Harry Potter was up early, a chess set out as a distraction should Ron Weasley show up - he could reach the chair and look like he'd been waiting for a game. Ron Weasley wouldn't think past a game of chess. No question as to how long Harry'd been there, or why he'd be waiting rather than finding someone to play (then again, it was early, and who was in the Gryffindor Common Room early). His books were open, and he was reading about memory charms, and obliviate, a notoriously tricky spell that he'd been trying to master, despite not having anyone he dared practice on.

"Harry!" One of the twins said, and they both grabbed a shoulder of his, dragging him out of where he sat, tucked up in a hidden place in the riotous common room.

"My wand!" he said, trying to get it as they tugged him away...

They unceremoniously hauled him out the door - no matter he'd left his wand behind.

"No time!"

"No Time for Tea!"

It took them all of five minutes to haul (keelhaul?) Harry into an abandoned classroom. Fred (or was it Forge?) dropped a glass plate, which shattered on the floor with a wave of magic.

"Silencing charm."

"Woven like a ward into glass."

"Won't take a beating, won't last more than an hour."

"But it's far quicker than spells."

"And way more portable than wards."

Half wanting to roll his eyes at the explanation, Harry Potter asked, "What's up, guys?"

"Harry potter -" They said, both leaning forward to put their heads on a level with his.

"What did you Do?" And Harry knew it was serious, as they were saying the words together.

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked, more unsure about what he was being asked about than anything, really. He did a lot of things, some of them on the blurry side of illegal.

"Someone Slytherin got caught with her knickers around her ankles, in a broomcloset with a boy." One said.

"Wouldn't be the first time."

"Yes, but this wasn't just lust. It was potioneering."

"And she's been seen with at least five other boys, so someone's been letting it wear off betweens."

"Dumbles wanted to know if it was us - you shoulda seen Snape!"

"Word to the wise - if this was you, in any way shape or form, I'd make all the evidence disappear."

"Seriously?"

"They were talking expulsion, Harry. And yes, seriously."

"Thanks for the tweets, little birds of mine," Harry said, smiling genuinely, as he swaggered out the door.

Moments past turning the corner, Harry was running pel mel. Not towards his laboratory - that'd already been scotched clean. No, he was headed towards the dungeons. There was still one loose thread he had to fix... Sheer adrenaline had him in a flatout dash down the stairs, and sheer luck kept him on his feet.

[a/n: Leave a review? Betcha you weren't thinking this is the way the next chappie was going.]