As she did before the start of every school year, the first thing Hermione did upon arriving was check Harry's and Ron's homework.
Harry and Ron had expected this, too, and had finished their homework well in advance.
Although Hermione had started sparing them a little dignity after the two got girlfriends-for their girlfriends' sake, of course-and no longer swung hefty tomes at them, she still frequently gave them a kick or a shove with her foot.
Qiu and Lavender, who knew perfectly well that Hermione had absolutely no such special relationship with either of them, not only did not mind, but even grinned as they added fuel to the fire, fully embracing the idea that boyfriends were there to be picked on.
As it happened, Harry and Ron liked seeing their girlfriends' occasional mischievous side, and rather enjoyed themselves. Hermione had expressed her disgust at this countless times.
But Harry and Ron had also mastered a new trick.
Whenever Hermione expressed her disgust at them, they would ask whether Krum or Jacob had contacted her lately, which one she was actually planning to choose, whether there had been any progress recently, and so on.
At times like these, the usually boyish Hermione would show a rare flash of girlish shyness, punch whichever blabbermouth had asked, then beat a hasty retreat.
Well, at such moments, Neville, grinning goofily off to one side, seemed a little out of place (doge).
Everyone except Ron needed new clothes for the New Academic Year.
There was no denying it: sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds really did grow far too quickly.
As for why Ron did not need any.
Well, he had probably more or less grown enough. He was already 1.9 meters tall, after all. If his agility had not been so outstanding, that height should