gwithherquilltotheothersideoftheroom.

ronlooksatwhereshe’spointing,blinks,stares,andthenalsosays,“huh.”

harry,whoissittingarossfromthemandthusfaingbakwardsfromtheirsoureofuriosity,turnsonimpulse.“whatareyouguyslookingat?”

hesansthegreathall,butseesnothingoutoftheordinary.it’salreadyteinthem,andsothegreathallisnotasrowdedasitusuallyisduringmeals.studentsmiroundandgroupsoffriendslustertogetherinhithatandughter.heturnsbaktohisownfriends.“idon’tseeit.”

ronsnorts,turningbaktohisbelovedpie.“i’msurprised.you’realwaysthefirsttoseehim.”

harry’sheeksslowlyolourasherealizeswhothey’retalkingabout.“ihaven’t…imean.nottely.”

ronrollshiseyes.“iseeyouwiththemapatnight,harry.”

“idon’tuseittolookforhim!”harrydefends,blushingfuriously,butheimmediatelyknowsthatit’sapathetilie.ronandhermione’seyebrowsarebothraised.“notjusthim.”

“bolloks,”ronsays.“youbetterstartusingitonastoriagreengrass,too.they’regettingawfullytouhy.”

it’sreallytakingalotofself-ontrolnottoturninhisseatrightnow.there’sanaheinhisheart,buthe’susedtothat,sohestubbornlyignoresit.“well,it’snotanyofmybusiness,isit?”

hermionesmilesathimsympathetially.“iguessnot.”

harrystartslookingforastoriagreengrassinthemarauders’map.