𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐝 {𝐇. 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫}

86

Where was Dumbledore, and what was he doing? Johnny caught sight of the Headmaster only twice over the next few weeks. He rarely appeared at meals anymore, and Johnny was sure Hermione was right in thinking that he was leaving the school for days at a time. Had Dumbledore forgotten the lessons he was supposed to be giving Harry and Johnny?

Halfway through October came their first trip of the term to Hogsmeade. They had wondered whether these trips would still be allowed, given the increasingly tight security measures around the school, but was pleased to know that they were going ahead; it was always good to get out of the castle grounds for a few hours.

Johnny awoke in the Gryffindor boys dormitory on the morning of the Hogwarts trip. His friends had asked him to spend the night and he found himself top and tailing with Seamus, who was practically hanging out of the bed.

"Morning," Johnny said to Harry who was reading his copy of Advance-Potion Making. Harry muttered a quiet morning back and pointed his wand at Ron, he gave it an upward flick.

"Aaaaaaaargh!"

There was a flash of light and the room was full of voices: everyone had woken up as Ron had let out a yell. Harry sent Advanced Potion-Making flying in panic; Ron was dangling upside-down in midair as though an invisible hook had hoisted him up by the ankle.

"Sorry!" yelled Harry, as Johnny, Nick, Kieran, Dean and Seamus roared with laughter, and Neville picked himself up from the floor, having fallen out of bed. "Hang on--I'll let you down--"

Harry groped for the potion book and riffled through it in a panic, trying to find the right page; at last he located it and deciphered the cramped word underneath the spell: praying that this was the counter-jinx. There was another flash of light, and Ron fell in a heap onto his mattress.

"Sorry," repeated Harry weakly, while the other boys continued to roar with laughter.

"Tomorrow," said Ron in a muffled voice, "I'd rather you set the alarm clock."

By the time Johnny, Harry and Ron had dressed, padding themselves out with several of Mrs. Weasley's hand-knitted sweaters and carrying cloaks, scarves, and gloves, Ron's shock had subsided and he had decided that the new spell was highly amusing; so amusing, in fact, that he lost no time in regaling Hermione with the story as they sat down for breakfast.

"...and then there was another flash of light and I landed on the bed again!" Ron grinned, helping himself to sausages.

Hermione hadn't cracked a smile during this anecdote, and now turned an expression of wintry disapproval upon Harry.

"Was this spell, by any chance, another one from that potion book of yours?" she asked.

Harry frowned at her.

"Always jump to the worst conclusion, don't you?"

"Was it?"

"Well... yeah, it was, but so what?"

"So you just decided to try out an unknown, handwritten incantation and see what would happen?"

"Why does it matter if it's handwritten?" said Harry, preferring not to answer the rest of the question.

"Because it's probably not Ministry of Magic approved," said Hermione. "And also," she added, as Harry and Ron rolled their eyes, "because I'm starting to think this Prince character was a bit dodgy."

Both Harry and Ron shouted her down at once.

"It was a laugh!" said Ron, upending a ketchup bottle over his sausages. "Just a laugh, Hermione, that's all!"