The heading across the top of the page read: Daemonic Artifacts: A User's Guide. The Living Blade. The writing beneath that was very hard to read, being splotched with bits of candle-wax and the occasional suspicious- looking brown stain.
…For which this blade was at one time or still is, any part or partition of the body or spirit of a demon… whosoever possesses such a blade must know its nature. Such a blade can be borne; but at great cost to the bearer, whether that cost be of body, or of soul in the nature of an Exchange. Whosoever comes across such an object must know that it is a Talisman of Purest Evil, and should only be dealt with in a manner pursuant to its destruction.
'Purest Evil,' said Harry thoughtfully. 'That sounds bad.'
'What sounds bad is that he's going to destroy my sword,' said Draco, looking furious. 'I never should have lent it to him…what was I thinking?'
'You don't know he's going to destroy your sword,' said Harry reasonably. 'It might not be one of these… Living Blade things.'
Draco looked at Harry. Harry looked sheepish. 'Okay, okay. It probably is. But if it's a Talisman of Purest Evil, do you really want to keep it?'
'Hell, yes,' said Draco.
Harry shook his head. 'I do not understand you, Malfoy.'
The office door opened, and they both jumped back several feet. It was Lupin of course, looking very grave. He came into the office, shut the door behind him, and sat down behind his desk. He looked from Harry-who was cowering against one wall-to Draco, who was cowering against the wall opposite, and said, 'I'm sorry I shouted at you. You…alarmed me. I'm not much of a fan of physical violence, and Harry, I rather thought you weren't either.'
'Oh, he's not usually,' said Draco cheerfully. 'But Hermione stomped all over his heart with hobnailed boots, so he's a bit edgy.'
'Hermione..?' Lupin echoed, looking astounded. Harry, who had gone red, scowled and said nothing. 'All right,' said Lupin. 'Never mind. I've always thought it was unfortunate,' he added, 'that one's Magid powers, which are so closely tuned to both one's wizarding skills and one's control over emotions, tend to kick in right around adolescence, when one had very little of either. Harry, stop scowling.
I'm sure Hermione would never, er, do anything to…' He trailed off.
'All right, that's none of my business. But if you're really upset, Harry, maybe you should talk to Sirius?'
'Oh,' said Harry. 'No. I don't think so.'
'Actually, that's not that bad of an idea,' said Draco. 'He could beat up Viktor Krum for you, Potter.'
'Viktor Krum?' repeated Lupin, raising his eyebrows.
'Hermione went to Bulgaria with Viktor Krum last night,' said Draco, who seemed determined to act as Greek Chorus. 'And she wrote Harry a letter, but I've been telling him I don't think she meant it, because I mean if you've ever seen pictures of Krum he's only got one eyebrow and Potter here might not be winning any beauty competitions, but-'
'That's impossible!' said Lupin, who was looking both exasperated and amused.
'It isn't,' said Draco. 'He really only has the one eyebrow.'
'I meant,' said Lupin, 'that Hermione er, running off with Viktor Krum to Bulgaria is impossible.'
Harry looked startled. 'Why do you say that?'
'Because,' said Lupin, 'Viktor Krum is in London. He led the Bulgarian Quidditch team to a stunning victory again Switzerland just this morning. I heard a play-by-play on the Wizarding Wireless.
He is most definitely,' Lupin added, 'and certainly, NOT in Bulgaria.'
'Percy, come on,' said Ron, exasperated. 'Can't you be helpful, just this once?'
'Percy, please,' added Ginny, looking entreatingly at her older brother, or at least all of him that was visible — which was his head, floating in the fireplace. Ron and Ginny were kneeling in front of the fireplace, trying very hard not to cough from the soot.
'No,' said Percy firmly, looking very cross. 'I am NOT going to give you Viktor Krum's home address in Bulgaria. Do you know what kind of trouble I could get into with the Department of Magical Games and Sports?'
'We're not going to track him down and slaughter him, Perce,' said Ron irritably. 'We just want to send a letter to Hermione, see if she's all right.'
Percy made an irritated noise. 'Look, Ron, I'm sorry your girlfriend ran off with Viktor Krum, but he is very famous and rich and you really can't blame her. Just try to be a good sport about it, who don't you?'
'Hermione is not my girlfriend,' said Ron, through gritted teeth.
'She is Harry's girlfriend.'
'Well,' said Percy, in a patronizing tone, 'She's Viktor's girlfriend now, isn't she?'
'That's just it!' said Ron, pouncing on this statement like Pigwidgeon onto a tasty mouse. 'I don't think she is, at least not voluntarily. I think,' he said, dropping his voice, 'that she was under some sort of Hex…or a love potion!'
'Ron!' Percy exclaimed, horrified. 'Use of love potions is completely illegal, you know that! Viktor Krum would never do that, he's…he's…a famous international figure!'
'So is Voldemort,' said Ginny crankily.
Percy and Ron turned on her. 'Don't say the name!'
'Why not? Harry does.'
'You're not Harry!' said Ron, unhelpfully, and turned back to Percy.
