"I think we need to acquire a more reliable source George." said Fred sarcastically to his brother.

They were both sitting inside their newly bought and as yet undecorated shop in Diagon Alley on a couple of bean bags they had haggled from a strange looking warlock in Knockturn Alley. They had hoped to make the bean bags into joke items, the plan was for the unlucky victim to suffer various discomforts as they sat, like having their bottom nipped repeatedly while the beans in the bag made rude noises or let off a variety of bad smells. So far however they had been unsuccessful in making them do anything more than bounce feebly and the twins had all but given the idea up as a bad cause.

George looked back at his brother, whose bag had just jumped feebly,

"I think you might be right, Fred. I'd say an hour was late even for Dung. Fancy a walk?"

As the twins stood up, the beanbag Fred had been sitting on gave another lurch, but without Fred's weight it made a loud burping noise and ripped apart along the seam. The beans spilled out over the floor and began to separate into different groups, forming shapes that looked like they were trying to spell rude words. The group nearest the corner said 'ASRE' and another was attempting to mix two words unsuccessfully and was spelling 'SHIUCK'. The third group, which was trying to get through a door at the back of the shop had made up a new word altogether and said 'BOLPOOKS'.

"Looks like they may be good for something after all" said Fred, "Accio Cloaks!" Two black travelling cloaks flew from their hanging place across the room. He handed one to George who nodded as they turned and left the shop through the front door leading onto Diagon Alley.

"Let's see if they can learn to spell before we get back" said George as he magically locked the door behind him with his wand.

Diagon Alley was a sorry sight, not even a shadow of it's former, bustling self as the darkening sky cast eerie shadows and bathed the street in an unfriendly glow. The few shops open for business were closing up for the night, their owners looking around nervously as they locked up.

The atmosphere did not seem to bother Fred and George however, and they ignored the looks as they headed towards Knockturn Alley, wrapping their cloaks around them and pulling the hoods up over their heads. They headed straight for their usual haunt, a small pub where dodgy dealers could lurk out of sight and Mundungus Fletcher could often be found. Even this dark corner had been affected by the recent change in events and they saw only one crazy old witch with a tray full of wares dozing noisily against a wall.

"This place is really going down hill" said Fred, as the witch gave a loud snort, fluttering her eyes slightly and then falling back into a renewed stream of steady snores.

They continued to walk around the corner heading towards the pub which sat at the end of the street. It was their favourite place for acquiring particularly rare items labelled 'dangerous' or 'seriously, if you don't want to lose a limb, keep away!' Fred and George always thought that these items were often just under appreciated and vastly misunderstood.

Raucous laughter and angry yells drifted towards them along with the unforgettable odour of sweat and stale fire-whiskey, but as they drew closer, they saw something that made them both stop in their tracks. Quickly and as quietly as they could they darted into one of the side alleys and hid behind a rickety old building in one of the many shady spots this area was famous for. Out of sight of the tavern door they watched the unmistakable outline of Bellatrix LeStrange as she pushed the very man they were looking for out in front of her. Mundungus was being steered unceremoniously into a dark corner in a sheltered part of the street.

"Blimey…" breathed Fred as he accepted an extendable ear from his brother "What's Dung gone and gotten himself into this time…"

The twins each placed the ends of their long flesh coloured strings to their ears and watched as they made their way unnoticed towards the tavern. Suddenly, the sounds of the conversation began to tune in.

"Stop lying to me you filthy little man" Bellatrix hissed, "tell us what Dumbledore knows or I swear I'll make you regret the day that hag of a mother dropped you screaming into this world!"

Mundungus had both his hands raised and looked fearfully up at her, his basset hound eyes darting from her face to the wand she held painfully against his ribs.

"N…n…now…please, Bell..a…I..I…told yuh already. 'E doesn't know where 'Arry is I swear! Argh! Easy!"

Mundungus yelled as she jabbed the wand further into his side

"I'm not asking if he knows where Potter is you idiot!" she spat "What I need to know is what that muggle-loving fool found out. Tell me now, and I may just let you return to your business with your ribs intact."

Mundungus gulped ''Onest, I'd tell yuh, but I can't…"

"Do not test me, filth!" She breathed dangerously, her face so close to his ear that it was barely audible through the extendable ears.

On the floor by Bellatrix' foot, a rat peered out from behind a broken bottle. It lifted its front paw which glinted in the dim light of the alleyway. Bellatrix glanced at it for a fraction of a second and stiffened her wand arm.

"A…awlright, awlright. No need tuh get your wand in knots! Lemme go." He pushed against her and attempted to straighten his scruffy clothes without success.

Belatrix straightened to her full height without relaxing her grip on the wand in his side and smirked with satisfaction.

Fred and George looked at each other and knew they were both thinking the same thing. If Bellatrix didn't kill Mundungus after this then they certainly would. Betraying Dumbledore was out of order.

"Troof is, even Dumbledore don't know wha'appened. E' finks it might 'ave been one of 'em Collectors. So that's wha' I'm doin 'ere, gettin' info on 'em. 'Least, that's what I was doin till you showed up!"

Bellatrix stood completely still. Her wild eyes bored into his. A single bead of sweat ran down Mundungus' face and into his eye, but in his fear he seemed unable to blink it away.

Finally Bellatrix raised an eyebrow and removed her wand from his side, pointing it instead towards his face.

"Go back to your spying then" she said in a menacing growl "but if I find out you are lying you'd better pray I don't find you, because it will be the last conversation you ever have."

With that she turned on her heel and walked into the darkness of the alleyway without looking back, the rat scurrying behind her. Mundungus leaned against the wall and stared after her, then he let out a long steadying breath as he turned towards the entrance of the tavern.

Fred and George had collected up the extendable ears and were already striding towards him, intent on stopping Mundungus before he became lost inside the pub.

"Oi, Dung!" yelled George, "We want a word with you."

Mundungus jumped comically and held a hand against the wall to steady himself

"Blimey lads, don't go sneakin' up on-a-body like that. Coulda givin me 'eart failure!"

The twins caught up with him and grabbed him by each arm, checking down the alleyway for any sign of Bellatrix or the rat. Satisfied that no one was watching, they began to drag him towards Diagon Alley.

"Ouch! Whatcha doin?" Mundungus protested

"You're late!" said Fred,

"Yeah, and we'd like a word" George repeated.

They passed the sleeping witch who awoke suddenly with a shriek as the twins marched past "Oi, watch where you're goin!"

Fred and George both ignored her and gave an extra heave when Mundungus tried to turn around for a look. They did not stop until they had reached the door of their shop where they shoved Mundungus inside and locked the door behind them. Tottering on unsteady feet, Mundungus lost his balance and fell on a group of beans. When he stood up the imprint from the squashed beans read 'OUCH'.

"I'm sorry lads" Mundungus started, "I know I'll make it up to yeh... those dragon claws, wha'do ya say to 'alf price? Can't say fairer than that!"

Fred and George stood squarely side-by-side in front of the door with their arms folded. They glared at him with identical expressions and Mundungus' feeble attempt at a grin slid from his face.

"What are you doing talking to the likes of Bellatrix Lestrange Dung?" said Fred viciously. Mundungus paled

"W..Wha'?"

"We saw you, you're giving them secrets aren't you?"

"Now...now lads, y… yeh don't understand, I…"

"Save it, Dung, we were there" George took a step towards him with his wand in his hand.

"Now 'ang on there, jus 'old your 'ippogriffs a minute will yuh?" said Mundungus quickly, "I didn'tell 'em nuffin that Dumbledore didn't say I couldn't tell anyone. Awlright?"

"Okay, now you're not making any sense" said George

"It's all gobbledygook to me" agreed Fred "I think we should beat the sense back into him, what do you say?"

"Now, listen lads, I's lookin for important information, should 'elp Dumbledore find Potter."

"Oh yeah?" interrupted Fred "and now it's gunna help You-Know-Who find him!"

"E would 'ave found out anyway! Not like it was hard to get or anythin"

"Dung, you're unbelievable!" shouted George as he raised his wand.

Mundungus gave him a horrified look and reached into his coat.

"Don't you dare!" Fred yelled

But it was too late. Mundungus spun quickly on the spot and vanished with a loud pop.

"Damn it!" yelled the twins together

"What a rat"

"What a weasel!"

They seethed in silence in the empty room. The two surviving groups of beans on the floor now spelling 'RAT' and 'WEESUL'.

Fred walked over to the ripped beanbag and threw it into the corner, causing the beans to scatter and run for cover.

Rising out of their anger towards Mundungus like a dark cloud was the realisation that Dumbledore didn't know where Harry was, and they were more concerned for their friend now than ever. The only consolation was that it appeared that You-Know-Who didn't know where Harry was either.

"I think this might be worth a trip to see our little brother" said George finally.

"Yeah" said Fred "I'm starving, wonder if mum's cooked dinner yet?"