Chapter 8 - ???

'That wasn't funny, you two,' exclaimed Sam as he followed behind Harry to Dumbledore's office, 'you nearly killed Mr. Frodo.'

'I'm fine, Sam' said Frodo, 'but now you two have got Harry in trouble.'

'Have we really?' asked Pippin, 'we didn't mean to you know, if Sam hadn't tried to stop me then that spell would have worked.'

'Don't worry,' said Harry as they neared Dumbledore's office, 'Dumbledroe knows what Snape is like, and to be honest, I think he finds you two funny.'

'Us?' said Merry.

'Yeah,' laughed Ron, 'if that spell had worked just about every single student would have worshipped you. Snape's not very popular.'

'Al the same, Ron, do you think Dumbledore will find us being kicked out of class very funny,' said Hermione.

'Well, it depends why you got kicked out, Miss Granger,' said Dumbledore from behind them.

'Oh! Professor,' squeaked Hermione, turning round, 'I - we -'

'Come into the office, all of you, and you can tell me your story,' said Dumbledore.

They all followed Dumbledore up the stairs to his office. For the first time, Harry wondered if he really was in trouble. Dumbledore opened his office door and beckoned them inside.

Harry sat down oppostie Dumbledore's desk and waited.

'Now, I'd like to hear this story from the begining please,' siad Dumbledore sitting down behind his desk.

Harry took a deep breath and tried to explain what had happened as best as he could without getting Merry and Pippin into too much trouble. However, when Harry got to the part about trying to turn Snape into a bat, Dumbledore couldn't help laughing.

'Gandalf did warn me about your 'mischevious' streak but I never expected anything like this!'

Merry and Pippin looked very pleased with themselves as Dumbledore wiped away his tears of laughter.

'Now,' he said, 'I'd be very sorry to have to punish you two, but I'm afraid that if you don't 'calm down' a little, I may have to.' Dumbledore looked very serious but Harry saw that familiar twinkle in his eye and grinned to himself. He knew that Dumbledore couldn't bring himself to punish Merry and Pippin.

'Are we going to be punished, Sir?' asked Hermione quietly.

'No, Miss Grainger,' said Dumbledore, 'you have been "warned" but lets leave it at that shall we? After all, no serious damage was done.'

'Great,' exclaimed Merry jumping off his chair and heading for the door.

'Proessor, Sir, how angry would you be if we *had* turned Snape into a bat?' asked Pippin as he, too scrambled off his chair.

'*Profesor* Snape, Mr. Took,' said Dumbledore, 'and I don't think you really want to know the answer.' He smiled at the hobbits, you may go now. I trust you will join us for supper tonight?'

'Yes, Sir,' said Merry, jumping for the door handle.

Hermione opened the door for them, and they all left.

'Will be be going for supper? Ask a silly question!' said Pippin as they all made their way to the Gryffindor common room.

'You see, Sam,' said Merry, 'we didn't get Harry into trouble, you worry too much.'

The Gryffindor common room was failry empty, only a few first years were there, sitting around the fire and chatting.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and the hobbits settled down into the big comfy chairs.

'I can't wait for dinner,' said Ron, 'I'm starving.'

'You havn't exactly done anything to work up an appetite today, Ron,' said Hermione, 'I don't think I've seen you do any kind of work today.'

Ron rolled his eyes, and was about to make a sarcastic remark back when Fred and George came flying into the common room looking very excited.

'Well done guys!' said Fred, coming over to Merry and clapping him on the back, 'the whole school is talking about Potions today!'

Merry and Pippin looked immensely proud of themselves.

'Tomorrow, you cna try and turn Malfoy into a bat,' said Fred excitedly.

Sam looked as if he would pass out.