Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback

           Quirrell,however,musthavebeenbraverthanthey’dthought. Intheweeksthatfollowedhedidseemtobegettingpalerandthinner,butitdidn’tlookasthoughhe’dcrackedyet. 

           Everytimetheypassedthethird-floorcorridor,Harry,Ron,andHermionewouldpresstheirearstothedoortocheckthatFluffywasstillgrowlinginside. Snapewassweepingaboutinhisusualbadtemper,whichsurelymeantthattheStonewasstillsafe. WheneverHarrypassedQuirrellthesedayshegavehimanencouragingsortofsmile,andRonhadstartedtellingpeopleoffforlaughingatQuirrell’sstutter. 

           Hermione,however,hadmoreonhermindthantheSorcerer’sStone. Shehadstarteddrawingupstudyschedulesandcolorcodingallhernotes. HarryandRonwouldn’thaveminded,butshekeptnaggingthemtodothesame. 

           "Hermione,theexamsareagesaway." 

           "Tenweeks,"Hermionesnapped. "That’snotages,that’slikeasecondtoNicolasFlamel." 

           "Butwe’renotsixhundredyearsold,"Ronremindedher. "Anyway,whatareyoustudyingfor,youalreadyknowit’sanA." 

           "WhatamIstudyingfor? Areyoucrazy? Yourealizeweneedtopasstheseexamstogetintothesecondyear? They’reveryimportant,Ishouldhavestartedstudyingamonthago,Idon’tknowwhat’sgottenintome..." 

           Unfortunately,theteachersseemedtobethinkingalongthesamelinesasHermione. TheypiledsomuchhomeworkonthemthattheEasterholidaysweren’tnearlyasmuchfunastheChristmasones.