While Ron was still baffled and Ginny was confusedly taking Harry's tissue to wipe her head, Molly caught her daughter's little hand in time and said with the air of someone who knew from experience:
"Ginny, you shouldn't use a tissue at a time like this. You should use a Weakened Scourgify-unless you want your hair all sticky and sweet and tangled together, attracting passing insects."
"Oh," Ginny replied, though she still looked as if she wanted to use the tissue. Fred and George struggled to keep quiet on the sidelines, Ron looked increasingly suspicious, and all four adults present wore kindly smiles.
Harry, meanwhile, had turned his gaze toward Hermione at the entrance to Gringotts and raised his hand to wave back. Hermione had already spotted them and was waving.
"Hermione!" Harry called loudly. "Yes, it's us!"
Ginny immediately looked in the direction Harry was calling, the ice cream in her hair on the verge of melting into it.
"Scourgify!" Percy, who had earned twelve Os in his exams that year, finally drew his wand and tapped Ginny's hair, not forgetting to explain, "Remember, you need to target the hair, not the person. If I'd targeted Ginny just now, she'd be spitting soap bubbles."
"Quite correct. Five points to Gryffindor-though unfortunately, saying that only counts when I'm at Hogwarts." Brian nodded approvingly. He had been about to cast Scourgify himself, but stopped when he saw Percy draw his wand.
"Thank you, Professor Brian!" Percy beamed. "I'll keep practicing."
"Harry, Ron, I heard you calling me!" Hermione ran over ahead of the others, greeting them excitedly. "Professor Brian! Oh, so many people-oh, hello!"
"Hermione, slow down. Hello!" Mr. and Mrs. Granger followed close behind. "Let me introduce everyone," Brian said, stepping forward as the one who knew everyone there. "These