Only the rapidly approaching Transfiguration lesson pulled him out of his fragile adolescent melancholy and plunged him into the harsh reality of McGonagall's discipline.
Of course, he and all the other young witches and wizards had noticed the changes that had come over the castle overnight.
First, the towers seemed to have been cleaned during the night.
On their way to class, they noticed that the paintings and suits of armour on either side of the corridors had been polished until they looked brand-new. The figures in the paintings merrily "visited" one another's frames, the armour gleamed like mirrors, and the slippery floors nearly made Ron perform the splits on the stairs.
They reached the classroom.
Halfway through the Transfiguration lesson, McGonagall announced two pieces of news, one good and one bad.
The good news was: "Before class, I heard many of you discussing the delegations from other magical schools that will soon be staying at Hogwarts. I can say quite unequivocally that you have broken school rules, particularly those who first spread the news. They will be severely punished!"
Behind her tortoiseshell glasses, McGonagall's face was taut, her eyes almost radiating menace. Harry couldn't help worrying about the twins' fate.
"To draw your attention away from gossip and back to your studies, I can tell you that the news is correct. As you have read in the newspapers, the delegation from the Central Academy of Qi Refining has already arrived in London. Delegations from Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, Mahoutokoro, Koldovstoretz, and other magical schools will follow."
"As I believe you have noticed, the towers have been cleaned to welcome our guests. I must warn the troublemakers among you that, until our guests arrive, everyone must adhere strictly to school rules. No one is permitted to spoil the castle's cleanliness in public