Investigations take time

David was only vaguely aware of the tug of the portkey and landing with a thud on the floor of his own bedroom. He wondered slowly what had got Simba so excited when she popped into the room a few moments later, but he could not summon the energy to talk to her. He hazily noticed that she was prizing something out of his hand before she started trying to remove his grimy, muddy and bloody clothing. He heard her voice distantly ask him for permission to remove the clothes when they would not budge and saw no reason to deny her. Although he said nothing his garments then allowed themselves to be undone. As he was levitated into bed his grip on the world around him failed completely.

David awoke late the next morning with a blinding headache. As soon as he realised that he upgraded that idea and decided that his whole body ached. "How're you feeling dear?" asked Molly a few minutes later as she came into the room.

"Sore," croaked David.

"Your father sent something along to help with that," said Molly helping him sit up and then holding a filled tumbler under his nose for inspection.

David sniffed the offered potion. "Actually, I'd rather have my revitalicorpus and I can't take it with this," he said apologetically.

"About that, I've got strict instructions," said Molly firmly moving the tumbler towards his lips. "The healer said she couldn't be sure how the revitalicorpus would react with the stuff Albus gave you. She said that your own judgement on the matter will be impaired until it's completely out of your system, so you mustn't have any for another day or so. Instead you've got to rest and eat wholesome foods to regain your strength. And I'm here to ensure you do."

David sighed and allowed her to feed him the potion. With his head aching the way it was he could not think clearly enough to find a loophole in her instructions. He really wanted it to let up and if she would not give him the potion he wanted at least this one should help. "Thank you Molly," he said meekly. "But you really don't have to look after me," he protested mildly as Simba popped up with a bed table and tray of food. "I'm sure you're extremely busy and Simba can ensure I eat."

"But if you tell Simba you want to get up she won't make you stay in bed," said Molly dismissively. "Besides it's no bother. There are some interesting books in your library I've been waiting for an excuse to spend time reading."

"Molly, you're welcome to read my books whenever you want," David assured her.

"Be that as it may," said Molly as she stirred his porridge and spooned some up, "I can't just spend my day reading when I should be doing other things, but if I'm looking after you, you'll be sleeping a lot so I've got nothing to do but read!" She shoved the spoon of porridge in his mouth as he opened it to protest. "I'll be having words with Albus when he drops by later," she told him as she refilled the spoon. "Your father was furious about the amount of work he had you do after he drugged you…"

David, having great difficulty in moving his limbs since his draining, was unable to do anything other than submit to being fed huge amounts of 'wholesome' food and putting in a few words in defence of Albus whenever Molly was a bit slow about refilling the spoon. It turned out that Molly's 'strict instructions' included not showing him the newspaper or discussing current events since coming down off Albus's potion would make it easy for him to get upset. Personally David thought the frustration of not knowing what was going on was more upsetting but Molly did not seem to buy that idea.

Through out the day David found that images of what he had seen in Azkaban came flooding back in gruesome Technicolor. Each time he closed his eyes he could see Old Man Rufus torturing Williamson just as they found him doing when they reached the cells. David was extremely tired and so did fall asleep at several points during the day but images of the prison both remembered and imagined haunted his dreams as well. He raised his occlumency shields to protect Remus from the onslaught of emotions they produced.

After Molly had found him screaming in his sleep for the second time she had retrieved the books on zia bonds and marriage customs and involved him in the planning she was doing for his wedding in an effort to take his mind off things. When he fell asleep again during her dissertation on the characters of each of the people the Ministry had insisted were invited he found himself dreaming about marrying Umbridge. When he kissed her she turned into a toad, while this was not pleasant it was much better than before and he did not wake up screaming.

Albus visited in the evening and assured David that everything had gone well. He told David that the prisoners they had rescued were now in a safe house being looked after by some of the shadow dragons who had responded to David's signal for them to come forward. The aurors were technically taking care of them but the shadow dragons were there to ensure that none of the aurors turned out to be part of the conspiracy and tried to kill off the evidence. It was the only news David got out of him. David was a bit hurt that Remus did not accompany Albus, but he knew that his workload would have doubled with his own absence. Albus also mentioned that he was overseeing a couple of third years in detention. The pair of Ravenclaws had apparently worked out the exact weak spot of the chain suspending the baby dragon skeleton from the ceiling of the DADA classroom. They had 'accidentally' hit this spot with an unspecified curse when they were supposed to be practicing charms to repel grindylows. James had told David of how a Marauder plan to do the same thing had never got off the ground so David imagined that Remus was less angry than impressed; certainly Albus seemed that way.

"Albus, the deal with not letting me have my potion is complete garbage," said David accusingly when Albus got up to leave without having mentioned the subject. "And so's the stuff about me not being allowed to see the newspaper. You want me out of the loop for a while. Why?"

Albus sighed heavily and sat back down. "David, the situation at the moment is very delicate and you are heavily emotionally involved," he said seriously. "The Ministry are still looking for Harry and a misstep on your part could be disastrous. If you had the strength you would be involving yourself, particularly if you read something that you dislike. We both no that no promise you could give would stop you if you believed it needed to be broken in a higher cause."

"You are interfering in my life again Albus," said David dangerously. Then he closed his eyes for a long moment and sighed. "I agree with your reasoning. I would leap in with my heart rather than my head controlling my actions, but not knowing what's going on is incredibly frustrating. I'd prefer you'd lift your restrictions than me having to go behind your back to avoid them. Even if I take revitalicorpus right now it'll still be nearly a week before I'll be fit enough to storm the Ministry or return to work."

David got his potions and his newspapers. He learnt that Fudge had tried to keep office but that public opinion was likely to have him out in short order. He saw that the head of the aurors Rufus Scrimgeour was personally heading up the investigation into the dark prisoners. Reading between the lines, and remembering what his family had said about the man, David decided Scrimgeour had seen the opportunity for advancement and was looking to be the next Minister. The Malfoy, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle case was progressing. The two sidekicks had been released pending further investigation but had not returned to school. They were being suspended for their part in intimidating other students as had been witnessed by Ron and Hermione. Whether or not they were involved in attempted murder would be decided later. For now the school was taking no chances and keeping them away from Hermione.

The part Albus had not wanted David to see was an editorial linking the Malfoys with Harry Potter. There was speculation about their relationship and even that Harry had been the mastermind behind the attacks. It was suggested that he had been using the imperious curse to control the Malfoy family. Inside sources had linked the words 'rape,' 'Malfoy' and 'Potter' and decided that he had attacked Narcissa Malfoy in order to gain the cooperation of her husband and son. When the speculations were continued in Friday's paper David began to understand why the inhabitants of the realm of the dead did not spend their time watching the living. It was horrible knowing that events were taking place and having no ability to do anything about them, particularly when they involved someone close to you. He decided not to seek out any more news until he was back on his feet and able to take part once more.

Remus turned up on Friday evening. Since the last time he had seen him David had apparated away in a huff and Remus had been unable to leave school to visit him earlier in his recovery, Remus was a bit wary of the reception he would get from David. As it was, David was extremely grateful that he persuaded Molly to return to Arthur and the Burrow for the weekend, that he did not even mention either event. David had recovered to the extent of being able to, in his opinion; shuffle around the house, in Molly's; stay in bed and read, and he had grown weary of her restrictions and was pleased to have a break.

"Remus, you've been on edge since you arrived last night," accused David on Saturday afternoon. They had spent a quiet day sitting in the library, David had been dosing and Remus had been reading, or at least appearing to read. David had noticed that he had not actually read more than a few pages all day. "What's wrong?" He brushed aside Remus's protests. "Something's wrong. I don't need the bond or legimency to know that. And it has something to do with us, I noticed the way you couldn't stand to look at the books I had beside the bed." Remus averted his gaze. "And I don't think you've suddenly got an aversion to musty tomes," added David trying to lighten the mood.

"It's not up for discussion," said Remus angrily.

"If you won't talk to me will you talk to Sirius or Tonks?"

"No," Remus almost shouted. "It's none of their business." He calmed down a bit and said with an attempt at a lighter tone, "It's just a small problem I'm mulling over. When the time comes to tell you about it I will. Do not raise the subject again."

David heard the order. He was annoyed that Remus had broken his word not to use the guardianship powers, but felt that it proved how upset he was. He found no compulsion to obey; therefore, he concluded, Remus did not truly believe that it was in his best interests to do so, and hence he definitely needed to press the subject. He propped himself up against the corner of the sofa he was had being reclining on and invited Remus to come and join him. When he refused David rolled his eyes and stretched out his hand summoning Remus onto the sofa so that he was leaning back against David, his head resting just below David's left shoulder. Once Remus was there, David locked his arms around him with his remaining strength before going limp, groaning, and muttering, "Note to self. Don't use a summoning charm on a person while half drained. Not a good idea."

As weak as his use of magic had left David, Remus could have easily broken free but his resolution to keep the facts about the new law from his fiancé until he had recovered had wilted against David's determination to share the burden. The comfort of being cradled against him had helped too. David simply held him for a while before he mentioned hearing from Albus that someone had finally managed to release the dragon skeleton.

Remus ceased on the change of subject and related the prank. "It was a bit odd," he concluded. "The two Ravenclaws owned up straight away. They weren't being cheeky, but they simply admitted calmly that they had intended to break the chain. Those two have never caused trouble before, it was like they were unsure of what proper prank etiquette required after the deed was done."

"Ravenclaws tend to be more serious than the other students; I blame their love of books. It's normally the Gryffindors and Slytherins who cause trouble. I bet someone put them up to it and then they didn't know what to do once they succeeded. Perhaps they were playing truth or dare or the like."

"Perhaps," agreed Remus.

"So ready to talk about what's really troubling you now?" asked David gently tightening his arms around Remus.

Remus nodded and in a rush told his bond-mate about the letter he had received on Wednesday, the implications it had for them and how he had wanted to keep the illusion of an engagement up for David until he had recovered from the turmoil of emotions Azkaban had caused and would be able to cope with the necessary break up.

"And you've been worrying about this since Wednesday?" asked David. "I'm so sorry. I occluded the bond to stop my nightmares affecting you and condemned you to your own. We already have royal approval for our match; do you really think some vindictive prose from the toad could overrule that? Even if we hadn't the rules about zias are ancient had can't be amended without consultation. They haven't changed in centuries, and at the heart of them are the ones which insist that should a soul-bond be identified then the penalties for trying to separate the pair are severe. You could demand a lot from me for trying to destroy our bond. If the events at Azkaban don't see Fudge and the toad out of office then this will. The only difficulty is proving that she was specifically targeting you."

"So they can't force us apart?" asked Remus twisting round to search David's eyes for the reassurance he needed.

"Not a chance," David told him firmly. "As long as we both want it the completion of the bond has to be allowed, nay encouraged." He had meant comfort with his words and was surprised to feel Remus's doubts return as he turned his face away. Then David understood. "You don't think I want this do you? You don't think I want you? Haven't you noticed that my fear of trusting you has been reducing?" Remus stiffened but made no reply. "We acknowledged the bond after I had been trying to persuade you to let me destroy it. I outlined all the reasons for you not wanting me, but I did not tell you why I wanted to break the bond. I should have explained myself."

David took a deep breath and continued, "I am not good at showing affection. You have taught me well, but I can understand your doubts about whether I'm just learning actions or if I have the feelings to go with them. I don't want you to be in any doubt about this. When I was sworn in back in July the Queen expressed her concern over the decline of the zia houses. I was instructed to find my soul-mate as quickly as possible and reproduce to ensure that my house survived. I already knew that you were probably that person from James and Lily and my own observations had confirmed it. Since I am the last of my line I had the right to force you to bond to ensure its continuity. You had been my professor, but I did not really know you. My initial intentions were to insist on my rights but I disliked the idea of forcing you into something. So I delayed to allow you time to get to know me and in the process got to know you better too.

"I started to become aware of my phobias but it wasn't until the day we visited the Dursleys that I realised how difficult a relationship with me would be. I realised that I could not obey the orders I was under. I could not force you into the bond. Initially I just wanted to delay matters so I encouraged my father to help me put you off, but I grew nervous as the bond strengthened. Then you found out who I was and I was afraid that if you noticed the bond you would acknowledge it out of a sense of duty. By this point I had admitted to myself that I loved you and I had no intention of inflicting my myriad problems on you, not to mention the horrors of the celebrity status that came with them. In short, when I tried to break the bond I was doing so because I cared about you. I admit it was a twisted way of showing it, but I want you to be in do doubt of my motivation."

"As two insecure people who have a hard time believing anyone would think us worth spending time over it's amazing we ever acknowledged the bond," commented Remus softly.

"Yes, but we did," said David, "and since I have the right to insist on the bond due to my position, and you have the right to demand things from me for having tried to destroy it, I can't see our marriage not taking place without a truly mutual decision against it."

"I wouldn't force you," said Remus hastily.

"Nor I you," agreed David, "but I thought the ability would be reassuring."

They sat still for a while, soaking up the companionship and love each was offering the other. Now Remus's long term doubts had been aired his reluctance to completely accept their bond had disappeared and the connection strengthened to the point where both wondered what additional awareness of each other they could gain from their actual marriage. David dosed off to finally rouse as Remus's weight shifted off him as he stood up.

"Time for supper," Remus informed him. David swung his legs slowly over the side of the sofa onto the ground and took the proffered hand to pull himself up. He made it upright before toppling forward and collapsing against Remus. "Looks like you were right about the summoning charm," commented Remus in amusement as he lifted David up to carry him from the room. "Oh hush your noise; it was your choice to do magic!"

The following Thursday David returned to Hogwarts. He grumbled to the rest of the staff that his supposed tip off about a banshee in Mongolia had come to nothing. He had gone hoping to get some footage for the fourth years, but there had not been a banshee at all instead she had been a nomadic muggle who wanted to scare a family who had insulted her husband. He complained convincingly about having been sent on a wild goose chase. The day before David had taken a short trip to Mongolia to spy out the land for his supposed travel and so was able to talk knowingly about the terrain.

Valentines Day fell on a Saturday with the full moon the previous Wednesday. This was convenient for David and Remus since they would be away from school. The only time David could remember even noticing the day in previous years had been when Lockhart had ensured nobody could avoid it. His mind was caught up in the status of the Malfoy investigation and the current lies about Harry Potter and it did not occur to him that there was an important date coming up for him to remember. Fortunately, Ginny sent him a letter, via his father, to remind him of the event and give him some suggestions for how to mark the occasion. These included not asking the twins to help you compose a poem and then having a singing dwarf deliver it. When David first read the letter he felt a bit embarrassed that she had felt the need to send it. Was it really that obvious that he did not have a clue? He was cheered up by her comment at the bottom that she had sent the same list to Ron since he had disastrously forgotten the date the previous year causing him to break up with Lavender Brown, his girlfriend at the time.

It turned out that someone, possibly also Ginny, had talked to Remus and had hinted to him the events of the Lockhart year because Remus apologised, with a wink, over breakfast for not sending David a singing valentine. David cringed at the memory before describing Lockhart's Valentine's day arrangements in all their pink fluffy detail. He conjured up images of the surly dwarves running around the school to illustrate the horror of the activities. They spent an enjoyable day visiting some of the vineyards David had found while researching wine over the summer. They kept to the proper etiquette of not swallowing the wine they tasted but instead apparated home almost sober carrying a few bottles for further investigation.

On arrival at Lions' Den they found a note from Sirius to the effect that Scrimgeour had given a speech on the Wizarding Wireless Network calling for the resignation of the Minister for Magic and citing the incidents of corruption that he had uncovered including the false imprisonment of one Harry Potter following a trial at which the evidence was interfered with, and the questionable relationship Fudge's administration had employed with the family now at the centre of an attempted murder enquiry. Sirius added that he had popped over to the Ministry and found that Fudge and his cronies were working furiously to find a way to stay in power. He said that the majority of the Ministry employees were significantly absent except for a few strategically placed aurors who were preventing access (and possible destruction) of papers in the empty offices. All in all Sirius was predicting Fudge would be out within the week and he should be taking the toad with him.

David and Remus greeted this news cautiously. They wanted to believe it but were used to being disappointed by the government. They were also unsure whether Scrimgeour would be any better than Fudge. Fudge was probably more incompetent than malicious. Rufus Scrimgeour had a reputation for intelligence, cunning and decisive action. He would be a much more dangerous opponent if they did find themselves at odds. Those were their thoughts as they sat down to supper, but as the wine flowed and they ate their favourite foods they discussed the matter with ever growing enthusiasm. By the time they finished both of them were in extremely good moods. Neither were drunk, the experience at Christmas had caused both to resolve not to get drunk while Voldemort was still at large since you could never know when something would happen.

When they left the table David turned to head for the library since it was their custom to read there together in the evenings they spent in Lions' Den. Remus halted the shorter man in the doorway and leaned down to kiss him, judging that David was more receptive than usual he pulled David's head up towards his own and deepened the kiss. Kissing was the current item on Remus's agenda for David's education. When David had noticed the trend that his interactions with Remus were taking and the excuse of dance lessons no longer covered it they had discussed Remus's intentions. Remus had assured his bond-mate that he would stop his current actions at any point he was requested to, but that he felt that in the long run David would be happier if he managed to conquer his phobias. David agreed with Remus's aims and admitted that while he needed to progress slowly he did want for them eventually to be intimate to the point where children were a possibility. His stipulation was that there would be no penetration of any kind and in any direction. When he agreed to this Remus had been calculating the wide possibilities it left open, and had not realised that David included French kissing as a forbidden activity.

When the topic had initially come up Remus had tried to understand why having someone else's tongue in his mouth caused such a problem for David, but had decided in the end that he probably did not want to know. New Year's Day had been the first time they had kissed that way and while they had done so several times David tended to receive rather than exchange the kiss. Now with the zia on a high from an enjoyable day and some long awaited news he felt the time was right to attempt to breech that boundary. Remus ran his tongue gently along the line of David's lips to signal his intent and was pleased to find he had judged the mood right when David responded without his usual hesitation and allowed him entry. He pushed his feelings of love and pleasure through the bond to reassure him and was rewarded by David finally ceasing to be an inactive partner in what had at last become an exchange.

David moved his arms from his sides so that he was pulling Remus's head down to maintain contact with one hand while he used the other arm to pull his body closer, his anxieties quashed by the emotions he was receiving from his bond-mate. Remus became the less active partner allowing David control over their kiss, but encouraging him by pulling him closer so that their bodies were flush against each other. Remus's hand snaked around David's waist and moved up his back. It was not until David froze and withdrew that Remus realised that he had managed to get his arm underneath David's sweater and was touching his skin. Given how careful David was with his clothing, as witnessed by the bath they had given him at Halloween, he was amazed he had been able to do so. Remus thought he had ruined the moment, but to his surprise and relief David pulled him closer, recaptured his mouth and started to work his own hands under Remus's clothing to explore his back.

When they finally broke the kiss Remus took David's head in his hands and looked at him closely. "Do you want more?" he asked softly. David paused for a moment before jerking his head up and down once. Remus wrapped his arms back around the younger man and apparated them both up to their bedroom. Whatever had changed to allow Remus access under David's clothing stayed that way and Remus was able to remove the clothes from David's upper body. He quickly noticed that his partner had become completely passive again and his fear had started to increase so Remus nudged him towards returning the actions.

David clumsily removed Remus's jumper and then started to unbutton his shirt with shaking hands. Seeing David was getting nowhere fast Remus kissed him again in an effort to calm his nerves. It worked. As the kiss deepened David stopped attacking the buttons and instead he clicked his fingers, the shirt disappeared and he pulled Remus tightly against him so that their bare chests came into contact. Feeling David's euphoria as he overcame one of his phobias Remus moved his hands lower and cupped David's cheeks bringing their groins into contact through their trousers.

"I'm not ready for anything internal," David sent nervously but determinedly through the bond, his mouth otherwise engaged.

"That wasn't what I had in mind," Remus returned dryly. Remus slid one hand between them and to the clasp of David's trousers. "I know the limits; will you trust me to stick to them?" Instead of answering verbally, David clicked his fingers once more and the rest of their clothing and shoes vanished into the closet.

"You know undressing can be part of the fun," Remus commented mildly as he found his hands suddenly in contact with bare skin. "But I'll admit your method has its advantages too." He backed David towards their bed keeping their bodies in contact as they moved. "Now let me explain what I had in mind." It was an explanation that required few coherent words.

About a fortnight later the Ministry gearing up for an election and all other business such as current auror investigations were just kept ticking over on reduced manpower. This was frustrating for those waiting on the outcomes of the Malfoy interrogations, but there was nothing that could be done about it. Back at Hogwarts there were other things uppermost in people's minds. When the subject of increased student misbehaviour was up for debate at the staff meeting David found it very difficult to keep his knowledge of the cause to himself. The trouble was that it would be obvious to those who knew him that he had known more than he let on when the truth finally came out. Most of the teachers had more detentions scheduled for the following week than usual; even Sibyll had given one which was almost unheard of. David himself had added to the problem with his own prank in the great hall on the previous Wednesday.

David had been visiting the school as David Antirrhinum to have an interview with McGonagall about taking his NEWTs without actually becoming a formal student. She had tested his abilities in his chosen subjects and then agreed to arrange the examination entries for him. She tried to persuade him to become a student, outlining the benefits that making friends and spending time with people his own age would bring, but David naturally resisted. The rise in the numbers of pranks by the student population had not gone unnoticed by David and he had sought out the cause. When he found it he decided to join in with his own piece of mischief, but it would not be fitting behaviour for a teacher. Hence he had prepared carefully for his visit as his teenaged self.

David had charmed the benches and chairs in the great hall to massage everyone's posteriors while they ate. The unexpected movement had caused a lot of surprise among the staff and the students and there were some loud exclamations as people tried to stand up and found themselves stuck for the couple of minutes that the massages lasted. Minerva had loudly demanded that 'whichever student was responsible own up immediately' and since David was not a student he had decided to keep quiet. Had she imposed a blanket punishment he would have admitted his actions, but with nobody else in the firing line he had delayed.

Now the topic of Wednesday's prank was brought up by Minerva who was worried by the level of magical ability required to pull it off. She admitted that it had not been harmful or malicious but still disapproved. She gave it as her considered opinion that only Hermione Granger could have done it. At this Remus and Severus looked suspiciously towards David.

"Was it you?" Remus sent telepathically.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Just a bit of fun."

"You can't let Hermione take the blame," sent Remus firmly.

"I know. I wouldn't," David sent back; then he spoke up. "Minerva, I don't think it was Miss Granger's doing," he said clearly. "I realise that I didn't witness the events myself, but David was visiting last week sometime wasn't he? Was that the day he was here?"

"You think he…?" asked Minerva surprised that someone unfamiliar with the school would have the audacity to do such a thing.

"He has the knowledge," admitted Severus, "although I thought he was above such childish tricks." His tone made David well aware that there would be words exchanged on the subject at a later date. "I know what you were like at school Remus, have you been contaminating my son? Or was it all your doing Viddy?"

"I had nothing to do with it," Remus assured his colleagues subconsciously backing into his chair and away from the irate Minerva.

"If I might?" asked David drawing the attention back towards himself. "None of the events concerned have caused any lasting damage. There have been more cases of mischief than usual, but none of them have been malicious and in many cases the perpetrators have owned up immediately. When groups have been involved they have often included people from across the years and houses. I have four students scheduled for detention on Tuesday and they are each from a different house. I think there is an organising force behind these events, but it is causing the students to work together. Alph often sings about house unity, so why don't we just keep a watchful eye out for anything dangerous but otherwise not worry too much?"

His colleagues considered this. There were a few nods of agreement around the room. Albus in particular seemed pleased with David's interpretation of events. "You know exactly what's going on don't you?" sent Remus.

"Of course," sent back David. "But I'm not telling you."

"I want to know," Remus told David that night when he found himself thinking about what was going on with the students and so unable to fall asleep.

"Huh?" asked David sleepily.

"I want to know why the students are behaving the way they are," said Remus in David's ear as he snuggled up behind him and held him close.

"Shouldn't tell you," murmured David. "You'll stop them. Shouldn't have said I knew." Remus's hands worked their way under David's pyjamas and he started nuzzling his neck. "Now I really can't tell you," said David as the hands moved lower. "If I give in… now… I'll… ah… never be able to keep any secrets." he finished with a rush.

"You shouldn't be keeping secrets from me," Remus informed him through the bond as his hands and mouth continued to caress him. "You taught me that lesson when I neglected to tell you about that new law."

"Not the same… thing," David said, struggling against sleep and the distraction of Remus's hands, one of which was now worrying his left nipple. Remus upped the ante by starting to grind his body against David's. "You… worried. I'm… not," breathed David as he tried to pull away.

Remus held David where he was and continued his persuasions. "Your father isn't keen on pranks," he hissed in David's ear. "I imagine he's planning on a stiff penalty. Of course given my guardianship bond…" He trailed off leaving the implied rescue in the air. "Assuming you prefer my response to the situation," he added as an afterthought and rolled away.

David lay still for a moment before turning towards him. "Very well," he said, "but I'm agreeing because I think you'll enjoy knowing, not because you persuaded me. Fred and George are running a competition as a publicity campaign. You can enter each prank you pull this term. You get more points if you use their products or involve members of other houses. The bigger the better and there is a bonus category for the most severely punished. But they have a few rules too; no permanent damage or malicious element and nothing that results in suspension or expulsion is eligible. Everything must be done in good fun. They have semi-official permission through Sirius as a governor. Albus knows that there is a publicity campaign that will help promote house unity but he wasn't told the exact details. I imagine he's worked them out though."

"I suppose they used an age charm on their publicity so that only the students would know the details?" asked Remus.

"Yeah, and of course I saw through it too. Fred was not too pleased at first and I kept him squirming until I had the whole story out of him. I insisted he let Albus know some things but agreed to keep quiet as long as nobody was harmed. I'm not looking forward to the lecture my father will give me when he finds out after the winners are announced, but I do honestly think it is good for interhouse relations."

"Informing Albus was the responsible yet not fun-squashing thing to do," said Remus approvingly. He rolled back and turned David over so that he could resume his former activities. "But it was extremely childish to enter the competition yourself. Not to mention that as their silent partner you shouldn't be eligible."

"Unlike some people I never got to play any pranks as a student," David accused him back. "But," he teased, "your response is… definitely… preferable to disembowelling potion ingredients."