Harry, Ron, and Hermione were leaving Professor Trelawney's class one day when they overheard students talking excitedly about an impending search. It seemed that the students and the castle were about to be searched for the missing item. A number of students immediately looked nervous as they made excuses to hide banned items, whether they were in their bag or in their dormitory.

Harry had the bad luck of needing a book from his room, so he rushed back to the dormitory, wondering how guilty he looked. Neville was coming down the stairs from the dormitory as Harry was going up. Neville was always racing back to his room to retrieve one thing or another, and for once Harry was jealous of Neville's ability to race to and from the room without arousing suspicion.

The room itself was empty, and Harry quickly opened his trunk, grabbed the book he needed and opened his bag to drop the book inside. It was then he spotted something in his trunk he had never seen before. It was a strange pendant tied on a well-worn silver chain. Harry had chills as he pulled the object out of his trunk and examined it. He didn't know for sure what it was, but could think of nothing but the missing cauldraunus.

Debating whether to hide the cauldraunus in his room or not, he decided he couldn't bear the thought of it being found in his room lest he or his roommates would be accused of stealing it. There were countless places to hide a small object in the castle, and he felt certain he would have time to ditch it somewhere in a hallway if necessary. Still, he didn't like carrying it. He bounded down the stairs to the common room where Hermione was waiting for him.

He hurriedly walked up to her, getting very close to discreetly show her what he had found in his trunk. Without making a sound, Hermione clearly came to the same conclusion.

"Where did you find it?" Hermione asked in a shrill whisper.

Harry looked at her, dumbfounded. "I found it in my trunk!" he finally answered through clenched teeth.

"But how did it get there?" Hermione asked, almost pleading.

Harry couldn't help but answer her with an annoyed look. He clearly didn't know and didn't want to say any more than he had to in case others were listening.

Hermione realized her questions weren't helping the case.

"How long do you think it was in there? Who would have had a chance to put it there?" Hermione asked, now more level-headed.

Harry shook his head. "I went through my trunk last night. It wasn't there."

Hermione's eyes darted around the common room, deep in rapid thought. "Then it has to be a fellow Gryffindor. Perhaps someone who shares your room."

They had come back to Ron. "I can't accuse Ron. He'll lose it. And even if he did, we've got to remember we're on his side."

"What about Neville?" Hermione looked levelly at Harry.

"Neville? Really? First, I don't think he's crazy enough to steal from Snape. Second, I think he'd rather fail potions than possibly be caught by Snape for stealing and cheating."

Hermione paused and then summed up the situation. "Well, you better get rid of that. If you're found with that, you're doomed."

o O o

Hermione and Harry had caught up with the Neville and Ron at the corner of a deserted corridor and held their discussion in hushed tones.

Harry glared at Ron. "Is there anything you want to tell us? Everyone seems to think I helped you break into Snape's cupboard."

Ron's shock was quickly replaced by anger. "You don't seriously think I could have done that?" His fists were now clenched and his ears were quickly turning red.

Hermione quickly stepped between them before Harry could rip the cauldraunus from his bag to show Ron. "Why don't you two take a moment to think about this? We don't know who broke in. We can't start now to listen to crazy rumors."

Neville hadn't moved, but look frightened to the point like he could bolt at any moment.

Ron was livid. "Seriously, what makes you think I would have stolen a cauldraunus?"

Harry spoke before he had a chance to think. "Well, for one, your potions have been nearly perfect!" He regretted it immediately. Harry's own heart was pounding, thinking about the cauldraunus in his own bag, wishing he had a chance to hide it somewhere.

Ron sputtered, nearly speechless. "I have actually been studying harder! And my best mate can't believe I got a potion right on my own!

Harry just about to rip the cauldraunus from his bag to show Ron, but at that moment, the sound of a slight shuffle that might have been a footstep shocked the group into silence, but too late as Snape stepped out from behind a pillar. They were inclined to keep talking so as not to appear guilty, but all they could do is stare at each other, speechless, unable to think of anything casual to say.

"Did I interrupt something?" Snape looked absolutely foul. "I clearly heard mention of someone breaking into my stores." He looked from face to face, and saw nothing but fear. "Why don't each of you empty your bag? Let's see what we're hiding, shall we?"

They had lined up against the wall and Harry was thankful to be at the far end. Snape started at the other with Neville. Harry starting taking the books out his bag and placing them on the floor while quickly trying to think about what to do with the cauldraunus. As he removed one book after another, as casually as possible, he tucked the cauldraunus up his sleeve while pretending to scratch an itch. Snape only gave a cursory exam of Neville's bag and then Hermione's. With Ron, he was much more thorough, even asking Ron to expose his neck. "Checking for any unauthorized jewelry" is how Snape explained it.

Snape finally got to Harry, and he examined the books and items on the floor, giving them a cold, disapproving look. "Now for the bag." Snape said expectantly. Harry held up his bag, wide open to show it was empty. "What are you hiding, Potter?"

Harry stared back into his cold, black eyes. "Nothing." After a short pause, added "Professor."

Snape looked down at Harry's hands. "Turn out your pockets."

Turning out his pockets was never a good thing for Harry or any other Hogwarts student. He managed to turn out his pockets without revealing the pendant stuck up his sleeve. Snape appeared surprised at finding nothing and stared into Harry's eyes one more time as if measuring him.

"Hold out your arms, Potter." Snape hissed through clenched teeth.

Harry hesitated, dreading where this was going. He raised his arms straight out from his sides.

As if he knew what he was looking for, Professor Snape reached right for the sleeve where the pendant was hidden, and patting down the sleeve, felt the bulk of the pendant.

"What do you have hidden up your sleeve?" demanded Snape through clenched teeth. He did not look happy.

Harry had no choice but to shake the pendant out of the sleeve and held it in his palm for Snape's inspection.

For mysteriously knowing where to look, Snape looked a bit surprised.

"Is this yours, Potter?" Snape asked, in a calm voice.

Harry shook his head. "No, professor."

Snape nodded. "How did you come into possession of this?"

Harry's head swam as he wished he had an answer. "I don't know, professor. I just found it in my bag" Harry lied. If he said he found it in his trunk, it would immediately identify the thief as a Gryffindor. Also, Harry seemed to think by taking it out of his trunk and putting it in his bag made him look even more guilty, since he didn't immediately turn it in.

"Did someone give this to you?" Snape queried.

Harry lowered his eyes to the floor. "No, professor."

"Very well, Potter. Come with me. The rest of you are dismissed."

Harry caught a glimpse of astonishment and anger on Ron's face as they passed. Neville's eyes were on the floor as if ashamed or embarrassed to look at Harry.