Harry was a little bewildered, but answered anyway. "Er-it's all traditional English food today-you know, for the welcome feast-"
"All right."
Cheng Quandao sighed again. He said nothing outright, but his disappointment and disdain were plain.
His attitude rankled with some of the more patriotic young Gryffindors, especially Ron, whom he had just mocked.
But Cheng Quandao clearly did not care what they thought. He looked around with interest, then turned to Hermione, who had kept her head down over a book on Harry's other side, and offered his hand. "Hello. Hermione Granger, right?"
Hermione looked up calmly without speaking and ignored his outstretched hand.
Cheng Quandao seemed unbothered by the snub. He withdrew his hand without losing his composure. "No need to be so hostile. I've heard about you for ages-Vaughan Weasley's girlfriend, the cleverest young witch at Hogwarts apart from him, and Harry Potter's good friend. Hmm, now that we've met, I think you look much more reliable than Ron Weasley, at least."
"Damn it, who does he think he is? That superior attitude makes me sick!"
The feast continued. Cheng Quandao sat beside Harry and Ron for a while before leaving to find his companions. They were sitting farther down the table, since Ilvermorny had already taken the places near the front.
Although the culprit had left, Ron's anger clearly had not subsided. He stabbed at the fried cod on his plate with his fork, apparently imagining it was that Chinese boy.
Harry did not know how to comfort Ron, because he was a little angry himself-even though he also thought English food tasted terrible-
Hermione, however, suddenly said, "He's doing it on purpose."
"What?"
"That Quandao Cheng. I think he might be deliberately trying to provoke you."
Ron curled his lip. "You're joking. Why would