Harry and Ron headed back to the Gryffindor common room.
On the way, Ron muttered resentfully, "We should have won more than ten points."
"Only five," Harry corrected. "And that's counting the points Professor McGonagall deducted from Hermione."
Speaking of Hermione, Ron had to admit, "Hermione was really great. She stepped up and got us out of trouble."
But in the end, he still added a justification for himself.
"But don't forget, we only got into trouble because we were trying to save her."
"Actually, she and Silan saved us, and she didn't need saving in the first place," Harry reminded him.
Ron's face instantly turned as red as his hair. "All right, you're right."
"By the way, is Silan really your cousin?"
"Apparently so," Ron said with certainty. "My mum wrote to confirm it."
"I've gained another cousin, but I'm still the youngest boy in the family."
Ron shook his head helplessly, as though he could already foresee his position in the family dropping another notch.
Silan was obviously exactly the sort of child his mother liked best.
Polite, well-behaved, good-looking, and an excellent student.
Ron could tell with his toes that he would definitely be welcome in his house.
Ron should really be grateful the Weasley family did not have a house-elf, or he would probably have had to share a table with one.
"Seriously, your cousin is really nice," Harry said, recalling how Silan had once called his parents heroes. "I wish I had a cousin like that."
"Take back that terrifying thought right now!"
Ron jumped on the stairs and said in utter anguish, "You have no idea what it feels like to have an outstanding older brother!"
"What's even worse is that I have five of them!"
"And now there's another one!"
The bleak future