It was Defense Against the Dark Arts that Harry was keen to get to; after his conversation with Wood, he wanted to get started on his anti-dementor lessons as soon as possible.

 "Ah yes," said Lupin, when Harry reminded him of his promise at the end of class. "Let me see... how about eight o'clock on Thursday evening? The History of Magic classroom should be large enough.... I'll have to think carefully about how we're going to do this.... We can't bring a real dementor into the castle to practice on...." 

"Still looks ill, doesn't he?" said Ron as they walked down the corridor, heading to dinner. "What d'you reckon's the matter with him?"

 There was a loud and impatient "tuh" from behind them. It was Hermione, who had been sitting at the feet of a suit of armor, repacking her bag, which was so full of books it wouldn't close.

 "And what are you tutting at us for?" said Ron irritably. 

"Nothing," said Hermione in a lofty voice, heaving her bag back over her shoulder. 

"Yes, you were," said Ron. "I said I wonder what's wrong with Lupin, and you --" 

"Well, isn't it obvious?" said Hermione, with a look of maddening superiority. 

"Very," sighed Amelia.

"If you don't want to tell us, don't," snapped Ron. 

"Fine," said Hermione haughtily, and she marched off.

 "She doesn't know," said Ron, staring resentfully after Hermione. "She's just trying to get us to talk to her again."

"She does. We both do. So does most of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. I don't know how he lives with it. The physical and mental strain must be exhausting." Amelia sighed again, a pitfall look in her eyes.

"Well then, what is it?" snapped Ron. Amelia scoffed. "Like I'd tell you. You pureblood and human will never understand." Amelia skipped after Hermoine.

"Girls are weird."

At eight o'clock on Thursday evening, Harry left Gryffindor Tower, Amelia joining him for the History of Magic classroom. It was dark and empty when he arrived, but he lit the lamps with his wand and had waited only five minutes when Professor Lupin turned up, carrying a large packing case, which he heaved onto Professor Binn's desk.