He didn't really have much time to think about it, however; he was taken by surprise when Ron's eyes, finally, exploded.

"AAAAAAAAGGGHHHHH!!!" yelped Ron. "I TOLD YOU! I was telling you all this time, I said, 'I think my eyes are going to explode,' but no, you just told me I was imagining things. But look at me! LOOK AT ME!!!!"

Hermione screamed and led Ron out of the common room in search of medical assistance. Harry, very shaken, went to follow them out of the common room. As soon as he stepped into the hallway, however, a masked figure in black ambushed him and threw him into the nearest empty classroom.

"Well, Potter," the masked figure said, advancing on him, "where's the legendary Golden Toothpick of Thebes? Rumor has it that it is in your possession."

"You mean, this?" asked Harry, pulling the Golden Toothpick of Thebes out of his pocket. "I was using it to clean ear wax out of my ears."

Harry handed it to the robed stranger. The stranger hesitantly accepted it and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Harry shrugged his shoulders and walked out of the classroom. GIR walked by saying something about looking for tacos. Harry went to search for Ron when he noticed that all the students were hypnotized.

Harry walked over to one student, who was carving a name into the wall.

"Why are you doing that?" asked Harry.

"It is as Pustulio wishes," said the student flatly.

As he raced down a few floors to the hospital wing, he heard, once again, the strange electronic voice he'd heard just moments ago....

"WAHOO! I get to play with the Golden Toothpick of Thebes!" The voice belonged to the Sir unit, GIR. It sounded only a few classrooms away. Harry allowed himself a few seconds to wonder how GIR got a hold of the Golden Toothpick of Thebes, but then immediately continued on his way to the hospital wing, where he found Ron moaning on an operation table.

"Ron! How's your eyes?" said Harry hurriedly.

"My eyes.... oh my eyes...." Ron didn't give any real answer. A clean white bandage was wrapped around his forehead, blocking his sockets from view. Hermione stood by the table, whimpering for lack of anything else to do.

Again, Harry heard the digital voice. "I GET TO PLAY WITH THE TOOTHPICK!!!" Electronic laughter rang out, and got closer.

"I thought you were looking for tacos," said Harry into the hallway.

GIR came into view. "I was..... BUT NOW I GOT A TOOTHPICK!!!" Maniacal laughter followed this statement, and GIR continued running down the hallway.

"The Golden Toothpick of Thebes," muttered Ron painfully from the table. "It must have something to do with this...."

Harry sensed a connected between the robot that had just passed by (GIR) and the hypnotic syndrome that was lingering over the pupils of Hogwarts.

"Pustulio, huh?" said Harry to himself, a little freaked out. He hurried down the staircase, looking desperately for Hermione and Ron.