Hey gang! I'm a little slow these days at getting up a new chapter, but I'll eventually get there. It may take me a little longer to finish this story, but don't worry, I have no plans to abandon it. I have way too many plans for our group of wizards and witches. ;)

Scott, the guy I'm seeing, now has Sorcerer's Stone in hand to read on his next business trip. I'm willing to bet that he'll be hooked inside of a week!









Livening up the Party ~*~





Hermione knew that Harry and Ron were going to go with Fred and George, she just didn't know when. The two friends just couldn't resist tagging along with the twins this time to see what they were up to. She hadn't really given much thought to the matter after she'd arrived at the party, as she figured Sirius would probably keep an eye on the two brothers, and they'd probably never get past him. She should have given them more credit.

She might have paid a little more attention to the three boys sneaking out of the great hall while Fred asked Lorien to dance, but it was at that particular moment while she was standing and talking with Ginny that she received her own invitation.

"Excuse me."

Was someone talking to her? Hermione looked to her left. Standing there looking back at her was the youngest of the Moodys. "I'm sorry. Were you speaking to me?" She asked him.

Keath nodded. "You're Hermione, right?"

"Yes." She said.

He gave her a winning smile. "Keath." He offered her his hand which she shook. 'I was wondering, Hermione," he said as he leaned closer so she could hear him over the noise, "would you care to dance?"

Hermione stood there speechless for just a moment as the young auror waited. "Of...of course." She finally replied and then took the arm he offered her. She glanced back at Ginny as she walked away, and the youngest Weasley was grinning at her from ear to ear. She gave Hermione a thumb's up and Hermione rolled her eyes before she turned around.

When she started dancing with Keath Moody, Hermione wasn't sure what they would talk about, but she decided to break the ice with an obvious question. "So, you're Kaneene's brother?" She asked.

"Yes." He replied.

"Are you all from the same family?" Hermione asked next.

He laughed. "Not at all. The other four are my cousins."

"Oh." She said.

"Do you have any siblings?" He asked her.

"No. I'm an only child." Hermione answered. "It must be nice having a sister and cousins that you're close to."

"Most of the time." He said, and then smiled. "It can be difficult being the youngest sometimes. They all feel like they have to look out for me."

Hermione nodded understandingly. She knew that Keath had been a seventh year when she started at Hogwarts, and that his sister was quite a bit older. She continued the conversation. "So, you've been an auror for what, two years now?"

"Almost." He answered.

"Do you like it?" Hermione asked curiously.

Keath nodded once. "Definitely. I can't imagine doing anything else at this point."

"You were at the Ministry at Halloween, weren't you?" She asked.

His manner became a little more subdued. "Yes."

"I'm sorry." Hermione added. "Was it something I said?"

"No. It's just that I don't have very pleasant memories of that night." He said.

"I imagine a lot of people don't." Hermione replied, still concerned about what had changed Keath's demeanor. She risked another question. "Did something happen?"

He nodded. "Let's just say I don't want to cut it any closer than I did that night."

Hermione's eyes went wide. "You were injured?"

"Nearly died." He said, trying to sound casual.

"Really? What happened?" Hermione asked, hoping she wasn't being rude by asking. He didn't seem to mind.

"I made a pretty big mistake." Keath admitted.

Hermione was impressed that he'd admit such a thing.

"I tried to go after Lucius Malfoy by myself." He said.

Hermione was even more impressed. "Malfoy?" She nearly spat the name. "Let me tell you that I'm no fan of his either."

"That whole family is nothing but trouble." Keath replied.

Hermione laughed as they continued to dance. "Tell me something I don't know."











Fred caught up with Ron, Harry and George, and the foursome headed for the Astronomy tower.

"Any trouble getting out?" George asked his twin.

"Nah. It was cake." Fred answered. "They were too busy looking for you three gits to notice me leaving."

"How long do you think we have?" Ron asked, trying to sound like he really wasn't all that concerned.

Fred shrugged. "Don't know, little brother. We have what we have."

"You realize that once we get to the tower, we could be cornered." Harry said.

"Maybe." Said George with a grin. "So, let's make it worth the detentions."

Harry and Ron looked at each other as they ran up the long flight of stairs. They both were beginning to wonder if this had been such a good idea.











Draco Malfoy found that he was indebted to a group of Gryffindors for the first time in his life. The little stunt pulled by the Weasleys and Potter drew just enough attention from Snape that Draco was able to slip out of the great hall unnoticed. He knew that he probably only had a few minutes before his head of house started to miss his presence at the party, but that was all he really needed.

He was more than a little nervous, but he was anxious to complete his part in the evening's events. His crucial part. Draco smiled since he was quite pleased with himself, and ran onward to the third floor.











Sirius Black and Severus Snape were standing in the corridor outside the great hall agreeing with each other. Not something that happened every day.

"I'm sure they're up to no good." Black was saying. "I just wish I knew where." He was also wishing that he knew where Kaneene was, because right now would be a good time to break out the map.

"I have some concerns about Malfoy as well." Snape said. "Perhaps we'd best start where we think they would most likely be."

Black nodded and the two split up to begin their search. He headed for the kitchen first as Snape headed for the dungeon.











Hermione had finished dancing with Keath Moody but had found the young auror to be interesting company, and they continued their conversation for the next few songs.

Finally tired of practically yelling at Hermione to make himself heard above the music, Keath told her to stay where she was and walked away for a moment.

Hermione could see that the he went a short distance away and spoke with Professor McGonagall, and the woman appeared to be listening intently. Hermione saw her nod at Keath, and then he was walking back toward her, smiling. "Want to get out of the noise for a bit?" He asked.

"I'd love to but..." She glance in McGonagall's direction.

"I've got permission for you to leave the hall as long as we don't go far, and IF you stay in the company of an auror escort." Keath said, winking at her.

Hermione felt her face growing warm. She had already taken a liking to Keath, and she definitely wanted to continue her conversation with him. She decided it might be nice to get out of the noisy hall for a while and she agreed to go with him. They headed out into the corridor and walked along as he told her more about his adventures with his sister and his cousins.











Fred, George, Harry and Ron finally made it to the top of the stairs and pushed open the door that led to the observation platform. It wasn't raining yet, but the sky was blanketed in heavy dark clouds that all but obscured the small amount of moonlight.

George surveyed the night sky. "Perfect." He commented. "Simply perfect." He turned to where Fred was holding the small bag they'd retrieved from the stairwell where they had stashed it just before the party. "Gentlemen, are we ready?" He asked solemnly.

Fred nodded. Harry and Ron glanced at each other and shrugged. They nodded as well.

"Very well. Fred, if you would?" George said.

Fred smiled and reached into the bag, and proceeded to present each of them with a small silver orb. He took one himself. "George and I will go first, then you two." He and George stepped closer to the wall. "Watch."

The twins each spoke the lighting charm and rocketed their orbs far out into the night sky, one slightly ahead of the other. It was only a few seconds before the darkness was lit up by the brilliant burst of light and the quiet was disrupted by the explosion that accompanied it. A second followed, and the light continued to change as the intricate display went on for the next thirty seconds.

Harry and Ron each launched their orbs as well, and stood back to admire the handiwork of the twins. They were caught up watching the spectacle when they became aware of Fred standing there grinning at them. "Care for another round?" He asked, and handed each one of them a new orb. This time Ron's was green and Harry's was red.









The Weasley twins knew the fascinating thing about the ceiling in the great hall was that it was charmed with a powerful spell to reflect whatever was going on in the sky above Hogwarts. If the sun was shining, it shone indoors, and if the day were snowy, flakes appeared on the backdrop of the roof. If the moon were full, one could see it in the great hall, and if someone hurled fireworks off the astronomy tower, well, they'd be visible too.

That became apparent to all the partygoers still present in the great hall, and it was only a moment before every last occupant of the room had their head turned upward, watching the light show. Students laughed and pointed and everyone oohed and aahed as each pattern made itself into another more beautiful than the last.

McGonagall's mouth dropped open in horror, Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with amusement, and Remus Lupin smiled appreciatively as he watched the light show. So far it looked at though it was going to be Weasley twins - 1 and Sirius Black - 0. Of course that all depended on whether they got caught or not, he reminded himself.

Two more explosions were folding in on themselves and reforming into flowering light, but as the final one began to fade, a large green burst of light took it's place. This one was different from the others, and after a moment, large green lettering filled the sky. Remus had to bite his lip as he stood next to Marlina so he didn't actually laugh out loud.

'SLYTHERINS DROOL' was painted across the darkness.

After about thirty seconds it was replaced by another explosion. This one was red.









Harry and Ron turned and gave each other an enthusiastic high five as the final explosion rocked the night. Fred and George stood next to them silently with their hands over their hearts as the final message appeared.

'GRYFFINDORS RULE' was now emblazoned across the sky.











There were only a few people that didn't see the view of the fireworks from the great hall, and Draco Malfoy was one of them. It was probably just as well. The green explosion would have only served to make him hate the Gryffindors more.

He'd made it to the third floor and trotted up to the statue of the one-eyed witch, pausing and leaning on her just long enough to catch a bit of breath. He looked around to make sure that he hadn't been followed, and satisfied that he'd made it there alone, allowed himself a self- congratulatory smile.

"This is where things get interesting," he told the old crone, and he stepped forward to speak the single word that would open the passage. "Dissendium." He said triumphantly, and he stepped into the nearby classroom and locked the door, as the opening to the secret tunnel slid into view.











Hermione and Keath heard the first explosion in the distance, and immediately became curious. As they backtracked toward the great hall, they could tell that laughter had replaced the music and also that the explosions themselves were coming from the other direction.

Keath opened the door and poked his head inside long enough to determine what was happening and then quickly turned around. "Come on." He said, leading Hermione away from the great hall.

She followed him as he led her to the doors to the outside and hesitated as he opened one. "Do you think that's wise?" She asked.

"We'll just step outside." He said. "I promise we won't go far."

They stepped outside and moved just far enough away from the castle that they had a better view of what was happening. Keath spoke up as he watched the next silvery white display unfold. "Someone is going to be in a lot of trouble." He said.

Hermione noted that he was smiling when he spoke, and looked at the astronomy tower. "Unfortunately, I know just who those someones are."

Keath looked at her questioningly, and saw her reluctance to tell him. He laughed. "Oh, you can tell me, Hermione. I am off duty you know." He gave her a disarmingly charming smile and then spoke again. "I'd be willing to bet a fair amount that there's got to be at least one Weasley involved."

"Three." Hermione said, finally smiling herself. "Three Weasleys and a Potter."

Keath patted her arm. "Don't worry. I won't tell a soul about your friends."

They looked up once more in time to see the green explosion rip across the night.











"Well, I think that's about all the excitement I need for the evening." Dumbledore said to McGonagall, and turned to leave the great hall.

"Albus! Surely this can't be let go." McGonagall sounded flustered.

"Minerva, I suggest you enjoy the rest of the party. Sirius will deal with the problem, I am sure." Dumbledore smiled as he saw the look the deputy headmistress was wearing. "Relax. It could have been a lot worse knowing those two."

McGonagall had to admit Dumbledore was right.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, Professor, I believe the back of my eyelids are in want of close examination." He patted her arm and left.









On the third floor of Hogwarts, all was quiet for a few minutes after the hump-backed crone revealed her secret, but that didn't last very long. Draco was curious for sure, but he knew better than to open the door he was locked behind as he heard the curious snuffling and scratching sounds coming from nearby.

Something was climbing up the passageway.





The short fur covered creature made it to the opening, and stood there for a moment sniffing the air. She was hungry as she'd been kept from eating for two days, and the smell of pizza in the distance bore the promise of making the nagging sensation in her stomach go away. She followed her nose down the hall and paused once again to sniff and determine the direction of the smell, and then headed down the stairs.

Anyone that saw the small monkey-like creature moving along the staircase might have at first thought she was cute, that is until closer inspection revealed razor- sharp teeth and just as sharp claws. Claws coated with dried saliva from grooming. Claws coated with slow but deadly poison.

The female mangabey continued in the direction of the great hall.









Snape was frustrated as he completed his search of the Slytherin dorms and common room, and had found no sign of the younger Malfoy. He knew that Draco was up to something. He had a nagging feeling about it, and when he got that feeling, well, it usually wasn't a good thing.

He walked quickly out of the dungeon, retracing his steps, and wondering if Black had had any better success at finding those annoying Weasleys.









Sirius checked a few of the nearby closets and classrooms, just in case, on his way to the kitchen. He found nothing and continued on until he reached the painting of fruit, wondering if the boys would actually go there first. It was a favorite haunt of his in his younger days, it was true, but he had a feeling that what motivated the twins was something other than a sweet tooth.

He decided that he might as well check the kitchen while he was there, and he tickled the pear and stepped through as the painting swung open. He didn't find anyone but a group of mildly surprised house elves, and Sirius suddenly found himself detained from rejoining the search by house elves chattering at him from all directions and trying to send him with chocolate chip cookies.











Marlina was fuming after she read the green slogan pasted across the ceiling sky of the great hall, partly because of what it said, and partly because she could tell that Remus was more than a little amused.

"I suppose you think that's funny." She said to him, after the last red message appeared in the sky.

"Appalling." Remus said with mock sincerity.

"You know, Slytherins have feelings too." She said, pouting.

"Really?" He asked.

She would have been angry if it weren't for the way he was looking at her when he spoke.

"As a representative of the house of Salazar, would you care to share some of yours with me?" He asked slyly.

"Perhaps." She smiled a little and looked away. "But not here."

Remus took her by the elbow and led her to the door.

"Remus, we have to keep an eye on things here." She protested weakly.

"We'll only be gone for a minute." He whispered, leading her out into the hall where he intended to kiss her away from the scrutiny of the staff and student body. He would have done so if the two of them hadn't been so shocked by the sight of the small creature a short distance away that looked just as surprised to see them.