The Half Blood Prince

by dozygirl

Post OotP. It's Harry's sixth year and there's a strange new group trying to get his attention. There's also a new prophecy about the Half Blood Prince and the truth abouth his own heritage for him to deal with. H/? R/Hr Non-humans, no slash, no horcruxes

12. Quintaped

Chapter 12 – Quintaped

Harry was running even before the first scream faded. His blood was pounding in his ears as he leaped over a fallen branch and skidded to a halt.

Before him Demelza was being held down by a large five legged creature covered in coarse red fur. It was strangely spider like in appearance, with its body hanging low between it's club-footed legs. It howled and lowered its gaping mouth towards her abdomen. The Quaffle lay beside it, shredded beyond repair. Apparently the creature, whatever it was, had used it as some sort of chew toy.

"Stupefy," Harry yelled, and the creature squealed and fell backwards where it was hit by two more curses from Ron and Katie who had just arrived.

"Demelza," Harry said softly. The creature hadn't been knocked out by their spells as a human would have been, but was staring at them and shivering. "Demelza come towards me. Slowly."

Demelza didn't move. She was shaking uncontrollably and tears were running down her face but she seemed frozen in place. It looked like the creature had bitten her arm through her pads.

The creature growled, drawing Harry's attention back to it. It seemed to be looking between them and Demelza, as if it were trying to determine whether or not attacking her was worth the risk.

Harry began inching towards Demelza, afraid that any sudden movements would make the creature attack. "I've got you," he whispered as he lifted Demelza to her feet. She barely responded to him, only a flicker of her eyes let him know she was even aware he was there. Was this what shock was like?

Harry pulled her arm around his shoulders and shifted her weight onto him so he could half lead, half drag her back to the others. The creature was sniffing at them and edging closer. "Ron," Harry hissed.

Ron's eyes were wide and staring at the creature, but his wand hand was rock steady. "Just keep it slow, I'll hex it if I think it's going to do something."

One step at a time: that was the key. As long as they kept moving slowly and appeared unthreatening they might be able to get away. The creature moved with a lumbering gait that wasn't particularly fast so all they needed was some distance before they could make a run for it. Now he was so close to her he could feel Demelza shaking against him and see the way she stared ahead blankly, almost completely unaware of her surroundings. The arm not around his shoulders was covered in blood and her face was deathly pale. They needed to get her to the hospital wing before she lost too much blood and there was always the possibility that something in the monster's bite had poisoned her, like when Mr Weasley was bitten by the snake last Christmas.

"Harry, RUN!" Katie screamed as Ron shot off two spells in quick succession. Harry didn't wait to see if they'd work and started running towards the rest of the Quidditch team who were now all huddled together and firing off spells, pulling Demelza along as quickly as he could.

The uneven ground and poor light betrayed him and he went crashing down into the undergrowth bringing Demelza down with him. He scrambled to rise in a tangle of arms and legs, but couldn't get free of Demelza and by then the creature was upon them. Harry screamed as its teeth clamped into his leg, just above the knee, tearing the skin and immediately soaking his own robes in blood.

As quickly as it had attacked the creature was gone, allowing Harry to draw in a shuddering breath. "Thanks," he said as Katie crouched next to him. Stabbing pains were shooting up his thigh and the muscle was twitching beneath the torn skin.

"It wasn't me," Katie said as she wrapped a conjured bandage around his leg and turned to Demelza. "This looks a mess, we should get you two back to the castle."

"Yeah, but what about that?" Ron demanded hysterically, his wand still aimed at the creature.

Harry tried to stand, but his injured leg wouldn't support his weight. He leaned on Ritchie to balance. "Just do whatever you did again until it runs away. We can let the teachers take care of it once we're back at the school."

"Seriously, mate, we didn't do anything," Ron insisted. "It bit you and then it backed off."

Harry half turned to where the creature was making hissing noises. "Is it... spitting?"

"Don't think it liked your blood," Ron said.

Harry would have felt insulted if he wasn't so relieved. "We can worry about that later. Let's just...What is it doing?"

"...Sniffing?" Ginny guessed.

It had crawled closer again, close enough to attack, but it seemed almost wary now and it did indeed seem to be sniffing them. It bared its bloody fangs and Harry could feel it looking at him before it began to slink away.

"I can't believe it's just leaving," Jimmy said quietly.

Harry shook his head. "Right now, I don't care what it does as long as it leaves us alone. We need to get back."

They made the trek back towards the castle, stopping beside the equipment shed, where Katie and Ginny gathered their brooms. Jimmy was now carrying Demelza who still seemed to be completely out of it, while Ritchie supported Harry. He was beginning to feel a bit light headed now and just wanted to sit down, but he knew they couldn't stop. Ron was walking behind them, guarding their retreat in case the creature came back.

At last they were inside the castle and Harry felt relief wash through him.

"What have we here?" Madame Pomfrey said tiredly as they dragged themselves into the hospital wing. Her eye roved over the group, assessing the injuries. "Mr Peakes, put her down on the bed. Mr Weasley, go to my office and use the floo to contact Professor Dumbledore. You'll find the powder in a jar on the mantel. Mr Potter, your usual bed is empty."

Harry couldn't help but grin now the danger was over. "Thanks." He limped over to the bed closest to the window and dropped down on it. Ritchie followed closely in case he fell.

"You have your own bed?" Ritchie said, without a trace of amusement. Now they were safe Harry could see the signs of shock in all his team mates. Only he and Ron seemed relatively normal, probably because they'd both been through worse. It was still a relief to be able to rest his leg and he felt as though his thigh had been through a meat grinder, but otherwise he was fine.

"I'll need to know exactly what happened," Madame Pomfrey was saying as she examined Demelza. "This looks to be a bite mark though what caused it I couldn't say."

"I've never seen anything like it," Ginny said in a whisper.

"I think I have," Katie said slowly. "Maybe in a school book. It had five legs and really big teeth."

"Five legs?" Dumbledore said, sweeping into the wing from Madame Pomfrey's office, Ron close on his heels. "Was it by any chance covered in fur?"

Jimmy nodded. "Yeah. It was kind of reddish-brown, sir. Do you know what it is?"

"I believe so," said Dumbledore. "You were attacked by a Quintaped. The are native to Scotland, but only located on the Isle of Drear. Madame Pomfrey, look after your patients. I believe a calming draught would be in order for all these students. I will gather the teachers to scour the grounds for this Quintaped."

"Yes, yes, calming draughts," Madame Pomfrey said absently, still waving her wand over Demelza as Dumbledore left. "Miss Bell look on the third shelf above my desk. Bring me the large bottle filled with pink potion and seven vials." Katie nodded and ran into the office.

Madame Pomfrey pulled the curtains closed around Demelza and the rest of the team came to sit around Harry's bed. Katie returned a few seconds later and handed round vials of calming potion. Harry swallowed his quickly and felt a warmth flood through him, washing away a numbing cold he hadn't even been aware of.

"Typical," Ron said. "You couldn't even make it to Halloween without getting yourself into the hospital wing."

Harry forced a smile at the obvious attempt to lighten the mood. "What's life without a little drama?"

"Frankly, mate, I think you could do with a little less of it," Ron said with a grimace.

They sat in silence for a while until Madame Pomfrey came bustling out from behind Demelza's curtains. The rest of the team immediately began firing questions at her, but she held up one hand. "I've given her a Dreamless Sleep potion," she told them. "You can sit with her for a few minutes if you like, but don't you dare disturb her."

"Will she be alright for the Quidditch match next week?" Ron demanded.

"She'll be fine. All she needs is a good sleep and she'll need to wear a sling for a day or so. She should be right as rain as long as she doesn't go doing something ridiculously dangerous, like flying around on a broom. That goes for you too young man," she said with a pointed glare at Harry. "Now all of you, shoo."

They left and Madame Pomfrey closed his curtains. "Turn over," she said in her no nonsense way.

Harry sighed, but did as he was told. He felt air hit the wound as she cut his trouser leg away and then she was prodding it with her wand. Harry hissed.

"Yes, yes, but you will go out and get yourself injured," she said with little sympathy. The bite began to tingle as the skin knit together. "The muscle was damaged, but nothing that a day of bed rest won't fix. Now don't you go groaning, I'm not about to let you go running about on that leg. I spend quite enough of my time putting you back together after your little stunts thank you very much."

A moment later the tingly feeling disappeared. "There. Change into these pyjamas and say goodnight to your friends. I'll leave this vial of Dreamless Sleep on the cabinet. Make sure you take it all." And she was gone, making sure the curtains were pulled tightly to allow him some privacy.

He changed as quickly as he could without straining his twinging muscle and pulled back the curtains before limping back to bed hoping Madame Pomfrey wouldn't see him up. It wasn't terribly painful anymore, but his leg still felt shaky and he wasn't sure how long it would support him.

The team came over, giving him commiserating looks and said their goodnights. They were soon all gone, but Ron who looked like he was thinking of staying for the night.

"You don't have to stay with me, you know," Harry told him. "Maybe you should let Hermione know what happened. She might know something about the Quintaped thing. And I'd better take this potion before Pomfrey comes and yells at me some more."

"Yeah," said Ron with a glance at the office door that had been left open. Any minute now Madame Pomfrey would be yelling at him to leave and for Harry to take his potion. "Look mate, you don't think Malfoy put that Quintaped thing there do you?"

Harry frowned. "I hadn't really thought about it."

"It's just, he was there right before and Dumbledore did say they all lived on some island."

"Hmm." Although Malfoy wouldn't be upset if the whole Gryffindor team was eaten by some monster Harry somehow doubted he had set loose a dangerous creature on the grounds on the off chance it would come across his class rivals. If Demelza hadn't dropped the Quaffle they might never have seen it. But there was someone on the grounds who had a thing for dangerous creatures, who might possibly have obtained it for some sort of class project. "I think we should go and see Hagrid once I get out of here. We haven't seen him all term except for in class."

Ron's eyes widened as he realised what Harry was implying. "No, he wouldn't."

Harry sent him a level glare. "One word: Norbert."

Ron swore under his breath. "You're right, we should go and see him, but in the daylight when that thing can't sneak up on us."

"Boys!" Madame Pomfrey called.

"Agreed," said Harry, reaching for his potion. "We can go after class on Monday."

Ron rose from his seat. "I'll bring Hermione tomorrow; see if she can't tell us more about it." He left, muttering to himself, "I can't believe I'm actually asking her to lecture me on stuff now."

Harry grinned as he gulped his potion. A few moments later his eye lids grew heavy and he barely had time to place the empty vial on the bedside cabinet before he fell back onto his pillows in a deep sleep.

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He was warm and so incredibly comfortable he didn't think he'd be able to move for hours, maybe even days. Slowly his memories from the night before returned and he half smiled. He didn't think he'd ever been glad to be bed bound before.

He shifted slightly to relieve the pressure on his thigh and became aware of a weight on the bed beside him. He still couldn't find it in him to care much. It was probably just Hermione or someone come to discuss the Quintaped and right now he was more interested in going back to sleep.

There were hushed voices coming from beyond his curtains, but they weren't loud enough to disturb him so he wriggled further under the covers, ignoring the way the weight beside him giggled. Wait, giggled? Hermione never giggled she was far too serious. It was one of the things he liked best about her.

Something – like a finger – gently brushed his forehead, tracing his scar and Harry's eyes snapped open. A small girl perhaps six years old, with long blonde hair was staring at him avidly. "Do you have a horse?"

"Whuh?" Harry's voice was thick with sleep. He cleared his throat and tried again. "What? Who are you?"

"I'm Emellia," the girl announced. "You're Harry Potter. You can call me Em."

"Right," Harry said slowly, pushing himself up to a sitting position, ignoring the twinge in his leg. "Nice to meet you, Em."

"My mum says you have a horse, but 'Melza says you have a broom instead."

"'Melza? Do you mean Demelza? She's right I do have a broom. No horse though."

"But my mum says you're a hero and heroes hafta have a horse or they're not real heroes, so why don't you have a horse?"

Harry blinked as he tried to work his way through that sentence. "Sorry, no horse. And I'm not a hero. What are you doing here?" he asked, hoping to stop her asking about horses.

"We came to see 'Melza. She's my sister, but I wish I had a brother instead, 'cos all she does is talk about boys." She made a disgusted face at that.

Harry had absolutely no idea what he was supposed to say to that. "That must be awful."

"I keep telling mummy that if she was a boy then she wouldn't want to talk about boys. She won't even play with me anymore."

"Er... what a shame." He was completely lost here and he still felt fuzzy from sleep.

"She fancies a boy!"

The curtains were ripped back and Demelza stood there, her arm in a sling and face bright red as she stared down at Em. "Come on, Em, mum's going spare. You know you're not supposed to wander off."

Em slid off the bed and went to join her sister, waving back at Harry as she disappeared from sight. "Sorry, Harry," Demelza said softly, pulling the curtains back.

"Happy Halloween, Harry," Em yelled.

"Happy Halloween." Harry smiled as he leaned back on his pillows, wide awake now and listened to Demelza scolding Em as they walked back up the ward. "I can't believe you were about to tell Harry Potter who I fancy."

He didn't hear Em's reply as his curtains were pulled back again and Hermione marched in carrying what looked like one of her school books with Ron trailing behind her.

"Oh good, you're awake," she said as she pulled up a chair. "How are you feeling?"

Harry thought about it. "Pretty good actually. I can barely feel my leg now."

"Madame Pomfrey says you can go tonight, as long as you promise not to over exert your leg for a couple of days," Hermione told him.

"Malfoy thought you getting injured was hilarious," Ron announced. "If you ask me I still say he set that thing loose."

Hermione shook her head. "He was laughing about it, but he didn't seem to know any more about what attacked you than anyone else does and he didn't have that smug look he gets when he's behind something."

Harry sat up straighter. "Did you find out anything about the Quintaped?" he asked, indicating the book.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I didn't have to look long and if you read a little more you wouldn't have needed to ask me at all," she said. "It was in one of our first year textbooks." She held up the book so Harry could read the cover: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. She opened it to a marked page. "They're also called Hairy Macboons and have a five X rating. It says that they have a 'particular taste for humans.'"

"Yeah, I think we noticed that, thanks," Harry said, rubbing the back of his thigh.

Hermione ignored him. "But it really shouldn't have been here at all. They've only ever been located on the Isle of Drear, which was made unplottable to keep anyone from running across them."

"Forget where they come from," Ron said. "Why was it here? And why did it spit out Harry's blood."

Harry had forgotten that detail in all the excitement, but apparently Ron hadn't.

Hermione was frowning. "I really don't know about that. Everything I've found on them suggests that they love the taste of humans. Maybe there's something in Harry's blood that it found unpalatable. You said it left after that, for no apparent reason?"

Harry tuned them out. It couldn't be could it? But Hermione's words were ringing in his ears. They love the taste of humans. Well apparently they weren't so keen on him. Something in Harry's blood. There was nothing, except for the thing he'd been denying to himself for months. He wanted to ask Hermione if Quintaped's liked elf blood, but didn't know how to without raising her suspicions.

He glanced up as Hermione called his name. "Harry! I was asking if you could think of anything that would have frightened it off. It seems to have been a scent of some kind."

"Maybe it was Harry's blood," Ron suggested.

"Which brings us back to the question: what is there about Harry that made it back off? If we were in the muggle world we could do blood tests."

Ron looked appalled. "What? You'd ask Harry to willingly give his blood to have things done to it?"

Hermione sighed. "I'd forgotten wizards had those archaic ideas about giving blood."

"It's not archaic," Ron snapped. "Wizards happen to have very good reasons for it."

"It didn't work out so well for anyone last time I gave blood," Harry said cynically.

Ron gave Hermione a 'there you see' look while she just gasped. "Maybe there's something to that," she said. "Maybe it recognised your blood because of Voldemort."

Harry gaped at her. "Are you seriously considering the idea of that thing getting a taste of Voldemort's blood and then coming here? To what? Kill me? Because it seemed rather opposed to that idea once it got a taste." They both ignored the way Ron flinched at the Dark Lord's name. "Voldemort would never allow some creature to drink his blood unless there was something in it for him and there doesn't seem to be."

Hermione frowned. "You're right. I'm grasping at straws. I guess we'll just have to go to the library. We need to find anything that repels a Quintaped. Maybe that will give us a clue."

Harry nodded enthusiastically. Now he just had to hope elves didn't come up. "Bring some books back here, at least it will give me something to do while I'm stuck here all day."

Once they were gone Harry leaned back and rested his eyes. Madame Pomfrey came in at some point to check on his leg but otherwise he was undisturbed until Demelza stuck her head through his curtains.

"Can I come in?" she asked softly.

Harry nodded.

She sat nervously, holding her injured arm as still as possible. "Are you alright?"

"Fine actually," Harry said easily. "Can't wait to get out of here though. How about you?"

Demelza's smile was forced. "I'll be OK. Madame Pomfrey is making me keep the sling on for a couple of days, but she says I can go now."

Harry stared at her enviously. "I have to stay until tonight. She doesn't want me to put any weight on it yet."

They shared a commiserating look before Demelza glanced away, her cheeks flushed. "I wanted to thank you, for helping me."

"Well, er, that's OK."

"And I wanted to apologise too. You got hurt because of me."

"Really, it's nothing," he said, eager to relieve her of her guilt. He knew what it was like to wallow in the feeling and in her case there really was no need.

"I just felt so useless," Demelza confessed. "I'm a Gryffindor, I'm supposed to be brave, but that thing attacked me and I just froze. What's wrong with me?"

"Nothing," Harry insisted. "Everyone reacts differently when they're scared. Some people panic, some freeze. I bet you've never been in a situation like that before. It's alright to freeze, a lot of people do the first time they're in danger, it's up to you to make sure you don't do the same thing if there's a next time."

Demelza shook her head. "But you didn't do either of those things. You did something about it and so did Ron and Katie. They weren't scared."

Harry didn't laugh, he knew she'd think he was laughing at her and she'd retreat. "They were. Once we got back here Katie was shaking like a leaf, and Ron, well he's faced worse... Never repeat this to anyone, but I remember in second year we met some acromantula and all Ron could do was scream."

"Acromantula!" Demelza gasped.

"The point was that they acted despite their fear. That thing could have ripped us all apart, it's only natural that we were scared. I know I was. And maybe this time you froze, but there's nothing wrong with that. You should have been safe and you were attacked, you were injured and losing blood. But you can conquer that fear and next time, you'll be able to do what you need to save yourself."

Demelza gazed at him sceptically.

"Were your whole family here earlier?" Harry asked, trying to change the subject.

"The school contacted them to let them know I was hurt," Demelza explained. "I'm sorry you had to put up with Em. She got bored and wandered off and we didn't notice right away. I can't believe she came and bothered you."

Harry shrugged. "I didn't really mind, though she did keep asking me if I had a horse."

Demelza groaned and hid her flaming cheeks in her hands. "Oh she didn't!"

Harry grinned. "I assume there's some kind of story there."

"She's obsessed with fairy tales at the moment," said Demelza without looking up. "And well... mum's always told us about how you defeated You-Know-Who when you were a baby. Em's got it into her head that you're some kind of fairy tale hero and they're usually knights or princes or something and ride to save the day on a horse. The first thing she asked when she found out you saved me was if you rode in on a white horse. I can't believe she asked you that."

"Actually it's kind of funny," Harry said.

They talked for a little longer before Demelza left to go back to Gryffindor tower and Harry spent some time thinking over their conversation. Although glad he'd been able to help her he was a bit unnerved by all those things he'd said about fear – at the time he'd thought he was talking from experience, but now, looking back, it was almost Dumbledorish.

Ron and Hermione returned an hour or so later with a couple of books on magical creatures and they spent the rest of the day going through them, with little success. The only consolation Harry had was that at no point had they come across any mention of elves in relation to Quintapeds. Maybe there was nothing to it after all. But Harry could think of no other reason for the Quintaped's reaction to his blood.

Despite his begging Madame Pomfrey wouldn't let him leave in time for the Halloween feast, but allowed him to go afterwards on the condition he went straight to the common room and stayed there for the rest of the evening. Unfortunately Ron and Hermione had other plans. They led him to an empty classroom near the tower and told him to sit down.

Harry was getting nervous by now. They were both so serious, he was sure he was about to get some really bad news. Had something happened at the Burrow?

"Harry," Hermione began, sitting opposite him. "Ron and I have been meaning to tell you something for a while now. It's not that we were trying to keep it from you, we just didn't know how to tell you and we were worried about how you'd take it."

Harry drew in a deep breath. "Just tell me."

She reached back and took Ron's hand. Harry's eyes widened in surprise.

"Ron and I... we're going out," Hermione said carefully.

Harry groaned, relishing the panicked looks on their faces. "It happened and I missed it?"

It was their turn to look surprised. "You don't mind?" Ron asked.

"Mind? Why would I mind? Though I am kind of disappointed you won't be dancing around each other any more," Harry said with a grin.

Hermione stared at him in disbelief. "You knew we... and you didn't say anything?"

"Nah, that would totally ruin it for everyone else," Harry laughed. "Wait, you haven't told anyone apart from me have you?"

Hermione shook her head. "We wanted you to be the first to know."

"Are you going to tell everyone now?"

Hermione glanced at Ron who shrugged. "Probably."

Harry jumped up. "Let's go do that now." He paused, halfway to the door. "Just for the sake of clarity, when exactly did this happen?"

"About a week ago," said Ron, bewildered.

"No, I mean exactly."

"It was the night of the Hogsmeade visit," Hermione said in exasperation. "After you stormed off Ron and I started talking. I was a bit upset and he consoled me and well..." she blushed brightly as she trailed off and Harry didn't need her to continue. He felt slightly guilty at the reminder of how he'd yelled at her though.

"I'm, er, sorry for what I said that night," he said awkwardly. Though maybe not as sorry now he knew what had happened once he'd gone.

Hermione waved her hand dismissively. "You already apologised, it's fine although I do wish you'd learn to control that temper of yours."

"Yeah," Harry said, running a hand through his hair. "Sometimes it just gets the better of me, you know."

Hermione softened and smiled. "You're really alright with this then?"

Harry grinned. "I'm really alright with it. I'm happy for you even."

She beamed at him, but Harry was staring at Ron who was looking decidedly ill at ease. "I'll be in the common room," she said, obviously sensing they needed to talk without her around.

They were silent when she left. Harry was waiting for Ron to speak, but he was gazing steadily at his feet.

"You don't mind," he said at last. "I was worried that you... and Hermione..."

Harry sighed. "I don't feel that way about her, never have. She's my best friend, the idea of us being anything else is... just wrong."

Ron frowned. "Me and Ginny wrong, or Dennis Creevey and Cho Chang wrong?"

Harry snorted. "You and Ginny."

"So she's like a sister to you," said Ron looking considerably brighter.

"Yeah," Harry said, nodding firmly. "So as her brother, I'm going to have to warn you that I'm watching you. If you do anything stupid, if you hurt her, I'll know and I'll make sure you regret it."

Ron faked a gulp. "Oh no, I'm so scared."

Harry laughed and thumped his arm. "Just get in there and tell everyone you two are together."

Ron followed him out the door and down the corridor where the fat lady's portrait hung. "Why are you so eager for everyone to find out?"

"No reason," Harry said innocently. He gave the password quickly before Ron could ask him another question and clambered through the portrait hole, taking care not to strain his leg.

Instead of his usual seat he plunked himself down next to Seamus who gave him a strange look.

"You'll see," Harry muttered nodding his head towards Ron who had gone straight to Hermione's side.

Seamus, along with Parvati, Lavender and Dean all looked in that direction just in time to see Ron kiss Hermione's cheek. She looked up and they exchanged a few words.

"That's sweet and all," Parvati began, "but why are we – oh."

Hermione had leaned up and kissed Ron. It was a chaste kiss, but there could be no doubt about the meaning for it. Seamus started digging through his bag.

"Right, Harry," he said as he pulled out a thin black book. "There are many interested parties who are going to want to know the when's and how's. I assume you've got the goods."

"It was the day of the Hogsmeade visit," Harry told him. "In the evening. Ron was comforting her after we had a bit of a fight. That's all I know."

"The Hogsmeade visit," Seamus muttered, flipping throught the book. "So that was the eighteenth of October. Right, got it." He jumped up on the coffee table and yelled for quiet. The common room was almost full at this time of the evening and everyone turned to look at him.

"I have a bit of an announcement," Seamus said loudly. "An event for which we have all been eagerly awaiting has at last occurred." He held up the book to assorted gasps and a few giggles. "Yes, ladies and gentlemen, our very own prefects Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger have finally woken up to the scent of romance on the eighteenth of October."

The whole common room – apart from a number of first years who didn't seem to know what was going on – burst into applause while Hermione hid her face in Ron's shoulder and Ron's ears turned redder than his hair. Ginny was cheering over the rest, jumping up and down and pumping her fist. Harry just knew, as he too slapped his hands together, that she was going to give Ron a hard time over this.

Seamus held his hands up for silence. "I've checked the book and congratulations go to our very own Cormac Maclaggen. You win the whole pot of twenty nine galleons."

They were clapping again, but it was more restrained this time and then the Gryffindors were swarming over a confused Ron and Hermione to offer their own congratulations. Ron was smiling hugely although he still seemed a little flushed and Hermione was happily accepting hugs. Harry smirked, but stayed back, letting them enjoy this moment.