What did <PERSON> say to <PERSON> on the subject of his books?
In Chamber of Secrets, after the slug incident on the quidditch pitch, <PERSON>, <PERSON> and <PERSON> head off to <PERSON>'s hut. As they approach, they see <PERSON> leaving, saying:
"It's a simple matter if you know what you're doing!" <PERSON> was saying loudly to <PERSON>. "If you need help, you know where I am! I'll let you have a copy of my book - I'm surprised you haven't already got one. I'll sign one tonight and send it over. Well, goodbye!" And he strode away towards the castle.
We then learn what led up to this moment:
..."I knew yeh hadn't really. I told <PERSON> yeh didn' need teh. 899
Yer more famous than him without tryin'."
"Bet he didn't like that," said <PERSON>, sitting up and rubbing his chin.
"Don' think he did," said <PERSON>, his eyes twinkling. "An' then I told him I'd never read one o' his books an' he decided ter go"
With the phrasing used here, it's hard to tell whether he's saying that he's never read one of <PERSON>'s books, or the potentially more insulting, "I would never read one of his books". Lending more weight to the latter, he has also just said:
"Like I don' know. An' bangin' on about some Banshee he banished. If one word of it was true, I'll eat my kettle"
I.E. he would never bother to read the books, as he knows them to be untrue.
Was <PERSON> leaving as his usual arrogant self trying to be helpful sending a book over because <PERSON> "has never read" one of his books?
Or was he leaving more worked up and maybe slightly insulted, because <PERSON> said "he never would read" one of this books? Evidence for the latter being that he was speaking loudly (despite there not-knowingly being anyone else around to overhear him) and striding away immediately after <PERSON> stated "He would never read one of his books" and jibing him over <PERSON>'s fame. I wouldn't put it past him to be even more arrogant than usual and say he'd send a book over anyway.
Essentially, what did <PERSON> actually say to <PERSON> - ie was "read" pronounced as "red" or "reed"? 899