Revelations and Romance

Revelations and Romance chapter 7

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7: Advanced DADA

January 13th

At breakfast on Thursday, Errol arrived and collapsed onto the Gryffindor table. Ron and Hermione gave him some water and bits of bacon, and he soon looked fit enough to fight a raindrop and almost win. Meanwhile, Ginny was reading the letter he'd brought her.

'We're famous!' she said. 'Oh -- Ron, do you want to write and tell them we're both on next year's team?'

'Oh, yes! I'd love to tell them that. Finally, I'm on the team,' said Ron.

'So am I!'

'I won't forget to tell them! But your best friend hasn't been a famous Seeker ever since the first year.'

'I suppose not,' she admitted.

'Why are you famous?' asked Harry.

'Sir Robert Weasley was our ancestor. Off with Malfoy's head! Off with all the Malfoys' heads!'

'Oh, if only we could,' mused Ron.

Hermione laughed at the two Weasleys, and got on with eating her breakfast.

Ron's new-found status as Definitely Descended From The First Minister of Magic wasn't much use in that morning's History of Magic class, as Binns started them on the seventeenth century, and his usual style of droning through lists of wizards with no context threatened to lull the class off to sleep.

Transfiguration required them to turn the snakes they'd made in the previous lesson back into sticks. McGonagall had finished the transfigurations on the sticks which pupils hadn't finished changing to snakes. Harry apologised to his snake before Transfiguring it, even though he knew it had been a stick originally. Hermione had her box of seven snakes back, and was soon sitting there looking around at how far everyone else had got, and ignoring the box of seven sticks.

After the class, on the way to the Great Hall for lunch, Harry asked her, 'Seven? Did you really do all seven of them while I was getting halfway through just one?'

Hermione shrugged, but looked pleased. 'It's easier to turn them back. You said something to your snake, didn't you?'

'I said, "Sorry, I've got to turn you into a stick, but you were a stick before, so you might like it better that way", to it.'

'What did it say?' asked Ron.

'It didn't, it just looked surprised.'

'How does a snake manage to look surprised?' asked Hermione.

Harry thought about it. 'I don't know. I just knew it looked surprised, without having to think about it. It's probably like you being top of the class without seeming to have to think about it.'

Hermione pretended to hit him.

At lunchtime, the trio sat next to Ginny, who looked disgruntled.

'What's the matter, Ginny?' asked Harry.

'Stupid gossip again,' she replied, irritated. 'That Ravenclaw Prefect, Lisa Turpin, couldn't get into the Prefects' bathroom on Monday afternoon before dinner, and she told Parvati's sister, and she told Lavender ... and after they've all made up more bits, it's suddenly not a bathroom any more, it's a bedroom!'

Ron choked on a slice of beef. Harry thumped his back, and he stopped.

'Why does she think she couldn't get in?' asked Hermione innocently.

'She thinks another Prefect was in there with her boyfriend, and so now Lavender and the rest are trying to decide who to spread gossip about.'

'Who did they decide on?' asked Ron.

'Why are you suddenly interested in gossip?' asked Harry with a smile.

'I'm not. It's just that Hermione's a Prefect, and they might be gossiping about her.'

'Yes,' agreed Ginny. 'Raine told me that Lavender thinks it's Harry and Hermione.'

'She said she and Fen were going to try to stop those rumours,' said Harry, annoyed.

'She meant it,' said Ginny. 'She was asking me for something she could tell Lavender to prove it wasn't true. I told her I didn't know where Hermione was then -- probably the library, but Harry was doing homework with me.'

'What about me?' asked Ron.

'Just in case, I told her that you were up in your dorm. I don't think Lavender wants to gossip about you, anyway.'

'So, are they stuck for gossip now?' asked Harry.

'No,' sighed Ginny. 'I saw Raine just before we came in here, and she said she spoke to Lavender at morning break. Now she's decided it can't be Harry and Hermione, and it must be Hannah and Ernie instead.'

'There're twelve girl Prefects,' said Hermione. 'Why does she think it has to be either Hannah or me?'

Ginny shrugged. 'I suppose she thinks it's more fun to gossip about people she knows better.'

'So Lisa's upset because she couldn't get in there with her boyfriend, is that it?' asked Harry, grinning. 'It was Lisa that Flitwick caught with alcohol on New Year's Day, wasn't it?'

'Oh, yes,' said Ron. 'Counter-gossip!'

Ginny giggled at Ron. 'Do you think that's true, Harry? I suppose that's why she doesn't just think someone was enjoying a long bath.'

'Harry, we'd better finish eating and get to the library,' said Hermione. 'We've both got Quidditch practice after school now.'

'Oh, right,' said Harry. 'We don't want to turn up at DADA tomorrow without knowing everything on that list. We can't pick the ones to use unless we know what all of them do.'

Ginny said quickly, 'Before you go, I was going to ask -- I saw you were wearing that headband at breakfast, and you're wearing it now -- are you wearing it in classes now?'

'Yes, m'lady,' said Harry with a grin. 'McGonagall even smiled at me -- probably because I was wearing it!'

'I'd better get one too,' said Ron. 'I could do with happier teachers.'

'I'm not going to risk wearing it in Potions though,' added Harry. 'That's just asking for points to be taken away.'

Harry and Hermione finished their lunch quickly and hurried off to the library. 'I don't have to read as fast as you,' Harry reminded her. 'I've got a free period next.'

'I know, but we do both need to read them,' said Hermione, taking down the first book. Madam Pince was keeping a watchful eye on them, as if unconvinced by McCardle's signature on the spell list. The two of them worked through the rest of lunch, and Harry stayed behind to finish the list after Hermione had rushed off to Ancient Runes. After that, he put back the books, smiled at Madam Pince, and made his way slowly to the Charms classroom to meet the others.

Following Charms, Harry went to get his Firebolt and met the others at the Quidditch pitch for training. As it was the first training session for Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Fen, Angelina spent some time explaining what practice involved, and then they spent the rest of the time until dinner practising. There was some confusion caused by having four Beaters and five Chasers in the air at once, but they soon got used to it.

They talked about the practice while eating their dinner. 'That was great,' enthused Ginny. 'I didn't realise just practising could be that much fun.'

'Thanks for letting me fly the Firebolt for a while, Harry. I ought to get myself a broom,' said Hermione. 'Which Broomstick has order forms for brooms, doesn't it?'

'I know it does sometimes, but I don't know if it does in every issue,' said Harry. 'Don't ask me who'd have a copy though -- I've only ever borrowed Oliver's.'

'I'll ask Angelina later if she knows,' said Hermione.

'It's a shame about Fred and George crashing into each other like that. I suppose they shouldn't both have practised spiral flying at the same time,' said Harry.

'Well, I'm sure Madam Pomfrey will heal them soon. I don't think they really broke any bones,' said Hermione.

'I still don't really see how you managed it, even now I've tried it. I almost fell off my broom -- I would have done, if you hadn't realised and steadied me.'

'You have to concentrate on what you're centred on.'

There was a pause, as nobody could think of anything else to say about Quidditch. They finished their dinners, and returned to the common room.

Ginny looked across at Lavender and Parvati. 'I wonder who they're gossiping about now?'

'They're probably still trying to work out how it could have been Harry and Hermione together in that Prefects' bathroom,' said Ron sarcastically.

'At least they're both Prefects,' joked Ginny. 'They're allowed to be in there. I suppose Hannah and Ernie are too.'

'But how stupid do those two have to be not to take a hint? Didn't they both have detention before dinner again? They must be stupid to keep believing Harry and Hermione are in love.'

Ginny stared at Ron.

'What are you looking at me like that for?' he asked.

'Last week you were that stupid,' she said. 'Or did you conveniently forget that? Hermione's been your best friend for over four years now, and you still don't trust her!'

'I forgave him, though,' said Hermione. She dangled Crookshanks' piece of string near the edge of the table, and a paw came out to attack it.

'He was still stupid, even if you've forgiven him.'

'Do you think we can start a rumour that it was Draco in there, and see if we can get him into trouble?' asked Harry.

'No. You remember what Raine said. Not even any of the girls in Slytherin were interested,' said Ginny.

'Oh, so much for that plan,' said Harry, disappointed. 'Though there doesn't have to be any truth involved to get those two gossiping.'

'How about if he was in there with another boy?' asked Ginny.

'That'd be odd, but not suspicious.'

'Very odd, as it's the girls' bathroom,' said Hermione.

'Oh, yes. But it might be suspicious. Raine told me some jokes about Malfoy,' said Ginny.

'What sort of jokes?' asked Ron.

'Well, one was, "We've been spelling Malfoy's name wrong all this time, it's really Drag-O because he dresses in girls' clothes".'

Ron laughed. 'Not too bad.'

'Any more?' asked Hermione.

'I'm trying to remember them,' said Ginny. 'One Slytherin says, "Did you know Draco's found his true love?", and the other says, "How did he manage that?", and the first says "He looked in the mirror".'

Ron laughed again. 'That's Malfoy, all right.'

'Oh, I just remembered something else about Raine. I hope you don't mind, but I told her your idea about helping Lavender and Parvati with their duelling.'

Harry looked at Hermione and said, 'I don't mind. If Raine told them, they might finally stop this gossip about you. How do you feel?'

'I'd rather have seen their reactions when I told them, but I don't really mind. It doesn't look as if it did stop them, though. I suppose Raine might not have told them yet,' Hermione replied. 'Unless they're gossiping about someone else now.'

The four of them got on with their homework after that, catching up with the previous two days when Quidditch talk had kept even Hermione from getting much done. It was after midnight by the time they'd finished.

Ginny yawned, and tickled the end of a tail that had escaped from under the table. 'You old people are setting me a bad example. Good-night.'

*

Following breakfast on Friday morning, Harry and Ron returned to the common room for their 'We don't do Ancient Runes, yippee' double free period.

'I think I finished all my homework last night,' said Harry in surprise. 'Have you got any left?'

'I forgot we had this time free. I finished mine, too,' replied Ron. He hesitated, then asked, 'Harry, could you give me some duelling practice? It's getting embarrassing, even if I did get some points last time.'

'OK. Are you sure you want something loud like the Tickling Charm, though? If you don't block, everyone else in here will hear that you didn't.'

'I can't cope with any of the advanced ones you've been doing.'

'How about the one that stops you talking? The others won't have anything to hear if you don't block it. It's not dangerous like the rest of them.'

'OK.'

The two of them duelled -- or rather, Harry cast Aphasic while Ron tried to block it. Many of the others did watch to start with, but when Ron failed to burst into flames, collapse on the floor with all his bones shattered, or even suffer a giggling fit, they lost interest. Harry was having to cast Finite Incantatem often though.

With Harry's help, Ron was beginning to be able to block one attack in two, and was becoming much more cheerful. After a while, they stopped, so they wouldn't be too tired for the real lesson.

'What was that other one you mentioned? Ankle-ness-seizure?'

'Ankinaesthesia,' said Harry. 'According to the book we read, it makes you lose control of your limbs. Well -- you can still move them, but you can't feel where they are, so you have to keep looking at them. It makes you fall over a lot, because you can't balance properly.'

'So it's quiet, but not very nice, then. Are you going to use that on Hermione today?'

'I suppose so. I bet she blocks it every time, though.'

Ron looked round to make sure nobody could hear, then said quietly, 'I'm not betting against my lover!' Harry grinned at him.

Ron took the piece of string and stroked it against Crookshanks' fur, trying to get him to play. He purred, but was too comfortable dozing in front of the fire to play with the string.

'You like him better now,' commented Harry.

'Well, love her, love her cat,' replied Ron. 'If she does say "yes" one day, he's going to be around the house, isn't he?'

'I hadn't thought about it. You're really serious about this. I mean, I know you love her, but I didn't know you were thinking beyond that.'

'Well, yes, I'm that serious about her.' He paused, then exclaimed, 'I'm not even sixteen yet! Is this wrong?'

'Definitely. You should still be at the whirlwind romance, stolen kisses, secret meetings stage, not deciding which house and picking out the curtains,' teased Harry.

'We haven't even mentioned curtains!'

'You haven't really started thinking about which house, have you?'

'We did talk about it a bit, yes,' Ron admitted.

Harry simply couldn't think of anything to say to that, and was relieved to see the others getting ready to go to DADA. He and Ron joined them, and met Hermione on the way down to the second floor. Ron told her about their duelling practice, and she hugged him.

'It's good you're getting better at it. You might need it one day,' she said.

'If I still want to be an Auror when I leave Hogwarts, I will need it,' he replied.

To the Gryffindor's surprise, when they reached the DADA classroom, Professor Dumbledore was in there, talking to Professor McCardle. They hesitated outside, but McCardle beckoned them in. The class arranged themselves into pairs again.

''Let's see,' said McCardle, 'Weasley and Miss Patil will be continuing as before, as will Miss Brown and Longbottom. Finnigan and Thomas, have you both studied the new curses on your list?'

Seamus and Dean nodded.

'Are you both confident enough to cast them and try to defend against them?' Both boys nodded, but Seamus put his hand up in the air.

'Yes, Finnigan?'

'Professor, I ... well, I saw the list Harry and Hermione had, and do we really have to be in the same room as them, if they're going to be using those?'

Lavender gave Seamus an odd look, while Parvati just laughed at him. Harry looked at Seamus in surprise; he hadn't realised that Seamus had been serious when he'd said that on Wednesday.

'That is a reasonable question, Finnigan,' said McCardle, reassuring Seamus. 'No, you won't be in the same room. Professor Dumbledore will be supervising their duels in another classroom.'

Harry wasn't sure whether to be glad or not. He'd never had a class with Dumbledore, and that could be interesting. However, their duelling suddenly seemed so much more serious, if McCardle was agreeing with Seamus, and Dumbledore himself was going to be watching them duel. He looked at Hermione, and decided from her expression that the same thoughts were going through her head. Both Lavender and Parvati were now quiet and staring dumbly at McCardle and Dumbledore.

Dumbledore led Harry and Hermione to another classroom down the corridor, while the others started their blocking practice. The other classroom looked as if it had been newly cleaned up. The desks in it had been pushed to the edge of the room, leaving a large space in the middle of the room for duelling. Harry and Hermione stood facing each other in this space, side-on to Dumbledore.

'Have you chosen the spells you will be using this lesson?' asked Dumbledore.

'We thought we'd try all of them except Pyroderm,' said Harry.

'Is that all right?' asked Hermione anxiously.

'Quite all right,' replied Dumbledore. 'If you have no other questions you wish to ask first, you may begin.'

Harry hesitated. 'What happened to Hagrid?'

'Agnes has, I believe, told you everything that I can tell you. He is recovering slowly, but is still not supposed to have visitors.'

Harry and Hermione once more started to cast and block curses. Dumbledore stopped them to warn them that they were falling into too easy a rhythm, too predictable a pattern of curse and counter-curse. They were each starting to block without waiting for the other's attack, as they would have to in a real duel.

'It is advisable to know what you are attempting to block. In Professor Lockhart's duelling club, young Malfoy's spell to summon a snake could not be blocked, only reacted to. In this class, you do know what spells the other person is choosing from, but in a real duel, you would not. Unfortunately, Harry, you are all too likely to need to fight a real duel again.'

After that, they were careful not to react until the other one started to cast the curse. When the bell rang for the end of the lesson, both stopped and turned to the headmaster. He smiled at them.

'You are both blocking very well. This is fortunate, given the likely danger, particularly to Harry, but to both of you.'

'Ron's also in danger, isn't he?' asked Harry. 'He's not doing as well in Dark Arts.'

'I have asked Professor McCardle if she can give him extra help. He is indeed in danger -- not, I believe, as much danger as either of you.'

Hermione seemed to be waiting for Harry to ask more questions. Dumbledore noticed. 'Do either of you have more questions to ask?' Harry shook his head. 'Miss Granger?'

'It isn't anything to do with the lesson, or duelling, or Hagrid, or You-Know-Who. Can I still ask you?' she asked.

'You can.'

'It's about the permission slips and contraceptive potions. I asked Professor McGonagall what the school's position is on pupils sleeping together -- does it encourage it, or does it want to discourage it, but without the risk that pupils will do it anyway and get pregnant? She wouldn't answer me.'

Dumbledore frowned. 'The "school" has no position on the matter. The teachers disagree about what the official attitude should be. Professor McGonagall believes that we should return to a time when the pupils spread rumours about the potions, and had to get the permission slip from Madam Pomfrey when they asked her if they could have some potion.'

'But you're the headmaster. Your opinion is the school's official one, isn't it?'

'I would prefer not to impose my views in this matter onto others.'

Hermione frowned. 'So you don't want to answer me either? But, sir, shouldn't Prefects have some idea about the reason for the permission slips?'

Dumbledore smiled. 'My opinion is that pupils now, as in my day, are growing up, and will be adults when they leave the school. There are matters, other than those taught in class, that it is reasonable for an adult to know, even if a teenage infatuation leads to separation and heartbreak.' His voice sounded distant. 'The school should recognise that. The existence of the permission slips is meant to encourage pupils to talk to their parents or guardians about the subject of relationships.'

'Oh, no,' said Harry in horror, imagining trying to talk to his aunt or uncle about this.

Hermione grinned at him. 'I had a very strange conversation about permission slips and potions, and none of it was about relationships! It was all about trolls, Basilisks, werewolves and Ron.'

'The four worst monsters known,' said Harry, grinning.

The headmaster continued. 'Whether pupils and their parents do manage to talk about it or not, that is the intent of the permission slips. With a signed slip, pupils may obtain the potions and skulk about in search of secret places where they may find privacy and enough comfort, without, as you said, the risk of falling pregnant.'

'Are we supposed to skulk then?' asked Hermione, smiling.

'It is traditional. I believe that most pupils enjoy the skulking quite as much as the physical relationship. Certainly, they appear to spend more time on the skulking,' replied Dumbledore.

'Thank you for answering me,' she said, still smiling.

'Do you intend to try the Pyroderm spell next lesson?'

Harry and Hermione looked at each other. 'We might,' said Harry. 'We're a bit nervous about casting it on each other, after what we read.'

'As you should be. If you don't wish to cast it yourselves, I could cast it, while you block it,' Dumbledore offered.

'I'd like to know how to cast it,' said Hermione.

'In that case, you should do so. Return to this classroom for your next Dark Arts lesson. I will be teaching you again. You can decide by then what you wish to do.'

The two of them left the classroom and found Ron waiting outside. 'You were ages!' he complained.

'I got an answer from Professor Dumbledore about the permission slips,' said Hermione. She looked around, and saw that the corridor was still quite full of people going down to the Great Hall. 'I'll tell you when it's more private.'

'Friday,' mused Harry. 'Double Potions, Herbology, then you two go and have a good skulk, dinner, and more skulking after dinner.'

'Skulk?' asked Ron.

'We're taking a break from skulking,' said Hermione with a grin. 'We'll start again on Monday, if that's OK, Harry.'

'I bet the marble floor in the bathroom's worn out, and you're waiting for it to be replaced,' he teased. 'Or have you worked out a rota with Hannah for when you can use it?'

'You're in an odd mood after DADA,' said Ron. 'What were you doing in there?'

'Duelling, murdering, maiming and slaughtering -- you know, the usual,' answered Harry. 'How did your lesson go?'

'McCardle split us up again. Now Neville and the two girls are attacking each other, and I'm duelling with Seamus and Dean. I think it helped to practice with you. It's much better now, I can block them, and use something other than that stupid Tickling Charm to attack them. Do you know how many times I've cast that charm by now? It's got to be over a hundred. I could cast it in my sleep.'

'I hope I can block it in my sleep then,' retorted Harry.

'So you're feeling much happier now?' asked Hermione. 'And you're going to be getting more advanced blocking practice?'

'Much happier. I didn't get any points today though. How many did you get?' asked Ron.

'We didn't get any either,' said Harry. 'Hermione, why do you want to know how to cast Pyroderm? Do you ever expect to need it?'

'I hope not. But it sounds dangerous, and it isn't an Unforgivable Curse, so if I'm in as much danger from Death Eaters as you and Dumbledore think, it might be useful. I hope it never is, though.'

They'd reached the Great Hall, and sat near Ginny. She wanted to know where they'd been, and they told her about the DADA lessons they'd had.

Snape found reasons to shout at Neville again in their Potions lesson. Malfoy seemed to be trying hard to impress his Head of house, but was almost ignored throughout the lesson.

On their way to Herbology, Ron was positively gleeful. 'Even Snape can't stand Malfoy now! If it gets any better, Potions will be something to look forward to!'

'What have you done with the real Ron Weasley?' asked Harry, who was putting his headband back on. Hermione giggled at the pair of them.

Hannah was waiting outside the greenhouse. She looked furious.

'Harry Potter! What's this you've been saying about Ernie and me making love in the Prefects' bathroom?'

Harry was surprised, and didn't understand what she meant for a moment. 'Oh, that -- I didn't mean anything, it was just a joke.'

'You think it's a joke, spreading stupid gossip about people?'

'Look, Hannah, wait -- I heard some gossip that Hermione was supposed to have taken me into the girls' Prefects' bathroom to have sex where we wouldn't be disturbed, and then the gossipers found out I was in our common room at the time, so they changed the gossip to you two. I was just teasing Hermione about her deciding on a rota with you, so she'd know when she could use it. I didn't know anyone else heard me. I didn't mean them to, it was just a joke.'

Hannah was now just simmering, not boiling with anger. Ron and Hermione waited to see what Hannah or Harry would say next, as Hannah wasn't yelling at them.

Harry sighed. 'Look, I'm sorry. There've been rumours that I'm in love with Hermione for years. They even got into the Daily Prophet last year! I'm really fed up with them -- even Ron started to believe it last week. It didn't occur to me that I was doing the same sort of thing. I'm really sorry, it was just a private joke that nobody else was supposed to hear.'

Hannah hesitated, then accepted that. 'OK. You're not going to say anything else that might get spread around then?'

'Really, I'm not. I know just what it's like to be gossiped about.'

'I suppose you do.'

They went into the greenhouse, and Hannah went over to where Ernie was standing. Harry hesitated, then followed her over. She looked at him questioningly.

'I just apologised to Hannah, Ernie, and I thought I ought to apologise to you too. It really wasn't meant to be gossip. You two are just friends, like Hermione and I are, aren't you?'

The two of them nodded. 'The rumours got worse after Christmas. Hannah couldn't go home this year, so she stayed with my family, and everyone with a dirty mind jumped to conclusions,' said Ernie. His expression seemed to be challenging Harry to jump to them too.

'I heard those. I stay with Ron's family as much as I can, and Hermione does too sometimes. That's innocent -- after all, Ron's parents are there most of the time,' Harry said, hoping to convince them he wasn't a gossiper. 'I think I know who's spreading at least some of these rumours. We haven't managed to stop them making up ones about us yet, so I don't suppose we can help you either.'

'Susan and Megan,' said Hannah. 'It's always those two.' She glanced over at them, and saw that they were talking together again.

'Oh. I didn't know that. I was thinking of Lavender and Parvati. Oh, I'd better get back to the lesson.' Professor Sprout had entered the greenhouse, her arms full of trays of seedlings.

Following Herbology, the three of them returned to the common room. Ginny wasn't sitting in her normal seat -- she was talking to Olwen. Hermione took the opportunity to tell Ron what Dumbledore had said about the permission slips.

'So Dumbledore's happy for pupils to sleep together, but McGonagall's not? We're in his school, but her House, so where does that leave us?' asked Ron. Hermione shrugged.

'Did you think he meant something personal when he said about infatuation bringing heartbreak?' asked Harry.

'Maybe he did. I wasn't concentrating on that part,' replied Hermione.

'You were hoping for him to definitely give you permission to sleep with Ron!' teased Harry.

'You mean that Dumbledore was once a pupil here? Do you think his infatuation brought heartbreak? I can't imagine him ever being that young,' said Ron.

Hermione looked round the common room. 'I wonder if this has changed since he was a pupil here. It looks so timeless.'

'Was he in Gryffindor?' asked Ron.

'I told you he was!'

'When? I don't remember that.'

'When we met on the train.'

Ron thought for a moment, and asked incredulously, 'Before we started our first year? You can remember details like that?'

'I remember she listed the books she'd read before she remembered to tell us her name,' said Harry, smiling at her. 'As if what she knew was more important than who she was.'

Hermione frowned at him.

'You're still a bit like that. I don't think that's a bad thing.'

'What's not a bad thing?' asked Ginny, who'd come back to join them without their noticing. Harry told her. 'It's one of the things that makes her so Hermione,' said Ginny. 'Knowledge is more important than ego.'

Harry nodded, relieved that Ginny hadn't been in time to overhear the talk about permission slips.

At dinner, Harry noticed that Lavender and Parvati had chosen to sit further away from them than normal, and kept looking nervously at Harry, Ron and Hermione.

'What's wrong with those two today?' wondered Ron.

Ginny looked, and grinned. 'Raine said in Potions that she'd told them about your offer of duelling practice. I think they're hoping not to annoy you, or even be noticed.'

'Especially after these two had to duel in a separate room today! That took the smiles off Lavender and Parvati's faces,' said Ron.

'Do you think they talk to Susan Bones and Megan Jones about gossip? They're in Hufflepuff,' Harry asked her.

'I think Raine mentioned them too. Apparently they get together and swap gossip from different houses.'

Harry told her about Hannah and Ernie.

'Should I tell Raine that the duelling practice offer applies to people gossiping about them, too?'

'Yes, please!' said Harry. 'It'd help make up for my silly joke.'

'It wasn't that bad a joke,' said Hermione. 'It's just a pity anyone else heard it.'

'Oh, Raine told me another joke. She says that Crabbe and Goyle did have dates for the Yule Ball last year, and even wore the same colour robes as their dates.'

'What? They didn't have dates. They just turned up together, and they were both wearing a sick green colour,' said Harry.

'I'm far too young to explain jokes like this to old people,' said Ginny primly.

Ron laughed. 'I got it, anyway. Come on, Harry, think about it!'

'Oh, right. Very funny. I bet she doesn't tell that one where they can hear her,' said Harry.

'Why not?' asked Ginny. 'Do you think they'd understand it faster than you did? Anyway, she's not making them up, she's just passing them on. Lots of Slytherins have decided they're fed up with Malfoy and his friends after his offer to sleep with the girls.'

'I'll believe that when he stops being the Seeker,' said Harry. 'Or when Crabbe and Goyle stop hanging around with him, doing everything he tells them.'

Ginny looked at Harry with wide eyes, then at Hermione and Ron, and grinned. 'Yes, nobody else has two friends who do everything he says.'

Ron grabbed a cushion and threw it at her.

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Next chapter: Harry talks about money, Ginny learns about the Marauder's Map, photos are taken, wine is drunk, Ginny's fifteenth birthday and Ron upsets Hermione again.

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