here.you.are,.Agnes,..said.the.Healer.brightly.to.the.furry‐faced.woman,
.handing.her.a.small.pile.of.Christmas.presents...See,.not.forgotten,.are.you?.And.your.son.s.sent.an.owl.to.say.he.s.visiting.tonight,.so.that.s.nice,.isn.t.it?..
Agnes.gave.several.loud.barks..
.And.look,.Broderick,.you.ve.been.sent.a.pot.plant.and.a.lovely.calendar.with.a.different.fancy.Hippogriff.for.each.month;.they.ll.brighten.things.up,.won.t.they?..said.the.Healer,.bustling.along.to.the.mumbling.man,.setting.a.rather.ugly.plant.with.long,.swaying.tentacles.on.the.bedside.cabinet.and.fixing.the.calendar.to.the.wall.with.her.wand...And.‐.oh,.Mrs.Longbottom,.are.you.leaving.already?..
Harry.s.head.span.round..The.curtains.had.been.drawn.back.from.the.two.beds.at.the.end.of.the.ward.and.two.visitors.were.walking.back.down.the.aisle.beween.the.beds:.a.formidable‐looking.old.witch.wearing.a.long.green.dress,.a.moth‐eaten.fox.fur.and.a.pointed.hat.decorated.with.what.was.unmistakeably.a.stuffed.vulture.and,.trailing.behind.her.looking.thoroughly.depressed.‐.Neville..
With.a.sudden.rush.of.understanding,.Harry.realised.who.the.people.in.the.end.beds.must.be..He.cast.around.wildly.for.some.means.of.distracting.the.others.so.that.Neville.could.leave.the.ward.unnoticed.and.unquestioned.but.Ron.had.also.looked.up.at.the.sound.of.the.name..Longbottom.,.and.before.Harry.could.stop.him.had.called.out,..Neville!..
Neville.jumped.and.cowered.as.though.a.bullet.had.narrowly.missed.him..
.It.s.us,.Neville!..said.Ron.brightly,.getting.to.his.feet...Have.you.seen.‐?
.Lockhart.s.here!.Who.ve.you.been.visiting?..
.Friends.of.yours,.Neville,.dear?..said.Neville.s.grandmother.graciously,.bearing.down.upon.them.all..
Neville.looked.as.though.he.would.rather.be.anywhere.in.the.world.but.here..A.dull.purple.flush.was.creeping.up.his.plump.face.and.he.was.not.making.eye.contact.with.any.of.them..
.Ah,.yes,..said.his.grandmother,.looking.closely.at.Harry.and.sticking.out.a.shrivelled,.clawlike.hand.for.him.to.shake...Yes,.yes,.I.know.who.you.are,.of.course..Neville.speaks.most.highly.of.you...
.Er.‐.thanks,..said.Harry,.shaking.hands..Neville.did.not.look.at.him,.but.surveyed.his.own.feet,.the.colour.deepening.in.his.face.all.the.while..
.And.you.two.are.clearly.Weasleys,..Mrs.Longbottom.continued,.proffering.her.hand.regally.to.Ron.and.Ginny.in.turn...Yes,.I.know.your.parents.—.not.well,.of.course.—.but.fine.people,.fine.people….and.you.must.be.Hermione.Granger?..
Hermione.looked.rather.startled.that.Mrs.Longbottom.knew.her.name,.but.shook.hands.all.the.same..