The seer overheard

           ThefactthatHarryPotterwasgoingoutwithGinnyWeasleyseemedtointerestagreatnumberofpeople,mostofthemgirls,yetHarryfoundhimselfnewlyandhappilyimpervioustogossipoverthenextfewweeks.Afterall,itmadeaverynicechangetobetalkedaboutbecauseofsomethingthatwasmakinghimhappierthanhecouldrememberbeingforaverylongtime,ratherthanbecausehehadbeeninvolvedinhorrificscenesofDarkmagic.

           "You’dthinkpeoplehadbetterthingstogossipabout,"saidGinny,asshesatonthecommon-roomfloor,leaningagainstHarry’slegsandreadingtheDailyProphet."ThreeDementorattacksinaweek,andallRomildaVanedoesisaskmeifit’strueyou’vegotaHippogrifftattooedacrossyourchest."

           RonandHermionebothroaredwithlaughter.Harryignoredthem.

           "Whatdidyoutellher?"

           "Itoldherit’saHungarianHorntail,"saidGinny,turningapageofthenewspaperidly."Muchmoremacho."

           "Thanks,"saidHarry,grinning."AndwhatdidyoutellherRon’sgot?"

           "APygmyPuff,butIdidn’tsaywhere."

           RonscowledasHermionerolledaroundlaughing.

           "Watchit,"hesaid,pointingwaminglyatHarryandGinny."JustbecauseI’vegivenmypermissiondoesn’tmeanIcan’twithdrawit—"

           "’Yourpermission’",scoffedGinny."Sincewhendidyougivemepermissiontodoanything?Anyway,yousaidyourselfyou’dratheritwasHarrythanMichaelorDean."

           "Yeah,Iwould,"saidRongrudgingly.