dousministryblunderbeomingtrulyamitous?”

“let’sgowiththat.”iarushadasinkingfeelingthatnomatterwhathappenedafterthismoment,hewouldbedoingpaperworkfortherestofhislife.

“ifyouallowmethis,andyouletmeleavetonight,”grangeroffered,“iwillomebaktomorrow.iwillspendeverywakingminutehelpingbringintheothersandfindingasolutiontotheurse.”

“deal,”iarusbreathed.“butyougetatailtonight.”

“fine,”grangeragreed.“anyonebutggen,”shesaid,justasiarusadded,“it’sgonnabeggen.”

longbottomdidn’taskanyotherquestions,butofferedthemafewbooksandsuggestedreadingonthesubjetofinquollisaniorpus.heflippedthroughthepagesofoneofthebooksandpointedtohingofarge,leafypnt.“doesn’tlooklikeanythingspeial,”pansymuttered.

potterthankedhisfriendsandfolloweddraoandpansyoutofthegreenhouse,andthesuddenshadowofthesituationastitselfbakoverthem.theystayedsilentastheymadetheirwaybakthroughtheastle.draotriedtoimaginesomethingtheyoulddo.buteveniftheyouldgetbertrie/guineverebaksafely,howwouldtheyswiththembak?

marwanzivantus’timepiee.hefeltaroundinthepoketofhiswaistoatfortheoolmetalofapoketwath.

afigureintheentranehallsteppedoutandstartledthem.“there’snowayianonvineyoutostayforsupper,potter?”mgonagasked,steelygazefixeduponthegryffindor.shewalkedintothelightanddraobarelyreognisedher.withoutthestrainandstressofthewar,sheappearedyearsyounger,almostyouthfulinappearaneanddemeanor.herpromotiontoheadmistressertainlysuitedher.

pottergaveheragenuinesmileandshookhishead.“sorry,headmistress.it’sthisase.wehavetogo.”