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-Huff
Percy, Annabeth, Grover and I soon walked out of Madam Malkins carrying bags that held our school and dress robes.
"Where are the others?" Annabeth asked, looking left and right for them
"Ah they went into Fred and George's jokes shop. Never mind that, we need to get you lot some wands." Hagrid said gruffly. He led us down the street, past some stores and into a rather small store.
"Why hello." Annabeth jumped at the sound of the voice. It had an old, mystic sound about it, quite forced. As if speaking was a chore.
"Ello Ollivander. These kids…ugh broke their wands. Think we could get some new ones?" Hagrid said, walking up towards the desk where a golden bell stood.
"Of course." A figure appeared behind the counter, an old man with white hair stood there looking rather wise. He had a dirty look about his face yet he looked very intelligent. A sudden thought overwhelmed me.
I already have a wand.
It was in my pocket pressing up against my leg. I knew what I was going to have to do, and I didn't like it.
"How do we get our wands?" Percy asked, walking up the counter so he was standing beside Hagrid.
"Quite simple really. The wand chooses the Wizard." The old man named Ollivander said.
"Im sorry what?" said Percy. It didn't take me that long to grasp it when I found out I was a wizard. I mean, this was pathetic!
"Wandlore my dear boy. Ill see if I can find you one," The wrinkled man said, pointing towards Percy "Best not do it out here. What with all of you. It might confuse the wand." Ollivander gestured for Percy to come round the desk and follow him down a long row of shoe boxes. I knew they were wands but I couldn't let my profound knowledge grass me up of all things. Percy soon came back wearing a massive grin. He was holding a box that held the wand that had chosen him to be his master.
"Vine. Eleven inches. Phoenix feather. Reasonably bendy and in very good condition." Ollivander said. He then gestured for Annabeth to follow him and the same procedure took place
"Yew. 9 and half inches. Unicorn hair." He then gestured for Grover.
"Oak. 10 and a quarter inches. Dragon heartstring again." I then followed him around the counter. He led me down a long shelf; soon I couldn't even see the others. I put my hand in my pocket and whispered the spell Obliviate. Ollivander stumbled backwards; I caught him just before he hit the floor. I slowly lowered him to the floor. Then I grabbed a box at random, opened it, chucked the wand inside it into another box, put my wand inside, and replaced it on the shelf. I then shook Ollivander until he woke up.
"Oh sorry my dear boy. Must have had a trip."
"That's okay sir. You had me worried there for a second. Sir can I try this wand please?" I asked, with a worried look on my face as I helped the frail old man up off the dusty floorboards. Ollivander withdrew the box that held my wand, opened it and handed me my wand back. I gave it a flick and mini fireworks zoomed out of the tip.
"Yes this is the one for you," He led me back to the counter and identified my wand
"Holly. 12 inches exactly. Thestral tail hair. Nice and springy. That is 28 Galleons all together then." We each handed Ollivander 7 Galleons each took our boxes and left.
That went better then what I thought.
"So now where Hagrid?" Grover asked
"To Weasley Wizard Wheezes o Course."
Harry, Ron and Hermione swiftly walked out of Weasley Wizard Wheezes. They walked underneath the invisibility cloak down into a dark alley they knew to be called Knockturn Alley. They saw light blonde hair turning into a shop, so they took up their pace.
"Oh no." Hermione whispered.
"What?" asked Ron, coming to a halt and turning around to see Hermione
"I took some Extendable Ears without paying!" She said this with a mortified look on her face
"Oh shut up." Snorted Ron They carried on walking until they stopped outside a shop called Borgin and Burkes. Harry could see Malfoy in there talking to a man who worked there.
"Looks like them Extendable ears are going to come in handy now Hermione." Harry muttered his eyes still locked onto Malfoy. Hermione gave them each a long flesh coloured string and Ron slid the end underneath the closed door. Voices swept over them.
". . . You know how to fix it?"
"Possibly," said Borgin, in a tone that suggested he was unwilling to commit himself. "I'll need to see it, though. Why don't you bring it into the shop?"
"I can't," said Malfoy. "It's got to stay put. I just need you to tell me how to do it."
Harry saw Borgin lick his lips nervously.
"Well, without seeing it, I must say it will be a very difficult job, perhaps impossible. I couldn't guarantee anything."
"No?" said Malfoy, and Harry knew, just by his tone, that Malfoy was sneering. "Perhaps this will make you more confident."
He moved toward Borgin and was blocked from view by the cabinet. Harry, Ron, and Hermione shuffled sideways to try and keep him in sight, but all they could see was Borgin, looking very frightened.
"Tell anyone," said Malfoy, "and there will be retribution. You know Fenir Greyback? He's a family friend. I also know a guy who might just let his wand slip," Malfoy mimed flicking his wand at Borgin "And your petty little life will end. Greyback will be dropping in from time to time to make sure you're giving the problem your full attention."
"There will be no need for -"
"I'll decide that," said Malfoy. "Well, I'd better be off. And don't forget to keep that one safe, I'll need it."
"Perhaps you'd like to take it now?"
"No, of course I wouldn't, you stupid, little man, how would I look carrying that down the street? Just don't sell it."
"Of course not . . . sir."
Borgin made a low bow to Malfoy.
"Not a word to anyone, Borgin, and that includes my mother, understand?"
"Naturally, naturally," murmured Borgin, bowing again.
Next moment, the bell over the door tinkled loudly as Malfoy stalked out of the shop looking very pleased with himself. He passed so close to Harry, Ron, and Hermione that they felt the cloak flutter around their knees again. Inside the shop, Borgin remained frozen; his unctuous smile had vanished; he looked worried.
"What was that about?" whispered Ron, reeling in the Extendable Ears.
"Dunno," said Harry, thinking hard. "He wants something mended . . . and he wants to reserve something in there. . . . Could you see what he pointed at when he said that one?"
"No, he was behind that cabinet -"
"You two stay here." whispered Hermione.
"What are you - ?"
But Hermione had already ducked out from under the cloak. She checked her hair in the reflection in the glass, and then marched into the shop, setting the bell tinkling again. Ron hastily fed the Extendable Ears back under the door and passed one of the strings to Harry.
"Hello, horrible morning, isn't it?" Hermione said brightly to Borgin, who did not answer, but cast her a suspicious look. Humming cheerily, Hermione strolled through the jumble of objects on display.
"Is this necklace for sale?" she asked, pausing beside a glass-fronted case.
"If you've got one and a half thousand Galleons," said Mr. Borgin coldly.
"Oh - er - no, I haven't got quite that much," said Hermione, walking on. "And . . . what about this lovely - um - skull?"
"Sixteen Galleons."
"So it's for sale, then? It isn't being . . . kept for anyone?"
Mr. Borgin squinted at her. Harry had the nasty feeling he knew exactly what Hermione was up to. Apparently Hermione felt she had been rumbled too because she suddenly threw caution to the winds.
"The thing is, that - er - boy who was in here just now, Draco Malfoy, well, he's a friend of mine, and I want to get him a birthday present, but if he's already reserved anything, I obviously don't want to get him the same thing, so ... um ..."
It was a pretty lame story in Harry's opinion, and apparently Borgin thought so too.
"Out," he said sharply. "Get out!"
Hermione did not wait to be asked twice, but hurried to the door with Borgin at her heels. As the bell tinkled again, Borgin slammed the door behind her and put up the closed sign.
"Ah well," said Ron, throwing the cloak back over Hermione. "Worth a try, but you were a bit obvious -"
"Well, next time you can show me how it's done, Master of Mystery!" she snapped.
Ron and Hermione bickered all the way back to Weasleys Wizard Wheezes. Harry felt this was not just about that. He thought this was them getting out their feelings about the Lavender thing. Hermione had tried to cover it up but she's not that good. When they got back to the shop they noticed Hagrid and Mrs. Weasley looking around anxiously for them. They walked into the shop and slipped off the cloak. Harry helped the other two explain that they had been in the back room and they simply hadn't looked carefully enough. But three things were clear to Harry.
Malfoy was planning something. And it was not good.
Tom looked just like Malfoy.
And 3) Hermione was a terrible actress.
A lot of things were left un said by Ron and Hermione. Harry appreciated that they seemed to have come to an understanding. Mrs. Weasley had told them all to pack for Hogwarts the night they got back from Diagon Alley. In Harry and Ron's attic bedroom they were having a chat about Hermione.
"Ron you cant keep doing this. She's going to get sick of it and cut you out." Harry whispered frankly wishing that his best friend would finally see sense and just ask the poor girl out already.
"Hey she's the one who said she didn't like me!" Ron said, he was quite annoyed with Harry. He was trying to forget it but Harry just kept bringing it back up.
"You are an utter fool!"
"Shut up."
"No I wont! She loves you and all you do is moan and pout. Why the hell don't you just-"Harry started his voice rising. But the door burst open to show Fred Weasley. He strode into the room, closing the door with his foot and said
"Harrys right little bro."
"Fred-"Ron started his ears turning red
"No shut up and listen to your god. Now im going to explain this as simply as an ape like you can understand. She fancies you. Understand ape boy?"
"So do something about it! Ask her out!" Harry said, shutting Ron's trunk so nothing would distract him.
"Alright!"
"Good ape." Fred said, patting Ron on the back and wearing a grin. Which only he knew to be as fake as their rubber wands that they sell in Weasley Wizard Wheezes.
Fred POV
My little brother is as thick as cold custard.
"Just get out Fred!" Ron said, he turned around to me and shoved me out the door. I could have stayed in there if I wanted to but I think if I had of I would have hit my dear brother. I stalked off back to George and I's room.
"What were they talking about?" George asked. He was lying on the bed but didn't bother to look up; the ceiling was far more interesting then me. We hadn't packed yet, there were just empty trunks in the middle of the room. I ran my hand through my hair and muttered
"Hermione."
"What about her?"
"Rons gonna ask her out…" I said this with a grim expression on my face
"Im sorry mate." George said, he sprang off the bed and put his arm around my shoulders. He led me to my bed and sat us down.
"Im so stupid…"
"Meh. Mate I know you've fancied her for a long time but you have Angelina too." George said, I knew what he was doing. He was trying to make me move on. But I don't think I could.
"I... I do love Angelina. But I don't think it was ever anything more than a friendship type of love… When I said I would meet her in Hogsmead I was gonna say I loved her but I know I couldn't have. Because I would have been lying!" Tears started to roll down my freckled face now. I felt like my heart might brake any moment. And if Ron and Hermione kissed? I would proberly die from the pain.
"I know Fred I know. But you gotta get a grip. I know there's nothing worse then that. I know how it feels mate! But you gotta snap out of it." George snapped his fingers "If you were to say anything it would cause nothing but pain and –"
"But what if she liked me too?"
"Mate. Hermione Granger your little brother's best friend. Or Ron Weasley your brother?"
"I want Hermione Granger… and a rocket ship."
"There's no way to have both."
"George. I just can't get her out of my head and every time I look at her I have these aches in my chests and I just know its her fault… that –"
"Fred, Ron or Hermione?" It took me a while to think before deciding family was more important.
"Right" George said nodding
"But Hermione is like family."
Ron was having a debate in his head whether or not to ask Hermione Granger out.
I can't
But you love her
What if she doesn't feel the same way?
But what if she does
But there's still the chance that she doesn't
And there's still the change she does
I don't want to loose our friendship
But what if you became something more
And what if we broke up?
You wouldn't though would you
Are you our Divination Teacher?
No?
Then you know nothing about what could or could not happen
But you love her Ron and that can't be ignored
Fred POV
"George, she's the girl of my dreams I cant just let her walk away!" I yelled. I was quite happy our walls were soundproof.
"Fred you have to!"
"But I can't!" I was on my feet now. The tears had stopped and were replaced by anger. Why should Ron get her? Why not me?
"Fred! Family first!" George was on his feet too now
"George you don't get it! She's the most beautiful, most perfect, most lovely, most intelligent, most absurdly amazing girl I have ever met!"
"That doesn't change the fact that she's the girl your brother fancies!"
"And that doesn't change the fact that she's the girl that Im in love with!"
Ron still hadn't decided if he was going to do it or not. They had gotten Ministry cars to Kings Cross and were about to run through the barrier into Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Fred had written to Angelina the previous night and said that he couldn't come to Hogsmeade with her after all and that he was extremely sorry. Her reply wasn't much bothered by it. Ron and Harry ran through the barrier first, then George and Mr. Weasley, then Percy, Annabeth, then Ginny and Mrs. Weasley. Then Tom on his own. This left Fred and Hermione. Fred awkwardly took Hermione's hand and ran through the barrier with her. He let go immediately causing Hermione to have a worried look on her face. She kissed him on the cheek and walked off towards the other Weasleys. Fred flushed a bright red that made him almost the same colour as his vivid red hair and the gleaming red Hogwarts Express. He walked over towards the red headed group tripping over his feet a bit. They said their good byes. Fred and George got onto the train pulling their trunks along first. They had decided to let the Hermione situation drop. Harry and the others got on after them.
"Let's go find a compartment." Harry said to Ron and Hermione after the train had picked up pace and they were speeding along to Harry's favourite place in the world.
Hogwarts.
"Oh Harry. Ron and I have to go to the Prefects carriage. Don't worry we'll be back for some of the journey." And with that Ron and Hermione lugged off carrying their trunks (Harry noticed how Ron offered to help Hermione with hers) Harry turned his head to see that Percy, Annabeth, Tom and Grover had already left to find their own compartment.
"Looks like it's just us then." Ginny said grinning. They found an empty compartment soon enough. Harry stowed his and Ginny's trunks and they sat down opposite each other. Harry just leaned in to kiss Ginny when the door banged open causing him to sit back swiftly.
"Oh. Sorry." Neville said
"It's alright Neville. C'mon and sit down." Harry smiled up at Neville and patted the seat. Neville walked in and stowed his trunk sitting next to Harry.
"So how was your summer Neville?" Ginny asked
"Quite good really!" Neville said brightly "Grans quite proud of me and everything that happened last year. Said im starting to live up to my dad. She even bought me a new wand" He put his hand in his pocket and showed them a brand new wand. "Cherry and unicorn hair," he said proudly. "-oi, come back here, Trevor!"
And he dived under the seat to retrieve his toad as it made one of its frequent bids for freedom.
"Nice one mate." Harry said, catching Trevor and handing him to Neville. The door opened again to show a girl Harry was very fond of since last year. Luna Lovegood.
"Hey Luna!" Harry said, he helped stow Luna's trunk. She sat down next to Ginny.
"So are we continuing the DA this year?" She asked. She was holding a Quibbler a magazine Harry quite liked. On the cover it said there was a free pair of Spectrespecs inside
"No point now we're rid of that old toad." Harry said, sitting back down
"Aw but Harry we learned loads with you!" Neville said
"It was like having friends." This was one of those uncomfortable things Luna often said and which made Harry feel a squirming mixture of pity and embarrassment. Before he could respond, however, there was a disturbance outside their compartment door; a group of sixth-year girls was whispering and giggling together on the other side of the glass.
"You ask him!"
"No, you!"
"I'll do it!"
And one of them, a bold-looking girl with large dark eyes, a prominent chin, and long black hair pushed her way through the door.
"Hi, Harry, I'm Romilda, Romilda Vane," she said loudly and confidently. "Why don't you join us in our compartment? You don't have to sit with them," she added in a stage whisper, indicating to Luna, who was now wearing her free Spectrespecs, which gave her the look of a demented, multicoloured owl. Harry quickly looked at Ginny to make sure she wasn't going to do anything she shouldn't then he said to this girl
"Well I would quite like to sit with my girlfriend," He gestured to Ginny causing Romilda Vane to gawp "And two of my very good friends. Did you know they all fought with me last year? Yeah so if you don't mind." He flicked his wand and the door slammed shut.
"People expect you to have cooler friends than us," said Luna, once again displaying her knack for embarrassing honesty.
"You are cool," said Harry shortly. "None of them was at the Ministry. They didn't fight with me."
"That's a very nice thing to say," beamed Luna. Then she pushed her Spectrespecs further up her nose and settled down to read The Quibbler.
"We didn't face him, though," said Neville, emerging from under the seat with fluff and dust in his hair and a resigned-looking Trevor in his hand. "You did. You should hear my Gran talk about you. 'That Harry Potter's got more backbone than the whole Ministry of Magic put together! She'd give anything to have you as a grand-son. . . ."
Harry laughed uncomfortably and changed the subject to OWL. Results as soon as he could. While Neville recited his grades and wondered aloud whether he would be allowed to take a Transfiguration NEWT, with only an "Acceptable," Harry watched him without really listening.
Neville's childhood had been blighted by Voldemort just as much as Harry's had, but Neville had no idea how close he had come to having Harry's destiny. The prophecy could have referred to either of them, yet, for his own inscrutable reasons, Voldemort had chosen to believe that Harry was the one meant.
Had Voldemort chosen Neville, it would be Neville sitting opposite Harry bearing the lightning-shaped scar and the weight of the prophecy. ... Or would it? Would Neville's mother have died to save him, as Lily had died for Harry? Surely she would. . . . But what if she had been unable to stand between her son and Voldemort? Would there then have been no "Chosen One" at all? An empty seat where Neville now sat and a scarless Harry who would have been kissed good-bye by his own mother, not Ron's?
"You all right, Harry? You look funny," said Neville.
Harry started. "Sorry - I -"
"Wrackspurt got you?" asked Luna sympathetically, peering at Harry through her enormous colored spectacles.
"I -what?"
"A Wrackspurt. They're invisible. They float in through your ears and make your brain go fuzzy," she said. "I thought I felt one zooming around in here."
She flapped her hands at thin air, as though beating off large invisible moths. Harry and Neville caught each other's eyes and hastily began to talk of Quidditch with Ginny.
The weather beyond the train windows was as patchy as it had been all summer; they passed through stretches of the chilling mist, then out into weak, clear sunlight. It was during one of the clear spells, when the sun was visible almost directly overhead, that Ron and Hermione entered the compartment at last.
"Wish the lunch trolley would hurry up, I'm starving," said Ron longingly, slumping into the seat in the middle of Harry and Neville while rubbing his stomach. "Hi, Neville. Hi, Luna, Hey Ginny. Guess what?" he added, turning to Harry. "Malfoys not doing prefect duty. He's just sitting in his compartment with the other Slytherins, we saw him when we passed."
Harry sat up straight, interested. It was not like Malfoy to pass up the chance to demonstrate his power as prefect, which he had happily abused all the previous year.
"What did he do when he saw you?"
"The usual," said Ron indifferently, demonstrating a rude hand
Gesture. "Not like him, though, is it? Well - that is" - he did the hand gesture again" but why isn't he out there bullying first years?
"Dunno," said Harry, but his mind was racing. Didn't this look as though Malfoy had more important things on his mind than bullying younger students?
"Maybe he preferred the Inquisitorial Squad," said Hermione. "Maybe being a prefect seems a bit tame after that."
"I don't think so," said Harry. "I think he's -"
But before he could expound on his theory, the compartment door slid open again and a breathless third-year girl stepped inside.
"I'm supposed to deliver these to Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley and Harry P-Potter," she faltered, as her eyes met Harry's and she turned scarlet. She was holding out two scrolls of parchment tied with violet ribbon. Perplexed, Harry, Neville and Ginny took the scroll addressed to each of them and the girl stumbled back out of the compartment.
"What is it?" Ron demanded, as Harry unrolled his.
"An invitation," said Harry."
Harry,
I would be delighted if you would join me for a bite of lunch in compartment C.
Sincerely
Horace E. F. Slughorn
"Who's Horace Slughorn?" Ginny asked
"No idea." Harry replied
"But what does he want me for?" asked Neville nervously, as though he was expecting detention.
"No idea," repeated Harry, "Listen," he added, seized by a sudden brain wave, "let's go under the Invisibility Cloak, then we might get a good look at Malfoy on the way, see what he's up to.
This idea, however, came to nothing: The corridors, which were packed with people on the lookout for the lunch trolley, were impossible to negotiate while wearing the cloak. Harry stowed it regretfully back in his bag, reflecting that it would have been nice to wear it just to avoid all the staring, which seemed to have increased in intensity even since he had last walked down the train. Every now and then, students would hurtle out of their compartments to get a better look at him. The exception was Cho Chang, who darted into her compartment when she saw Harry coming. As Harry passed the window, he saw her deep in determined conversation with her friend Marietta, who was wearing a very thick layer of makeup that did not entirely obscure the odd formation of pimples still etched across her face. Smirking slightly, Harry pushed on.
When they reached compartment C, they saw at once that they were not Slughorn's only invitees, although judging by the enthusiasm of Slughorn's welcome, Harry was the most warmly anticipated.
"Harry Potter! We haven't been introduced my dear boy. Im Professor Slughorn. You're new Potions Master!" A round cheerful looking man with a walrus like moustache shook Harry's hand first "Neville Longbottom! Very nice to meet you young man! Take a seat. And Ginny Weasley! I must say your Bat Boogy Hex was very impressive young lady. Oh take a seat!" He recognized a Slytherin from their year, a tall black boy with high cheekbones and long, slanting eyes; there were also two seventh-year boys Harry did not know and, squashed in the corner beside Slughorn. "Now, do you know everyone?" Slughorn asked Harry and Neville. "Blaise Zabini is in your year, of course -"
Zabini did not make any sign of recognition or greeting, nor did Harry or Neville or Ginny: Gryffindor and Slytherin students loathed each other on principle.
"This is Cormac McLaggen; perhaps you've come across each other? No?"
McLaggen, a large, wiry-haired youth, raised a hand, and Harry, Neville and Ginny nodded back at him.
"- And this is Marcus Belby, I don't know whether -?"
Belby, who was thin and nervous-looking, gave a strained smile.
"Well now, this is most pleasant," said Slughorn cosily. "A chance to get to know you all a little better. Here, take a napkin. I've packed my own lunch; the trolley, as I remember it, is heavy on Liquorice wands and a poor old man's digestive systems aren't quite up to such things. . . Pheasant, Belby?"
Belby started and accepted what looked like half a cold pheasant.
"I was just telling young Marcus here that I had the pleasure of teaching his Uncle Damocles," Slughorn told Harry and Neville, now passing around a basket of rolls. "Outstanding wizard, outstanding, and his Order of Merlin most well-deserved. Do you see much of your uncle, Marcus?"
Unfortunately, Belby had just taken a large mouthful of pheasant; in his haste to answer Slughorn he swallowed too fast, turned purple, and began to choke.
"Anapneo," said Slughorn calmly, pointing his wand at Belby, whose airway seemed to clear at once.
"Not. . . not much of him, no," gasped Belby, his eyes streaming.
"Well, of course, I daresay he's busy," said Slughorn, looking questioningly at Belby. "I doubt he invented the Wolfsbane Potion without considerable hard work!"
"I suppose . . ." said Belby, who seemed afraid to take another bite of pheasant until he was sure that Slughorn had finished with him. "Er ... he and my dad don't get on very well, you see, so I don't really know much about..."
His voice tailed away as Slughorn gave him a cold smile and turned to McLaggen instead.
"Now, you, Cormac," said Slughorn, "I happen to know you see a lot of your Uncle Tiberius, because he has a rather splendid picture of the two of you hunting nogtails in, I think, Norfolk?"
"Oh, yeah, that was fun, that was," said McLaggen. "We went with Bertie Higgs and Rufus Scrimgeour - this was before he became Minister, obviously -"
"Ah, you know Bertie and Rufus too?" beamed Slughorn, now offering around a small tray of pies; somehow, Belby was missed out. "Now tell me . . ."
It was as Harry had suspected. Everyone here seemed to have been invited because they were connected to somebody well-known or influential - everyone except Ginny. Zabini, who was interrogated after McLaggen, turned out to have a famously beautiful witch for a mother (from what Harry could make out, she had been married seven times, each of her husbands dying mysteriously and leaving her mounds of gold). It was Neville's turn next: This was a very uncomfortable ten minutes, for Neville's parents, well-known Aurors, had been tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange and a couple of Death Eater cronies. At the end of Neville's interview, Harry had the impression that Slughorn was reserving judgment on Neville, yet to see whether he had any of his parents' flair.
"And now," said Slughorn, shifting massively in his seat with the air of a compeer introducing his star act. "Harry Potter! Where to begin?" He contemplated Harry for a moment as though he was a particularly large and succulent piece of pheasant, and then said, "The Chosen One,' they're calling you now!"
Harry said nothing. Belby, McLaggen, and Zabini were all staring at him.
"Of course," said Slughorn, watching Harry closely, "there have been rumours for years. ... I remember when - well - after that terrible night - Lily - James - and you survived - and the word was that you must have powers beyond the ordinary -"
Zabini gave a tiny little cough that was clearly supposed to indicate amused scepticism. An angry voice burst out from behind Slughorn.
"Yeah, Zabini, because you're so talented ... at posing. . . ."
"Oh dear!" chuckled Slughorn comfortably, looking around at Ginny, who was glaring at Zabini around Slughorn's great belly. "You want to be careful, Blaise! I saw this young lady perform the most marvellous Bat-Bogey Hex as I was passing! I wouldn't cross her!"
Zabini merely looked contemptuous.
"Anyway," said Slughorn, turning back to Harry. "Such rumours this summer. Of course, one doesn't know what to believe, the Prophet has been known to print inaccuracies, make mistakes - but there seems little doubt, given the number of witnesses, that there was quite a disturbance at the Ministry and that you were there in the thick of it all!"
Harry, who could not see any way out of this without flatly lying, nodded but still said nothing. Slughorn beamed at him.
"So modest, so modest, no wonder Dumbledore is so fond - you were there, then? But the rest of the stories - so sensational, of course, one doesn't know quite what to believe - this fabled prophecy, for instance -"
"We never heard a prophecy," said Neville, turning geranium pink as he said it.
"That's right," said Ginny staunchly. "Neville and I were both there too, and all this 'Chosen One' rubbish is just the Prophet making things up as usual."
"You were both there too, were you?" said Slughorn with great interest, looking from Ginny to Neville, but both of them sat clam-like before his encouraging smile.
"Yes . . . well... it is true that the Prophet often exaggerates, of course. . ." Slughorn said, sounding a little disappointed. "I remember dear Gwenog telling me… Gwenog Jones, I mean, of course, Captain of the Holyhead Harpies -"
He meandered off into a long-winded reminiscence, but Harry had the distinct impression that Slughorn had not finished with him, and that he had not been convinced by Neville and Ginny.
The afternoon wore on with more anecdotes about illustrious wizards Slughorn had taught, all of whom had been delighted to join what he called the "Slug Club" at Hogwarts. Harry could not wait to leave, but couldn't see how to do so politely. Finally the train emerged from yet another long misty stretch into a red sunset, and Slughorn looked around, blinking in the twilight.
"Good gracious, it's getting dark already! I didn't notice that they'd lit the lamps! You'd better go and change into your robes, all of you. McLaggen, you must drop by and borrow that book on nogtails. Harry, Blaise - any time you're passing. Same goes for you, miss," he twinkled at Ginny. "Well, off you go, off you go!"
"That was torture." Ginny grimaced. Harry's eyes were on Zabini though. His eyes followed her walking down the hall.
"I gotta go check something ill see you guys in the compartment in a bit." He said
"Harry-"Ginny started but Harry had already thrown the cloak over himself and was running along after Zabini.