The next morning, when the bell rang for Herbology, Ron joined in shelling puffapods, looking utterly listless.
"Jerry, I found Scabbers on one of the long tables in the Great Hall this morning. He looked absolutely terrified. Yesterday must have given him quite a fright." As Ron spoke, he carefully plucked the plump pink pods from the puffapod branches, shelled the shining beans inside, and gently placed them in the wooden bucket beside him. His brow furrowed as he asked worriedly, "Should I take him to the Hospital Wing and ask Madam Pomfrey to check whether he's hurt?"
Ron was so preoccupied with his pet rat Scabbers that, without realizing it, he missed the bucket with the beans in his hands, scattering them all over the greenhouse floor.
"Careful, Weasley, careful!" Professor Sprout called out urgently when she saw what was happening.
"Of course, you can certainly take him to Madam Pomfrey," Hermione said, shaking her head helplessly at Ron's distracted state. Before Jerry could answer, she could not resist adding, "As long as Madam Pomfrey doesn't chase you straight out of the Hospital Wing with a broom!"
Ron flared up at once. "This is all your fault! Why did you have to get that stupid, nasty cat?" he retorted indignantly.
"Oh, please! Cats, dogs, owls—aren't those all much more normal choices for pets? Who would go out of their way to keep a filthy rat?"
As their argument grew louder, Jerry, Harry, and Neville hurried forward and pulled them apart before things could escalate any further.
Even after being pulled aside, Hermione still looked indignant. She turned to Jerry and asked, "Was I wrong?"
Jerry shook his head with a helpless smile. "Yes, yes, you're right. Don't be angry!" How could he possibly argue with her at a time