Professor Flitwick was giving instructions about how to conjure and command the extremely dangerous and always dangerous Floo Network.

"If you're too scared, sit in the back." said Professor Flitwick. "Although I doubt that any of you would be stupid enough to do that. Come on, let's go over the steps. When I say 'incuse', you say 'excuse me'. Got it?"

The class groaned.

"Good. Now, as I was saying, you simply say 'incuse' or 'excuse me' as the situation requires. I'll teach you the words as we go along. Now, everyone, find a partner and let's begin. Remember, this isn't the easiest spell to cast, so let's not waste time. Ready, set, floo! Hermione, you and your partner can go first. Hermione, what are you using for a partner?"

"Hermione? No one? Oh, dear. Well, we'll just have to wait for your turn then. Ron, are you ready?"

"Yeah, let's do it. Hey, Harry, do you want to go first?"

"Sure, why not?" Harry said, looking around at his friends.

Harry stepped up to the fire-escape door. He raised his wand, closed his eyes, and said, "Floo. Incuse. Excuse me."

The door swung open, and the four of them stepped into the fire-escape tunnel.

"Amazing!" said Ron, walking past Harry.

"Yeah, I know, right?" said Hermione, walking next to him.

After a few minutes of walking down the tunnel, they arrived at the invisible wall. Harry reached out his wand and said, "Floo... incuse. Excuse me. Pass through."

The four of them walked through the wall, appearing in the middle of the Gryffindor common room.

"Well done, Harry!" said Hermione.

"Thanks, Harry. You did great!" said Ron.

"We're in! I can feel it!" said Seamus, pulling off his Invisibility Cloak.

"Let's go, guys!" said Dean Thomas, pulling off his Invisibility Cloak.

The group ran out of the common room and down the spiral staircase. They emerged in the Great Hall and dashed to the portrait hole.

"Quickly, we need to get to our dormitories before the teachers see us!" said Ron, opening the door and rushing inside.

Harry entered after him, closing the door behind him.

"So, how was it, Harry?" asked Hermione.

"Well, it was... a lot harder than I expected."

"Did you pass?"

"I don't know. I think so. I mean, the spell was tricky, but I managed to get through it."

"Well, that's fantastic!" said Hermione, beaming at him. "You did great! I knew you would."

"Thanks," said Harry, smiling back.

"So, are we going to sneak out tonight or what?" asked Seamus, walking into the common room, yawning.

"We'll see how we all feel in the morning," said Dean. "I'm exhausted."

"Well, it's not like we have exams coming up or anything," said Ron.

"I suppose," said Seamus. "I feel pretty awful. I think I'll go to bed."

"Yeah, I think I'll head to bed too," said Dean. "Goodnight, Harry."

"Goodnight," said Harry.

He walked back to his dormitory with Ron. When they arrived, Ron pulled out his Invisibility Cloak and put it over his bed.

"I'll stay here and guard the place," he said, sitting down on his bed.

"Okay," said Harry. "Do you want anything? I'm going to get some books."

"No, thanks," said Ron. "I'm asleep. Oh, and Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't tell anyone about this. Okay?"

"Okay," said Harry.

He walked back down to the common room. He took his quill and parchment out of his dormitory and headed to the library.

At midnight, Harry sat in the library, writing in his diary. He had just finished an entry about his first day at Hogwarts. He had decided to put the bit about Professor Ollivander in there as well.

He heard a tapping on the window. He looked up to see Ron Weasley outside, sending him a message with his eyes.

Harry tapped back.

Come in.

Ron opened the window and climbed in. Harry closed the window behind him.

"Did you write down the spell for the fire escape?" Ron whispered.

"Yeah," Harry whispered back. "What did you want to say?"

"I wanted to tell you I think we should sneak out tonight," said Ron.

"Oh, yeah? Why? Did you think of a better idea?"

"No, but I thought you might not be up for it."

"I'm up for it."

"Good," Ron said, beaming at him. "I knew you'd be."

Harry sat on his bed, smiling. He knew exactly why Ron wanted to sneak out. He just wished he could do it too.

In the morning, Harry woke up refreshed and ready for his second day at Hogwarts. He got out of bed and went to the bathroom. As he was getting dressed, there was a knock on his door.

"Potter?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm coming in," said a familiar voice.

Harry opened the door to see Ron Weasley standing there. He was wearing his Invisibility Cloak.

"Did you want to talk to me?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Is there somewhere we can go?"

"Yeah, sure. Come in."

Harry led Ron to his dormitory. He closed the door behind them.

"Well, this is awkward," said Harry.

"Yeah," said Ron. "I know."

They sat down on Harry's bed.

"So, did you pass your first test?"

"Yeah," said Ron. "I think I passed."

"Good," said Harry. "So, why are you here?"

"I wanted to talk to you about that," said Ron. "I think I might need a little help."

"Okay," said Harry, deciding to be straightforward. "What's the problem?"

"Well, it's like this," said Ron. "I was thinking, if I was to fail, it would hurt a lot more if I did it with someone who I'm close to. You know?"

"I see," said Harry.

Ron took a deep breath.

"I guess, in a way, I wanted to fail my first test with you," he said.

"But you didn't?"

"No, I didn't," said Ron. "But I might need your help with something related to that."

"What is it?"

"I might need you to take the blame for me," he said.

Ron looked at Harry. Harry considered this.

"I'll do it," he said. "I'll take the blame for you."

Ron's face lit up.

"Really?" he asked. "You would?"

"Yeah," said Harry. "I guess I just feel like I owe you one after all the help you've given me."

"That's awesome!" said Ron. "Thanks, Harry!"

"Hey, no problem," said Harry, chuckling. "But you might want to tell them the truth."

"Oh, I will. I just might need you to help me with that too."

Ron grinned.

"I guess we're even then," he said.

"I guess we are."

Ron leaned in and hugged Harry.

"Thanks, man," he said.

They broke apart.

"So, I guess I should get going," said Ron.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Thanks again, Harry."

"Yeah, thanks," said Harry.

Ron grinned. He paused.

"There's one more thing you should know," he said.

"What's that?"

"If I fail, it's your fault."

"Oh?"

Ron grinned.

"Yeah."

Ron laughed and walked out of the dormitory. Harry laughed and fell back against his bed.

He had never felt so happy in his life.

He knew exactly what he was going to do.