It was late and dark. In the corridor outside the Headmaster's Office, the baron dozing in a painting was awakened by the persistent noise. He opened his eyes and scratched his ear. After confirming that he was not hearing things, he finally left his frame, unable to stand the disturbance any longer, and decided to seek some peace in the Stable Painting downstairs.
Hermione paced back and forth in the open space before the Gargoyle. After a while, she began circling the three Weasleys sitting on the floor, biting her nails in burning anxiety, her head turning from side to side and her hair hanging loose:
"I can't believe we all just stood there doing nothing, watching Harry-watching Harry... watching Harry!
"We didn't do anything! Oh, God, when Professor Brian took Harry and Peter away, I didn't even... didn't even dare look up at Harry! How could I do that? It wasn't right. I should have said something, or gone over and given him a hug!
"That rat, that damned Peter Pettigrew! He's the murderer who killed Harry's dad and mum! Harry was right. He was right to use the Severing Charm! He didn't do anything wrong! If it had been me-never mind one Severing Charm, I'd have rushed up and thrown in a few rounds of Incendio!"
At this point, Hermione frantically scratched her already bushy hair into an even greater mess. A few brown strands won their freedom and, in a manner entirely unlike their former owner's mood, leisurely twirled through the air before landing on Ron's head.
Ron, who had been staring into space, suddenly felt an itch on his head. Coming back to his senses, he reached up and pulled off the strands, plucking out a few of his own hairs in the process, then flung