In early January, Dumbledore gave a few students special permission to visit Hogsmeade. Harry, however, had to go under the supervision of several professors, for his own safety.
Hermione's arguments with Ron had grown more heated lately.
"Hermione! Keep that damn cat of yours under control! The other night, it nearly carried Scabbers off!"
"Ron, Crookshanks doesn't eat rats!"
Harry thought Hermione was being a little unreasonable this time. He had seen Crookshanks attack Scabbers with his own eyes that night.
"Now, children, don't argue. Don't let something like this harm your friendship," Professor Flitwick said beside them. He was the professor supervising Harry today.
Professor Flitwick's words worked. The two stopped arguing, but they stopped speaking to each other, too.
Ron turned away with a stony face. Hermione said nothing, holding her large cat with a frosty expression. Caught between them, Harry had no idea what to do.
Just then, Will came out of Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop nearby.
"Will!" Harry spotted him first, relief spreading across his face as though someone had arrived to break the deadlock.
Will walked over carrying a roll of fresh parchment and several replacement quills. He nodded to Professor Flitwick, then glanced at Ron's sour face, Hermione's tightly pressed lips, and the ginger cat in her arms, which seemed to sense the tension and looked rather uneasy.
"Good afternoon," Will greeted them calmly, as though he hadn't noticed the tension in the air. "Professor Flitwick. Good to see you all."
"Good afternoon, Will," Professor Flitwick replied in his high-pitched voice. He clearly found the situation rather trying. "How is your... progress?"
Professor Flitwick knew Will had been researching the Werewolf Venom curse lately, since the two of them had been working together to some extent.
"Thanks to your help, it's going well," Will answered