Jessica looked miffed to have the class's attention no longer focused on her after Ron's outburst. Dean's jaw dropped and he stared at Ron. Lavender and Parvati immediately started whispering to each other. And Seamus snorted with laughter.
Ron groaned and buried his face in his hands.
Harry felt he should do something to reassure his friend, but he was as shocked as the rest of the class. All he could do was pat Ron's shoulder as he looked over at Hermione, who was blushing but retaining her composure remarkably well.
Professor Moody, however, was in no mood to let his class get derailed by this little drama. He dismissed Jessica Starsparkle with a gruff order and made his wand give off several loud popping noises in order to regain the class's attention.
"Now," he said. "We've learned several traits common to snoggarts. But, unfortunately, that's all they are: common. There are almost no universal traits among snoggarts. Even some of the most common symptoms, such as desire for attention, do have exceptions. But most snoggarts will fall into the same patterns. So recognizing common snoggart traits is valuable, though not perfect. Furthermore, snoggarts very failure to adhere to norms can make them easier to identify. Can anyone tell me how?"
Hermione raised her hand. "Well, they don't fit into a strict pattern of snoggart traits, but they don't seem to fit into the pattern of real traits, either. Like Jessica Starsparkle: She woke up and didn't need to brush her hair, even though it was really long and hadn't been braided. Beauty and talent are real traits and might be believable --- but no one can have hair like that and not have to brush it."
"Well said, Miss Granger," Moody said. "Sometimes it might be the least blatant thing that can clue you in to a snoggart. So be observant!"
"Homework for next class: Write a list of snoggart traits, both ones we have discussed and ones we haven't mentioned. There's no way of coming up with a complete list because there are too many, but write down as many as you can think of. Also, I want you to write a description of what a snoggart would be for you."
When Moody dismissed the class, Ron bolted from the room to avoid having to talk to any of the other Gryffindors. Hermione sighed and walked next to Harry, who couldn't think of anything to say.
Hermione and Ron. At least Ron knew he wasn't dealing with a snoggart. Harry had been confronting them regularly since he arrived at Platform 9 3/4. It hardly surprised him that he'd had more trouble with snoggarts then the rest of the students put together. But, still, just once he wished that all the excitement could happen to somebody else for a change.
When Harry and Hermione got back to the Gryffindor common room, there was no sight of Ron, who Harry guessed was hiding in the dormitory. But he saw Hedwig perched on the back of a chair, waiting for him. He walked over to her and untied the letter from her leg. It was from Lupin.
Harry had forgotten that he had responded to Lupin's letter about watching out for snoggarts. At the time, though, Harry had no idea what a snoggart was, so he asked Lupin to tell him. He hardly needed Lupin's explanation now, but he was still interested to see what the letter said.
Harry ripped the letter open and scanned it. He quickly called Hermione over to read it.
Dear Harry,
I'm surprised you've never heard of snoggarts before. But I suppose it makes sense. After all, snoggarts seemed to die out for a while after I left school, and they're only now coming back in great numbers. I think snoggarts tend to explode every generation or so. When your parents and I were at Hogwarts, they were particularly bad in our sixth and seventh year.
It's hard for me to talk about it, even now. But, Harry, I would never try to hold anything from you, so I'll tell you what happened to me and your parents and Sirius...
- Author's Note -
To be continued, with Lupin's story.
Ron groaned and buried his face in his hands.
Harry felt he should do something to reassure his friend, but he was as shocked as the rest of the class. All he could do was pat Ron's shoulder as he looked over at Hermione, who was blushing but retaining her composure remarkably well.
Professor Moody, however, was in no mood to let his class get derailed by this little drama. He dismissed Jessica Starsparkle with a gruff order and made his wand give off several loud popping noises in order to regain the class's attention.
"Now," he said. "We've learned several traits common to snoggarts. But, unfortunately, that's all they are: common. There are almost no universal traits among snoggarts. Even some of the most common symptoms, such as desire for attention, do have exceptions. But most snoggarts will fall into the same patterns. So recognizing common snoggart traits is valuable, though not perfect. Furthermore, snoggarts very failure to adhere to norms can make them easier to identify. Can anyone tell me how?"
Hermione raised her hand. "Well, they don't fit into a strict pattern of snoggart traits, but they don't seem to fit into the pattern of real traits, either. Like Jessica Starsparkle: She woke up and didn't need to brush her hair, even though it was really long and hadn't been braided. Beauty and talent are real traits and might be believable --- but no one can have hair like that and not have to brush it."
"Well said, Miss Granger," Moody said. "Sometimes it might be the least blatant thing that can clue you in to a snoggart. So be observant!"
"Homework for next class: Write a list of snoggart traits, both ones we have discussed and ones we haven't mentioned. There's no way of coming up with a complete list because there are too many, but write down as many as you can think of. Also, I want you to write a description of what a snoggart would be for you."
When Moody dismissed the class, Ron bolted from the room to avoid having to talk to any of the other Gryffindors. Hermione sighed and walked next to Harry, who couldn't think of anything to say.
Hermione and Ron. At least Ron knew he wasn't dealing with a snoggart. Harry had been confronting them regularly since he arrived at Platform 9 3/4. It hardly surprised him that he'd had more trouble with snoggarts then the rest of the students put together. But, still, just once he wished that all the excitement could happen to somebody else for a change.
When Harry and Hermione got back to the Gryffindor common room, there was no sight of Ron, who Harry guessed was hiding in the dormitory. But he saw Hedwig perched on the back of a chair, waiting for him. He walked over to her and untied the letter from her leg. It was from Lupin.
Harry had forgotten that he had responded to Lupin's letter about watching out for snoggarts. At the time, though, Harry had no idea what a snoggart was, so he asked Lupin to tell him. He hardly needed Lupin's explanation now, but he was still interested to see what the letter said.
Harry ripped the letter open and scanned it. He quickly called Hermione over to read it.
Dear Harry,
I'm surprised you've never heard of snoggarts before. But I suppose it makes sense. After all, snoggarts seemed to die out for a while after I left school, and they're only now coming back in great numbers. I think snoggarts tend to explode every generation or so. When your parents and I were at Hogwarts, they were particularly bad in our sixth and seventh year.
It's hard for me to talk about it, even now. But, Harry, I would never try to hold anything from you, so I'll tell you what happened to me and your parents and Sirius...
- Author's Note -
To be continued, with Lupin's story.