"Tris, have you heard?" During their morning workout, Ron sidled furtively up to Tris and asked in a low voice.
"No," Tris said without looking back, still warming up and stretching.
"I haven't even told you what it is yet," Ron complained.
"I'm not interested in your stupid gossip," Tris said dismissively.
Since starting his second year, Ron had picked up some bad habits from someone-most likely Fred and George. He spent all day gossiping about other people's affairs and sharing all sorts of ridiculous rumors.
"It's not that sort of thing this time," Ron said hurriedly. "It's about those filthy things outside."
"You mean the Dementors?" Tris grew a little interested.
"Right." Ron nodded at once. "Apparently, one of them went missing the night before last. They spent all of yesterday going crazy over it, roaming around outside Hogwarts Castle.
"Then they ran into a few wizards sneaking around the castle grounds. The Ministry of Magic people confronted them, but they actually managed to get away."
"Oh?" Tris paused briefly. "Wizards wandering around outside Hogwarts Castle? Who were they?"
"No idea," Ron said without a trace of shame. "That's why I wanted to ask if you had any clues!"
"What clues would I have?" Tris gave him a disdainful look. "Can't you see how busy I am every day?"
"Well..." Ron hesitated.
Of course Ron had noticed how busy Tris was. He barely stopped moving. Apart from the occasional glimpse of him reading in a corridor or courtyard on a fine weekend, Ron hardly ever saw him.
He was either doing coursework, training his body, or practicing magic.
To Ron, that seemed rather masochistic. Never one to hold back whatever came to mind, he said bluntly, "Well, you brought that on yourself."
"You don't know a damn thing." Tris