Sectumsempra

           Exhaustedbutdelightedwithhisnight’swork,HarrytoldRonandHermioneeverythingthathadhappenedduringnextmorning’sCharmslesson(havingfirstcasttheMuffliatospelluponthosenearestthem).TheywerebothsatisfyinglyimpressedbythewayhehadwheedledthememoryoutofSlughornandpositivelyawedwhenhetoldthemaboutVoldemort’sHorcruxesandDumbledore’spromisetotakeHarryalong,shouldhefindanotherone.

           "Wow,"saidRon,whenHarryhadfinallyfinishedtellingthemeverything;Ronwaswavinghiswandveryvaguelyinthedirectionoftheceilingwithoutpayingtheslightestbitofattentiontowhathewasdoing."Wow.You’reactuallygoingtogowithDumbledore...andtryanddestroy...wow."

           "Ron,you’remakingitsnow,"saidHermionepatiently,grabbinghiswristandredirectinghiswandawayfromtheceilingfromwhich,sureenough,largewhiteflakeshadstartedtofall.LavenderBrown,Harrynoticed,glaredatHermionefromaneighboringtablethroughveryredeyes,andHermioneimmediatelyletgoofRon’sarm.

           "Ohyeah,"saidRon,lookingdownathisshouldersinvaguesurprise."Sorry...lookslikewe’veallgothorribledandruffnow..."

           HebrushedsomeofthefakesnowoffHermione’sshoulderLavenderburstintotears.Ronlookedimmenselyguiltyandturnedhisbackonher.

           "Wesplitup,"hetoldHarryoutofthecornerofhismouth,"Lastnight.WhenshesawmecomingoutofthedormitorywithHermione.Obviouslyshecouldn’tseeyou,soshethoughtithadjustbeenthetwoofus."

           "Ah,"saidHarry.