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Smoke steamed from the now charred ends of Charity Burbage's hair, but the smile on her face only grew wider.

This is wonderful, she thought happily to herself, a great treat for the class on April Fool's AND I get to try it out beforehand.

And try it out she would. The staff room was uncharacteristically empty for a Tuesday afternoon and the afternoon block of classes would be over in about a half hour. If she wanted to test it, now was the time. She set to wiring the closet doorknob.

Suddenly, the staff room door opened, making her jump.

She looked around while simultaneously covering the evidence of her schemes to see the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor watching her with interest.

"Quirenus! It's you!" she looked at her tools, "I know this looks strange…" she began.

"Are- are you wiring that doorknob, professor?" Quirenus stuttered out.

There was no way out of it. "Yes," she admitted, "I wanted to try a little trick out for my class. As a special April Fool's surprise." Charity then remembered something, "Unless you wanted to help me Quirenus?"

"He- help you, professor?"

"You used to teach Muggle Studies! Before I was hired!" Charity grinning brightly, "Two people who know what they're doing could get this ready in no time! What do you say?"

"I- I re-really don't think-"

"Let's get started!" and without hearing another objection Charity shoved a wire cutter into his hand and pulled him to the closet.

Quirenus, twitching terribly, did what he was told and the two muggle experts finished in about ten minutes.

"Alright, now just keep natural, Quirenus, don't get nervous on me now!" Charity watched as her companion struggle to maintain his composure. "On second thought, maybe nervous is acting natural for you."

Quirenus gave up on keeping calm and pretended to grade DADA papers.

Charaity engaged herself in tinkering with a stopwatch and waited eagerly.

They did not have to wait for long when large footsteps approached the staff room. Quirenus nearly jumped out of his seat when he heard the noise and Charity tried not to look too excited. She would have preferred someone with a temper like Pince or Filch, but Hagrid would appreciate the prank. And that was almost as good.

For indeed it was Hagrid, but he wasn't alone. As he ducked to enter, Professor Dumbledore followed right behind him. They both looked at the witch's charred hair, but said nothing of it. The muggle studies professor was always testing artifacts and burns were simply the status quo.

Thankful that they didn't press her for information, Charity greeted them, "Hello, Hagrid. Hello, headmaster. What brings you out of your office today?" The witch started to have her doubts. Dumbledore was very good-natured, but she didn't know how he'd take being shocked with electricity. And that wasn't the type of thing you wanted to test with your boss.

"I was walking with Hagrid, Charity. He wanted to show me the young thestrals."

"I see. Well, it's very nice to see you," Charity felt a little relieved. If Dumbledore wasn't planning to stay, then maybe he wouldn't need to use the closet.

Or at least that's what she thought before he started removing his cloak.

Quirenus twitched suddenly and nearly let out a yelp before Charity shot him a look. Hagrid looked concerned.

"Yer a'right there, Professor?" he asked.

Charity continued to look at her accomplice as he replied, "Y-yes. Yes, I-I'm f-f-f-fine."

Charity moved her focus to the moving headmaster. "Ahh…Headmaster, why are you taking that cloak to the closet?"

"I didn't want to return to my office to get my own cloak when Hagrid invited me so I borrowed one from here. I'm just returning it now," Dumbledore explained pleasantly.

Dumbledore grasped the doorknob firmly and opened it.

And nothing happened.

Charity wasn't sure whether she should feel relieved or disappointed.

She watched, biting her tongue, as Dumbledore returned the cloak and bade the two professors goodbye. Hagrid remembered he had roosters to feed and followed.

Once again the conspirators were alone.

"What could have gone wrong? It worked perfectly when I tested the mechanism before," she glanced at Quirenus, who only twitched in reply. She suspected that the DADA professor's twitching got the best of him and interfered with his wiring.

She sighed. It was too bad her only accomplice in muggle-dom was so afflicted, but there was nothing for it.

"I'll see if I can fix it," she picked up her pliers and approached the offending doorknob.

As soon as she touched it, another large shock went up her arms and knocked her off her feet. Having heard the sound, Dumbledore and Hagrid came rushing back and saw her sprawled on the floor.

"Professor Burbage, wha' happened to yeh?" Hagrid asked as he and Quirenus started to help her up off the ground.

"A backfire happened to me," she replied, face scrunched in pain.

Dumbledore smiled knowingly and drew up a chair for her.

"Will you be alright Charity or should Hagrid take you up to the hospital wing?" he asked gently.

"No, I'm fine headmaster," Charity answered, her pride more than a little wounded, "But if he could get me to my office I think I'll lay down for a while."

"If you would Hagrid?"

"A' course headmaster," and he carried the still smoking professor out the door.

"I suppose you were in on it too, Quirenus?"

Quirenus nodded, though it was hard to tell from the twitching, and said, "Y- yes head-headmaster. She wa-wanted help a-and-"

"I understand perfectly Quirenus," Dumbledore stopped him, "I am actually glad to see you getting back to your old interests. You haven't been yourself lately."