The moment he stepped out of the Entrance Hall and beyond the castle's shelter, Ron was immediately hit by a fierce wave of discomfort.
Though Harry's Invisibility Cloak offered some protection from the rain, unfortunately, it did nothing against the cold.
The biting north wind that had plunged the entire world into winter lashed against him, painful as knives slicing flesh.
His clogged nose became even more blocked.
But Ron had no time to worry about himself. He watched Malfoy and Parkinson walk into the misty drizzle, their backs gradually blurring, and his expression grew increasingly astonished.
Judging by the direction they were heading, they seemed to be going to the edge of the Black Lake.
Were they really just going for a walk?
"Do we really have to stupidly follow them, Ronnie?"
Lavender muttered.
Harry's Invisibility Cloak was certainly an interesting thing, but Lavender would much rather spend the day beneath it with Ron somewhere warm, comfortable, and hidden in the castle, making out, instead of playing some childish stalking game out on the grounds in the cold wind and pouring drizzle!
Ron bit his lip.
In theory, his task was only to find proof that Malfoy and Parkinson were trying to break into Professor Breen's office.
Other than that, whatever stupid things Malfoy did had nothing to do with him.
So they could simply stay in the Great Hall and wait.
But as he watched the two figures disappear farther into the hazy rain, Ron frowned deeply.
"No. I want to see what Malfoy is up to."
After hesitating for a moment, Ron added,
"You don't have to come with me, Lavender. You can wait for me in the castle."
In the end, the two of them set off together.
Unlike in their first and second years, when