'Why wear that face, Ron?' I asked Ron, who was I knew was sulky that night.

'Harry got Malfoy. And I helped him. Crabbe and Goyle helped Malfoy. And then Snape saw us smacking. Well, he saw me plant a kick at Malfoy's face. He thought we started it. So we got detentions. Malfoy and his cronies will clean the Owlery with Filch while we got Snape this night,' he answered, clenching and unclenching his teeth now and then.

Harry glared outside the window while Ron ushered his chess rook forward as they they play inside the Gryffindor common room.

'So, it's pretty peaceful this day', I tried to say lightly. Then, I added, 'But you're a prefect, Ron. You shouldn't have done that. Why did you hit Malfoy?'

They looked at each other and I heard Harry muttering, 'I thought she'll give us good spells for next time.' But I don't think Ron heard him. 'Next time?' I asked Harry incredulously.

Ron knocked the chessmen over and his seat, standing up, outraged that a few first-years shot to their dormitories. 'A peaceful day? Are you kidding?' He swore. 'I suppose you have a very perfect day in the library. Aren't you? You then think that it is good for us to land in detentions, then? I wish you can come with us to let you find out how good it is. But that's impossible-for like Percy, you're a prefect.' His neck and ears had been gone red. He went up to the boys' dormitories, followed afterwards by Harry, who lingered for a short while to nod sullenly. I nodded back, and he was gone. Hesitating, I climbed after them to see Ron with his quilt pulled up over his head. Harry sat at the edge of his mattress.

'Is he asleep?' I asked dumbly.

Harry shook his head. The other Gryffindor boys had not yet been inside.

I formed the words with my lips without making a sound. 'Why?'

Harry answered me.