Ginny snapped the notebook shut in a panic. Every word written inside was like a tiny hammer, thud, thud, sounding an alarm in her heart.
She rubbed the fabric of her wizarding robe and asked cautiously, "Ron, are you and Harry going to Hogsmeade to buy... Rooster?"
Ginny had always been like this, getting nervous at the slightest disturbance, so Ron noticed nothing unusual about his sister.
He took the notebook and scribbled down information about Silk-Feathered Black-Bone Chickens. Only when Ginny asked again did he give her a perfunctory answer. "Yeah. Besides Harry, Luo Bin and Hermione are coming too. Ginny, I can't take you. Go find Fred and George, or go back to the dormitory for a nap!"
"Ron, is that any way to treat your sister?"
As far as Percy was concerned, Ron and Harry were going to Hogsmeade just to have fun. With Ginny in such a state, his younger brother still cared only about playing around. Percy was practically bursting with anger!
"Percy, I'll say it again. I have something important to do in Hogsmeade. Something that concerns the Castle's safety, and whether Headmaster Dumbledore and Hagrid can come back. Please... stop bothering me!"
Ron's words pierced Ginny's heart like a needle. She was now absolutely certain that Harry and the others knew Rooster was the Chamber Monster's natural enemy. Now she faced a terrible choice: let them carry on, or...
When Ginny snapped out of her thoughts, she saw Percy about to punch Ron's shoulder and hurriedly stopped him. "Percy, I'm really sleepy. I can barely keep my eyes open. I want to curl up in the dormitory and sleep all afternoon. Will you walk me back?"
"Ginny, after the way Ron treated you, you're still sticking up for him!"
Percy's tone carried more