corridor was almost upon him. Professor McGonagall gave him a curt nod and retreated into the staff room, leaving Harry to be swept out into the courtyard with the crowd. He spotted Ron and Hermione already standing in a sheltered corner, their cloak collars turned up against the wind. Harry slit open the scroll as he hurried towards them and found five words in Sirius's handwriting:'Why was Dung hiding from us?' asked Ron, sounding disappointed. 'We'd've liked to've seen him.' ( 2020-01-28 )

'We are continuing with our Strengthening Solution today. You will find your mixtures as you left them last lesson; it correctly made they should have matured well over the weekend - instructions - ' he waved his wand again ' - on the board. Carry on.''Hope this clears up. What's up with you, Hermione?' ( 2020-01-28 )

'Hi,' he said, grinning.Neville said nothing; he merely snatched up his own bag and stalked off into the dungeon. ( 2020-01-28 )

'On duty doing what?' said Ron quickly.Harry whipped round. Sirius's untidy dark head was sitting in the fire again. ( 2020-01-28 )

Ron sniggered. Lavender shot him a disgusted look.'I can't, they're not technically doing anything wrong,' said Hermione through gritted teeth. They're quite within their rights to eat the foul things themselves and I can't find a rule that says the other idiots aren't entitled to buy them, not unless they're proven to be dangerous in some way and it doesn't look as though they are.' ( 2020-01-28 )

'You do?' said Harry, his heart lifting.'You and Umbridge have got something in common,' Harry told Hermione quietly when they met again in Defence Against the Dark Arts. 'She obviously reckons Trelawney's an old fraud, too . . . looks like she's put her on probation.' ( 2020-01-28 )

Hedwig was quivering; when Harry made to touch the wing she gave a little jump, all her feathers on end as though she was inflating herself, and gazed at him reproachfully.'Here come Ernie and Hannah Abbott,' said Ron, looking over his shoulder. 'And those Ravenclaw blokes and Smith . . . and no one looks very spotty.' ( 2020-01-28 )