She.was.not.the.only.person.acting.oddly.as.the.OWLs.drew.steadily.nearer.
.Ernie.Macmillan.had.developed.an.irritating.habit.of.interrogating.people.about.their.revision.practices..
.How.many.hours.d.you.think.you.re.doing.a.day?..he.demanded.of.Harry.and.Ron.as.they.queued.outside.Herbology.a.manic.gleam.in.his.eyes..
.I.dunno,..said.Ron...A.few...
.More.or.less.than.eight?..
.Less,.I.s.pose,..said.Ron,.looking.slightly.alarmed..
.I.m.doing.eight,..said.Ernie,.puffing.out.his.chest...Eight.or.nine..I.m.getting.an.hour.in.before.breakfast.every.day..Eight.s.my.average..I.can.do.ten.on.a.good.weekend.day..I.did.nine.and.a.half.on.Monday..Not.so.good.on.Tuesday.‐.only.seven.and.a.quarter..Then.on.Wednesday.‐..
Harry.was.deeply.thankful.that.Professor.Sprout.ushered.them.into.greenhouse.three.at.that.point,.forcing.Ernie.to.abandon.his.recital..
Meanwhile,.Draco.Malfoy.had.found.a.different.way.to.induce.panic..
.Of.course,.it.s.not.what.you.know,..he.was.heard.to.tell.Crabbe.and.Goyle.loudly.outside.Potions.a.few.days.before.the.exams.were.to.start,..it.s.who.you.know.
.Now,.Father.s.been.friendly.with.the.head.of.the.Wizarding.Examinations.Authority.for.years.‐.old.Griselda.Marchbanks.‐.we.ve.had.her.round.for.dinner.and.everything…..
.Do.you.think.that.s.true?..Hermione.whispered.in.alarm.to.Harry.and.Ron..
.Nothing.we.can.do.about.it.if.it.is,..said.Ron.gloomily..
.I.don.t.think.it.s.true,..said.Neville.quietly.from.behind.them...Because.Griselda.Marchbanks.is.a.friend.of.my.gran.s,.and.she.s.never.mentioned.the.Malfoys...
.What.s.she.like,.Neville?..asked.Hermione.at.once...Is.she.strict?..
.Bit.like.Gran,.really,..said.Neville.in.a.subdued.voice..
.Knowing.her.won.t.hurt.your.chances,.though,.will.it?..Ron.told.him.encouragingly..
.Oh,.I.don.t.think.it.will.make.any.difference,..said.Neville,.still.more.miserably.
.
.Grans.always.telling.Professor.Marchbanks.I.m.not.as.good.as.my.dad….well…
.you.saw.what.she.s.like.at.St.Mungo.s.
Neville.looked.fixedly.at.the.floor..Harry,.Ron.and.Hermione.glanced.at.each.other,.but.didn.t.know.what.to.say..It.was.the.first.time.Neville.had.acknowledged.that.they.had.met.at.the.wizarding.hospital..
Meanwhile,.a.flourishing.black‐market.trade.in.aids.to.concentration,.mental.agility.and.wakefulness.had.sprung.up.among.the.fifth‐.and.seventh‐years.
.Harry.and.Ron.were.much.tempted.by.the.bottle.of.Baruffio.s.Brain.Elixir.offered.to.them.by.Ravenclaw.sixth‐year.Eddie.Carmichael,.who.swore.it.was.solely.responsible.for.the.nine..Outstanding..OWLs.he.had.gained.the.previous.summer.and.was.offering.a.whole.pint.for.a.mere.twelve.Galleons..Ron.assured.Harry.he.would.reimburse.him.for.his.half.the.moment.he.left.Hogwarts.and.got.a.job,.but.before.they.could.close.the.deal,.Hermione.had.confiscated.the.bottle.from.Carmichael.and.poured.the.contents.down.a.toilet..
.Hermione,.we.wanted.to.buy.that!..shouted.Ron..
.Don.t.be.stupid,..she.snarled...You.might.as.well.take.Harold.Dingle.s.powdered.dragon.claw.and.have.done.with.it...