Harry watched her walk toward the Fat Lady's portrait.
She pushed the portrait open and stepped outside.
The footsteps in the corridor gradually faded.
Ginny drew back her hand and leaned against the back of the sofa.
"She's all right."
Ginny said.
Harry looked at her.
"How do you know?"
Ginny's gaze followed the flames in the fireplace.
"Because she's started asking herself questions. That's better than not thinking about anything."
She paused for a beat.
"Did you notice that Percy never mentioned the professor's name once in his article?"
Harry thought about it.
"Right. Not once."
"All the products and technologies come from the United Kingdom. From the Marauders Power Company. From Silvermane Academy."
Ginny repeated that passage from the article.
"But he didn't say who created them."
Harry frowned.
"Is he protecting the professor?"
"No."
Ginny shook her head.
"He's proving that he doesn't need the professor's name to silence the entire Wizarding World."
She looked out the window.
Harry looked at her.
The Halloween sunlight had already begun to weaken.
The clouds closed in again, and the surface of the Black Lake turned from scattered silver to leaden gray.
Ron came down the stairs from the Boys' Dormitory.
He glanced at the empty spot on the sofa-where Hermione had just been sitting.
"Where's Hermione?"
"The Library."
Harry said.
Ron stood at the foot of the stairs, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the newspaper in his hands.
"Did she read Percy's article?"
"She did."
Ron's lips moved.
He wanted to say something, but swallowed it back.
Perhaps he wanted to tell Hermione not to worry.
But there seemed to be no need.
He walked over to the fireplace and sat down on the rug.
"What do you think?"
"Has Percy changed?"
Fred leaned over from the other end of