Harry looked down at the Maruader's Map. "I think the coast is clear."
"It won't be for long if Ron doesn't shut up," said Hermione in aggravation. "That song is obnoxious, and you have to be quiet or the teachers will hear!"
Ron, who was still singing the Wizard of Oz song, frowned deeply at Hermione and stopped abruptly. "Well well, Miss Priss. I'm sorry we don't all know the definition of fun."
"Do you call going on an adventure where we could all die fun?!" she asked, her hair nearly standing on end.
"Yes," answered Ron and Harry at the same time, Harry much more seriously than his friend.
"Boys," uttered Hermione in exasperation.
They wandered around the halls, taking a much longer route than necessary to the doors "to keep anyone from being suspicious."
"Hermione, you have some great ideas, but it all this really necessary?" asked Harry, half-out of breath.
"Yes," she answered. "What would happen if a teacher happened upon us?"
"Like right now, for instance?"
Harry's eyes widened and met Hermione's at the recognition of their least favorite teacher's voice.
"Snape," they both breathed.
"Indeed," said Snape. "I would, indeed, like to know what would happen if a teacher happened upon you. How would you explain yourselves out of that?"
"We would…we would tell them the truth," answered Harry.
"Harry—no!" gasped Hermione.
"We were just going for a stroll," lied Harry smoothly, regretting his inability to use his manly charm on Snape. "Ron here was restless, so we just headed out to calm him down a bit."
Helpfully (for once), Ron grinned largely at Snape, who squinted.
"And you all three abide by this story?" he asked, his large nose coming eerily close to Hermione's face.
"Oh—yes, Professor," stuttered Hermione. Ron glared at her, angry at her inability to lie to a teacher.
"Well, well, well well well," breathed Snape, and Harry suddenly noticed the scent of onions on his breath. "It just so happens I have a bottle of Veritaserum with me, and Professor Dumbledore's explicit permission to use it on you three. Thus, follow me!" In a dramatic twirl in which his cape billowed around him, he headed off to Professor Dumbledore's office.
"Do you think we could just run away?" asked Ron, too loudly.
"NO!" said Snape. He turned (his cape billowed again) and grabbed hold of Hermione's elbow, and the three were forced to follow him.
"Does he smell like onions to anyone else?" asked Harry quietly, and Ron shrugged.
"I was distracted by his greasy nose in my face," muttered Hermione crossly, and Harry's eyes widened.
"Did you just insult a teacher?" he asked.
"She better not have!" Snape half-yelled, and Harry frowned.
"I didn't, Professor," Hermione covered quickly. "I was talking about…Ron."
"Hey!" protested Ron. "My nose isn't greasy!"
Hermione was spared from having to retort by their arrival at Professor Dumbledore's office.
"Froot Loop," said Snape, and the gargoyle sprang to life. "Where he got his taste for sweets, only Merlin knows…"
"Did you hear that?" asked Ron. "Professor Dumbledore likes Froot Loops too!"
"This could definitely work to our advantage," whispered Hermione to Harry, who nodded vigorously.
They reached the top of the stairs, and Snape rather violently threw Hermione in a chair, shoving all three of them down in the process. He stalked off up the stairs to where Professor Dumbledore probably slept, although the thought hadn't occurred to Harry before.
"What are we going to do?" asked Ron, suddenly fearful.
"Tell them the truth, I suppose," sighed Hermione. "We don't have a choice but to drink the Veritaserum."
"We could avoid it if it was only Snape," said Harry. "But with Dumbledore around…"
"Professor Dumbledore, Harry," corrected Hermione. "You really are quite bad about that."
"Whatever," he said irritably. "The point is, he would know if we didn't drink it."
At that moment (because these things work out much better in fiction than in real life) the Professors Snape and Dumbledore appeared at the top of the stairs, the latter dressed in a star-covered robe.
"I don't see why you had to wake me at five thirty in the morning for the misdemeanors of a few students, Severus," grumped the old man. "Oh, it's Harry Potter!" he said, suddenly noticing the trio. "Hello, Harry Potter!"
"You don't have to call me by my full name, Professor," said Harry, blushing a bit.
"Oh alright, Harry…Potter." The old man grinned. "And what brings you three here this fine morning?"
"Professor Snape brought us here," said Hermione.
"I want to use Veritaserum, Albus," said Snape viciously. "I want to know exactly where they were going and why."
"Oh, alright," said Dumbledore. He procured three glasses of water, and they watched Snape drop the Veritaserum in fearfully.
"Drink up," said Snape, an evil grin appearing on his face.
They did, each emptying the glass of water within a moment.
"So…what is your full name?"
"Harry James Potter," answered Harry, just as Ron answered "Ronald Bilius Weasley" and Hermione answered "Hermione Jane Granger."
"Jane, really?" asked Dumbledore. "I always thought it was Jean."
"Everyone does, sir," said Hermione. "I don't bother correcting them."
"Shut up!" snapped Snape, doing so because he just realized snapped and Snape sounded fun together. "I only want Potter to answer. So, Potter, on whom do you currently have a crush?"
"Hermione Granger," answered Harry before he could stop himself. Both he and Hermione blushed furiously, and Ron suddenly got very red.
"Ugh," sniffed Snape. "On to the point. So, just where were you going this morning?"
"Honestly?" asked Harry with some trepidation.
"I don't think you have a choice," said Dumbledore good-naturedly.
"Over the summer, I introduced Ron to a Muggle cereal called Froot Loops," sighed Harry. "He appears to have become addicted to them, because he woke me up by leering over me like a stalker—"
"Creeper!" corrected Ron.
"Whatever!" snapped Harry, who then realized he didn't sound as cool as Snape did when he snapped, so he calmed down. "He just wants some Froot Loops, sir, and I didn't have it in me to say no."
"I love Froot Loops!" exclaimed Dumbledore. "Unfortunately, I've just run out. So, you may go and get some Froot Loops! If you could buy me some, while you're out, that would be just fantastic!" He stood regally. "You have my blessing to leave the castle! Enjoy your adventure!"
"WHAT?!" yelled Snape.
"We're going to go now…" said Harry quickly, and the trio disappeared out the door just as Snape began arguing with Dumbledore.
"That was close," said Hermione when they reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Too close," agreed Harry.
"You realize that could all have been avoided if we'd just put on the Invisibilty Cloak?" pointed out Hermione. "Although, I suppose, it's all in the name of adventure…"
"You're starting to catch on, Hermione," said Harry with a grin as they walked out the front doors of the castle.