Birthday surprises

           ThenextdayHarryconfidedinbothRonandHermionethetaskthatDumbledorehadsethim,thoughseparately,forHermionestillrefusedtoremaininRon’spresencelongerthanittooktogivehimacontemptuouslook.

           RonthoughtthatHarrywasunlikelytohaveanytroublewithSlughornatall.

           "Helovesyou,"hesaidoverbreakfast,wavinganairyforkfuloffriedegg."Won’trefuseyouanything,willhe?NothislittlePotionsPrince.Justhangbackafterclassthisafternoonandaskhim."

           Hermione,however,tookagloomierview.

           "HemustbedeterminedtohidewhatreallyhappenedifDumbledorecouldn’tgetitoutofhim,"shesaidinalowvoice,astheystoodinthedeserted,snowycourtyardatbreak."Horcruxes...Horcruxes...I’veneverevenheardofthem..."

           "Youhaven’t?"

           Harrywasdisappointed;hehadhopedthatHermionemighthavebeenabletogivehimaclueastowhatHorcruxeswere.

           "TheymustbereallyadvancedDarkmagic,orwhywouldVoldemorthavewantedtoknowaboutthem?Ithinkit’sgoingtobedifficulttogettheinformation,Harry,you’llhavetobeverycarefulabouthowyouapproachSlughorn,thinkoutastrategy..."

           "RonreckonsIshouldjusthangbackafterPotionsthisafternoon..."

           "Oh,well,ifWon-Wonthinksthat,you’dbetterdoit,"shesaid,flaringupatonce."Afterall,whenhasWon-Won’sjudgementeverbeenfaulty?"

           "Hermione,can’tyou—"

           "No!"shesaidangrily,andstormedaway,leavingHarryaloneandankle-deepinsnow.