Spark [J._K._Rowling]_Harry_Potter_and_the_Chamber_of_Se | Page 267

CORNELIUS FUDGE Ron shook his head, wide-eyed. Hermione, however, clapped a hand to her forehead. “Harry — I think I’ve just understood something! I’ve got to go to the library!” And she sprinted away, up the stairs. “What does she understand?” said Harry distractedly, still look- ing around, trying to tell where the voice had come from. “Loads more than I do,” said Ron, shaking his head. “But why’s she got to go to the library?” “Because that’s what Hermione does,” said Ron, shrugging. “When in doubt, go to the library.” Harry stood, irresolute, trying to catch the voice again, but people were now emerging from the Great Hall behind him, talk- ing loudly, exiting through the front doors on their way to the Quidditch pitch. “You’d better get moving,” said Ron. “It’s nearly eleven — the match —” Harry raced up to Gryffindor Tower, collected his Nimbus Two Thousand, and joined the large crowd swarming across the grounds, but his mind was still in the castle along with the bodiless voice, and as he pulled on his scarlet robes in the locker room, his only comfort was that everyone was now outside to watch the game. The teams walked onto the field to tumultuous applause. Oliver Wood took off for a warm-up flight around the goal posts; Madam Hooch released the balls. The Hufflepuffs, who played in canary yellow, were standing in a huddle, having a last-minute discussion of tactics. ‘ 255 ‘