Disclaimers: See the first chapter.

Snippets From the Potterverse

Chapter 69 - How NOT To Be Seen

The children were on the Hogwarts Express, on their way back to Hogwarts for the second term. They were bored. So Harry had rounded up Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Dean, Seamus, Parvati, Lavender, Luna, Ernie Macmillan, Hannah Abbot, Justin Finch-Fletchly, Susan Bones, and Cho to play "Monty Python's Flying Circus".

It was a nice idea, but there were so many kids squished into the compartment that they couldn't move.

"So, what are we supposed to be doing?" Ernie asked from somewhere in the luggage rack.

"We're playing 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'," Harry explained patiently. "It's a funny Muggle show."

"I've never watched Muggle Telefission," Susan said in a worried voice.

"You don't have to."

"Harry! I'm squished!" Ginny yelled from the floor, where she was unseen amongst the tangle of limbs and robes.

"Me too!" Justin called.

"Shh! I'm trying to explain the rules!" Harry was quite bossy when in charge. "We're going to start the first part of the game, and it's called "How NOT To Be Seen"."

"That's easy!" Hermione said. Her voice was slightly muffled because her face was squished against the wall. "You can use an Invisibility Cloak, or a Disillusionment Charm, or an Invisibility Charm... Chameleon Ghouls can turn into ordinary things around them, or blend into walls, in order to sneak around..."

"No, no!" Harry protested.

"Wait, I saw that episode!" Dean interrupted. "The people would hide, then when the announcer called them and they stood up, they'd get shot, so they stopped standing up, and the announcer just blew them up instead!"

"That's not fun!" yelped Parvati. Luna's unmistakable giggle sounded from behind Ron.

"Has anyone figured out that "Monty Python's Flying Circus" is a dumb name?" Hannah said, working her way into another patented Abbot Drama Queen Bit. "Who ever heard of a Flying Circus? How is anyone supposed to go and see it if it's flying?"

"Hey, you're right," Seamus said from on top of the lamp.

"I need to go to the bathroom, but I don't know where I am," said Ron.

"Has anyone seen my Mimbulus mimbletonia ?" Neville asked in a worried tone. "Or Trevor?"

"I hate to say this, Neville, but I just stepped in something squishy," Cho said in a sad voice. "But I'm not sure if it's a toad or a Mimbulus mimbletonia."

"It's neither," Lavender said. "It was my cheese sandwich. That's okay. Cheese is bad for my beautiful arteries."

"I can't breathe," said Dean.

"I think I know how not to be seen, Harry," said Ginny. "Just hide in here with us. I can't see anyone."

"Me too," Harry agreed. "Let's spread out."

There was a pause. Then:

"Harry? I think we're stuck."