It was a day off, and lunch was served in the High Tower.
Anco and the other house-elves had brought the food up. Apart from the portions, it was the same as the fare in the Great Hall: chicken, lamb, beef, pork chops, potatoes—a generous spread.
And, of course, there was plenty of fruit juice.
Ginny had arrived at the High Tower too, and the other members trickled in.
Everyone sat around the long table to eat, but the atmosphere was subdued. Since George, Fred, Cedric, and the others had graduated, the High Tower had grown much quieter.
After all, George and Fred had always known how to liven things up.
Will ate while mulling over his Alchemy Studies research. Hermione suddenly spoke to him.
"Will, are you free next Sunday?"
"What's up?" Will didn't agree right away—he probably wouldn't have time, but it sounded as though Hermione had something in mind.
"Remember what I said before about letting ordinary members into the High Tower? You said we could decide for ourselves. In the end, after everyone voted, seventeen people joined."
Will nodded. "So?"
Hermione explained, "I think you should meet the new members. They spend a lot of time on the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors.
"A lot of them want to meet you. You seemed to be in a bad mood a while ago, and you were busy, so I didn't bring it up."
Will chewed his beef and thought for a moment before nodding. "Then let's hold a meal next Sunday at two in the afternoon, on the third floor of the High Tower."
Will knew the importance of winning people over. The students had once fought tooth and nail to join the High Tower, but leaving them hanging indefinitely wouldn't do.
He could prepare a small