The Patronus

           HarryknewthatHermionehadmeantwell,butthatdidn’tstophimfrombeingangrywithher.Hehadbeentheownerofthebestbroomintheworldforafewshorthours,andnow,becauseofherinterference,hedidn’tknowwhetherhewouldeverseeitagain.HewaspositivethattherewasnothingwrongwiththeFireboltnow,butwhatsortofstatewoulditbeinonceithadbeensubjectedtoallsortsofanti-jinxtests?

           RonwasfuriouswithHermionetoo.Asfarashewasconcerned,thestripping-downofabrand-newFireboltwasnothinglessthancriminaldamage.Hermione,whoremainedconvincedthatshehadactedforthebest,startedavoidingthecommonroom.HarryandRonsupposedshehadtakenrefugeinthelibraryanddidn’ttrytopersuadehertocomeback.Allinall,theyweregladwhentherestoftheschoolreturnedshortlyafterNewYear,andGryffindorTowerbecamecrowdedandnoisyagain.WoodsoughtHarryoutonthenightbeforetermstarted.

           "HadagoodChristmas?"hesaid,andthen,withoutwaitingforananswer,hesatdown,loweredhisvoice,andsaid,"I’vebeen,doingsomethinkingoverChristmas,Harry.Afterlastmatch,youknow.IftheDementorscometothenextone...Imean...wecan’taffordyouto—well—"

           Woodbrokeoff,lookingawkward.

           "I’mworkingonit,"saidHarryquickly."ProfessorLupinsaidhe’dtrainmetowardofftheDementors.Weshouldbestartingthisweek.Hesaidhe’dhavetimeafterChristmas."

           "Ah,"saidWood,hisexpressionclearing."Well,inthatcase—Ireallydidn’twanttoloseyouasSeeker,Harry.