"Jerry, do you think this Private Lounge might be an unsuitable place for our club activities?" Malfoy asked. "After all, we need to practise all sorts of spells."
"Don't worry, I've already picked a place," Jerry said with a mysterious smile. "As for these badges, they're alchemical items. Besides a modified Shield Charm that could save your lives in a pinch, they also serve as our club's communicators."
"Meet me in the Private Lounge next Saturday evening, and I'll take you to the club's exclusive training ground. In the meantime, I'll use the badges to notify you of any urgent matters or scheduled activities."
The next day was Sunday. Only when sunlight streamed through the hall's stained-glass windows did Jerry stroll lazily into the Great Hall.
Hermione was sitting at the Gryffindor table with her Potions homework spread out before her, impatiently jabbing dots of ink onto her parchment with her quill. If she could have entered the Slytherin Common Room, she would have stormed into Jerry's dormitory long ago.
"Jerry, there you are at last!" Hermione snapped her homework shut and hurried over, her curls bouncing in the morning light. "Umbridge didn't do anything to you during detention last night, did she?" Her gaze was piercing, as though she were trying to see through his school robes to check for injuries.
"No." Jerry shook his head. "She just made me write lines."
"That's all?" Hermione clearly didn't quite believe him, but Harry knew what Jerry meant by writing lines. Damn Umbridge, that evil toad!
"Really. Ask Harry if you don't believe me!" Jerry spread blueberry jam over his toast, its dusky purple making his eyes look even darker.
"That's right," Harry agreed quietly. He glanced around to make sure no one else was nearby, then lowered his voice.