The Eye of the Snake

           HermioneploughedherwaybacktoHagrid’scabinthroughtwofeetofsnowonSundaymorning.HarryandRonwantedtogowithher,buttheirmountainofhomeworkhadreachedanalarmingheightagain,sotheyremainedgrudginglyinthecommonroom,Tyingtoignorethegleefulshoutsdriftingupfromthegroundsoutside,wherestudentswereenjoyingthemselvesskatingonthefrozenlake,tobogganingand,worstofall,bewitchingsnowballstozoomuptoGryffindorTowerandraphardonthewindows.

           ’Oi!’bellowedRon,finallylosingpatienceandstickinghisheadoutofthewindow,’Iamaprefectandifonemoresnowballhitsthiswindow—OUCH!’

           Hewithdrewhisheadsharply,hisfacecoveredinsnow.

           ’It’sFredandGeorge,’hesaidbitterly,slammingthewindowbehindhim.’Gits...’

           HermionereturnedfromHagrid’sjustbeforelunch,shiveringslightly,herrobesdamptotheknees.

           ’So?’saidRon,lookingupwhensheentered.’Gotallhislessonsplannedforhim?’

           ’Well,Itried,’shesaiddully,sinkingintoachairbesideHarry.Shepulledoutherwandandgaveitacomplicatedlittlewavesothathotairstreamedoutofthetip;shethenpointedthisatherrobes,whichbegantosteamastheydriedout.’Hewasn’teventherewhenIarrived,Iwasknockingforatleasthalfanhour.AndthenhecamestumpingoutoftheForest—’

           Harrygroaned.TheForbiddenForestwasteemingwiththekindofcreaturesmostlikelytogetHagridthesack.’What’shekeepinginthere?Didhesay?’heasked.

           ’No,’saidHermionemiserably.