On.the.morning.of.the.fourteenth.he.dressed.particularly.carefully..He.and.Ron.arrived.at.breakfast.just.in.time.for.the.arrival.of.the.post.owls..Hedwig.was.not.there.‐.not.that.Harry.had.expected.her.‐.but.Hermione.was.tugging.a.letter.from.the.beak.of.an.unfamiliar.brown.owl.as.they.sat.down..
.And.about.time!.If.it.hadn.t.come.today…..she.said,.eagerly.tearing.open.the.envelope.and.pulling.out.a.small.piece.of.parchment..Her.eyes.sped.from.left.to.right.as.she.read.through.the.message.and.a.grimly.pleased.expression.spread.across.her.face..
.Listen,.Harry,..she.said,.looking.up.at.him,..this.is.really.important..Do.you.think.you.could.meet.me.in.the.Three.Broomsticks.around.midday?..
.Well….I.dunno,..said.Harry.uncertainly...Cho.might.be.expecting.me.to.spend.the.whole.day.with.her..We.never.said.what.we.were.going.to.do...
.Well,.bring.her.along.if.you.must,..said.Hermione.urgently...But.will.you.come?..
.Well….all.right,.but.why?..
.I.haven.t.got.time.to.tell.you.now,.I.ve.got.to.answer.this.quickly...
And.she.hurried.out.of.the.Great.Hall,.the.letter.clutched.in.one.hand.and.a.piece.of.toast.in.the.other..
.Are.you.coming?..Harry.asked.Ron,.but.he.shook.his.head,.looking.glum..
.I.can.t.come.into.Hogsmeade.at.all;.Angelina.wants.a.full.day.s.training..Like.it.s.going.to.help;.we.re.the.worst.team.I.ve.ever.seen..You.should.see.Sloper.and.Kirke,.they.re.pathetic,.even.worse.than.I.am...He.heaved.a.great.sigh...I.dunno.why.Angelina.won.t.just.let.me.resign...
.It.s.because.you.re.good.when.you.re.on.form,.that.s.why,..said.Harry.irritably..
He.found.it.very.hard.to.be.sympathetic.to.Ron.s.plight,.when.he.himself.would.have.given.almost.anything.to.be.playing.in.the.forthcoming.match.against.Hufflepuff..Ron.seemed.to.have.noticed.Harrys.tone,.because.he.did.not.mention.Quidditch.again.during.breakfast,.and.there.was.a.slight.frostiness.in.the.way.they.said.goodbye.to.each.other.shortly.afterwards..Ron.departed.for.the.Quidditch.pitch.and.Harry,.after.attempting.to.flatten.his.hair.while.staring.at.his.reflection.in.the.back.of.a.teaspoon,.proceeded.alone.to.the.Entrance.Hall.to.meet.Cho,.feeling.very.apprehensive.and.wondering.what.on.earth.they.were.going.to.talk.about..
She.was.waiting.for.him.a.little.to.the.side.of.the.oak.front.doors,.looking.very.pretty.with.her.hair.tied.back.in.a.long.pony‐tail..Harry.s.feet.seemed.to.be.too.big.for.his.body.as.he.walked.towards.her.and.he.was.suddenly.horribly.aware.of.his.arms.and.how.stupidthey.must.look.swinging.at.his.sides..
.Hi,..said.Cho.slightly.breathlessly..
.Hi,..said.Harry..
They.stared.at.each.other.for.a.moment,.then.Harry.said,..Well.‐.er.—.shall.we.go,.then?..
.Oh.‐.yes…..
They.joined.the.queue.of.people.being.signed.out.by.Filch,.occasionally.catching.each.other.s.eye.and.grinning.shiftily,.but.not.talking.to.each.other..Harry.was.relieved.when.they.reached.the.fresh.air,.finding.it.easier.to.walk.along.in.silence.than.just.stand.about.looking.awkward..It.was.a.fresh,.breezy.sort.of.a.day.and.as.they.passed.the.Quidditch.stadium.Harry.glimpsed.Ron.and.