Talons and Tea Leaves

           WhenHarry,Ron,andHermioneenteredtheGreatHallforbreakfastthenextday,thefirstthingtheysawwasDracoMalfoy,whoseemedtobeentertainingalargegroupofSlytherinswithaveryfunnystory.Astheypassed,Malfoydidaridiculousimpressionofaswooningfitandtherewasaroaroflaughter.

           "Ignorehim,"saidHermione,whowasrightbehindHarry."Justignorehim,it’snotworthit..."

           "Hey,Potter!"shriekedPansyParkinson,aSlytheringirlwithafacelikeapug."Potter!TheDementorsarecoming,Potter!Woooooooooo!"

           HarrydroppedintoaseatattheGryffindortable,nexttoGeorgeWeasley.

           "Newthird-yearcourseschedules,"saidGeorge,passingthen,over."What’supwithyou,Harry?"

           "Malfoy,"saidRon,sittingdownonGeorge’sothersideandglaringoverattheSlytherintable.

           GeorgelookedupintimetoseeMalfoypretendingtofaintwithterroragain.

           "Thatlittlegit,"hesaidcalmly."Hewasn’tsocockylastnightwhentheDementorsweredownatourendofthetrain.Camerunningintoourcompartment,didn’the,Fred?"

           "Nearlywethimself,"saidFred,withacontemptuousglanceatMalfoy.

           "Iwasn’ttoohappymyself,"saidGeorge."They’rehorriblethings,thoseDementors..."

           "Sortoffreezeyourinsides,don’tthey?"saidFred.

           "Youdidn’tpassout,though,didyou?"saidHarryinalowvoice.

           "Forgetit,Harry,"saidGeorgebracingly."DadhadtogoouttoAzkabanonetime,remember,Fred?Andhesaiditwastheworstplacehe’deverbeen,hecamebackallweakandshaking...