"Well, we were always going to fail that one," said Ron gloomily as they ascended the marble staircase. He had just made Harry feel rather better by telling him how he told the examiner in detail about the ugly man with a wart on his nose in the crystal ball, only to look up and realize he had been describing the examiner's reflection.

The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed.

At least my happiness doesn't depend on Ron's goalkeeping ability.

Yes, my tiara sets off the whole thing nicely," said Auntie Muriel in a rather carrying whisper. "But I must say, Ginevra's dress is far too low-cut." Ginny glanced round, grinning, winked at Harry, then quickly faced the front again.

A gigantic tortoise with a jewel-encrusted shell was glittering near the window.

I have gone temporarily deaf and haven't any idea what you said, Harry.

And then he greeted Death as an old friend, and went with him gladly, and, equals, they departed this life.