Supplements

6.1-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Later!” whispered Harry, darting after Zabini as quietly as possible, though the rattling of the train made such caution almost pointless.”

Ginny muttered something about meeting up with Dean, parting ways with Neville as he made his way back to his compartment. The door opened before he could reach it. Lavender and Parvati were backing out of the compartment and Lavender was saying loudly, “…if you say so, Hermione.”

Parvati spotted Neville first and nudged Lavender.

“Neville!” she nearly sang, turning to face him. “Parvati and I were just asking Ron and the others about what happened at the Ministry.”

“It sounds like Hermione’s just told you what we know,” Neville mumbled in response, already tiring of these questions and wondering how much worse it must have been for Harry. Lavender looked a bit crestfallen, but slunk off with Parvati quietly.

Neville rejoined the others in the compartment, shutting the door behind him.

“Where’s Harry?” Hermione asked shrewdly.

“No idea,” Neville answered with a shrug. “Tore off up the other end of the train, not sure what he was doing.”

“Probably trying to sort out that Wrackspurt,” said Luna airily, still examining The Quibbler from behind her Spectrespecs.

“What did Slughorn want anyway?” asked Ron as Neville seated himself again.

“To rub elbows with the rich and famous,” Neville guessed, shrugging again. “Seemed to be the point anyway. It was Harry, me, Blaise Zabini, erm…some bloke called Belby, Cormac McLaggen.”

“Think I’ve heard that name somewhere,” said Ron. “Wasn’t he that bloke who ate the pound of doxy eggs last year?”

“I wouldn’t know about that,” Hermione answered, “but I’ve definitely heard the name before. Parvati kept Lavender and the rest of us up half the night talking about how fanciable he is.”

“Suppose you’d like to shag him?” Ron muttered moodily, staring at the floor.

“What?!” Hermione shot an angry look at Ron, shocked that he would say something so rude in front of Neville and Luna. “Parvati and Lavender were the ones giggling over him,” she defended.

Ron leaned toward Hermione’s ear and whispered so the others wouldn’t hear.

“Planning on throwing your knickers at him next?”

“Ron, that’s incredibly hurtful.” Hermione’s eyes had started to water and Neville watched her curiously. “I haven’t-” she glanced at Luna and Neville. Luna was still studiously examining The Quibbler and Neville looked away quickly. “If you still think that I’m-” But she stopped again, eyes making another sweep of her company. She folded her arms over her chest and watched the ceiling resolutely.

“Ginny was in Slughorn’s compartment too,” Neville said, feeling guilty for the watery look in Hermione’s eyes and hoping to get them on a new subject.

“Was she?” Asked Luna helpfully, after a prolonged silence from Ron and Hermione. She had set down The Quibbler at last and was now watching Neville through her psychedelic Spectrespecs.

“Yeah,” Neville replied, hoping Ron and Hermione would soften up and join the conversation. “Apparently Slughorn saw her doing a Bat-Bogey Hex on Zacharias Smith and thought she pulled it off well or something.”

“Maybe I’ll hex Zacharias Smith,” Ron said thoughtfully.

“I think Zacharias Smith would probably win that fight,” Hermione retorted frostily, still looking at the ceiling. Neville frowned and Luna patted his shoulder sympathetically.

The corridors were almost completely empty now. Nearly everyone had returned to their carriages to change into their school robes and pack up their possessions. Though he was as close as he could get to Zabini without touching him, Harry was not quick enough to slip into the compartment when Zabini opened the door. Zabini was already sliding it shut when Harry hastily stuck out his foot to prevent it closing.