; thats always unlocked.”
when malfoy had gone, ron and harry looked at each other. ”what
is a wizards duel?” said harry. ”and what do you mean, youre
my sed?”
”well, a seds there to take over if you die,” said ron
casually, getti on his cold pie. g the
look on harrys face, he added quickly, ”but people only die
in proper duels, you know, with real wizards. the most you and
malfoyll be able to do is send sparks at each other. her of
you knows enough magiy real damage. i bet he expected
you to refuse, anyway.”
”and what if i wave my wand and nothing happens?”
”throun the nested. ”excuse
me.”
they both looked up. it was hermier.
”t a perso ihis place?” said ron.
hermione ignored him ao harry.
”i t help what you and malf --”
”bet you uttered.
”--and you mustnt g around the sight,
this youll lose gryffindor if yht, and
youre bous really very selfish of you.”
”and its really none of your business,” said harry.
”good-bye,” said ron.
all the same, it wasnt what youd call the perfed to the
day, harry thought, as he lay awake much later listening to dean
and seamus falling asleep (neville wasnt ba the hospital
wing). ro all evening giving him advice such as ”if he
tries to curse you, youd better dodge it, because i t remember
how to block them.” there was a very good ce they were going to
get caught by filrs. norris, and harry felt he ushing
his luck, breaking another school rule today. oher hand,
malf faing up out of the darkhis
was his big alfoy face-to-face. he t miss it.
”half-past eleven,” ro, ”wed better go.”
they pulled ohrobes, picked up their wands, and