In the Great Hall, Harry and Hermione were quietly discussing last night's events over breakfast.
"...Anyway, I promised Dumbledore I'd keep an eye on you," Hermione said seriously, putting down her apple pie.
Harry swallowed his steak and agreed he wouldn't be as impulsive as he was last term. Hermione nodded in satisfaction, taking a bite of her delicious apple pie.
"Dumbledore's going to find a master to teach me Legilimency," Harry suddenly announced.
Hermione immediately began to cough violently. Harry handed her the orange juice.
"Cough, cough, thank you." Hermione drank the orange juice, still coughing, then eagerly blurted out, "Harry, did Professor Dumbledore really agree to teach you Legilimency?"
"Dumbledore agreed to find a teacher for me," Harry corrected.
But Hermione didn't think there was much of a difference; it still meant Dumbledore approved of Harry practicing Legilimency.
"Harry, do you think it might be Professor Lockhart? After all, the books say he's good at delving into other people's minds. Maybe Professor Lockhart is a Legilimency master too!" Hermione grew excited as she spoke, even pulling out the signed collector's edition of Gadding with Ghouls (the one Lockhart gave Harry in Chapter 45) from her bag. She opened it to a page and showed it to Harry. "Harry, look right here..."
Because of Dumbledore's new rule, many students were lingering in the Great Hall, waiting for Prefects to escort them. So, when Hermione pulled out Lockhart's signed book, a crowd quickly gathered around her.
"Granger, where did you get that?" Lavender's voice was filled with envy.
Parvati thought the book looked familiar, so she tentatively asked, "Hermione, isn't that the one Professor Lockhart gave to Potter?"
Angelina came closer for a look, then stated definitively, "Yes, that's Professor Lockhart's book."
It was Hermione's first time being the center of attention among the girls, and she couldn't help but get a little carried away. "That's right, Professor Lockhart gave it to Harry, and Harry gave it to me!"
Listening to the girls gush over Lockhart, Harry exchanged a blank stare with Fred.
In the Gryffindor common room, the Weasley twins were lounging on a sofa, sipping Butterbeer and chatting.
"Wood's absolutely fuming. He wanted to go beg Professor McGonagall, but the Fat Lady said he couldn't leave the common room without a Prefect," George told Fred.
"Poor Wood. I don't know why Dumbledore hasn't dealt with this attack—oh!" Fred yelped, startled by Ginny suddenly appearing in front of him and making a face.
Seeing Fred jump, Ginny sat down and high-fived George. "What attack? Don't try to fool me, I heard everything." Ginny took a swig of Butterbeer and pressed for details.
To Ginny's surprise, Fred readily spilled the beans, only asking her not to tell anyone.
"We weren't going to tell you, but considering you often sneak out at night, Fred and I talked it over and decided it'd be best if we did," George explained.
"So Penelope Clearwater was petrified! That's why Percy's been so quiet today," Ginny said.
At her words, the twins exchanged surprised glances.
George: "I didn't tell her." Fred: "I didn't tell Ginny."
Ginny rolled her eyes, deciding not to bother with her two goofy brothers.
Just then, Percy returned with the second-year students, including Ron. The Weasley twins immediately tensed up, watching Percy warily. This morning, after Dumbledore announced that no one could go to Hogsmeade, they'd immediately stocked up on Butterbeer, planning to make a fortune. Now, they worried Percy might confiscate their contraband. Fortunately, Percy just sat silently by the fireplace, and they breathed a sigh of relief.
Ginny also let out a sigh of relief. It seemed Percy wasn't going to talk about what happened last night. Thinking this, Ginny gulped down the Butterbeer in her hand.
Ron, seeing drinks available, plopped himself down and reached for a Butterbeer, but Fred pushed his hand away.
"These are for sale. If you want one, you'll have to pay," George said, gathering the remaining Butterbeers.
"What? I'm your own brother!" Ron exclaimed, shocked.
At this point, Ginny simply grabbed another bottle for herself and started drinking. Ron's eyes widened. "Merlin's beard, how come Ginny gets one?"
Seeing Ron's voice getting louder, Fred worried he might attract Percy, so he reluctantly gave him a Butterbeer.
"Here, drink up. Don't say your big brothers don't love you," George said. Ron happily took the Butterbeer and began to drink.
After a bit of chitchat, Ron inadvertently noticed Percy sitting alone by the fireplace. Ever since Penelope was petrified, Percy had been utterly distracted, so much so that even Ron had noticed.
"What's wrong with Percy?" Ron asked curiously.
Fred, George, and Ginny exchanged glances, realizing Ron genuinely didn't seem to know about Percy and Penelope's relationship. So Fred casually made up an excuse to placate Ron: "Nothing much. Percy just found out he might not be Head Boy next year."
But Ron unexpectedly argued, "Nonsense! Who else could contend for Head Boy with Percy? Flint, that big oaf?" Head Boys and Girls are usually chosen from among Prefects and Quidditch Captains, and Flint was the Slytherin Quidditch Captain, also a sixth-year this year. But Ron's impression of him was that he was a brainless oaf, which was why Ron didn't readily believe Fred.
Fred was a little surprised Ron had thought that far, but he continued the deception. "You're right, it is Flint. Snape's been pushing for him." This time, Ron believed it; after all, Snape was perfectly capable of doing something like that.
Seeing Ron nod, Fred pressed his advantage: "Ron, we're Percy's family. At a time like this, we have to stand behind him."
Ron was clearly swayed, so he walked over to the fireplace with a look of deep sympathy and began to comfort the silent Percy, who looked utterly bewildered. Watching this comical scene, Fred had to bite his lip hard to keep from laughing out loud.
Ginny, meanwhile, sidled up to George and whispered, "Percy seems really serious about this, but he wouldn't even admit Penelope was his girlfriend to me the other day."
"You know how Percy dreams of working for the Ministry of Magic, and Penelope isn't pure-blood. He's probably being an idiot about it again," George whispered back.
Ginny nodded in agreement. Just then, Percy got up and left, leaving Ron standing there looking rather awkward.
"Percy definitely didn't tell Ron the truth," Ginny said sympathetically, looking at Ron.
Fred glared at Ginny, warning her not to say anything, then loudly called Ron back. "So? Did Percy say anything?" Fred asked, feigning enthusiasm.
"Percy told me to get a brain. What a waste of good intentions," Ron complained indignantly.
At that, Fred burst out laughing. Ginny and George exchanged glances and said in unison, "Poor little Ronnie."
Ron: ?