"How was your detention?" Alanna asked as Alexandra climbed through the portrait hole back into the common room.
"Not too bad," Alexandra replied. "Flitwick only made me do half of his teacups and he gave me some biscuits his sister sent him."
"Still can't believe you got caught with the dungbombs," Fred said, shaking his head. "Why would you set them off on the third floor? Everyone knows that's where Peeves hangs around in the evening. Amateur."
"Well, at least we didn't have any homework tonight," Alexandra said.
"Hear, hear," Fred said. "If it wasn't for that two hour Quidditch practice tonight in the pouring rain, I'd say this was a pretty good night."
"Exams are in three weeks," Alanna pointed out, looking up from her History of Magic book. "You two had better get studying."
"You'd think you've learned by now that you're the only one who studies this far in advance," Fred said, opening himself a piece of chocolate he had saved from Easter. "Every other person uses the week before. It's a very efficient process."
"And if I remember correctly, someone was very upset with his Astronomy grade last year," Alanna said.
"That exam was completely unfair and you know it," Fred retorted. "Who knows what constellation is used to find one's direction from the White Sea?"
"People who read the book maybe?"
"Alexandra got decent marks last year and she studied when everyone else did," Fred said, ignoring that last comment.
"Not in potions," Alexandra reminded him.
"Yes, but she also didn't come into the exam ten minutes late because she overslept, did she?" Alanna argued.
"Oh, you'll never let that go, will you?" Fred said, rolling his eyes
"It was rather funny," Alexandra smiled. "You coming in out of nowhere still in your dressing gown and slippers…"
"I thought we all swore we'd never bring that up again," Fred said.
Alexandra exchanged one last glance before dropping the subject.
"So did you hear that Hagrid had to go down to Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley this afternoon?" Fred asked.
"No," Alanna said. "Why?"
"They think there's some sort of Niffler outbreak or something," Fred replied.
"Why would they think that?" Alexandra asked.
"All week there's been a ton of holes popping out around those areas," Fred explained. "Dad told me he nearly broke his neck tripping in one. The holes are easy enough to fill, of course, but all the storeowners are just worried that the Nifflers will try to nick some of the merchandise."
"So Hagrid got them then?" Alanna asked.
"James and Louis went down to see him when he got back and they told me Hagrid couldn't find any trace of a Niffler around," Fred shrugged.
"Maybe it's a mole or a gopher from one of the nearby muggle villages," Alexandra suggested.
"Probably," Fred said.
"I think I saw a few holes over by the Forbidden Forest yesterday during Care of Magical Creatures," Alanna said.
"Think it's the same animal?" Alexandra asked.
"Most likely," Alanna nodded.
"Well it is a full moon," Fred said. "Animals act weird around this time, don't they?"
"Makes sense," Alexandra shrugged.
"Ah well, it's not a big deal either way," Fred said, absentmindedly playing with a loose thread on his robe. "It's not like some animal digging through Hogwarts and all those places is really that big a deal, right? Those holes won't hurt anyone, unless they trip in one, that is."
…..
Draco looked into the room for about the fifth time. Claridina was still in it, writing meticulously in some book.
Draco sighed. It was nearly sunrise, and soon the rest of the hideout would be up. He didn't know what he was going to do. He had to get in touch with Harry, but for the past week, Claridina had been spending practically all of her time in the room with the fireplace. Did she suspect something, Draco thought sacredly.
No, he told himself. If she knew he had been communicating with Harry he would've been dead a long time ago. She had no idea; thankfully Occlumency was one of the only useful things his aunt had taught him when she was alive.
He headed down the corridor back to his room. He needed to talk to Harry. He couldn't apperate to see him, for he still had absolutely no idea where exactly he was, so he would not be able to return, and his absence would definitely alert Claridina. He couldn't send an owl; there were none around, and besides, Claridina had people keeping a sharp lookout of the skies. No, his only means of communication was the fireplace, which he was not able to use.
I have to talk to him today, Draco thought, sitting down on his bed and burying his hands in his face. Or it will be too late…but maybe…maybe he's figured it out himself from what I told him before… He shook his head miserably. No, not even with Granger working besides him could he have even began to imagine just what Claridina had cooked up.