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At the Hog's Head
In twos
and threes the new arrivals settled around Harry, Ron, and Hermione,
some looking rather excited, others curious. Luna Lovegood gazing
dreamily into space. When everybody had pulled up a chair, the chatter
died down. Every eye was upon Harry.
"Er,"
said Hermione, her voice slightly higher than usual out of nerves. "Well
-- er --hi."
The
group focused its attention on her instead, though eyes continued to
dart back regularly to Harry.
“Well .
. . erm . . . well, you know why you’re here. Erm . . . well, Harry had
the idea -- I mean,” -- Harry had thrown her a sharp look -- “I had the
idea -- that it be good if people who wanted to study Defense Against
the Dark Arts -- and I mean, really study it, you know, not the rubbish
that Umbridge is doing with us” -- (Hermione’s voice became suddenly
much stronger and more confident) -- “because nobody could call that
Defense Against the Dark Arts” -- “Hear, Hear” said Anthony Goldstein,
and Hermione looked heartened -- “well, I thought it would be good if
we, well, took manners into our own hands.”
She
paused, looked sideways at Harry, and went on, “And by that I mean
learning how to defend ourselves properly, not just theory but the real
spells -- “
“You
want to pass your Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. too though, I
bet?” said Michael Corner.
“Of
course I do,” said Hermione at once. “But I want more then that, I want
to be properly trained in Defense because…because…” She took a great
breath and finished, “Because Lord Voldemort’s back.” |
