47 Genius (1/2)
After Arthur calmed down, they decided to get out of bathroom and go back to the common room when a loud voice made all four of them jump.
”RON!”
Percy Weasley had stopped dead at the head of the stairs, prefect badge agleam, an expression of complete shock on his face.
”That's a girls' bathroom!” he gasped. ”What were you —?”
”Just having a look around,” Ron shrugged. ”Clues, you know —”
Percy swelled in a manner that reminded Arth of a a very toad.
”Get — away — from — there —” Perry said, striding toward them and starting to bustle them along, flapping his arms. ”Don't you care what this looks like? Coming back here while everyone's at dinner —”
”Why shouldn't we be here?” said Ron hotly, stopping short and glaring at Percy. ”Listen, we never laid a finger on that cat!”
”I know,” said Percy fiercely, ”butdo you think the others will think the same way if they saw you? Your reputation would drop and you might even get in trouble!”
”You don't care about me,” said Ron, whose ears were now reddening. ”You're just worried I'm going to mess up your chances of being Head Boy —”
”Five points from Gryffindor!” Percy said tersely, fingering his prefect badge. ”And I hope it teaches you a lesson! No more detective work, or I'll write to Mum!”
And he strode off, the back of his neck as red as Ron's ears. Arth waited for Percy to dissipate at before speaking.
”I mean, we were in a girls bathroom. He does have a reason to be angry.”
”Shut up Arth, if it's because of the song I said earlier, I already said I'm sorry?”
”What do you mean? What song? I'm just worried for you my friend. I don't want your family relationships to sour.”
”... you sarcastic little-”
”Ooh. No naughty words my friend. This is a learning facility.”
”...”
When they arrived at the common room, Ron was still in a very bad temper and kept blotting his Charms homework. When he reached absently for his wand to remove the smudges, it ignited the parchment. Fuming almost as much as his homework, Ron slammed The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 shut.
”Wow, let me help you with that,” said Arth. He un-ignited the paper and restored it to top top condition.
”...thanks.”
”No biggie. You really shouldn't cast spells when you are emotionally out of hand. Things can get... fiery.”
Hermione sighed before she closed her book with a slam.
”Who can it be, though?” she said in a quiet voice, as though continuing a conversation they had just been having. ”Who'd want to frighten all the Squibs and Muggle-borns out of Hogwart's?”