"That's lucky," said Katie, but her voice was a little more cautious. He had chosen his words carefully, and so she felt as though she ought to as well, though she wasn't certain why. She wanted to ask where he'd been, and yet that didn't seem appropriate either. Her cheeks colored slightly.

"I could use a holiday myself. Practices have been brutal, Ginny and I can't hardly do more than collapse after the day's over sometimes. --You were always ace at Herbology, though, someday you'll probably be running this place."