HALLOWEEN
partner was Seamus Finnigan (which was a relief, because Neville
had been trying to catch his eye). Ron, however, was to be working
with Hermione Granger. It was hard to tell whether Ron or
Hermione was angrier about this. She hadn’t spoken to either of
them since the day Harry’s broomstick had arrived.
“Now, don’t forget that nice wrist movement we’ve been practic-
ing!” squeaked Professor Flitwick, perched on top of his pile of
books as usual. “Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And
saying the magic words properly is very important, too — never
forget Wizard Baruffio, who said ‘s’ instead of ‘f ’ and found himself
on the floor with a buffalo on his chest.”
It was very difficult. Harry and Seamus swished and flicked, but
the feather they were supposed to be sending skyward just lay on
the desktop. Seamus got so impatient that he prodded it with his
wand and set fire to it — Harry had to put it out with his hat.
Ron, at the next table, wasn’t having much more luck.
“Wingardium Leviosa!” he shouted, waving his long arms like a
windmill.
“You’re saying it wrong,” Harry heard Hermione snap. “It’s
Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the ‘gar’ nice and long.”
“You do it, then, if you’re so clever,” Ron snarled.
Hermione rolled up the sleeves of her gown, flicked her wand,
and said, “Wingardium Leviosa!”
Their feather rose off the desk and hovered about four feet above
their heads.
“Oh, well done!” cried Professor Flitwick, clapping. “Everyone
see here, Miss Granger’s done it!”
Ron was in a very bad mood by the end of the class.
171