Gryffindor had History of Magic that afternoon with Hufflepuff.
Because their History of Magic professor was that pink toad Umbridge, Harry had not eaten much at lunch. He was afraid he would feel sick again.
Besides, he kept hearing people talk about him. It was hardly a new feeling. He had drawn attention from the moment he arrived at Hogwarts. When he first started as a First Year, people had pointed at him even on his way to class.
But this year was different. Now they were debating whether he had really seen Voldemort, and whether he and Dumbledore were lying together just to attract attention.
Plenty of students pointed and whispered as Harry headed for the History of Magic classroom.
Harry thought Strange had made a good point. Those students had probably read the Daily Prophet and been misled by it. There was no need to stoop to their level.
All Harry wanted now was for Will to recover.
Seamus, beside him, seemed unable to hold back. As they passed a few students who were talking particularly loudly, he snapped, "Hey! You annoying Cornish Pixies, stop buzzing around here!"
His sudden outburst startled them, but they each drew a Wand and pointed it at Seamus.
"Want a fight, do you? Want to Jinx me? Go on, try it!" Seamus looked ready to take them all on.
Harry grabbed Seamus and held him back. "Ignore them, Seamus. If you get into a fight, Professor McGonagall will be furious. She might even give you Detention."
It was not as though Harry was afraid of a fight. He had cut down a Basilisk with a sword in his second year, competed in the Triwizard Tournament in his fourth, and received special training from Moody, an elite Auror, and Dumbledore, the most powerful