More Twists And Turns

Harry paced back and forth in the open space between the beds and the doorway that led to common room.

While Ron sat on his bed and Hermione sat in the chair by Harry's desk.

"So that's what's going on." Harry was saying. "You-Know-Who is in rare form today, Cedric was murdered by Wormtail, and our friend Michael is in the hospital wing, thanks to Barty Crouch Junior, another one of You-Know-Who's supporters and his fireball trap!"

"Is Michael going to be all right?" Hermione asked.

"Michael's father seems to think so," Harry said. "though ,a lot depends on how the surgery goes tonight."

The others nodded gravely.

There was also a renewed sense of determination in the room, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had now become He-Who-Will-Pay.

Ron suddenly got an idea, "I know something we can do!" he exclaimed.

"You do?" Hermione asked Ron.

"What is it, Ron?" Harry asked.

"What do you say to going into the common room," Ron suggested. "we can see what Lisa, Stevie, Carole, Liam, Rafael, and Phil are doing!"

"Brilliant idea, Ronald!" Hermione exclaimed.

Ron, Hermione, and Harry crept into the common room to see Lisa helping Rafael with his Charms homework, Rafael was good at Transfiguration, Potions, and Herbology, but had difficulty in Charms class.

The trio saw Carole helping Liam with his Potions homework, Liam was good at Charms, Transfiguration, and Herbology, but had difficulty in Potions class.

And they saw Stevie helping Phil with his Transfiguration homework, Phil was good at Charms, Potions, and Herbology, but had difficulty in Transfiguration class.

"Shh, let's be quiet," Harry whispered to Hermione and Ron. "Rafael, Liam, and Phil need all the focus they can get."

"Okay, Harry." Ron whispered.

"We will be as quiet as mice." Hermione said softly.

Rafael tried again.

"Uh, Rafa," Lisa said. "your down stroke was a little too hard."

"How do you know?" Rafael asked.

"Look up!" Lisa exclaimed.

Lisa tapped Rafael on the top of the head, causing Rafael to look up and see Lisa floating in the air above him.

"Oops," Rafael cried. "don't worry, I'll fix it!"

A split second later, the concentration of everyone in the common room was shattered, when Lisa gave a screech and landed on top of Rafael, knocking them both to the floor.

Lisa pulled herself up off of Rafael and her head whipped around to looked at her friends.

Carole, Liam, Stevie, and Phil were biting their lips and trying not to laugh.

"The first one that even snickers gets flipendoed!" she warned half-heartedly, to Rafael she added. "maybe we should try something else for a while."

"Excellent idea, I need some water anyway." Rafael agreed.

The others quickly went back to what they were doing.

"Now, Phil," Stevie said, putting a ribbon on the table in front of him, "you've got to get this color change right or you're going to fail the Transfiguration test!"

"I know, I know." Phil said.

"Just don't give Stevie pink eyebrows again!" Carole teased.

Liam snickered.

Before Stevie could think of a comeback for the good natured ribbing, the potion that Liam was working on suddenly exploded with a bang and filled the common room with foul smelling green gas.

"Ugh," Rafael said, pinching his nose. "that is rancid!"

"Agreed! It smells like what one would get spayed with when they lose at a game of Gobstones!" Harry and Lisa exclaimed in unison.

Professor McGonagall was more than a little surprised when most of the Gryffindor students came rushing out into the corridor holding their noses.

"I really thought I hand that invisibility potion right this time." Liam said.

"How much bog slime did you use?" Carole asked, grabbing her nose again as more stink billowed into the hallway.

"Obviously too much," McGonagall said, crinkling her nose at the smell.

"You all say here, while I go and get the ingredients for a neutralizing potion. and Mister O'Malley, I suggest you do your potions homework somewhere other than the Gryffindor common room from now on."

"Of course, Professor McGonagall." Liam sighed.

"Well," Ron asked, annoyed. "what do we do now?"

"I've got an idea," Hermione suggested. "why don't we see how Professor Trelawney and Michael are doing in the hospital wing!"