A/N: Standard disclaimer; see chapter 1 for details.

"Minerva, might I speak with you when you have some time free?"

The bags under the eyes of the Astronomy professor told the Deputy Headmaster that it must be a serious matter; she worked late and would normally still be abed at this time of morning. "Of course, Aurora. Although I have an eight o'clock class, I am available from ten until one. Is that acceptable?" When the other woman nodded, she laid a hand on one of hers. "I would advise you to take a nap until then; I can see you are exhausted."

Once both of them had a properly brewed cup of tea, McGonagall nodded at her visitor. "What is it that concerns you?"

"Although I had no class last night, I was on the tower orienting the large telescope. Mr. Malfoy had asked if it was possible for the second years to observe the Draconid meteor shower. I understood his interest, considering his name, and thought it would be an interesting activity for their next session." Professor Sinestra cleared her throat. "Most of the students do not comprehend my fascination with the heavens, and there are only so many times that they can look at Saturn before thinking that rings are not that interesting."

"I understand." McGonagall nodded. "Every year I have to explain the purpose of changing toothpicks to needles."

"Quite. At any rate, I had just finished the task when I was startled by the headmaster's appearance."

"Albus showed up?" The Transformation professor looked puzzled. "I know stargazing is not one of his hobbies, so what could have compelled him to climb all those stairs at his age?"

"I was concerned as well, especially since I had reduced the balustrade charm to half height." She cleared her throat. "Just a personal preference, you understand, and only when there are no students present."

"As he showed up at breakfast after you left to rest, I realize that he did not fall over the edge."

"No, although he paced back and forth quite close. I was right there, Minerva, and he didn't even notice me! I wondered if he was sleepwalking, so I feared disturbing him."

"As far as I know, he never has done such, but then, I am not privy to his entire life. I will take the first opportunity to make Poppy aware of the possibility." Noticing that the concern did not leave Sinistra's face, she asked, "Was there something else?"

"Do you know if people can talk when they sleepwalk?"

"I don't see why not. Did he do so?"

"Yes. He kept speaking to someone named Tom, asking him why he was still in hiding. And," her voice lowered, "he was telling this nonexistent person that Harry Potter was right here at Hogwarts, waiting for him to fulfill the prophecy, and that Halloween would be the perfect time for it. Is the headmaster...a little bit mad?"

The other woman's eyes flashed and she relapsed into the accent of her youth. "That stubborn gowk yet has that bee in his bunnet. Now he's stravaiging aboot the castle making such a palaver." She shook her head." I'll see what I can do, but if he shows up again on a nicht, just take care that he doesn't cowp over the edge."

After Sinistra left, she rested her head on her hands. "Oh, Albus, still on aboot Voldemort. If ye haver in front of too many staff, there be no way to keep this quiet."

"Please tell me this is a joke. Moaning Myrtle's bathroom?" Cho asked as she carefully stepped around spilled water on the floor. "Why not an empty classroom?"

"Because the classroom may not remain empty," her friend replied. "Think, Cho-Cho. There are over one hundred teenagers here, and a good portion of them are on the look-out for a private place to snog–or more. No one uses this place."

"Yes, no one likes Myrtle." A translucent figure arose from a stall. "No one liked me when I was alive, and no one visits me when I'm dead. But you two," she swooped down until she appeared almost as if she was standing next to them, "are trying something sneaky, aren't you? Tee-hee. You're going to get in trouble," she sang.

"Oh, hush it, you ugly shade." Marietta carefully covered the lacewings with the steeping solution.

"Wah! You're a meanie, just like Olive Hornsby. She sent me in here crying, and I," her voice lowered and she leered in Cho's face, "never came out."

"Mari, maybe we should–"

"Okay, you fat four-eyes," the other girl spat, "what do you want for us to leave you alone? Make it snappy; I haven't got all day."

"Well, I have eternity, and I don't think you'll keep any promise you make."

"We'll keep it, we'll keep it!" Cho pleaded, "Won't we, Mari?"

"I might trust you, but I don't trust her." The ghost pointed at Marietta, who stood with arms crossed as if bored. "It's no use, you'd never be friendly to Myrtle. I'm going back to my u-bend and cry-y-y-y!" With that, she swooped up and flipped to disappear into a toilet, which promptly overflowed.

"Okay," Marietta stated stolidly, "that's the stall we won't use to hide our stuff in."

"Mari," Cho moved to the makeshift table, a board transformed from a piece of parchment suspended over one sink, "Moste Potente Potions says that we have three more weeks before this is finished. Maybe the Weasley girl will settle down by then."

"It doesn't matter. She crossed the line by injuring me. If she wants to resort to dirty tricks, then all I can say is, 'Bring it on'." She moved the cauldron and box holding the book and extra ingredients to the floor. "Here, help me move the shelf so we can stash all this in the end stall. Don't worry if you bump the tap; this sink doesn't work."

Hermione eyed the owl swooping down towards the Ravenclaw table. She muttered that 'too much sodium isn't good for birds' when Marietta Edgecombe fed it a piece of ham. That extra moment of attention aimed in the older student's direction allowed her to notice what was wrapped in parchment before the girl quickly covered it again and slid it in her lap.

"Sehr gut." Herr Geschlossen lowered his wand from Harry's face. "All of you Junge Leute can be certified as Class C occlumens even without the added protection of your einzückend charmed rings."

"So does that mean it would be safe for Harry if the headmaster caught him unawares?" Neville asked.

"We could have Dobby accompany him while invisible," suggested Hermione.

Steadman shook his head. "That is a creative idea, but the headmaster's glasses are heavily enchanted; he could probably see through the disillusionment."

"Back to the junger Dachs question. The alt verrückt is very powerful and would get in eventually. Not quickly and not without, jedoch, causing a great deal of pain."

"And we must not ignore the possibility that he might try an indirect method to get to Harry. All of you must be alert for any attempt to scan your thoughts. Before the situation gets to the point of 'great deal of pain'," Steadman stared sternly at the four, "I would expect you to activate your emergency portkeys. Of course," he smirked, "those will raise alarms up and down the island.."

Draco snorted, "Not exactly the quiet search and retrieval of information that Dumbledore would be expecting."

"Indeed. Danke, Herr Professor." The seneschal bowed, and the others followed suit.

"Nein, nein, es war mir ein Vergnügen. But remember," he wagged a finger at them all, "practice, improve, perfect."

"Ja, mein Lehrer," Hermione replied with a determined expression, "we shall do so." The boys rolled their eyes, aware that meant that she would make sure all of them did.

The master occlumens walked out of the room with Steadman. "Mein Freund, that young lady, her mind is full of the numbers and formulas. The Bumblebee, arithmancy was not his strong subject; she would be the one giving him the headache!"

"Mari, I swear I'm not doing this any more!" Cho was almost in tears as she approached her friend in Myrtle's bathroom.

"Did you get it?" she demanded.

"Yes, here it is." She handed over a piece of folded parchment. "He fell, Mari! He could have been seriously injured!"

"I was there, remember? And it was sloppy, but as Nurse Pomfrey didn't look a bit worried, I'll forgive you; I'm sure he will be fine tomorrow. But with this," she carefully opened the makeshift envelope and held up a few dark hairs, "the plan is almost ready to launch."

The Charms professor listened to the Gryffindor seeker currently occupying a hospital bed.

"Here are my notes, Professor Flitwick. You can see that I've outlined my essay and everything."

"Yes, Mr. Potter," he nodded, "and I assume that you would like an extension?"

"No, sir," Harry shook his head, "I won't ask for that large of a favour. I just wondered, since you've seen my work, if it would be all right if I dictated it and someone else wrote it up. I'll be happy to turn in the notes, so you can compare them to the finished product."

The small man chuckled. "No need for that; I trust you. Who, may I ask, is going to be your amanuensis?"

"Uh," Harry quickly translated the Latin source, "Neville has volunteered."

"Young Mr. Longbottom. Very well. Best get started on it before the Skele-gro makes you drowsy."